The Church Calendar 2004 to 2008

I'm sure we all know what date Christmas Day is, but what about the other dates that move about ?

	Ash Wednesday	Palm Sunday	Easter Day	Ascension Day (Thursday)	Pentecost (Whit Sunday)	Advent Sunday
2008	6th Feb.	16th Mar.	23rd Mar.	1st May	11th May	30th Nov.
2009	25th Feb.	5th Apr.	12th Apr.	21st May	31st May	30th Nov.
2010	17th Feb.	28th Mar.	4th Apr.	13th May	23rd May	30th Nov.
2011	9th Mar.	17th Apr.	24th Apr.	2nd Jun.	12th Jun.	30th Nov.
2011	22nd Feb.	1st Apr.	8th Apr.	17th May.	27th May.	30th Nov.

These dates are some of the principal ones in the Christian calendar, and they break the year up into different "seasons", but not quite the same as the ones the trees follow !

The reason we have a special calendar is to remember the significant events in our Lord Jesus Christ's time here on earth, as set out in the scriptures.

Advent, Christmas & Epiphany

The church's year starts at the beginning of Advent, on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. It is a time of preparation for Christmas and the celebration of His coming to us on earth as a baby. The Epiphany is the 6th of January, the 12th day after Christmas Day, although it may be celebrated on the Sunday before.

Epiphany ends after "the Presentation of Christ in the Temple" (Candlemas) on the 2nd February, then we start the count down to Lent. There are a variable number of Sundays in this period as the next event is not on a set date, but varies with the date of Easter.

Lent and Easter

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, and falls in the seventh week before Easter Day (Sunday). Holy Week is the week before Easter Day, and starts with Palm Sunday. It includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Eve (Saturday). On Good Friday we remember the death of Jesus on the Cross. On Easter Day we remember the events of the "Third Day" - His Resurrection. The week following Easter Day is known as Easter Week. There are five Sundays after Easter Day before the next significant day - Ascension Day.

Ascension and Pentecost

Ascension Day is always the sixth Thursday after Easter Day. We remember the Ascension of Jesus to heaven, following his final time on earth amongst the Apostles.

The Day of Pentecost (Whit Sunday) is the time we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit "like flames" on the Apostles, as promised by Jesus. It is the second Sunday after Ascension Day

Trinity to Advent

Trinity Sunday is the week after Pentecost, when we remember the "Three in One", the Father, Son and Holy Spirit aspects of God our Creator.

Trinity lasts until November 1st, All Saints Day, when we start to count down to the first Sunday in Advent and the start of a new Christian year.

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Page last updated on 20-Nov-2004