Happy Reformation Day

20 home schooled kids at the Sem took part in our first Reformation Day play called "Light in the Darkness of Halloween". Lula wrote a script that covered key scenes from the sale of indulgences to Luther's translation of the New Testament into German and tried to match our actors' talents and abilities. We rehearsed diligently and presented the play on Reformation day on the steps leading to our campus chapel. We had a great audience - visitors and seminary community members that just had attended the Divine Service. They participated wonderfully and cheered Martin on when he nailed his theses to the real chapel door. (Since this door is made out of bronze, sticky putty was needed). Tetzel and his demon helpers were chased away successfully and Katharina and Martin were united in marriage.
The children really learned a lot about some key events of the Reformation and had a great time. (They best remember Tetzel's line to Martin "You drunken little German monk. This will cost your dearly!") We also handed out recommendations and ideas for activities to celebrate Reformation Day.
In the evening we had a great time touring the campus and Luther Tower in the dark, roasting marshmallows, eating a 'Diet of Worms' cake and telling jokes using the Karaoke machine. This will certainly become a family tradition. Not at the Sem of course....

Of Pumpkins and People

Taking a Stand for Life

Taking a Stand for Life
By Carlotta (Printed in the Seminary newspaper "Around the Tower", November Edition)

Are you ready for some really scary numbers? Every year there are approximately 1.37 million abortions in the United States. To give you an idea of how huge that number is, I’ll give you the death toll for all of World War II (for the United States), which was 418,500. But these are not just numbers. They represent hearts that have stopped beating way too early. Did you know that abortion is the most common surgical procedure in America? It is certainly nothing to be proud of. It is one of the cruelest things that anybody could do.
On Sunday, October 7, 2007, 35 people, including 18 kids, came together for a Life Chain event. We were standing at the side of Clayton Road, holding up signs, and silently praying for an end to abortion. The signs read “Abortion Kills Children”, “Jesus Heals and Forgives”, “Abortion Hurts Women”, and “Pray to End Abortion”.
You are probably asking, “What is Life Chain?” Louis Hintz, age 10, provided this answer: “Life Chain is an organization that helps stop abortion.” Life Chain organizes silent and prayerful public gatherings against abortion in the U.S. and in Canada as well. I also asked Louis if he thought it was good for kids to attend the gathering. His reply was, “Yes. I think it was good for kids to attend because abortion kills children and when we’re there, it shows [the people driving by] how cute we are.”
While we were standing, we heard quite a few honking cars, some thumbs up, some thumbs down. One lady drove past two times, honking, and sticking up her middle finger.
Jeremiah Tiews, age 7, said, ”I think that it was good for them [the kids] to be at the gathering because the people driving by were probably shocked that kids know what they’re doing to the little babies.” He also said that his favorite thing was climbing up on the Concordia Seminary (now Washington University) wall, holding up the signs for all to see.
Mariam Tiews, age 4, told me that “My favorite thing was the brownie and cookie table afterwards.”
I think that it was really good to set aside an hour of our time and pray specifically for this tragedy of abortion that is happening all over the world. In our hurried life style, we very often don’t get to take the time to reflect on it.
We sincerely hope that you will join us at the next Life Chain event to help save America’s babies.
Plans are being made for a “Round-table” discussion in late November or early December. For more information check http://nationallifechain.org//

German Days at the Sem

Chris had the pleasure of helping to host some of our visitors from Germany that spoke during the interesting "German Days at the Sem". Is Germany still Christian, or Post- or maybe Pre-Christian? Is it becoming an Islamic Republic? Has Luther a future in Germany?

One of the speakers couldn't make it due to health issues, so Chris presented his talk( The Corporate World: Germany's Promising Mission Field?). What a coincidence (or was it planned?) that Chris had been asked before to translate this very talk into English.

All contributions are available on iTunes University.

• Start iTunes
• Go to iTunes Store
• Select iTunes University
• Select Concordia Seminary
• Click on "German Days 2007"