Pastor’s eNote: Church Year Ends

This Sunday we complete our worship series called “Worthy: The Value of Jesus.” The timing for this series’ ending is on the final Sunday of the “church year,” called Christ the King Sunday or the Reign of Christ Sunday.

The church year does not follow the calendar year. The church year, often called the liturgical calendar, marks the great remembrances and celebrations of Jesus’ life. It begins with Advent as we prepare for the coming of Christ in his birth and second coming. Advent takes us to Christmas and a celebration of the birth of Jesus. From there we remember the visitation of the Magi on Epiphany and so on it goes.

In an evangelical church like our own, there has largely been a disregard for the church year and its calendar, even though Christmas and Easter are set by that same calendar which has easily become lost in practice across Christian churches. I am thankful these practices are not lost at First Free.

Sunday, November 24 is Christ the King Sunday. This final Sunday of the church year reminds us that Jesus is on the throne. He is Lord. There is no other name above the Name of Jesus, hence the name of our worship series, “Worthy.”

It is important to remember that our celebration of Christ the King Sunday is not centered on the omnipotence (all-powerfulness) of Jesus. The very next Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, we prepare to welcome the “babe born in a manger.” We might ask what makes God powerful? Is it that He spins the cosmos around or that he surrenders all of that to bring us true love and true salvation? (Philippians 2:5-11)

Let’s dwell on Christ as King as resplendent in power while also lifting high the power of the cross. The self-giving love of God is a true witness of power. God gives everything for us and is no less God for it.

Thanks be to God! May Jesus reign forever and ever!

Grace to You All,

Pastor Craig Brown
(11/19/24)