Purple Cope
Our Lutheran Confessions say that the Lutheran churches will continue to use the vestments
that were in common use in the Church at the time of the Reformation.
This is one of the ways in which the Church of the Reformation shows herself
not to be a new invention,
but rather a restoration to health for the Church of Christ,
which has always been in existence,
ever since the time of the Apostles.
Vestments emphasise the character of Christian worship as a solemn celebration
in which Christ Himself comes to His Church and His Christians
to give Himself to us, with His salvation.
The cope is worn by the leading liturgist at non-Communion services.
It does not as such point to the Pastor’s office and authority
– it could be worn by a layman leading a prayer service.
Therefore, the cope will not be worn on the pulpit,
where the Pastor will instead wear the stole
as an indicator of his authorisation from Christ Himself
to preach and teach on His behalf, and with His authority.
In Antiquity, purple was considered the colour of royalty.
And when Pilate’s soldiers mockingly saluted our Lord Jesus as king,
they clothed Him in a purple robe.
Therefore the colour purple has become the colour of penitence in the Church,
reminding us of how we mock our God and King with our disobedience and unbelief.
It is the colour of the penitential seasons Advent and Lent.
Pastor Tinglund’s purple cope was designed, made, and donated by Pastor Paul Cain of Sheridan, Wyoming,
and financed through Thrivent’s Action Teams program.