What is the Season of Creation?

By Worship Life at Western Seminary

From September 1 through October 4, many churches and Christian communities observe a new season in the Christian Year: The Season of Creation.

During this season, Christians are invited to remember that God’s people are called to participate in “fruitful labor,” seeking the joy and flourishing of all creation as we wait in hope for Christ’s return, when all things will be made new.

A Rocha is a global family of Christian conservation organizations that seeks to “live out God’s call to care for creation and equip others to do likewise.” Western Theological Seminary is grateful for the leadership and involvement of Dr. Ron Rienstra and Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst, whose work with A Rocha provides opportunities for WTS students, faculty, and staff to learn from, pray for, and participate in on-the-ground creation care efforts.

Dr. Rienstra serves as Director of Church Engagement for A Rocha USA. In this role, he helps churches develop practical pathways for integrating creation care into their ministries through Churches of Restoration cohorts and the new Church Partners program.

Alongside her husband, Dr. Jim Padilla DeBorst, Dr. Padilla DeBorst leads A Rocha Costa Rica, an organization they helped establish. Working in the cloud forest north of Heredia and along the Río Virilla, the A Rocha Costa Rica team seeks to be good neighbors by caring for birds and insects, forests and fields, children and families, their barrio, and the watershed they share.

Praying With A Rocha USA

With A Rocha USA, we offer prayers of thanksgiving and hope for:

• The Churches of Restoration cohorts beginning this month in Nashville, Chicago, New York, and West Michigan, including a cohort beginning at Western Theological Seminary on September 19.
• A new Keystone cohort forming in Albany, New York, which Dr. Rienstra will visit later in October.
• The formation of a “green team” of interested WTS students, faculty, and staff to help advance creation care efforts on campus.
• The meaningful practice of praying for particular species and the places they inhabit, including the yellow-cheeked warbler and its habitat in the Bull Creek Watershed outside Austin, Texas.
• Wildlife affected by new data centers, including the impacts of habitat disruption, water use, noise, and related development.
• A Rocha’s care for “less charismatic” species that often receive little public or scientific attention, including mole crabs, crickets, grasshoppers, and moths.

Praying With A Rocha Costa Rica

With A Rocha Costa Rica, we offer prayers of thanksgiving and hope for:

• The conservation and scientific research taking place at Casa Nube in the cloud forest, where guests can encounter sloths, tapirs, bats, frogs, and other creatures.
• Vulnerable children who are being supported and formed through tutoring, ukulele classes, and chess club at Casa Adobe.
• Trees growing along the Río Virilla, as well as the dedicated staff and volunteers who plant and care for them.
• A new phase of migrant accompaniment as Casa Esperanza prepares to move from Los Chiles in northern Costa Rica to the Central Valley.
• A successful capital campaign that will allow A Rocha Costa Rica to purchase Casa Nube and, eventually, Casa Adobe and Casa Mar.

A Prayer for Creation

God who spoke the world into being,
who breathed the breath of life into those whom you created to bear your image,
who rested on the seventh day simply to delight in all creation’s play,
send forth your renewing Spirit upon us
that we might be faithful in our compassion for all our kin
and trustworthy in our care for our shared home, Earth.

We pray this in the strong name of Jesus Christ,
in whom all things hold together. Amen.