From the Senior Pastor
In the Steps of Luther
Dear Friends,
As many of you know by now, the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation occurs in October this year. In commemoration of this epic event, Shelly and I are hosting a pilgrimage to Germany for an 11-day Steps of Martin Luther tour. Our group of 21 travelers hails not only from Our Savior’s and Sioux Falls but also Madison and Canton, South Dakota, and Omaha, Nebraska.
We’re looking forward to walking in the footsteps of Martin Luther and seeing with our own eyes the sites that were important to his life and work. We’ll explore the streets of Wittenberg, where Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church. We’ll stand on the exact place in Erfurt where Luther spoke his vows and became a monk, and we’ll walk the hallways of the Wartburg where he lived in disguise and translated the New Testament into German. We’ll visit Eisleben, where Luther was born and died, as well as other important Reformation sites.
We will also enjoy some of the magnificent scenery of the Rhine River Valley. We’ll visit Dresden—famous for its china and fine art—and Leipzig, where Johann Sebastian Bach worked and is buried. Our tour will also include stops in Berlin and Munich, two of the world’s great cities, and wonderful places to visit, shop, and enjoy German cuisine.
I’m sharing our day-by-day itinerary so that you not only are aware of where we will be and what we’ll be doing each day, but also so that you might remember us in your prayers as we’re traveling. Traveling these days is not without some degree of risk and we would welcome your prayers for safe travels and good health.
Peace,
Pr. Randy Gehring
Steps of Martin Luther —Tour Itinerary
Wednesday May 10 – Omaha/Across the Atlantic
Depart Omaha and fly to Frankfurt, arriving the following day.
Thursday, May 11 – Frankfurt/Rhine Valley
Arrive in Frankfurt. Tour Mainz, home of the invention of the moveable-type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg. Stay in hotel in the Rhine Valley.
Friday, May 12 – Rhine Valley/Eisenach/Erfurt
Drive to Eisenach, a refuge for Luther during the stormy days before the Reformation. Visit Wartburg Castle and the Luther House, and make a brief stop at St. George Church. Drive to Erfurt.
Saturday, May 13 – Erfurt/Eisleben/Wittenberg
Visit the Augustiner Church; the Augustinian Monastery; St. Severus Church; the 650-year-old Kraemer Bridge; and St. Mary’s Cathedral, where Luther was ordained. Drive to Eisleben. Visit Luther’s birthplace, the house where he died, and 15th century St. Peter and Paul’s Church, where he was baptized. Drive to Wittenberg.
Sunday, May 14 – Wittenberg/Potsdam/Berlin
Visit the Castle Church, see the Luther Monument in the marketplace, Luther’s grave, and the City Church of St. Mary, where Luther did most of his preaching. Also visit Lutherhalle, his dwelling in the Augusteum, which is now a museum of Reformation history. Drive via Potsdam to Berlin.
Monday, May 15 – Berlin
Explore reunited Berlin, including Charlottenburg Castle, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the famous Kurfürstendamm, Bellevue Castle, the
Cultural Forum, the Reichstag Building, the Brandenburg Gate, Gendarmenmarkt, the Berlin Cathedral, Alexanderplatz, the Nikolai Quarter, and the remains of the Berlin Wall.
Tuesday, May 16 – Berlin/Dresden/Leipzig
Proceed along the Elbe River to Dresden to see the Semper Opera House and Zwinger Palace. Continue to Leipzig.
Wednesday May 17 – Leipzig/Coburg/Nuremberg
Leipzig is home to the Thomas Church, immortalized by Johann Sebastian Bach, where he served as cantor and choir director. After an orientation tour, we will continue to Nuremberg via Coburg.
Thursday, May 18 – Nuremberg/Augsburg/Munich Area
Drive to Augsburg, where Martin Luther defended his 95 Theses in 1518 and where Phillip Melanchthon presented the “Augsburg Confession” in 1530. Continue to Munich, capital of Bavaria.
Friday, May 19 – Munich
Drive via Karolinenplatz with the Obelisk to Königsplatz. In the city center, we will see the former Royal Residence, Odeon Square with its beautiful Theatiner Church, and the Hall of Generals.
Saturday, May 20 – Munich/Omaha
Our pilgrimage ends with a return flight to Omaha and a drive to Sioux Falls.
Baptisms
March 26, 2017, 2017
Aiden Michael Maurer, the son of Michael and Melissa Maurer.
Flowers
March 26, 2017
Flowers are given in loving memory of Jim Elmen, who would be 85 years on March 31, by his family.
Memorials and Honoraria
March 2017
In Memory of Clarice (Cy) Binger
Pauline Buckstead
Orville Hill
Lloyd and Donna Knutson
Gayle Mulkey
Virginia Odney
Curt and Elaine Sandvall
Marvine and Virginia Stadum
Wayne and Norma Steinocker
Arlen Viste
In Memory of Rich Hanson
Arlen Viste
Glenn and Cindy Wika
In Memory of Orville Helgerson
Mary Birkeland
Summer Worship Hours Begin May 28
Summer Worship Services (May 28 through Labor Day)
Saturday Evening
Festive Worship – 5:00 p.m., Sanctuary
Sunday Morning
Celebrate Worship – 8:45 a.m., Celebrate Center
Festive Worship – 10:00 a.m., Sanctuary
Celebrate Worship – 10:30 a.m., Celebrate Center