{"id":201,"date":"2026-08-02T19:44:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T23:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/clintonfirst.org\/fumc\/?page_id=201"},"modified":"2026-08-02T19:50:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T23:50:17","slug":"christian-year","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/clintonfirst.org\/fumc\/about\/christian-year","title":{"rendered":"The Christian Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Advent:<\/strong> Beginning the Christian Year and including four Sundays before Christmas, this season is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ.<\/p>\n

All Saints Day and All Saints Sunday:<\/strong> November 1 or the first Sunday in November. Many churches celebrate and remember all Christian saints.<\/p>\n

Ascension Day:<\/strong> The day marking the ascension of Christ into heaven as witness by the apostles. It is observed on the fortieth day, the sixth Thursday, of Easter, and it may be celebrated on the seventh Sunday of Easter.<\/p>\n

Christ the King:<\/strong> The Last Sunday after Pentecost is observed to lend special emphasis to the royal kingship of Christ.<\/p>\n

Christmas Season:<\/strong> The season beginning with the anniversary of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 25 and continuing through Epiphany on January 6.<\/p>\n

Easter:<\/strong> The resurrection of Christ, the greatest and oldest religious observation of the Christian church.<\/p>\n

Easter Eve:<\/strong> The evening before Easter, occurring on Holy Saturday. The service on Easter Eve is considered the first service of Easter.<\/p>\n

Epiphany:<\/strong> Celebrated on January 6, this day commemorates the coming of the Magi to visit the baby Jesus. The season after Epiphany is observed from the First Sunday After Epiphany until Ash Wednesday. The Last Sunday After Epiphany is also celebrated at the Transfiguration.<\/p>\n

Good Friday:<\/strong> The Friday before Easter on which the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is observed.<\/p>\n

Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday:<\/strong> The Thursday before Easter, commemorating the Last Supper, and the New Commandment to love one another. Some churches include \u201cwashing of the feet: in the Holy Thursday service.<\/p>\n

Kingdomtide:<\/strong> Some United Methodists prefer to call the season after Pentecost Kingdomtide rather than Ordinary Time<\/p>\n

Lent:<\/strong> This season begins with Ash Wednesday and concludes at sunset the day before Easter. It is a period of penitence in preparation for Easter.<\/p>\n

Ordinary Time:<\/strong> The Sunday that stands between the two great christological cycles of Advent \u2013 Christmas-Epiphany and Lent \u2013 Easter-Pentecost. It refers to the periods of the church year that focus on the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus, as well as the growth of the Church. The term “ordinary” comes from the word “ordinal,” meaning numbered or ordered Sundays. The shorter period of Ordinary Time is usually designated as Sunday After Epiphany and the longer period is designated Sundays After Pentecost.<\/p>\n

Pentecost (Whitsunday):<\/strong> The observance of the coming of the Holy Spirit, fifty days after Easter. Some recognize this anniversary as the beginning of the Christian Church. The Season After Pentecost begins with the day after Pentecost and continues until Advent.<\/p>\n

Tenebrae:<\/strong> Sometimes called “The Service of Shadows” or “Darkness.” A late night or early morning service that is an extended meditation on the passion of Christ. May be observed at the end of the Maundy Thursday service or on the evening of Good Friday as the beginning of a prayer vigil lasting through Saturday.<\/p>\n

Transfiguration Sunday:<\/strong> The last Sunday before Lent marking Christ’s transfiguration on the mountain with Elijah and Moses.<\/p>\n

Trinity Sunday:<\/strong> The First Sunday After Pentecost, on which the union of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit is celebrated.<\/p>\n

Liturgical Color Guide<\/h2>\n