Many families have special seasons and traditions that help mark the passing of the year. Some celebrate holidays with favorite foods, decorations, songs, and gatherings. In many communities, there is also a special rhythm called the church year (or liturgical year) that helps families and congregations walk through the story of faith together.
The church year is a way of remembering and celebrating important moments in the life of Jesus and the story of Christianity. While different churches may use slightly different names or traditions, many Christian traditions follow a pattern that moves through seasons of preparation, celebration, and growth.
The year begins with Advent, a season of waiting and hope as Christians prepare for Christmas and celebrate the birth of Jesus. After Christmas comes Epiphany, a time that focuses on recognizing Jesus as the light of the world and reflecting on how that light reaches others.
Next comes Lent, a season of reflection, prayer, and preparation leading up to Holy Week. During Holy Week, Christians remember events such as Jesus’ final days, his death on the cross on Good Friday, and the celebration of Easter, when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the hope of new life.
After Easter comes a joyful season called Eastertide, which continues for several weeks. This season leads to Pentecost, a celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church’s mission to share God’s love with the world.
After these major celebrations comes a longer season known as Ordinary Time.
What Is Ordinary Time?
Despite its name, Ordinary Time is not meant to mean boring or unimportant. The word “ordinary” comes from a word meaning “ordered” or “counted.” It refers to the weeks that are arranged and counted throughout this part of the church year.
Ordinary Time is a season of growing, learning, and living out faith in everyday life. Instead of focusing on one major event, this season invites families to notice God’s presence in ordinary moments: helping a neighbor, sharing kindness, spending time together, praying, learning, and caring for creation.
Right now, we are in Ordinary Time, the season that follows Pentecost. It is a wonderful reminder that faith is not only something we celebrate on special holidays, it is something we live and practice every day.
Celebrating Ordinary Time as a Family
Because Ordinary Time is about growth and everyday faith, it can be a beautiful season for simple family traditions. Here are a few ways to celebrate:
-Add Green to Your Home
In many churches, the color associated with Ordinary Time is green, representing growth, life, and hope. You might add a green candle to your table, place a green plant in a special spot, or decorate a small family prayer or reflection area with green items.
-Light a Candle Together
A candle can be a simple reminder that God’s love and light are always present. During dinner, bedtime, or family gatherings, light a candle and take a moment to share:
- Something you are thankful for
- Someone who needs kindness or encouragement
- Something you learned that day
-Grow Something Together
Ordinary Time is a perfect season for activities that symbolize growth. Plant flowers, herbs, or vegetables with your children. As you care for the plants, talk about how people also grow through love, patience, learning, and kindness.
-Practice Everyday Acts of Kindness
Families can celebrate Ordinary Time by looking for small ways to make the world better:
- Write a thank-you note
- Bake something for a friend
- Donate gently used items
- Help someone who needs a hand
- Offer words of encouragement
Small acts can become meaningful reminders that faith is lived through love.
-Create a Family Gratitude Tradition
Keep a gratitude jar where family members can add notes about blessings, happy moments, or things they appreciate. At the end of the season, read them together and remember all the ways joy appeared in everyday life.
-Explore Stories and Lessons Together
Ordinary Time is a great time to read stories, explore nature, ask questions, and talk about important values like compassion, forgiveness, generosity, and courage.
Finding the Sacred in the Everyday
The beauty of Ordinary Time is that it teaches us to pay attention. Not every meaningful moment needs to be a grand celebration. Sometimes the most important moments happen around the kitchen table, during a walk outside, while helping a friend, or during a quiet conversation before bedtime.
Whether your family follows the church calendar closely or you are simply curious about Christian traditions, Ordinary Time offers a lovely reminder: everyday life is filled with opportunities to grow, love, and bring more kindness into the world.
This season may be called “ordinary,” but the moments we share with the people we love are anything but ordinary!