Special Sundays & Services

The beginning of the church year. During the 4-weeks leading up to the birth of Christ, we celebrate this season of preparation and anticipation as we await the coming of God enfleshed on earth! During this season, the paraments in our sanctuary change to blue, and we begin every service with the lighting of the Advent Wreath candles.

The celebration of the birth of Christ. Beginning on Christmas Eve, and concluding 12 days later on Epiphany, this is a time of celebration in the Christian Church as we rejoice that God came to dwell among us on earth in order to lead us into new life and Beloved Community. During the season of Christmas, the paraments in our sanctuary change to white.

The celebration of the revelation of Jesus Christ. This marks the day on which the Wise People arrived in Bethlehem and bore witness to the Christ-child, announcing his divine presence. The time after Epiphany is known as the Season of Epiphany, and spans the time from Epiphany until Lent. For the day of Epiphany, our paraments change to white – but for the Season of Epiphany, our paraments change to green, which is the color of “Ordinary Time” in the church.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40-day Lenten journey by reminding us of both our mortality as well as our connection to all other created things. In this solemn service, we gather to receive the mark of the cross with ashes on our foreheads, hearing the words, “from dust you were created, and to dust you shall return.” The paraments in our sanctuary change to purple for Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent.

This season of 40-days is historically a time of fasting in the church as we remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for his ministry, as we too prepare ourselves to journey with Jesus to his death on the cross. Lent is a season of contemplation and reflection, during which many people choose to either give something up or take on a new spiritual practice as an intentional way of drawing closer to Christ in this holy season.

The week prior to Easter is known as “Holy Week,” and is filled with a series of services to draw us into the story of crucifixion and resurrection.

Palm Sunday: The Sunday before Easter we gather to remember the parade of Palms that welcomed Jesus into the city of Jerusalem. This was more than just a celebration of Jesus though - it was also a protest against the Roman Empire, reminding us of the very political nature of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Maundy Thursday: The night on which Jesus was betrayed prior to his crucifixion, he gathered with his friends and disciples to wash their feet, share a meal, and impart lasting wisdom and messages of love for them to carry out. In remembrance of this, we gather for a “dinner church” service, in which we participate in the washing of hands and feet before sharing a meal as we worship together.

Good Friday: The day on which Jesus was crucified. We gather for a solemn service of remembrance, mourning the death of Christ and so many others who have suffered and died at the hands of Empire. 

Easter Sunday: We gather and rejoice, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!” We celebrate the resurrected Christ as we remind one another that we are people of the resurrection, called to face death with courage and conviction as we strive to bring about new life of abundance for all of Creation. The 40-days after Easter are known as the Easter Season, as we continue the celebration of the resurrection by hearing stories of experiences with the resurrected Christ before he ascended to Heaven. The paraments in our Sanctuary turn to white for the season of Easter.

The day on which we celebrate Jesus imparting the Holy Spirit upon us before ascending to Heaven, commissioning us all to go out and be his body in the world, sharing God’s message of Good News for all people and bringing tangible signs of the resurrection through feeding, healing and serving all of God’s people. The paraments in our Sanctuary turn to red for this season.

The day on which we celebrate our Triune God. We worship a God who is one-in-three and three-in-one – a God who not only calls us to build community, but who is themself community, in their inherent nature. We celebrate God the Creator, God the Christ, and God the Holy Spirit, who moves among us in multifaceted and mysterious ways, drawing us all into the never-ending story of the Divine. The paraments in our Sanctuary change to white for this holy day of celebration.

The long stretch of time between Pentecost and the end of the liturgical calendar is known as the “Time after Pentecost” or “Ordinary Time.” Our paraments remain green throughout this season as we hear the many stories of miracles and parables that filled Christ’s ministry.

On the Sunday closest to October 31st, Reformation Day, we celebrate Martin Luther, who began the Reformation movement within the Christian Church by nailing his 95 thesis to the door of the church in Whittenburg, protesting many exclusionary practices of the Catholic Church. Today, we celebrate our history as people of the reformation, reminding ourselves that we are called to always be reforming the Church so it can more fully express God’s love and grace for all of Creation.

On the Sunday closest to November 1st, All Saints’Day. We celebrate All Saints’ Sunday as we remember those who have died and gone before us to dwell with Christ in Heaven. We create an altar of remembrance for people to bring photos and mementos of loved ones, and we light candles to honor those in our lives whom we have lost.