As Christians, we believe that the earth belongs to God; that all things have been created and will be redeemed in Christ; and that we have been entrusted with the care of the earth.
The Bishop’s Committee on Creation Care provides support to individual Anglicans, parishes and the Diocese as a whole to make creation care an integral part of our worship, life and witness.
To learn more, contact the Rev. Susan Spicer, chair of the committee, at creation.care@toronto.anglican.ca.
Season of Creation (Sept. 1 - Oct. 4)
Season of Creation is a growing movement by Christians around the world to observe the period between September 1 (the World Day of Prayer for Creation) and October 4 (the feast of St. Francis of Assisi) as a time of particular attention to praying and caring for the earth. General Synod 2019 passed a resolution adopting the Season of Creation in the Anglican Church of Canada as a time of prayer, education, and action and encouraging dioceses and parishes to participate.
Some parishes in our Diocese find that it suits their parish rhythms better to start in late September so as to include both the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4) and Harvest Thanksgiving (the Sunday before the second Monday in October). We encourage you to consider how best to incorporate Season of Creation into the life of your parish.
The theme for Season of Creation 2023 is “Let Justice and Peace Flow.”
- Season of Creation international website: Join the global prayer service on Sept. 1 (9:00 a.m. EDT), find resources and events, or share your own!
- Anglican Church of Canada Season of Creation resources
- Watch Bishop Andrew’s Season of Creation video (2019)
NEW - Hiking Church Resources
Over the past year, members of the Bishop’s Committee on Creation Care in the Diocese of Toronto have been exploring Hiking Church as an experience of walking and worship in creation.
While the words “hiking church” may conjure up the image of a pristine forest trail, Hiking Church events can and should take place in many different environments: rural, suburban, urban. The idea is to connect with creation – noticing signs of life where creation is flourishing, as well as where it is stressed.
The walk begins with a gathering song and prayer, moves to a Eucharist (contextualized for the location), and culminates in a re-gathering, closing prayer and dismissal. During the walk itself, participants are invited to walk in silence, with awareness. It’s amazing what you begin to notice when you pay attention!
Further resources
Worship resources
Bring concern for creation into prayer and worship. Design an outdoor worship space!
Environmental advocacy
Join with others working for action on climate change and environmental protection.
Educational resources
Explore how the call to creation care is woven into the biblical story.
Practical greening
Find ways of making your parish more eco-friendly, including buildings and gardens.
Diocesan policy and reflection papers
- Report to Diocesan Council on Environmental Synod Motions, June 17, 2021
- Diocesan Policy Paper on Environmental Issues, 2019
- World of Wonder: Contemporary Discipleship, Climate Crisis and Anglicans
(reflection paper by the Rev. Dr. Stephen Drakeford)
Connecting with others
We’re connected to the Creation Matters working group of the Anglican Church of Canada, and through it to the global Anglican Environmental Communion Network.
We commend these other Canadian faith-based organizations working on environmental justice and stewardship:
- Citizens for Public Justice: a Christian voice for social and environmental justice in Canadian public policy
- Faith and the Common Good: an interfaith organization helping faith communities with practical greening through their Greening Sacred Spaces program
- KAIROS: a coalition of Canadian churches working together for justice and peace
- A Rocha Canada: a Christian environmental stewardship organization working in conservation, environmental education and sustainable agriculture
