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OUR “WURST” HYMNFEST On All Saints Eve, October 31st 1517, a young monk named Martin Luther posted a long and controversial notice on a church door in the city of Wittenberg. His post “went viral” because of new technology (the printing press), and sparked the movement we know as The Reformation.
How often can you say you've celebrated a 500th Anniversary? 75 people gathered at Trinity on October 29, beginning in Fred Austin Hall with a “Wurst” feast cooked and served by talented people in our congregation: bratwurst sausages, spiced red cabbage etc., with home-made apple strudel and black forest cakes for dessert. The grown-ups could even wash it down with a glass of beer or wine, and there was fruit punch. Martin Luther and his wife Katie would have approved. They always had many guests at their table.
When all had eaten their fill and the dishes were cleared, we moved into the Sanctuary for the Hymnfest. Led by Pastor Brenda, our organist David Cox, and the choir, the music began with a magnificent organ prelude based on Luther's famous hymn tune “Ein feste Burg” and continued with a selection of beautiful hymns written by Luther and still in use in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship book. The program progressed through the centuries with well-known and well-loved hymns from different places and traditions. By the time we got to “My Lord, What a Morning” and “This Little Light of Mine” there was quite a bit of movin’ and shakin’ goin' on! As the evening drew to a close one had to agree with Luther who once said, “As long as we live, there is never enough singing.”
Following the blessing the evening finished with “Ein Feste Burg/ A Mighty Fortress”, singing the first verse in German. The offering gathered will support one of the ELCIC's Reformation challenges, which is to plant 500,000 trees.