Advent: Blue or Purple?

Reposted from my congregation's December newsletter, The Steeple Light What is the “proper” color of Advent – blue or purple?  Purple was the long-standing color used by Lutheran congregations, as well as other liturgical churches, through most of the 20th century.  The purple of Advent and of Lent served two purposes – emphasizing the royalty

All Saints Confusion

(The following is a heavily edited and updated version of a similiar post from three years ago, All Saints, All Souls, and the Return of Christ.) I find myself a bit confused by the festival of All Saints in our Lutheran practice.  On this day we remember our loved ones who have died in the