Colors of the Church Year
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
Green is usually used for the non-festival portion of the church year. It is a time where we focus on the Christian life. The Gospel of Christ and Him crucified is the only source that can maintain and motivate the growth of life. The festival part of the church year shows us how our eternal future has gone from wrath to reward, hell to heaven, despair to deliverance. Our fate is determined, our futures are certain, our lives have been spared. Rejoice! Now, in the non-festival half of the year, you are encouraged to live out your faith in Christ and serve Him in righteousness, innocence and joy. Do this knowing that we are called by God to live on this earth as His people, to serve our neighbor through our callings and to proclaim the excellencies of God who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
In this time on earth, while performing our callings, we struggle in a constant war between the sinful flesh and the new man. This struggle will not end until we reach heaven, but to endure this battle, we must remain connected to the Vine, trusting in Jesus’ saving life, death and resurrection. Through the Gospel of Christ, we remain green and growing, and we avoid becoming dried twigs reserved for burning. This Gospel, the Good News of our perfect and merciful Lord Jesus and His sacrifice, is the only way that we will produce green and fruitful branches.
May God shower His pure and saving Word upon us every day, that we may be like green trees planted by streams of water and yielding fruit in due season.
Oh, that the Lord would guide my ways to keep His statutes still!
Oh, that my God would grant me grace to know and do His will!
The Lutheran Hymnal 416:1