Guard the Good Deposit

Section III: How Do We Guard the Good Deposit? • 47

The Church Year exists to keep us firmly rooted in the Story of God in Christ. In broad outline we follow the life and ministry of Jesus and tread in his footsteps year after year. We remember the promise and hope of Messiah through the long ages past (Advent). We celebrate the arrival of Messiah, born of a Virgin, laid in a manger in Bethlehem (Christmas). We walk with Jesus of Nazareth as he teaches and shows the world that the Kingdom of God is at hand (Epiphany). We follow Jesus, God’s suffering servant, who humbly gives his life as a ransom for many (Lent). We share in the sufferings and death of Christ in order that we may be raised to new life in him (Holy Week). We shout for joy because Jesus is risen from the dead; Christ is the victor over sin, death, and Satan (Easter)! We remember Jesus’ ascension to the right hand of the Father and the sending of the Holy Spirit to fill and empower the church (Ascension and Pentecost). In these last days the Spirit-filled church submits to the headship of Christ our Lord, labors for the harvest of Christ our Savior, and prepares the way for the second coming of Christ our King (Kingdomtide). Year after year, the church patterns our life together on the story of Jesus in hopes that together we will be conformed to his image.