A calendar is an important tool to help you stay oriented to the passage of time and to know when you’re supposed to do what. Right? What else is a calendar good for? Well, if you’re talking about the Presbyterian Planning Calendar, there really are a lot of uses other than keeping track of appointments and the birthdays you’re supposed to remember.

Let’s say you have something to do with planning worship at your church. The calendar gives you a year and a half of lectionaries for Sundays and other special liturgical days like Ash Wednesday and the first Sunday of Advent. It also has a page showing the liturgical colors to be used for the same period of time. Want to know what days are considered especially good for baptisms or to celebrate the Lord’s Supper? The information is here in the calendar.

The calendar grids, also for a year and a half, list liturgical days, secular holidays, and programmatic emphases established by the General Assembly such as Evangelism emphasis and Self-Development of People emphasis. And if you look at the page with the art above the grid for a month, you can find all kinds of suggestions to help you plan for the special emphases. There are other suggestions listed there, like what conferences are coming up and how to find out more about them, and what books, pamphlets, magazine subscriptions, and other services are available.

What if you are interested in making connections with people of other faiths during their holy days, or at least knowing when they may be observing those days? The “About the Calendar” page in the front of the calendar describes major Jewish and Islamic holidays. These holy days are also listed in a box on each month’s page, as are some of the Eastern Orthodox holidays, which are the same as ours, but because many Eastern Orthodox use the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar as we do, the holidays fall on different days from ours.

The second half of the calendar contains directories. There are three directories to help you find who you need to talk with at the PC(USA) center in Louisville. If you know the person’s name, there’s an alphabetical list. If you know the subject but not the person—say you want some peacemaking resources—the subject directory will help you. There’s also a structural directory to show what programs and divisions people work in. Presbyterian (U.S.A.)-related theological seminaries, colleges, and secondary schools with phone numbers are available, as are ecumenical groups. All synods and presbyteries and their staff are listed.

At the back are two colored maps, one of the synods and presbyteries, and a world map that this year will show countries where we have long-term mission workers.

Though the theme of the calendar changes from year to year, this essential information for planning and making contact with others in the denomination faithfully appears in updated form every year.

The theme of the 2003–2004 Planning Calendar is “We Believe.” There are thirteen statements of belief drawn from Scripture, church confessions of faith, and catechisms. Though obviously not a comprehensive confession of faith, these expressions of Reformed faith speak of who God is and what we as God’s people are about. They claim that God is present with us as God has been present in the lives of those who came before us, and their reality can give us meaning, strength, and courage to face these uncertain times.

As you can see, the Planning Calendar offers words of inspiration as well as a wealth of information. And there’s room to write in your appointments and important birthdays.

You can order your calendar from PDS by calling (800) 524-2612. Ask for PDS 70-612-03-500. Calendars are $9.95 each; $7.50 each for 10 to 49; $5.50 each for 50 or more; plus shipping. You can also order on-line at www.pcusa.org/marketplace.

Nancy Goodhue is the editor of the Planning Calendar. Contact her at (888) 728-7228, ext. 5182, or send e-mail.