THE CHRISTIAN YEAR
The Liturgical Calendar, also called the Christian Church Year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in the Christian church. Just as a specific calendar has 4 seasons, 12 months, 52 weeks, and 365 days that include holidays, the church's Liturgical Calendar uses similar terms and measurements.
The purpose of the liturgical year is not to mark the passage of time, but to celebrate and understand Jesus Christ's birth, resurrection, the day of Pentecost, and the expectation of His return.
These Sundays are numbered as follows:
Advent Season:
Four Sundays before Christmas Day (December 25) are designated as Sundays in Advent.
Christmas Season:
Christmas Day, and one or two Sundays between December 25 and January 6, designated as Sundays after Christmas Day.
New Year:
(Circumcision and Name of Jesus): January 1st.
Epiphany Season:
Four to nine Sundays between January 6, which is Epiphany Day and the beginning of Lent, which depends upon the date of Easter Day, designated as Sundays after Epiphany Day.
Lenten Season:
Six Sundays before Easter Day, designated as Sundays in Lent, of which the fifth may be called Passion Sunday and the sixth, Palm Sunday.
Easter:
Easter Day and six other Sundays, designated as Sundays after Easter Day, of which the last may be called Ascension Sunday.
Ascension Sunday:
The holiday is typically celebrated on the 40th day after Easter Sunday representing His triumph over death and His return to the Father.
Pentecost Season:
From eleven to sixteen Sundays beginning with Pentecost Sunday, the seventh Sunday after Easter Day, and continuing through the next to the last Sunday in August was designated as Sundays after Pentecost.
Kingdom/Time of the Church:
Thirteen or fourteen Sundays beginning the last Sunday in August and continuing until Advent, designated as Sundays in Kingdom.