For Signs and Seasons: A Primer on the Church Calendar

by Duane Garner

Why should the Church number its days by observing a liturgical calendar each year, moving from Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost?

Because the annual church calendar retells the Life of the Lord Jesus Christ. By celebrating the major events of Jesus' life, the Church affirms the historicity of His life instead of dismissing the story of Jesus as an abstract collection of timeless morals.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is rooted in time because it is the account of historical events.

We are not saved from time, but in time—saved from sin and death and sharing His authority so His lordship will be known over all peoples, all places and times.

Just as some households order their years according to birthdays and anniversaries, the Church has historically held it to be a blessing to order the yearly pattern of our own lives according to Jesus' coming, His birth, His manifestation to the nations, His suffering and death, His resurrection, and the outpouring of His Spirit.

Duane Garner's For Signs and Seasons gives a defense for the annual church calendar while also explaining the biblical and historical background for each liturgical season. The book also provides liturgies for each season, including Scripture readings, responses, and prayers.

Genres: Theology

110 pages, Paperback

Published November 20, 2024

Reviews

[Hattie Burchfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Fabulous last chapter

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent primer. Recommend to every Christian. This topic on the church calendar use to seem like a small issue to me, that now has changed. Christ is not neutral towards time and history, as Christians we ought to be disciples and shaped by Christian time, Christian holidays, Christian feasts days, etc.

[Thomas Duell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great. I feel this absolutely accomplished its intended purpose of being a primer on the church calendar. Without a resource like this, most evangelicals discovering the glories of annually and communally rehearsing the life of Christ have to piece together knowledge from different blogs and prayer books, which can sometimes have a learning curve, especially if you're trying to learn by yourself. Bookended by great essays on the value of the calendar and feasting, the body of the book highlights the main liturgical seasons and feast days, bringing a distinctly reformational catholic flavor and approach. Supplemented with prayers from The Book of Common Worship and the Book of Common Prayer, families will find plenty of resources to begin coloring their family worship liturgies with the hues of the church calendar.

[Mason Sherrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got better and better as I kept reading!! Every chapter is dedicated to a holiday and/or an event day in the Christian calendar with meaning, background and example family devos/ideas of ways to celebrate. The last chapter on the Christian discipline of festivity is absolute gold. Highly recommend!

[Rebecca Esmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little book - the book I've always needed to have on hand, briefly covering each of the seasons of the church calendar with readings, celebration ideas etc. for that season. Also, great closing chapter on festivity. I'll need to order my own copy.

[Jlnpeacock Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect book to help Christians properly celebrate the seasons of the church.

[Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful primer. I would recommend this book to any new old to the seasons of the Church.

[Ruth Dahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great primer on the church calendar and feasts therin. It also includes family devotions for each season, so really a practical book.

[Michael Kidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to the Church Calender and how to incorporate the annual life of the Church into one's daily family/personal life.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super helpful and theologically rich whole remaining short and sweet. I love the family worship guides in each chapter.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best intro to the church calendar with the right emphasis on feasting and celebration. Final chapter is worth its weight in gold.

[James Denard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, very useful. Last chapter bumped it from 4 to 5 stars for me.

[Sheri Ingersoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent primer on the Church calendar. I grew up Lutheran with the church calendar, but never had an understanding. Beautiful.