Seasons and FestivalsThroughout the year, the church follows the pattern of church seasons and major Christian festivals. Here is a brief summary. Season of Advent Advent starts four weeks before Christmas, when we prepare for the coming of Christ. The Festival of Advent begins on the Sunday nearest to 30th November. Advent is the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus and its name comes from the Latin word adventus, which means "coming". At St. Mary's, we keep Advent Sunday and the Churches Together in Addiscombe normally join together in the afternoon or early evening for a combined Advent Carol Service. Season of Epiphany The Festival of Epiphany is on 6th January each year and celebrates the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi, who visited him soon after His birth. 'Epiphany' comes from the Latin word epiphania, which literally means 'manifestation'. Season of Lent Lent is the period of forty days, which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. It begins with Ash Wednesday. At St. Mary's we will have an evening Holy Communion service with the Imposition of Ashes, symbolising the penitence that marks out this season. The end of Lent is marked by Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Maundy Thursday is the day when Jesus had his last meal with his disciples, was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, and put on trial through the night. The meal was held at the time of the Jewish Passover. The word 'Maundy' comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning "commandment", and Christians remember Jesus' famous commandment to his disciples to 'Love one another as I have loved you' (John 15:12). At St. Mary's, we mark this festival with a symbolic Passover meal in the centre of the church. This is followed by The Watch, a time of quiet prayer and reflection, remembering Jesus' request to his disciples to keep watch as he prayed during the night that he was betrayed and arrested. Good Friday is to mark the day when Jesus was crucified on a cross. Of all the Christian festivals, Good Friday is perhaps the most solemn and profound memorial. The origin of the term 'Good' is not clear. Some say it is from "God's Friday"; others maintain that it is from the German, Gute Freitag, and not specially English. The route of the word 'good' is 'holy', so some regard it as "Holy Friday". At St. Mary's, we have an All-age Service in the morning and then walk into to central Croydon and join in the Walk of Witness through the shopping precinct, which is preceded by a short service and a re-enactment of the crucifixion outside the Alms-house. Members of St. Mary's are actively involved in organising this event. In the afternoon, there is a Devotional Service. The church is kept open from 10.00am to 4.00pm, giving space for those who wish to pray in church. Season of Easter The Festival of Easter Day marks the day when Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. It is the most important Christian festival, and the one celebrated with the greatest joy. The date of Easter changes each year, and several other Christian festivals fix their dates by reference to Easter. The day is calculated using a complex formula according to the rules of the Gregorian Calendar, introduced in 1582, and adopted in England in September 1752 and is set in relation to a full moon on Easter Day. At St. Mary's, we have Family Communion services in the morning. Forty days after Easter is Ascension Day, the day when Jesus ascended into heaven. This is always a Thursday and is kept at St. Mary's with a service of Holy Communion in the evening. The Easter Season comprises seven weeks following Easter Sunday. One of the prominent feasts in the church liturgical year is Pentecost (from the Greek, "the fiftieth day"), celebrating the fiftieth day after Easter Sunday. Historically and symbolically related to the Jewish harvest festival of Shavuot, it commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus, as described in the Book of Acts, Chapter 2. Pentecost is also called Whitsun, Whitsunday, or Whit Sunday (short for "Wisdom" Sunday, the day when the Apostles were filled with wisdom by the Holy Spirit). At St. Mary's, we normally have a special Service of Healing with the Anointing of Oil and most in the congregation will come forward. Season of Trinity Trinity commences the Sunday after Pentecost and is the last season of the Christian liturgical calendar. It is the part of the church calendar between Trinity Sunday and the first Sunday of Advent. On Trinity Sunday, the church rejoices in the mystery that God is three persons in one - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. At St. Mary's, we normally mark this day by having Baptisms and Affirmations of Baptism by full-immersion in a pool that is set up in church. Special Events |