October 31 -- Happy Reformation Day!

Our family chooses not to celebrate Halloween like most people, (however, we're not judging you if you do) and this year we did something totally different than in years past. We invited several families over and had a party!

October 31 also happens to be Reformation Day. On this date in 1517, Martin Luther (then a Catholic monk) posted his 95 Theses (or statements) on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This act triggered the movement in world history known as the Reformation.

Some facts of the Reformation: (information borrowed from the blog Mustard Seeds)

• The Reformation was the great rediscovery of the good news of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. At that time, the Roman Catholic Church had become corrupt and was teaching false doctrines like salvation through good works. Some were selling “indulgences.” They said if you purchased these indulgences, you would gain forgiveness for sins.
  
• Although, Reformation Day is more commonly celebrated in the Lutheran Church, Martin Luther is a hero of faith for us, too. Protestant churches that we worship in today are the result of Luther's brave acts to restore the gospel—salvation through Jesus Christ—to its rightful place as the cornerstone doctrine of Christianity.
  
• Luther translated the Bible from Latin to German so the common man could read the Bible himself.
  
• The story of Martin Luther is one of courage, adventure, mystery and triumph. There are many aspects to the story and many theological implications. Martin Luther helped people realize that salvation is only through Jesus Christ:
  
  “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast.”
  Ephesians 2:8-9
  

We hung this poster near the front door.

We realized that we had the perfect time to evangelize the neighborhood; afterall when is another time in the year when so many people ring our doorbell and let us give them anything we want???

So....after some searching online, we found the perfect gospel tract (a short pamphlet that explains the good news about Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sins).


Aly Szymczak came over and helped the kiddos get the tracts ready. We taped a lifesaver to each paper (and we had other candy to hand out as well).

This basket was a HUGE temptation for Savannah.

The smile says a huge, "THANK YOU!"

We even had a craft area for the kids.

LUTHERSROSE DEFINITION:
Luthersrose was the symbol that represented the great Reformer's burden, passion, and convictions during the Reformation. It is rich with meaning that any believer in Christ will admire and treasure:
*THE BLACK CROSS represents the utter sinfulness of man and the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us on the cross for our iniquities.

*THE RED HEART represents the great love of God in the Lord Jesus Christ poured out for us for our salvation. That we are saved is all of grace, all of Christ, not of our works.

*THE FIVE PEDALED WHITE ROSE represents the purity of our new life in Him, the sinlessness of Christ Himself, and the five great truths of our redemption: by faith alone, through grace alone, because of Christ alone, on the Word alone, to the glory of God alone.

*THE DEEP ROYAL BLUE BACKROUND represents the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords-that He is the one true Sovereign of all.

*THE GOLD RING around the emblem represents the eternal life that we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. The crown of life, the crown of righteousness, the crown of exaltation, the crown of glory, and the crown which is imperishable.

And then.....Pin the Theses on Wittenberg Door -- of course!!!

Special thanks to Aly S. for drawing such a beautiful castle!

Listen and watch Larissa and Teresa have more fun than the kids!

We ate pizza, apples with caramel dip, popcorn, veggies and a whole bunch of other junk food. Then we played Apples to Apples and laughed until we cried.