Institute of Liturgical Studies: Early Bird Registration through January 31, 2026

Since both Kent and I are alumni of Valparaiso University, we wish to remind our readers that the early-bird registration for the Institute of Liturgical Studies at VU ends on January 31. To save $100 on the registration cost, click here by Saturday, January 31. The Institute meets April 13 – 15, 2026. It’s a great post-Holy Week retreat for pastors and musicians.

Registration fees:
Early Regular Registration – $350 (ends January 31)
Registration – $450
First-Time Attendee – $250
Retiree – $250
Additional Registrant (same address) – $300

The Feast of Creation—liturgy as creation groans

In April and May 2025, an ecumenical seminar was convened for the second time in Assisi, Italy. They met under the banner of The Feast of Creation and the Mystery of Creation: Ecumenism, Theology, Liturgy, and Signs of the Times in Dialogue to continue a conversation begun a year earlier.Organized by the Laudato Sì Research Institute of the Roman Catholic Church in partnership with the Anglican Communion, Lutheran World Federation, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the World Council of Churches, and the World Methodist Council, the seminar met to examine the history of Christian engagement with the creation story, described in the book of Genesis, in the context of the growing climate justice movement. They developed a proposal that a creation season be incorporated into the liturgical calendar to run from A Feast of Creation on September 1 through to October 4, the Commemoration of Francis of Assisi. The 77th meeting of the Institute of Liturgical Studies will consider the possibilities of such a festival and season. We will reflect on creation, incarnation, and Jesus’s death and resurrection, all received by us through the created materiality of our sacramental life together. Furthermore, we will examine how petroleum culture has influenced our sacramental life and begin to envision ways to counter its impact. A model lectionary will be used, and sample liturgies will be celebrated. Join us April 13 – 15, 2026, for  The Feast of Creation—liturgy as creation groans.

Click here for details about the program, schedule, plenaries, and workshops.