The Church Year: Sundays and Seasons   The church year represents the life and teachings of Jesus. The church year centers around two events in Jesus' life - his birth and resurrection. Advent - The year begins with Advent. The color for this season is blue which stands for hope. Christmas Day - Advent ends on Christmas Day. The color for Jesus' birthday is white. This color stands for gladness, light and joy Epiphany - Following Christmas is the season of Epiphany. The color is green which stands for living, growing and learning. The stories of the season show us how Jesus revealed himself to the people as the Son of God. Lent - The season following Epiphany begins with Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday the color is either black or nothing at all. This is the first day of Lent. The color for Lent is purple meaning solemn, somber. Holy Week - Lent ends with Palm Sunday. The color for this day and all the days through Maundy Thursday (the night of the Last Supper) is red. It all changes on the next day - Good Friday - the day Jesus was crucified, when we use black or nothing at all. Easter - This all leads to Easter which is the highest point of the year, the day Jesus was raised from the dead. The color for this day, like Christmas, is white. Pentecost - Fifty days after Easter is Pentecost. This brings the Easter season to an end. The color for Pentecost is red. This is the day that the Holy Spirit of God came to move throughout the world and within us, and still does today and every day. Sundays After Pentecost - For the following months, the Sundays will be called the Sundays after Pentecost. It is a long season which uses the color green. Christ The King - The last sunday of the church year. The color for Christ the King is white, the same as the other festivals of Jesus. After Christ the King - you start back at Advent.