Colors of the various seasons of the Christian year express the mood or feeling of the season. The following outline presents the colors most often associated with Christian seasons.
Advent. Blue or violet express the penitential nature of the season as well as the royalty of Christ.
Christmas. White expresses the celebrative nature of the season.
After Epiphany. Green expresses the ongoing eternal nature of growth. Use white for Baptism of the Lord Sunday and for the last Sunday which celebrates the transfiguration of our Lord.
Lent. Black, violet, grays, and/or muted blues express the solemnity of Lenten time.
Holy Week. Red is used as the color of the blood of Christ and of the martyrs. Black is also used to express the somber nature of Holy Week. For Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday, use white or red. For Good Friday and Holy Saturday, red, black, or no color.
Easter. Gold or white expresses the joy of the season. Use red on Pentecost Sunday. Red symbolizes fire and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
After Pentecost. Green expresses the ongoing work of God. Use white on Trinity Sunday, All Saints’ Day, and Christ the King Sunday. White expresses the celebratory nature of these days.
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.