Grace Notes 2025-10-29

The Liturgical Calendar is of tremendous benefit to those churches who use it. Is its use necessary for the Christian Faith? No. Did it fall from heaven? Not exactly. Is it spelled out clearly in the Bible? No, nor is it commanded in Scripture or joined to any specific promises in Holy Writ! It is, as I have said, of tremendous benefit.

Whereas the calendar didn’t fall intact from heaven, we would do well to not take lightly how the Holy Spirit has guided believers through the centuries. For Lutherans the Bible will always be the “the sole, pure standard for judging all teachers and doctrines.” But Lutherans historically have been inclined to take gratefully and respectfully practices and traditions deemed beneficial so long as they do not contradict Scripture or are taught as necessary for salvation.

And whereas the Liturgical Calendar was not commanded for Christians in the Bible, it was exemplified by Israel and the Hebrew Scriptures. Here it was actually commanded to Israel to remember God’s important acts of deliverance and the special covenant He had established with Abraham’s descendants.

So, you can say we have a Biblical example. And that stands for something.

The Liturgical Calendar developed in the Church along with assigned Lectionary Readings corresponding to this calendar, help to ensure that all the major events in Jesus’ life and ministry are reflected on and celebrated each year. It helps to keep us on task to imbibe and share the whole counsel of God’s Word (cf. Acts 20:27).

Briefly, the Church Year starts with the Season of Advent. That is followed by the Season of Christmas culminating in the Epiphany. Then there is the Season following the Epiphany, which in turn is followed by the Season of Lent. The height of the Church Year is the Season of Easter which culminates on the Day of Pentecost. Then there is the long Season following Pentecost. During the year we follow Jesus birth, baptism, public ministry, sacrificial death, resurrection, ascension, outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and His promise to return.

Since You Asked

What is the significance of All Saints’ Day? 

The significance is expressed in the hymn The Church’s One Foundation, the fifth stanza: “And mystic sweet communion / With those whose rest is won.” We certainly mourn in death the physical separation with our loved ones, but the Church affirms that the dead in Christ are very much alive and are present with our Lord. We further believe in the Resurrection of the dead on the last day, and our joyful reunion with the saints of all the ages in the eternal kingdom of our Lord. Therefore we can speak of our dearly departed as being a part of the Church Triumphant while we remain the Church Militant. On the festival of All Saints we direct our attention to the richness of Christian history, and the manifold workings of God’s grace through the lives of believers who have gone before us. It is also an appropriate time to honor the memory of those members of our congregation who have died.