The Liturgical Calendar
Why follow the liturgical calendar?
· Helps those who seek an orderly method of observing the celebrations and remembrances of the Christian church
· Aids in achieving a rich experience of faith and worship
Liturgical Colors
White: Symbolizes purity, joy, and victory; used for festivals of our Lord, i.e., Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Ascension, Trinity
Green: Symbolizes life and growth; used for seasons of Epiphany and Ordinary time
Purple: Symbolizes royalty, signifies penitence; used for Advent and Lent
Red: Symbolizes fire and blood; used for Pentecost and Saint’s days
Black: Symbolizes death; used only on Good Friday
Movable festivals
Advent: beginning the Sunday nearest November 30
Transfiguration: the last Sunday after Epiphany
Ash Wednesday: 46 days before Easter
Palm Sunday: The Sunday before Easter
Easter: the first Sunday after the full moon which happens upon or next after March 21
Ascension Day: 40 days after Easter
Pentecost: 50 days after Easter
Trinity Sunday: Sunday after Pentecost
Seasons of the Christian Calendar
The first half of the year (Advent through Pentecost) celebrates events in Jesus’ life.
Advent: “Anticipation”, Season of Expectancy; Celebration of the coming of the Lord; Four Sundays preceding Christmas
Christmastide: “Incarnation”, Season of the Nativity; Celebration of our Lord’s birth; Christmas day through Epiphany Eve
Epiphany: “Revelation”, Season of the Evangel; Celebration of our Lord’s manifestation to the Gentiles and Wise Men; From four to nine Sundays depending on Easter’s date
Lent: “Crucifixion”, Season of Penitence and Renewal; Celebration of Preparation and Suffering; Ash Wednesday through Good Friday; Symbolizes by our Lord’s forty days in the wilderness
Eastertide: “Resurrection”, Season of Resurrection; Celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; Begins with Easter and continues forty days
Ascensiontide: “Ascension”, Celebration of Jesus’ Ascension; Ascension Day and the Sunday after the Ascension
Pentecost: “Indwelling”, Celebration of the Holy Spirit; Pentecost Sunday and the days of Pentecost week; Concludes the first half of the year
The second half of the year celebrates the subjective aspects of faith, man’s response to God.
Ordinary time: Sanctification; begins with Trinity Sunday and continues until the beginning of Advent
The virtues and resolutions of Mission Cleveland have been aligned with the liturgical calendar in a way that we believe will be meaningful in your spiritual growth.