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Liturgical Seasons

The Episcopal Church follows the Liturgical Calendar which begins each year with Advent, the season of preparation for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Click on a season below to read about the traditions of the season and its Principal Feast Days.

• Advent
• Christmas
• Epiphany
• Lent
• Holy Week
• Easter
• Pentecost
• Follow the Lectionary

Advent

The Sundays of Advent are always the four Sundays preceding Christmas Day.

Advent is the season of expectation, a time for quiet preparation for the annual feast of the coming of the Christ Child into the world and into our lives. And yet for most of us, the month of December is the busiest, most frantic, most stressful month in the entire year. The Chapel's Advent services and programs are targeted to helping us find time to be quiet and still, time to pray and reflect, time to consider priorities, time to remember what is most important in the world and in our lives. In keeping with this, only greenery is used on the Altar.

In olden times, people took wheels off their wagons, brought them inside and decorated them with greenery and candles. Instead of putting up our Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving (or Halloween as the stores do), we are invited to take a wheel off and relax, to create a simple Advent wreath of greenery and four candles. The wreath can be a centerpiece for meditation and family prayer as we move through the four weeks to keep us centered on what the upcoming Christmas celebration is truly about.

Our children generally make Advent calendars in Sunday School or Children's Church so that they can mark the days until Christmas by reading a Bible story instead of worrying about what Santa will bring.

Click here for the Advent Meditation Booklet provided courtesy of the Chapel Ultreya.

La Posada
One of the Chapel traditions during Advent was borrowed from the Latin culture. On the first Sunday of Advent, Chapel families begin the celebration of La Posada, a Mexican custom. The word posada means inn or place of lodging. The observance is a religious procession in which Joseph's search of shelter for Mary on the way to Bethlehem is reenacted. Each night of Advent, a different family hosts small statues of Mary and Joseph, sculpted by the Chapel's Maggie Pooley. Each family hosting the couple is asked to provide a special place in their home and to participate in the reception ceremony when the couple arrives. The next evening, the family delivers the statues to another home. The couple returns during the Children's Service on Christmas Eve, accompanied by the Baby Jesus who is placed in a manger on the Baptismal font.

Feast of St. Nicholas
The Chapel marks the feast of St. Nicholas with a special program for children which includes stories, music, special St. Nicholas cookies and a visit by the Saint himself. St. Nicholas Bishop of Myra (in the present day Turkey) reportedly died about 350 AD. He has been the patron saint of Russia, Moscow, Greece, children, sailors, prisoners, bakers, pawnbrokers, shopkeepers and wolves. His gift-giving role in Christmas rites probably follows from his fame as the friend of children. The story also tells that he used to give anonymous donations of gold coins to persons in need.

Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols
Each year, the choir leads the parish in an Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols. This traditional and beautiful service which combines scriptural readings and hymns is an excellent way of preparing our hearts for the coming of the Christ child.

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Christmas

The Christmas Season begins with three services on Christmas Eve beginning with an afternoon service for children. There is a single celebration of the Eucharist on Christmas Day afternoon at which the Blessing of the Gifts occurs.

Christmas Day is celebrated as the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. January 1, the traditional secular New Year's Day, is observed as the Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Twelve Days of Christmas
Seldom when we sing a song do we think about why it was written. The lyrics for "The Twelve Days of Christmas" were written for a purpose that has largely been forgotten. According to Book of Feasts and Seasons by Joanna Bogle, the song was used as a form of catechism from the 1550s to the 1820s. Children were taught their doctrine in this way:

Just in case you were wondering what the seven gifts and nine fruits were:
From Isaiah 4:2 - the seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, piety and fear of God
From Galatians 5:22 - the nine fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

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The Epiphany

The celebration of Christmas comes to a close on January 6 with the feast of the Epiphany, also known as the Manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. One of the principal feasts of the church year, this day focuses our attention on the babe revealed as the incarnate Lord of all creation.

The word, Epiphany, means to manifest or reveal. The theme of the Sundays after the Epiphany is that the light of the world, revealed in Jesus, the Son of God, is now to be manifested to and ultimately in all humanity.

The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ is commemorated on the First Sunday after the Epiphany.

The Feast of the Presentation on February 2 is the commemoration of our Lord's presentation in the Temple by his parents. It is often called Candlemass since candles were blessed as a way of affirming that indeed the light of Christ has gone out into the world. The story of Mary and Joseph presenting the baby to God in the temple is punctuated by the appearance of two old people. The first Simeon, who took the baby in his arms, proclaimed to any who would listen that this was the one for whom he had been waiting all these years. The Lord had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. Anna, the 84-year-old woman who spent her days praying and fasting, recognized the baby as the one who would redeem Israel. Likely no one else paid much attention to the couple who could only afford the least expensive sacrifice: two turtle doves. They were overlooked by everyone in the busy crowds thronging the temple buildings except these two elderly eccentrics.

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Lent

Lent, which derives its name from the Old English word lencten for Spring, is the penitential season of 40 days preceding Easter. It comprises 40 fasting days (Sundays are excluded) of penance and abstinence, recalling the 40 days which Jesus spent in the wilderness. It is during this very disciplined season that we are to take stock of our gift of life and consider ways of reforming and living our lives more fully and passionately. Many of us give up something for Lent while others take on something such as going a good deed each day.

The day before the first day of Lent is known as Shrove Tuesday - so named from the shriving (confession and absolution) of the people of England in the churches on that day. It was also a day of festivity in preparation for the Lenten-fast days ahead. Housewives used their butter and eggs to conserve the perishable food before the fast. It is from the act that the traditional Shrove Tuesday Pancake Suppers were derived. The French custom of carnival the week before Lent climaxes in Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) which comes to an end at midnight when Lent begins.

Ash Wednesday
On Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, we are signed with the outward sign of the cross by the priest who uses ashes made by burning the palm leaves which had been blessed on Palm Sunday of the year before. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice in the fourth through tenth centuries in which the bishop sprinkled ashes over the heads of penitents who appeared before him in sackcloth garments. Later, penance became a voluntary act for members of the congregation. "Remember, O man, that dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return."

To help us engage in the reality of our need to be transformed, the church suggests a threefold form of discipline for Lent - prayer, fasting and alms giving. Prayer is for the good of our souls, fasting for the good of our bodies, and alms giving for the good of our neighbor. When all three disciplines are used, we should realize a pulling together of spirit and body. Through prayer, we gain a union with ourselves and with our neighbor, thereby becoming one with God. Fasting is a discipline that we do for our bodies rather than against our bodies. It is a discipline that means to bring us back into perspective. Alms giving is what we give to others out of joy and thankfulness of what we have and our desire to share our good fortune.

The spirit of Lent is also conveyed to the eye. The hangings during Lent are either purple, the color symbolizing penance, or khaki, symbolizing ashes. At the Chapel, the pottery set is used for Eucharist instead of the silver, and the linens on the Altar and credence table are straight edged with no lace or other embellishments. Flowers are not used during Lent. These outward differences of the Lenten season are symbolic in that it is through the taking apart and examining of our lives that we are better able to take stock of our gift of life and consider ways of reforming and living our lives more fully and passionately.

Annunciation of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 25)
The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a young woman of Nazareth, when her cousin Elizabeth was six months pregnant with John the Baptist. He told her that she had been chosen to bear the Christ child. Gabriel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and that the Son of God would be born. The event of the Annunciation is celebrated on March 25 because it is nine months from the birth of Jesus.

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Holy Week

Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday or The Passion of Our Lord is the sixth and last Sunday of Lent and beginning of Holy Week. The day begins with celebration as we recall Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We gather in the parish hall for the Liturgy of the Palms and process up to the Chapel, each wearing a cross made of palm leaves. The mood of the day changes rapidly with the reading of Matthew's account of our Lord's Passion and death. The service ends meditatively, as all depart in silence.

Maundy Thursday
We gather to recall Jesus' final meal with His friends and His command to them (and to us) to "love one another as I have loved you." Then, as a sign of our commitment to obey our Lord's command, we join in washing one another's feet (All are invited to participate, but no one must). Following the Eucharist, we process to the parish house for a simple, silent meal before returning to the church to strip it of all decoration. We leave in silence. It is traditional to bring food for the needy.

Good Friday
We gather in silence for prayer and the reading of John's account of our Lord's Passion. The mood is solemn and meditative; but it is a mood of solemn triumph, not of defeat. It is in being raised up on the Cross that Jesus won victory over death. It is through the Cross of Christ that we are reconciled with God. We leave as we arrived - in silence.

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Easter Season

Easter is a season of 50 days, not a single day. Differences observed during the worship services include: the first reading is from Acts, not the Hebrew Scriptures; having prepared in Lent for Easter, there is no general confession until after Pentecost; standing for the prayers of the people and the Eucharistic prayer is especially appropriate during the 50 days; the double Alleluia will be said to intensify the joy of the proclamation of the resurrection.

The Great Vigil of Easter
We gather in the darkness on Easter eve. Fire is kindled, and this flame provides our only light while we keep vigil in the dark as we hear the history of our salvation, from the creation and fall of humanity through the flood and the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt through God's promise to Ezekiel of restoration in the valley of dry bones to Zephaniah's declaration of coming salvation for God's people. Then, after renewing our baptismal vows, the lights come up and we celebrate the joy of the resurrection with the first Eucharist of Easter by ringing bells we have each brought. Incense is used during this service.

Easter Sunday - The Day of Resurrection
Easter Sunday at the Chapel is doubly special because it is when the Bishop of the Diocese of Mississippi makes his annual visit and performs the rite of Confirmation which is a public affirmation of faith and commitment to the responsibilities of Baptism. The Bishop preaches, celebrates the Eucharist, and confirms and receives new members into the Episcopal Church and this community. Following the service there is an Easter party with food, music, and dancing to celebrate the day and to honor our bishop and the new members of the parish.

Ascension Day
In the opening verses of the Acts of the Apostles, Luke tells us that Jesus appeared to His followers for 40 days after His resurrection. Then He took them out to the Mount of Olives and was lifted up and disappeared from their sight. The Feast of the Ascension, one of the principal feasts of the church, commemorates this event in our history. Ascension Day in 2001 was celebrated with a Eucharist on May 24.

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Pentecost

Pentecost commemorates the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ. The vestment and altar hanging color is red, symbolic of the tongues of fire as the Holy Spirit descended. The altar flowers are often red and orange gladiolas reaching into the sky. It has also been called Whitsunday from the white garments which were worn by those who were baptized during the vigil.

The season after Pentecost lasts for 24 weeks. During the first half of the liturgical year, we concentrated upon our Lord's life; now, in the second half, we focus on His teaching - how to live according to His example. Most of the Gospel readings focus upon Christ's parables and miracles from His ministry in Galilee.

Green is the liturgical color used for the Sundays after Pentecost, but the Chapel's blue-green tartan may also be used at times. The flowers on the altar display the colors of summer, adding beauty to the setting but never dominating the altar. The frontal piece on the altar is generally removed, leaving only the fresh fair linen to create an airier and softer look during these hot months.

The Season after Pentecost includes a number of Holy Days and other Major Feasts, including two which are particularly special to the Chapel: Constance and Her Companions and Holy Cross Day.

The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ
The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ on August 6 commemorates the event in the course of the ministry of Jesus in which He was visibly glorified in the presence of three chosen disciples - Peter, James and John. Jesus took the chosen three with Him to a high mountain where He prayed. As He did this, His face became radiant with a supernatural light. Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke to Him about the martyr's death Jesus was about to undergo. A luminous cloud, the symbol to the Israelites of God's presence, overshadowed them all. From it came the Divine voice proclaiming, "This is my Son, my Beloved; listen to Him." The disciples were overcome with awe and yet experienced great joy at the same time. When Jesus returned to the ordinary conditions of human life, He forbade the disciples to talk about their recent experience until the Son of Man should be risen from the dead.

Saint Mary, the Virgin Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ
The Feast of the Assumption of Saint Mary the Virgin, commemorated on August 15, was not defined as dogma until 1950 by Pope Pius XII. The event when at the end of her life St. Mary the Virgin was taken up (assumed) body and soul into Heaven is not mentioned in the New Testament, but is found in writings of certain apocryphal writers of the fourth century. Two versions of the assumption exist: either the Virgin never died at all but was taken straight into Heaven or she died but her body was preserved from the corruption of death and she was then assumed into Heaven.

Constance Nun and Her Companions
On September 9 or the Sunday thereafter, we commemorate Constance Nun and her Companions who have a special connection to the Chapel. We pay tribute to the Episcopal nuns, clerics and physicians who served the sick during a yellow fever epidemic in Tennessee in the late 1800s and became known as "The Martyrs of Memphis."

The Sisters of the Community of St. Mary, led by their Mother Superior Constance, came to Memphis in 1873 to begin a school for girls and to establish a church home for the ill and needy. Confronted with a yellow fever epidemic, they delayed their plans. Five years later, the plague struck again. While most everyone else fled the city, these Episcopal nuns, along with some Roman Catholic and Methodist clerics and a few doctors, remained. Sister Constance died on September 9, followed by her Companions, 12 Roman Catholic clerics and 34 Roman Catholic nuns, and, among others, the Rev. Charles C. Parsons whose wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are buried at the Chapel with several more relatives still alive and well.

Rev. Parsons was married to Margaret "Maggie" Britton, granddaughter of John and Margaret Johnstone who built the Chapel. Prior to being ordained as a priest, he fought for the Union in the Civil War and with General Custer in the West. Charles' first wife died in childbirth, leaving him with two babies. Helen Johnstone Harris volunteered to keep them at Annandale. Robbie died at age 5 and his grave behind the Chapel reads "Little Robbie." It was at Annandale that Charles and Helen met, and it was love at first sight. Charles and Maggie married and had one child, grandmother of Chapel member Anne Mollere. When the yellow fever hit, Charles sent his family to Ingleside, but refused to leave Memphis, saying it was his duty to stay with his people.

This feast day was added to the Episcopal calendar in 1986.

Holy Cross Day
This celebration is special to the Chapel because it is the observance of our "name" day. Just as the various St. Peter's churches celebrate St. Peter's feast day in a special way, we observe Holy Cross Day. The official name of the feast is "The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross." We commemorate the return to Jerusalem in 630 of a relic of the Holy Cross.

Soon after Emperor Constantine proclaimed toleration for Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, his mother, Helena, was baptized. In 326, although she was nearly 80, she made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem where she is said to have discovered the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Part of the relic was preserved in a silver case in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which was built by Constantine. In 615, King Khrosrow II of the Persians carried off the relic. Legend has it that he put it on the right side of his own throne and ordered that he should be worshipped as "God the Father." When Emperor Heraclius defeated the Persian army, he punished Khrosrow with death for his impiety and took the relic back to Jerusalem.

Feast of St. Francis - Blessing of the Animals
At the Chapel, we observe the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi as close to October 4 as possible with a special Blessing of the Animals ceremony, hosted by Parson, the original Chapel cat, and menagerie. All types of animals have been blessed from dogs to gerbils, with stuffed animals often serving in proxy for those unable to attend.

All Saints Day
November 1 is the Feast of All Saints.

Text for this page was taken from articles by Rev. John Sewell, Jan Smith, Judy McLarty and Jan Warner from past editions of CrossCurrents.

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Follow the Lectionary

To read the Lessons, Psalm, Collect and Gospel readings for the upcoming worship service, go to The Lectionary Page and click on the date on the calendar.