We are studying the Reformation this year. I’m having so much fun with it. 🙂 We are reading about Wycliffe right now, but next month, we plan to read a biography on Luther.
At the end of October, I want to have a Reformation Party and invite a few friends. My goal is to have it be our “narration” for the life of Luther. I’m looking for ideas. Pretty much any ideas….but especially, it would be nice to have a short bio of Luther or the Reformation to read to our guests. Any great picture books?
We are learning “A Mighty Fortress” already and plan to incorporate that. And I’m hoping to have a clear presentation of the 5 Solas with a simple explanation of the Gospel. But I still have several weeks to plan and need some brain storming.
How old are your kids? It’s too bad you weren’t reading Louise Vernon’s book about Erasmus, The Man Who Laid The Egg. You could serve deviled eggs or egg salad and put a sign near it that read “Erasmus laid the egg that Luther hatched.” Then your kids could explain to the guests why people used to say that and what it meant.
I have a picture book in my library called Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed the World by Paul Maier. Not the greatest living text but might be a possibility.
Perhaps you can find an old wooden cutting board from Goodwill and attach a small door knob onto one side of it. Why? Because then you can pretend it is a door and nail a copy of Luther’s 95 statements about the church to it! We did that one year, it went off well! (We used hot glue to attach the knob)
Our family loves Reformation Day! (We are Lutheran.) Here are some traditions we have:
My husband wakes up the kids and has them ”nail’ (tape, but using a hammer) the 95 theses to the door.
We wear the liturgical color red, which reminds us of the work of the Holy Spirit.
We make pancakes then decorate them as we study the symbolism of Luther’s rose. (Sweet potato puree for the gold ring, blueberry jam for the blue, thin banana slices to make the white rose, sliced strawberry for the heart, and some chocolate shavings arranged to make a cross)
We carve pumpkins to show symbols of the church and talk about God’s word being a light and how Luther shared the Bible with so many people. We put the pumpkins on our front steps that evening.
We also read the Luther picture book and sing hymns.
Our church has held a Reformation Octoberfest celebration and the youth made puppets and made a little show about the Reformation. It was a hit! There was also a quiz show with history of the Reformation, etc. One of the members actually shaved his head to the monk tonsure style and dressed up as Luther!