Introduction to the Season after Pentecost

We have just entered into the longest season of our church calendars: The Season after Pentecost. It is sometimes referred to as Pentecost Season, Pentecostide, or Kingdomtide. It is a continuation of the Season after Epiphany. This season carries us all the way from Pentecost Sunday up to the beginning of Advent at the end of November. This is 25 weeks in total (almost half of the entire year). The liturgical colour for this season is green.

The Season after Pentecost is one of two periods known as ordinary time which fall outside of the big Christian holidays (Christmas and Easter) and the preparation seasons that prelude them (Advent and Lent).

While the “big” seasons invite us to reflect on the person and character of Jesus, ordinary time encourages us to reflect on our role as individuals and communities as we seek to follow Jesus in our daily lives. After the glitz and glamour of Pentecost, where the Church of Christ was established, the Season after Pentecost gives us an opportunity to journey and grow together as the Church today. Now that we have accepted and celebrated that the Holy Spirit is at work within us and all of creation, what does that look like practically? The Season after Pentecost helps us to unpack this question.

The Season after Pentecost begins with Trinity Sunday which this year is celebrated on the 4th of June. In many churches, the month of September is dedicated to the Season of Creation - a call to care for the environment and our planet. All Saints Day is on 01 November and the first Sunday of November is usually used to honour this day in most churches. All Saints Day is an opportunity to remember those who have died in the previous year. The Season after Pentecost ends with Reign of Christ (Christ the King) Sunday - a day that recognizes the Lordship of Christ over all Creation.

The weeks of ordinary time are labelled with a number and the title Proper. This can be a bit confusing as Proper 1 began during the first Ordinary Time found in the Season after Epiphany. Therefore we will be picking up our lectionary reflections next week Sunday with Proper 5. It is important not to get bogged down by these labels - they just help us to know which readings are used each week of Ordinary Time.

May you have a blessed Season after Pentecost as you serve God, follow Jesus and be guided by the Holy Spirit.