SHELLS EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
   287 Shells Church Road, Grantville, PA  17028
      Office:   469-2586           Fax:   469-1077 

 

 

WORSHIP & MUSIC MINISTRY

 

ASSISTING MINISTER'S WORKSHOP

Sunday, September 26 at 9:15 AM

 

Would you like to learn what is

involved in participating in  worship as an Assisting Minister?  

 

Now is your opportunity.  Pastor Linda will be conducting a workshop to teach the fundamentals of an Assisting Minister.  Please consider becoming a worship leader?  If you have any questions, please see Pastor Linda.

 

    Altars have been covered with fine cloths, known as linens, since Old Testament times, and paraments have adorned chancel furnishings since at least the 5th Century A.D.  While linens are always white, paraments are in fabrics of various colors in order to reflect the liturgical day or season.  They are altar linens because Jesus’ grave clothes were linen.  White is a reminder of the purity and righteousness of the Christ who is unchanging, and it is an expression also of the light and joy Christ gives to His people.  Our lives are constantly changing, alternating with joy and sorrow, birth and death—and with the hopeful time of Advent, the joyous days of Christmas, the revelatory time of Epiphany, the preparatory and penitential weeks of Lent, the incomparably celebratory time of Easter, and the weeks of growth after Pentecost. The colors of the paraments reflect these various times and moods, contrasting with the changeless light and love of our Lord. (pgs. 22,23 Altar Guild Handbook, Anita Stauffer)

Green Paraments

   Green is by far the most common color seen during the year. Lutheran worship calls for its use during the seasons of Epiphany and Pentecost. The first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox (March 21), also known as Easter Sunday, determines the length of these two seasons.  The days of Epiphany may entail a total of 8 Sundays. The season of Pentecost, on the other hand, can last from 22-28 Sundays. Green is the appointed color for all but a few of the Sundays during these seasons. Consequently, green may be used an average of 6-8 months of any given liturgical year.

   Epiphany’s message of Christ’s revelation to the Gentiles, along with the season’s traditional emphasis on extending Christ’s kingdom through missions, calls for the use of green—the color symbolic of growth.

   The Sundays following Pentecost, observed as “the time of the church,” share a somewhat similar theme as that of Epiphany. Affectionately called the season of the “green meadow,” no doubt due to the fact of green being the established color, these Sundays also emphasize the subject of growth. Green is a neutral color, but there is nothing colorless about our need to grow and mature as disciples of Jesus Christ. That’s why the “green meadow” time of the church year is so lengthy.

 

Red Paraments

   Red is a power color and is appropriate for use on Pentecost Sunday.  On this day, we remember the power and fire of “the Lord and Giver of Life,” who revealed Himself as the promised one.  The color red communicates the motif of strength—strength and power the Holy Spirit gives in order for God’s people to call on the name of Jesus Christ and share that powerful name with others.

   There is no question that red is a compelling festive color. Consequently, it serves well as the traditional color for the heroic martyrs of the Church. The Lutheran Worship church year calendar provides propers [The parts of the liturgy that vary according to the particular feast or season of the year.] for 16 martyr festivals and recommends red as the appropriate color. Their red blood shed in defense of the Gospel offers perpetual encouragement for God’s people to be resolute in living the faith.  Additional uses of red are Reformation Sunday, Holy Cross Day; on such festive occasions as dedications, anniversaries of a congregation and its physical structure, festive days celebrating the office of the public ministry, such as ordination and installation.

PURPLE PARAMENTS

Why do we use purple paraments during the season of Lent?

Purple is a stark color of repentance and solemnity.  It is said that purple dye was invented in the ancient city of Tyre, Lebanon.  In the early days, dyed fabric was very difficult to create.  Purple dye was held to be most precious and was almost impossible to produce in any quality except in Tyre.  Because of its rarity, purple fabrics have been worn to indicate royal rank and as religious garments for many generations.

 

BLUE PARAMENTS

Why Do We use Blue Paraments during the Season of Advent?

 

Blue is the more contemporary color, increasingly used by many congregations in their observance of a new church year. Advent, a preparatory time of waiting and watching, communicates the message of hope. Blue – the color of the sky – helps convey that powerful message.  Our Christian faith rests on the hope that Christ, who came in history assuming our flesh, will also return on the last day of time from that same blue sky He ascended long ago.

The new Easter paraments will be dedicated on Palm Sunday and are given to the glory of God by Pauletta Shelahamer in memory of her father, Paul Shelahamer and in honor of her mother, Norma Shelahamer.

 

 

Next Altar Guild Meeting is Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 7:30 PM

 

The altar linen supply has diminished.  We are looking for purificators.  Please return all linens to the Sacristy as soon as possible. 

Thank you.  Terry

A memorial book has been purchased for Shells Church. If anyone has donated an item to the Church and would like it added to this book, please advise Terry K.