The Christian year includes two central cycles focused on major events in the life of Christ: the Christmas cycle (Advent-Christmas-Epiphany) and Easter cycle (Lent-Easter-Pentecost). Each of these seasons begins with a time of preparation and anticipation followed by a time of celebration. Ordinary Time follows each cycle.
But why the name “ordinary” and what does the church emphasize as it seeks to make disciples and transform the world during these seasons – the longest on the church calendar? Read and learn more about how United Methodists and other Christians experience the Ordinary Times as periods of action, nurturing and living out our discipleship.