A template has been designed for use on the Bibles we are offering on the Reformation Tours. It features the crest of the (now defunct) Wittenberg University where Martin Luther lectured, plus the 'Just By Faith' Stamp that we are using on our Reformation literature. Schools are given the option of signing up to this Bible scheme and sending through a list of those who wish to have a copy of God's Word. We are delighted that several people have stepped forward to help with sponsoring this scheme. If you would like to sponsor some Bibles for schools (each Bible costs us £3.20), then please be in touch. Every Bible counts!
1483 November 10: A son is born to Hans and Margerethe Luther (also called Luder) in Lutherstadt Eisleben; he is baptized "Martin" on November 11 in the Church of St Peter and St Paul. 1484 The family moves to the village of Mansfeld-Lutherstadt. 1498 Martin Luther starts school in Eisenach. 1501 Luther goes to study law at the University of Erfurt. 1505 Caught in a terrible storm in Stotternheim (near Erfurt), Luther vows to become a monk if St. Anne saves him. Surviving the storm, he gives up his career as a lawyer and joins the Augustinian order at the monastery in Erfurt. 1507 Luther celebrates his first mass on May 2. 1508 Luther arrives in Lutherstadt Wittenberg to lecture and study at
Music was crucial to Luther's Reformation momentum, and encouraged radical singers long after his death. Some have opined that his popular musical style is immediately comparable with some of the most well-known protest movements of the modern age. Before 1517, the Catholic Church controlled most religious music in Europe. Lay participation was minimal. In church, most people only heard austere plain chant, sung in Latin by a choir. Passion plays – rowdy dramas describing biblical stories – introduced religious ideas to people in their own languages. But by the 16th Century, these plays had often slumped into an excuse for slapstick humour. And anyway, vernacular music rarely crossed the chu
When School groups visit the Reformation Room we ask their teacher to fill in a feedback form, giving an evaluation of the tour and offering suggestions for improvements. To date these responses have been most encouraging. One teacher suggested that if we were able to provide an additional Worksheet that they could take back to school with them, this would help in reinforcing the lessons learned during the tour. As you can imagine, we were delighted with this idea – and immediately put this worksheet into planning and production. The finished item is featured on this page.
After some specialist dress fittings – and multiple hours spent by Majorie in the sewing shop – Alana is now perfectly kitted out to represent Luther's wife, Katherine von Bora, on the Reformation Tours.
"Behind each word in Martin Luther’s collection of writings was the heart of a pastor and the soul of a man who sought comfort in Christ’s peace and forgiveness above all else. As he wrestled with matters of faith in preaching, studying, defending, and reflecting on Scripture, Luther created a treasure chest for Christians in years to come." Rev. Dr. C. F. W. Walther found great companionship in the works of his brother in Christ. In Walther’s 1887 paper titled “The Fruitful Reading of the Writings of Luther,” he offered insight for how to approach a basic reading of the prolific reformer’s works. His thoughts are a result of the deep experiences he had with Luther’s words throughout his lif
The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg around 60 years earlier meant that copies of the Martin Luther's 95 Theses had circulated throughout Europe in a matter of months. Luther’s writings captured the zeitgeist for reform and drew together disparate groups of dissenting believers who were also questioning the authority of a morally and spiritually corrupt Church. When Luther translated the Bible into German (New Testament in 1522, Old Testament by 1534), Hans Lufft was on hand as the printer in Wittenberg to produce multiple copies of the new Bible on his Gutenberg Press. As a valuable addition to our 'Print Workshop' in the 'Just By Faith Alone' Tour at Martyrs, Phil Martin has re
I received a most encouraging call from printer Mr Joe Costley on Saturday in which he made me an offer I couldn't possibly refuse: "I've got some space on a print run which means I'll be able to print off 5000 A6 adverts for the Reformation Room. They'll be free to you." This supplies a current need and is a real answer to prayer. Our project will be considerably bolstered by having 2500 copies of an advertising leaflet for schools, colleges, etc., and a further 2500 invitations to our first Open Day on Saturday, 10 June 2017, will now receive appropriate publicity due to the circulate of these items. As always, many thanks Joe!
The lines – When the light first dawned on my spirit, And my soul was truly blest – are familiar to those who sing, 'Let Me Tell The Old, Old Story,' a hymn penned by Elisha Hoffman (1839-1929). As far as the German Reformer Martin Luther was concerned, this "light first dawned" on his spirit as a result of coming to understand the proper meaning of Romans 1:17: "The just [righteous] shall live by faith." As a monk in the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt, Luther was extraordinarily diligent. He plunged into prayer, fasting, and ascetic practices – going without sleep, enduring bone-chilling cold without a blanket, and flagellating himself. As he later commented, "If anyone could have earned
This is not an attempt to justify the kind of hoarding of materials that transforms a home into an obstacle course. However, to add some detail to the 28mm model, 'Luther's Life in 10 Scenes,' I have been happy to dip into a few boxes of old 'Subbuteo scrap' – the kind of broken items that should have been helped into the bin many years ago, but which have now assumed a useful function. Some broken Goalposts, some scattered fence posts and a few lollipop sticks have been utilised in producing a little bridge for the Pleissenberg Castle (Leipzig) scene. Memo to self: don't tip out everything when following your plan to tidy up the garage this summer! Stage #1: Cut Crossbars, etc., of Goalnets
Positive feedback from the 'Just By Faith Alone' Tour is always welcome. As is a comment or two on areas where we should be striving to improve. This morning's tour by a South Belfast school elicited these responses from the teacher: • Rate the Tour: 10/10 • Best Part: Tour Guide • Any Changes? No, very engaging! • Improvement? No, brilliant morning, thanks! • Another Group? Yes! Please keep praying that the tours will not only be educationally valuable but spiritually challenging and enriching.
Rev. Gordon Dane, Crossgar Free Presbyterian Church, Northern Ireland, has quietly gone about the business of assembling a collection of Reformation memorabilia. To date, this includes a wide range of postage stamps, First Day Covers, coins and medallions. Two of the First Day Covers are shown on this post – one from Bulgaria; the other arriving in England from South Africa.
A group of young people from the Reach in Martyrs visited the Reformation Rooms last evening – yet another opportunity to present the Gospel of Christ: the just shall live by faith alone!
Work continues on the 28mm model that will depict 10 major scenes in Luther's life and ministry (including the seminal moment when he nailed the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church, Wittenberg, and his appearance at the Diet of Worms in 1521). While most of the figures have been painted, plenty of work is needed to prepare the base for each of the scenes. The photos prove that work has begun on this.
Some further pictures from the Reformation Rooms tour with the students of the Whitefield College of the Bible ... [ A big thank you to Aaron Fitzsimons who captured these moments on camera ].
After conducting a School Tour in Martyrs yesterday, Phil Hartin received a phone call from Hugh Martin from the Iron Hall, asking if he would be able to bring a friend for a quick look at our Reformation Room. The friend turned out to be Roger Carswell, a Leeds-based evangelist, who has recently written a number of Gospel tracts on the subject of Luther's message. By all accounts, both men were thoroughly impressed with the Exhibition and Tour; Hugh plans to return for a couple of organised tours with some local groups.
Our first public school from South Belfast came along to the Just By Faith Alone Tour this morning. Our church buses were sent out to collect them, plus another vehicle for additional transport. In all 34 pupils and teachers were in attendance. This Tour was most useful to help us calibrate the timings that are necessary to keep in mind for the School Tours: - Transport time, including getting in and out of buses: 30 minutes - Tour: 1 hour 15 minutes (including the Luther / Reformation Story, the 11-minute DVD all the interactive elements, and the presentation of Bibles) - Food: 15 minutes - Bus home: 30 minutes - Total time (from start to finish): 2 hours 30 minutes (picked up at school at
Instead of the usual Historical Theology lecture this morning, the students of the Whitefield College of the Bible took the 'Just By Faith Alone' Tour at the Martyrs. Once again, the tour was well received, with many of the students happy to join in with all the interactive elements. One of the students paid an ultimate compliment later when he remarked that this Luther Tour (in Belfast) was actually more informative than the tour he had recently been on in Germany when he visited many of the key Luther sites.
