As Presbyterians in the U.S. prepare to celebrate Reformation Sunday on the last Sunday of October along with millions of other Reformed church members across the globe, the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) is once again offering a fascinating glimpse into the key events and figures of the Protestant Reformation.
Author and historian the Rev. Dr. Gary Neal Hansen, the author of the 2012 book “Kneeling with Giants: Learning to Pray with History’s Best Teachers,” used two hour-long keynote slots during The Immersion conference Wednesday in part to offer attendees “a well-rounded diet of prayer.”
On Reformation Sunday, observed the last Sunday in October, Presbyterians are reminded of their Reformed heritage, hearing once again how in 1517 Martin Luther nailed to the cathedral door in Wittenberg, Germany, his Ninety-five Theses. Some pastors might use this Sunday, which is Oct. 30 this year, to reenact Luther’s bold move, while others might choose to open worship with Luther’s majestic “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” Still others will weave in the Reformation mantra “reformed and always reforming” into the sermon, prayers or benediction. Last fall, though, the Rev. Carol Holbrook Prickett took the celebration of Reformation Sunday a step further. The pastor of Crescent Springs Presbyterian Church in Crescent Springs, Kentucky, created a service to educate today’s “reformers” of the legacy of following a God who is always creating something new.
Editor’s note: Recently, the Presbyterian Association of Musicians connected with 2021 Worship & Music Conference Adult Choral Director G. Phillip Shoultz, III for an exclusive interview. PAM discussed his reflections on the June conference, the impact of singing spirituals, our shared heritage in Christ and the future of music in worship.
At the Presbyterians Association of Musicians’ Town Hall Forum on Thursday, the Rev. Dr. Ronald P. Byars spoke passionately about the faith of the church as he addressed the question, “Why bother with the Book of Common Worship?”
This year, as Presbyterians celebrate the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, the Presbyterian Historical Society has produced resources for congregations for the October 29 observance.
The resources include a bulletin insert in various sizes and formats, and an advertisement for church newsletters. Download the bulletin insert (PDF): Full Page | Half Page (letter) | Half page (legal). Download a Reformation Sunday advertisement for your church newsletter: JPEG | PDF.
Kirk in the Hills. Kirk of Kildaire. What’s in a name?
Plenty, it would seem, for Presbyterians.
Celebrations linked to the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s call for reform of the Christian church are an opportunity to show the importance and meaning of the Protestant Reformation to society today, says a senior German church official.
Japan’s classic Noh theater is meeting the Protestant Reformation as a Japanese Lutheran scholar is developing a play featuring the 16th-century German reformer Martin Luther.
Eight hundred colorful miniature figures of the 16th-century Protestant Reformer Martin Luther on display on the central market square of Wittenberg, where he lived and worked, are causing offense.