Women's Aglow Fellowship And The Christian Year

While they do not follow the church calendar in a formal way, Women's Aglow groups do observe many of the seasons of the Christian year. They also enrich their worship with observance of the annual Jewish feasts described in the Old Testament.

Aglow is a charismatic organization which draws together women of many denominations, races, classes, and cultures. Our appreciation for the Christian year has been influenced by a variety of historical traditions, including Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, and Pentecostal. Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas are among the seasons held in high esteem by Aglow women around the world. These seasons are enthusiastically celebrated in remembrance of the fulfillment of the plans and purposes of God. Local, area, and national Aglow groups often incorporate special worship into their meetings, which help to focus the participants on the significance of the particular event being recognized. Along with these more traditional celebrations, we also have come to appreciate the seven Jewish feasts, which are a part of the roots of the Christian faith. Our worship has been enhanced by an understanding of the significance of the feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost conveyed through our Messianic Jewish friends. And we look forward with them to the fulfillment of the yet remaining feasts of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles. Some Aglow groups have invited Messianic Jews to lead them in celebration of the Jewish Passover. Seeing God's plan of salvation through the seder (Passover ceremony) has set many free to worship God in a new way as well as bringing a clearer understanding of the parables and teachings of Jesus. Many of us have found our Western way of thinking expanded and enlightened as we have learned to view the Scriptures from a Jewish as well as a Gentile perspective. Thus, our celebrations of events and seasons during the church year have been greatly enriched by this better understanding of the Jewish culture and customs. And, the various practices of Jewish worship referred to in Scripture, such as praising, shouting, dancing, raising of hands, laughing, bowing, kneeling, and psalm-singing, have also become accepted as part of the Aglow worship culture. We view all of our worship as part of a powerful, interdenominational movement for revival through prayer and intercession in the final era before the return of Christ.