+Because it is in the church when I can each week hear God’s Word preached and taught and receive His body and blood at the Lord’s table.
 
+Because it is in the church where I was baptized, confirmed, married and will someday have my funeral.
 
+Because it is in the church where I’m blessed to have fellowship with fellow believers.
 
+Because it is in the church where I have the opportunity to use my time and abilities to serve the Lord.

+On the heels of this change in his understanding – that God gives us righteousness – came others too!
 
+Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ and His merits, not our own!
 
+Faith for Luther, no longer consisted of asserting to the Church’s teachings, but of trusting the promises of God in and through Christ’s sacrifice.
 
+What followed was not just an explosion, but more like a long but powerful chain reaction.
 
+It started on All Saint’s Eve, October 31, 1517, when Luther formally protested church action and teaching by posting 95 Theses for debate on the Wittenberg Church front door.
 

+The young Luther could not live by faith because he was not righteous-and he knew it

+The critical turn in Luther’s life came when Staupitz (his Supervisor) ordered him to obtain his doctorate and become a professor of the Bible at Wittenberg University

+There, a revolution in his theological thinking occurred in his lecture hall and study from
1513-1519

+Who could be righteous? Luther came to teach increasingly that God gives us righteousness!
.

+that we have been collecting loose change for the local Salvation Army….our goal is to stuff our pumpkin full!
 
+that we celebrate Thanksgiving annually with a school-wide Thanksgiving Feast.  This year we will be sharing a Thanksgiving Blessing Mix with everyone.  
 
+that was have annual programs on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.  We invite all to
 attend – see the online calendar for dates and times.
 
+ each year at Christmas, we give a child in each age-level class a crèche scene to be
 displayed in their home.

+Upon his return from a home visit, as Luther fought his way through a severe thunderstorm, a bolt of lightning struck the ground near him
+”Help me, St. Anne” the frightened Luther screamed, hoping to escape the lightning. “I will become a monk!”
+In July, 1505, as required on entering monastic life, Luther gave away all his possessions, even his prized book
+By all evidence, Luther was extraordinarily successful as an observant Augustinian, just as he had been a student
+He did not simply engage in prayer, fasts and ascetic practices (including going without sleep, enduring bone-chilling cold, and flagellating (whipping) himself, he pursued them earnestly

 

+We are celebrating 500 years of the Reformation?
+Most scholars agree that the medieval church was in dire need of reform?
+Could complete schism have been avoided?
+Martin Luther and his fellow reformers stripped away the veil obscuring the good news of
            grace through Christ alone?
+The Reformation that followed came at a high price: decades of warfare, political turmoil,
            and social upheaval?
                       
How should we think about our divisions today in light of Jesus’ passionate prayer that his followers be “one”?

+Did you know that next year we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation?
+Did you know that five hundred years ago an obscure German monk published 95 theses (theological points for debate) and posted them on the community church door in Wittenberg?
+Did you know that the Lutheran Church traces its beginning roots back to this event?
+Did you know that the obscure German monk was named Martin Luther?
+And did you know that act by Luther unwittingly set off a revolution that continues to
shape the church and the world to this very day?!?