The days after Christmas are often a blur. As a pastor, there have been multiple gatherings and services to attend. And for many personally, there’s a handful of moments for travel to see other family and friends. We can almost forget which day it is, until we need to return to our regular rhythms. Anyone? Just me?

So, while we must count the days, there is even a greater urgency to make the days count. This is why it is helpful to reflect on the reason for a season and the purpose of our life and time spent. Each new year there are birthdays, holidays, goals, along with reminders of grief from past episodes or unfulfilled desires. Time can be both exciting and frightening. But the author of our story has a plan that has been revealed to us.

While we must count the days, there is even a greater urgency to make the days count. This is why it is helpful to reflect on the reason for a season and the purpose of our life and time spent.

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The church calendar consist of various seasons that help Christians remember God’s story and how to meaningfully reflect His light and life in our world.

• The first cycle is the cycle of light with Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.
• The second is the cycle of life with Lent, Easter, and Pentecost.
• The third cycle is called Ordinary Time.

Each of these cycles have their own meaning for recognition and tradition to celebrate. They’re known as Holy Days (aka: holidays).

• Advent, with Christmas, celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, while also orients preparation for His second coming. Epiphany follows the 12 days of Christmas and recognizes a time following the birth of Christ with the visit from the magi. This latter celebration also highlights the Church’s mission to worship the rightful king and follow God’s call in their life.
  
  A variety of traditions are included with these holidays: special calendars, wreath & tree decorating, songs & carols, candle-lighting, gift-giving, special foods, Nativity fare, and of course prayer, Scripture reading, and collective worship.
  

• Lent, with Easter, remembers the life and death of Jesus Christ. For forty days (plus the six Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Resurrection Sunday, many Christians fast and humble themselves in light of Christ’s death. While Christians re-orient the focus and purity of their life, they do so in light of the salvation by grace through faith that God has provided with resurrection hope. Further, Pentecost follows fifty days after Easter with the culmination of the Christian church with the giving of the Holy Spirit. It also relates to the Jewish festival “Feast of Weeks,” where God’s people commemorating the Passover, and after seven full weeks received God’s law. The first fruits of the harvest were also presented to God in sacrificial offerings. For Christians, Christ’s resurrection with the giving of the Holy Spirit is our “first fruits,” while we long for the fulfillment of the harvest in God’s kingdom.
  
  A variety of traditions are included with these holidays: ash markings, alms giving to those in need, fasting of various items, feasting on Sundays, and of course repentance & prayer, reflecting on the final days of Jesus, Scripture reading, and collective worship. Note: eggs have traditionally been considered a symbol of birth and new life, thus decorating or hunting eggs can be a fun tradition to relate to the resurrection.
  

• Ordinary Time is between Eastertide and the next Advent season. Christians rest in the finished work of Christ, while also practicing spiritual rhythms and disciplines of prayer, Scripture reading, obedience, communal worship and service.
  
  All the above holiday traditions are included with ordinary time, as persons and religious traditions recognize a variety of days in remembrance of individuals. Ultimately, every holiday should point to Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of God’s promises in the gospel. God changes the days and seasons, but His presence with enduring faith, confident hope, steadfast love, and relentless joy remain forever.

May each day drive you into a deeper and devoted relationship with God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.