A promising ecumenical process is underway. The “Feast of Creation”, celebrated on September 1st and also known as “Creation Day” or “World Day of Prayer for Creation”, is officially entering the liturgical calendars of many churches. To help reflect on and participate in this historic milestone, a webinar and various resources are being offered (listed below).
For background, it was in 1989 that the Eastern Orthodox church invited all Christians to pray together on that special day, grounded in an ancient liturgical tradition. Since then, the feast has gained much popularity across denominations. An ecumenical process chaired by the World Council of Churches in collaboration with 13 Christian world communions has proposed to elevate the day to go beyond its "World Day of Prayer" status and become an official liturgical feast in the calendars of non-Byzantine churches. The hope is to celebrate more intentionally this foundational tenet of the Christian faith. Following several international conferences in Assisi, a broad consensus emerged between many denominations about the importance of this joint step.
In what promises to be the most significant ecumenical development of 2026, many national churches are beginning to institute the Feast of Creation – or “Feast of Creation in Christ” as scholars have proposed it is formally named – in their liturgical calendars. While some might keep observing it as a 'day of prayer', preparations are underway in many liturgy commissions for the Feast to be celebrated in congregations for the first time this September. For example, the Feast will be added soon to the ‘Revised Common Lectionary’ used by many Protestant churches.
As part of this developing process, some practical invitations are being made by the World Council of Churches, various world communions, and regional councils to their member churches.
1. WEBINAR: “A NEW LITURGICAL FEAST, A GIFT FOR THE THIRD MILLENNIUM”
Held on March 18 and 19 (same event offered on consecutive days, to accommodate timezones in different hemispheres), the webinar will provide an overview of the ecumenical process so far, its theological motivations, and practical resources to assist churches to establish the Feast. See webinar registration page: www.bit.ly/feastofcreation26
2. PROPOSAL FOR NATIONAL CHURCHES TO INSTITUTE THE FEAST
Churches are invited to take practical steps to officially establish the Feast of Creation in Christ in national liturgical calendars. Or, if a formal calendar is not observed, churches could issue recommendations for congregations to mark the observance. For inspiring motivations and useful practicalities, see the proposal: www.bit.ly/new-feast
3. ONLINE WORKSHOPS FOR LITURGY COMMISSIONS
Held in April and May, some online workshops will explore the possibilities for liturgical prayers, lectionary readings, and other worship resources to implement the new Feast. They are intended specifically for liturgists to explore in more depth the possibilities for liturgical texts, creating space for cross-pollination between liturgy commissions implementing the Feast. See workshops registration page: www.bit.ly/feast-workshops
Inspired by the recent celebrations of the 1700 years of the Council of Nicaea, this is a precious opportunity both for the journey towards visible Christian unity and for churches of the third millennium to celebrate the great mystery of the creation of all things through Christ. This will also nourish the extended “Season of Creation” that is inspired by and flows from the Feast of Creation, motivating churches and congregations to care for the gift of creation at this consequential time when God's earth and the poor are suffering so greatly from ecological destruction.
Churches are encouraged to share these invitations in their networks and start preparing for the celebration of the Feast of Creation in Christ, praying that this ecumenical dream continues to bloom.
See also: Joint invitation letter by the general secretaries of WCC, MECC and world communions of the Feast steering committee.