From Pastor Phil - Reformation Day

459 years ago, on October 31, 1517, Pastor Martin Luther posted 95 statements he felt Christian leaders should discuss on the red doors of the Wittenberg Cathedral. The cathedral door was a community bulletin board where anyone could post things. We know the story of how those 95 Theses were received. (We will post an English translation of the 95 Theses on our red church door on Reformation Sunday, as most of us are not fluent in German or Latin). The reforming of the Church began that day and continues to this day as we seek to explore God’s truth from Scripture and in the world. Luther’s Theses challenged practices and beliefs that held people in bondage and offered life-giving choices.

We, as disciples of Christ in the ELCA Lutheran tradition, seek to continue that legacy of speaking Gospel truth to a world whose practices and beliefs diminish God’s people in all the world. We also know that through Jesus and the Holy Spirit there is more than one way to serve and more than one opinion to give life to a world that sometimes embraces death.

In the 1990s, a popular wristband had these four letters inscribed on it: W.W.J.D. (an abbreviation for “What Would Jesus Do?”). 30+ years later, WWJD may still matter as we seek to discern God’s life-giving questions for our future, as individuals, families, a community of disciples, and a community at large. Let us find strength to make those decisions, as small or large as they may be, with prayer and hope. As our election cycle grows in October for voting by Election Day, let us examine our hearts to make decisions about our voting for that which gives life and builds up our communities.

May the spirit of Reformation hope build in you daily!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Phil