Meditation Monday - The Circle of Seasons
Exploring the Liturgical Calendar
In a few weeks we will enter a new liturgical year. It begins with traditional Advent on the 4th Sunday before Christmas. It always seems strange to me to have a movable date as the start of the year, and that is not the only thing that seems strange.
I did not grow up in a liturgical church and to be honest, when I first read about it 40 years ago, I found little significance in a calendar that was totally out of synch with the seasons of the Southern hemisphere. It was hard to talk about darkness when everything was bathed in light. It was my first Easter in the Northern hemisphere, with spring bursting out around me, and the promise of resurrection in the air that taught me to appreciate it. I love the way that it connects the human story to the story of God and find that even for my Southern hemisphere friends, it has growing significance that roots our faith in the events of Jesus’ life and encourage all Christians to explore the significance of the rhythm it provides for our lives.
Each year I learn more about the liturgical seasons and their relevance to my life and keep adapting them to give more relevance to the way I live my life now. Moving from the celebration of traditional Advent to Celtic Advent and the creation of my Celtic Advent devotional book is just one of those changes, though it probably began with the creation of this Advent In A Jar downloadable packet that gives an activity for each day of Advent. To that I soon added Susan Forshey’s great Advent calendar with activities for the days of Celtic Advent plus the 12 days of Advent you can download here.
My movement towards a more embodied faith and my craving for practices that connect my life to the seasons of my faith is another of those changes, best expressed through my creation of succulent gardens for different seasons and my use of exercises like circling prayers, gratitude pumpkins and chalking the door. Last year in particular, I was delighted by my invention of my own Celtic Advent wreath with six candles rather than the traditional four. It was lovely to incorporate it into my circle of light which is already blazing in my sacred space.
This year, as I prepare to celebrate Celtic Advent and look for new and innovative ways. to connect to the season, I am still struggling to work out what symbols and creative exercises I want to use. Maybe it is because I am in Australia where Christmas decorations and glitter are still to appear. Maybe it is because I actually need to sit in my sacred space at home in order to stir my creative juices.
One thing that intrigued me this year, was my discovery of a whole range of Advent calendars that I would once have laughed at - Advent calendars for knitting, for gardeners , even for wine drinkers and fishermen. Chatting to a couple of people who use these kinds of calendars made me realize that they can help connect people to the rhythm of God’s story and help them draw closer to the birth of Christ through the activities they love. There are a myriad of other ideas for Advent calendars you might like to experiment with, like Sybil McBeth’s Praying in Colour Advent Calendar.
Paul Neeley of Global Christian Worship provides an amazing and comprehensive description of the Liturgical Calendar and how to use it in Using the Church Calendar to Celebrate the Whole Story of God.
Here are some other helpful guides:
Books:
Recommended by Christine Sine
The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister. This was one of the first books I read after I became interested in the liturgical calendar. It gave me a very good overview of what it was all about.
To Dance With God: Family Ritual and Community Celebration by Gertrud Mueller Nelson. I loved this book particularly because of its family orientation which helped me to understand that the liturgical calendar is not just for church but for everyone.
The Circle of Seasons by Kimberlee Conway Ireton. A very engaging introduction to the church year.
Seasons of Celebration by Thomas Merton. A classic that offers readers a series of original and masterful meditations on the church year.
Seasons of Prayer by Donna Fletcher Crow. A fresh approach to the church year that begins with Lent not Advent. This delightful book weaves classic prayers like the Lord’s prayer into the events of the Christian year
Celebrating the Christian Year by Martha Zimmerman. Another great overview of the church year.
Celebrating Biblical Feasts In Your Home or Church by Martha Zimmerman. This book focuses particularly on the feasts of the church year. I love the focus on family celebrations .
Feasting for Festivals Customs and Recipes to Celebrate the Christian Year by Jan Wilson. A wonderful collection of recipes and craft ideas to help us celebrate the seasons.
Worshiping in Season Ecology and Christ Through the Liturgical Year by Joseph E. Bush Jr. A Very informative look at how God’s love for creation is woven through the liturgy.
Recommended by Others
Journey Into the Heart of God Living the Liturgical Year by Philip H. Pfatteicher. Journey into the Heart of God is an interesting and helpful mixture of history, theology, and devotional thoughts that will become a partner with you as you walk through the liturgical year. Showcasing hymns, liturgical texts, and customs this an excellent resource for individuals and communities looking for a deeper understanding of all the seasons of the liturgical calendar.
Living the Liturgical Year Time to Inhabit the Story of God by Bobby Gross. A starting point for those Christians in a non liturgical setting but want a pretty substantial guide that leans toward the devotional bent. Many gems abound for those more knowledgeable about the liturgical year. It will surely help you pursue God in a deeper way.
A Homemade Year : The Blessings of Cooking, Crafting, and Coming Together by Jerusalem Jackson Greer
Things Seen and Unseen by Nora Gallagher
Ancient Future Time by Robert Webber. An excellent resource for those who wish to be rooted in the ancient traditions of our faith but find themselves contextualizing them for the modern world. Particularly strong in guiding individuals and communities in using the yearly liturgical cycle for discipleship.
The Liturgy of the Ordinary : Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren
Moments and Days How Our Holy Celebrations Shape Our Faith by Michelle Van Loon
Celebrating the Southern Seasons: Rituals for Aotearoa Juliet Batten
More resources available of the Godspacelight Advent and Christmas resource page
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