Advent is the time of the church year that we wait and watch for our lord and savior Jesus Christ. Not just His birth in Bethlehem but also His return in glory on the Last Day. We have Wednesday services at 6:30pm to celebrate this. The color of the season is blue.Â
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During these two days we celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ in the little town of Bethlehem. He did this so that He could die on the cross to forgive the sins of the world and was raised again for the promise of eternal life of all who believe in Him. We celebrate this event by having a Children’s Program that is also a full worship service on the 24th at 6:30pm and a 10 am service on the 25th that is a hymn and reading service. The color of both of these days is white.
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Epiphany reminds us that salvation is for all, not just those of Jewish descent. This is represented by the visit of the wise men to the Christ Child. We also celebrate the Baptism of Jesus Christ during this time. The color of this celebration is white.
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The Lenten season is the 40 days before Holy Week in which we prepare for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a somber time that leads us to repentance and prayer, during this time we remember that we, as sinners, are the reason that Christ had to die on the cross. It starts with Ash Wednesday, during which the pastor puts an ash cross on our foreheads, to remind us that we sinner who need to be washed in the blood of the Lamb. The season color is purple and we have Wednesday night worship services at 6:30pm.
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Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday when Christ entered into Jerusalem for the last time to the cheers of the whole town. These cheers quickly turned to boos and taunts as the week went on. During this week we also celebrate Christ giving His disciples communion for the first time on Maundy Thursday and His death on the cross on Good Friday. We continue with the purple until Good Friday during which we wear black. Maundy Thursday service is at 6:30 p.m. and Good Friday is at 10 a.m.
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Holy Week concludes on Easter Morning when Christ is raised from the dead after three days in the tomb. This is the most important day in our church year and so we have a number of special celebrations. We start with church at 7 a.m. then we have a pancake breakfast in our parish hall. Next have Sunday School for the children and right afterwards that there is an Easter Egg hunt for them as well. The color of the season is white.
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Pentecost is the celebration of the Holy Spirit coming to the Apostles so that they could go preach the good news of Jesus Christ to the whole world. It is considered the birth of the Christian Church.This happens around forty days after Easter. We wear red to celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit.
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On Trinity Sunday we celebrate the work of our Triune God, Father Son and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity has His own work that affects us every day of our lives and we take time out to celebrate and give thanks for this. The color of the day is white.
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In 1517, Martin Luther a German monk, posted his 95 Theses, or things that the Catholic Church was doing wrong. He wasn’t looking to start the reformation, but that is exactly what happened. On this day we celebrate the work that he did through the power of the Holy Spirit in bring the church back to the true teaching of the Bible. Sola Scriptura (By Scripture alone) Sola Fida (By Faith alone) Sola Gratia (By Grace alone). This falls on the last Sunday of October and we use the red color to show how the Holy Spirit lead Luther to rediscover the truth of Jesus Christ in the Holy Bible.
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The Last major celebration in our church year falls on the first Sunday of November and it is All Saint’s Day. All of God’s Children are both sinners and His saints, but on this day we remember those who have gone to be with our Triune God in Heaven. We especially think of those that have passed away in the last year and thank our God that they are now with Him in perfection. We celebrate this day with white.