Holidays & Special Services
As Episcopalians, we celebrate Christian holidays according to the “liturgical year,” the special seasons of the church, which begins in late November or early December. Over the course of the year we study Christ’s life and the story of God’s people. We also commonly celebrate a few secular celebrations (like Juneteenth) with parties at the church. On holidays, worship may be at unusual times; they will be announced via the newsletter and on the front page of this site.
Advent is the first liturgical season of the year; it will begin on November 29th, 2026. It covers the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. During this time we await Christ’s birth with hopeful anticipation. Each season has a particular color, which is reflected in vestments and church decorations; the color of Advent is blue (or sometimes purple).
Christmas is not only one day: it is a season covering twelve days, from the evening of December 24th to January 6th, 2027 (the Feast of the Epiphany). At CSS, we typically hold two Christmas Eve services on December 24 (a family service in the afternoon and a midnight mass) and one Christmas Day service at 10:30 A.M. on December 25. Although St. Stephen’s feast falls during this time, and St. Stephen is one of our patrons, we do not usually celebrate it with a separate service. The color of Christmas is white or gold.
The Season After Epiphany is also known as a period of “Ordinary Time,” a period in which we hear stories of God’s work in the world. In 2027 it will last from January 7th to February 9th. During periods of Ordinary Time, the color is green.
Lent is the season leading up to Easter, a time to remember Jesus’s life and focus on our commitment to God. It begins on Ash Wednesday (February 10th, 2027, usually celebrated with an evening service) and continues until Palm Sunday (March 21st). The church typically reads a book together during this season, meeting on Wednesday nights for soup suppers and discussion. Often, there are also more opportunities to pray offered throughout the week as well. The color of Lent is purple.
Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and spans the week leading up to Easter; in 2027, that means March 20-27. It includes Maundy Thursday, which CSS typically celebrates with a special evening service; Good Friday, with a midday service; and Holy Saturday, a day when parishioners prepare the church for Easter. Holy Week is celebrated in red.
Eastertide begins on the Saturday night before Easter with the Easter Vigil, an evening service typically including baptisms (in 2027, it will be Saturday, March 27th). On Easter Day we have both 8:30 and 11:00 services as usual, but worship is particularly festive and typically includes an Easter Egg hunt for the children! The season continues until Pentecost (the celebration of the Holy Spirit), May 16th 2027. During this time we celebrate Christ’s resurrection; the color is white or gold.
The Season After Pentecost begins, as you might guess, after Pentecost. Although the actual day of Pentecost’s color is red, this season is considered Ordinary Time and therefore has the color green. It continues throughout the summer, a time church typically becomes a bit quieter.
During the summer, we typically celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride and Juneteenth, neither of which are church holidays but each of which are typically marked by a special dinner or coffee hour.
The “program year” will kick off in September with Homecoming Sunday; this is not a formal church holiday, but it represents our community returning from summer travels and reconvening for fall programs. Typically this is held on the second Sunday after Labor Day, and since it is a reunion day, we hold only one service at 10:30 AM.
St. Cyprian’s Day is a special day for our church because of its heritage and our own St. Cyprian’s Chapel. It takes place on September 16th.
In 2027, the religious holiday of All Saints Day (November 1) falls on a Monday, so we will celebrate it on Sunday, November 7th; baptisms are especially appropriate on that day. Prior to that, however, we will take part in the 69th Street Block Association Halloween Festival, giving out candy to thousands of trick-or-treaters on Saturday, October 31st. Although strictly speaking Halloween isn’t a religious holiday, we consider it a highlight of our community involvement!
Finally, we often celebrate the last Sunday after Pentecost and before Advent (when the church year begins again) with special pomp, as it is the feast of Christ the King, as in the name of our church. In 2027, that falls on November 21st.
