Season of Creation: Global prayer and action for creation
From September 1 to October 4, Christian churches around the globe will celebrate the Season of Creation through prayer and action. In 1989, September 1 was proclaimed as the World Day of Prayer for Creation by the Orthodox Church. Since then, the World Council of Churches and other Christian communities have joined and it is now a month-long season ending on the Feast of St. Francis (October 4).
During this month, Christian communities will engage in prayer, advocacy, and symbolic actions to oppose ecological destruction (from oil and gas exploitation, fracking, mining, etc.) and rediscover the beauty of Creation. Visit the Season of Creation website to explore ways that your community can take part, including helpful toolkits, resources, and information. The following are a few ways that you can take part as individuals or communities:
PRAY
As part of this year’s Season of Creation, communities are encouraged to organize prayer services that incorporate a symbolic action that highlights the “cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” A Prayer Service Toolkit is available to help you organize your event. You can also upload your service to a global map and see where other services are taking place around the world.
On September 24, a special symbolic action will take place in Taizé, France at the European Conference of Justice and Peace Commissions. To unite global prayer services with this significant event, Season of Creation offers a curated Taizé Prayer Resource, including a suggested prayer format with Taizé songs that highlight care for creation.
TAKE ACTION
#Big Shift During the Season of Creation, individuals are invited to participate in The Big Shift campaign, which urges the World Bank to phase out support for fossil fuels by 2020 and support renewable energies.
The World Bank continues to finance fossil fuel energy, including coal-fired power stations, locking some countries into high carbon practices. Between 2012 and 2015, the World Bank invested a staggering $12.9 billion in oil, gas and coal. Big Shift challenges this continued funding of fossil fuels and urges the World Bank to make changes to its energy investment policies.
Individuals and communities are encouraged to email the President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, and their regional World Bank Executive Director to ask them to stop funding dirty energy. See The Big Shift information sheet for more information, including specific demands to include in your email to the World Bank. #BigShift #WorldBankGoRE
Divestment
On October 4, the Feast of St. Francis, churches and faith communities are invited to participate in a joint divestment statement. Christian communities from around the world are making the decision to divest their portfolios from coal, oil and gas companies.
“The fossil fuel divestment is a concrete way to put the Laudato Si’ into practice and be witness of its message. In the Encyclical Laudato Si’ Pope Francis affirms: ‘We know that technology based on the use of highly polluting fossil fuels […] especially coal, but also oil and, to a lesser degree, gas — needs to be progressively replaced without delay.’ (Laudato Si’, 165)… We are convinced that this union will lead to more sustainable finance and a more just and livable world.”
Giovanni Sarubbi, Director, “Il dialogo”
Michele Zarrella, Head Environmental Section, “Il dialogo”
Season of Creation offers resources to help your community discuss divestment from fossil fuels, including a Divestment Webinar on September 6, 2017 (14:00 GMT/10:00 AM Eastern). The webinar will offer practical information on divestment and fossil-free investment and while it is tailored to a Catholic audience, all are welcome to attend. Register for the webinar.
For more information about divestment or to join the announcement, contact cecilia@catholicclimatemovement.global.
Join KAIROS Canada, the World Council of Churches, and other church communities in this powerful witness of Christian unity for our planet!
