The final planned gathering of the Wittenberg 2017 initiative will be in Wittenberg on the occasion of the 500th Anniversary. The dates are 1 – 5 November. Here are important documents for those who are coming to the gathering:
Wittenberg, Germany
1-5 November 2017
|
Wednesday, 1 November
Theme: John 17:1 Turning our Faces to Heaven Thomas Cogdell & Henning Dobers – “Turning Our Faces to Heaven” Worship & Prayer until midnight Thursday, 2 November Theme: John 17 – God is Preparing the Marriage Feast for His Son Worship & Prayer through the night Franziskus Eisenbach & Amy Cogdell – “God is Preparing the Marriage Feast for His Son” Worship & Prayer George Miley – “Becoming Christ-Like” Helmuth Eiwen – “Introduction to Identificational Repentance” Worship & Prayer Walter Heidenreich – Special Teaching Worship & Prayer until midnight |
Friday, 3 November
Theme: Anabaptists -- The Rejected Sons Worship & Prayer through the night Wolfgang Krauss – "History of Anabaptists in Germany" (exact title TBD) Holger Bartsch – “The Criminalization of the Anabaptist Movement during the Beginnings of Protestantism” Worship & Prayer Franz Rathmair – “History of Anabaptists in Austria & Moravia” Identificational Repentance & Prayer, led by Helmuth Eiwen, Hans-Peter & Verena Lang Chris Zimmermann – “The Bruderhof Communities – Modern Anabaptists” Shabbat Celebration Worship & Prayer until midnight |
Saturday, 4 November
Theme: John 17:21 – God Invites Us Into The Unity of the Trinity Worship & Prayer through the night Marianna Gol – “The Mystery of the Coming Kingdom” John Dawson – “Discerning Times” Worship & Prayer Richard Harvey – “Luther and the Stadtkirche - 1517 - 2017 - Then and Now” Prayer Excursion to Stadtkirche (City Church) Sr. Joela Krüger – “Who is our King?” Kisi Kids Musical – The Story of Ruth Sunday, 5 November Theme: John 17:18, 2 Cor 5:20 – Being Sent for the Ministry of Reconciliation George Miley – “Principles of Reconciliation” Service of Commissioning
|
Why are we not meeting on the actual anniversary ? (31 October)
+ One reason is to honor the other important official meetings that will be taking place that day in Wittenberg. A small number of leaders of our initiative will be gathering on the actual anniversary to pray for God to richly bless all participating in these historic ceremonies.
+ A second reason is that 1 November is All Saints Day, which seemed very appropriate for a gathering of saints.
+ A third reason is that Luther’s privately taken actions began to have a public effect only after 31 October, and have had now impact around the world for 500 years. In the same way, we desire that our gathering be one public expression of a new worldwide movement of God towards the unity of the body of Christ.
+ One reason is to honor the other important official meetings that will be taking place that day in Wittenberg. A small number of leaders of our initiative will be gathering on the actual anniversary to pray for God to richly bless all participating in these historic ceremonies.
+ A second reason is that 1 November is All Saints Day, which seemed very appropriate for a gathering of saints.
+ A third reason is that Luther’s privately taken actions began to have a public effect only after 31 October, and have had now impact around the world for 500 years. In the same way, we desire that our gathering be one public expression of a new worldwide movement of God towards the unity of the body of Christ.
What Can I Do to Prepare for Wittenberg 2017?
|
For those who are coming to the gathering, and have not been to previous Wittenberg 2017 gatherings, you may be wondering how you can best prepare? To that end, we have prepared a list of articles to read, and audio/video recordings, that should be helpful. These may also be useful for those who are not coming, but would like to prepare their hearts & spirits for the 500th anniversary. Dig in … and enjoy!
|
HIGHEST PRIORITY
Prayerfully, contemplatively read and review on the Wittenberg website:
- Vision & Goals
(1 page) - Core Beliefs
(1 page) - Principles
(2 pages) - Martin’s Story
(1 page) - Historical Conclusions
(2 pages)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Watch/listen on the Wittenberg website to:
|
What Does Reconciliation
Look Like To You? (8 min. video) |
Amy Cogdell – The Unity of the Trinity
(22 min. audio recording from the Trento gathering in 2014) |
Verena Lang
What Have We Learned On the Way? (17 min. video with slides, German with translation into English, from the gathering in Wittenberg at the start of the 500 days) |
|
George Miley - An Anglican Priest Honors the Roman Catholic Church
(32 min. audio recording from the Rome gathering in 2015) |
|
Fr. Peter Hocken
Receiving and Refusing the Treasures of the Reformation (1 hr. audio or video from the Wittenberg gathering in 2016) |
Amy & Thomas Cogdell
Grief & Intimacy (40 min. audio or video from the Wittenberg gathering in 2016) |
|
Richard Harvey – Judensau (1 hr. audio or video from the Wittenberg gathering in 2016)
|
|
Collegienstraße 62,
06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany |
leucorea |
