Joel’s Jottings: “Reformation Sunday”

• A long time ago in a country far away, a monk took a stand. He disagreed with some of the ways that the Christian faith was being practiced by the Church. According to tradition he posted “95 theses” on the door of a local church on October 31, 1517. The “theses” were statements to debate for the sake of obtaining greater clarity on the practice of the Christian faith. Thus began the Protestant Reformation. The social, political, and religious repercussions of this movement are still being lived out today.

Christians of the Presbyterian, or Reformed, tradition have a phrase for this project:

Ecclesia Reformata, Semper Reformanda secundum verbi Dei.

The Church Reformed, Always Reforming according to the Word of God. The Latin phrase had its origin even further back than the 1500s. And it has circulated ever since. 

The last Sunday of October is recognized in our denomination, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as Reformation Sunday. It is a time to acknowledge where we have come from and point to where we are going.

The intent of this saying is not to assert that newer is better nor that the Church does the Reforming. Rather, the work of “reformation” is done by God through the Holy Spirit. We humans are frail and fallible creatures. Yet we trust that God is one who is a living God, not a stale expression of ideas. 

This Sunday, October 30, 2022, worship at Fondren Presbyterian Church will acknowledge our past as we look forward to serving God through Jesus Christ in our present moment. Come and join us in this ongoing journey of faith and life, hope and love.