The Just Shall Live by Faith: Reformation Night

Somewhere along the way I may have mentioned that a friend and I are planning our church's family nights. Our goal is to provide a place where whole families can spend time with other families without being separated into childcare, sunday school, small groups, etc. Some months we have games and outdoor activities. Last week we planned a Reformation night (Reformation day was Nov. 1 and is connected to Halloween). Booth type games were set up in our church fellowship hall and foyer and represented events of Martin Luther's life and work. Each family went from booth to booth reading through a booklet and working together. Here are just a few examples of how our night looked.

Each families would feel the shapes of the "relics" and try to guess what they were. Here's an example of what was inside the bags: a small bowl, scroll, basket, bag of coins and hammer. What made them relics? The bowl was used by Pilate when he washed his hands of Jesus blood. Jesus read the scroll in the temple when he was 12. Judas had the coins and the hammer, of course, was used at the cross.

*Relics had some sort of spiritual connection and could be viewed in order to be granted an indulgence. A practice that particularly annoyed Luther.* Do you remember relics from the Germany days? The White Cathedral in Bamberg had a pope's finger.

Our obstacle course was Luther's pilgrimage to Rome.

How about a relay where each family member kisses each stair and recites, "the just shall live by faith". The fastest time earns you an extra indulgence. *During Luther's Pilgrimage to Rome, he visited the chapel Sancta Santorum. The stairs were supposed to have been the same that Christ climbed during his trial in front of Pontius Pilate. Devoted christians of the middle ages could buy an indulgence in order to ascend the stairs. Kissing each step and praying could erase 50 years of purgatory for you or one you love for each step.*

The Wittenburg Door! The door may be the most well-known of the Reformation events. *Luther nailed his 95 theses or debating points to the door inciting the wrath of Rome. These theses were quickly translated into German (by way of the new printing press) and seeds of the Reformation were planted. The corruption of the Church could now be challenged by the common man.*

We picked our favorite theses and nailed them to the door.

Papal bulls were wadded and thrown into the bonfire. Each bull that reached the fire earned you an indulgence. *A papal bull was an official document from the pope. The one that Luther received gave him sixty days to recant his heretical statements or be excommunicated.*

When we were at Home Depot purchasing various parts for the night, Emma told the salesman that we were going to have a book burning. Yikes. I was sure not to tell him which church we attended..

*Martin and Katie Luther were given an old convent to live in during their time in Wittenburg. They fished for food in the pond in order to feed the many visitors and students that were always present in the Luther home.* Our fish had Reformation trivia on them.

Cute medieval costumes made the atmosphere just right.

The Indulgence Store was where candy could be purchased with the indulgences they had earned throughout the evening. * An indulgence was a special provision that could be purchased in exchange for the number of years a soul spent in purgatory. The buying and selling of indulgences by the church was one of Luther's main complaints of the the Church.*

During the weeks before this event, I read numerous books and articles about the Reformation. I was amazed to really understand the movement of the church throughout time and come to love the individuals involved. And... I was so sad that we had lived for five years right in the middle of the circle of events and missed out on the opportunity to experience them.