Christian Calendar

The Christian Calendar

(Also called the Liturgical Calendar, which simply means a calendar of worship.)

The church year follows a different schedule than the calendar hanging on your wall. It is separated into seasons centering on events in the life of Jesus. Although the details vary from tradition to tradition, it is a rhythm that has been followed by churches all over the world for centuries. It is a rhythm that shapes our worship and connects us to all of God's people. Following are the liturgical seasons that shape our worship:

Advent: preparing for the birth of Jesus, and also expectantly waiting for his second coming
Christmastide: celebrating Jesus' birth
Epiphany: the time between Christmastide and Lent, celebrating the ways Jesus was revealed to us
Ash Wednesday: the first day of Lent; a day of penitence
Lent: the 40 days before Easter (not counting Sundays) focused on spiritual disciplines
Palm Sunday: the celebration of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem before his trial and death
Maundy Thursday: celebrating Jesus' last supper with his disciples
Good Friday: commemorating Jesus' death
Easter Vigil: commemorating Jesus' time in the tomb - a time of expectant waiting
Easter: celebrating Jesus' resurrection
Ascension Day: celebrating Jesus' going to heaven
Pentecost: celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples
Ordinary* Time: a time without a particular season, ending with "Christ the King" Sunday

(*coming from the word "ordinal" as in "counted" because traditionally the Sundays are numbered after Pentecost)

Image from GodSpace

2022-2023 Christian Year

Advent: November 27 - December 18, 2022

Christmas: December 25

Christmastide: December 25 - January 1, 2023

Epiphany: January 6

Season of Epiphany: January 8 - February 19

Ash Wednesday: February 22

Lent: Wednesday, February 22 - April 6

Palm Sunday: April 2

Maundy Thursday: April 6

Good Friday: April 7

Easter Vigil: April 8

Easter: April 9

Eastertide: April 9 - May 28

Ascension Day: May 18

Pentecost: May 28

Ordinary Time: May 29 - December 2

The Christian Calendar

Advent: preparing for the birth of Jesus, and also expectantly waiting for his second coming

Christmastide: celebrating Jesus' birth

Epiphany: the time between Christmastide and Lent, celebrating the ways Jesus was revealed to us

Ash Wednesday: the first day of Lent; a day of penitence

Lent: the 40 days before Easter (not counting Sundays) focused on spiritual disciplines

Palm Sunday: the celebration of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem before his trial and death

Maundy Thursday: celebrating Jesus' last supper with his disciples

Good Friday: commemorating Jesus' death

Easter Vigil: commemorating Jesus' time in the tomb - a time of expectant waiting

Easter: celebrating Jesus' resurrection

Ascension Day: celebrating Jesus' going to heaven

Pentecost: celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples

Ordinary* Time: a time without a particular season, ending with "Christ the King" Sunday

(*coming from the word "ordinal" as in "counted" because traditionally the Sundays are numbered after Pentecost)

2022-2023 Christian Year