Pastor's Message

October 2026

God’s Beloved people,

Reformation Sunday is a little early this year,  October 25th.  Reformation Day is actually October 31st, but the next day, November 1st, is All Saints Day and we want to celebrate that too.  Around Reformation Day, the Protestant Reformation that is, which began in 1517 AD, we give thanks for the good reforms to the church which Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon and others helped foster: important things like the Bible truth that we are all saved by God’s grace through faith and don’t have to earn salvation.

I recently reread “The Forgotten Luther: Reclaiming the Social-Economic Dimensions of the Reformation” by Lindburg and Wee.  Martin Luther did not agree with the thinking in his day that God ordained some people to be starving peasants and others to be overly wealthy business leaders.  Luther was not a fan of begging, either by monks or by poor people.  He thought that if people had to beg to feed themselves and their kids, something was wrong with that town or society.  The Bible agrees with Luther on that, or really, vice versa.

Luther thought every prince should have an image of a loaf of bread on their coat of arms to remind rulers that one of their main responsibilities was to make sure everyone in the community had enough to eat.  The first social welfare ordinance, the “Common Purse” was passed by the Wittenberg, Germany Town Council with Luther’s assistance in 1520-21.  The next step influenced by Luther in 1522 was the “Common Chest,” because a chest for the weekly collection and distribution of funds was built with 3 separate locks and keys.  Four stewards were elected on the basis of their knowledge of the town and the citizen’s needs.  The only criterion for distribution of loans or outright gifts was to be the need of the recipient.  Luther insisted that government is not only responsible for defending its people, it is also responsible for the nurture and education of its people.

October 16th has long been recognized as World Food Day among church and non-church organizations in our day.  It’s a day when we pray for all the hungry people in our world to be fed.  World Food Day causes us to think about just how many millions of hungry people there are and what we can do to help alleviate suffering.  Ellensburg’s own FISH and Apoyo Food Banks are effective local efforts.  Weekend Nutrition for School Kids, started at First Lutheran by our own late and beloved Judy Ragland, is another great local effort.  Many Thanks to all who keep this great feeding program going.

ELCA World Hunger is another great effort which reaches our further into our nation and world.  In connection with World Food Day, I would like to challenge First Lutheran to buy an “Abundant Community” which will go to an impoverished area in our world.  An “Abundant Community” costs $1020 and consists of a goat, a rooster, a cow, 3 chicks, seeds and gardening tools, honeybees, 3 fruit seedlings, farmer’s field school and a community garden.  This gift bundle equips a while community with the resources needed to build a stronger future.  It includes gifts that will enable neighbors to nourish their families and generate income.  The seeds of hope we help our neighbors plant today will continue to grow for generations to come.

If enough people chipped in $20 or $40 or $50, it would not take long to reach the goal of an “Abundant Community” for $1020.  You can simply write a check to First Lutheran Church and earmark it for “ELCA World Hunger/Abundant Community” or put cash in an envelope with that message written on it.

Happy Reformation Day and thanks for caring about our neighbors in need!

~ Pastor Dennis