Episcopal worship life is built around a yearly cycle that journeys through the Gospel story, beginning with the four Sundays of Advent that precede the celebration of Christmas, followed by Epiphany and continuing through the season of Lent, the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter, then following with Pentecost and the Sundays after Pentecost.

Specific readings, prayers and appropriate rituals are related to each season and celebration; collectively, these are known as the "propers." Scripture readings are listed in the Lectionary; prayers, psalms and liturgies (instructions for worship) are contained in the Book of Common Prayer.

Each season also has its characteristic liturgical color(s); these are used in banners, coverings on the lectern and altar, vestments (ceremonial clothing worn by worship leaders) and stoles.

Season of Advent

The church year begins with the season of Advent, which encompasses the four Sundays before Christmas on December 25th. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Christ Child, and the readings and liturgies center on expectation and promise.

Advent is often marked by lighting the candles on the Advent Wreath, made up of five candles: four in a circle and a fifth in the center. One candle is lit each Sunday; the fifth is lit on Christmas. The four candles are purple, the color of the season (sometimes one of the candles is pink- and is known as the "Jubilate" or "Joy" candle, associated with the third Sunday of Advent.

The color for the season is purple or dark blue. Banners, altar cloths, stoles and other items in the church will show the color of the season.

At St. Philip's we also have the tradition of the Jesse Tree: a banner of a tree, representing the lineage of Jesus. Each Sunday during Advent, symbols known as "Chrismons" are added to the tree. It takes its name from the words of Isaiah 11:1 "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots."

Christmas

Christmas is, of course, the celebration of the birth of Jesus. During the season of Advent, the sanctuary is bare and unadorned except for the Advent Wreath, awaiting the anticipated birth of the Christ Child. Before the Christmas Eve service, the church is decorated with evergreens, lights and banners to make a joyful and celebrative space for worship.

The season of Christmas lasts from Christmas (December 25) until Epiphany eve ( January 5th). The liturgical color is white.

Epiphany

Epiphany (literally "manifestation") is celebrated on January 6th as the revelation of Christ to the world. White is the color for Epiphany day and the Sunday following. Some traditions associate the coming of the Magi (described in Matthew) with this day.

The Sundays after Epiphany mark the time until Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.

Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent

Ash Wednesday, a service of repentance and reconciliation, marks the beginning of the 40-day time of preparation for Easter (note- Sundays are not counted among the 40 days!) The 40 days of Lent are meant to recall Jesus' 40 day fast in the wilderness, and during this time, people are encouraged to refrain from mundane pleasures and to focus on the spiritual dimensions of life.

The color for the season is purple, the color of penitence and preparation.

Holy Week

Holy Week is the commemoration of Jesus' last week in Jerusalem, his arrest, trial, execution, burial, and resurrection. Each of the special days of this week focuses on a specific part of the story.

• Palm Sunday recalls Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and the cheers of the crowds. The liturgy for Palm Sunday usually includes a dramatic reading of the full Passion Story (the last days of Jesus' life) from one of the Gospels. The sanctuary is usually decorated with palm fronds and there is a special procession at the beginning of the liturgy.
• Maundy Thursday centers on Jesus' last meal with his disciples, the "Last Supper." St. Philips observes a "Chaburah Meal," a special ritual meal including bread and wine that dates back to the time of Jesus. Following the meal, the sanctuary is stripped of all decoration and there is a "Garden Vigil" to remember Jesus invitation to the disciples to watch with him.
• Good Friday is a time for contemplating the death of Jesus. Each year, the churches of the Alum Rock area host a Stations of the Cross meditative walk in Alum Rock Park. The color for Good Friday is black.
• Easter Sunday usually features a sunrise service to celebrate Jesus' resurrection, as well as special liturgies later in the day. The color for Easter is white (and sometimes gold). White continues to be the color for the Sundays following Easter until the day of Pentecost.

Season of Pentecost

The season of Pentecost begins with Pentecost Sunday. "Pentecost" means "50th," and comes from the Jewish festival of Shevuot ("Weeks"), celebrated fifty days after Passover. Pentecost is celebrated on the Sunday coming seven weeks (50 days) after Easter. It commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples and the beginning of the Church, as described in Acts 2: 1-13.

The first Sunday after Pentecost is known as Trinity Sunday.

Subsequent Sundays are numbered from Pentecost, for example The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (or Pentecost 5). The season after Pentecost is the longest in the church year, lasting until the first Sunday of Advent, four Sundays before Christmas.

The beginning of Pentecost depends on the date of Easter, which varies from year to year (Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon on or after the Spring Equinox, and can fall between March 22 and April 25) and the end of Pentecost depends on the date of Christmas (always December 25). This means the season can be shorter or longer depending on the date of Easter. In order to keep the readings and prayers for the Sundays after Pentecost synchronized regardless of the length of the season, the Propers (readings and prayers for each Sunday) are designated by number (Proper 1 through Proper 29) and the date on which they should be used. For example, the readings in Proper 14 would be used on the Sunday nearest to August 10. In most years, not all the Propers will be used.

The last Sunday after Pentecost, one week before the beginning of Advent, is known as Christ the King Sunday.

Liturgical Colors