My interest in the Church Calendar and its seasons started a bit by accident. From childhood through my college years, I attended evangelical and non-denominational churches which really only concerned themselves with select seasons of the Church Year (primarily around the Christmas and Easter holy days). When I started attending a Lutheran church, I just […]
Tag: Christianity
On Biblical Aspirations
Some churches and their congregants strive to “live biblically”, and while this is perhaps a noble sounding mantra, it can also lead us down a dangerous path far from the Christ-following faith towards which we are called. The concept of living biblically is one where Christians reestablish a rule structure in-line with specific commands in […]
On the Power of a Song
As far back as we can understand history, music has been a constant companion for humankind. Countless melodies, chants, hymns, and songs have provided hope, comfort, encouragement, and challenge to each generation. When it comes to worship experiences, it is often the form of worship that has the greatest “staying power”. Long after sermons, prayers, […]
On Church Worship
During this year in which I have been pondering the Church Calendar and its seasons, I’ve also been thinking a bit about church worship services in general. How do we keep our worship practices rooted in the Universal Church, which receives direct nourishment from the Holy Spirit of God? One of the arguments against the […]
On Going It Alone
Much of society has come to celebrate the role of the individual. We love stories that revolve around the solo renegade, the superhero, the maverick, the main character. Meanwhile, the ideals of community and togetherness, while not necessarily destained, rarely receive the same spotlight treatment. Institutions like churches often struggle in this environment. That is, […]
On Holidays
Throughout the year—both the Church Year and any other calendar year—there are many holidays that have been established over time. Some are truly holy days and others are celebratory in different ways. Some are personally or nationally relevant, and some are simply silly and fun. It is likely neither good nor bad to either partake […]
On the Natural Seasons
As I have personally come to genuinely love the traditional Church Year and its seasons, I have also come to appreciate how it complements the natural seasons of the year. Of course, this observation has been from my Northern Hemisphere (Midwest, United States specially) perspective. I’d be very curious to learn more about how other […]
On Ordinary Time
The season of Ordinary Time has arrived. Nowadays though many liturgical cycles call this time of the Church Year “the time after Pentecost” since that sounds more lively and less, well, ordinary. My personal preference is for the old, boring phrase though, and let me explain why. First, the work that God is doing in […]
On the Triune God
Wedged between the festival season of the liturgical calendar and Ordinary Time is a Sunday devoted to the concept of the Holy Trinity. This day acts as a theological seam between the two halves of the Church Year. The Holy Trinity is the concept that God has been revealed to us in three distinct ways, […]
On the Spirit of Pentecost
The midway point of the Church Calendar is marked with the holy day of Pentecost. On this day, Christians that honor liturgical traditions celebrate the receiving of the Holy Spirit. The most common story told on this day comes from the gospel writer Luke’s sequel: The Acts of the Apostles. The gospel text attributed to […]
Relevant Reformation 