The Christian church year is a way of organizing our worship around the major Christian festivals.  These festivals celebrate the gracious work of the triune God. The church year calendar is divided into two parts. The first part is about the life of Christ and the second part is about the teachings or ministry of Christ and the Church.

First Part of the Church Year – The Life of Christ

The Christmas Cycle or The Time of Christmas

• Advent (four Sundays; preparation for the coming of Christ)
• Christmas (twelve days; the birth of Christ)
• Epiphany (January 6; the coming of the Wise Men)
• Baptism of Jesus (first Sunday after Epiphany)
• Transfiguration of Our Lord (last Sunday after Epiphany)

The Easter Cycle or The Time of Easter

• Lent (beginning on Ash Wednesday; a time of 40 days, not counting the five Sundays; preparation for the death of Christ)
• Holy Week (including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday)
• Sundays in Easter (seven including Easter Sunday; celebration of the resurrection of Christ)
• Ascension (40th day after Easter)
• Pentecost (50th day after Easter; celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit)

Second Part of the Church Year – The Ministry of Christ and the Church

The Time of the Church, The Non-Festival Half of the Church Year or The Season of the Church

• Trinity Sunday (first Sunday after Pentecost)
• Sundays after Pentecost (lasts approximately six months)