THE CHURCH YEAR follows a calendar that is a little different from the "normal" calendar.
- The church year begins with the season of ADVENT, which is the four Sundays before CHRISTMAS.
- Christmas is both a day and a season celebrating the birth of Jesus the Christ.
Remember the "twelve days of Christmas"? Christmas begins on 12/25 and continues for twelve days until EPIPHANY.
- Epiphany is when we 'remember' the "wise men" who traveled far to worship the King. God revealed His light to all nations.
- ASH WEDNESDAY marks the beginning of the season of LENT, which is the 6 weeks before EASTER.
A smudge of ashes on a person's forehead on Ash Wednesday serves as a reminder of a few things:
I am a sinner and I'm sorry about that.
I am mortal -- I came from dust and to dust I shall return.
I need the saving grace of Jesus.
Lent is a time when we examine our own lives and commit ourselves again to God.
The pinnacle of Lent is Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday, continues through Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and leads to...
- EASTER! This is the high holy day of the Church year. We celebrate Christ's resurrection and victory over death.
Easter is also a season that lasts fifty days.
- PENTECOST comes at the end of the Easter season. We call it the birthday of the Church, because fifty days after Christ's resurrection, God gave the disciples the power of the Holy Spirit. They began to proclaim the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, and as people responded, the Church was born.
The season of Pentecost is the longest season of the Church year. Also called "Ordinary Time," it is when the Church does its work.
For a little more detailed description of the Church year, check out this page from Pastor Kerry's sermon blog.
Some dates of interest in 2018:
January 6 - Epiphany
February 14 - Ash Wednesday
March 25 - Palm Sunday
March 29 - Maundy Thursday
March 30 - Good Friday
April 1 - Resurrection Sunday (Easter!)
May 20 - Pentecost
November 25 - Christ the King Sunday
December 2 - First Sunday of Advent
December 25 - Christmas!
- The church year begins with the season of ADVENT, which is the four Sundays before CHRISTMAS.
- Christmas is both a day and a season celebrating the birth of Jesus the Christ.
Remember the "twelve days of Christmas"? Christmas begins on 12/25 and continues for twelve days until EPIPHANY.
- Epiphany is when we 'remember' the "wise men" who traveled far to worship the King. God revealed His light to all nations.
- ASH WEDNESDAY marks the beginning of the season of LENT, which is the 6 weeks before EASTER.
A smudge of ashes on a person's forehead on Ash Wednesday serves as a reminder of a few things:
I am a sinner and I'm sorry about that.
I am mortal -- I came from dust and to dust I shall return.
I need the saving grace of Jesus.
Lent is a time when we examine our own lives and commit ourselves again to God.
The pinnacle of Lent is Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday, continues through Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and leads to...
- EASTER! This is the high holy day of the Church year. We celebrate Christ's resurrection and victory over death.
Easter is also a season that lasts fifty days.
- PENTECOST comes at the end of the Easter season. We call it the birthday of the Church, because fifty days after Christ's resurrection, God gave the disciples the power of the Holy Spirit. They began to proclaim the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, and as people responded, the Church was born.
The season of Pentecost is the longest season of the Church year. Also called "Ordinary Time," it is when the Church does its work.
For a little more detailed description of the Church year, check out this page from Pastor Kerry's sermon blog.
Some dates of interest in 2018:
January 6 - Epiphany
February 14 - Ash Wednesday
March 25 - Palm Sunday
March 29 - Maundy Thursday
March 30 - Good Friday
April 1 - Resurrection Sunday (Easter!)
May 20 - Pentecost
November 25 - Christ the King Sunday
December 2 - First Sunday of Advent
December 25 - Christmas!