Time is a tricky thing to deal with theologically. There are Elements of repetition, and elements of once-only. In our church experience, we look back on the once-only kinds of events (both historical and revelatory) through a cyclical pattern varying, HAS That spans; Perhaps the Most Significant Is That of the church year, qui Follows the progress of the seasons, Allowing for change, goal aussi Adding stability to the way in qui we have a community approach God and the narrative surrounding God's action in the world. As Vicki Black states, there are two primary cycles in the church year. The first is the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle, and the second is the Lent-Easter-Pentecost cycle. Traditionally, the church year is to begin Said at the first Sunday of Advent. This day is always the fourth Sunday before Christmas; while Christmas is always December 25, the variability in the calendar means clustering que la actual dates for the Beginning of Advent exchange from year to year. This continuous cycle through the Epiphany, After which 'ordinary' time instead takes up to The Beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. ('Ordinary' time Refers to the fact That thesis weeks are numbered with ordinal numbers - Second Sunday After Epiphany, etc., and not to the fact That They Are Any outside of the Greater seasons of the church.) Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, qui falls on different dates in different years, dependent upon the dates of Easter. Unlike Christmas, qui is fixed on the calendar (qui is the Roman solar calendar still in use in the primary world) Easter shifts from year to year, as it is pegged to the Jewish celebration of the Passover, qui est-governed by a lunar calendar. Lent lasts for 40 days (exclusive of Sundays) up to Easter. Holy Week is a share of Lent Technically, different colors and purpose HAS aspects as things go up to Easter; the Easter season continued up to the feast of the Pentecost 50 days later, at qui time the church goes into the second, along period of 'ordinary' time, up to the advent of the next Advent season. Black Discusses Each of These Six Elements (Advent-Christmas-Epiphany and Lent-Easter-Pentecost) in separate chapters, along with a special chapter on Holy Week, and an introductory chapter. Black's development is personal, fait que she Discusses how she Incorporates this into her family with her husband and son; she aussi Allows for variations of practice in different parishes and dioceses. There is a minimum of technical language here - the text is very accessible yet Does not 'talk down' to the reader. It is Both Engaging and inviting. The book can be used by a focus group at the church - DESPITE the division into eight chapters, It Could Easily be used as a book or chat for Lenten year inquirer's class to learn aspects of the church year. There are potential debate issues listed at the back of Each chapter. The book is Itself Rather short and Easily read in a short time, can be objective Useful as a reference Throughout the year, too. This is a series of hand by Morehouse Press, qui aussi includes 'Welcome to the Book of Common Prayer' (also by Vicki Black), 'Welcome to Sunday' and 'Welcome to the Episcopal Church' (both by Christopher Webber). All of These books are great as introductions to the ways (sometimes mysterious) Episcopalians do things in church - Useful for newcomers as well as life-long members Who might-have never Learned the 'why' behind what the church does.
