Turn, Turn, Turn (the Church Calendar) (Trinitarian letter February)

Turn, Turn, Turn

 (Rector's Letter in February 2012 Trinitarian) 

One of the things that first attracted Elena and me to the Episcopal Church was its celebration of the Christian year and recognition of different times and seasons in its worship:  Advent prepared for Christmas, a Christmas of 12 days led to a mid-winter celebration of Light Manifested in the Darkness (Epiphany), a Wednesday when ashes were imposed beginning a Lenten fast to prepare for Easter, and then Holy Week, Easter, and the great 50 days, ordinary time followed, bring us back to Advent.  Interspersed were Feasts, Fasts, and Saints’ days.    

The tradition we had been raised in was very low Church, and didn’t celebrate any of these, except for Christmas and Easter.  We found that both Christmas and Easter had far greater meaning and value when celebrated as part of a larger, year-long cycle of worship and prayer. 

Thursday February 2, at 7 p.m.,  we will celebrate Eucharist on the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple, or Candlemas.   It is 40 days after Christmas, and marks the end of the Christmastide-Epiphany season.  On it, we process with candles reminding us that Christ is the Light of the World, we sing the song Simeon sang when he saw the baby Jesus in the Temple, the Nunc Dimittis (“Lord Now you Let your Servant go in Peace,” Luke 2:29-32), and we bless the candles to be used in our Church services in the coming year. 

February 22 is Ash Wednesday, when we impose ashes reminding us that we are mere “dust and ashes,” and begin our Lenten fasts.  We will have noon and evening Eucharists with imposition of ashes.    In preparation, we have Shrove Tuesday (February 21).  This is the famous “fat Tuesday” or “Mardi Gras” where we have the last chance to eat things we will be giving up for Lent.  Traditionally, we have a Pancake supper at Trinity that evening, and begin the “Party of Parties” to fund our Outreach Ministries.  

“Shrove Tuesday” takes its name from the fact that that was when Christians went to their priests to confess their sins and “be shriven” (be forgiven, or absolved) in preparation for the fast.  This year, we will be offering the Sacrament of  Reconciliation (“confession”) privately during the day in the Church. 

I will be giving more background and reflections on Lenten fasts and the Sacrament of Reconciliation in my upcoming Mid-week Reflections in February. 

Peace. 

--Father Tony+