When God created the world, he placed lights in the sky to “serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years” (Genesis 1:14). God used these signs to establish the basic calendar for his Old Testament believers: Passover, Feast of Weeks, and Tabernacles. The New Testament church gradually developed a calendar that annually reviews Christ’s saving work. We call this calendar the Christian church year.

Easter Sunday, the Festival of the Resurrection

Even though the church year begins with the first Sunday in Advent, we can do no better than starting our description of the church year at Easter. Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday. The disciples discovered his empty tomb, and Jesus appeared and assured them of his victory over death. The men and women who believed in him continued to gather for worship on the first day of the week. Each Sunday became a “little Easter.” And once a year, Christians celebrated the anniversary of that first Easter.

But on which Sunday should we celebrate Easter? We know the date for Easter changes each year. In 2008 we celebrated the resurrection on March 23, something which won’t happen again till 2228. Next year Easter will fall on April 12. Why isn’t Easter, like Christmas, observed on the same date each year?

It’s because of two decisions made by the early Christians: 1) to celebrate the resurrection on a Sunday and 2) to celebrate it near the time of the Jewish Passover. Since the Passover is observed on the 14th day (full moon) of the first complete month in spring, the believers set the date for Easter as the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring. Setting the date for Easter was important in the development of the church year calendar.

The Easter season and Pentecost

The 50 days between Easter and Pentecost is the same as the period of time between the Old Testament festivals of Passover and the Feast of Weeks. This is the oldest season of the Christian year. Pentecost, the Coming of the Holy Spirit, marks the close of the Easter season. The word “pentecost” (literally meaning “five ten times”) was the Greek name for the Jewish Feast of Weeks. On Pentecost the ascended Lord fulfilled his promise to pour out the Holy Spirit.

On the 40th day after Easter, we observe the Festival of the Ascension, which reminds believers that they too will ascend and share in Christ’s heavenly glory.

The season of Lent