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This Sunday, October 5, we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis, transferred from October 4, marking the close of the Season of Creation. Over the past five weeks, our worship, prayers, and reflections (as shared on our blog and news posts at The Cathedral) have drawn us deeper into God’s call to love and care for all that He has made. The Season of Creation may be ending, but our discipleship is lifelong. Just as Francis bore witness to Christ’s love through simplicity, joy, and care for the earth, we too are invited to carry forward habits of stewardship, gratitude, and reverence for God’s world into every season of our lives.

One small but faithful act we undertook together was to refrain from printing hymn texts in the bulletin. This saved 1,750 sheets of paper—about $175 in costs and the equivalent of saving one-fifth of a tree. Beginning next Sunday, we will return to printing hymn texts, but let this experience remind us that every action, no matter how small, can be offered as a witness to the gospel. As we move forward, we invite each household to prayerfully adopt one or more concrete practices to continue creation care:

  1. Reduce energy use – turn off lights and electronics when not in use.

  2. Cut back on single-use plastics – bring reusable bags, bottles, and containers.

  3. Spend time outdoors – pause to enjoy God’s creation and give thanks weekly.

In doing so, we proclaim with our lives that “The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it”—joining St. Francis in singing God’s praise through both word and deed.