Liturgical Seasons

of the Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church follows a liturgical calendar that guides worship throughout the year, marking the life of Christ and the rhythm of the Christian journey. Each season has its own spiritual focus, liturgical color, and major celebrations.

Advent

The Church year begins in Advent. Advent is a paradoxical season—marked by stillness in a busy world and by longing in the midst of festive lights. It reminds us that God often comes in ways we least expect, and that waiting itself can be a sacred act of faith.

Liturgical Color: Purple (or Blue, in some traditions)

Timeframe: Four Sundays before Christmas through December 24

Theme: Hope, Expectation, and Preparation

Advent marks the beginning of the Church year and is a season of quiet anticipation and holy waiting. It is a time when we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas and also look forward to His coming again in glory. Rooted in the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” Advent invites us into a spiritual journey of reflection, longing, and readiness. Through scripture, prayer, and worship, we are called to examine our lives, make room for Christ, and rekindle our hope in God’s promises.

Key Characteristics of Advent:

  • A time of both joyful hope and penitential reflection

  • Lighting of the Advent wreath, with one candle lit each Sunday (Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love)

  • Emphasis on prophetic readings from Isaiah and others who foretold the coming of the Messiah

  • Traditional hymns such as O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Major Feasts and Observances:

  • St. Nicholas (Dec 6) – the real-life bishop who inspired Santa Claus

  • The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Dec 8)

  • Advent Lessons and Carols – a beloved tradition of scripture and song

Christmas Season

In the Episcopal Church, Christmas is not just a day—it is a season. Beginning on December 25 and lasting for twelve days until the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6, the Christmas season celebrates the profound mystery of the Incarnation: God becoming flesh and dwelling among us in the person of Jesus Christ. Unlike the secular world, which often ends the festivities after December 25, the Church begins its celebration of Christmas on that day. These twelve days are marked by joy, beauty, and a sense of awe at the wonder of God’s love made manifest in a child born in Bethlehem.

Liturgical Color: White or Gold

Timeframe: December 25 through January 5 (The Twelve Days of Christmas)

Theme: Incarnation, Joy, and Light

The Christmas season invites us to dwell in the joy of Emmanuel—God with us—and to recognize that Christ’s birth is not only a historical event but a present and ongoing reality in our lives. It is a time to reflect on how we are called to embody the light of Christ in a world that still longs for peace, justice, and hope.

Key Characteristics:

  • Celebration of Jesus’ birth—the light of the world coming into the darkness

  • Emphasis on joy, hope, and divine presence

  • Liturgies filled with beloved carols, readings from the Gospels, and festive decorations

  • The Creed and Prayers of the People often reflect the mystery of the Incarnation

Major Feasts During the Season:

  • Christmas Day (December 25): The Nativity of Our Lord

  • The Feast of St. Stephen (December 26): First Christian martyr

  • The Feast of St. John (December 27): Apostle and Evangelist

  • The Holy Innocents (December 28): Remembering the children killed by Herod

  • The Holy Name (January 1): Commemorating Jesus’ naming and circumcision

  • The Feast of the Epiphany (January 6): Celebrates the visit of the Magi and Christ revealed to the Gentiles (marks the end of the Christmas season)

Epiphany Season

The Season of Epiphany celebrates the revelation of Jesus Christ to the nations. The word epiphany means manifestation or appearance—and this season invites us to see Christ revealed not only to Israel but to all people everywhere. It begins with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6, commemorating the visit of the Magi—wise men from the East who followed a star and came to worship the Christ child. Their journey symbolizes the extension of God’s promise to all nations. Following this, the season continues with Gospel readings that highlight key moments when Jesus is revealed to the world:

  • His baptism in the Jordan River

  • His first miracle at the wedding in Cana

  • His early teachings and healings

  • His call to the disciples

Each Sunday in this season focuses on how Jesus is made known—through light, voice, sign, or action. It is a time of spiritual illumination and invitation to deeper discipleship.

Liturgical Color:

  • White (for the Feast of the Epiphany and Baptism of Our Lord)

  • Green (for the Sundays following, symbolizing growth and life)

Timeframe: January 6 (Feast of the Epiphany) through Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday)

Theme: Revelation, Light, and the Manifestation of Christ to the World

The Epiphany season is a bridge between the wonder of Christmas and the self-examination of Lent. It reminds us that the light of Christ is for the whole world—and that we, as his followers, are called to reflect that light in our daily lives.

Key Characteristics of Epiphany:

  • Celebration of Christ’s light shining in the world

  • Emphasis on mission and evangelism—sharing the good news

  • Invitation to see and follow Christ in new ways

  • Continued use of light imagery, such as candles and stars

Major Feasts and Observances:

  • The Epiphany (January 6): The Magi’s visit

  • The Baptism of Our Lord (first Sunday after Epiphany)

  • The Presentation of Our Lord (February 2): Also known as Candlemas

  • The Last Sunday after the Epiphany: Focuses on the Transfiguration of Jesus, a vision of divine glory that prepares us for the solemn season of Lent

Lent

Lent is a solemn and sacred season in the Episcopal Church, set aside for deep spiritual reflection and preparation for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection at Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday, when we receive the sign of ashes as a reminder of our mortality: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The season lasts for forty days, mirroring Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, where He fasted, prayed, and faced temptation. It is a time to examine our hearts, repent of our sins, and return to God with intention and humility.

Liturgical Color: Purple (symbolizing penitence and preparation)

Timeframe: Begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days (excluding Sundays), ending on Holy Saturday

Theme: Repentance, Reflection, and Renewal

Lent invites us to journey inward, to confront the ways we fall short, and to open ourselves to God’s grace. It is not meant to be a season of guilt, but of transformation—a time to be reshaped, renewed, and prepared for the joy of Easter.

Many Episcopalians take on spiritual disciplines during Lent, such as daily prayer, acts of service, Scripture reading, or letting go of habits that distract from God.

Key Characteristics of Lent:

  • A call to self-examination, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving

  • A time to strip away distractions and deepen our relationship with God

  • Liturgies become simpler, more contemplative

  • The word “Alleluia” is omitted from worship until Easter

  • Use of purple vestments and decorations as a sign of penitence and preparation

Major Days and Observances:

  • Ash Wednesday: The beginning of Lent; marked by the imposition of ashes

  • The First Sunday in Lent: Often includes the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness

  • Lenten Midweek Services or Studies: Opportunities for spiritual growth

  • Holy Week: The final and most intense part of Lent, beginning with Palm Sunday and including:

    • Maundy Thursday (commemorating the Last Supper)

    • Good Friday (the crucifixion of Christ)

    • Holy Saturday (a day of waiting at the tomb)

Easter Season

The Easter Season, also known as Eastertide, is the most joyful and celebratory season of the Church year. It begins on Easter Sunday, the day we proclaim, “Alleluia! Christ is risen!” and continues for 50 days until Pentecost. This season celebrates the central mystery of the Christian faith: Christ’s resurrection from the dead, conquering sin and death and offering new life to the world. It is a time of unrestrained joy, spiritual renewal, and deep reflection on what it means to live as people of the resurrection.

Liturgical Color: White or Gold

Timeframe: Easter Sunday through the Day of Pentecost (50 days)

Theme: Resurrection, New Life, and Joy

Easter is not only about the resurrection of Jesus—it is also about our own resurrection life, here and now. The season invites us to explore what it means to live in hope, freedom, and love as followers of the risen Christ.

During Eastertide, the Church traditionally reads from the Book of Acts, highlighting the early Christian community’s growth, courage, and witness. It is a time to renew our sense of mission and to celebrate the transformative power of God at work in the world.

Key Characteristics of Easter:

  • A season of light, life, and rejoicing

  • The Paschal Candle, lit at the Easter Vigil, remains burning throughout the season

  • “Alleluia” returns in worship, joyfully proclaimed after being absent during Lent

  • Liturgies are vibrant and festive, often including renewal of baptismal vows

  • Use of white or gold vestments, symbolizing purity, joy, and glory

Major Feasts and Observances:

  • Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of Our Lord

  • The Octave of Easter: The eight-day period from Easter Day through the Second Sunday of Easter

  • The Feast of the Ascension (40 days after Easter): Celebrates Christ’s ascension into heaven

  • The Day of Pentecost (50 days after Easter): Marks the descent of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church

  • Rogation Days and Ascensiontide: A time to bless fields, gardens, and pray for God’s creation

Season after Pentecost (Ordinary Time)

The Season after Pentecost, commonly known as Ordinary Time, is the longest season in the liturgical year. It begins with the fiery celebration of Pentecost, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. The color red, used on Pentecost Sunday, symbolizes the power and presence of the Spirit. After Pentecost, the Church shifts to green, the color of growth and life. This extended period focuses not on a single event, but on our daily journey of faith, the work of discipleship, and the ongoing mission of the Church in the world.

Why “Ordinary Time”?

The term “ordinary” doesn’t mean plain or unimportant. It comes from the Latin ordinalis, meaning “numbered,” because the Sundays are counted (e.g., the Second Sunday after Pentecost, the Third, etc.). This season reminds us that God is present not only in the high holy days, but in the ordinary rhythm of daily life.

Liturgical Color:

  • Red (on Pentecost Sunday)

  • Green (for the remainder of the season)

Timeframe: Begins on the Day of Pentecost and continues until the start of Advent

Theme: Spiritual Growth, Mission, and Living the Faith

This is a season of being the Church—of listening, learning, loving, and serving. It is the time in which we grow deeper roots in our faith and reach outward in compassion, justice, and witness. The Spirit who came at Pentecost continues to work in us and through us all year long.

Key Characteristics of the Season:

  • Emphasis on the teachings and parables of Jesus

  • Exploration of Christian life, ethics, and community

  • Encouragement toward spiritual growth, service, and outreach

  • A time to live out the Gospel in ordinary, everyday moments

  • Liturgies are often less seasonal, but deeply focused on personal and communal formation

Major Feasts and Observances:

  • Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Easter): Celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit

  • Trinity Sunday (first Sunday after Pentecost): Honors the mystery of the Triune God

  • Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29)

  • Transfiguration Sunday (August 6 or observed)

  • All Saints’ Day (November 1 or following Sunday)

  • Christ the King Sunday (last Sunday before Advent): Proclaims Christ’s reign over all creation

Holy Days and Other Feasts

Throughout the calendar, additional feasts celebrate saints, apostles, martyrs, and special events, often marked with white, red, or other colors depending on their nature.