Wheeling Area Lutherans Set To Celebrate History
Wheeling area Lutheran congregations have begun to travel a road that will ultimately take them to the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s nailing a document on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, which called for a discussion on needed reforms in the church.
The so-called “95 Theses” and its posting on the church door on Oct. 31, 1517, is recognized as the event that marks the beginning of the Protestant Church movement and the break-up of the Roman Catholic Church.
“The Reformation Road” will focus on the economic, cultural, and religious realities of 16th century Germany and Europe which led to the proposals for reform and why Luther succeeded where others before him had failed.
The two-year series, which began in February of this year, also will look at what changes have been made since 1517 and what work still needs to be done. Programs and events will be held approximately once every three months until the spring of 2018.
An important part of the two-year celebration will be a 12-day European tour of Luther Country in eastern Germany along with Austria and Prague in the Czech Republic.
The tour is hosted by three of the area pastors and two former pastors who now serve congregations in Ohio.
Those interested in the tour can get a little bit of a preview of the trip at a special program at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 141 Kruger St. in Elm Grove. Refreshments will be served.
The program will be presented by Pastor Tim Spence and his wife Laurie from Grace Lutheran Church and Pastor Paul Schafer from St. Mark Lutheran Church. This Wednesday’s program will focus on the Germany that Luther knew and his trip to Rome.
The program will include scenes from places where Luther lived, studied and worked. Wednesday’s program at St. Mark is open to the public and no reservations or tickets are required.
Information about the 2017 “Reformation Road Trip” to Germany, Austria and Prague will be available Wednesday along with the full schedule of “Reformation Road” events for the remainder of 2016 through 2017.
Those interested in the May 2017 trip but who are unable to attend Wednesday’s program should contact Pastor Tim Spence at Grace Lutheran Church, 304-242-5830.
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