{"id":9650,"date":"2026-05-26T11:06:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T16:06:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/worship\/?p=9650"},"modified":"2026-07-24T10:21:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T15:21:29","slug":"creation-in-christ-annual-observance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/worship\/9650\/","title":{"rendered":"“Creation in Christ” Annual Observance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

This post gives the background and practical implications for an addition to the church year calendar. \u201cCreation in Christ\u201d (or \u201cFeast of Creation\u201d), to be observed on September 1 or the Sunday following, is supported with lectionary readings and worship resources.<\/em><\/p>\n

This post was updated on July 21, 2026 with links to\u00a0new worship resources . <\/strong>See below under “Worship Resources.”<\/em><\/p>\n

A New Ecumenical Observance<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Following several years of study, prayer, and collaboration, a new ecumenical observance is encouraged in the church throughout the world. Grounded in the ancient liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Church, \u201cCreation in Christ\u201d (or \u201cFeast of Creation\u201d)<\/strong> celebrates God as Creator and ponders the great mystery that everything was created through Christ. And, as a result, it also inspires us to care for the gift of the created world. Although the rich theme of Christ\u2019s activity in creation abounds throughout the liturgical year, setting aside this day brings an important focus to this mystery.<\/p>\n

\n

As summarized on the feast of creation website<\/a>,\u00a0\u201csince the 1989 invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to pray together on September 1, many churches and ecumenical networks have adopted the Creation Day observance and collaborated to encourage its celebration. In 2023, various global Christian bodies began to dialogue about the ancient roots of Creation Day in the Byzantine liturgical calendar and its potential to enrich non-Byzantine calendars even more meaningfully. Since then, a series of theological dialogues have taken place in what came to be known as \u201cThe Assisi Process,\u201d with the participation of 13 Christian world communions and various ecumenical bodies.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

ELCA Worship shared a blog post written by Dr. Benjamin Stewart <\/a>\u00a0in September 2024 that introduced this process to ELCA congregations, specifically noting the churches that convened in Assisi in March of 2024. You can learn much more about the process at <\/strong>www.feastofcreation.com<\/strong><\/a> and more about its theological grounding <\/strong>here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The ELCA is a member of both the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the World Council of Churches (WCC), two of the more than thirteen Christian communions that have encouraged the adoption of this festival. <\/strong>LWF shared helpful information in March 2026<\/a> and the WCC offered a helpful webinar on March 19 and it is still available for viewing.<\/a><\/p>\n

For the past two years, the Consultation on Common Texts<\/a>\u2014of which the ELCA is a member– has worked with the ecumenical conveners of this proposed celebration, namely in the task of selecting lectionary texts. See <\/strong>a <\/strong>listing of the proposed texts<\/strong><\/a> and <\/strong>the methodology report<\/strong><\/a> approved by the Consultation on Common Texts.<\/strong> The CCT also suggests the name of the day be \u201cCreation in Christ (or Feast of Creation)\u201d for Christological clarity, ecumenical breadth, and alignment with the Revised Common Lectionary naming conventions. For example, \u201cCreation in Christ\u201d is similar to \u201cChrist the King (or Reign of Christ)\u201d or \u201cBaptism of Our Lord.\u201d See pg. 5 of the methodology report<\/a> for further background.<\/p>\n

Observing \u201cCreation in Christ\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

What does this mean for the ELCA? Supported by the Lutheran World Federation and World Council of Churches, ELCA worshiping communities are encouraged to celebrate the day, using <\/strong>the lectionary texts<\/strong><\/a> provided by the Consultation on Common Texts.<\/strong> The date to observe \u201cCreation in Christ\u201d will need to be determined locally. Although celebration is encouraged on September 1 or the Sunday following<\/strong>, with the observance of Labor Day in the United States, some communities may opt to celebrate in late August or later in September, perhaps aligning with the autumnal equinox. Yet others may keep a Season of Creation, beginning on or near September 1 and ending with the commemoration of Francis of Assisi on or near October 4.<\/p>\n

We anticipate that adopting this new date on the liturgical calendar will be an evolving process, just as the process to get to this point involved much thought, prayer, and deliberation. You are encouraged to discern what works best in your context, knowing that resourcing and support for this day will be available over time and will be renewed and refined along the way.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Worship Resources for \u201cCreation in Christ\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Some resources are already available to assist you in preparation and planning and more will follow in the weeks, months, and years ahead.<\/p>\n

The ELCA and Augsburg Fortress now have resources online.<\/strong> The resource “Creation in Christ Worship Resource- Year A” is available from the ELCA in both PDF<\/a> and DOC<\/a> formats from the ELCA. This resource includes liturgical texts, music suggestions, and preaching guidance.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cCreation in Christ\u201d has been added to SundaysandSeasons.com as both a day and a Sunday, following the practice for Reformation and All Saints. The available resources are identical on both days, including Day Texts, Day Resources, Music Suggestions, and Preaching. They are also available<\/span><\/span> via Library\/Sundays and Seasons\/Seasonal Worship Texts\/2026 Year A Creation in Christ.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, an ecumenical call was put out to submit resources to be considered for wider sharing. These are being reviewed and compiled and will be accessible later this summer on the feast of creation website.<\/a><\/p>\n

This is an exciting time, as the last time there was an addition to the liturgical calendar was Christ the King (Reign of Christ) in the 1920s (though it was only adopted by Western churches). It is the first time a new feast\/festival has been adopted since the release of the common lectionary in 1983. To be in communion with the Eastern church in celebration of Creation in Christ (Feast of Creation), holds great promise, even in this time of global crisis and uncertainty.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This post gives the background and practical implications for an addition to the church year calendar. \u201cCreation in Christ\u201d (or \u201cFeast of Creation\u201d), to be observed on September 1 or the Sunday following, is supported with lectionary readings and worship resources. This post was updated on July 21, 2026 with links to\u00a0new worship resources . 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