Seasons of the Church Year
Advent
The four weeks leading up to Christmas that is a season of preparation, both for remembering the birth of Jesus Christ and for looking ahead to the Second Coming of Christ. The season concludes with Christmas Eve.
Christmas
The 12 Day celebration of the Incarnation of God's Son in the birth of Jesus Christ.
Epiphany
Begins with the Day of Epiphany (Three Kings Day), on January 6, which recalls the journey of the Wise Men to visit the Christ Child. The season of Epiphany also recalls the Baptism of Jesus and ends with Transfiguration Sunday.
Lent
The six weeks (40 days) of reflection on Christ's suffering and death on the cross leading up to Holy Week. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday (a day of remembering our sins) and concludes with Holy Week (recalling the last week of Jesus' life) which includes Palm Sunday (the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem) Maundy Thursday (the day Jesus shared the Last Supper) and Good Friday (the day that Jesus died on the cross).
Easter
The season celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The season begins with Easter Sunday (the day Christ rose from the grave) and concludes with Ascension Day (the day that Christ ascended into Heaven).
Pentecost
The day we celebrate the empowering of the Holy Spirit and birth of the Christian Church as recorded in Acts 2.
Special Sundays after Pentecost celebrating the life and faith of the Church
Trinity Sunday
On the first Sunday after Pentecost we celebrate the Trinity: God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
World Communion Sunday
On World Communion Sunday Christians from all around the globe celebrate that there is "one body and one Spirit" along with "one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:4-5) by joining together around the Lord's Table for Holy Communion.
Reformation Day
On Reformation Day we remember the start of the Protestant Reformation on October 31, 1517 and the truths held by Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone as taught by Scripture alone.
All Saints Day
On November 1 we remember all the saints of the Church who have gone on to live in their heavenly home.
Christ the King Sunday
On the final Sunday of the Church Year we celebrate the reign of Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, both today and for all eternity.
Other Biblical Holidays
Hanukkah
The eight night Biblical holiday celebrating the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple by the Maccabees. In Hanukkah, Biblical faith was saved from being erased forever. The holiday celebrates God as our Light and Salvation. The story is told in the book of 1 Maccabees.
Purim
The Biblical holiday that recalls how God saved His people from genocide through the faith and action of Queen Esther. The story is recounted in the book of Esther.
Passover
The Biblical holiday that retells the story of the Exodus and how God freed His Chosen People, under the leadership of Moses, from slavery in Egypt and led them to safety through the parting of the Red Sea. [It was during a Passover celebration that Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper.]
Pentecost
The Biblical holiday recalling how God gave Moses the 10 Commandments at Mount Sinai. [It was on the Day of Pentecost that God sent His Holy Spirit upon Jesus' Disciples as recorded in Acts 2.]
Feast of Trumpets
Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) is a Biblical holiday celebrated by the blowing of rams horns (shofar), as a way to call God's people into His presence. [Jesus and the Apostle Paul allude to Yom Teruah when they proclaim that the sounding of the Trumpet of the Lord will usher in the Second Coming of Christ.]
Day of Atonement
Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) is the Biblical Holiday recalling the sacrifice needed for God to forgive our sins. [The Book of Hebrews recounts how Christ, made the final blood sacrifice for the salvation of the world.]
Feast of Tabernacles
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) is a seven day Biblical holiday that celebrates God's provision during the 40 year journey to the Promised Land. Sukkot is celebrated as seven days of Thanksgiving spent in temporary shelters, recalling the way God dwells with us and provides for us. The book of Zechariah predicts that all nations will one day celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and acknowledge the Lord as their God. Sukkot also looks to the new Heaven and new Earth in which God will dwell with his people for eternity.