Mainline Protestant Christianese

The four weeks before Christmas, kept as a season of waiting and preparation — for the celebration of Jesus' birth and for His return.

The first day of Lent, marked by a cross of ashes on the forehead as a sign of repentance and mortality — "remember that you are dust."

The opening words of a service — usually a psalm or scripture passage, often read responsively — that gather the congregation and begin worship.

A weekend or week away at a camp or conference center for worship, teaching, and community — for youth in summer, for adults on retreat — where a lot of Christians say their faith became real.

Visiting different churches to find one that fits (shopping); or, moving from church to church without ever settling (hopping) — the second said with a slight frown.

A short song or formula of praise to God, especially the one that begins "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," often sung when the offering is brought forward.

January 6, the feast marking the arrival of the Magi to worship the infant Jesus — Christ revealed to the nations — and, in the Eastern church, the baptism of Christ. It ends the twelve days of Christmas.

The week before Easter, walking day by day through Jesus' last days — Palm Sunday (His entry into Jerusalem), Maundy Thursday (the Last Supper), Good Friday (the crucifixion), and Holy Saturday — ending at Easter.

The opening prayer of a service, asking God to be present and bless the gathering. Also the opening prayer at civic events — a graduation, a council meeting, a game.

The roughly forty days before Easter, from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, kept as a season of repentance, fasting, and preparation — often by giving something up.

A set, repeated order of worship with written prayers, readings, and congregational responses, followed the same way every week.

The Thursday before Easter, remembering the Last Supper — when Jesus washed His disciples' feet, instituted communion, and gave the "new commandment" to love one another. It opens the three holiest days of the year.

The long stretches of the church year that aren't a special season — after Epiphany until Lent, and after Pentecost until Advent — when the Sundays are simply numbered and the liturgical color is green.

Church activities aimed at people outside the church — service projects, community events, food drives, anything that meets neighbors where they are.

The moment in a church service when everyone turns and greets the people around them, usually with a handshake and the words "Peace be with you."

A church's system for spreading an urgent prayer request quickly — once a telephone tree, now usually a group text or email — so that many people are praying within the hour.

A guest preacher who fills in when a church's regular pastor is away — sick, on vacation, on sabbatical, or gone — and the arrangement by which churches find one.

A regular gathering of roughly 6–15 people from a church who meet, often in someone's home, to talk about the Bible, pray for each other, and build friendships.

A solo or small-group song performed during the service — as opposed to congregational singing — often during the offering or before the sermon.

A summer week of Bible camp for children, held at the church — mornings or evenings of songs, stories, crafts, games, and snacks, usually with an elaborate theme.

The adult on a church's staff in charge of the teen ministry — planning youth group, camps, and trips, teaching, and being a trusted adult to a lot of teenagers.