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Over many centuries, we Christians have created church seasons
that help us remember and celebrate God’s mighty acts in our
world and in our lives. Here is an outline of the major seasons
and holy days with a brief explanation of each.
The four Sundays leading up to Christmas comprise the Advent season. The
word means “coming” and Advent is a time to prepare ourselves for the
coming of Christ: his birth in Bethlehem, his coming into our individual
lives, and his coming again in power and glory at the end of time. In
contrast to the busy December rush of shoppers, Advent is a season of
quietness and prayer.
Christmas is not just a day, but a season. The Christmas season begins on
December 25 and lasts for twelve days, usually including two Sundays. You
already know what a joyful and special time this is as we celebrate the
birth of our Lord. The color of the Christmas season is white.
After the joy of Christ’s birth, we begin the march toward his victorious
resurrection from the dead, but first we must pass through the season of
Lent. Like Advent, Lent is a time of preparation and self-examination. For
six Sundays (forty days) we review our lives in the light of God’s holiness,
and we seek God’s help in becoming more faithful Christians. Lent is a serious
season, but not a sad time. After all, God loves us as we are, and God is
already at work shaping us into the likeness of Christ. The last Sunday of
Lent is Palm Sunday, recalling Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, and in the following
week we schedule special services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday to remind
us of the Last Supper and our Lord’s crucifixion. The color of Lent is purple.
The resurrection of Jesus is too big to celebrate on a single day, so we have
seven Sundays of Easter joy. Again the color is white, marking Jesus’ triumph
over sin and death. During Easter we remind ourselves that Jesus shares his
victory with us, and someday we too will know the power of resurrection.
On the fiftieth day after Easter, Pentecost arrives with a bang! Pentecost is
the celebration of God’s Holy Spirit given to us. Turning to the story of the
Spirit’s powerful, fiery arrival in Acts 2, we give thanks for God’s presence
within us and the gifts of the Spirit that we share for the service of Christ
and the building of his church. The color for Pentecost is blazing red, and
don’t be surprised to find a party atmosphere in our worship service on that day.
After Pentecost, we enter a long season called Ordinary Time. Of course, with God no
time is ordinary, but the name means that we have about six months without any major
holy days or special occasions. Ordinary Time fills up the summer and the fall. If
you think about your own life, you can find exciting high-points here and there,
but most of our days are spent in the “ordinary” pursuits of working, building a
family, and growing. The long stretch of Ordinary Time on the church calendar is
a time to strengthen our congregational ties, seek opportunities for mission, and
to mature as disciples. Symbolizing life and growth, green is the color for this season.
As winter draws near, Advent begins the annual cycle again, giving a shape to our
year and walking us again through the milestones of our shared Christian faith.
Some stories deserve to be told over and over. The Christian calendar helps us
keep our most important stories alive and well year after year!
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