Vol 8 Issue 2 RSSSectionsPriorities This IssuePrioritiesThoughts on “Food, Family, Friends, and Faith: Celebrating Interview with Dr. Nancy Whitt, Quaker/ Grandmother’s Fruitcake Family>> TransitionsTraditionsChristmas Traditions and Transitions>> Sensory Christmas Traditions>> An Interview with Rabbi Jonathan Miller, Temple Emanu-El>> Wisdom & Wondering
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ArchiveAbout the Color Purple... 
For churches that celebrate what we call the “liturgical calendar,” purple is used for two of the church “seasons.” Purple is used during the season of Lent-until-Easter-day, and then again at Advent-until-Christmas. We use this color in what we call “paraments” which are the materials that are hung over the pulpit, over crosses, as pulpit Bible markers, etc. The liturgical calendar is based on the cycle of the life of Jesus Christ. If we think of the church year beginning with the calendar year, in January, there is first the season of Epiphany, which celebrates the visit of the magi to the Christ child. Then comes Lent and Easter with Lent being the forty days from Ash Wednesday until Holy Week, then Easter. This is followed by the season of Pentecost, the gift and season of the Holy Spirit. At that point, the church year ends with the seasons of Advent (preparing for the coming of Jesus) and Christmas, itself. In between all these “seasons” we have what we call “Ordinary Time” which means that these are days that are not special days. Some churches will call our most special days, “High Holy Days” just as the Jewish and Islamic and other traditions have their own particular “High Holy Days” or other terms that have the same meaning. Purple stands for “penitence.” It means that we stand before God with great awe and humility for ourselves and the utter unworthiness of God’s grace which overflows for all of us. In that sense, purple is a color of preparation...preparing our hearts for the greatest mysteries of God’s gift of Jesus Christ in his birth and resurrection. Purple is also a color that stands for royalty and has traditionally been used for persons and events connected with royalty. In terms of art and spirituality, purple is a mixture of red and blue. Red is the color for the Holy Spirit and also the passion of Christ. Blue is a heavenly color, a color of purity and spirituality, together; and the color always used for Mary. If we dream of purple, we need to pay great attention! This is a tremendous color that indicates strong and rich spirituality. There are deep and passionately spiritual undercurrents that connect with our emotions with this color. The “pulpits” of our souls are trying to tell us a story with this color. When we “see” purple we know that we are in a place where we can prepare our hearts to go where God leads us in our journey in faith and life. ©2007 ecumininet online! Spiritual Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | View
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