Liturgical Seasons
Follow the rhythm of the church year with historic Lutheran practices and devotions
Current Season
Ordinary Time
Adapt your prayer life to the current liturgical season
Liturgical Seasons
Advent
Four weeks before ChristmasPreparation for the coming of Christ
Spiritual Focus
Hope, expectation, and preparation
Rosary Emphasis
Joyful Mysteries emphasized
Liturgical Colors
Purple vestments and candles
Historic Practices
- • Weekly lighting of Advent candles
- • Advent wreath prayers
- • Advent calendars for daily Scripture
- • Jesse Tree readings
- • Fasting or penitential emphasis
- • O Antiphons
Christmas
12 days from December 25 through EpiphanyCelebration of the Incarnation and Epiphany
Spiritual Focus
Joy, light, and God made flesh
Rosary Emphasis
Joyful Mysteries, especially the Nativity
Liturgical Colors
White and gold vestments
Historic Practices
- • Twelve Days of Christmas devotions
- • Nativity meditations
- • Epiphany blessing of homes with chalk
- • Celebration of the octave of Christmas
Lent
40 days before Easter plus Holy WeekPreparation for Easter through penance and Holy Week
Spiritual Focus
Repentance, fasting, and spiritual discipline
Rosary Emphasis
Sorrowful Mysteries emphasized
Liturgical Colors
Purple vestments, no flowers
Historic Practices
- • Ash Wednesday liturgy
- • Midweek Lenten services
- • Private or family fasting and almsgiving
- • Maundy Thursday confession and communion
- • Good Friday Tenebrae
- • Holy Saturday Vigil
Easter
50 days from Easter Sunday through PentecostCelebration of the Resurrection
Spiritual Focus
Victory over death, new life in Christ
Rosary Emphasis
Glorious Mysteries, especially the Resurrection
Liturgical Colors
White and gold vestments, flowers
Historic Practices
- • Paschal Vigil with new fire
- • Paschal candle in church and home
- • Renewal of baptismal vows
- • Easter octave
- • Alleluia restored
Pentecost & Trinity Season
From Pentecost through the end of the church yearGrowth in Christian discipleship and the work of the Spirit
Spiritual Focus
Steady spiritual growth, learning, and sanctification
Rosary Emphasis
All mystery sets in weekly rotation
Liturgical Colors
Green vestments (red for Pentecost)
Historic Practices
- • Pentecost vigil and octave
- • Red flowers and vestments for Pentecost
- • Ember Days for prayer and fasting
- • Commemoration of saints
- • Regular office cycle
Advent Witness
Advent is nothing else than a time of remembering that Christ came, and preparing ourselves for His coming again.
Christmas & Epiphany Witness
Of what benefit is it to me that Christ was born of a virgin if He is not also born in me? That is the faith which makes this birth my own.
Lent & Holy Week Witness
We must constantly keep at it, and not think that we know it all… for the devil, with all his power and wiles, is constantly on the prowl.
Easter Witness
Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.
Pentecost & Trinity Season Witness
We must acknowledge that everything is done by the Holy Spirit through the Word and Sacraments, who kindles faith in our hearts and makes us new creatures.
Seasonal Home Devotion
Icon Corner Decoration
- • Purple cloth during Advent and Lent
- • White or gold for Christmas and Easter
- • Green for Trinity/Ordinary season
- • Red for Pentecost and martyrs' days
- • Seasonal flowers when appropriate
Family Practices
- • Advent wreath lighting and prayers
- • Epiphany home blessing with chalk
- • Lenten family fasting and almsgiving
- • Easter Vigil candle lighting
- • Daily office adapted for seasons
Visit our Prayer Corner guide for detailed instructions on creating a sacred space for seasonal prayer.
Adapting Your Prayer Life
Daily Offices
- • Use seasonal collects and prayers
- • Adjust psalm selections for the season
- • Include seasonal antiphons
- • Modify intercessions for seasonal themes
- • Observe traditional fasting days
Personal Devotion
- • Focus on appropriate mystery sets
- • Add seasonal meditations
- • Incorporate traditional practices
- • Adjust frequency of certain prayers
- • Commemorate saints of the season