Supplimentary Notes to Lesson 2
by
Sylvia Dooling
As the author introduces this lesson, she correctly points out that our lives are not divided into neatly symmetrical seasons, as Ecclesiastes poetically suggests. We may go through a variety of seasons at once. But, our observation of the liturgical calendar can serve as an anchor for our lives as we focusing on the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and return of Jesus Christ.1
Page 10: the middle column on this page offers Background Information. We are reminded of Israel�s key festivals. Here, it is important to refer to Leviticus 23. To supplement this section, we have included a chart that we took from the New Geneva Study Bible.2 The feast days that God gave to Israel were a reminder of his constant presence and his salvation of his people. As these feasts looked forward to the coming of Messiah, we now we now look back to God’s work of redemption in Jesus Christ.
The third column on Page 10 provides important information of the seasons of the church’s liturgical calendar. Under the season of Epiphany, it is important to include the words “in Jesus Christ” so that the sentence reads, ” this season is for commemorating God�s self-manifestation “in Jesus” to all people.” This underscores the inclusion of the Gentiles, and the mission of the church to the ends of the earth.
Page 11: in discussing the history of liturgical colors, it should be noted that purple not only represents royalty but also signifies “penitence.”
Page 12: The first column says that “red” often represents ordination. Actually, the emphasis should be on the fact that it is used in ordination because it signifies the Holy Spirit. The call to ordained office is by the Holy Spirit who empowers the “ordinand” to fulfill his/her call within the community of faith.
The Fast Fact at the bottom of Page 12 is most helpful.
Page 12: The second column, under Secondary Symbol, speaks about the Alpha and the Omega. It says that these letters in the Greek alphabet represent God’s sacred time. More specifically, in Rev. 22:13, Jesus said, �I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”This is a powerful statement it means that Jesus is Lord of all!
Page 13: First column: Liturgical Seasons and Life Cycles
Here it is important to underscore that through the various seasons of our lives, especially during those times when we find ourselves in a sea of confusion and despair, the liturgical calendar can serve as a way of reminding us of what Christ has done on our behalf. It reminds us that for the Christian, “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”Rom. 5:5
Questions on Page 14: Questions 6 & 7 are good questions as they relate what we’ve studied to our own experiences. However, here is another question to add to these two: How can this study of the �liturgical”seasons help you to order the seasons of your life in Christ?
The Closing Prayer should end with:
“In the name of the Word, Jesus Christ, through whom all creation came into being, we pray. Amen.”
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1. We have added the ascension and return of Christ to the authors list.
2. Israel’s Annual Feasts (Leviticus 23:44). The astericks (*) indicate the three major feasts for which all males of Israel were required to travel to the temple in Jerusalem (Exodus 23:14-19).