Season of Creation 2025 – Peace With Creation

Every year from September 1 – October 4, Christians around the world participate in a Season of Creation, liturgically marking a time where we give thanks for God’s good creation, repent of our misuse of it, and commit to actions and advocacy that work to restore and uplift all that God has created. The Season of Creation spans five weeks between the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation (September 1) and the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi (October 4). This year, the theme of Season of Creation is pulled from the text of Isaiah 32:14-18, where the prophet Isaiah pictured the desolated Creation without peace because of the lack of justice and the broken relationship between God and humankind. See more resources for the season here.

“For the palace will be forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, the joy of wild asses, a pasture for flocks. Until a spirit from on high is poured out on us, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,  and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness, and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” Isaiah 32:14-18 (NRVUE)

The prophet Isaiah portrays a desolate Creation, devoid of peace due to injustice and the broken relationship between God and humankind. Devastated cities and wastelands reflect the destructive impact that human activities can have on Earth. Notably, animals readily move in and claim parts of what was once an exclusively human habitat, as if human settlement had deprived them of sufficient space. While the joy of a pasture for animals [Isaiah 32:14] is undoubtedly a good thing in itself, it comes at the cost of human displacement due to conflict.

Though God’s plan for Creation is rooted in justice and peace, human sin disrupts this, leaving Creation in ruin—from wealthy palaces to poor farmlands, forests, and oceans. Isaiah vividly describes the results of human estrangement from Creation. Moreover, the abandoned and ruined watchtower and palace (or citadel, in some translations) suggest that warfare is ultimately frustrated by God.

Peace is more than just the absence of war. In the Hebrew Bible, shalom represents a far deeper concept—one that extends beyond the absence of conflict to the full restoration of broken relationships, as illustrated in Isaiah’s vision. This restoration encompasses our relationship with God, ourselves, the human family, and the rest of Creation.

Throughout history, many human activities have contributed to the destruction of Creation. Yet today, more than ever, some human activities take the form of a war against Creation. Our impact has expanded from local to global, manifesting in unsustainable lifestyles, excessive consumption, lasting pollution, and a throwaway culture.

Some hold greater responsibility for this crisis—elite consumption, exploitative business models, and economic theories prioritizing profit over sustainability. Pollution, health crises, deforestation, and mining in conflict zones worsen the situation.

There is hope for a peaceful Earth. Biblically, hope is active—it involves prayer, action, and reconciling with Creation and the Creator through repentance (metanoia) and solidarity. Isaiah 32:14-18 envisions a peaceful Creation where God’s people live only when justice is achieved. Righteousness leads to peace and restores the land’s fertility.

Creation is God’s sacred gift, entrusted to our care. Christians are called to protect and nurture Creation in peace, working in partnership with others and passing this responsibility on to future generations. Its deep interconnectedness makes peace both essential and fragile.

Witness to Creation with LAMPa’s Photo-a-Day Challenge

Every day of the Season of Creation, LAMPa will post a picture submitted by one of YOU celebrating and witnessing to God’s creation. Where do you find peace? Where do you see signs of hope? What scenes in creation make you think of the prophet’s promise that “justice will dwell in the wilderness and righteousness abide in the fruitful field”? DM us on Facebook or Instagram or send an email to LAMPa@lutheranadvocacypa.org to have your photo and 2-3 sentence reflection featured on our page! You can join us in this daily practice and remember to tag us (@LAMPaAdvocacy) and use #SeasonofCreation2025. 

A Call to Action: “The Effect of Justice Will Be Peace”

This year, during the Season of Creation, Creation Justice Ministries (CJM), of which the ELCA is a sponsor, is aiming to promote “peace with Creation” through public witnesses and theological resources for churches. In partnership and support from national and local partners, CJM is planning to organize a series of faithful witnesses at the United States Capitol and across the country to highlight the threats to the environment, while calling on the U.S. government to have moral courage and promote a right relationship and peace with Creation.

Join us as we gather in prayer, testimony and prophetic public witness in
​Washington, DC on September 2 and 19. September 2 will feature Senior Director of ELCA Witness in Society, the Rev. Amy Reumann.

See other dates and locations here.