On Ash Wednesday, Wednesday February 18th, there will be a 7:00pm Worship service at St. Peter Belvidere, located at 28961 365th St, Goodhue, MN 55027

On Wednesday February 25th there will be a 6:00pm Lenten Dinner followed by a 7:00pm Lenten Worship service at Bethany Lutheran Church located at 525 S 6th St, Lake City, MN 55041

It is appropriate, from time to time to take a thoughtful look at the colors used throughout the church year.  The symbolism behind the traditional colors is somewhat arbitrary and open to interpretations as generations pass, the primary source of their meaning is tradition, but it is important to remember that this traditional liturgical standard is used to assist in communicating faith to the worshiping community from one generation to next generation.

The colors used throughout the church year call attention to the nature of the season or festival.  Color is everywhere.  It is God’s way of filling the world with beauty and giving pleasure to all those who live in it. The source of color is light and should remind us that Jesus Christ is the Light of Life.

Liturgical colors complement the message of the season and occasions of the church year.  Color and its bright message can easily be mistaken in its purpose. The paraments, vestments and banners need to be seen as more than pretty decorations.  The colors tell us of a specific time in the life of our Lord.

The five basic liturgical colors were white, red, black, green and purple.  In recent years the colors of blue, scarlet, and gold have been added. The colors have evolved over the centuries to communicate a message of faith.

The forty days of Lent began on Ash Wednesday. Following the services the altar guild will have removed the black parament from the altar and replaced it with a purple parament that will remain until the beginning of Holy Week. The color purple signifies repentance. The chancel cross and the processional cross will remain draped in black. During the days bare branches from deciduous trees will be used.

These branches should remind us of the austerity of Lent.