Argula von Grumbach and the Women Who Shaped the Reformation

When we think of the Reformation, we often picture Luther and his 95 Theses. But behind this movement were everyday people—like Argula von Grumbach, a Bavarian noblewoman who boldly defended the Reformation—and lesser-known reformers who shaped our faith tradition in profound ways. This Living Lutheran exploration of “a people’s history” of the Reformation reveals the courage of ordinary believers, the impact on laywomen and laborers, and the rich diversity that remains central to our Lutheran heritage.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardNovember 5, 2024Living Lutheran, Martin LutherComment

Our New Year’s reformations

We’re halfway through January and some people are now thinking about their already-broken New Year’s Day resolutions. Never fear, as noted in this Living Lutheran article that first posted in 2017, there’s still time to explore how insights from Martin Luther’s Small Catechism might “reform” some common resolutions, creating “New Year’s reformations.”

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJanuary 17, 2024Living Lutheran, Martin LutherComment

Our medieval hymns: “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”

Discover the rich history of our beloved hymns originating from medieval texts in this article from Living Lutheran. Focusing on the hymn “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”, the article sheds light on its origins in the writings of 12th-century French abbot Bernard of Clairvaux. Read more to trace its transformation through translations, adaptions, and influences from figures like Martin Luther and J.S. Bach.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJuly 11, 2023Living Lutheran, Martin LutherComment

Mexican professor Ángela Trejo and Polish professor Jerzy Sojka reflect on Lutheran methods of Biblical interpretation

'Scripture alone' is a known Lutheran principle. At the second Bible year webinar, two Biblical scholars reflected on how this is used in understanding the Bible.

In this post, read the Lutheran World Federation article on the distinctive ways Lutherans interpret the Bible, or view the full webinar. Or choose “both/and.”

Global Church, NewsBrian FlatgardNovember 22, 2022Mexican Lutheran Church, Martin Luther, Lutheran World FederationComment

Three book recommendations about Martin Luther and Lutherans

In this Living Lutheran article, 1517 Media’s Dawn Rundman recommends three books: The Wit of Martin Luther; Baptized, We Live: Lutheranism As a Way of Life; and Luther the Reformer.

ELCA, News, ResourcesBrian FlatgardNovember 8, 2022Martin Luther, Augsburg Fortress, 1517 MediaComment

Bishop Eaton: Happy Reformation Day!

On Reformation Day and in this video from Bishop Eaton, we celebrate the five hundred and fifth anniversary of the Reformation! Over five hundred years later, the Lutheran movement is alive and well, as the good news is proclaimed in languages and places Martin Luther never knew existed.

Bishop Eaton, ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardNovember 1, 2022Martin Luther, Reformation SundayComment

Celebrating the 500th Year of Luther’s New Testament Translation

This is the second of four webinars that Lutheran World Federation is hosting to mark the 2022 Bible Year. Register here for this Tuesday, 11/8/2022 event with Rev. Ángela del Consuelo Trejo Haager and Prof Dr Jerzy Sojka. Watch the first webinar here.

Global Church, NewsBrian FlatgardOctober 28, 2022Martin Luther, Lutheran World FederationComment

500 years of God’s word in common language: The true story of Martin Luther’s “September Testament”

Five hundred years ago in September, at the Leipzig Fair in the German state of Saxony, the printer Melchior Lotter Jr. offered up for sale his first edition of the New Testament as translated from the ancient Greek into the German vernacular by Martin Luther. By then Luther was notorious across Europe for his attacks on the papacy. He had been denounced as a heretic, excommunicated by Pope Leo X and condemned by Charles V, leader of the Holy Roman Empire. The edition of 3,000 copies sold out rapidly.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardSeptember 28, 2022Martin Luther, Living LutheranComment

Bishop Eaton: Tell the story in a new way

In the video we shared at our 2022 Synod Assembly, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton urges us to follow Luther's example and use modern tools to spread the gospel, just as Luther shared the good news with the help of Gutenberg's printing press. 500 years ago this year, Martin Luther published his first translation of the New Testament into German vernacular.

Bishop Eaton, ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardJune 21, 20222022 Synod Assembly, Martin LutherComment

Bishop Hutterer: The Forgotten Luther

As part of our Monday meetings, the Office of the Bishop staff recently discussed The Forgotten Luther, a series of three books edited variously by Carter Lindberg, Paul Wee, Ryan P. Cumming, and Conrad Braaten.

True to its name, the premise of the series is to reclaim the Martin Luther’s oft-forgotten voice for socio-economic justice. Martin Luther addressed the crises of the day on the basis of Scripture with pioneering theology. The series calls us to do the same.

Bishop Hutterer, Letters, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardFebruary 28, 2022Martin Luther, Bishop Hutterer LettersComment

Bishop Eaton: Martin Luther's last words

Bishop Eaton shares Martin Luther’s last words in her latest video, showing how God’s strength is made more perfect in weakness.

Bishop Eaton, ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardFebruary 23, 2022Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Martin, Martin LutherComment

Spirited Book Club: The Forgotten Luther III

Ryan P. Cumming & Conrad A. Braaten join Spirited Book Club to discuss The Forgotten Luther III: Reclaiming a Vision of Global Community. The online club is FREE, on Thursday, October 7, 2021 and Thursday, October 21, 2021. Click a link for more info and to register.

This book, the third in the Forgotten Luther series, invites congregations, with the help of five prominent church leaders and Luther scholars, to consider the shape of global mission in today's world.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardSeptember 6, 2021Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, Martin LutherComment

Martin Luther: His Life and Legacy lecture series

Join retired Rev. Carl Zimmerman and Barb Peterson, members of Peace Lutheran Church, Peoria, AZ, in a lecture series exploring the life and legacy of Martin Luther.

Monday evenings in March, 6:30pm MST, 5:30pm PST, will have a 15-minute presentation followed by 45 minutes of informal discussion. Click a link to join each meeting: 3/8/2021, 3/15/2021, 3/22/2021, 3/29,2021. RSVP @ petefv51@gmail.com.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardJanuary 28, 20212021 Martin Luther series, Peace Peoria, Cactus Conference, Martin LutherComment

Can You Flee a Pandemic? Four Lessons from Luther

As new as the COVID-19 pandemic is to us living today, it is far from the first pandemic the church has had to address.

In 1527, the plague hit Wittenberg in late summer, the University of Wittenberg closed. The students were sent home, and many residents self-quarantined to avoid the deadly sickness. Luther responded with his letter “Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague.”

Covid-19Brian FlatgardApril 3, 2020Martin LutherComment

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