The Holy Spirit and Pentecost Seasons
Those of you who have been around the church (any church) have probably noticed that the church year is divided into various Seasons: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and the very long “Pentecost” Season. During these seasons we focus on specific themes and we change the colors of the paraments and stoles (cloths on the altar and the “scarfs” worn by clergy—blue, white/ green, purple, white, and green respectively).
All of these seasons are generally between 4-8 weeks long…except for Pentecost which is around 24 weeks: or half the calendar year. For most of that time the color we use is green, representing growth, the overall focus of the season. Th main exception is Pentecost Sunday itself, when we use red and we focus on the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The last couple of years I’ve wrestled with this arrangement. Pentecost season (called “ordinary time” in some churches) is so long that most of us lose sight of what’s going on. “Ordinary time” is an apt description of what we’ve made this half of the year—we might as well call it “boring time.” Not because it is, but because we’ve made it so.
I’ve also come to lament the virtual non-use of the red paraments—they don’t come out much! The only other “Red Sunday” this whole year is Reformation Day. That’s it.
SO…we’re going to bend the “rules” this year—but don’t worry these “rules” don’t come from either Jesus or the Bible! We’re going to tweak Pentecost Season into 3 distinct sub-seasons. Each will run 7-8 weeks like all the rest of the church seasons.
The first season will run from Pentecost proper (May 28) through July 2. For this season we’ll continue to use the red paraments, and we’ll spend a lot more time thinking about the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives and in the church.
The second season will be the traditional focus on growth as followers of Jesus, and we’ll revert to the typical green color. So, this season will be “normal,” just condensed. This will run from July 9 through Sept 3.
Finally, as we move into the fall we’ll grab a season from the world’s calendar, and spend some time nurturing a spirit of thanksgiving in our worship and, hopefully, in our hearts. The color will remain green and this focus will last from Sept 10 through Oct 22.
At that point we’ll have gotten up to Reformation Day (Oct 29 this year).
You may notice one other “change,” which actually already happened last week. But I bet very few of you noticed.
I was trained with the use of a “Christ Candle” instead of a “Paschal Candle.”
What’s the difference?
I’m glad you asked! The paschal candle is lit from Christmas Day through Ascension (10 days before Pentecost). It’s, in my opinion, a weird tradition…because for the better part of the year the candle is in the sanctuary unlit. I believe the “Christ Candle” tradition better reflects what was going on in the Revelation 1:12-16 where Jesus walks among the candle-stands. He is the light, and we (the church) are the stand holding him high to give light to all. The very last words Jesus said at his ascension, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20) For this reason it is ALWAYS lit during services when we gather to be the Body of Christ. I have always thought the Paschal Candle tradition makes Jesus into a sort of snowbird…who takes off for ½ the year. So we’ll leave the Christ Candle (by the baptismal font) lit during all services, only removing it (lighted) on Good Friday.
May God richly Bless you through this Pentecost season (1, 2 , & 3)!
Derek
