The Season After Pentecost

One of the reasons that the Christian year is so widely used is that it is both fixed and flexible. It is firmly rooted in the Christ event, the paschal mystery. The primary Christian celebrations of Christmas and Epiphany, Easter and Pentecost call attention to the dying and rising of Christ. The Christian year also calls attention to other themes, people, and events in light of the paschal mystery. Many important commemorations occur during the long season after Pentecost. The sections that follow present both introductions to these topics and resources for planning worship. The season between Pentecost and Advent is known as ordinary time, or nonfestive time. During this season, many worship traditions follow lectionaries that highlight the work of the Spirit in the mission of the church in the world. Other churches organize their worship life around a lectio continua, continuous readings from a given section of Scripture. Some worship traditions have also called this season "kingdo…