It’s Friday and Sunday’s Comin’!
Reformation Day is Sunday! Yes, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the door of Wittenburg Cathedral, setting off the Protestant Reformation.
Of course, there was a lot of momentum already and many different streams of reformation occurred, but Luther’s moment was a big moment.
As United Methodists we’re in a different stream of Reformation history, of course. John Wesley was an Anglican priest with Reformed roots. His own conversion took place as he listened to someone read Luther’s Preface to the Romans.
Wesley set off an amazing renewal movement, too, when he ordained two Methodist leaders to come to America after the Revolution to preach and serve the church, Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury (yes, that’s where Cokesbury Bookstore gets its name). At the time it was shocking for a random Anglican clergyman to ordain someone but John Wesley saw an extraordinary need for ministers to be available to the growing and kind of wild young country.
Re-formation and renewal are powerful movements. It is easy to become complacent and focused on ourselves when the life and teachings of Jesus call us outside of ourselves to share his love, to offer forgiveness of sins and to inspire others with confidence in the Gospel.
Let us seek renewal and be open to God’s Spirit!
Happy Reformation Day!
Blessings,
Pastor Mary
