Tempus Per Annum

The liturgical color for Ordinary Time is green, a sign of hope.

Between Pentecost (May 24, 2015) and Advent (November 29, 2015) lies the longest season of the church year: ordinary time.

Rather than meaning “common” or “mundane,” this term comes from the word “ordinal,” which simply means “counted time,” because we number the Sundays from here on out in order from the First Sunday after Pentecost, all the way up to the Last Sunday after Pentecost...

this is the usual time in the church, the time that is not marked by a constant stream of high points and low points, ups and downs, but is instead the normal, day-in, day-out life of the church. This time is a time to grapple with the nuts and bolts of our faith, not coasting on the joy and elation of Christmas, or wallowing in the penitential feel of Lent.

No joy, elation, wallowing or other mood extremes as we head off to summer vacation. The church calendar does seem to be thoughtfully and Intelligently Designed.