Written by Fr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

As the sun set over the Suez Canal, young Christians from different Church traditions gathered beside the water to pray. Earlier that day, they had planted trees and blessed water together. For some, connecting care for the Earth so directly with their Christian faith was something new.

“Planting a tree and praying together is a new experience for us,” one young participant reflected.

Another, who had travelled from a different region, was already thinking about what could come next: “We would like to organize similar activities in our region as well.”

These simple words capture something of what the Season of Creation 2026 is seeking to inspire across the Middle East: allowing faith, ecumenical encounter and care for creation to flow together like the “Living Water” at the heart of this year’s theme.