Reformation Day Service and All Saint’s Memorial Service. Theme: ‘Our sure hope’.

Dear members and friends of St Peter’s Lutheran Church, Hobart, and the Eastside Lutheran College community.

Greetings in the name of our triumphant Lord who truly is and will make all things new. 

A couple of special services coming up. 

This Sunday, 31st of October, is Reformation Sunday. Our Sunday service (10am) will focus on the world-changing Reformation of the Church in the early 1500s and be meaningful, faith-building, Christ centred, strengthening and full of hope. Among other things, we will look at the context in which Luther penned the famous hymn ‘A Mighty Fortress is our God’ and how this can be an encouragement for us today.

I am also writing to inform you of and to extend a special invitation to our ALL SAINTS service Sunday week (November 7th, 10am at the St Peter’s Centre, Eastside Lutheran College). This service will resemble, in many ways, a memorial service. We will acknowledge those who have died or whose funeral has been held over the past year or so, and in some cases even earlier than that. 
 
Family members will have the opportunity to light a candle in remembrance of their departed loved one.  There will also be an opportunity to remember and acknowledge loved ones who have died prior to the past year or so. 
 
Feel free to phone me (0417 811 706) or email steickem@bigpond.net.au if you would like a relative's name read as a part of the candle lighting rite. There will also be an opportunity towards the end of this rite to simply go forward and light a candle for someone you wish to remember. 
 
I share a bulletin notice below with you as it gives further information about the day. 
 
Remembering the departed: Our Sunday service on November 7th will, along with many other Christian Churches, commemorate the festival of All Saints. This historical festival is a special opportunity to again remember and to give thanks for those who have gone before us and to celebrate Christ’s victories over sin, death and the powers of darkness. In addition to songs, readings and a message focusing on the good news of our Lord’s gracious, sacrificial and triumphant answer to death, a candle lighting rite will be a part of the service, which gives an opportunity to specifically acknowledge our departed loved one or ones. Morning tea will follow and all are welcome to stay for it and to bring a plate to share if you wish.  Later in the day individuals or families may like to remember their loved ones by sharing stories, a favourite meal, songs, photos or other cherished memories. Our Lord is close and ‘heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds' (Psalm 147:3) and, as we confess in the Creed: ‘I believe in...the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting'.

Warmest regards and blessings,
 
Pastor Mike Steicke.
Saint Peter's Lutheran Church, Hobart.