THEOLOGICAL CLUE

Had the plan of the Joint Liturgical Group in Great Britain, which set an agenda for reforming the church year, been followed in the American churches, the Advent prayers might have come at a very propitious time in the life of the churches, the beginning of September. The Joint Liturgical Group had suggested extending the Sundays before Christmas back far enough that the holy history of the faith might be read annually. While there is something to be said for such a plan, something would also be lost; the eschatological mood of Pentecost would be down-played, at best. As the life of the parishes is "stirred up" in September, it is well to keep before the people the movement toward Christ the King Sunday and the last things. The life of and in the Spirit prepares us for t…