Christmas and Easter celebrated with special emphasis on evangelism
The AG celebrates Christmas and Easter as central Christian holidays, treating them as significant evangelistic opportunities as well as times of worship and reflection. AG churches typically host special services for both holidays, often with outreach components designed to welcome non-churchgoers. The AG's evangelistic culture turns holiday seasons into occasions for presenting the gospel.
The AG does not follow a formal liturgical calendar (Advent, Lent, etc.) as a mandatory structure, though some AG churches have adopted elements of the Christian year voluntarily. The denomination's approach to holidays is pragmatic and evangelistic rather than liturgically driven. The Holy Spirit's leading in worship is valued above formal liturgical calendar observance.
The AG has no official prohibition on other cultural holidays. Individual AG congregations may vary in how they approach Halloween or other secular celebrations, with some hosting alternative events and others taking a neutral approach. Pentecost Sunday (celebrating the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost) is particularly meaningful in AG churches and is often observed with special emphasis on Spirit baptism and the gifts.
Key Distinctions
- Christmas easter observed:
- observed — Christmas and Easter are core celebrations of the Christian calendar
- Biblical feasts observed:
- not formally observed; OT feasts are fulfilled in Christ
- Rationale:
- historical events of the Incarnation and Resurrection are celebrated liturgically
Scripture References
Sources
- Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths (1916)