Creationtide 2024 is here, and this year the theme is to hope and act with Creation, reflecting on the symbol of The firstfruits of hope (Romans 8:19-25).
Creationtide started on Sunday 1 September, the annual date of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. It ends on 4 October, the same day as the date celebrating the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. During this time, we take time to honour God as the Creator of life, to reflect on the relationship we have with the environment and our role in protecting the environment.
This year, hope is the encompassing theme, and we are encouraged to be active with our responsibilities as environmental stewards of the earth.
Here is what our Diocesan Environmental Engagement Officer, Cate Williams says about Creationtide this year:
“Increasing numbers of our churches are taking the month of September, until 4 October, to give time and attention to thinking about our relationship with wider creation, as well as the practical things we can do to support a thriving natural world. We know from our media how much damage has been done to our climate and to the habitats that are home for God’s creatures.
“In God we have hope that it is possible to live in a better balance. Creationtide offers us the opportunity to consider the resources within our Christian faith that support us to move in a healthier direction, as well as the practical action that we can engage with in our homes, schools, churches and communities.”
– The Revd Cate Williams.
How you could get involved with Creationtide 2024
Here are some suggestions for how you and your church could celebrate Season of Creation.
- Participate in sustainability and educational activities: There is lots happening in the diocese over the Creationtide period that you could get involved with.
Creationtide 2024 at Tewkesbury Abbey
Tewkesbury Abbey have a whole calendar of events specifically to celebrate Creationtide this year, take a look here.
Advocate for campaigns to reduce fossil fuel use
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative is working with Season of Creation this year, and they are encouraging you to get involved and raise awareness of their campaign. To do this, the Treaty Initiative has put together simple steps you can take on their webpage, one of which is to sign their faith letter.
On 21 September, Season of Creation is having a Global Day of Action, and they are encouraging communities to plan and join in with events to urge political leaders to sign the FFNPT. You can use the #SeasonofCreation on social media to share and discover campaigns.
- Pray: Host, lead or join in with an ecumenical prayer service to celebrate the season. You could use your own prayers, or you could use this already written prayer for 2024 Creationtide, provided by Season of Creation. The Church of England has lots of Creationtide resources that your church can use to mark the Season of Creation.
- Go on a creation walk or pilgrimage: organise a walk or go on a pilgrimage to connect and reflect on the environment.
- Co-ordinate Creationtide activities and crafts: You could plant seeds at the beginning of Creationtide celebrations and commit to checking their progress in a year, when the 2025 Season of Creation takes place. Or, you might consider painting, drawing or modelling the life cycle of a seed, and all of earth’s creatures needed for cultivation.
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