A Rocha UK ~ Ian McKay

Each year, 1 September to 4 October is celebrated as the Season of Creation. Churches worldwide, including the Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, World Council of Churches and Evangelical churches join during this season to pray, worship and act for God’s creation.

The 2026 theme ‘Living Water’ is based on the vision of the Prophet Ezekiel (47:1-12), in which a river flowing from God’s temple brings life and restoration wherever it flows. Water heals, restores, and makes creation flourish. At the same time, it also challenges us to recognise ecological damage, embrace our interconnectedness and take shared responsibility of caring for and restoring our common home.

Ezekiel 47:1-12 NIV - The River From the Temple

Our mission partner A Rocha UK is part of the global A Rocha network. A Rocha plays a key role in the preparation and planning of the Season of Creation. This is just one example of the supporting work that A Rocha does in helping the global church to engage with creation care. Another example is the Lausanne Movement: Dave Bookless - Lausanne Movement

Alongside the global work, there are A Rocha national organisations, like A Rocha UK, seeking to support the local church in creative and encouraging ways. One example is A Rocha New Zealand’s Eco Disciples video series useful. It is a six-part creation care journey designed to help churches, youth groups and home groups explore what the Bible says about caring for God’s creation and how our faith calls us to respond to environmental challenges. The resource includes six video episodes, a podcast, and discussion guides with ready-to-use session plans. Whether you are just beginning the conversation or looking to deepen your church’s engagement with creation care, Eco Disciples provides practical tools to learn, reflect and act.

Eco Disciples | Eco Church Aotearoa

A Rocha UK are this year celebrating their 25th anniversary, and also the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Eco Church programme. St Luke’s is a Bronze Award holder, as one of over 9,000 registered Eco Churches, spanning 25 denominations. A recent report written to mark the anniversary shows that over 3,000 churches (88%) manage their land to encourage native wildlife, and that over 2,500 churches (78%) have made a decision to invest their funds ethically.

10 Years of Eco Church - Eco Church

We are also delighted that Holy Island, Lindisfarne, is now an A Rocha UK Partner in Action.

Latest Partner in Action: Holy Island, Lindisfarne - A Rocha UK

With some much damage being done to the planet through human influenced climate change, it is good to see that there are things that can be done, and that there is hope.

The St Luke’s Eco Church team is looking for more people to get involved in, as it were, getting their hands dirty to make St Luke’s a more sustainable place and community. Do get in touch if you’re interested.

Please pray with A Rocha UK:

For churches celebrating the Season of Creation, that the theme of Living Water, rooted in Ezekiel 47, might inspire and equip people to take practical action and speak up for creation.

As we enter the season of harvest, and as we celebrate and thank God for the provision of food, we pray for greater awareness of food inequality in the UK and worldwide, and of the effects some farming practices have on wildlife. We give thanks for farmers, including many A Rocha UK Partners in Action, who use or are adopting sustainable methods. Pray that their farms will flourish and that policy changes will support nature friendly farming.

As World Rivers Day is marked in September, pray for the health of rivers and waterways, for those working to protect them, and for lost wildlife to return and flourish.

Give thanks for the commitment of thousands of Eco Churches over the past decade and the difference they are making by caring for God’s creation. We give thanks for God’s faithfulness and look ahead with hope.

Explore A Rocha’s work around the world at https://arocha.org/en/about/

Find out more about Eco Church at https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/eco-church-survey/

Pray with A Rocha UK at https://arocha.org.uk/get-involved/pray/

Download A Rocha UK’s 2026 Eco Tips Calendar at https://arocha.org.uk/easy-eco-tips-2026-calendar/