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The Church Year

From the 4th century onwards, the church began to structure itself into a predictable rhythm of worship and community life. It had a story to tell and so broke the year into manageable pieces for the telling. It used popular cultural seasons and holidays to overlay its teachings. When communities came to turns in the road, the church was there waiting with a word or a ritual.

For example, Christmas (the birth of the Messiah) was placed against the Roman celebration of the sun, and used the winter solstice as a springboard.

The season of Lent is an intentional stretching of the story of the "battle of the worlds" taking place in Messiah's suffering and death. Each of the six weeks of Lent opens a particular part of the story for reflection. The season is somber. Our music is introspective. The preaching tackles the great human themes of death and life.

Easter itself comes from non-Christian beginnings as a lunar festival, and marks the return of life to the earth after winter.

All of our Sunday services are planned around the structure of the church year, from Bible readings, to sermons and music. The worship of God involves all the senses. We see, hear, smell, taste and touch the mystery of God. From ages of illiteracy came the use of colours for marking the church year.

Season Timing Colour
Advent Four Sundays before Christmas Blue (signifies a time of waiting)
Christmas Christmas Eve - January 6 White (signifies purity and innocence)
Epiphany January 6 until Lent. This is when the meaning of Messiah is explored. Green (the pastoral colour of the church year)
Lent 6 weeks before Easter. This is the season that takes us to the heart of the Christian story: the suffering and death of the Messiah. Purple (signifies penitence)
Easter Easter and 50 days following White (signifies purity)
Day of Pentecost 50 days after Easter, which marks the blessing of the church. Red (the colour of blood and martydom)
Ordinary Time Pentecost until next Advent Green (for growing, living things)


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