The Episcopal Church observes the
traditional Christian calendar.
The Church
Year is the pattern by which Christians
observe, and keep in remembrance, the
great events of Jesus’ life upon which
the faith of the Christian is based.
The Church
Year begins on the fourth Sunday before
Christmas, with the season known as
Advent. The year is divided into seasons
and special days. By keeping the
Christian calendar, we recall and relive
the major events in the life of our Lord
Jesus Christ and refresh our memory of
the main beliefs of our faith. As the
Church helps us keep the Church Year, we
read in church many key passages of the
Bible.
The season of Advent,
during which we prepare for Christmas,
begins on the Sunday closest to November
30.
Christmas
itself lasts twelve days, after which we
celebrate the
Feast of the
Epiphany (January 6).
Lent,
the forty days of preparation for Easter,
begins on Ash Wednesday.
Easter
season lasts fifty days, concluding on
the feast of
Pentecost.
During these times the Bible readings
are chosen for their appropriateness to
the season. The Bible readings are listed
in The
Lectionary.
During the rest of the year---the season
after Epiphany and the long season after
Pentecost (except for a few special
Sundays)---the New Testament is read
sequentially from Sunday to Sunday. The
Old Testament lesson corresponds in theme
with one of the New Testament readings.
Rite Light
is your link to commentary on each week's
readings.
