Reformation Celebration - 5

We also played a couple of games we got from the "Minute to Win It" game show.  The first set of pics are of those playing the game where you have to move the bottom cup all the way up to the top and then back to the bottom by taking the cup from the top and moving it to the bottom, using alternate hands.  Of all the people who tried this, the only one who actually did it in under a minute was Sarah.  When you watch this on TV, it looks so easy, but it's not nearly as easy as it looks.  It was lots of fun watching people try to do this.  The second set of pics are of those who played the game where each person gets his/her own full box of tissues and must remove all 160 tissues from the box one at a time without inserting any fingers into the slot.  This game's a lot easier to manage, as four or five people actually accomplished it in under a minute.

Marlene and Paige

Dave and Morgan

Sarah and Aaron

Samantha and Paige

Tyrel and Morgan

Sierra and Terry

After this game, a tissue fighting contest broke out - and the kids were not the one's who started it! :)  That's Sharyn (a.k.a. Trixie) getting ready to whip a mega handful of tissues at someone; I think I'll save this pick and whip it out whenever I hear her, in her role as Chairperson of our Board of Christian Education, complain about our children's behavior! :) 

Reformation Celebration - 4

During our celebration, we played lots of fun games and had several contests for prizes.  One of the contests we had was the "Diet of Worms" Eating Contest.  We had 4 1/2 brave kids compete (not that little Benjamin is a 1/2 kid, but you mean what I know).  Their challenge was to be the first one to eat all twelve sour, gummy worms.  They were not allowed to use their hands, which made it all the more fun to watch, as those gummy worms were pretty sticky and the kids would have to separate them using their mouths.  Lots of fun! :)

The brave contestants getting ready

And, they're off . . .

At this point, they're wondering if they should have entered this contest

Gotta love Morgan's expression in this one - those worms is sour! :)

Aaron, consuming his last worm

Aaron was the first to finish his worms and won the contest - I'm wondering if I should be proud of that or not; I'm conflicted a bit :)

Reformation Celebration - 3

The food was delicious.  We had brats and hot dogs, a couple different kinds of German potato salad, Annie's special beans, Carolyn's carrot concoction, sauerkraut, and a number of delicious desserts (didn't get any pics of the desserts, though).  Plus, many brought in their own "Lutheran" beverages (no, not coffee; the other kind of "Lutheran" beverage).

Reformation Celebration - 2

To kick off our Reformation Celebration, we re-enacted Luther's burning of the Papal Bull, issued by Pope Leo X, excommunicating Luther from the Roman Catholic Church.  Everyone was given a copy of the title page of that Papal Bull and, after I briefly explained the significance of this event, invited to throw their copies into the fire.  Here are some pics:

Reformation Celebration - 1

This year, we decided to have a Reformation Celebration following the Festival of Reformation Day Divine Service.  Here are some pics of the preparation done on Saturday for the celebration:

Yours truly made my special brats for the party - never made so many at once, but they turned out yummy as ever!

Copies of the Papal Bull (to be burned, of course) and booklets of Luther's 95 Theses

Prize table

Wouldn't be Reformation Day without the 95 Theses posted on the Church door! :)

Festival of Reformation Day

What a beautiful Divine Service yesterday!  Mary played wonderfully, the choir sang splendidly, and our Sunday School children belted out "Children of the Heavenly Father."  But, most importantly, our gracious and merciful Lord showed up with His Divine Gifts, as He always does.  The Festival of Reformation Day is always one of my favorite Services each year.  It's jam-packed with solid hymns, all pointing to Jesus and the salvation He's won for us.  It's one of those Services that runs long (almost an hour and a half yesterday), but no one really notices.  We sang all ten stanzas of both "Salvation Unto Us Has Come" and "Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice," two hymns that tell you everything you need to know about Christianity, along with "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (of course!), and "Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word" (with text I wrote this year - see below).  We also replaced several elements of the liturgy with hymns, following LSB 5, which is based on Luther's Deutsche Messe.  Always love hearing the choir sing "Isaiah, Mighty Seer" (gives me goosebumps every time!).  Just a beautiful Service all around - can't wait till next year!

Here's the text I wrote for "Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word."  We used this as the Processional Hymn yesterday, the choir and congregation singing alternate stanzas.  Kinda neat to hear a hymn you wrote being sung. :) 

"Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word"

(Text:  Rev. Thomas C. Messer; Tune:  Erhault Uns Herr - Reformation Day 2010)  

Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word;

Lead us to where it can be heard:

Within Your Holy Church that we

May hear how Christ has set us free.

We know that we are sinners sure,

And of ourselves we have no cure;

Only the Blood of Jesus will

Bring health to we who are so ill.

Baptized into Christ's death are we;

Thus, from us does the devil flee;

Set free from him and worldly strife,

In Jesus Christ we have new life.

Now clothed in Jesus' righteousness,

Our Father does not see the mess

Our sins make of our lives each day,

But only Jesus' perfect way.

And now Lord do You bid us, "Come!"

Into Your Holy House, our home,

That our Baptismal gowns You may

Cleanse with Your Blood again today.

Let us come to this Holy Feast,

From first to last, from great to least,

To sup' on His Body and Blood,

Which is for us the greatest Food.

These Blessed Gifts which we receive

Do fill us with peace as we leave,

And give us strength that as we go,

We tell how Christ o'ercame our woe.

All glory to the Father, Son, 

And Holy Spirit, Three in One!

Let all in heav'n and here on earth

Give praise to Him Who gives New Birth! 

Some Halloween Pics

We don't get many trick-or-treaters, living out in the country and all.  Actually, were it not for a few children from our parish paying us a visit, we wouldn't get any.  That's not all bad - we do save a bunch not having to buy candy to pass out.  But, it is kind of a bummer, since we miss the days when we would gather with family at my parents' house, all the kids and most of the adults all dressed up, for an evening of fun.  Halloween was always a big deal.  We'd take the kids trick-or-treating and everyone would end up back at the house for mom's chili and the sorting out of all the candy.  We adults would have to taste several pieces of candy - you know, to test and make sure it's safe and all that. ;)  It was always great fun and we miss those times.  But, who says we still can't have fun out here in the boonies? :)  Some pics:

My zany wife - still have no idea who she's supposed to be

Lisa and Sam - no clue who Sam's supposed to be, either

Aaron joins in - now there's a costume!

I'm not wearing a mask - I just painted my face green for the State game :)

Rebekah paid us a visit

So did her big sister, Hannah

Rebekah and Hannah got some candy and some beanie babies from the scary woman with the big blonde hair

Oh, and Rebekah also took home a loaf of bread (we treat our trick-or-treaters right at the Messer house! :)

Benjamin (i.e. Johnny Appleseed) paid us a visit later in the evening

As did his sister, Mabel the "Pea Pod"