Ordinary Time Resource Guide

Worship During Ordinary Time

After the church year cycles of Advent/Christmas/Epiphany and Lent/Easter/Pentecost, we enter a liturgical season called “Ordinary Time.” The color for this season of growth is green. During the season after Epiphany, focus on Christ’s ministry in his manifestation as the Son of God; a preaching series on a particular theme, creed or book of the Bible might work well during the summer and fall months. Autumn also provides opportunities to celebrate Worldwide Communion Sunday, Reformation Day, the feast of All Saints, and Thanksgiving. Congregational growth can be nurtured by focusing on the work of Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church, exploring the teachings of the Church and the truths of God’s saving events in history, and committing ourselves to grow in obedience and service to our Lord.

Find more in The Worship Sourcebook.

Read a story about the Church and the Triune God and the Blessings of Multiple Translations.

Worship Services

• Trinity Sunday
• Three and One
• Psalms of Ascent
• The Heavens Declare God's Glory
• Global Dialogue: Worshiping the Triune God
• World Communion Sunday
• Thanksgiving
• Reformation Day
• Festival of All Saints
• Christ the King
• more series >>

Planning Resources

• Extraordinary Worship in Ordinary Time - H. Boonstra
• Planning Ahead for July and August
• Planning Worship for the Christian Year
• Planning a Summer Sermon Series
• Worship and Justice
• How to Use the Worship Sourcebook 

Arts

• Liturgical Seasons at Calvin Theological Seminary
• Trinity Season at Church of the Servant
• Seven Days of Creation
• Art That Preaches
• Photography in Worship 

Featured Resources

The Worship Sourcebook

The Worship Sourcebook offers many resources for planning services. Part One offers appropriate scriptures, sample prayers and other worship resources for each act of worship throughout the year, with suggestions for the Call to Worship, Opening Responses, Confession and Assurance, Prayers for Illumination, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and Blessings. Part Two provides resources centered on themes of Creation, Providence, Thanksgiving, the Trinity, and Unity of the Church as well as for the Christian Year.

Reformed Worship magazine

Search for resources for Ordinary Time and various worship themes from our ministry partner, Reformed Worship magazine.

Coop's Column

Read Coop’s Column about a “Declaration of Dependence”

Center for Excellence in Preaching

Read an introduction to selecting preaching texts from our ministry partner, Center for Excellence in Preaching.