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Sept. 1, 2026: Feast of the Creator

Each September 1, the Feast of the Creator opens the Season of Creation with worship that turns attention to God’s work in creation; it may alternatively be observed on a Sunday within that season. Rooted for centuries in Orthodox tradition, the feast has become the focus of a wider ecumenical movement, embraced by Anglican, Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed churches seeking a shared liturgical expression of God as Creator. This collection gathers the readings, prayers, prefaces and hymnody needed to mark the day across a three-year lectionary cycle.

This resource is currently authorized for trial use. Comments and feedback are welcome through the Trial Use Texts website.

Suggested uses

  • Celebrating the Feast on September 1 or a transferred Sunday
  • Opening the Season of Creation with a dedicated liturgy
  • Selecting readings and prayers for Year A, B or C
  • Enriching worship with adaptable eucharistic prayers and hymns
  • Shaping confession and intercession around creation themes

Key themes

  • God as Creator and the Trinity’s role in creation
  • Ecological stewardship and the Fifth Mark of Mission
  • Kinship between humanity and all creation
  • Confession and reconciliation with creation and Indigenous peoples
  • Shared ecumenical roots across Christian traditions

Best suited for: clergy, liturgical planners, worship committees, musicians and parishes preparing to celebrate the Feast of the Creator or open the Season of Creation, as well as those exploring creation theology and ecological stewardship in worship.

Red autumn leaves from maple tree against blue sky and blurred forest background.

Acknowledging the land and God’s creation

This acknowledgement is crafted in light of the Principles of Reconciliation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as we seek to live faithfully in Christ and in right relationship with all. 

We give thanks to the Creator for this land, its waters, forests and all living beings, and for the abiding presence of Christ among us. From coast to coast to coast, these have been cared for and nurtured by First Nations, Inuit and Métis through countless generations. 

We honour the enduring relationship Indigenous Peoples have cultivated with these lands and waters, and the treaties and agreements that reflect these sacred bonds. We acknowledge the harms caused by colonial expansion, through frameworks like the Doctrine of Discovery and structures like the residential school system. We recognize our past failures as a Church, including disruption of connections to the land and suppression of Indigenous spiritualities. 

Guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we confess our need for healing. We commit ourselves to seeking truth, pursuing reconciliation and nurturing harmony with all creation. We place our trust in Christ, through whom all things are reconciled to God. 

May God strengthen us to live faithfully as stewards of the Earth. Let us walk in love, justice and reconciliation, joining in God’s work to restore all creation.