Church Calendar

The word "ordinary" here does not mean “routine” or “not special.” Instead, it refers to the "ordinal numbers" (first, second, third, etc.) used to name and count the Sundays (such as the Third Sunday after Epiphany). This term comes from the Latin ordinalis, meaning "numbered" or "ordered," and tempus ordinarium, “measured time.”

Volume 2- Lesson 1, The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Revised and Expanded

The liturgical year, also known as the church year, consists of the cycle of holy days.  It determines when feast days are to be observed, and which portions of scripture are to be read either in an annual cycle or in a cycle of several years.

The liturgical cycle divides the year into a series of seasons, each with their own mood, theological emphases, and modes of prayer which can be signified by different ways of decorating churches, colors of paraments and vestments for clergy, scripture readings, themes for preaching and even different traditions and practices often observed personally or in the home. The colors change from the green-growing (ordinary time), pure-white, red-hot and purple (the color of kings).
 
The Church/Liturgical Calendar is part of both of our Godly Play atrium. Each of our classrooms/atriums has a Church Calendar banner that is approximately three feet by three feet displayed on the atrium wall.  Every Sunday, during our Godly Play time, one of our students will move the arrow to update our liturgical calendar.  We also have a  Church Calendar  puzzle to share  with our little learners. The storytellers encourage the children to move the wooden puzzle pieces to help them investigate the liturgical colors and seasons of the church. This story is found in the Godly Play volume two.  It is also found in Young Children and Worship book but it is called "How the church tells time."  The story is based on Leviticus 23:1-3.

Our denomination follows this calendar using different colored paraments on our altar.  The explanation of these colors can be found in our Godly Play Sunday School lesson online.  This week we are sharing Liturgical coloring books, beaded church year necklaces, and paper plate calendar models so your child can practice learning about the season of the church ... in COLOR!

Beaded Calendar

Bead your way through the calendar.  This craft will allow the students to build their own calendar with the respective colored beads. 

Colors of the Church Year

Church Calendar Worksheet

Compare the Gregorian calendar to the church calendar with this worksheet.  Click on the worksheet to print  a copy.

Symbols of the Liturgical Year
​Coloring Book

Print and color this book.  Each page is labeled for the church season and offers symbols of that season for you to color.

More classroom ideas

Wooden Church Calendar

This  manipulative wooden calendar puzzle helps us tell the story of the church calendar.  The circle is built with wooden trapezoids and painted the color of the season. 

Make your own Calendar

Use a paper plate to complete a church calendar.  Click on the photo above for the directions. 

Feast Day! The Liturgical Year Board Game

Make purple dye.