107 Concord Road, Wayland Massachusetts 01778

It was bittersweet saying goodbye to our guests this morning as the families moved on to the next congregation. We had an exciting two weeks, and have become close to our new friends.

Our guest family of 7 moved on to their own home the end of the first week. Halloween was celebrated last week, and some “Halloween elves” decorated the fellowship with countless Halloween decorations. Mary Ann turned off the lights so when the children arrived, they were awed by the spooky lights.

The Or Atid-Peace support network continues to grow. This hosting we enjoyed the help from many congrations including Memorial Congregational Church, St John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Temple Shir Tikva, First Parish, Congregation Beth El, and the Islamic Center. Two girl scout troops in Sudbury helped in preparing and serving meals.
One of our guests cooked a traditional Brazilian meal last night. Her two children were thrilled to taste their mom’s cooking for the first time in two months. Thank you to the volunteers who helped make this possible for the family.

Somehow, each hosting is more rewarding than the last. Thank you for all your wonderful help and support which makes this program possible.

Kim Ho
Kim Canning
Cindy Fenichel

Since our classrooms will be set up in preparation for hosting Family Promise guests this Sunday, our children will meet together in the Fellowship Hall during the Education Hour.  All members of the congregation are invited to participate in the Sunday school activity which is a table game involving multiple generations.  

In addition, Kim Ho will give a children’s message about Family Promise during the worship service.  Following the service, our students will assist Pastor in blessing the rooms dedicated to our guests.  Their time spent at Peace is supported by members of our congregation, our friends at Or Atid, and many other people throughout the local community.  

This Sunday, our church will celebrate the Protestant Reformation.  Often in the past, our children have participated in a Sunday school lesson on the Reformation and Martin Luther.  Since these topics will not be the focus of our Sunday school time together this week, I’ve provided information for you to share with your children about Martin Luther and the importance of this day.  Your children will notice changes in the sanctuary, listen to special, celebratory music performed by our brass musicians, and hear Pastor speak of the Reformation and Martin Luther during the service on Sunday.  The information provided below may help your children understand why this Sunday in October is special in our church.  

Martin Luther (b.1483-1546) can be described as a leading Protestant Reformer, Monk, teacher, family man, one of the most significant figures in history, and Germany’s greatest theologian and Biblical scholar. His own study of the scriptures caused him to find the answer to the searching of his own questions about faith and forgiveness. As a Friar, he was able to share his discoveries with German people who at the time were hungry for truth. Following a pilgrimage to Rome, Martin Luther became disgusted with the moral decay in the church and wrote his 95 Theses, or points of doctrine where he felt the church was incorrect.  The posting of his 95 Theses became a call to discuss how the church could be reformed.  He was excommunicated and used his time of seclusion to translate the New Testament into German. He then returned to Wittenberg, married, and the Lutheran and Protestant Church began.                                                        

The start of the Protestant Reformation is “officially” October 31, 1517 when Luther posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. However, the reformation had been brewing across Europe for many years.  Luther was fortunate to have a protector and supporter, Frederick the Wise. The invention of moveable type by Gutenberg, also meant that Luther’s books, Bibles, pamphlets, etc. could be widely distributed.  

Red is the liturgical color for this day.  Red reminds us of the Holy Spirit who descended on Christ’s followers in tongues of fire on Pentecost.  It was by the power of the Holy Spirit that Martin Luther came to learn the gospel.  The Holy Spirit moved him to post his Ninety-five Theses and inspired him and his colleagues to work toward the Reformation of the Christian church.  The same Holy Spirit continues to come to Christians in the means of grace to forgive sins and strengthen faith.

 Also, visit the Luther Rose for children to learn about the Luther Rose.

-Kim Canning

For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 2 Timothy 3: 3

We’ll think together about the second reading for Sunday in which Paul makes a point about sound teaching and pure doctrine. It’s important to us–is it not?–that what we hear in church is the Christian gospel as it has been passed on through the years and received by our generation? Lutheran pastors promise to preach and teach in accordance with the Holy Scriptures and with the creeds and confessions for the formation of faith in those who hear. How many other voices are there out there, driving our lives, setting our agendas, selling us on ways of life. I’m afraid we all have itching ears.

Anna Looft, Wayland interfaith intern will be with us on Sunday. She will meet with the middle school students during the Sunday school hour. There will be no Sunday evening confirmation class.

On Sunday morning we will install the members of the council. This is an important fall ritual in our congregation. The congregation council is elected in June and charged with providing program leadership and organizational oversight throughout the year.

Rejoicing Spirits at 4 pm.  Remember to keep Susan and John and their family in your prayers as they support one another in the last days of Charlotte Lindberg’s life.

Remember to bring in the names addresses of friends of Peace far and wide. There’s a fish bowl in the narthex to receive them.

The anniversary committee meets Friday.

Next Sunday, October 27, is the Sunday of the Reformation. The Peace brass, directed by Ron Riggert, will play.We’ll celebrate together with a pot-luck lunch. Bring something to share. An intergenerational table game will be a part of our Reformation celebration.

Anna Mullen, our Peace intern, has been working in the fields and meeting a few more of you. In the next week we will read Chapter 3 of Learning the Language of the Fields, titled The Children of Abraham and the Conquest of Eden. I have made copies of the chapter and put them on the information table for anyone who would like to join our discussion