Church Season Events (Dates vary)

Winthrop Congregational Church, like many Christian churches, follows what is known as the Liturgical Calendar or the Christian Year. This is a special calendar that guides our worship through specific seasons that mark important times in Jesus' life or in the history of the church. 

Advent Season- late Nov.  or early Dec. through Christmas
*This season is the 4 weeks before Christmas and is the beginning of the Liturgical year. During this season, we wait in hopeful expectation for Jesus' birth. We tell stories of his family and of what his people expected a Messiah to be like. We light a special candle each week, too. 
  • First Sunday of Advent: Decorate the tree with special ornaments called Chrismons & bring gifts for the Family Violence Center
  • Second Sunday of Advent: All Church Christmas Pageant
  • Third Sunday: Choral Cantata by our talented church choir
  • December 24th: Christmas Eve Service of Lessons, Carols, & Candlelight

Christmas Season- It's more than just Christmas Day!
  • December 25th: We celebrate Jesus' birth
  • Twelve days after Christmas: Epiphany- the day when we remember the Wise Ones who learned of Jesus' birth from the stars and brought him gifts and worshiped him. 

Ordinary Time #1- Far from ordinary...
We tell stories about Jesus' early life and baptism, and learn about the promises that God made to Jesus' people, well before he was born. 
  • Sixth Sunday after Epiphany:  Transfiguration Sunday- Early in his ministry, Jesus traveled to a mountainside with friends to pray. Something very important happened there. He was forever changed.

Lent- Usually begins in February or March and goes through Easter. 
This is a period of 46 days before Easter where we learn about Jesus' ministry, his call to love God and love your neighbor, and how his ministry challenged expectations among the powerful in his community. His message was so powerful he was killed for it. 
  • Ash Wednesday Service: the first Day of Lent, In 2016 it is on February 10th.
  • The church often offers a Lenten study group for adults. Contact the church office for dates and times. 
  • Palm Sunday: In 2016, it is on March 20th. 
  • Maundy Thursday Service: We often share this service with a neighboring church. In 2016, it will be on March 24th at 7 PM. 
  • Good Friday: Service held at the Winthrop United Methodist Church

Easter Season- It's more than one Sunday! 
This season begins on Easter Sunday, where we celebrate Jesus' victory over death and goes through Pentecost Sunday, where we celebrate the birth of the Christian church. 
  • Easter Sunday Service:  In 2016, our Easter Service is on March 27th at 10:00 AM. All are welcome! Christ is Risen Indeed!
  • Pentecost Eighth Sunday after Easter.  In 2016 this will be on May 15th

Ordinary Time #2- Still not so ordinary. 
This is the longest season of the year. We spend time learning about important figures in the Hebrew Bible and learning about Jesus' parables. There are many things we celebrate during this time: The beginning of school, commissioning our Sunday School teachers, remember people we love who have died. We might even bless some animals. 
  • Trinity Sunday- May 22nd, 2016
  • Reformation Day- October 30th, 2016
  • All Saints Day- November 1, 2015

*This is the last season of the year.  Once it is over, we begin the liturgical cycle again with the season of Advent.