Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition

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Colors of the Christian Year, continued

Other Uses of Color

White Wedding, funeral, Thanksgiving, dedication, baptism

Red or Scarlet Church anniversary, ordination/installation, confirmation, reception into the church, revival, preaching, missions, work of the Holy Spirit During weekday services, use the color of season (after Epiphany, Passiontide, after Pentecost), or color of preceding Sunday (in Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter), unless a color is specified in the calendar for the day (Good Friday, etc.). Denominational promotions and thematic events (Day/Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, World Communion Sunday, etc.) may be worked in with the Christian calendar emphasis for a given day without overshadowing that emphasis. Laity (women’s, men’s, children’s) days, church vocations, missions, etc., may be honored without supplanting the calendared day or season. Civil and commercial holidays and observances NEVER supersede the Christian use for the main services on any Sunday, nor mix with them, if it can be helped. Civil days include national, state, and local holidays (Presidents’ birthdays, Memorial, Flag, Independence days, etc.). Commercial observances include Valentine’s, St. Patrick’s, Grandparents’, Mothers’ and Fathers’ days, etc. If possible, observe these in Sunday evening or midweek services, or with a church school or fellowship event.