What do these colors mean in the Sanctuary?
At First Baptist Church, we are first and foremost a community that centers itself around the practice of worshiping God. In our worship, we follow the rhythms of the ancient Christian tradition that observes and celebrates feasts, festivals, and seasons of the church year (e.g. Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost). For most of us who have been raised in a Baptist or evangelical context, this can be confusing or perhaps event intimidating. Don’t let it scare you, though. You won’t find that our church is rigid, stiff, or stodgy in any way - we simply believe that, just like our bodies and minds, our souls crave a rhythm (like the Liturgical Calendar) that binds us together in our walk with Jesus Christ.
Each stole that is worn or banner that is hung has a color that represents the seasons of the liturgical year. Learn more about that below.
Green represents the season of Ordinary Time.
Green is the color of new vegetation. It symbolizes the hope of new life which is ours in the life of Jesus Christ. The color green is used for all other time periods (called Ordinary Time) not marked by a specific festival or season.
What is “Ordinary Time?”
In much of the Church, we observe the seasons of the two great cycles of the Church Year: Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter. But there are “in between” times which are sometimes counted as “ordinary.” At our church, the Sundays after the Feast of the Epiphany and after the Feast of the Pentecost are considered “ordinary time.” Sometimes also called “the Season after Epiphany” and “the Season after Pentecost.”
When Sundays are called “ordinary,” it does not mean that they are boring and mundane and all alike. They are ordinary in the sense that certain forms of numbers used to count off things (e.g. first, second, third) are called “ordinal” numbers.
Purple represents the seasons of Advent & Lent.
Purple represents penitence and preparation because it signifies the feeling of sorrow for our sins in the light of Christ's passion and death. The color purple is used during both Advent and Lent. In Lent, purple is used beginning Ash Wednesday and extending through Good Friday. Some congregations use black during that time or don’t wear any colors at all.
What is “Advent?”
Advent is a four-week season in the Church calendar dedicated to anticipating the arrival, or "advent," of Jesus of Nazareth, the long-awaited Messiah and King. Christians from many backgrounds celebrate this time with reflections on hope, peace, love, and joy. And while their practices may look different, all focus on the hope-filled arrival of Jesus.
Advent can be a simple and fun tradition of counting down to Christmas. But for others—particularly those who believe Jesus to be the incarnation of God and the long-awaited Messiah (that’s us!)—Advent is a shared experience of meditation and prayer that celebrates the arrival of Jesus.
What is “Lent?”
Lent is the 40 days (not including Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to the Saturday before Easter. Lent is often described as a time of preparation and an opportunity to go deeper with God. This means that it’s a time for personal reflection that prepares people’s hearts and minds for Good Friday and Easter.
The three main things people focus on during Lent are prayer, fasting (abstaining from something to reduce distractions and focus more on God) and giving, or charity.
White represents the seasons of Christmas & Easter.
White symbolizes purity, holiness, and virtue, as well as respect and reverence. White (and gold) represent days and seasons of joy and mark pivotal events in the life of Christ. They are used for all high Holy Days and festival days of the church year. The color white is used for Epiphany, the seven weeks of Easter, Christmas Eve through Epiphany, and the four transitional Sundays in Ordinary Time: Baptism of the Lord, Transfiguration of our Lord, Trinity Sunday, and Christ the King Sunday. White is also used for weddings and funerals.
What is Epiphany?
Epiphany, also known as "Three Kings Day" and "Twelfth Day," is a Christian holiday commemorated on January 6. It falls on the twelfth day after Christmas, and for some denominations signals the conclusion of the Christmas season. The 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany are known as the “Twelve Days of Christmas.”
Though many different cultural and denominational customs are practiced, as a rule, the feast celebrates the manifestation of God to the world in the form of human flesh through Jesus Christ, his Son.
Wait, Easter isn’t just one day?
Did you know that Easter isn’t just one day? In the Christian year, it’s a full seven weeks that begins with Easter Sunday. The celebration of our Lord’s resurrection surely can’t be packed into a single day!
Christmas isn’t one day either?
Nope. Ever heard of the Twelve Days of Christmas?
The Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as the Twelve Days of Christmastide, are the festive Christian season celebrating the Nativity. Christmas Day is the First Day. The Twelve Days are December 25 to January 5, counting first and last.
Red represents the Day of Pentecost.
Red is the color of fire and symbolizes the presence of God's Holy Spirit and the sacrifices of martyrs. Pentecost is the only Sunday for red in the church calendar. Red is often used for ordination services.
What in the Holy Spirit is Pentecost?
Pentecost is a Christian holiday which takes place on the 50th day after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles of Jesus while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1–31).