Living by the Christian Calendar: How It Helps Me Stay Focused on the Author and Finisher of Another Year

 God created time and space, and gave them as gifts to His creation.

Such gifts bring order and definition to our universe, as well as a way to reference events that have already happened, things that are now occurring, and events yet to come.

Man was given the responsibility to manage these gifts.

You’re familiar with the phrase “Time waits for no one.” Time is the most valuable commodity we have; either we will waste it or invest it. We have only a measure of time on earth (Psalm 31:15); therefore, the greatest gift you can give to someone is your time. In essence, you consider that person worth the costly exchange.

The first Law established in the earth was the Law of Sowing and Reaping (Seedtime and Harvest--Gen. 8:22). If we make time for others (God first), the Lord will “stretch” our time--literally or figuratively. He will increase our productivity and effectiveness, and His blessings upon our use of time will result in what appears to be more “free” time.

“So I will restore to you the years (In the Hebrew, more akin to ‘opportunities’) that the swarming locusts has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust.” Joel 2:25 nkjv

Actual time wasted in sin and disobedience can never be regained. The consequences of our actions will leave marks upon time that others will reference. However, God in His mercy, who is the Lord of time and transcends it, offers to the penitent the restoration of many missed opportunities!

In an effort to use time wisely, man has invented many time-keeping devices--sun dials to printed calendars to gizmos with impressive bells and whistles. Whether managed electronically or by the “old-fashioned” ballpoint, the phrase “I’ll pencil you in” is Standard English (particularly in the West). Moms keep track of soccer practices, school plays, and dinner menus.

Dad skillfully manages his weekly work schedule, knowing that minutes, hours, and days translate into much needed income for his family. Children manage to “make time” for their extracurricular activities, but somehow lose that ability when it comes to managing homework deadlines. The saying, “We always seem to find the time for the things we consider important” is so true for all of us…at any age!

What about personal time with the Lord? What about time invested within the Christian community? These investments have a higher rate of return than all our other activities combined. We are eager to “pencil” in everything else, while our time with the Lord remains a flexible option.

Christians read in the Old Testament how God moved His people through a rhythmic calendar of seasons, feasts, and holy days that enabled the covenant community to stay focused on the spiritual in a material world. Some people say, “That’s no longer necessary”. I beg to differ. A church loosed from its ancient moorings is apt to drift through time. 

Modern Church life is often lived out incrementally--from Sunday to Sunday or event to event with no true sense of identity, why they worship, and where they’re going. There’s no link to the past…no connection to the now unfolding and future encompassing of the Kingdom of God.

Some time after the council of Nicea (A.D. 325), the concept of a Christian Year began to develop. It was designed to move around the person and work of Jesus Christ. Sadly, most churches today mark ecclesiastical time by who speaks from the pulpit, not Christ’s presence at the Altar. The modern Church calendar is packed with a flurry of diversely focused meetings, programs, and concerts--all designed to hopefully keep the busy family interested in “growing and going for Christ."

By contrast, the historic Church remains relatively faithful to the way the early Church marked time on earth and measured spiritual growth. Most of the elements of the Christian Year were combined together during the 4th and 5th centuries into the form we recognize today.

Very little has changed. You’ll find some feast dates rearranged in certain Communions, and the Scripture readings during the seasons will vary according to whether congregations use the Book of Common Prayer or the Revised Common Lectionary. Nevertheless, the focus of the calendar remain the same—teaching the Life of Christ.

The Christian Year begins on the first Sunday of Advent (the fourth Sunday before December 25). Festivals or “feast days” commemorate historical events in the life of Christ or in the experience of the early Church. Dates remembering the lives and contributions of the great saints and martyrs of the Church are also recorded in order for today’s faithful to emulate their courage and devotion to Christ.

The Seven Seasons of the Christian Year teach
the four major truths about Christ:
The Incarnation, The Atonement, The Resurrection and the Holy Trinity

Advent – Preparation
Color: Serum Blue (or purple) – the royalty of Christ as King
Significance: Begins the Christian Year/penitential season of reflective thankfulness
 for our Savior’s first coming as Servant and readiness for His return as Judge and King
Theme: The two comings of Christ to earth
Duration: It starts four Sundays prior to Christmas Day on the Sunday nearest November 30th and ends on Christmas Eve.
Lesser Feast:
St. Nicholas Dec. 6

Christmas – Celebration
Color:  White (or Gold) – the purity, holiness, and perfection of Christ
Significance:  Honors the birth of Christ
Theme:  The Incarnation
Duration:  It starts at the first Eucharist on Christmas Eve, ends on Epiphany Eve, January 5. It last 12 days (the Twelve Days of Christmas)
Major Feast:
The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Dec. 25)
Lesser Feasts:
St. Stephen (Dec. 26)
St. John (Dec. 27)
Day of the Holy Innocents (Dec. 28--a feast for the children who were slain by Herod. they were Christianity’s first martyrs)
The Holy Name (Circumcision and naming of Christ--January 1)

Epiphany – A Showing Forth
Color: (Major Feast Days are White/ordinary days are green)
Significance:  The appearance and revelation of Christ to the world, as seen in the visit of The Magi (Gentiles) to the Christ Child
Theme: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
Duration:  January 6 through the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas) on February 2.
Feasts:
Feast of Epiphany (January 6)
Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ (1^st Sunday after Epiphany)
Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Jan. 2)

Ordinary Time after Epiphany
Color: Green– representing the renewal that comes from Christ
Significance: The Incarnation of Christ remains in the Church, as Jesus now continues His ministry through believers all over the world.
Theme: : “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
Duration: Lasts from the day after Candlemas until Shrove Tuesday--the day before Ash Wednesday

Lenten – Repentance
Color:  Purple – represents penance, death, and Christ’s forgiveness
(During Holy Week the color is Ox Blood Red, denoting the shedding of Christ’s blood.)
Significance:  Introspection for the removal of sin
Theme:  Repentance, forgiveness, and restoration
Duration:  It lasts from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week--a period of 40 Days (excluding Sundays).
Major Observance:
Ash Wednesday (Dried palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday Procession are burned and the ashes are imposed on the penitent’s forehead.)

Holy Week Services: (Ox Blood Red)
Palm Sunday (“Hosanna!” Processional)
Maundy Thursday (means “New Commandment”/a day of joy because Christ gave us the Eucharist-Color is White)
Good Friday (Color-Black/Day of Atonement for our sins)
Holy Saturday (lasts until sunset)
The Great Easter Vigil (starts at sunset on Holy Saturday until Easter Sunday sunrise)
From the evening liturgy on Maundy Thursday through evening prayer on Resurrection Sunday is also known as The Paschal Triduum or "Three Days".

Easter – Resurrection
Color:  White (or Gold) – represents the purity, holiness, and perfection of Christ
Significance:  The bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, conquering sin and death
Theme:  Joy and renewal through the resurrection power of the living Christ,
who has redeemed and brought us eternally home to the Father
Duration:  It starts Easter Evening and last 50 days until Pentecost.
Major Feasts:
Resurrection Sunday (Easter)
The Feast of Ascension (Christ returned to sit at the Right Hand of the Father, having finished the work of redemption. He now builds and governs His Church through the Holy Spirit until His bodily return to earth to rule.)

Pentecost—Keys of the Kingdom
Color:  Red – Life in the blood of Christ and a representation of the power that was made available to the Church…also represents the “tongues of fire” that rested upon the heads of those gathered in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost
Significance:  We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit who saves, sanctifies, and empowers for service…the guide, governor, and guardian of the Church.
The Holy Spirit was given to the Church on the day of Pentecost. It was here Peter “unlocked” the Kingdom with the Keys of the Kingdom.
Baptismal candidates would wear white robes on this day, so Pentecost was often called “Whitsunday” or “White Sunday”. many Christian calendars, liturgies, and hymnals still use this term.
Theme:  The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
Duration:  Pentecost Sunday through Trinity Sunday
Major Feasts:
Trinity Sunday (White is the color) Observed the first Sunday after Pentecost
A time when we celebrate and ponder the majesty and mystery of our one God in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Kingdomtide – Ordinary Time (Manifesting the Kingdom in Everyday Life)
(Also called the Season After Pentecost because the Christian growth is dependent upon the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.)
Color: Green – represents the growing Christian life
Significance: The Kingdom of God is an everyday reality in our lives and should not be marked by high’s and low’s, but steady progress.
Duration: It lasts from the day after Trinity Sunday until the day before Advent.
Major Feast:
Transfiguration of Our Lord (white--August 6)
Christ the King (White--Last Sunday before Advent)
Lesser Feasts:
All Saints Day (White…Nov. 1—honoring the heroes of the faith from the Bible and Church history)
All Souls Day (White Nov. 2--a time to honor all of our loved ones who have passed from this earthly existence into the rest of our Lord.)

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32  nkjv

The above verse is often quoted with the word “set”, but notice Jesus “makes” us free. This suggests a period of time--a process similar to peeling or unwrapping. As the Holy Spirit helps us to understand, embrace, and activate truth in our lives it will ultimately--without fail--begin to make us free!

Kingdom truths are like exquisite diamonds with multiple facets. The closer we are to the treasure, the more facets we can clearly locate and examine. Moving around the diamond also gives up perspectives we could not see from a static position. The enemy likes to keep us stuck in a rut, but God wants us to go from “glory to glory".

The Christian Calendar keeps up focused on the four major doctrines of Christ as we repeatedly, year after year, move rhythmically through the seven fixed seasons. They, like the diamond, remain unchanged. However, we are the ones changing--growing ever closer, gaining new perspectives as the Holy Spirit removes layers of self and man-centeredness to reveal a Christ consciousness.

We observe the birthdays of our loved ones every year at the same time. Nevertheless, these celebrations vary in meaning from year to year, becoming more poignant and precious with the passing of time and changing circumstances. So does the passing of holy days during our pilgrimage on earth.

We don’t gauge our spiritual growth by reading the latest “end time” book or attending a healing crusade, but by whether or not we know Jesus better--more intimately--than ever before! We compare ourselves…not to each other, but to Christ as He is increasingly revealed through time in these doctrines of the Church.

I must ask myself: Do I have a greater personal revelation of Christ’s Resurrection this year? Am I walking in a Kingdom reality of Pentecost that I was not able to grasp last year? How have these truths been working progressively, faithfully in my life over the past year to “make” me free in Christ? Can I tell a difference? Can others?

Yes, the Christian Year is the same; but am I? David proclaimed:

“Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, you have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is nothing before You.” Psalm 39:4-5a  nkjv

After David died the Holy Spirit proclaimed: “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep…” Acts 13:36  nkjv

May we all be wise redeemers and stewards of the gift of time. May it also be said of us that AFTER serving our generation by the will of God, we took off our watches, closed our calendars, and felt the eternal embrace of God!

Why I Quit Celebrating Christmas (The Modern Way)

Busy beforehand; let down afterward. That’s how I felt when celebrating Christmas on the fast track of American culture. I was concerned that a politically correct, generic holiday was obscuring the real meaning of the season with each passing year.

Imagine my delight when I finally found the answer in the way Christmas was honored in Christian homes and churches in the past. Now, I still enjoy all the glitter and glow, but through more Christ-centered traditions. Although some church communions still follow these customs, most Christians in the United States are not familiar with the term “Christmastide”.

The Christmastide season is observed in the following ways:

Advent: Begins the fourth Sunday prior to December 25

The Feast of St. Nicholas: December 6

The Feast of the Nativity: (sunset December 24 to sunset December 25)

The Twelve Days of Christmas (sunset December 25 to sunset January 6)

The Feast of Epiphany: January 6

 Advent means coming or arrival. Its season begins on the fourth Sunday prior to the Nativity. It is a time of preparation and expectation.

A new candle is lit each week around a special wreath that focuses on a message shared in homes and churches.

Different communions have their own devotionals, but the following is one that my family has used for years that focuses on God’s coming to earth four times:

Week 1: We look back on the promise and fulfillment of the Messiah's first coming to earth as humanity's Sacrifice and Servant to reconcile us to God.

The Good News: God keeps His promises in the fullness of time!

Week 2: We focus on the promise of Christ's second coming as Judge and King to remove every trace of the tragic consequences of evil and set up His everlasting Kingdom.

The Good News: Flawless justice will right every wrong in the end, and we will live forever with God!

Week 3: We give thanks for knowing Jesus as personal Savior in life and death—a relationship that makes us unafraid before a God who comes quietly for His own every day.

The Good News: We fear neither the trials of life nor the sting of death, for we have been placed securely in Christ--sealed unto unconditional acceptance--now and forever!

Note: The Advent Wreath traditionally contains three blue-violet candles, signifying Christ in both roles as King and Savior. We cannot separate the manger from the Cross; Christ’s arrival in the earth makes no sense unless it is seen as the beginning of His redemptive mission.

The third candle, however, is pink for rejoicing. This reminds us that even in the middle of our introspection and repentance, we can still rejoice. We belong to a merciful God who is always available to help us.  I like the way The Message Bible translates Hebrews 4:14-16:

 Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.

Week 4: We invite Christ to come anew into our hearts and homes. We don’t want to miss the miracle of the Incarnation—Christ in us—that revives and graces us to go into a new year and carry the message of reconciliation to the world.

The Good News: I can renew my relationship with Jesus!

Nativity Eve: The four candles representing hope, peace, joy, and love have been lit. Now, the white candle in the center is lit—the Christ Candle—for the One who was, who is, who is to come.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Rev. 1:8)

Gifts are meticulously wrapped and holiday menus set, but the question remains...this year, how well have I prepared for the Advent (coming) of Christ?

Christ first came to earth as a babe in a manger long ago. He became one of us so He could carry humanity’s sins in His own body and bear the punishment unto death. This sacrifice ended mankind’s estrangement from God, thereby making eternal reconciliation available to whosoever wanted it.

That was his role as a suffering servant. When Jesus comes to earth again, it will be as humanity’s rightful Judge and King. Have I prepared for that day? How does knowing this truth help me steward my life and witness before others?

Although Christ will return visibly to earth one day, individuals pass into their chosen eternity every day. Am I prepared for the end of my personal time? Are there any unsaid words, deeds, or reconciliations that need to be addressed?

At the end of human history, God will weigh all motives and actions on a perfect scale of justice. No one will escape his or her recompense. No one! Thus, can I trust Him to eventually and surely right all wrongs, even though I may not witness justice during my lifetime?

Even for the Christian, there will be an accounting of one’s earthly life. What endures through the test of honesty will be our final gift to Jesus. How well do I cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He works to conform me into the image of Christ?

What is the condition of my heart where Christ dwells now by the Holy Spirit? Is it cluttered with useless and broken things that block the light?  Is God crowded in there...somewhere?

A good time to toss out junk is before another Christmas comes and goes, and you find yourself unchanged. That's the purpose of Advent. You light a candle and take a few moments each day to pray during the busiest season of the year.

The candle signifies willing introspection...a welcoming of the Lord into the neglected nooks and crannies. It’s an invitation for Him to sweep them clean; then, fill with His light.

I know many of you have already decorated your tree or are in the throes of getting it up so you can enjoy its beauty before Christmas. No doubt, you will probably take it down the day after Christmas or before the New Year arrives. (As a child, I heard that leaving a tree up after New Year's Day was bad luck!)

In earlier times, Christians did not bring the tree indoors until Nativity Eve, the 24th. Homes were already decorated with greenery, but the family waited to decorate and light the tree on that night to symbolize "lighting the way" for the Christ Child's family.

Although I bring in a tree and decorate it throughout Advent, I wait until the 24th to light it. For me, it symbolizes that we always have room for Jesus in a crowded world where too many turn Him away.

The controversy among some Christian denominations regarding a holiday tree seems to center on one portion of Scripture taken out of context: Jeremiah 10:1-5

"Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

Thus saith the LORD, 'Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go.

Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good'."

The entire chapter clearly addresses idolatry and the making of wooden idols to worship.

If Christians want to take the above Scripture at face value by not bringing any decorated "trees" inside, then what are we to do about ornamental trees at weddings with bows and ribbons? What about funeral wreaths?

It all goes back to the motive in one's heart. For instance, although many seek guidance from the stars, sailors use the stars to navigate as a gift from God--not paying homage to the creature, but the Creator.

We have written evidence from early church history that the evergreen tree was used to teach new converts about the Trinity before 500 A.D. Therefore, whether it's at weddings, funerals or Christmas, we take what God has created and use it the way He intended--for His glory and praise.

The beginning of the Feast of the Nativity (or as it has come to be known as Christmas Eve) is a time of great anticipation as the tree is lit. Then, family and friends gather for a meal before heading out to services. The tree traditionally remains up until the end of the Feast of Epiphany. (Jan. 6)

You see, years ago the Church did not recognize the Christmas season as officially beginning until the Feast of the Nativity drew to a close on the evening of December 25th. Christmas then lasted twelve days (from sunset to sunset); hence, the Twelve Days OF (not after) Christmas.

While Advent was a serious time of personal preparation and the Feast of the Nativity was a holy day of worship, the Twelve Days of Christmas were full of laughter, presents, feasting and fun.

We are overfed, over-indulged, and too tired to do anything the evening of December 25th; but in the earlier days, dusk signaled that the festivities were just beginning. God had received His "first fruits" of worship. Now, TWELVE days remained for the faithful to celebrate the joyous reality of "God with Us" with family and friends.

In the days ahead, I’ll tell you more about the real St. Nick and post fun ways to celebrate his legacy of giving. Additionally, you'll discover the meanings of the three Nativity masses, learn how to celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas, find out what the early church did on December 31st, and read about the colorful Feast of the Epiphany--wonderful, old traditions that can easily become your family's Christmastide!