Good Friday afternoon Church Requel!
Did you know that this week we celebrate a birthday? And not just any birthday, but a 500th birthday? (That would be the quincentennial birthday - I just looked it up!) That one doesn't come around all too often, that's for sure. So do you know what I'm talking about? Do you know what happened 500 years ago on October 31, 1517? You should! Did you know that we literally have that particular date engraved in large block letters at Church Requel? That you quite literally walk beside it every single Sunday morning?
October 31, 1517 is the date that Martin Luther's 95 thesis was nailed to the Wittenberg Church doors - and commonly accepted as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. I'm guessing that most of us don't know too much about those beginnings. Not sure, you say? Let me ask you this. If you consider yourself a Protestant, (you do attend a Protestant church, after all) do you know what you are protesting?
We will take a break from our study of Luke's Gospel this Sunday morning to talk about this very special time in our history. We worship in a Lutheran church building. There are paintings of Martin Luther in several places in our church. (Do you know how many?)
Over my vacation I very much enjoyed reading the latest biography of Luther and, as a result, I'm looking forward to telling you some special stories to commemorate the quincentennial. (One just does not get the chance to use that word very often.) Along the way I'll talk about five distinctions that make us Protestants - you should know these. These five "solas" are what we stand for.
This will also be the fifth Sunday in the month. That only happens 4 times a year and Brandi always plans something special for our worship on the 5th Sundays. This month she has asked a very special person to sing with her and help lead the worship. I think I'll keep some secrets - you'll have to come and see - or at the very least, watch LIVE online.
This will also be a special Sunday morning because our children are all working on their Super Christmas program on December 17th. They each have a super part in the super play and are looking forward to worshiping the true Super Hero with all of you! The more often they can make it to church on Sunday mornings, the better for them. Parents, thank you for helping your child with his or her super costume!
Looking forward to seeing all of you Sunday morning at 11am! Keep praying! Remain faithful! Love you, Pastor Mark