Special Services - Keeping Time in Christ
The seasons of the Christian year offer a way to order the annual life of the church according to the life of Christ and the events of salvation history. Through two millennia of Christian worship, a certain cycle of seasons has emerged and is now observed throughout the ecumenical church. Some of these events, including Pentecost, Holy Week, and Epiphany, can be traced to the earliest centuries of Christian practice; others, such as Trinity Sunday and Christ the King, developed later in the church's history.
The Directory for Worship explains:
God's work of redemption in Jesus Christ offers the Church a central pattern for ordering worship in relationship to significant occasions in the life of Jesus and of the people of God. The Church thus has come to observe the following days and seasons:
ADVENT, a season to recollect the hope of the coming of Christ, and to look forward to the Lord's coming again. At BPC we celebrate the Advent season with
CHRISTMAS, a celebration of the birth of Christ.
LENT, a season of spiritual discipline and preparation, beginning with Ash Wednesday, anticipating the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ. At BPC we celebrate this most wonderful season in the life of our church with
HOLY WEEK, a time of remembrance and proclamation of the atoning suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
Easter, the day of the Lord's resurrection and the season of rejoicing which commemorates his ministry until his Ascension.
DAY OF PENTECOST, the celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church.
The church also observes other days such as Baptism of the Lord, Transfiguration of the Lord, Trinity Sunday, Reformation Sunday, All Saints' Day, and Christ the King.
The Directory for Worship explains:
God's work of redemption in Jesus Christ offers the Church a central pattern for ordering worship in relationship to significant occasions in the life of Jesus and of the people of God. The Church thus has come to observe the following days and seasons:
ADVENT, a season to recollect the hope of the coming of Christ, and to look forward to the Lord's coming again. At BPC we celebrate the Advent season with
- a favorite tradition, Hanging of the Greens, where we decorate, prepare for and anticipate the birth of our King.
- our annual Children and Youth Christmas Play
CHRISTMAS, a celebration of the birth of Christ.
- The Candlelight Christmas Eve Service with Communion
LENT, a season of spiritual discipline and preparation, beginning with Ash Wednesday, anticipating the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ. At BPC we celebrate this most wonderful season in the life of our church with
- an Ash Wednesday service of reflection
HOLY WEEK, a time of remembrance and proclamation of the atoning suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
Easter, the day of the Lord's resurrection and the season of rejoicing which commemorates his ministry until his Ascension.
- Maundy Thursday Service with Communion at 7:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall (April 14th)
- Good Friday Service at 7:00 PM in the Church Sanctuary (April 15th)
- Palm Sunday Processional (everybody has a palm) at our 10:00 AM Worship Service (April 10th)
- Easter Sunrise Service at the entrance of the Cemetery (April 17th)
- A big breakfast on Easter Morning for our church and community in the BPC Fellowship Hall
- A big Easter Celebration at 10:00 AM - this is an uplifting service with flags, Easter banner, Bible and cross (April 17th)
DAY OF PENTECOST, the celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church.
The church also observes other days such as Baptism of the Lord, Transfiguration of the Lord, Trinity Sunday, Reformation Sunday, All Saints' Day, and Christ the King.