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Advent
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Advent, or the
pre-festival of Christmas, includes four Sundays, beginning near St.Andrews
Day, November 30th. The word Advent means "coming." During this season of
the church we emphasize the constant coming of the Lord Jesus to us, not
just at Christmas, but every day of our lives. The color on the altar during
this season is blue. |
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Christmas
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The
Christmas season includes the
twelve "holy nights", from Christmas Day to Epiphany. Three festivals are
included:
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Christmas Day--a fixed festival
always falling on December 25. The liturgical color is white.
- The Festival of the
Circumcision and the Name of Jesus is January 1, recalling the naming
ceremony according to the Jewish custom.
- Epiphany, which means
enlightenment, is celebrated on January 6. We remember the coming of the
Wise Men on this day.
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Epiphany
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The
post-festival season of Epiphany lasts from one to six weeks, depending on
the date of Easter. During this season, we learn how Jesus opened to
humankind an understanding of His Father. The first Sunday of Epiphany
celebrates the baptism of Jesus.
During the ordinary Sundays of Epiphany, the liturgical color is green. |
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Lent
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The Lenten Season
begins 40-days before Easter, with Sundays excluded. This date is known as
Ash Wednesday, recalling the ancient custom of putting on ashes for
mourning. This is traditionally a time of contemplation and penitence. The
color on altar during Lent is violet. |
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Passion Sunday |
Passion Sunday,
also known as Palm Sunday, begins the somber observance of Holy Week, the
final week before Jesus' crucifixion. The mood on this Sunday goes from one
of triumph, with the crowd cheering Jesus' entry into Jerusalem...to one of
stark terror, as He is handed over to suffer and die. |
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Maundy Thursday |
The
word Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning commandment. On
this evening we remember Jesus new commandment, to love one another. This
night we also remember the institution of the Lord's Supper. |
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Good Friday |
This
is the day the world shook...the sun went dark...and creation shuddered.
Jesus died on a cross to carry the weight of human sin, and reconcile us
with God. We contemplate this day our own guilt. The altar is stripped bare.
The mood is dark. We leave the service in darkness and silence. |
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Easter
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CHRIST IS RISEN!
HALLELUJAH!
He is risen
indeed! Hallelujah! The most joyful of all our celebrations is Easter, the
festival of the Resurrection. Death is defeated, and we are reconciled with
God! The liturgical color is white for the Easter season, which lasts for
six weeks. |
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Pentecost
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50-days after
Easter, the festival of Pentecost commemorates the birth of the Church. The
Holy Spirit comes to the disciples with power to change the world...power
that still comes to the church today. On Pentecost Sunday the altar cloth is
red.
One week later, we celebrate the
mystery of the Triune God on Trinity Sunday. The liturgical color is white.
The season of Pentecost runs
from 22 to 27 Sundays after Trinity. This is known as the time of the
Church, as we learn what it means to be the people of God, and contemplate
the coming of the Kingdom in glory and power. |
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Reformation Sunday
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On the Sunday nearest October 31,
we mark Martin Luther's posting of 95 Theses in Wittenburg.
The liturgical color is red. |
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All Saints Sunday
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All Saints Day is November 1. On
the nearest Sunday we remember all our loved ones who died in Christ, and
now share his glory in the Heavenly realm.
The altar is covered in white. |
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Christ the King
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The final Sunday of the Church year
proclaims Jesus Christ as King of our lives. The liturgical color is gold or
white. |
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