The Gridiron: Thoughts About the Christian Year and Other Things

By Clive H Jackson Reader

The year begins with the season of Advent, when we think of the first coming of Jesus into the world and the way in which it was prepared for his coming. Then follows Christmas, the well-known and popular festival when we remember the Saviour’s birth to a Jewish lady, Mary. This is followed by the Epiphany, when the Lord was first shown to the non-Jewish people, the Gentiles. Quite a significant event for those not of the Jewish faith. It is the first recorded time that the Lord was shown to non-Jewish people (Gentiles), reminding us that he came for everyone.

Things move on rapidly to Lent, and the Lord’s life, which leads up to his Crucifixion.

Appropriately, the solemnity of Lent and Holy Week is followed by the joyful season of Easter, when we celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord. Forty days on, and we celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord. It is not long after the Ascension that the church celebrates Pentecost (or Whitsun), when the Holy Spirit of God descended on the church and kick-started it into action—action that continues to this day!

As you may know, the rest of the year, up until Advent, is taken up by the season of Trinity, with much teaching and many commemorations.

I hope that you enjoy this tour through the Christian year and that it deepens and makes more relevant your practice of faith in Christ Crucified, Risen, and Ascended.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Oct 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546299127

Clive H Jackson Reader

I am a retired teacher of secondary-school children. In 1960, I was admitted to the Anglican Office of Reader. Happily, I am still active in this work in my parish church. On retirement in 1982, I became a guide at York Minster, soon afterwards becoming an honorary chaplain. As of this writing, I am still fulfilling these duties.

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© 2018 Clive H Jackson, Reader. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 10/03/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-9913-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-9912-7 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Introduction

The Christian Year: An Overview

Advent

Advent Again!

John The Baptist

Christmas Is Coming!

Christmas Thoughts

Christmas Again: Scrooge

The Baptism Of Jesus

Conversion: Turning Upside Down

Epiphany

The Presentation Of Christ In The Temple (Candlemas)

Lent

What’s In A Name? Mothering Sunday, Mid-Lent Sunday, Laetare Sunday, But Not Mother’s Day!

The Fifth Sunday Of Lent

Passion

Palm Sunday

Crucifixion

Easter Day

More About Easter

Low Sunday

Ascension Day

More About Ascension Day

Pentecost And Whitsunday

More About Pentecost

Sending Out

Holy Communion

Holy Cross Day

All Saints And All Souls

More About All Saints And All Souls

Life—A Pilgrimage

Autumn: Harvest Thoughts

More About Harvest And Other Festivals

A Useful Prayer

Sir Jacob Astley’s Prayer

The Virgin Mary

Bible Sunday

Grace

Christ The King

Doubting Thomas

More About Thomas And Doubting

Prejudice

Armistice

Colours In Church

St Luke

Being Called

Sources

About The Author

INTRODUCTION

When we first had a pew sheet in church, I saw it as a good medium for a little quiet teaching about the faith and what the church is about.

As time passed, people have thanked me for these brief, succinct contributions to the publication and suggested that I should go into print so that more people might share them. So, here they are, for your reading. Please read them prayerfully. I hope that in their small way they might deepen your faith, increase your knowledge of it, and stimulate you to ask more questions and to seek answers.

I am particularly grateful to Elizabeth and Rodney, who twisted my arm to prepare this material for publication. Also, I thank them for their help in preparing this material.

THE CHRISTIAN YEAR: AN OVERVIEW

T he year begins with the season of Advent, when we think of the first coming of Jesus into the world and the way in which it was prepared for his coming. Then follows Christmas, the well-known and popular festival when we remember the Saviour’s birth to a Jewish lady, Mary. This is followed by the Epiphany, when the Lord was first shown to the non-Jewish people, the Gentiles. Quite a significant event for those not of the Jewish faith. It is the first recorded time that the Lord was shown to non-Jewish people (Gentiles), reminding us that he came for everyone.

Things move on rapidly to Lent, and the Lord’s life, which leads up to his Crucifixion.

Appropriately, the solemnity of Lent and Holy Week is followed by the joyful season of Easter, when we celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord. Forty days on, and we celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord. It is not long after the Ascension that the church celebrates Pentecost (or Whitsun), when the Holy Spirit of God descended on the church and kick-started it into action—action that continues to this day!

As you may know, the rest of the year, up until Advent, is taken up by the season of Trinity, with much teaching and many commemorations.

I hope that you enjoy this tour through the Christian year and that it deepens and makes more relevant your practice of faith in Christ Crucified, Risen, and Ascended.

ADVENT

M any of us enjoy reading novels of one sort or another. People of any age group enjoy reading exciting stories which make the