THE EPISCOPAL LITURGICAL CALENDAR - page 2 of 3
LENT:
In many cultures, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove
Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) is a last romp before the solemnity of
Lent. Historically, it was customary to forego meat during Lent, thus
the term Carnival derives from the Latin for “farewell to meat.”
Lent is the forty days and forty nights before Easter. We skip over
Sundays when we count the days of Lent, because Sunday is always
a joyful celebration of the Resurrection. Therefore, Lent always
begins the seventh Wednesday before Easter. This day is called
Ash Wednesday. Ashes symbolize remorse, repentance, and
mourning. The tradition of putting ashes on one’s forehead to exhibit
mourning dates back to Biblical times.
Like Advent, Lent is a penitential season - a special time of reflection
and preparation. Lent anticipates the coming days of Christ’s death
and subsequent resurrection. Also like Advent, its liturgical color is
purple - the color of royalty and preparation for a king.
During his life, Jesus retreated into the wilderness and fasted for forty
days to prepare for his ministry. By observing Lent, we join Jesus on
this retreat of soul-searching, reflection, and taking stock.
HOLY WEEK
The final week of Lent is called Holy Week. Holy week invites us to
reenact and participate in the passion of Christ - the physical,
spiritual, and mental suffering he experienced in the hours before and
during his trial and crucifixion.
Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, one week before Easter. Palm
Sunday remembers Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem prior
to his passion. The liturgical color of Palm Sunday red, which here
represents blood and therefore martyrdom.
Maundy Thursday remembers the Last Supper of Jesus with the
Apostles. The word Maundy is believed to derive from the Latin
mandatum, the first word in Jesus’ statement in John that translates, “I
give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I
have loved you, you also should love one another” - this is Jesus’
explanation to the Apostles of the significance of his washing their
feet. Therefore, we celebrate Maundy Thursday with a ceremony of
washing one another’s feet.
Good Friday commemorates the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and
burial of Christ. Jesus died on the cross and then lay three days in a
tomb. The color for Good Friday is black or bare - the altar is
stripped of adornments.
LENT:
In many cultures, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove
Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) is a last romp before the solemnity of
Lent. Historically, it was customary to forego meat during Lent, thus
the term Carnival derives from the Latin for “farewell to meat.”
Lent is the forty days and forty nights before Easter. We skip over
Sundays when we count the days of Lent, because Sunday is always
a joyful celebration of the Resurrection. Therefore, Lent always
begins the seventh Wednesday before Easter. This day is called
Ash Wednesday. Ashes symbolize remorse, repentance, and
mourning. The tradition of putting ashes on one’s forehead to exhibit
mourning dates back to Biblical times.
Like Advent, Lent is a penitential season - a special time of reflection
and preparation. Lent anticipates the coming days of Christ’s death
and subsequent resurrection. Also like Advent, its liturgical color is
purple - the color of royalty and preparation for a king.
During his life, Jesus retreated into the wilderness and fasted for forty
days to prepare for his ministry. By observing Lent, we join Jesus on
this retreat of soul-searching, reflection, and taking stock.
HOLY WEEK
The final week of Lent is called Holy Week. Holy week invites us to
reenact and participate in the passion of Christ - the physical,
spiritual, and mental suffering he experienced in the hours before and
during his trial and crucifixion.
Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, one week before Easter. Palm
Sunday remembers Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem prior
to his passion. The liturgical color of Palm Sunday red, which here
represents blood and therefore martyrdom.
Maundy Thursday remembers the Last Supper of Jesus with the
Apostles. The word Maundy is believed to derive from the Latin
mandatum, the first word in Jesus’ statement in John that translates, “I
give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I
have loved you, you also should love one another” - this is Jesus’
explanation to the Apostles of the significance of his washing their
feet. Therefore, we celebrate Maundy Thursday with a ceremony of
washing one another’s feet.
Good Friday commemorates the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and
burial of Christ. Jesus died on the cross and then lay three days in a
tomb. The color for Good Friday is black or bare - the altar is
stripped of adornments.
Welcome to
Nativity Episcopal Church
Nativity Episcopal Church
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Worship |
| Nativity Episcopal Church 21220 West Fourteen Mile Road Bloomfield Township, Michigan 48301 Phone: 248-646-4100 Fax: 248-646-4101 General Inquiries: office@nativityepiscopalchurch.org Diane Morgan, Vicar: revdmorgan@sbcglobal.net; pastoral emergencies only: 313-598-1128 |