Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Church year

Vocabulary Lesson: What’s Up with the “Ascension”? (Heidelberg Catechism Q. 49)

June 3, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

ascension

  We just rushed by the most neglected day of the Church’s year: the “Ascension”, forty days after Easter when the risen Christ left the earth and went to heaven. Part of the problem: the original event happened on a Thursday. Churches don’t gather to take notice until the Sunday afterward. Another issue: Jesus lifting off without benefit […]

Filed Under: Heidelberg Catechism, Theology, Vocabulary Tagged With: Ascension, Church year, heidelberg catechism, Holy Spirit, Intercession

Vocabulary Lesson: “Easter,” “Pascha”

April 22, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Why, you may ask, do Christians call the Sunday Jesus rose from the dead “Easter”? Good question. Apparently Christians are capable of getting their knickers in a knot about this: the word itself derives from an old English word, “Eostre,” which is the name of a pre-Christian deity. What? Were those rascally medievals trying to […]

Filed Under: Church Year, Saints, Theology, Vocabulary Tagged With: Church year, Easter, Pascha, resurrection, Venerable Bede

Vocabulary Lesson: “Maundy Thursday”

April 17, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Today is the day in the Church year that wins the prize for the most peculiar name. Generation by generation, we ask, “What on earth is a ‘maundy’?” If you were too embarrassed to ask, I’ll tell you: It is from a Latin word meaning “commandment.” It is like our English word “mandate.” This is […]

Filed Under: Theology, Vocabulary Tagged With: Church year, Foot Washing, Holy Week, John 13, Maundy Thursday

Vocabulary Lesson: “Lent,” “Ash Wednesday”

March 5, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 Comments

Today is “Ash Wednesday,” the beginning of the most serious season in the Church’s year: the forty days, not counting Sundays, leading up to Easter. We call the season “Lent.” For non-native speakers of Christianity, here are a couple of vocabulary lessons: Lesson 1: “Lent” comes from a medieval English word meaning “Spring,” from source […]

Filed Under: Church Year, Faith, Heidelberg Catechism, Theology, Vocabulary, Worship Tagged With: Ash Wednesday, Church year, Lent, Penitence, Repentance, Self-examination

Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

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