The Christian Year
Because God is the author of history, we may worship at any time. The Psalms reflect the daily worship of the people of God, while the Torah teaches that one day in seven is to be set apart as holy to the Lord. The prophets anticipated God's judgment and triumph over evil on the day of the Lord. The Gospels all testify that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week. The apostles came to speak of this as the Lord's Day, claiming God's victory over sin and death through the power of Jesus' resurrection.
The first Christians began to celebrate Jesus' resurrection every Lord's Day, gathering to proclaim the Word and celebrate the Sacraments. The Church continues to gather, traditionally on the first day of the week, to hear the gospel and break bread in Jesus' name, with the confidence that the risen Lord is with us.
Through two thousand years of Christian worship, the Church has developed ways of keeping time--many of them adapted from the feasts and fasts of Israel that Jesus kept. This pattern of the Christian year keeps us centered in Christ as we seek to proclaim the story of our faith, grow as Jesus' disciples, and serve Christ's mission. The year begins with a focus on Christ's incarnation, with the seasons of Advent and Christmas encompassing the Nativity and Epiphany of the Lord. After Epiphany we celebrate Jesus' Baptism and Transfiguration. At the heart of the Christian year is the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection, with the seasons of Lent and Easter encompassing Ash Wednesday, the Great Three Days--Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil--the Resurrection and Ascension of the Lord, and the Day of Pentecost. After Pentecost we commemorate Trinity Sunday, All Saints Day, and the Reign of Christ.
The pattern of daily prayer also connects the Church with the worship of ancient Israel, centuries of Christian tradition, and Jesus' own practices. Whether in large assemblies, with small groups, or at home, daily prayer serves as a bridge between public worship and personal affairs, helping us to live out our faith each day.
We mark other occasions in worship, reflecting the cycles of civic and agricultural life, cultural and family celebrations, the commemoration of significant persons and events, and the programs and activities of the church. It is appropriate to observe such things, provided that they never distract from the worship of the triune God.
- from the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Directory for Worship, 1.0202
The seasons and festivals of the Christian year (or liturgical calendar) offer a way to order the annual life of the church according to the life of Christ and the events of salvation history.
The Christian year is composed of two primary cycles, centered in the mystery of our faith in Jesus Christ: the Nativity cycle, consisting of the twelve-day season of Christmas and the preparatory, four-week season of Advent; and the Resurrection cycle, consisting of the seven-week season of Easter and the preparatory, forty-day season of Lent.
Between these seasonal cycles the church keeps Ordinary Time (referring to Sundays in order) through the Sundays after Epiphany and Pentecost.
- from the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship (2018)
The first Christians began to celebrate Jesus' resurrection every Lord's Day, gathering to proclaim the Word and celebrate the Sacraments. The Church continues to gather, traditionally on the first day of the week, to hear the gospel and break bread in Jesus' name, with the confidence that the risen Lord is with us.
Through two thousand years of Christian worship, the Church has developed ways of keeping time--many of them adapted from the feasts and fasts of Israel that Jesus kept. This pattern of the Christian year keeps us centered in Christ as we seek to proclaim the story of our faith, grow as Jesus' disciples, and serve Christ's mission. The year begins with a focus on Christ's incarnation, with the seasons of Advent and Christmas encompassing the Nativity and Epiphany of the Lord. After Epiphany we celebrate Jesus' Baptism and Transfiguration. At the heart of the Christian year is the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection, with the seasons of Lent and Easter encompassing Ash Wednesday, the Great Three Days--Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil--the Resurrection and Ascension of the Lord, and the Day of Pentecost. After Pentecost we commemorate Trinity Sunday, All Saints Day, and the Reign of Christ.
The pattern of daily prayer also connects the Church with the worship of ancient Israel, centuries of Christian tradition, and Jesus' own practices. Whether in large assemblies, with small groups, or at home, daily prayer serves as a bridge between public worship and personal affairs, helping us to live out our faith each day.
We mark other occasions in worship, reflecting the cycles of civic and agricultural life, cultural and family celebrations, the commemoration of significant persons and events, and the programs and activities of the church. It is appropriate to observe such things, provided that they never distract from the worship of the triune God.
- from the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Directory for Worship, 1.0202
The seasons and festivals of the Christian year (or liturgical calendar) offer a way to order the annual life of the church according to the life of Christ and the events of salvation history.
The Christian year is composed of two primary cycles, centered in the mystery of our faith in Jesus Christ: the Nativity cycle, consisting of the twelve-day season of Christmas and the preparatory, four-week season of Advent; and the Resurrection cycle, consisting of the seven-week season of Easter and the preparatory, forty-day season of Lent.
Between these seasonal cycles the church keeps Ordinary Time (referring to Sundays in order) through the Sundays after Epiphany and Pentecost.
- from the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship (2018)