Seasons and Festivals, Special Days and Other Celebrations
Wood carving by Lie Yee Wan, 1969
As the church keeps time with Christ through the year, we observe several different kinds of occasions.
- First, there are the seasons and festivals of the Christian year. These are organized around the life, death and resurrection of Christ (such as Easter), events in the story of salvation (such as Pentecost), or theological doctrines (such as Trinity Sunday) and tend to be recognized across denominations.
- Second, there are programmatic emphases of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). These are related to the mission and ministry of this denomination and are promoted and resourced by various offices at the national level of the church. Examples include Celebrate the Gifts of Women, Mr. Rogers Day, and Special Offerings.
- Third, there other events in public life that may be acknowledged in congregations. At the national level, examples include Labor Day, Mother’s Day, and Veterans Day. At the local level, churches might celebrate congregational anniversaries, community gatherings or homecoming events.
This page provides an index to such occasions, with links to resources on the website of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Questions or suggestions about particular resources should be directed to the office, ministry area or agency responsible for that observance.
Note: The Scriptures of the Revised Common Lectionary are related to the first category (Christian year). Those who develop resources for the second and third categories may or may not choose to coordinate with the ecumenical lectionary.
General Prayer and Worship Resources
Presbyterian Peacemaking Devotional
Alphabetical Listing
A
Advent & Christmas Devotional 2021, “Come to Bethlehem and Be Nourished”
Africa Day
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
B
C
Christian and Citizen; Election Day
College and Young Adult Sunday
D
Day of Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula
E
Educate a Child, Transform the World
F
First Sunday of Advent
G
Gifts of New Immigrants
Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence
H
Health Awareness and Prayer for Healing
Higher Education/Collegiate Ministries
Holocaust Remembrance Day
Holy Week
Honest Patriotism for Christian Citizens
Human Trafficking Awareness Day
I
Immigration Sunday
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade Abolition
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
International Day of Farmers’ Struggles
International Women’s Day
J
Justice Advocacy Sunday
L
Labor Day
M
Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
Matthew 25: Building Congregational Vitality Sunday
Matthew 25: Dismantle Structural Racism Sunday
Matthew 25: Eradicating Systemic Poverty Sunday
Memorial Day Observed
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People
Multicultural Church; Immigration
N
Nativity Fast
National Gun Violence Awareness Day
National Suicide Prevention Month
New Year’s Day
O
Older Adult Week and Wills Emphasis Sunday
One Thousand and One (1001) New Worshiping Communities
P
Palestinian Nakba Remembrance Day
Peace & Global Witness Offering
Presbyterian Federal Chaplaincies
Presbyterians Affirm Black Lives Matter
Presidents Day
R
Race Relations/Racial & Intercultural Justice
Rural Life
S
Self-Development of People Sunday
A Social Creed for the 21st Century
T
Thanksgiving Day
Theological Education/Seminary
Thursdays in Black
Transgender Day of Remembrance
U
V
Veterans Day
W
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
World AIDS Day; Presbyterian HIV/AIDS Awareness
World Community Day
World Day of Prayer
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
Y
Young Adult Volunteer Commissioning Sunday
Youth and the World Sunday. Day of Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula
Chronological Listing
(Go to Alphabetical Listing)
January
New Year’s Day (Jan. 1, 2024)
Human Trafficking Awareness Day (Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 Thursday)
Matthew 25: Dismantle Structural Racism Sunday (Jan. 14, 2024)
Racial & Intercultural Justice/Presbyterians Affirm Black Lives Matter (Jan. 14, 2024)
Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday (Jan. 15, 2024)
Ecumenical Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins (Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024)
Per Capita Sunday (Jan. 21, 2024)
February
World Interfaith Harmony Week Begins (Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024)
Remember our Chaplains – Presbyterian Federal Chaplaincies (Feb. 4, 2024)
Presbyterian Media Sunday (Feb. 4, 2024)
Thursdays in Black (Feb. 8, 2024)
Camp and Retreat Sunday (Feb. 11, 2024)
Souper Bowl of Caring (Feb. 11, 2024)
Presidents’ Day (Feb. 19, 2024)
Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14, 2024)
PDA Blue T-Shirt Sunday (Feb. 18, 2024)
March
World Day of Prayer (March 1, 2024)
International Women’s Day (March 8, 2024)
Celebrate the Gifts of Women (March 10, 2024)
Self-Development of People (March 10, 2024)
Fasting Season of Ramadan begins (Monday, March 11, 2024)
Justice Advocacy Sunday (March 17, 2024)
Matthew 25: Building Vital Congregations Sunday (March 17, 2024)
Forgiveness Sunday (March 17, 2024)
Mr. Rogers Day (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)
Palm/Passion Sunday-Holy Week begins (March 24, 2024)
Good Friday (March 29, 2024)
Great Vigil of Easter (March 24, 2024)
Resurrection of the Lord/Easter; One Great Hour of Sharing (March 31, 2024)
April
International Roma Day (April 8, 2024)
Black Maternal/Birthing Health Week begins (April 11-17, 2024)
International Day of Farmers’ Struggles (April 17, 2024)
Earth Day (April 22, 2024)
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (April 24, 2024)
May
Mental Health Awareness Month begins (Wednesday, May 1, 2024)
Foster Care Month begins (May 1, 2024)
National Day of Prayer (May 2, 2024)
May Friendship Day (May 3, 2024)
Older Adult Week begins (May 5, 2024)
Legacy Giving Sunday (May 5, 2024)
National Day of Awareness and Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (May 5, 2024)
Holocaust Remembrance Day (May 6, 2024)
Fair Trade Day (May 11, 2024)
Mother’s Day (May 12, 2024)
Palestinian Nakba Remembrance Day (May 15, 2024)
1001 New Worshiping Communities (May 18, 2023)
Day of Pentecost; Pentecost Offering (May 19, 2024)
Intercultural Church Sunday (May 19, 2024)
Mission Worker Sunday (May 19, 2024)
Presbyterian Heritage Sunday (May 19, 2024)
Africa Day (May 25, 2024)
June
National Gun Violence Awareness Day (June 7, 2024)
Immigration Sunday (June 7, 2024)
Father’s Day; Presbyterian Men (June 16, 2024)
Juneteenth (June 19, 2024)
World Refugee Day (June 20, 2024)
Season of Prayer and Reflection in the Korean Peninsula begins (June 25–Aug. 15, 2024)
July
Independence Day (July 4, 2024)
Kenya Mission (July 20, 2024)
August
College and Young Adult Sunday (Aug. 4, 2024)
Hiroshima Day (Aug. 6, 2024)
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (Aug. 9, 2024)
Youth and the World Sunday. Day of Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula (Aug. 11, 2024)
Young Adult Volunteer Commissioning Sunday (Aug. 18, 2024)
Public Education Day (Aug. 21, 2024)
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade Abolition (Aug. 23, 2024)
September
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation (Sept. 1, 2024)
National Suicide Prevention Month begins (Sept. 1, 2024)
Disaster Preparedness Month begins (Sept. 1, 2024)
Season of Peace begins (Sept. 1, 2024-Oct 6, 2024)
Labor Day and A Social Creed for the 21st Century (Sept. 2, 2024)
Presbyterian Higher Education (Sept. 8, 2024)
Christian Formation Week begins; Christian Formation Celebration (Sept. 8, 2024)
Disability Inclusion Sunday (Sept. 8, 2024)
September 11 Anniversary (Sept. 11, 2024)
Theological Education/Seminaries (Sept. 15, 2024)
Evangelism Sunday (Sept. 15, 2024)
International Day of Peace (Sept. 21, 2024)
Gifts of New Immigrants (Sept. 22, 2024)
Native American Day (Sept. 27, 2024)
October
World Communion; Peace & Global Witness Offering (Oct. 1, 2023)
Mental Illness Awareness Week begins (Oct. 2, 2023)
Indigenous Peoples Day (Oct. 10, 2023)
Children’s Sabbath; Educate a Child, Transform the World (Oct. 15, 2023)
World Food Day (Oct. 16, 2023)
Young Adult Volunteer Program (Oct. 23, 2023)
United Nations Day (Oct. 24, 2023)
Reformation Sunday (Oct. 29, 2023)
November
World Community Day (Nov. 3, 2023)
Election Day; Honest Patriotism for Christian Citizens (Nov. 7, 2023)
Veterans Day (Nov. 11, 2023)
Hunger and Homelessness (Nov. 12, 2023)
Transgender Day of Remembrance (Nov. 20, 2023)
Matthew 25: Eradicating Systemic Poverty Sunday (Nov. 26, 2023)
Thanksgiving Day; Nativity Fast (Nov. 23, 2023)
Giving Tuesday (Nov. 28, 2023)
December
World AIDS Day; Presbyterian HIV/AIDS Awareness (Dec. 1, 2023)
Human Rights Day (Dec. 10, 2023)
Christmas Joy Offering (Dec. 24, 2023)