Reference

The liturgical calendar in Reformed worship plays a significant role in structuring the worship experience around the major events of the Christian faith. Here are some key points about its role:

1. Mapping the Gospel Story: The liturgical calendar is used to map the gospel story onto the year, starting with Advent and Christmas and leading through Lent and Easter (source: Reformed Church in America).

2. Observing Jesus Christ's Life Events: It helps the Reformed Church in America observe the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Several Sundays are designated for highlighting different themes, such as friendship and communion (source: RCA Liturgical Calendar).

3. Ancient Tradition: The calendar emerges from an ancient tradition where faith communities celebrate the experience of God in their lives (source: Reformed Worship).

4. Seasonal Worship Ideas: It provides a structure to honor key events like Lent and Advent, and to explore seasonal worship resources that reflect these times (source: RCA Worship Resources).

5. Balance between Form and Freedom: Reformed worship attempts to balance a fixed liturgical structure with freedom, especially in the celebration of the sacraments, and allows local churches to guide congregational worship in accordance with this calendar (source: Role of the Liturgy in Reformed Worship).

While some Reformed churches might follow the liturgical calendar more strictly, others might take a more relaxed approach, balancing between observing the liturgical year and adhering to the regulative principles of worship traditionally characteristic of Reformed theology.