By Vicar Karen Lemon
All Saints Episcopal Church
Pratt, Kansas

Our calendar is arranged into seasons, spring, summer, fall and winter. Each has its own holidays, some related to the calendar, some related to secular events and some even related to religious holidays. In the same way, the church has its own calendar with its own holidays.

The church year begins in December with Advent. These weeks are a time of preparation, looking forward to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a penitential season, but in a different way from the penitence of Lent. During Advent we are preparing our hearts for the joy of Jesus birth. There is less emphasis on our sinful natures and on repentance. We think about what the birth of this little babe in the manger means for all of mankind. Our scripture readings culminate on Christmas Eve with beautiful stories of angels, shepherds and peace on earth.

The second season after Christmas is Epiphany. This is the season when the divinity of Jesus is made known to the world, including the Gentiles. The Magi bring gifts to the infant. Jesus is baptized by John and a voice is heard proclaiming Jesus as God’s beloved son. Jesus calls his disciples, turns water into wine, performs healings and becomes well known. Epiphany ends with Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday marks the start of the season of Lent, 5 Sundays in which we are reminded of our sinful natures. Ash Wednesday forces us to look at our own mortality with the words “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” With that in mind we continue our walk with Jesus as he makes his way to Jerusalem and the cross. He continues to tell his followers that he must die and that he will be raised on the third day. They continue in their disbelief.

Lent ends with Palm Sunday, a day that begins with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, hosannas are shouted, palm branches laid on his path, everything seems to be coming together for Jesus to assume his rightful place as the Messiah. Then comes the Passover, the last supper, and the plotting of the authorities to kill Jesus. Following the Maunday Thursday meal, we follow Jesus through his struggles with the authorities and eventually walk with him on the Way of Sorrows to the cross on Good Friday. All seems to be over, and we spend the next day thinking about what has happened. Eventually we go with the women to the empty tomb, we see his burial garments left behind, and come face to face with Jesus in his resurrection. The next few weeks are spent with Jesus staying with his disciples before his ascension into heaven.

Pentecost Sunday begins our long season of Pentecost, which for us comes 50 days after Easter. The Jewish Pentecost comes 50 days after Passover. Pentecost is the long season in which we go back to following Jesus in his 3 years of ministry as we and his disciples learn more about

the things he wanted us to know and understand. It is a long season, but there is much for us to learn. The season of Pentecost ends on the Sunday before we begin a new calendar year in Advent. It is a day called Christ the King Sunday, a fitting name for what we have all learned during the year.

The Rev. Karen Lemon, vicar

All Saints Episcopal Church