Dec
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About the church calendar:
This past Sunday was the first Sunday of a new church year. The church calendar followed by most Christians in the world, that is those who incorporate an observance of the church seasons that date back as far as the 5th century and practiced over the last 1,000 years, begins with the season of Advent on the last Sunday of November. It lasts until Christmas Eve. As a side note, the 12 Days of Christmas begins with Christmas. It does not end with Christmas. So the season of Christmas last from Christmas Eve until January 6th, when we transition to the season of Epiphany. The seasons of Easter and Pentecost date back to the 1st and 2nd centuries.
Having grown up in a church tradition that does not incorporate the church seasons into its worship, I have found that observing the various seasons of the church calendar help me to understand and cherish the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus in a more profound manner. The Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany seasons emphasize the birth of Christ (and His second coming). The Lent, Easter, and Pentecost seasons emphasize his death and resurrection (and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit).
The Gospel reading for this past Sunday was Luke 21:25-36. Advent is a time of anticipation. We anticipate the celebration of the incarnation and birth of our Savior and we anticipate his return to earth in the Second Coming. The following link is to a devotional that was meaningful to me and I hope you will find a few minutes to read it and consider its truth.
http://www.thetransformingcenter.org/pdf/waitadvent09.pdf
Fr. Ronnie Sanders
