The Methodist Church in Fiji has called on churches, communities and the wider nation to deepen their commitment to protecting the environment as the 2026 Season of Creation begins.

Opening the Season of Creation on September 3, the President of the Methodist Church in Fiji said the annual observance should be a time for prayer, reflection and practical action to care for the earth.

The Season of Creation runs from September 1 to October 4 each year and is observed by Christians around the world. It traces its origins to 1989, when Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I declared September 1 a day of prayer for creation.

The observance later expanded across Christian denominations, with European churches embracing it from 2001 and the World Council of Churches helping develop it into a wider season. October 4 marks the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, recognised as the patron saint of ecology.

The President said the Methodist Church in Fiji, as a founding member of the World Council of Churches since 1976 and a member of the Fiji Council of Churches and Pacific Conference of Churches, considers the season an important part of its ecumenical calendar.

The call comes as Pacific communities continue to experience the effects of environmental degradation and climate change.

The President highlighted the relocation of people from low-lying communities, pressure on reefs and mangroves, and the challenges facing rivers and freshwater sources.

For Pacific island communities, the message was that caring for creation is not simply an environmental issue, but one directly connected to people’s livelihoods, communities and the future of younger generations.

The 2026 theme, “Living Water,” with the symbol “Immersion in Living Water,” is based on Ezekiel 47:9 and 12. The biblical passage describes a river flowing from God’s sanctuary, bringing fresh water, supporting fish and trees, and providing healing wherever it flows.

The President said the image is particularly relevant to Fiji as an island nation where water is central to life, from rivers and wells to reefs and baptism.

Churches and communities have been encouraged to turn the theme into practical action during the season.

This includes dedicating worship and prayer to creation, protecting local water sources and coastlines, restoring watersheds, teaching children about environmental stewardship, and participating in ecumenical prayer services and community clean-up activities.

The Church has also called for stronger advocacy on climate justice through the Pacific Conference of Churches and the wider global ecumenical community.

Individuals are being encouraged to reduce waste, protect water sources and reflect on their own responsibility towards the environment.

The Methodist Church President said the Season of Creation should go beyond words and inspire families, churches and communities to take action for the protection and restoration of Fiji’s land, oceans and people.

The message was anchored in the biblical reminder: “Everything will live where the river goes.”