I recently heard that the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security is planning to get rid of the color-coded terrorism alert system known as the Homeland Security Advisory System. The five-color scheme was introduced in 2002, with red (the highest level) meaning ― severe risk of terrorist attacks and green (lowest level) meaning ― low risk of terrorist attacks. Between those were blue (guarded risk), yellow (significant) and orange (high).

Did you know that in the church we also have a color scheme to help us be ― on the alert? At various times in the Church Year we change the color of our paraments and the vestments which

pastor and choir wear in order to help us focus our attention on the various ways in which God works in our lives.

The Church Year begins with the Season of Advent, which uses the color blue to remind us of the Coming King — Jesus!

Through His birth we have the promise of life everlasting, and we await His return on the Last Day so that we will have life forever with our Lord. With Advent beginning this past Sunday we also had the opportunity to rejoice as we dedicated the final set of our new paraments.

As we change from season to season and color to color this next year, may we always be ― on the alert, recognizing how God comes to us through His Word and Sacrament to forgive us and make us His own. But let us also be ever vigilant as we await the return of our Savior on the Last Day, watching out for Satan as he attempts to lead us astray, standing firm in our faith and trust in Jesus.

OTHER CHURCH COLORS

• White: Christmas and Easter
• Green: Epiphany and Sundays
  after Pentecost
• Purple: Lent
• Red: Pentecost