The Liturgical seasons and colors are: Advent—Blue (or purple in the Catholic Church, although in many Lutheran churches three candles of the Advent wreath are purple, and it is used as an accent color), the color of spiritual love, fidelity, anticipation, and hope; Christmas and Easter—White, the color of. . . eternity, symbolizing perfection, celebration, and joy; Epiphany and the season after Pentecost, or Ordinary Time—Green, the color of life, refreshment, and regeneration; Ash Wednesday and Good Friday—Black, the color of mourning, humility and death; Lent and days of supplication and prayer—Purple/Violet, the color of royalty, but also of sorrow and repentance; Maundy Thursday, Easter, Holy Trinity and the Christological festivals of the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Presentation and the Transfiguration, St. Michael and all Angels and festivals of saints who were not martyred—White/Gold; Reformation, Pentecost and the festivals of martyrs, ordinations, church dedications, and congregational anniversaries—Red; The third Sundays in Advent and Lent-Rose, the color of anticipation and joy (optional). At MLC, as in many churches, the third candle of the Advent wreath is rose.

Taken from the Altar Guild Manual, Lutheran Service Book Edition, Lee A. Maxwell

Altar and chancel prepared for Ash Wednesday (altar paraments about to be changed to purple ones hanging on railing; notice that there are no flowers on the altar during Lent)