Pastor’s Page

When September rolls around I feel like I’m entering a new season.  As far as the church year goes, we are still in the season of Pentecost until December.  Looking at the calendar, Fall doesn’t start until September 22^nd and daylight savings time is way off on November 5^th.  I guess we could call this the school season, or education time.

This year we might add an additional season—that of Reformation.  While we traditionally celebrate Reformation Sunday on the last Sunday in October (which we celebrate with Germanfest) this year is the 500 Year Anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Church.

We will begin our celebration on Rally Sunday, September 10^th, with an exciting worship service with Laurie Skow-Anderson preaching. She is Assistant to Bishop Hoyme in our Synod Office.  The title of her sermon is “Rockin’ the Reformation.”  Sounds interesting.  Following worship, we will meet in the Family Center to celebrate and learn more about Martin Luther and the Reformation which so profoundly shapes our faith as Lutherans.

Our celebration will not end there.  In other words, rather than merely marking a past historical event and person important, this celebration enables us as Lutherans both to give thanks for our heritage and to look forward to the future.  And it all begins with worship.  The prefix “re” suggests repetition.  Again, and again, we return to God’s grace and mercy poured on us in baptism. Sunday after Sunday we gather as the people of God and then depart for service in Christ’s name.

Watch for opportunities to learn more about our Lutheran Heritage and Martin Luther’s work of reform throughout the coming year. Check our library for books of interest on Martin and Katie Luther as well as the Reformation period.