Seasons of the Christian Church LIFE AND WORSHIP IN SYNC WITH CREATION Seasons – experiencing time Fall – Winter – Spring – Summer Phases of the moon Rites of Passage - cycles of human life Birth - Death Seedtime to Harvestime Christian Calendar and Seasons Fall – Harvest – Advent – Promise of new spring Winter – Christmas – Epiphany Signs of new life Spring – Lent – Easter – Death and Life Summer – Pentecost – tending creation The Calendar of the Church Year - BCP Pg 15 The Church Year consists of two cycles of feasts and holy days: one is dependent upon the movable date of the Sunday of the Resurrection or Easter Day; the other, upon the fixed date of December 25, the Feast of our Lord’s Nativity or Christmas Day. Easter Day - the first Sunday after the full moon that falls on or after March 21. It cannot occur before March 22 or after April 25. Sundays of Advent – 4 Sundays before Christmas Day Date of Easter determines the beginning of Lent (Ash Wednesday) Feast of the Ascension on a Thursday 40 days after Easter Day 1. Principal Feasts Easter Day All Saints’ Day, November 1 Ascension Day Christmas Day, December 25 The Day of Pentecost The Epiphany, January 6 Trinity Sunday These feasts take precedence of any other day or observance 2. Sundays All Sundays of the year are feasts of our Lord Jesus Christ. In addition to the dated days listed above, only the following feasts, appointed on fixed days, take precedence of a Sunday: The Holy Name The Presentation The Transfiguration St. Benedict of Nursia - July 11 3. Holy Days Other Feasts of our Lord The Holy Name Saint John the Baptist The Presentation The Transfiguration The Annunciation Holy Cross Day The Visitation 3. Holy Days Other Major Feasts All feasts of Apostles Saint Mary the Virgin All feasts of Evangelists Saint Michael and All Angels Saint Stephen Saint James of Jerusalem The Holy Innocents Independence Day Saint Joseph Thanksgiving Day Saint Mary Magdalene 3. Holy Days Fasts Ash Wednesday Good Friday 4. Days of Special Devotion observed by special acts of discipline and self-denial: Ash Wednesday, weekdays of Lent and Holy Week Good Friday and all other Fridays of the year, except during Christmas and Easter Seasons 5. Days of Optional Observance Commemorations listed in the Calendar Other Commemorations, using the Common of Saints The Ember Days, traditionally observed on the Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays after the First Sunday in Lent, the Day of Pentecost, Holy Cross Day, and December 13 The Rogation Days, traditionally observed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascension Day Various Occasions Baptismal Feasts Most appropriate days for baptism If no baptism, should renew Baptismal Vows Easter Vigil Day of Pentecost All Saints’ Day (or All Saints’ Sunday) Baptism of our Lord (First Sunday after Epiphany) The Cycle of the Church Year Advent Season (4 weeks) The First Sunday of Advent The Second Sunday of Advent The Third Sunday of Advent The Fourth Sunday of Advent Christmas Season (length of season depends on the date of Easter) The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Christmas Day, December 25 The First Sunday after Christmas Day The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, January 1 The Second Sunday after Christmas Day Epiphany Season (length depends on the date of Easter) The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, January 6 The First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ The Second Sunday through the Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany The Last Sunday after the Epiphany Lenten Season (5 weeks before Easter) The First Day of Lent, or Ash Wednesday The First Sunday in Lent The Second Sunday in Lent The Third Sunday in Lent The Fourth Sunday in Lent The Fifth Sunday in Lent Holy Week (Last week of Lent) The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday Monday in Holy Week Tuesday in Holy Week Wednesday in Holy Week Maundy Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday Easter Season (50 days – Pentecost) Easter Eve The Sunday of the Resurrection, or Easter Day Monday in Easter Week Tuesday in Easter Week Wednesday in Easter Week Thursday in Easter Week Friday in Easter Week Saturday in Easter Week Easter Season (50 days – Pentecost) The Second Sunday of Easter The Third Sunday of Easter The Fourth Sunday of Easter The Fifth Sunday of Easter The Sixth Sunday of Easter Easter Season (50 days – Pentecost) Ascension Day (40 days after Easter) The Seventh Sunday of Easter: The Sunday after Ascension Day The Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday The Season After Pentecost (length depends on the date of Easter – may be 29 weeks) The First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday The Second Sunday through the Twenty- Seventh Sunday after Pentecost The Last Sunday after Pentecost Holy Days (fixed days in the calendar) See BCP Pg 32 or A Liturgical Calendar Advent – 4 weeks before Christmas Day Colors: Purple, Roman tradition representing penitence or Purple as the Royal color (for the coming of the king) Blue, English tradition representing the blue sky and color associated with The Blessed Virgin Mary Advent Themes: Preparation (for the birth of the Messiah) Repentance (making oneself “right” with God) Joyful (“dispense the gloomy clouds of night” as in the gloom of winter Advent Symbols: Advent Wreath A ring/circle with 4 Purple candles with a white candle in the center Wrapped in greens One candle lit for each week of Advent (light increases as nearer to Christmas) Center candle lit on Christmas Eve Advent Symbols: Jesse Tree A “family tree” of Jesus’ earthly ancestry back to Jesse King David’s Father (Matthew 1.1-17) Advent Symbols: Advent Calendar A calendar with “windows” for each day of Advent revealing a verse of scripture or telling a part of the Advent to Christmas story. Advent Symbols: Christmas Creche A scene of the stable in which Jesus was born, with figures of animals, Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus, Shepherds and Wise men. (May be displayed during Advent, without Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Shepherds and Wise men.) Christmas – The Nativity of Our Lord Colors: White or Gold; purity and festival Theme: The birth of Jesus, the promised Messiah Visit of the shepherds on the night of Jesus Birth Christmas – The Nativity of Our Lord Symbols: Advent Wreath with all 5 candles lit Christmas Crèche with all the “key players” – except the Wise men (they don’t come until Epiphany) Epiphany – Jan 6th Sundays after Epiphany until Shrove Tuesday Colors: White – purity, for Epiphany and The Baptism of Our Lord Green for Sundays after Epiphany Life and growing things Epiphany – Jan 6th Sundays after Epiphany until Shrove Tuesday Themes: Visitation of the wise men to the baby Jesus Manifestation (showing off) of the Messiah to the non-Jewish world Mission, Conversion, Baptism– the coming of all nations to worship Christ. The “Great Commission” and Transfiguration Epiphany – Jan 6th Sundays after Epiphany until Shrove Tuesday Symbols: The gifts of the Magi – Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh (Royal gifts for a King, perfume for burial) Baptism; Water; new life (spring) Lent – Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday; 40 Days (not counting Sundays) Colors: Purple for Penitence Themes: Renewed Commitment Self-discipline Abstinence from foods, entertainment, fasting Focus on prayer, study, and service Lent – Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday; 40 Days (not counting Sundays) Symbols: “Alleluia” in worship goes away during Lent Simple worship decorations, no altar flowers Holy Week – Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday Last week of Lent, not a separate season, but significant in the life of the Church Holy week is one celebration, telling part of the story each day. Holy Week – Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday Colors: Red for Sunday of the Passion White for Maundy Thursday (celebrating Jesus’ institution of the Eucharist) Black for Good Friday No decorations for Holy Saturday Holy Week – Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday Themes: Jesus’ movement from the Transfiguration to the Cross Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the Passion Gospel (Palm Sunday) Wednesday of Holy Week – Tenebrae: a service of darkness with readings and prayers Maundy Thursday – Holy Thursday – Celebration of Jesus’ institution of the Holy Eucharist Holy Week – Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday Themes: Good Friday – Good Friday Liturgy of readings, prayers, and meditations, and Communion from the Reserved Sacrament (Holy Eucharist is not celebrated on Good Friday) Holy Saturday – Quiet service of prayers and readings. Holy Week – Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday Symbols: Absence of worship decorations Palm branches Cross Stations of the Cross Worship during Holy Week Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday with palm procession and reading the Passion Gospel Wednesday of Holy Week - Tenebrae, Service of Darkness Maundy Thursday – Holy Eucharist Celebrating Institution of Holy Communion Other celebrations are not appropriate, If there is foot washing it should be part of the Eucharistic Liturgy Worship during Holy Week Good Friday Liturgy with Communion from the Reserved Sacrament Holy Saturday Liturgy Easter – Easter Day (including Vigil), Ascension Day (40 days) ending at Pentecost (50 days) Colors: White or Gold, Purity, Celebration, Easter – Easter Day (including Vigil), Ascension Day (40 days) ending at Pentecost (50 days) Themes: Baptism RESURRECTION Jesus’ victory over a death that separates us from God Our invitation to participate Easter – Easter Day (including Vigil), Ascension Day (40 days) ending at Pentecost (50 days) Symbols: Paschal Candle, bright lights and bright colors Flowers Joyous music “Alleluia!” is back Worship for Easter Day – Easter is THE central Feast of the Christian Year Easter Vigil with blessing of the Paschal Candle, Baptism or Renewal of Vows Easter Vigil should begin in the dark and end with light, preferable to be celebrated early morning and time the beginning of The Eucharist with the sunrise.