altar guild - Parish Presbyterian Church

ALTAR GUILD
A PARISH LIFE GROUP
Liturgical Colors and Calendar
The church calendar corresponds to certain colors
for the season. The most utilized color is green for
ordinary time of life and hope. The two white
seasons are Christmas and Easter symbolizing joy
and victory. Advent and Lent are penitent seasons
with the colors of blue and predominately purple.
The Holy Week season is during the three days of
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy
Saturday which use red as a symbol of Christ’s
blood. Pentecost marks the descent of the Holy
Spirit on Jesus' followers as they were gathered
following Jesus' death and resurrection. The Spirit
allowed them to speak in different languages, and to
understand one another. The colors of Pentecost are
red, white, and yellow.
The tradition of decorating the church for liturgical
seasons heighten our awareness of the solemn,
joyous, or penitent nature of each season.
...For everything there is a season, and a time
for every matter under heaven...
Using Local Gardens
Do you have an abundant garden with flowers
and/or greenery? Would you be willing to
share them with the Parish Altar Guild?
Contact Blair Crist for more info!
[email protected] or
615-567-6946
† OUR MISSION ¢
The Altar Guild prepares the house of
the Lord for worship according to
the church calendar and assists the
diaconate with the beautification of
the grounds. The Altar Guild of Parish
Presbyterian Church is the orthopraxy to
our orthodoxy.
...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely...
† O! TASTE
AND SEE, THE LORD, HE IS GOOD! ¢
Flower meanings
Liturgical Colors
Throughout the history of the church, flowers have
brought color and symbolism. The symbolism of
flowers is all but lost in modern times.
White: joy and victory
Carnation: betrothal or engagement or marriage
Green: life and hope in the ordinary
Columbine: symbolizes the Holy Spirit
Violet/Purple: repentance; used as a reminder of
sin during Advent and Lent
Daisy: innocence
Hyacinth: prudence and peace of mind
Red: passion of Christ, burning fire of the Holy
Spirit
Rose/Pink: used on the third Sunday of Advent,
Gaudete (Joy) Sunday, and fourth Sunday of Lent
in anticipation of Christmas and Easter.
Holly: foresight
Jasmine (yellow): grace
Ivy: fidelity, marriage
Lily: (white): purity
Preparing the Table
The history of the Altar Guild is found in the
preparation for the house of God for worship;
specifically, preparing the table for communion
and setting the paraments for the liturgical
seasons. At Parish, we are blessed with the
weekly reminder of Christ’s death and
resurrection in partaking of communion. The
Altar Guild desires to make fresh baked bread
for the Lord’s Supper.
With the bread made, the table must now be set.
The linens on the communion tables are called
paraments coming from the Latin parare
meaning to prepare. This year the Altar Guild
with the help of Pastor George will be assemble
new paraments according to the liturgical colors
of each season.
These are two of the many ways we can taste
and see that the Lord, He is good!
Palm: victory
Pansy: remembrance and meditation
Poppy: used in depictions of the Passion of Christ
Sunflower: adoration
*See attached sheet to see the complete list
Current Members
Blair
Jamie
Susan
Hannah
Margaret
Connie
David
Sheila