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Weekly Devotional

November 24, 2008
 

    Given that we are about to celebrate a new church year (we are going to be in Lectionary Cycle B), I thought I would share with you some information I have about the church calendar.  Below is a list of seasons, their meanings, and their colors that I hope you find informational and educational.  

Advent:  Color is blue.  This is a season of preparation for two reasons.  First, the lessons that start Advent always focus on the Parousia (the second coming of Christ).  Second, the later lessons focus on Christ’s birth.  So we are therefore preparing for his return as well as the celebration of his birth.

Christmas: Color is white.  This season begin on Dec. 25 and lasts for 12 days, until the eve of the Epiphany (Jan. 5).  The word “Christmas” is a contraction of Christ Mass, which was the title for the celebration service for the day.  Christmas was chosen as December 25 probably to contradict the pagan celebration of the winter solstice and the sun god.  Christians could celebrate their own “Son God” on this date. Due to the way the current calendar has changed, the winter solstice for us is now December 21.

Epiphany:  Color is green.  "Epiphany" means "to be made manifest," and Epiphany observances emphasize the manifestation of Jesus as "Light to the Gentiles" and the "Glory of Israel" to Simeon when Jesus was presented at the temple, the manifestation of Jesus as God's beloved Son at His baptism, and the manifestation of Jesus to the whole world as represented by the Wise Men of the East. In fact, the earliest Epiphany observances were based on the Jewish Feast of Lights, which today is called “Hanukkah”.  During Epiphany, the Christ Candle is always at the front of the church and is lighted every Sunday.  Epiphany lasts until Shrove Tuesday, which is why the number of Sunday’s in Epiphany vary from year to year.

Lent:  Color is purple.  Lent is a time of penitence and confession.  It begins on Ash Wednesday, and goes until Easter Eve.  Lent covers the 40 days (excluding Sundays) that lead up to Easter.  It can begin as early as February 4 and end as late as April 24.  During Lent, we confess our sins, but do not receive absolution until the end of the season.  Holy Week is included in Lent, with Palm Sunday being the last Sunday, followed by celebrations on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Easter:  Color is white.  Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon falling on or after the first day of spring (March 21).  This helps Easter to coincide with the Jewish celebration of Passover.  The rest of the church calendar year is based on Easter’s date, and has been since the year 527.  Easter lasts for 50 days until Pentecost.  The celebration of the Ascension happens on the 40^th day of Easter.  Sometimes this is celebrated not on that Thursday but instead on the following Sunday.

Pentecost:  Color for Pentecost Sunday is Red, all other Sundays are green.  Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit during the Jewish Festival of Pentecost.  The Jewish celebration is 50 days after Passover, which allows it also to fall into the Christian calendar with ease.  On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples while they were gathered in Jerusalem, and they were empowered to preach to people from every nation who had come to Jerusalem for the feast. The Acts of the Apostles records that about 3,000 were added to their number that day. Christians since have considered this event to be the founding of the church.  The Sunday following Pentecost is always Holy Trinity Sunday, and the color for that day is white.  White is also the color for the last day of the Church Year, Christ the King Sunday.  This Sunday (yesterday) was not added to the calendar until 1925, and is the newest of the regular celebration Sundays.  All other Sunday’s between Holy Trinity and Christ the King are considered “Ordinary Time Sundays” unless they fall on the date of commemoration of a saint.

    Some other notes for you:  During the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter, and on all celebration Sundays, we say the Nicene Creed.  The Apostle’s creed is said at other times and during Baptisms.  The Athanasian Creed (found in the front of the LBW) is used sometimes on Holy Trinity Sunday. 

In our prayers this week: 

Alma, Ann, Doris and her mom, the people of St. John’s Lutheran

God’s Peace,

Pastor Judson