What is a Lutheran Liturgical Calendar?

A Lutheran Liturgical Calendar is a calendar used by Lutheran churches to commemorate important events in the life of Jesus Christ and the Church. It includes a cycle of seasons, feast days, and holy days that are celebrated throughout the year.

What are Liturgical Colors?

Liturgical colors are the colors used for vestments, altar cloths, and other decorations in the church during different seasons and celebrations. Each color represents a different liturgical season or event.

The Colors of the Lutheran Liturgical Calendar

The colors used in the Lutheran Liturgical Calendar are:

• Purple – used during Advent and Lent
• White – used during Christmas and Easter
• Red – used on Pentecost Sunday and other celebrations of the Holy Spirit
• Green – used during Ordinary Time, which is the time between the seasons of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter
• Black – used on Good Friday and All Souls Day

Why are Liturgical Colors Important?

Liturgical colors help to visually connect the Church to the seasons and events being celebrated. They provide a way to reinforce the message of the Gospel and help to create a sense of unity and continuity within the Church.

What Liturgical Colors Will be Used in 2024?

In 2024, the liturgical colors for the Lutheran Church will be:

• Purple – from November 30, 2023 to December 24, 2023 (Advent)
• White – on December 25, 2023 (Christmas)
• Green – from December 26, 2023 to January 5, 2024 (Christmas/Epiphany)
• White – on January 6, 2024 (Epiphany)
• Green – from January 7, 2024 to March 3, 2024 (Ordinary Time)
• Purple – from March 4, 2024 to April 20, 2024 (Lent)
• White – on April 21, 2024 (Easter)
• White – from April 22, 2024 to June 8, 2024 (Easter/Ascension/Pentecost)
• Red – on June 9, 2024 (Pentecost)
• Green – from June 10, 2024 to November 30, 2024 (Ordinary Time)

Conclusion

The Lutheran Liturgical Calendar and its use of liturgical colors play an important role in the life of the Church. The colors help to visually connect the Church to the seasons and events being celebrated, and provide a way to reinforce the message of the Gospel. Knowing the liturgical colors for each season can help to deepen our understanding of the significance of each celebration.

References

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. (2021). Liturgical Colors. Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. https://www.lcms.org/worship/liturgical-resources/liturgical-colors

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. (n.d.). Seasons of the Church Year. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. https://www.elca.org/Faith/ELCA-Teaching/Seasons-of-the-Church-Year