If you look at the altar in the coming weeks, you’ll notice a change. The bright whites of Easter and the fiery reds of Pentecost have given way to a steady, deep green. In the United Methodist tradition, this long stretch of the church year is called Ordinary Time.
The word “ordinary” can sound like a letdown. Our culture trains us to chase the “extraordinary”—big moments, big wins, and big celebrations. And we can start to treat everything in between as something to push through.
But in the church, Ordinary Time is not a filler season. It is a season of steady growth.
What Ordinary Time Means in the Church Calendar
In the liturgical sense, “ordinary” comes from the word ordinal, meaning “counted.” Ordinary Time is the season where we count the weeks as we follow the life and teachings of Jesus.
It’s not meant to be boring. It’s meant to be faithful.
Just as the fields around us turn a lush, persistent green, Ordinary Time is a reminder that spiritual growth often happens slowly. Roots deepen. Faith strengthens. And life changes in small, steady ways.
Why We Miss God in Ordinary Life
Many of us look for God in the big moments.
We look for Him in:
- mountaintop experiences
- clear breakthroughs
- powerful answers to prayer
- special worship services
And those moments matter.
But if we only look for God there, we may miss the truth that the Holy Spirit is present in the everyday routines of life.
Jesus promised His disciples that He would be with them always, to the end of the age. That promise was not only for miracles. It was also for the long walks between towns and the quiet meals shared by the fire.
Finding God in the Routine of June
The challenge of June is learning to notice God in the “counted” moments.
Look for Him here:
- In the quiet rhythm of a morning cup of tea
- In the repetitive work of weeding the garden
- In the familiar faces at the grocery store or the post office
These moments may seem small. But they are not empty. They are often where God does His deepest work.
A Prayer for the Green Season
This June, I want to invite you to reframe your view of “ordinary.”
Instead of seeing ordinary life as a placeholder between big events, see it as the primary place where God is at work. The green altar cloth is a reminder that even when things feel quiet, life is happening beneath the surface.
Let’s embrace the steady, the counted, and the ordinary together.
Peace,
Pastor Rob