Eastertide

More than just one day, celebration of the season of Easter continues for seven Sundays for the community of faith. After the penitential season of Lent, the season of Eastertide—which coincides with spring--celebrates God's creation and His new creation, the Church. Known by the early church as the Great Fifty Days, the season beginning with Easter and culminating with Pentecost commemorates the fifty days between the resurrection of the Christ and the bestowal of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. The chancel retains the white vestments until Pentecost when the red vestments signify the Holy Spirit's coming to the Church. Visuals for the season include doves and fire signifying the Holy Spirit.

The festival of the Ascension is also celebrated during Eastertide. Though the early church celebrated the Ascension on Pentecost, it has since become customary to celebrate the Ascension of the fortieth day after Easter or the Sunday before Pentecost. Pentecost Sunday concludes the second cycle of the Christian year—the Easter cycle. The Christian festival of Pentecost coincides with the Jewish festival of the First Fruits (also known as Pentecost) celebrating the bestowal of the Torah upon His chosen people and which concludes the season begun at Passover.

While Lent could be considered a season of reflection, Eastertide can provide an opportunity for renewal as the community of faith examines in depth the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church—both past and present. He has sent us a Comforter: the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God!

Resources:
Hickman, Hoyt. United Methodist Worship. 1991. Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN.
The United Methodist Book of Worship. 1992. The United Methodist Publishing House: Nashville, TN.
United Methodist Calendar & Workbook 2009. 2008. Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN.

Alleluia!

The penitential season of Easter continues into April this year, culminating in Holy Week which begins on Palm Sunday and concludes with the breaking of the fast for the vigil for the festival of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday which commemorates Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem and is sometimes referred to as “Lazarus Sunday” in some Eastern practices. The traditional procession of palms can be documented as far as the fourth century. Palm Sunday is also Passion Sunday and the duality of Christ's joyful entrance into Jerusalem stands in stark contrast to the horror of trial and crucifixion that followed. The feast of Maundy or Holy Thursday is one of contrasts. Christ's new order (mandatum novum) that His followers love one another may be demonstrated by ritual footwashing between both laity and clergy. The feast also commemorates the Last Supper as the institution of the Eucharist. The Lenten fast is broken with the Lord's Supper after which the altar is stripped of its vestments and all bells are silenced in remembrance of Christ's dark night in Gethsemane. The Service of Shadows (Tenebrae) may be celebrated on Holy Thursday or Good Friday. In Tenebrae, fourteen candles, along with a Christ candle, are lit at the beginning of the service and extinguished one by one as the story of Christ's Passion unfolds. The Christ candle is extinguished last, as the light of the Messiah was extinguished on the Cross. The first service of Easter is the Paschal Vigil. It, traditionally, begins in darkness and ends as the light of Easter dawns. Easter, also called Resurrection Sunday, begins the season of Eastertide which continues until Pentecost. The chancel is vested in a joyful white, and the return of alleluias, absent during Lent, celebrates the victory of the resurrected Christ over sin. The Paschal candle is lit for worship during the Sundays of Eastertide (its flame represents Christ’s illuminating light) and thereafter lit for occasions such as funerals and baptisms. For the community of faith, our sorrow turns to joy. Alleluia, Christ is Risen!

Resources
Thurston, Herbert. "Holy Week." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 21 Feb. 2009 .
The United Methodist Book of Worship. 1992. United Methodist Publishing House: Nashville, Tennessee.
Hickman, Hoyt. United Methodist Worship. 1993. Abingdon Press: Nashville, Tennessee.

What Wondrous Love

The penitential season of Lent continues into March this year, and the sanctuary maintains its somber tone. The chancel continues to be vested in purple symbolizing repentance. Shiny objects are removed from the worship space and flowers may be omitted. The Lenten tradition of fasting or “giving up” something is not intended as a public act of piety, but, rather, a private means of removing distractions so that the community of faith may focus on the example of the sacrificial love of Christ as the model for their lives. The gospel lessons in March direct the meditations of the community. The first Sunday's gospel (Mark 1:9-15) recounts the temptation of the Lord. The second (Mark 8:31-38) challenges the community of faith to “take up” its cross boldly. The third Sunday's gospel (John 2:13-22) recounts His purification of the Temple and foreshadows the cross. The fourth Sunday's lesson (John 3:14-21) emphasizes the Messiah's role of redeemer rather than judge. The fifth Sunday's lesson (John 12:20-33) reveals to His followers the price of their redemption--Jesus' life—and His willingness to be their--our--Paschal Lamb. What wondrous love!

Resources:

The Scofield Study Bible. 2003. Oxford University Press: New York, NY.

The United Methodist Book of Worship. 1992. The United Methodist Publishing House: Nashville, TN.

United Methodist Calendar & Workbook 2009. 2008. Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN.

The Path to the Cross Begins

The worship spaces retain their green vestments through Season after Epiphany which continues into the month of February. The chancel may be vested in white or gold for the season’s concluding Sunday, the Transfiguration of Christ, February 22, which recalls Christ’s transfiguration on the mountain with Elijah and Moses. The penitential season of Lent, during which the chancel will again be vested in purple, begins on Ash Wednesday, February 25. On Ash Wednesday, the sign of the cross is marked with ashes on the foreheads of the penitent. The ashes, traditionally, are from the previous year’s fronds waved on Palm Sunday. The season of Lent–the name of which comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for spring--lasts forty days excluding Sundays. References from at least the ninth century identify Lent as a variable number of days for fasting and preparation for baptism by converts. Since then is has become a period of penance for members of the community of faith whose length could be reminiscent of Moses, Elias, Christ, and the forty hours, according to tradition, Christ lay in the tomb. Alleluias, visual and musical and spoken, may be “put away” until Easter Sunday. Visuals for the season of Lent may include ash gray and rough-textured cloth for paraments, stoles, and banners. Shiny objects and flowers may be removed from the worship area. A rough cross, made from the trunk of the Chrismon tree, may be placed in or near the worship space. Crosses are veiled in purple until Easter. The path to the cross has begun.

Resources

The United Methodist Book of Worship, 1992, The United Methodist Publishing House, Nashville, TN.

Thurston, Herbert, The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907, Robert Appleton Company.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

The season of Christmastide continues into January and the festive white and gold remains on the chancel until Epiphany Sunday (the first Sunday in January) when the Magi are added to the creche. (The Feast of Epiphany is January 6.) Epiphany Sunday marks not only the end of Christmastide, but also the end of the Christmas Cycle in which the preparatory season of Advent is signified by the color purple and the celebratory season of Christmastide by white. The first Sunday after Epiphany commemorates the Baptism of the Lord. The chancel is again vested in white, as it would be for baptisms. Successive Sundays until Lent are vested in green. The Sundays after Epiphany are sometimes referred to as Ordinary time, not because they lack significance, but because they are ordered (first, second, third) after a festival day. The green vestments indicates this period is a time for growth in the community of faith, and other symbology may include a baptismal font, water jars reminiscent of the miracle at Cana, and candles for the Transfiguration.

Resource: The United Methodist Book of Worship, 1992, The United Methodist Publishing House, Nashville, TN.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing!

December is a month of joyful anticipation with each Sunday leading the community of faith closer to the manger. The season of Advent continues with the fellowship studying the prophets in preparation for the celebration of the nativity of the Messiah. The nave is wreathed in evergreen and the chancel continues to be vested in royal purple. An additional candle is lit on the Advent wreath on successive Sundays with readings celebrating Christ the Way, Christ our Joy, and the Prince of Peace. The role of John the Baptist as herald of the Messiah is recognized for the second and third Sundays of Advent, then the events leading up to the birth of the Holy Child sets the tone for the last Sunday of the season. Seasonal banners may be added on each successive Sunday. Additional worship visuals for the season could include a Chrismon tree and a Jesse tree. The Chrismon tree is an evergreen tree covered with white monograms of Christ (Chrismons) while the Jesse tree is decorated with symbols of the ancestors of Jesus. The Christmas season begins on Christmas eve and continues until the Day of Epiphany. On Christmas eve, the altar vestments change to white and gold befitting the coming of the infant King. The Chrismon tree remains, joined by nativity scenes, a Christmas star, angels, poinsettias, and roses. Some fellowships choose to end the calendar year and prepare for the coming year with a Watch Night Service which can include the profoundly moving Covenant Renewal Service. May the joys of the season gladden your hearts!

Resource: The United Methodist Book of Worship, 1992, The United Methodist Publishing House, Nashville, TN.

Why Do the Colors on the Communion Table Change?

It’s a simple, reasonable question deserving a simple, reasonable answer. The short answer is that the Christian year is divided into seasons and each season has its own colors. Within each season may be special days and festival days which are signified by colors, too. So, the colors change according to the season and the occasion.

The long answer is that worship is designed to be a multisensory experience. We stand, we sit, we sing, we pray, we listen, we speak, we commune with each other and with the Spirit. The environment in which we worship contains a variety of elements–things like the beautiful stained glass windows, banners, the sermon, the music, the paraments in the chancel-- which can inform and inspire us. Many may change according to the season or the occasion.

November is a month of ending and beginning in the life of the Church. The month begins with All Saints Sunday. The suggested vestment colors for this day are either the celebratory colors of white or gold, or the color red, in remembrance of martyred saints. The chancel and clergy will be vested in the green of Ordinary Time for the second and third Sundays in November. The fourth Sunday in November brings about the end of the Christian year with Christ the King Sunday when the chancel will be vested in white.

The new Christian year begins on the fifth Sunday in November which is the first Sunday in Advent. Advent is the season in the Christian year which proclaims the comings of the Christ and calls the Church to prepare for these comings. The chancel is vested in either the royal purple or blue, for hope. The Advent wreath, evergreens, and banners adorn the worship space as visual celebrations of the season. Advent continues until Christmas with each Sunday having its own theme. The first Sunday in Advent, traditionally, celebrates Christ’s coming in final victory. Advent is more than just the “countdown” to Christmas; it provides us with opportunities to prepare our hearts through study and worship for the Coming King.

Why do the colors change? ‘Tis the season! Happy Christian New Year!




Source: The United Methodist Book of Worship, 1992, The United Methodist Publishing House, Nashville, TN.