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Worship Services in the Liturgical Year
A calendar reminds us of important dates: anniversaries, birthdays, appointments, and necessary tasks. On it we record what matters to us. The Christian calendar is, therefore, incalculably valuable to us as a worshiping community. On that calendar, Christians throughout history have marked the significant events of the life of Christ, of the Church, and of God's people. Pullen's worship seeks to follow the tradition of the Christian liturgical calendar. Our church year begins with Advent followed by Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Ordinary Time. Within each of those seasons, there are special worship services that help us name and celebrate our participation in the Christian story today. What follows is a description of the liturgical seasons and the worship services that help us live into that particular season. For information about our traditions in Sunday worship see Worship Traditions.
Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany
Advent
Originally begun as a time of preparation for the coming of Christ, Advent is a time of expectancy and anticipation in which we "prepare the way of the Lord." In the ninth century, Advent was established as being the four Sundays before Christmas. Our worship services throughout advent focus on the four themes of Advent: hope, peace, joy, and love.
A candlelight labyrinth service provides time for quiet reflection during Advent.
Christmas
Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Christ, has drawn many pagan and Christian events into one joyous holy day. Santa Claus came from the festival of St. Nicholas on December sixth. The Journey of the Magi, though it occurred years after the birth of Christ, has become part of the Christmas celebration. In fact, Christmas became so full of different customs and joyful revelry that the Puritans banned it. When Charles II restored the monarchy, he also reinstated Christmas.
The early Christians met and broke bread together to signify their union, fellowship, and love. In 1727 the Moravian Church revived this practice and established the custom of celebrating the great church festivals by partaking of a simple meal known as a "lovefeast." Pullen celebrates Christmas in a Lovefeast on a Wednesday evening each December. In Moravian tradition, the Pullen Orchestra and church instrumentalists lead the congregation in singing carols of the season as scripture is heard, the meal is shared, and candles are lit.
Pullen has two Christmas Eve services that celebrate Christ's birth in our world. Our first service is at 7:00 PM. While the structure of this service may look different from year-to-year, the traditions of reading and/or telling the story of Jesus' birth and singing carols makes it a worship service enjoyed by all ages. Our second Christmas Eve service begins at 11:00 PM and is led by our youth. Each service concludes with candle light and the singing of a familiar Christmas carol.
Epiphany
The Christmas season concludes with Epiphany, a word meaning "manifestation" or "showing forth." The festival commemorates the visit of the Wise ones to the Christ child. The Magi understood that this Jesus was "God with us"; it is the mystery and the miracle of Epiphany that these wise ones, these scholars and intellectuals, knew enough to fall down and worship Jesus. Epiphany Sunday is observed on the Sunday closest to Epiphany, January 6. Sundays after Epiphany point to other "manifestations of the Word made flesh" in the Baptism of Jesus and his early ministry. The final Sunday after Epiphany recounts the Transfiguration of Christ.
Lent
Lent is part of the Easter cycle beginning forty days before Easter (excluding Sundays). Lent is a time to rest, to meditate, to pray, and to gather spiritual strength. Even though Sundays are not included in the days of Lent (each Sunday being considered a "Little Easter"), Pullen observes the Church tradition of putting "Alleluias" to rest, as services offer a more introspective focus. During this season we emphasize our connection to the American Baptist Churches USA and take up the ABC Mission Offerings.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday begins the Season of Lent. Pullen's Ash Wednesday service is a reflective service including the imposition of ashes on the forehead (taken from the burning of the previous year's Palm Sunday palm fronds).
Palm Sunday
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, the celebration of Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Worship on this day enacts this event and foretells the coming week in the life of Christ.
Maundy Thursday
"Maundy" is derived from the Latin word meaning "mandate" and recalls Jesus' new mandate from his teaching in the upper room: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." Pullen's Maundy Thursday service relives Jesus' last evening through meditative scripture and song, and invites congregants to participate in stations of footwashing, communion, and/or prayer.
Good Friday
On Good Friday, the most solemn date on the Christian calendar, we remember the Crucifixion of Christ. On this day, Pullen offers opportunity for private, reflective prayer through the walking of the labyrinth in the chapel.
Easter
In ancient tradition of the Church, Easter morning begins with baptism. A service of Easter Baptism is held in Finlator Hall, which houses Pullen's baptistery. The first proclamations and hymns of Easter morning are offered in this early service as the church congregation celebrates with those who are baptized. A service of Easter worship in the sanctuary follows. This festive service is marked with joy and festive expressions in the exclamation of Christ's resurrection. The Easter service of worship at Pullen includes resurrecting the use of "Alleluias" (put to rest during Lent). Children are invited to ring alleluia bells with each alleluia sung or spoken. The Easter service concludes with worshipers invited to the chancel to sing "Hallelujah" from Handel's Messiah.
Pentecost
Fifty days after Easter, Pentecost celebrates the birth of the church and empowering of the Holy Spirit. A vibrant service of worship celebrates Pullen's welcome for all and the recognition that all are gifted through God's Spirit.
Creation Season
In the month of June, following Pentecost, Pullen celebrates a liturgical season highlighting creation and our role as co-partners in caring for everything God has made. Each Sunday, aspects of the service remind us of the many gifts nature gives unselfishly to us and challenge us to care for our fragile planet.
Ordinary Time and Other Observances
The Sundays after Pentecost comprise the liturgical year's longest period and include a variety of emphases in the life of the church. While the other liturgical seasons relive the life of Christ, this season focuses on the ongoing work of the church. Sundays during this season include:
Youth Sunday
Rite-13 Sunday
Peace Sunday
Alliance of Baptists Sunday
World Communion Sunday
Children's Sabbath
Reformation Sunday
All Saints' Day
Service of Remembrance
Thanksgiving
Worship in the Round
An informal service is held in the chapel on occassional Wednesday nights through out the year. These services weave together scripture, poetry, music, and the arts.
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