Artist Barbara Lyon has created an original 2019/2020 (Year A) one-page Christian liturgical calendar for use in church and home. Her delightful visuals are appealing to all ages. She has given permission to distribute this calendar freely and encourages individuals and families to print and hang in a prominent place.
Download with dates and descriptions
Download with dates
Here is a brief statement from the artist about this year’s calendar:
“Lately, I’ve been contemplating the theme of gardens in the Bible. It all began in a garden, where we walked with God. We had to leave and we continue to wait and work to duplicate the life we felt there. So, this year’s calendar ends at the beginning, an angel guarding a tree. And we begin our way around until we can return.
Advent is marked by the dead stump of Jesse, with the smallest of shoots appearing, a growth of light out of darkness. Epiphany is this light coming into the whole world, into mountains and deserts, grassy places and stony places; in the most unlikely of places the light of the world began as the smallest of shoots, in a powerless baby.
For the growing time and Lent this year I picked the parable of the Good Shepherd. This is the time when we hear God’s voice and learn to follow him. Lent leads us into the desert places where death waits. But the Good Shepherd does not run away when the wolves come. He stands in between the wolves and his sheep, walking into death for us.
For Eastertide this year I was contemplating the angel who stood between us and the garden and the golden angels embroidered on the curtain that keeps us from the Holiest place where God’s presence rests with his people. When it is torn we will come into God’s presence once more. The image I chose to illustrate is inspired by the first verses of Ezekiel 47, where Ezekiel is shown the temple, restored and whole, and the river flowing out from the temple bringing new life to stagnant pools. Along this river fruit grows in abundance, nourishing creatures and people, and bringing healing to all the nations. Even as we wait for the redeemed Earth we can be the people who are a river of life coming into the world, outpouring from God’s presence with his people.
Ascension is marked by a cloud, when Jesus carried a piece of humanity into God’s presence. Pentecost is marked with fire, when Jesus sent a piece of divinity to live within us.
Trinity Sunday flows outward in this image, with arms overlapped in mission to spread life, health, and beauty into all creation. Ordinary time is marked by the beauty of wildflowers, reminding us of the diversity in beauty and gifts we offer the world, that we are clothed as lovely as these. Also, it reminds us that we are but grass, and though this place will remember us no more, one day we will be restored to each other in an abundant and flowering new creation.
Blessings on you as you begin your journey anew.
Barbara Lyon”
