|
This is one way to picture the Liturgical Church Year or
Calendar. Notice that there are two recurring cycles of "extraordinary"
time undergirded by periods of "ordinary" time. "Ordinary" time
is the standard time for worship — the Lord's Day — when it
is not part of a special celebration of a major event or aspect
of God's saving work in Jesus. Every Sunday proclaims that all
of time has been redeemed in Christ. The Lord's Day is the foundation
of the way Christians keep time."
But there is "extraordinary" time, describing special cycles or seasons.
One cycle spirals around Christmas, the other around Easter. So we have the
Christmas Cycle and the
Easter Cycle.
The
Christmas Cycle includes:
- 4 weeks of Advent
- 12 days of Christmas
- The Epiphany of
the Lord (January 6 every year)
The
Easter Cycle begins on
Ash Wednesday
Between the
Christmas Cycle and the
Easter Cycle there is Ordinary
Time:
Source: Liturgical Year: Supplemental
Liturgical Resource 7 © 1992 Westminster/John Knox
Press
Colors of each season are represented in the above chart.
These colors are used in the paraments (draped cloths) hung
on the pulpit and lectern, as well as in other ways to call
attention to each particular season.
Acolytes always wear white vestments because they bear the
light of Christ, reminding us of the saving work of God in Christ
for which we give praise in worship and share with others in
our normal day activities. Our lives really are light-bearers,
because we always live what we truly believe.
|
