The church calendar year follows a cycle of seasons, many of which are familiar to us. Each season is distinguished by a color that denotes, for instance, celebration (white) or penitence (purple). The colors appear on the altar and on the clergy.
The church calendar year begins with Advent, in preparation for Christmas. The longest season of the church year occurs after Pentecost and Trinity Sunday, when “Ordinary Time” (denoted by the color green) kicks in, lasting until Advent.
Christmas at St. Francis
While secular Christmas seems to begin earlier every year, St. Francis Episcopal Church holds onto the tradition of Advent and the weeks before Christmas as a time of reflection and preparation. The church is finally decorated by a group of parishioners just a few days before Christmas. Services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day mark the joyous arrival of the infant Jesus our Savior. The Christmas season then extends a full twelve days to Epiphany, which commemorates the arrival of the Magi.
Easter at St. Francis
The joy of Jesus’ resurrection at Easter is celebrated only after the long and penitential season of Lent. As Easter approaches, we prepare ourselves through prayer, scripture reading, and self-examination so that we can experience the full joy of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Services are held on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and, of course, Easter Sunday. Children bring baskets to gather Easter eggs, and the full church rejoices.
