"The Church Calendar Year"

Recently, it occurred to me that the church calendar offers a unique opportunity for spiritual growth.  As I think about the season, the reasons and the colors of the church year, questions about one's spiritual life come to mind.  So this month, along with highlighting the church seasons and colors, I'll share some of those questions.  You may or may not find them useful in your devotional life.

Advent: The church year begins with the four Sundays before Christmas.  "Advent" means coming, so during this time we look forward to the birth of Christ.  Color: Blue or Purple, which represents royalty.  Meditation: What new things is God birthing in my life, in my relationships, in my vocation?

Christmas: Christmas begins Christmas Eve and lasts for 12 days.  God has come into our world in human form.  Color: White for purity.  Meditation: In what person and in what why has God come to me recently?  

Epiphany: Epiphany begins every year on January 6 and lasts until Lent begins.  "Epiphany" means a moment of intuitive understanding or a flash of insight.  Color: White for the visit of the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus and the Transfiguration of Jesus; Green for the remaining Sundays, which represents growth.  Meditation: What insights has God given me about my life or relationships?

Lent: Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, six weeks before Easter.  During Lent we focus on Christ's self-giving love for us.  Color: Purple.  Meditation: How is God seeking to be in a deeper relationship with me?

Easter: We celebrate Christ's recurrection from death.  Easter season includes Ascension Day and lasts until Pentecost.  Color: White.  Meditation: What relationships has God healed, or what relationship is God seeking to heal in my life?

Pentecost: The day of Pentecost varies each year, depending on which Sunday Easter falls.  Pentecost is the day that the Holy Spirit entered the disciples and appeared as tongues of flames above their heads.  Color: Red on the day of Pentecost for the flame of the Holy Spirit; Green for the rest of the season.  However, White is used on special Sundays during Pentecost such as: Trinity Sunday, John the Baptist, All Saints Sunday and Christ the King Sunday.  Peculiar the Lutheran tradition, Red is used on Reformation Sunday to celebrate the Holy Spirit's work in the church during Martin Luther's Reformation.  Meditation: What is God seeking to change or transform in my life?

May the Holy One bless you and draw you ever closer into God's heart during the remaining seasons of the church year.

Peace,
Pastor Cheryl

Bethany Lutheran Sunday School Donates to Mauston Ambulance ! 

The Sunday School children of Bethany Lutheran in Mauston recently completed raising money for "People Who Make A Difference."  The children blessed the ambulance on Rally Day in September and have been raising money for new equipment.  On Sunday, December 4, the children presented a check for $284.79 to Harry Lutz who represented The Mauston Area Ambulance Association.  The money raised will be used to help update the radios.