- Theme:
- The Church fulfills the Great Commission
- Dates:
- The Season After Pentecost lasts from the day after Pentecost to the day before Advent. Thus it begins on 24 May 2010 and ends on 27 November 2010.
- Colors:
- In most churches, the decorations are green to symbolize the growth and life of the Church. You can read more about color in worship
- Scripture Readings:
- The Revised Common Lectionary appoints Scripture readings for use in worship during the Season after Pentecost.
- The East:
- In Orthodox churches, this season lasts from the day after Pentecost through 14 November.
- Special Days:
- See below.
The Season After Pentecost is essentially the part of the year that is left over after everything has been accounted for. The name of this season varies widely from church to church—it can be called Kingdomtide, Dominiontide, or Ordinary Time. In most churches, the general theme of the Bible readings and sermons concerns the church’s mission in the world.
The Season After Pentecost begins on the day after Pentecost. In the western Church, it ends on the Saturday before the First Sunday of Advent. In the eastern Church, it ends on 14 November.
The main holy days during this season are as follows:
The Western Church
- Trinity Sunday, the Sunday after Pentecost, the celebration of the Holy Trinity.
- The Transfiguration. In many churches, 6 August is the commemoration of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor. In the Revised Common Lectionary, it has been moved to the Last Sunday After the Epiphany.
- Holy Cross Day, 14 September, originally commemorates the alleged discovery of the true cross in Palestine in the fourth century. In Lutheran churches, it is the occasion for preaching on the theology of the cross.
- All Saints’ Day, 1
November, the Christian Memorial Day on which all who died for their testimony
of Jesus are remembered. Many American churches use All Saints’ Day as an educational, Christian alternative to the secular Halloween, by having
a party and a special service for children, who dress in costumes to represent
heroes of the Christian faith. The practice of having a harvest festival
to avoid the secular Halloween is ironic, since that puts us right back
into the pagan things we were trying to avoid. The word Halloween itself is a contraction of All hallows’ evening, which is the original English-language Christian term for All Saints’ Eve. (‘Hallow’ is an old word for ‘saint.’)
Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day on 31 October. Martin Luther posted his debate topics on the day before All Saints’ Day to take advantage of the crowds who would pass by on their way to services.
The Eastern Church
- All Saints’ Day, The Sunday after Pentecost, the Christian Memorial Day on which all who died for their testimony of Jesus are remembered. Eastern Christians celebrate Trinity Sunday on Pentecost.
- Holy Cross Day, 14 September, originally commemorates the alleged discovery of the true cross in Palestine in the fourth century.
- The Transfiguration, 6 August, the commemoration of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor.
Roughly speaking, the western Church consists of Protestants, Catholics, and Anglicans. The eastern Church consists of the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Orthodox Oriental churches, and the eastern-rite churches affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.