the blueberry coffeecake is made, and all the candles are lit! we’ve been keeping Advent together for the past month. but really this is only the beginning of the Church’s year.
Christmas is come and with it a new baby! savor the twelve rich days after Christmas. it almost seems like the days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve are time outside of time.
Twelfth Night welcomes the traveling magi and ushers in Epiphany. where will God appear in your life?
Candlemas or the feast of the Presentation falls on February 12. this is one of the feasts that protestants should be celebrating. the story’s right there in the bible.
soon enough signs of Spring will be coming. but first we will travel the 40 days of Lent. simple, quiet, reflection–these are the hallmarks of the season. sounds a bit like Advent, no?
then the Alleluia returns: Easter! we kept a holy Lent for 40 days, but we will be celebrating Easter for 50 days! Ascension Day, and then ten days later, the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. glory!
and then the long season of Ordinary Time unfolds. summer and fall hold such rich saint days: St John the Baptist on Midsummer’s Day, St Anne, patron saint of all homeschooling mamas on July 26th. in September Michaelmas marks the beginning of the new school term, and we celebrate St Jerome and all grumpy scholars on September 30th. October 4th sees the blessing of the animals and St Francis Day. and that brings us all the way back round to All Hallows, All Saints, and All Souls.
you can find lots of ideas and resources on the word made flesh page. you can also enter something in the search box (in the sidebar on the right!), and see what you find.
Thanks for the links to the dates. They make more sense when I can see them all together. I often wondered about Midwinter. 🙂 (Yup, still here.)
thinking of you today! peace keep you.
Such a simple and lovely synopsis of the church year. Yes, Advent is only the beginning! 🙂