The most important of which were Pesach, (which celebrated the Exodus of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt), Shavuot (celebrated 50 days after the second day of Passover) and Sukkot (which celebrate the 40 years the Jews spent in the desert), all of which required a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The Episcopal liturgical year revisits these celebrations taking into consideration the life and teachings and the very Jewish nature of Christ.

Our liturgical cycle divides the year into a series of seasons, each with their own mood, theological emphasis, and modes of prayer which can be signified by different ways of decorating churches, colors as used in the church service, and scriptural readings, themes for preaching and even different traditions and practices often observed personally or in the home.

In churches that follow the liturgical year, the scripture passages for each Sunday (and even each day of the year in some traditions) are specified in a lectionary. So, our Episcopal church begins with the cultural and historical background of the world of Christ and centered on His teachings and those of His followers.

After the Protestant Reformation, the Anglicans and the Lutherans continued to follow the Roman Rite until 1969, when a revised lectionary adopted a three-year cycle of readings for Sundays. In 1994 the Revised Common Lectionary for Sundays and major feasts, which is now used by many Protestant denominations, was adopted. This has led to a greater awareness of the traditional Christian year among Protestants, especially among the mainline denominations.

While the Jewish tradition chose to celebrate the historical aspects of their culture, the Christian tradition from the very earliest times, even from before the Council of Nicaea, chose to celebrate the life of Christ. Beginning with a penitential approach to the birth of Christ, which we call Advent; we consider the Birth of Christ to the Death and subsequent Resurrection. Our liturgical calendar is a reflection of the impact Christ has had on our lives and of the world.

The basis for a liturgical year is truly ancient, extending back into the mists of time. It has been the overt choice of the Episcopal religion to continue that tradition. We feel that this time-honored custom, of worshipping as Christ did, provides a rock in uncertain times.

Please join us Sunday mornings at 11:30 a.m., 623 Star Street, Bonham, Texas.