Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has a rich history in Denver dating back to 1873. Now in our 138^th year of ministry, we strive to be an inclusive and diverse church welcoming people from all walks of life. Our goal is to help each person discern the call of Christ within a vibrant fellowship of believers.

Located at 3690 Cherry Creek South Drive, we offer two worship services each Sunday:

Contemporary worship at 8:30 a.m.

Traditional worship at 10:45 a.m.

At 9:30 am each Sunday we offer a full range of Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults. In addition, there are many opportunities to get involved through hands-on ministries, mission projects, and small groups.

I invite you to join with us in our journey of faith. Canaan Harris, Senior Minister
(canaan@centralchristiandenver.org)

Church Calls Interim Minister – The Search Committee is happy to announce the call of our new Interim Senior Minister, Phillip Hayes, who began his interim ministry with us on August 1st, 2011. Please help us in welcoming Phillip and his wife Dorothy.

Congratulations Canaan

Our new senior minister

On Sunday, January 8th, the congregation voted and approved Robert “Canaan” Harris as the next Senior Minister of Central Christian Church.  We welcome Canaan and his family to our church and look forward to his leadership and vision for our spiritual journey.

Third Season: Epiphany

The word Epiphany means “showing forth“, “revelation” or “manifestation“. This occurs on January 6^thand commemorates Christ’s first manifestation to the Gentiles as the promised Messiah, symbolized by the visit of the Wise Men. After the Epiphany, the Sunday Gospels focus on other revelations such as the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist and the marriage feast at Cana. This is the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.

In western Christian tradition, January 6 is celebrated as Epiphany. It goes by other
names in various church traditions. In Hispanic and Latin culture, as well as
some places in Europe, it is known as Three Kings’ Day (Span: el Dia de los Tres Reyes, la Fiesta de Reyes, or el Dia de los Reyes Magos; Dutch: Driekoningendag). Because of differences in church calendars, mainly between the Eastern Orthodox and the western Catholic and Protestant traditions, both Christmas and Epiphany have been observed at different times in the past. Today, most of the Eastern Orthodox traditions follow the western church calendar. The exceptions are some Greek Orthodox Churches and related traditions (for example, Russian and Serbian Orthodox) that still follow the older calendar and celebrate Epiphany as the Theophany on January 19th.  Epiphany is the climax of the Advent/Christmas Season and the Twelve Days of Christmas, which are usually counted from the evening of December 25th until the morning of January 6th, which is the Twelfth Day. In following this older custom of counting the days beginning at sundown, the evening of January 5th is the Twelfth Night. This is an occasion for feasting in some cultures, including the baking of a special King’s Cake as part of the festivities of Epiphany (a King’s Cake is part of the observance of Mardi Gras in French Catholic culture of the Southern USA). In some church traditions, only the full days are counted so that January 5th is the Eleventh Day of Christmas, January 6th is the Twelfth Day, and the evening of January 6th is counted as the Twelfth Night.

In traditional Christian churches Christmas, as well as Easter, is celebrated as a period of time, a season of the church year, rather than just a day. The Season of the Church Year associated with Christmas actually begins with the first Sunday of Advent, four Sundays before Christmas Day. Advent is marked by expectation and anticipation in preparing to celebrate the coming of Jesus.  Christmas begins with Christmas Day December 25 and lasts for Twelve Days until Epiphany, January 6, which looks ahead to the mission of the church to the world in light of the Nativity. The one or two Sundays between Christmas Day and Epiphany are sometimes called Christmastide.

For many Protestant church traditions, the season of Epiphany extends from January 6th untii Ash Wednesday, which begins the season of Lent leading to Easter. Depending on the timing of Easter, this longer period of Epiphany includes from
four to nine Sundays. Other traditions, especially the Roman Catholic tradition, observe Epiphany as a single day, with the Sundays following Epiphany counted as ors Ordinary Time. In some western traditions, the last Sunday of Epiphany is
celebrated as Transfiguration Sunday.

The term epiphany means “to show” or “to make known” or even “to reveal.” In Western churches, it remembers the coming of the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child, who by so doing “reveal” Jesus to the world as Lord and King. In some Central and South American countries influenced by Catholic tradition, Three Kings’ Day, or the night before, is the time for opening Christmas presents. In some eastern churches, Epiphany or the Theophany commemorates Jesus’ baptism, with the visit of the Magi linked to Christmas. In some churches the day is celebrated as Christmas, with Epiphany/Theophany occurring on January 19th.