What liturgical calendar do United Methodists follow?

The United Methodist Church’s liturgical calendar has seven different seasons: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost and Ordinary Time, also known as Kingdom Tide. These religious periods do not occur on the same dates every year, but are determined by when Christmas and Easter are celebrated.

Advent is the first season of the liturgical year and begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. The Christmas season lasts from Christmas Eve until January 6th, the day of Epiphany. The Season After Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the Magi, which United Methodists observe on January 7th or the first Sunday of January. This season lasts until Ash Wednesday.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts for a period of 40 days. The exact date of Lent is determined by which day Easter Sunday is observed. Easter falls between March 22nd and April 25th. Pentecost commemorates the establishment of the church and is observed on the 50th day after Easter. The time between Pentecost and Advent is known as Ordinary Time, and is used to reflect on spiritual growth.