Worship > Liturgical Year
Our year, as a Christian community, has an ebb and flow that reminds us that God has been present in history, God is present to us today, and God will be present until the end of time. We observe these times with special seasons, calling to mind the story of Jesus Christ, in his birth, life, death, and resurrection.
Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany
Our liturgical year begins in Advent. This is either the last Sunday of November or the first Sunday of December, depending on the year. The season of Advent is four weeks long, and in that season we anticipate the joy of Christmas. During Advent, we recall the yearning of the world for Jesus. The world yearned for Jesus some 2,000 years ago, and we yearn for Jesus today.
Christmas begins on December 25 and continues for 12 days. The Christmas Eve services are some of the most beloved of the year. We sing cherished music, and we experience anew the joy of Jesus coming into the world. Our celebration--and singing of Christmas music--continues until the feast of the Epiphany on January 6--our own feast day. In that feast, we celebrate the manifestation of Jesus Christ as the child of God to the whole world. We remember the guiding star and the coming of the Wise Ones. During Christmastide, we use white vestments.
Lent, Easter, and Pentecost
Another major focus of our year is Easter. We antipicate Easter in the season of Lent. For us, Lent is not a season of mortification and self-punishment. Rather, it is a time to focus on the things that are most important to us. We seek to know those things and turn toward them (to "repent") and renew our desire to live as God would have us live.
As Lent ends, we move into Holy Week. Our liturgical life becomes very rich and complex in this week. We begin with a triumphant outdoor procession on Palm Sunday, and then we move into the somber reality that is Holy Week.
The core of our life together is observed in the Three Holy Days (or "Triduum
Sacrum"), in which we celebrate the defining events of Jesus' life. In our
Maundy Thursday service, we recall the last night Jesus spent with his closest
friends, instituting the sacrament of Holy Communion and commanding them to
love one another. He then washed their feet in a gesture of tender humility,
and so we repeat this action, washing the feet of one another. On Good Friday,
we recall the terrible events of Jesus' death, and face the reality that Jesus'
life was fully human, ending as our lives will end, in death. But the story
does not end there, and neither does our liturgical life.
Our most elaborate, most important liturgy of the year is the Great Vigil of Easter. On Saturday in Holy Week night, we gather in
darkness. We kindle a new fire. From that fire, we light a Paschal Candle. By its light
we move to a place where we can hear the stories of God's saving deeds in history.
Often, we have baptisms on this night. As we move to the font, where we baptize new members into the Body of Christ, we cry "Alleluia!" three times.
We move into the church bells pealing and organ playing loudly,
ready to celebrate the first Eucharist of the Easter season.
For 50 days, we say Alleluia many times at every service, celebrating the fullness of Easter. On the 50th
day, Pentecost, we celebrate God sending the Holy Spirit to enliven the church.
Many people wear read to remind us of the fire of the Holy Spirit.