Church of the Cross

The Church Calendar Explained

THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHURCH YEAR

For centuries Christians have followed what is known as the Liturgical or Church Year. The year is based upon the major events in the life of Christ and the early Church. It is comprised of the following major seasons:

• Advent: celebrates the coming of Christ to us in His birth and culminates on Christmas Day

• Epiphany: celebrates the visit of the Magi to the Christ child and His manifestation to the Gentiles (non-Jews)

• Lent: a season of reflection and repentance which begins 40 days prior to Easter and coincides with Christ‘s 40 days of temptation in the desert

• Holy Week: commemorates the last week of Christ‘s life and culminates on Easter Sunday when we celebrate His resurrection

• Pentecost: marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the first Christians and the birthday of the Church. All Sundays after Pentecost are marked as Ordinary Time.

As Thomas Howard writes in Evangelical Is Not Enough:

“The liturgical year is nothing more (and nothing less) than the Church‘s ‘walking through’ the gospel with the Lord. Since it is a plain fact of our humanness that we are rhythmic creatures who must keep coming back to things that are always true, it is especially good for us to do this in the Church. We do it in our natural lives: someone is born and is with us day after day, year after year...we marry and take up daily life with spouses year after year, but once a year we find that it is a good thing to mark this ever- present fact, not because it is less true on other days but because we are the sort of creature that is helped and filled with joy when the routines and ever-present fact are set apart, gilded, and held up for our contemplation and celebration... It enriches our apprehension of the thing; whereas, left to our own capacity to keep things alive in our minds, we might find that they have sunk into a kind of autumnal dimness. They need to be revivified, not because they dwindle in significance between times, but because we dwindle in our capacity to stay alive to them.”

2

ADVENT

Advent is Latin for “coming” and is the season of the Liturgical Year that begins four Sundays before Christmas. Advent celebrates the mystery of God‘s incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ when, in the words of John‘s Gospel:

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Though Advent has been observed for centuries as a time to contemplate Christ's birth, many people today acknowledge it only with a blank look. For the vast majority of us, December flies by in a flurry of activities, and the ―holiday season" turns out to be the most stressful time of the year. Our American culture has consumerized Christmas to the point that gifts, good feelings and Santa Claus are more looked forward to and Christ‘s birth is a quick side note. But rightly understood, Advent calls a halt to all that. It is a season of preparation and anticipation, during which we prepare our hearts, as it were, for the coming of God to us. The Old Testament prophesies of the coming of Jesus refer to as the one who will be called Immanuel meaning: “God with us.”

A deliberate tension must be built into our practice of the Advent season. Christ has come, and yet not all things have reached completion. We still await His Second Coming, when He will return to finish God‘s work of redemption by creating a new heaven and earth. For this reason Advent is also a penitential season, a time to take inventory of our spiritual lives and joyfully pursue repentance in the confident expectation and hope of Christ‘s coming again.

The Advent Wreath In John‘s gospel, Jesus is called “the Light of the world” and thus we light a new candle on the Advent Wreath each Sunday in commemoration of the light of Christ. The lighting ceremony is accompanied by special readings, prayers and hymns, which remind us of the fulfillment of God‘s long awaited promise to send a Redeemer to free us from our sins and save us.

Season of the Church Year: Advent Liturgical Color: Blue (Symbolizing expectation, hope “the blue of a dawning day.”)

3

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

A Brief History and Explanation

The 12 days of Christmas refer to the days after Christmas and not before Christmas. These 12 days bridge the time between Christmas (December 25) and Epiphany – the celebration of the Wise Men appearing before baby Jesus (January 6). Several hundred years ago in Western Europe each day was given significance in a way to catechize the Christian children. A mnemonic song was developed to teach help the children remember the significance of the 12 days of Christmas during religious wars.

First Day (Partridge in a Pear Tree) – represents Christ being sacrificed on a tree (cross). Jesus is sometimes presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . ." (Luke 13:34).

Second Day (Two Turtle Doves) – represents the Old and New Testaments of Scripture, which to-gether bear witness to God's self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God‘s salvation to the world.

Third Day (Three French Hens) - represents the Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Fourth Day (Four Calling Birds) – represents the four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.

Fifth Day (Five Golden Rings) – represents the first five books of the Old Testament: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of

humanity's sinful failure and God's response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.

Sixth Day (Six Geese A-laying) – represents the six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).

Seventh Day (Seven Swans A-swimming) – represents the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11).

4

Eighth Day (Eight Maids A-milking) – represents the eight Beatitudes preached by Christ: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10).

Ninth Day (Nine Ladies Dancing) – represents the nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness, 6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control. (Galatians 5:22).

Tenth Day (Ten Lords A-leaping) – represents the ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)

Eleventh Day (Eleven Pipers Piping) – represents The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Jude. (Luke 6:14-16). The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.

Twelfth Day (Twelve Drummers Drumming) – represents the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He de-scended into to the dead. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the quick and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

5

EPIPHANY

The Epiphany of Our Lord

Epiphany is one of the few feasts of the Christian calendar in which some knowledge of the event is communicated by the very name of the holiday. The word “epiphany” originates from the Greek word epiphaneia, which translates to “an appearance” or “a manifestation.” The holiday is celebrated on the 6th day of January and commemorates the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ to the world. Along with Christmas and Easter, Epiphany is one of the three oldest Christian festivals.

There are three specific events in the life of Jesus that are associated with the Epiphany: the visit of the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus and Jesus‘ first recorded miracle: the changing of water into wine at Cana. All three occurrences in some way mark the revelation of Jesus as the God of the universe. The Wise Men were the first people of non-Jewish decent to worship Jesus as the Messiah. At Christ‘s baptism, John proclaimed that He was the Lamb of God and that He would take away the sin of the world – attesting to Christ‘s deity and His ability to provide salvation for all people. Jesus‘ transforming water to wine at Cana was the first empirical evidence that He was the Christ that the Wise Men of the East and John the Baptist believed Him to be. In western Churches the visit of the Magi has often taken precedent over the Baptism of Christ and His first miracle, but recently Churches have attempted to resurrect the three-fold tradition celebrating the Baptism on the first Sunday after Epiphany and the first miracle of Christ on the second.

It is fortunate that Epiphany is celebrated so soon after the birth of Christ. The feast is an opportune time for Christians to reflect on the fact that God intended not only to provide His Son for the salvation of the world, but that He desires that all the world know of His provision and the reality of forgiveness manifest in Jesus Christ. It is a season in which the Church who worships the Light of the world contemplates its duty to bear witness to that Light.

Season of the Church Year: Epiphany Liturgical Color: Dark Green (symbolizing new growth)

6

LENT

Lent is the forty days leading up to Easter, which commemorates the forty days of Christ‘s temptation in the wilderness. It is characterized by a focus on penitence, fasting, prayer and works of charity. During Lent we identify ourselves with the Lord‘s fast and ordeal in the wilderness, which He undertook for us. As Hebrews says:

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Lent is also a foreshadowing of the culmination of Jesus‘ ministry: His suffering (or Passion). During this season we join millions of other Christians worldwide who remember that the reason for Christ‘s suffering is our sin, your sin, my sin. Sin caused Jesus to take on flesh in order to save us from the penalty of death. During this solemn time, we remember that “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

Many people find it helpful to voluntarily give up something during Lent, such as a simple pleasure or small luxury, as a reminder of the sufferings and sacrifice of Christ on their behalf. This common practice is not mandated in the Bible nor is it a sign of exceptional spirituality. However if one does choose to voluntarily give something up, I strongly recommend that you fill that time with prayer, Scripture or reflecting on the goodness of God. It is merely a technique to use temporary physical longings to point one toward a deeper spiritual reality.

Season of the Church Year: Lent Liturgical Color: Gray (Symbolizing penitence)

7

HOLY WEEK

Holy Week has been celebrated by the church since the early 200‘s. The week-long remembrance of the last week of Christ‘s ministry is mentioned in Dionysius Alexandrius (260 AD) and written extensively in the Apostolic Constitutions (written sometime in the third century). Holy Week concludes the season of Lent. It begins on Palm Sunday and includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday (or Black Saturday) and culminates with Easter. In the early church, Holy Week consisted of abstaining from wine and meat. Some in the early church would also fast from Friday at sundown until Easter morning.

It is widely believed that Constantine declared that all business, courts, and public offices were closed during the entire week. This practice continued for the next 1500 years. Most Christians since Jesus‘ ascension have seen the week leading up to Easter as the most high point of the year. In the early church, Easter was the only day of the year that people were baptized to coincide with the resurrection of Jesus. What if the entire Church took Holy Week as a week of reflection, devotion and as a time to remember what Christ‘s final week was like and what was accomplished?

In most churches, in most countries, the entire week is filled with services at noon and at night concluding in a grand celebration of the resurrection of our risen Lord. In fact, over a third of the chapters of the Gospels record Jesus‘ final week1. Should the last week of Jesus‘ life have more importance to us than it currently does?

Consider taking Good Friday off and spend the day with your family reading through the last 10 chapters of John (Jesus’ last week) and attend a Good Friday service. Or consider not planning anything during Holy Week and taking your family through the last week of our Lord. Then on Sunday plan a HUGE celebration with all the finest foods and drinks and invite friends, family and strangers over your house and make the meal bigger than Christmas. As we feast, because of Jesus‘ resurrection we await expectantly for the day when all the Church will feast with the Bridegroom in eternity.

Season of the Church Year: Lent (Holy Week) Liturgical Color: Red (Symbolizing blood of the Christ that won our redemption)

1Matthew – 8 chapters of 28; Mark – 6 chapters of 16; Luke - 6 chapters of 24; John - 10 chapters of 21

8

PALM SUNDAY

The Bible assumes that we live in a world that is broken and that we ourselves are broken. The Bible also assumes that we human beings long for everything to be made right. Palm Sunday is all about that long-ing. On Palm Sunday we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem on the Sunday before His crucifixion. The people of Israel had long awaited the coming of the Messiah who had been promised centuries before. This longing and anticipation was heightened by the oppressive occupation of the Roman Empire, as epitomized by the brutal governor Pontius Pilate.

The crowd‘s excitement on that momentous day was also in part due to the fact that only a few days ear-lier Jesus had performed a remarkable miracle in Bethany, a small community just outside the city. There, in front of a large gathering of mourners, He raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. Thus, many had come to believe that He was indeed the long expected Messiah, the one who would cast out the Romans and reestablish the Davidic Kingship of Israel. Ironically, this was also the event that finally galvanized His enemies into action. Fearing they would lose their prestige and position, the Sanhedrin (Jewish Ruling Council) began to plot His death.

As Jesus approached Jerusalem riding on a donkey, large crowds lined the streets, waving Palm branches and shouting “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Some even spread their cloaks before Him. By their actions they were saying, “Jesus, you are the great rescuer we have been longing for. You are the great king who is going to make everything all right.” But what they could not foresee was that Jesus‘ crown would be one of thorns and His coronation one of suffering, for His mission was not to establish a new political order for Israel but a new spiritual order for the world - by taking upon himself the penalty for our sins on the cross.

Assisted by the betrayal of one of His own disciples (Judas Iscariot) the Sanhedrin arrested Jesus and turned Him over to Pontius Pilot, who at their behest had Him crucified. Sadly, many of those who had shouted “Hosanna!” on Sunday shouted “Crucify!” on Friday. Yet those who by faith put their trust in King Jesus experienced true healing and deliverance from their sins. Even the Roman centurion and other soldiers at the cross exclaimed “Surely He was the Son of God!” The Apostle Paul wrote: ―The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56) Therefore let us worship the King!

Season of the Church Year: Lent (Holy Week) Liturgical Color: Red (Symbolizing blood of the martyrs and power of the Holy Spirit)

9

MAUNDY THURSDAY

There are a variety of events that occurred on this last day before Jesus was arrested. These include: the last meal together (Passover), the institution of Eucharist or Communion, the betrayal by Judas and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while the disciples fell asleep. Most churches, focus on the meal and communion as a way to commemorate this day.

During the last few days, Jesus and His disciples had steadily journeyed from Galilee toward Jerusalem. On the sunlight hillsides of Galilee, Jesus was popular, the crowds were friendly and the future was bright. Even His entry into Jerusalem had been marked by a joyous welcome. But in Jerusalem there was a growing darkness as the crowds began to draw back from the man who spoke of kingdom, crucifixion and resurrection.

Even as Jesus and His disciples came together to share this meal, they already stood in the shadow of the cross. It was later that night, after the meal, as Jesus and His disciples were praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, that Jesus was arrested and taken to the house of Caiaphas the High Priest. On Friday He would die.

The term Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (from which we get our English word mandate), from a verb that means "to give," "to entrust," or "to order." The term is usually translated "commandment," from John's account of this Thursday night. According to the Fourth Gospel, as Jesus and the Disciples were eating their final meal together before Jesus‘ arrest, He washed the disciples' feet to illustrate humility and the spirit of servanthood. After they finished the meal and walked into the night toward Gethsemane, Jesus taught His disciples a "new" commandment that was not really new (John 13:34-35):

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, you also ought to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Many churches have a service outside in a garden (to symbolize the Garden of Gethsemane) and at the end communion is taken but then the service ends in silence and everyone heads home just as the disciples did….scattered, silent and waiting for Good Friday.

Season of the Church Year: Lent (Holy Week) Liturgical Color: Red (Symbolizing blood of the Christ that won our redemption)

10

GOOD FRIDAY

On this day, the church commemorates Jesus‘ arrest (since by Jewish customs of counting days from sundown to sundown it was already Friday), His trial, crucifixion and suffering, death, and burial. Since services on this day are to observe Jesus‘ death, and since Eucharist is a celebration, there is traditionally no Communion observed on Good Friday. Also, depending on how the services are conducted on this day, all pictures, statutes, and the cross are covered in mourning black, the chancel and altar coverings are replaced with black, and altar candles are extinguished. They are left this way through Saturday, but are always replaced with white before sunrise on Sunday.

Usually, a Good Friday service is a series of Scripture readings, a short homily, and a time of meditation and prayer. One traditional use of Scripture is to base the homily or devotional on the Seven Last Words of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel traditions.

Father, forgive them . . . (Luke 23:34) This day you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43) Woman, behold your son . . .(John 19:26-27) My God, my God . . . (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) I thirst. (John 19:28) It is finished! (John 19:30) Father into your hands . . . (Luke 23:46)

Another common service for Good Friday is Tenebrae (Latin for "shadows" or "darkness"). Sometimes this term is applied generally to all church services on the last three days of Holy week. More specifically, however, it is used of the Service of Darkness or Service of Shadows, usually held in the evening of Good Friday. Again, there are varieties of this service, but it is usually characterized by a series of Scripture readings and meditation done in stages while lights and/or candles are gradually extinguished to symbolize the growing darkness not only of Jesus‘ death but of hopelessness in the world without God. The service ends in darkness, sometimes with a final candle, the Christ candle, carried out of the sanctuary, symbolizing the death of Jesus. Often the service concludes with a loud noise symbolizing the closing of Jesus‘ tomb. The worshippers then leave in silence to wait.

Season of the Church Year: Lent (Holy Week) Liturgical Color: Red (Symbolizing blood of the Christ that won our redemption)

11

HOLY SATURDAY (Black Saturday)

This is the seventh day of the week, the day Jesus rested in the tomb. In the first three Gospel accounts this was the Jewish Sabbath, which provided appropriate symbolism of the seventh day rest. While some church traditions continue daily services on Saturday, there is no communion served on this day. Some traditions suspend services and Scripture readings during the day on Saturday, to be resumed at the Easter Vigil after sundown Saturday. It is traditionally a day of quiet meditation as Christians contemplate the darkness of a world without a future and without hope apart from God and His grace.

It is also a time to remember family and the faithful who have died as we await the resurrection, or to honor the martyrs who have given their lives for the cause of Christ in the world. While Good Friday is a traditional day of fasting, some also fast on Saturday as the climax of the season of Lent. An ancient tradition dating to the first centuries of the church calls for no food of any kind to be eaten on Holy Saturday, or for 40 hours before sunrise on Sunday. However it is observed, Holy Saturday has traditionally been a time of reflection and waiting, the time of weeping that lasts for the night while awaiting the joy that comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

Season of the Church Year: Lent (Holy Week) Liturgical Color: Red (Symbolizing blood of the Christ that won our redemption)

12

EASTER

If there is one doctrine in Christianity that has compelled either belief or scorn, it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. At the time of His death, no one, not even His disciples, believed that Jesus would rise from the dead. Indeed, the primary taunt continually hurled at Him during the agony of His torture was “If you really are the Christ, come down from there! Can not He who is the ‘King of Israel’ save himself?” It was inconceivable to the Jews that their long-awaited Messiah should suffer a criminal‘s death. They expected a great military King who would lead the nation to freedom from their Roman oppressors. For Muslims, it is repulsive to think that Allah would taint himself by becoming a mortal, and certainly would never suffer the indignities that Christ voluntarily embraced. And for Hindus, the goal is to escape the physical world all together, to leave behind the illusion of flesh and become one with the Spirit world. Christians have everything backwards – man must become God, not God become man. So the question remains: Why the crucifixion of Christ?

In the crucifixion, God shows that far from abandoning His creation and eschewing its brokenness, He embraces His creation and makes the ultimate sacrifice to redeem it. Dorothy Sayers wrote, ―God did not abolish the fact of evil: He transformed it. He did not stop the crucifixion: He rose from the dead.‖ This is ever God‘s way, to choose the difficult and unexpected to demonstrate both His love and justice. His justice is seen in condemning the sin and cruelty of humanity. His love is seen in taking that punishment upon himself through the gift of His Son.

It was for this reason that the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, ―If there is no resurrection from the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.‖ It is this remarkable love of God in Christ that we celebrate on Easter Sun-day. A love that, in the words of Zechariah the priest, “rescues us and frees us from fear, so that we might worship [God] with a holy worship, in [His] holy presence our whole life long.”

It is customary beginning on Easter Sunday to great other Christians with the phrase “Christ is Risen!” and the fellow brother or sister to reply “He is risen indeed.”

So go and celebrate with your family, church, friends, neighbors and strangers. Have a party at your house and spare no expense. The captives have been set free! We are free from sin and condemnation and adopted by the Father. CHRIST IS RISEN!

Season of the Church Year: Easter Liturgical Color: Gold (Symbolizing the resurrection, royalty and kingship)

This is the day of resurrection, Let us be illumined by the feast, Let us embrace each other, Let us call "brothers" even those that hate us,

And forgive all by the resurrection, And so let us cry: Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

-Alexander Schmemann 13

PENTECOST

Pentecost was originally an Old Testament festival calculated as beginning on the fiftieth day after the beginning of Passover. In the Christian calendar, it falls on the seventh Sunday after Easter. It was called the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), and was originally an agricultural festival celebrating and giving thanks for the "first fruits" of the early spring harvest.

While there are other references to Pentecost in the New Testament (e.g. 1 Cor 16:8), it is most significant in Acts 2, the familiar scene of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on those in the "upper room." The New Testament writers associate the events of Acts 2 with Pentecost, and relate it to the prophecies of Joel 2 and promises of Jesus (Acts 1:8). In both, the emphasis is on an empowerment through the Holy Spirit to enable the people of God to witness to Jesus Christ.

Pentecost represents God‘s gracious, enabling presence actively at work among His people, calling and equipping them to dynamically live as His people. Perhaps at this point there is direct contact with the Pentecost of Judaism, for in Judaism, the Torah (God‘s instruction to His people) is the means by which they become His witness to the world.

For Christians, Pentecost Sunday is a day to celebrate the hope evoked by the knowledge that God through His Holy Spirit is at work among His people. It is a celebration of newness, recreation, and renewal of purpose, mission, and calling as God‘s people. It is also a celebration of God‘s ongoing work in the world and a recognition that His work is done through His people as He pours out His presence upon them.

The period of time after Pentecost until Advent is commonly called Ordinary Time.

Season of the Church Year: Ordinary Time Liturgical Color: Grassy Green (Symbolizing life, hope and growth).

14

OTHER DAYS OF REMEMBERANCE

ASCENSION SUNDAY

Following His resurrection, Jesus appeared numerous times to His followers over a forty-day period. At the end of this time He gathered together His original eleven disciples (excluding Judas Iscariot) on Mt. Olivet and gave them His final instructions to ―Go and make disciples of all nations.‖ We call this the Great Commission. Then according to Luke‘s account in Acts 1, “He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.” Unlike Christmas or Easter, the Ascension of Christ receives very little attention, and is not celebrated in most Protestant Churches. But the Ascension can't be jettisoned without losing an essential part of the Christian story.

The Ascension marks the beginning of the Church—and anticipates the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the world. It requires us to think in Trinitarian terms, as Christ ascends to sit at the right hand of the Father, where He is our high priest, and promises the Spirit to the church. John Calvin pointed out that "Christ left us in such a way that His presence might be more useful to us—a presence that had been confined in a humble abode of flesh so long as He sojourned on earth. ... As His body was raised up above all the heavens, so His power and energy were diffused and spread beyond all the bounds of heaven and earth." Christ's spiritual presence is with His people wherever they are, whether trauma centers or traffic jams or on troop transports. Now we always have Christ.

Calvin highlights at least three key benefits of the Ascension:

First, Christ opens the way to the heavenly kingdom. His ascension inaugurates the kingdom of God. The "age to come" has come to Earth because Jesus has ascended to heaven.

Second, Christ has become our Advocate and Intercessor. Instead of looking on our sin, God looks on Christ's righteousness. We are received by God's grace in Christ as God's children because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Nothing can fill us with complete confidence more than knowing that Jesus supports us and mediates for us in the presence of God.

Third, Christ gives us His power. In His resurrection and ascension, Christ was raised victorious over the evil powers of sin and death. As Paul wrote, "When He ascended on high He made captivity itself a captive" (Eph. 4:8, NRSV). Christ now sits on high, writes Calvin, "transfusing us with His power" while He "daily lavishes spiritual riches" upon His people.

Season of the Church Year: Easter Liturgical Color: Gold (Symbolizing the resurrection, royalty and kingship) Date Celebrated: Seventh Sunday after Easter

15

TRINITY SUNDAY

While every Christian worship service is a celebration of the Trinity, Trinity Sunday focuses explicitly on the mystery, power, and beauty of the triune God. Our Christian identity and mission are given to us as we are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). Our worship is not only directed to the triune God but is also enabled by the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the mediation of Jesus Christ. At its best, our worship is also an expression of the unity and common purpose of the church, which Jesus prayed would reflect the unity between himself and God (John 17:20-21). Trinity Sunday, which is traditionally celebrated one week after Pentecost, marks the acknowledgment that all three persons of the Trinity exist together from eternity to eternity.

In worship Church of the Cross will regularly recite the Nicene Creed. In the third century A.D. a controversy arose regarding the nature of the Trinity, and of Christ in particular – was He only a mortal endowed with unique wisdom, or was He indeed God incarnate, having both a human and divine nature? To deal with this controversy, over 300 bishops gathered together at the urging of Emperor Constantine to settle this issue and maintain the peace and purity of the Church. This was known as the first great Ecumenical Council and convened in 325 in Nicaea (now Isnik, Turkey).

After lengthy study and discussion the Council affirmed the historic understanding of Christ. The Nicene Creed was formulated upon the truths reaffirmed at the Council of Nicaea, and declares “We believe one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.”

Christians throughout the centuries from many denominations and traditions have used historic creeds such as the Nicene Creed to publicly confess their faith in worship, to demonstrate the essential unity of Christ‘s Church in all its manifestations, and to teach Christian doctrine.

Season of the Church Year: Ordinary Time Liturgical Color: Grassy Green (Symbolizing life, hope and growth) Date Celebrated: First Sunday after Pentecost

16

REFORMATION SUNDAY

On October 31, 1517 a stocky Bible professor and monk nailed a set of propositions to the church door (the community bulletin board) in Wittenberg, Germany for academic debate. Little did he know on that chilly autumn afternoon it would be the masses rather than the academics who would spread what would be known as the Protestant Reformation. The monk‘s name, of course, was Martin Luther.

The core of Luther‘s concern was the abuse of biblical Christianity, as epitomized by the selling of indulgences. When the pope got into a bit of a financial bind with the building of Christendom‘s largest cathedral, St. Peter‘s in Rome, he offered Christians (both living and dead) pardons for sins committed in ex-change for a contribution to the construction fund. Nobody in the empire was as clever or as crass in this enterprise as the Dominican John Tetzel. It is said that his traveling quartet even sang, “When the coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.” For Luther, this abuse was the proverbial last straw, which prompted him to nail his famous ninety-five thesis to the door of the Castle church at Wittenberg.

At the heart of the Protestant Reformation was a call to return to the Biblical evangelion, or “gospel.” The word gospel literally means “good news” – it is the good news that God alone (apart from our religious works) is the one who saves us through faith in Christ. Thus sola fide (“faith alone”) became a rallying cry of the Reformation. This was considered a radically dangerous message by Luther‘s opponents, who considered such teaching a threat to holy living and ecclesiastical control (since the laity were, for the large part, illiterate and had to let the priests and church officials do the thinking for them).

Luther‘s ninety-five thesis set off a shockwave around Europe that radically changed the landscape of Western Christianity forever. Although his initial intention was merely to reform the Church, the resistance of Rome to these “protestors” eventually led to the creation of the Protestant branch of the Church.

Season of the Church Year: Ordinary Time Liturgical Color: Grassy Green (Symbolizing life, hope and growth) Date Celebrated: October 31

17

ALL SAINTS’ DAY

Early church history records that it was a common practice for churches to keep a record of all those who were martyred for their faith, and to celebrate their memory. This practice eventually grew into what we now call All Saints' Day, a Church festival that is celebrated in the majority of Christian Churches. Although this celebration originally centered on those who were martyrs, it eventually grew to encompass all Christians who are now deceased and have preceded us into having becoming part of what is known as the triumphant church. During the Reformation, the Protestant churches understood “saints” in its New Testament usage as including all believers and reinterpreted the feast of All Saints as a celebration of the unity of the entire Church. (Side note: Halloween is the day preceding it, and is so named because it is "The Eve of All Hallows".)

In the Bible, Hebrews 11 is dedicated to the memory of those who by their exemplary piety or courageous sacrifices were both an example and encouragement to the Church. Our faith as Christians is founded on a paradox: the paradox of death leading to life; the paradox of suffering leading to glory; the paradox of defeat and failure leading to victory. Death, therefore, in the Christian perspective is not viewed as a misfortune or tragedy but rather as the fulfillment of a life that has been from beginning to end a pilgrim journey to the Father, shared with Jesus and animated by the Spirit; the fulfillment of a life that has been molded, influenced and shaped by our conviction that having imitated Christ in His death, so we shall imitate Him in His resurrection (Rom 6: 3-5).

All Saints‘ Day is the celebration of the victory of the saints in union with Christ their King. It reminds us that though Jesus has finished His work, we have not finished ours. He has struck the decisive blow, but we have the privilege of extending His work in the operation as we fight the powers of injustice and oppression and work to bring the peace of Christ to all nations. All Saints‘ Day reminds us to take to heart these words from the Book of Hebrews:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endur-ance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He knew would be His afterward. Now He is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. Think about all He endured when sinful people did such terrible things to Him, so that you don't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. ¨ (Hebrews 12:1-4)

Season of the Church Year: Ordinary Time Liturgical Color: Grassy Green (Symbolizing life, hope and growth) Date Celebrated: November 1

18

We are indebted to City Presbyterian in Denver and CRI/Voice Institute for their contributions to this publication.

19

CHURCH OF THE CROSSSunday Worship 10 a.m.

San Marcos Baptist Academy2801 RR 12 | San Marcos

512.268.3608 | www.cotcsm.org

20

Pentecost - Irish Green

Advent - Blue Epiphany - D. Green

EASTER - Gold

Lent - Grey Holy Week - Red