Seasons of the Church Year

In response to a fine question, we explored the different seasons of the Church Year. It was observed that there are different liturgical colors for each season, and that the color of the  paraments on the altar, pulpit, and lectern change according to the season.

Unlike a calendar year, the Church Year begins in late November or early December,with the season of

Advent: The name Advent means "coming."  This season comprises the four Sundays before Christmas. We prepare our hearts to celebrate Jesus' coming into the world and to receive him anew into our own lives (as Tony Campolo might say, to welcome his "invasion" of our hearts and souls).

The seasons that follow are:

Christmas: This season begins Christmas Eve and lasts through the "twelve days of Christmas," including one or two Sundays following Christmas Day.   We joyfully celebrate the birth of our Lord,  the "Word becoming human" and dwelling among us.  The liturgical color for Christmas is white.

Epiphany: This season begins on January 6th and continues until the outset of Lent.  The name means "showing forth." It begins in the celebration of  the "showing forth" of Jesus to those beyond the Jewish community, the promise of his ministry extending throughout the world.  We remember the story of the Magi from the east coming to worship him and choosing to protect his tender life from ruthless King Herod.  In this season we also observe  "Baptism of Jesus" Sunday.  The liturgical color continues to be white.

Lent: This is a forty-day season (not counting Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to Easter.  The forty days reflect the amount of time Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted.  During Lent we remember his ministry and the journey to Jerusalem with his disciples., including Holy Week and Jesus' death on the cross.  It is a time of reflection and self-examination where we consider our own faithfulness as Jesus' followers. The liturgical color is purple,

Easter:  This season comprises Easter Sunday and the five Sundays that follow it.  We rejoice in Jesus' resurrection and the promise that nothing can separate us from the eternal love of God, not even death.  This realization changes how we live in the here and now.  The liturgical color is again white.

Pentecost:  Pentecost Sunday is the seventh Sunday after Easter.  It celebrates the birth of the Christian Church and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This will also be Confirmation Sunday.  The color is red.  The season of Pentecost follows, extending all the way until the next Advent.  The liturgical Sunday is green; it is an extended time (27 Sundays!) for us to grow as followers of Jesus and as a faith community in mission.


We took a trip down to the Altar Guild closet to look at the paraments for the other liturgical seasons.