Seasonal Resources
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Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, is a period of forty days (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter. Forty days is the same length as the fasts of Jesus (Luke 4:2), Moses (Deut 9:9) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:8).
Violet is the colour of the season, symbolising that Lent is a time for repentance, fasting and meditation on Jesus’ death.
Resources for Lent
Lenten Disciplines
Book of Concord Lenten Reading Plan A Forty-Day Reading Plan from Concordia Publishing House
Devotional Resources
Lent 2025 Devotion “Jesus Christ, My Lord”. Steadfast Press - free to download
Lenten Devotions : Lutheran Hour Ministries
Lenten Devotions – Lutheran Laymen's League of Canada
Articles of interest
Themes in the Season of Lent (CPH blog)
Other Resources
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Palm, or Passion, Sunday introduces Holy Week. It often begins with a procession of palm branches, recalling Jesus’ triumphant entry int Jerusalem. The colour for Palm Sunday is the purple of Lent.
Maundy Thursday is the celebration of the institution of the Lord’s Supper. The colour is white in honour of this ‘feast of victory’. The name ‘Maundy’ comes from the Latin mandatum (commandment) from the Gospel reading (John 13:1-17, 34) in which Jesus commands us to love one another, and set the example of what this means by washing his disciples’ feet. Maundy Thursday services often includes a foot-washing rite. The service usually ends with the stripping of the altar, in preparation for Good Friday, and worshippers depart in silence.
Good Friday marks the crucifixion of Christ. To show the ‘righteous, holy, sinless Son of God’ has died, the colour of the day is black. In some churches, all altar furnishings are removed and the cross is veiled in black.
The Easter vigil is celebrated after Easter starts at sundown on Holy Saturday, often finishing at midnight. It is a service proclaiming and celebrating the death and resurrection of our Lord. The light of Christ pierces the darkness as the paschal candle is lit, and the church is decorated. The vigil has four parts: the Service of the Light, where the paschal candle is lit and leads the congregation into the darkened church; a Service of Readings; the rite of Baptism and Renewal of Baptismal Vows and finally the first celebration of Communion for the Easter season.
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Hallelujah! The Lord is risen indeed; O come, let us worship him. Hallelujah!
Easter Sunday is a toal reversal of Good Friday; the bare sanctuary is now decked with flowers and greenery. Christ’s victory over sin, death and the devil is a cause for great celebration. The colour white, for victory, glory and majesty, contributes to the festive spirit.
The season of Easter continues until Pentecost.
Ascension Day is celebrated forty days after Easter, so it always occurs on a Thursday. It commemorates Jesus’ return to heaven after his resurrection. As it is part of the Easter season, the colour is still white.
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Hallelujah! The Spirit of the Lord fills the world; O come, let us worship him. Hallelujah!
The Easter season concludes fifty days after Easter with Pentecost Day (Pentecost means fiftieth day). This festival that celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Since the Spirit came with tongues of fire, red, a symbol of power and love, is the colour of the day.
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We praise the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit: O come, let us worship him.
Trinity Sunday celebrates the article of faith - that we worship the Triune God. The white colour symbolises God’s purity and majesty. The Athanasian Creed is often read on Trinity Sunday.
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The period from Holy Trinity onwards until Advent is known as the Season after Pentecost (or ordinary time).
The colour for this season is green, as the focus in this long season is on the growth of the early church and the teachings of Jesus.
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Reformation is celebrated on October 31, the date that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.
The colour of the day is red, the colour used for major festivals.
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This festival, sometimes known as All Hallows (Old English for ‘saint’), is celebrated on November 1. It grew out of a commemoration of all the martyrs and became a celebration of all the apostles, martyrs, confessors and all who have died in the Lord. In our day, the festival is usually a time to remember and commemorate those who died in the faith during the previous year.
The colour of the day is white.
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Behold the King comes; O come let us worship him.
Advent marks the beginning of the church year. The season involves the four Sundays before Christmas, often marked by lighting candles on an Advent wreath. It is a time of preparation for the advent (or coming) of the Lord, both as a baby at Christmas, and when Jesus returns at the end of time. Penitence is a major focus, as we ask God to forgive our sins. Repentance clears consciences, helping us to welcome our King with joy.
The colours for Advent are either purple or blue. Purple represents both royalty and repentance, while blue symbolises the hope believers experience as they await the birth of their Saviour.
Advent Resources
Isaiah Twas Foretold It (Brothers of John the Steadfast)
This Advent Devotional Resource is provided for your use by Steadfast Press. The devotions focus on Isaiah’s prophecies related to the incarnation and birth of Jesus. For each prophecy you will also get to read related texts and the fulfillment texts as well. You can also find and Advent Service Plan here.
Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
It is true that God deserves our worship and praise for all that He has done for us. And in the birth of Jesus into our world, born to save us from our sins, born to give us eternal life—God has given us His very Best. To which we can only respond: “Come, Let Us Adore Him!”
The events surrounding Jesus’ birth—the prophecies foretold and fulfilled, the birth of John to point to Jesus, the divine way God guided Mary and Joseph, the preservation of Jesus’ life from King Herod—all speak to God’s intimate involvement in our salvation. This is the God we adore—the God who spared not His own Son but gave Him up for us all.
Seasonal Devotions for Advent are available from the LHM ministry centre in Canada. Perfect for personal reflection or to share with family, friends and congregations, these seasonal meditations will help prepare you to celebrate the true meaning of these seasons.
Advent devotions for the family table – 2024 (LCMS Worship)
LCMS Worship offers Advent home devotions that fix our attention on the three comings of Christ: once in the flesh, now in His Word and Sacraments, and at the Last Day for judgment and the resurrection — all to save us. The devotions can be easily expanded to include local congregation resources or other Advent devotionals.
An Advent wreath may be lit, adding the lighting of one candle for each week in Advent. If a rose candle is used, it is lit at the beginning of the third week.
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Hallelujah! the Christ is born for us; O come let us worship him. Hallelujah!
For Christians, Christmas begins on December 25 and continues for twelve days. Christianity, like Judaism, follows the ancient tradition that a day begins at sunset not at midnight. That is why we hold services in the evening on December 24.
The date of the Christmas celebration means that January 1, being the eighth day, becomes the day of the naming and circumcision of Jesus.
As for all festivals of our Lord, the colour is white, the colour of light, life, purity and sinlessness.
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The day of Epiphany, January 6, brings the twelve days of Christmas to an end. It celebrates the revealing, or epiphany, of Jesus to the wise men (Matt 2:10ff); where the Saviour of the whole world is first shown to the Gentiles. The prayer for Epiphany highlights the theme of the season:
Father, you revealed your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star, Lead us to your glory in heaven by the light of faith.The gospel readings in the Epiphany season often relate events where Jesus’ nature is ‘revealed’, or some aspect of his ministry begins. The length of the Epiphany season varies depending on the date of Easter. The Baptism of our Lord is celebrated on the first Sunday after Epiphany. The last Sunday in Epiphany season is the Transfiguration of our Lord, which involves a special revelation of our Lord to chosen witnesses. The festival itself and the first Sunday have, as festivals of our Lord, have the colour white, symbolising light and Jesus’ sinlessness.
Christ has appeared to us; O come let us worship him.
Epiphany Resources
“What Epiphany Tells Us about Worship” (Sermon on Matthew 2:1-12, by Pr. Charles Henrickson)
THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD Study Notes for the Christian Layperson (Steadfast Lutherans)
LCMS Worship — Hymn of the Day Studies — Epiphany — Three-Year Lectionary Downloadable PDF with a hymn and Bible study for each week in Epiphany season. Although these hymns are in the Lutheran Service Book, their equivalent is often found in our Lutheran Hymnal.
Epiphany Traditions: King Cake & House Blessing – The Lutheran Witness
