SEASON AFTER THE EPIPHANY

The Season after the Epiphany is a season of Ordinary Time, which includes four to nine Sundays, depending on the date of Easter. It is called “ordinary” because its Sundays are given ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) after the Feast of Epiphany (January 6). It stands between the two great christological cycles of Advent-Christmas- Epiphany and Lent-Easter-Pentecost. Its central theme is the calling of disciples and the early ministry of Jesus. The First Sunday focuses on the Baptism of Christ and the Last Sunday on the Transfiguration. In addition to the acts of worship for Sundays after the Epiphany, see The Great Thanksgivings on UMBOW 36-38, 58-59, and 70-71 and the scripture readings for the Sundays after the Epiphany in the lectionary (UMBOW 228-30).

Use white paraments, stoles, and banners on the First Sunday (Baptism of the Lord) and the Last Sunday (Transfiguration Sunday). Use or add green on the other Sundays. Contrasting colors will accentuate these more neutral colors. Visuals may include a baptismal font, water jars for the miracle at Cana, and bright candles for the Transfiguration.

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Copyright: None. This version is modified, 2013, by Discipleship Ministries to reflect current ecumenical understandings of the nature and purpose of this Season since the release of the final edition of the Revised Common Lectionary, which followed the approval of UMBOW.