WELS districts plan Reformation 500 celebrations
Lutherans around the world are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation this year. Several WELS districts are planning their own celebrations.
“This 500th celebration is a great opportunity to teach everyone, but especially our children, about the blessings that came out of the Reformation,” says Kerry Kronebusch.
Kronebusch is coordinating a Reformation Day for the Nebraska District on Oct. 21 at Nebraska Lutheran High School, Waco, Neb. The centerpiece of the day will be a Reformation Walk, which will include 10 stations where visitors will learn about the Reformation.
The Nebraska District is also holding a Reformation 500 worship service on Oct. 29 in Lincoln, Neb.
The Western Wisconsin District is hosting a “sacred commemorative event at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison, Wis., on Oct. 29,” says Richard Lehmann, co-chairman of this Reformation 500 celebration. “This will include a festival worship service that will feature Scripture readings in Spanish, German, and English—the languages of worship in our district. A district mass choir, a teen choir, and a children’s choir are being planned. We really want it to be a district celebration with district members performing and district members uplifted in the audiences.”
Following the festival service, a hymn-sing will be led by the Christian band Koiné.
The Dakota-Montana District is holding a worship service for those in the eastern part of the district on Oct. 25 in Watertown, S.D., and in the western part of the district on Nov. 4 in Roscoe, S.D. The Great Plains Lutheran High School choir will sing at both services.
On Oct. 28, the Northern Wisconsin District is hosting a Reformation celebration at the Performing Arts Center in Appleton, Wis. The Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Choir will participate during the worship service.
The Arizona-California District is planning a Reformation celebration at its joint pastor and teacher conference on Nov. 2 and 3. Some activities, such as the festival worship service on the morning of Nov. 2, will be open to the public.
The Michigan District is hosting a worship service at St. Paul, Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 4, and at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Mich., on Nov. 5. Huron Valley Lutheran High School, Westland, Mich., is serving as the site for Luther Fest 500, an Octoberfest celebration, on Oct. 28.
For more details about these events and to find other Reformation 500 celebrations, visit wels.net/reformation500/reformation-events.
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Volume 104, Number 5
Issue: May 2017
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