The Church Year

The Christian Calendar consists of special days and seasons which highlight the essential teachings of the Creeds:
• Advent – the season of preparation, anticipation & hope: the coming of the Lord (begins in late November-early December)
• Christmas – the Word made flesh: the nativity of the Lord (12 days, beginning on 25 December)
• Epiphany – the showing forth of Christ to all the world: the mission of the church (begins 6 January)
• Ash Wednesday – reflection & penitence, the first day of Lent (falls in late February or March)
• Lent – forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in imitation of Christ in the wilderness (begins on Ash Wednesday)
• Holy Week – the commemoration & re-presenting of the Passion of our Lord (begins with Palm Sunday)
• Easter – the Resurrection of the Lord: the Queen of Festivals! (50 Days, beginning with Easter Day)
• Ascension – the Risen Christ ascends to heaven (the 40th day of Easter, always a Thursday)
• Pentecost – the coming of the Holy Spirit: the birthday of the church (50 days after Easter)
• Trinity Sunday — celebrates the name of God, who has revealed himself in three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
• Ordinary Time – the life and ministry of Christ and his Church (follows Pentecost)
• All Saints Sunday – honouring God’s Holy Ones (the Sunday after All Saints Day, 1 November)
• Christ the King – The Reign of Christ (the Sunday Next before Advent)
• Throughout the year, the Church keeps a wide variety of Saints’ Days and Holy Days