Ask yourself this question: What are the top three things you hope will be etched into your children's hearts (and your own) beyond all chance of being forgotten?
When they leave your home and go out into the world, what is it they must take with them? How we answer this question will should show us what our priorities are and where we need to devote our time.
We want to put time to use for us in ways that remind ourselves and our families of what is truly important. We want to hold fast to the truth of the Gospel - that Christ came to earth, died, and was resurrected for our salvation. We want to dwell on the beauty of the fact that God loves us so much that He came down to earth as a helpless baby. We want to know in the depths of our souls that all good gifts come from Him, and He is with us in the hard times as well. We want to be steeped in God's Word, Christ's life on earth, the faith He has given us, and the reality of our coming hope of heaven. Whirling around us are messages that there is no absolute truth, no firm foundation to cling to; consumerism, materialism, and the pressure to "keep up with the Joneses" are the creed of the day. We need to lead our children to a strong rock, that they might not be swept away by the shifting waters of these messages. One powerful tool we can put to use to do this is following the church year in our homes.
The phrase "church year" might give us a throwback to a childhood lesson about Gregorian vs. Julian calendars; it might seem antiquated and irrelevant in the 21st century. But the church year can be an incredible tool to anchor us to the most important truths of our faith, and can become a natural rhythm that orients our families to what is most important to us.
We already live by a calendar. Our calendars tell us when we can work and when we can rest, when we should go watch fireworks or start stocking up on canned pumpkin at the grocery store. Our calendars remind us when to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, and when to pull out our boxes of winter clothing. Church, vacations, soccer, meetings; calendars dictate how we spend our time.
And on the flip side, how we spend our time shows us what we prioritize in life. God gave the Jewish people feasts and festivals for this very reason; Passover to remind them of their deliverance from the hands of the Egyptians, Firstfruits to thank the Lord who gives the harvest, the Feast of Booths to recall the sojourn of the people before coming into the Promised Land, and so on.
"Following their Jewish predecessors, Christians consider the regularity of the holidays as 'teaching moments' for followers of Christ. In Judaism, the Passover meal begins with a question that highlights the teaching moment as the youngest child asks, 'Why is this night different from all other nights?' The answer spurs the recollection and retelling of God's redemption of the children of Israel from Egypt. Similarly, Christians see in the events of Christ's life timely moments to tell and retell the Good News. Finally, Christians recognize that this life is not an end in itself. Christ's victory over death means that daily life focuses beyond the mundane to eternity. A calendar of Christian events unites believers with the past and the future in the present. Thus the Christian community has adopted and adapted the Jewish calendar for its worship and faith life." - Timothy H. Maschke, Gathered Guests
The Jewish people in Scripture made use of time to remind themselves to Whom they belonged and what He had done and was doing in their lives. The early Christians did the same. We are no different from these people of history, and can benefit just as much by putting time to use for us to help us prioritize our faith and the story of what God has done and is doing.
"How does time bring us closer to God? The Christian year is a means by which we relive for ourselves all that matters of salvation history. When we recall the past events of salvation, they come alive in their present power to save. Our acts of remembrance bring the original events back to us with all their meaning." - James F. White, Introduction to Christian Worship
Celebrating the church year with our families is one of the most powerful ways we can focus our lives around what is most important.
But what exactly IS the church year?
The early church modified the Jewish feasts and festivals to develop a method of following the events of Christ's life throughout the year. Through the centuries different seasons and festival days were added to the calendar until the current church year as we know it was completed. The church year officially begins in December, with the season of Advent. Advent spends four weeks preparing for Christmas, waiting for Christmas just as the Jewish people waited for the coming of the Messiah. About half of the year follows the life of Christ with special seasons of preparation (Advent and Lent) for special celebrations (such as Christmas and Easter); the other half of the year is called Ordinary Time.
Following the church year can enrich our faith and give us tangible ways to experience, understand and be strengthened in our faith in Christ. The new church year begins on December 1st with the season of Advent. This is a great time to think about celebrating the church year! Whether you already celebrate the church year or are considering jumping in for the first time, be watching for our next post. We will share a huge list of things you can choose from to make the Advent season meaningful in your home, so you can slow down and focus on the real meaning of Christmas and be grounded in the life-giving truth of the significance of Christ's birth in Bethlehem two thousand years ago.