A Dove with an Olive Branch Symbolizes Peace

Historical Spotlight
January 2016

-Paraments-

Color Code
Have you noticed the color displayed on the altar, pulpit and lectern each week? These cloths
are called Paraments. The symbolic colors celebrate specific periods of the Church year.
The paraments used at Centenary United Methodist Church are in four colors: GREEN, PURPLE,
WHITE and RED. The care, maintenance and placement of the colors are the responsibility of the Altar Guild.
GREEN represents life, reminding us that Jesus came to give Life to the world. When green is used
it represents "Ordinary Times" in the church.... not a special day or season.
Embroidered on Centenary’s green paraments

• Grape & Vine, symbolic of our Lord -- the True Vine and His followers are the branches.
• Noah’s Ark and a rainbow to remember God’s promise to the world.

• A dove with an olive branch symbolizes peace.

PURPLE is a royal and precious color, displayed on the altar, pulpit
and lectern at times of preparation and anticipation including Lent (before Easter) and Advent (before Christmas).

• Lent starts with Ash Wednesday, lasts 40 days and ends with Maundy (or Holy) Thursday and Good Friday.
• The four Sundays before Christmas are Advent, preparation for the coming of the Christ Child.

The purple altar cloth has a Crown representing the reward to those who are faithful unto death. Other embroidered symbols are the reclining lamb to represent Jesus, the Lamb of God who suffered on the cross, and a cross with two flames representing the human and divine nature of our Lord.
WHITE, representing the purity and righteousness of God, is used for celebrations
and remembering special times on the Church calendar.
• Epiphany Sunday, when we celebrate the coming of the Wise Men. The Wise Men or the Magi searched for the baby Jesus, showing that Christ was shared with the Gentiles. We use white to remember the Baptism of the Lord the second Sunday after Christmas and at Easter season.

• Last Sunday after Epiphany when we remember the Transfiguration of the Lord;

• Trinity Sunday, the First Sunday after Pentecost on

• All Saints Sunday, in remembrance of those who have gone before us.

• Other celebrations and ceremonies, such as weddings and funerals.

The embroidered symbols on the white Paraments are the Christmas Rose representing
the birth of our Lord and a butterfly, depicting the resurrection and new life.

RED is for Pentecost in celebration of the coming of the ‘fire’ of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost Sunday
follows the celebration of the Ascension of Christ into heaven. Pentecost celebrates the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, represented by the symbols of a descending dove and the hand of
God from above. With the power and ‘fire’ of the Holy Spirit the apostles were able to preach the
gospel in many languages, resulting in the beginning of the Church.
Source: Did you Know, February 2013 by Suzanne Kennedy on behalf of the History and Records Committee and with the help of Lois Minsker and Kris Close of the Altar Guild. All Methodist churches refer to the The Book of Discipline for policies and practices.