Red
Letter Days
In a previous edition of this newsletter, our
senior warden, Les Alvis, wrote that August 12th would be a “red letter day”
for All Saints’. Indeed it was, and the ringing of the newly-dedicated bells
at the conclusion of the service added an exclamation point! As I left
church afterwards, I found myself thinking about the term “red letter day,”
wondering about its origin. When I arrived home, I was surprised to hear
Susan use the term before I even had a chance to mention it: she said they
had had a red letter day at Christ the King Lutheran Church. I told her that
I had just been thinking about red letter days myself. Then I found and
showed her the leather-bound volume, “My Pastoral Record,” which my father
had kept. Within it he had listed (among many other things) the date, text,
title and location for every sermon he had preached. There were 1951 entries
for sermons, each recorded on a single line, in black or blue ink: all
except one. This entry required three lines, was written in red ink, and was
not a sermon Dad had preached, but one he noted I had preached in the parish
where he was pastor. The entry gave the usual details plus extra
information: “Both sets of grandparents present: a real red letter day for
us!” I was a 24-year-old Middler (2nd year seminarian) at the time.
The expression “red letter day” actually has roots in the church. It comes
from the long-established practice of using red ink to indicate holy days in
ecclesiastical calendars. William Caxton, the first English printer,
mentioned the custom in 1490: “We wryte yet in oure kalenders the hyghe
festes with rede lettres…” In 1549, the first Book of Common Prayer included
a calendar with holy days marked in red ink.
Whatever the occasion, it is always wonderful to celebrate red letter days,
especially in the church. We have another big one to look forward to at All
Saints’ when we dedicate our new building Wednesday evening, October 10th.
Bishops Gray and Johnston (of the Dioceses of Mississippi and Virginia,
respectively) will both be present to share our joy. You might want to
circle that date on your calendar now – in red!
Michael+
