For this Sunday, Pastor Jeff says: Here’s a “yes” or “no” question to think about as we approach Sunday. Is following the dictates of one’s conscience the only way to steer one’s life with integrity? “Yes” or “No.”

And as we think about our personal response …

This year is the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation. For the back story on that there is a very good production by PBS which you can view by clicking here. It’s called Reluctant Revolutionary because when Luther tacked his list of complaints on the cathedral door it was not to spark a schism in the church but to help it get back on track.

Every year on Reformation Sunday (last Sunday in October) we sing “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” (“Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott”) Luther’s seminal work which has been dubbed the Battle Hymn of the Reformation. Click here for the familiar tune and click here for the original metric. Hear the rhythmic difference?

Other Luther hymns include
“Ah, Dearest Jesus”
“Savior of the Nations, Come”
“To Shepherds as They Watched by Night”

Luther championed and introduced congregational singing as a way for the average person to better understand scripture and he’s considered the “father” of hymn singing as we know it now.

 Also this Sunday … yes, there’s more! … we welcome back guest flutist Danelle Sims who splits her time between working at the Norman Williams Library in Woodstock, apprenticing with Deirdre Donnelly in Quechee, and making music and art wherever she can. She’ll be playing a Handel duet with John which is going to be SUPERB.