Churches unite for Reformation service

Rev. Dr. Gordon Jensen, portraying Martin Luther, talks with guests at an ecumenical service on Nov. 19.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Was it ironic that Davidson’s churches gathered in the Catholic parish hall to mark 500 years of the Reformation?

Sonje Finnestad, a Lutheran minister who serves churches in Davidson and rural Loreburn, said she was inclined to see it differently.

“You could say irony,” she said, “or a sign of progress.”

An ecumenical service was held Nov. 19 at the Sacred Heart parish hall to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the schism that led to the formation of the Protestant church.

Finnestad said the service was designed as a unifying event, bringing Christians of all denominations together for a time of shared worship and reconciliation.

The event was organized by the Davidson Inter-Church Association, with all six local churches represented and taking part in the proceedings.

Rev. Dr. Gordon Jensen, a professor at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saskatoon, was the guest speaker.

After giving the sermon, he briefly stepped out and returned in costume as Martin Luther, the German theologian whose criticisms of the Catholic church helped to kick off the Reformation.

As far as Luther impressions go, one could say Jensen nailed it.

He answered questions and spoke about Luther’s life, his beliefs and his work as a theologian and reformer.

Jensen told the Leader he’s found that role-playing helps to hold the audience’s interest, more than if he had simply presented a lecture.

“I think it’s more engaging, especially with the ability to ask all kinds of questions,” he said.

Following the service, a medieval feast was served. Organizers provided both the bread and chicken drumsticks, while attendees were asked to bring either salad or dessert.

About 50 people attended, a healthy turnout considering that, as Finnestad noted, “I understand we’re competing with the eastern finals of the CFL.”

The liturgy was based on a common prayer service developed by Lutherans and Catholics for the 500th anniversary.

In his message, Jensen said the Reformation serves as a reminder that the focus of the gospel message should not be Christians themselves, but rather God revealing himself to his Creation and setting people free from sin, oppression and death.

Luther, born in 1483, was a friar of the Augustinian order and later a professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg in Germany.

Though a devout Catholic, Luther felt led to speak out against the practice of selling indulgences. Clergy taught that a person could purchase these certificates to reduce the time in purgatory in the afterlife, either for themselves or someone else.

On Oct. 31, 1517 Luther presented his “Ninety-Five Theses,” outlining his criticisms of the church, which he had addressed to the Archbishop of Mainz.

It’s popularly believed that Luther nailed the document to the front door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenburg, though as Jensen noted, scholars today debate whether or not this actually took place.

“A hammer pounding on a nail — with that sound, the world changed forever,” Jensen said, adding that the change affected not only the church, but the way people viewed God and the world.

Luther taught that Christians could not earn their salvation through good deeds. Rather they received it as a gift of God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.

Luther’s stances led to his excommunication from the church in 1521. He was condemned as a heretic and a criminal and forced to go into hiding, but continued to press for reform.

He translated both the New and Old Testament into German, making it accessible to common people. He also composed dozens of hymns, the most famous of which is “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”

Jensen noted that Luther had desired unity within the church, and that Christians referring to themselves in his name would have infuriated him.