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It’s always remarkable to watch as our garden springs to life and begins to blossom! Maybe it’s the joy of seeing tiny seeds grow or just the quiet peace that comes from observing God’s creation, our garden helps us grow too. As Jesus said in the Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26–29), the Kingdom of God grows all around us, often in ways we can’t see or explain, just like our tomato plants that seem to double in size overnight! A big thanks to the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh Social Justice and Outreach (SJO) Committee for awarding Calvary the Garden Grant for the 2025-26 fiscal year, helping us maintain this fruitful ministry.
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Have you noticed? Everything is green! Not just outside but in the church as well—the altar hangings, the priests' vestments, all a vibrant shade of green. That’s because we’ve entered Ordinary Time, the season of growth in the Church year. While the name Ordinary Time might sound uneventful, this long, green season in the Church’s calendar is anything but “ordinary.” So what does “ordinary” refer to in this context? It doesn’t mean plain or unimportant. The word comes from the Latin ordinalis, meaning “numbered” or “in order.” These are the counted weeks of the Church year—First Sunday after Pentecost, Second Sunday, and so on—when we walk steadily through the life of faith (The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, 2022). The purpose of Ordinary Time is to order our lives to Christ’s.  Image Source: https://www.saintsjamesandandrew.org/sermons/teaching-sermon-the-church-calendar-and-the-liturgical-year During our Faith Formation classes, we often refer to Ordinary Time as “The Growing Season”. Just as green is the color of life and hope, this season invites us to grow spiritually (Blais, 2021). Children learn about this when we explore the liturgical calendar together. We see that the life of the Church revolves around the life of Christ. This introduces the child to the concept that the Liturgy is structured or ordered and, like nature, follows a predictable path containing seasons and events (CGSUSA, 2023).  Why can't it always be Christmas? I’ll admit--as a child, I thought Ordinary Time meant boring time. No Advent wreaths, no Easter flowers, no waving of palms or candlelit vigils. But over the (many) years I’ve come to appreciate that Ordinary Time isn’t about being dull—it’s about being steady. And in a world that’s constantly rushing toward the next big thing, there’s something beautiful about slowing down and growing quietly. This reminds me of our vegetable garden which we planted last month. Just like a garden doesn't grow in a single day, our faith grows gradually—with sunlight, water, weeding, and care. It's a season of slow but steady transformation. Ideas for Celebrating Ordinary TimeAt Church:
So even without elaborate decorations or big feast days, Ordinary Time is one of the most meaningful seasons we share. It teaches us that God meets us in the middle of real life—and that’s never boring. Keep on Growing! Sources All About the Atrium CGSUSA Parent Newsletter Ordinary Time. CGSUSA. (n.d.). https://www.cgsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/all-about-the-atrium-ordinary-time-.pdf
Blais, Rev. H. (2021, December 5). Teaching sermon: The church calendar and the liturgical year. The Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew. https://www.saintsjamesandandrew.org/sermons/teaching-sermon-the-church-calendar-and-the-liturgical-year What is ordinary time?The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. (2022, June 12). https://ecww.org/what-is-ordinary-time/ Pentecost is one of the most significant feast days in the Christian year. It marks the moment when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples like a rushing wind and tongues of fire (Acts 2:1–4). Empowered by this gift, the disciples began to speak in many languages, sharing the good news of Jesus with the world. Pentecost is often called the birthday of the Church because it was the beginning of the Church’s mission to spread the Gospel. The color of Pentecost is red, symbolizing the fire of the Holy Spirit and the energy of God's love at work in the world. Don't forget: Strawberries and Ice Cream will be served after both 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM services-a sweet way to mark this joyful day together as a parish family! For more about Pentecost, check out: Faith@Home Ways to Celebrate at Home
For Children Ages 3–6 (First Plane of Development) In this sensitive period, children absorb their environment deeply and respond to beauty, order, and quiet contemplation.
Children in this stage are eager to explore connections, ask big questions, and understand stories more deeply.
Older children begin to think abstractly and long to understand their place in the larger story of salvation.
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