Fall Series: Back to the Source
500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation
This fall we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. The reformers (like Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin) sought to correct the abuses and heresies of the Mediaeval Church by returning to the beginnings of our faith story. They used the witness of scripture and the example of the early church as their authorities in matters of faith and life together. As a fitting way to honor their memory and follow their wisdom, this fall at SHPC we will begin a series of worship services and church-wide events entitled, “Back to the Source.” This phrase in Latin “Ad Fontes” (literally “back to the fountain”) was a rallying cry used by those reformers to remind their churches to turn back to the source of scripture as their guide. So too will we be examining what the Bible actually teaches about many concepts, doctrines, and vocabulary of the faith that we may take for granted today.
Each Sunday, our worship service will be built around a particular word or concept that is important for our Christian faith. Also, each week our Affirmation of Faith used in worship will come from a different confession written during the 1500’s. Learning from the wisdom and witness of our forbearers in the faith is an important part of continuing down the path of being “the church Reformed and always being reformed by the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God.”
