by Rev. Rachel Sutphin
The liturgical calendar might as well be the beat of my heart. I might not know today’s date, but I can tell you how many Sundays have passed since Pentecost and which liturgical celebration is coming next. In seminary, I dove deep into the history of the liturgical calendar, researching when different seasons were added and why. I especially resonated with its intentional cyclical shape, a repeating rhythm that never returns to exactly the same place in exactly the same way.
And yet, growing up in the pews, I found the liturgical calendar frustrating. I wondered why John Calvin (who I mistakenly thought created the calendar) didn’t spread the exciting days out a little more. Christmas, Epiphany, and Baptism of the Lord felt rushed, while the green of Ordinary Time seemed to stretch into eternity.
As a pastor, I have come to appreciate this season of calm and normalcy. Ordinary Time has become, for me, a season of dreaming and rest. It is a time to take stock, to check in with myself and my congregation, and to notice the quiet work of God. Ordinary Time is, in fact, extraordinary time because it is in the stillness that seeds take root, faith is nurtured, and transformation blooms.
This month, I invite you to join Young Clergy Women International as we celebrate the (extra)ordinary life of ministry. In the weeks ahead, we will share reflections on the everyday work of ministry– from tips for getting organized to learning to preach more conversationally, from lessons learned in the United States to wisdom gathered abroad. These stories remind us that God’s most extraordinary work is often found in the ordinary moments we are called to faithfully inhabit.
Rev. Rachel Sutphin
Editor, Fidelia Magazine
