Here at Lutheran Campus Ministry in Madison, we recognize that many of us may feel separated from the normal routine of church during the pandemic. 

A significant part of our experiences in worship are determined by the liturgical calendar. Every year, we celebrate holidays and seasons in church. We wanted to start a project that can help keep us connected to these celebrations throughout the year while we are apart. 

In the liturgical calendar, the year is divided into several seasons and includes a number of festival days. The year technically begins with Advent, which starts four Sundays before Christmas. The calendar includes the 40 days of Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, Ordinary Time, and a number of special festivals in between. 

Each of these seasons has a designated color that helps capture the tone of these seasons. For example, Christmastide is white and gold to signify celebration and joy, while Lent is purple to signify the season’s solemn nature and penitent mood. Some of these seasons are celebratory and festive. Others are solemn. 

These seasons and days are also connected with specific prayers and scripture readings that keep us connected to the stories of Christ. And so each year, the liturgical calendar helps us celebrate again Christ’s coming into the world during Christmas, His passion and resurrection through Lent and Easter, and other important days in the Church.

So for at least the rest of the academic year, we will be posting along with the liturgical season, starting with Reformation Day on October 31. We will try to explain what the season/day is about and include the designated prayer from our hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship. We hope this project can help us stay connected to the Church even when we might not be able to worship together in person.

If you have questions on any of the information feel free to comment on any post and start a discussion!