Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior. The heavens show forth the glory of God: and the firmament declareth the work of His hands. -The Introit for the First Advent Ember Day (taken from Isaiah 45:8 & Psalm 18:2).So begins the three day period of Winter Ember Days.
Showing posts with label Calendars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Calendars. Show all posts
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Chapter I: Advent - Ember Day I: The Annunciation
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
The Themes of Adventtide
Sundays are the ‘basic’ holiday of the Christian Calendar. On this day, we re-live (in an abbreviated way) all of the Themes we've talked about. In my church, the liturgy has been carefully designed (over hundreds of years) to reflect the path of the Christian Story. Sunday contains a mini-version of the entirety of the Christian Calendar. As such, Sunday is the primary holiday for Christians.
During Advent, each Sunday is assigned a specific theme to further the scope of the Season. The order of these Themes actually varies from tradition to tradition and even some within traditions. While the order shifts, the Themes themselves are surprisingly universal. The Advent Wreath has one candle for each of the Sundays, and each candle takes a name from these Sundays. During the week, specific commemorations from various traditions have been chosen to highlight the theme of that week.
During Advent, each Sunday is assigned a specific theme to further the scope of the Season. The order of these Themes actually varies from tradition to tradition and even some within traditions. While the order shifts, the Themes themselves are surprisingly universal. The Advent Wreath has one candle for each of the Sundays, and each candle takes a name from these Sundays. During the week, specific commemorations from various traditions have been chosen to highlight the theme of that week.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Just What Exactly Is The Christian Calendar? Part I
We’re off on a journey through the Christian Calendar. Great! But what exactly IS the Christian Calendar? Come to think of it, what is a Calendar?
A Calendar is more than a calendar. That is, it’s more than just the passing of 365 days broken up into 12 months and 52 weeks, or days marked by the passing of moons.
A Calendar is a method of measuring one’s time, to be sure, but it also dictates how one passes one’s time. In many regions of the world, the Calendar is set up around harvesting crops. It dictates when preparation is to be done, when work is to be done, and when rest is to be taken. In the most agrarian communities, it also dictates when prayer to a deity or deities should be offered. A Calendar may include weekly and/or monthly rituals, as in the Jewish and Muslim Calendars, but they always include yearly rituals that are marked out in Seasons. It is the nature of a Calendar to dictate, to control.
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A Calendar is more than a calendar. That is, it’s more than just the passing of 365 days broken up into 12 months and 52 weeks, or days marked by the passing of moons.
A Calendar is a method of measuring one’s time, to be sure, but it also dictates how one passes one’s time. In many regions of the world, the Calendar is set up around harvesting crops. It dictates when preparation is to be done, when work is to be done, and when rest is to be taken. In the most agrarian communities, it also dictates when prayer to a deity or deities should be offered. A Calendar may include weekly and/or monthly rituals, as in the Jewish and Muslim Calendars, but they always include yearly rituals that are marked out in Seasons. It is the nature of a Calendar to dictate, to control.
(CLICK ON TITLE FOR THE REST OF THIS POST)
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