Churches unite across the world for first Festival of Creation in Christ this weekend

The Festival, the first to be added to the Common Worship Calendar of the Church of England  since its introduction in 2000, will be celebrated by parishes and churches this Sunday in England, together with several other provinces of the Anglican Communion and with other Christian denominations.

Given final approval by the General Synod in July, the Festival offers an opportunity for Christians to give thanks for God's creation and redemption of the world, to reflect on humanity's responsibility to care for the natural world and to pray for its renewal. Christians are encouraged to care for the world around them because God created it, is restoring it through Christ, and has promised to renew it in Christ in the future.

The Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, the Church of England’s lead Bishop for the Environment, said the festival ‘speaks to the heart’ of the major environmental concerns facing the world and marks an ‘incredible convergence’ of opinion amongst Christians globally.

“Having been involved with early discussions about the Festival, I have witnessed an experience of the Holy Spirit as there has been an incredible ecumenical convergence and agreement,” he said.

“It is a Festival that speaks into the heart of the major environmental concerns of our time – climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution – recalling us to creation being held together in Christ.

“We delight in God’s creation, but also know that we are complicit in its destruction. 

"This Festival can and will help with the change of hearts and minds that is so urgently needed, leading us to action, so that all creation may continue to join in the song of praise to the Creator.”

He added: “As we have witnessed the terrifying impact of climate change in Nepal and Tibet with glacial collapse, this Festival draws us into the heart of God the Creator so that we can give praise for creation and seek to safeguard it for the good of all, now and in the future. 

Let’s be part of that journey to tread gently on this our only home. We have no planet B.”

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, in a film to be released to mark the Festival on Sunday, encouraged churches to observe the festival "with joy".

“After years of ecumenical dialogue, the churches of the whole world have agreed that we need a new festival so that there may be a greater gratitude for the gift of the creation and a greater determination to care for the created order that is made through Christ.”

He added that over this summer we have seen the “horrifying” impact of climate change.

By keeping this feast, he said, “we give thanks to God for our creation and for the world around us, and pray that we may be good stewards of the earth.”

The new festival has been accompanied by the publication of Hope for All Creation: A Theological Response to the Environmental Crises, a landmark teaching document authored by the Faith and Order Commission and adopted by the House of Bishops.

The document sets out a Christian understanding of the environmental crises facing the world, rooting care for creation in the biblical story of creation, redemption and renewal.