October 31, 2017 will be the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Our Worship and Music Committee has been busy discussing and exploring ways to celebrate this milestone. In that light we would like to present the opportunity to visit the Candler Pitts Library Exhibit related to Martin Luther. The exhibit is entitled Law & Grace. It has just opened and will be open until January 16. We will be taking a congregational trip on Saturday, January 14th .
• We will leave from the front parking lot at 8:00 a.m.

The exhibit includes items on loan from several German Museums and features the Law & Grace painting by Lucas Cranach, and the permanent Reformation Collection from the Richard Kessler collection that includes 3600 pieces of early Bibles, Hymnals, Luther’s writings, many Protestant and Catholic Catechisms, the only known copy of the Sluter Hymnal, and the first Latin and German editions of the Augsburg Confessions. The exhibit has many woodcuts and engravings as well.
The Kessler Collection was donated in 1987 and has continued to grow every year. If you or your family is interested in attending this trip there will be a Sign Up sheet in the narthex to determine if there is an interest. If you have questions please contact Pastor Fischer who is organizing this event. For more information google “Pitts Exhibit” then click on “Pitts Exhibit, Reformation Day to Focus on Upcoming Reformation Anniversary,”

http://candler.emory.edu/news/releases/2016/10/new-pitts-exhibit-reformation-day.html

Again, this year, there will be two Christmas Eve Services

5:30 p.m. will be a Service of Lessons and Carols w/ Holy Communion and Candle lighting.  This is a more family-oriented service with a Children’s Sermon and a nursery will be provided.  Holy Communion will be by intinction.

11:00 p.m. will be a Liturgical Service w/ Holy Communion and Candle lighting.  This worship service has a gospel processional and Holy Communion will be at the altar, similar to what we do on Sunday mornings.  This service is for those who desire to be in worship during the midnight hour of Christmas Day.

On December 25, Sunday, Christmas Day

We will have one combined worship service at 10:00 a.m.  (No Sunday School).   It is not that often that we get to worship together on Christmas Day as a church family.  Come join us on this meaningful day in which we celebrate the birth of our Lord.

The Christmas pageant will be on Sunday, December 11th, during the Late Service. All ages are needed to participate in this year’s program. Please prayerfully consider being a part of this delightful Christmas tradition! We will be using an original script created by Brenda McGowan.
Practices are during the Sunday School Hour:
•November 20
•November 27
•December 4
And on Wednesday nights before worship at 5:00 p.m.:
•November 30
•December 7
A full dress-rehearsal will take place on Saturday, December, 10 at 9:00 a.m. Our final
rehearsal will be Sunday, December 11 during the Sunday School.

REFORMATION SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2016
On this day we remember Martin Luther, born in 1483, nine years before Columbus discovered America. He studied law at the age of 21; became a priest at 23 and a doctor of theology at 28; wrote and nailed the 95 thesis at age 33 and 34; was ex-communicated and became a fugitive at 38; translated the Bible into German at 40; and died from a stroke at the age of 63, an internationally admired leader. His teachings stressed justification by faith, universal priesthood of believers; and supremacy of scripture which form the cornerstone of Protestantism.