Message of 1 September 2016

Two special messages were released by the leaders of the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, marking the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation on 1 September 2016.

You can find these messages on the links below.

His Holiness the Ecumenical Patricarch Bartholomew of Constantinople

His Holiness Pope Francis: "Show Mercy to our Common Home"

2015

Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis for the establishment of the "World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation" 1 September (6 Aug 2015)

For four Sundays in September we celebrate The Season of Creation

Resources 2021 

Season of Creation 2021 theme:

A home for all? Renewing the Oikos of God

Season of Creation 2021 Prayer 

Global Ecumenical Prayers: A Home For All? Renewing the Oikos of God Streamed live on Sep 1, 2021

Watch: Season of Creation 2021 

Messages from the Vatican

Read: Season of Creation 2021 Vatican Dicastery Invitation - Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development  

Pope Francis urges participation in 2021 Season of Creation 

Pope Francis invites you to celebrate Season of Creation 

Resources for prayer and worship

Social Justice Statement 2021-22 focuses on Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor 

This title is taken from a quote from Pope Francis’ letter to the faithful and all people of goodwill in 2016. Included with the Statement are worship resources for parishes, schools and prayer meetings: Ahead of the Season of Creation - NCCA

The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) has shared their Season of Creation materials below:

•  Season of Creation 2021 Member Churches - Ecumenical Prayer Service 
  
•  Season of Creation 2021 Bible Study and Activities for Children - PCC Season of Creation Liturgies and Sunday School Materials
  
•  The Creation Story - Children's PowerPoint

 UCA Children & Families Ministry  

1. 2021 Season of Creation (Season of Creation)
2. Children and Creation Care (eco congregation Scotland)
3. Season of Creation: Early Word/Children’s Addresses (UCA) 
4. Faith Ecology Network: 10 things to do (Faith Ecology Network)  
5. Faith Ecology Network: a Uniting Church lens (Faith Ecology Network) 

World Council of Churches 

Season of Creation 2021 - A home for all? Renewing the Oikos of God

Visit the WCC Season of Creation 2021 website page

Read: WCC launches resource with good practices on economic and ecological justice

Download: “Walk the Talk” (low res.) or  "Walk the Talk"(med. res.)

Many resources are available online from a variety of sources.  Please follow the links to these on the following websites:

Season of Creation

St Columbans Mission Society

Uniting Earth Web

The Earth Bible

Let All Creation Praise 

Five Leaf Eco-Awards

The Five Leaf Eco-Awards are an Australian ecumenical environmental change program specifically designed for churches and religious organisations. Using a series of non-competitive awards the program assists, inspires and rewards faith communities for taking environmental action and becoming more sustainable in response to God’s call to care for creation. The Five Leaf Eco-Awards encourage holistic action for the environment covering five areas: Building, Worship, Congregation, Outreach, Community Leadership There are currently six awards available in the program– two introductory awards and four advanced awards. To earn an award, churches simply complete actions to fulfil the criteria of that award and are then presented with certificates of recognition for their achievement. You can begin the process by filling out this survey on the website. 

Prayer:  

Reconciling God, Creation and Humanity - An Ignatian Examen

This Ecological Examen is a tool for prayer, reflection and action. Deepen the call to care for creation and the most vulnerable.

Join the Ignatian Family in seeking a conversion of heart to embrace ecological justice and Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home.

Find our more here

At the Uppsala Assembly of the World Council of Churches a sentence was used that I find inspirational. It is this; ‘the Church is a sign of the coming unity of the whole human family’. This vision is a call to a hope beyond matters that distinguish us as individual church communities. It also directs our attention to an ultimate vision of unity – where people of every nation, tribe and language gather together in worship of God.

Yes, there are differences between Christian communities and churches. Some of the differences reflect our theological understanding, cultural identity, and journeys in mission. These differences do not need to become foundations of separation. 

Engaging in the life of the National Council of Churches in Australia is one way of intentionally deciding to deepen our relationships with each other so that we give expression to a sense of unity that takes us beyond our selves and the differences we have.  

In the NCCA, 18 Christian Churches share an understanding and a commitment to action together, we see evidence of our work in several ways: 

We are committed to reconciliation with Australia’s First Nations and to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

There is the continuing work of the NCCA through: 

Act for Peace, our international aid agency,

The Australian Churches Refugee Task Force

The Faith and Unity Commission,

The Safe Church Program 

and so much more.

What is clear in all of this is that we are ‘better together’.  In my own particular tradition, a key scripture is from Ephesians where Paul affirms that there is ‘one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.’ (Eph 4:4-5).  This passage is a reminder of our unity before God. 

I hope that as you learn about the NCCA, explore this website and follow the links to our member churches, that you will grow in your appreciation of both what unites us and also the gifts that the particular Christian traditions are to the NCCA. 

Reverend John Gilmore
President
National Council of Churches in Australia

Terms of Reference

The Justice Network gives expression to the NCCA’s commitment to “encourage and enable the member churches, in the light of the gospel, to give prophetic leadership to each other and to the community” by

• speaking out against injustice, violence and oppression; and
• working to uphold the dignity of all people and the flourishing of all creation.

The Justice Network is a forum for NCCA member churches to:

• communicate about issues of justice, peace and creation;
• reflect theologically on the implications of the gospel for issues of justice in Australia;
• facilitate co-operation between the churches on matters of justice, peace and the integrity of creation; and
• advise and support the NCCA on actions which might appropriately be taken by the Council and/or by a group of the member churches.

9th National Forum 

"Remember, Rejoice, Renew”

24 - 27 June 2016

Links:

NCCA 9th Forum Program

Invitation to pray for the National Council of Churches 9th National Forum

9th National Forum - Reports

9th National Forum - Reports [link]

NCCA_Newlsetter_Issue_2_29.07.14.pdf