Yay! It’s October! As we go down the aisles of the stores we are filled with Halloween decorations, pumpkin spiced everything, and costumes for every age. When the secular world thinks of October, many think of Halloween.
Yet, as Lutherans, we know that October leads us to a big holiday in the church year. The Reformation. Now, maybe you know what that is and maybe you’ve never heard of it. For those of us that didn’t know what that was until later in life, the Reformation is the day Martin Luther decided to nail the 95 Theses on the Catholic Church door. Fun fact: The word theses is a fancy way to say sentences. Martin Luther wrote 95 sentences confronting the Catholic Church on how they were selling indulgences to get people to Heaven. Martin reminded the church that our salvation doesn’t come from money given, but from the death and resurrection of Jesus. I encourage you to dive deeper into the Reformation and learn for yourself the importance of this day.
Now, how can we incorporate Reformation celebrations into our households? How can we share the good news with our families? What about our little ones that maybe don’t fully comprehend what exactly saved by grace means?
Friend, these are a few suggestions. Disclaimer: This is what works for my family. You may have something that you do that works well. You may look at these and go, “Nope. Not today.” That’s okay, too. This is to get your brain moving and get you thinking of ways to incorporate this church holiday. All in all, give yourself grace. You’re doing great!
These suggestions can be incorporated into your bedtime routines, your devotional time, or jamming on the way to school/work. Yes! We can “jam” to Mighty Fortress. HAHA!
Suggestions:
Read books about the Reformation:
- Reformation ABCs by: Stephen J. Nichols
- Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed The World by: Paul L Maier Ph.D.
- Did Martin Luther go on A Diet of Worms? By: Thuy Vu
Fill out coloring sheets about the Reformation
- Check out Pinterest or Amazon
Hosting a “Marty Party”
- You can celebrate with some gummy worms, a fun book, “nailing” the 95 Theses to the door, and having a contest of throwing pennies.
- My first grade students LOVE this party. It’s a great tangible way to talk about the Reformation
Singing Hymns in the car or playing them in the house.
- Spotify and Apple Music have great playlists.
- Check out Concordia Publishing House, too.
All of these suggestions are small ways we can incorporate the celebration of the Reformation and the reminder that we are not saved by what we do, but by what Jesus has done for us. All in all, just having those small conversations about that one idea right there can be more than enough.
Friend, may we lead with grace this October. May we be a reminder to ourselves, our families, and others around us that there is something incredible to celebrate besides Halloween. We have the good news of the Gospel. There are still churches today that believe it is through our works that we are saved. What a joyous occasion that we can share the work that Jesus has done for us.
We are Saved by Grace! Thanks Be To God!
