Unity through Repentance: The Journey to Wittenberg 2017
Chapter 12
“Seven Years From Today”
You’ve read Chapter 12, and you’re hungry for more? Don’t worry, we got you!
The 1st Trip to Wittenberg, Germany (2010)
A Trip 10 Years in the Making
I took some footage in Berlin as Julia and I prepared to catch the train to Wittenberg.
The Bible in Luther’s Pulpit
First time I climbed up the pulpit ... the Bible was blank! And I was bitterly disappointed.
Turning over "a new page" to John 17 in Luther's pulpit ... as a prayer that God might unite us according to Jesus' request for His church!
Julia took this photo of Thomas in the pulpit, taking a picture of the Bible turned to John 17
And Thomas took this photo of Julia in the pulpit
The door to the pulpit is now closed
The City Church (Stadtkirche) in Wittenberg, with the elevated pulpit attached to the left-hand pillar - it has a cover on it to project the preacher's voice out over the congregation
What did I do on Reformation Day?
After the eventful day that culminated in reserving the room in the Best Western, I put Julia on the train back to Berlin. Then I slowly walked the two miles to the room I had rented for that night, pondering in my heart all that had happened.
The next morning dawned as Reformation Day 2010. Seven years, to the day, from the 500th Anniversary. I had a half-day before I needed to leave, in order to be on time for my oil rig job the next day.
What should I do?
My first tendency was to return to the Stadtkirche, where the largest Lutheran service would be happening. And where the Bible waited, open to John 17, for the Reformation Day preacher. I wanted to see what would happen when the preacher ascended the pulpit to begin the sermon.
But I felt the Holy Spirit directing me differently.
We had seen a Catholic church as we had walked through town the day before. “What is it like to be a Catholic in Wittenberg?” I now wondered.
Interestingly, the name of the Catholic Church - St. Mary’s - was the same name as of the Lutheran City Church - Marienkirche. I suppose this was because when the Lutherans displaced the Catholics in the large central church, they kept the name of the church building, and the Catholics (were there some in Luther’s day, in Wittenberg?) kept the name of the parish.
So I attended the Roman Catholic mass that morning, instead of the more celebrated Lutheran service. I did so as an act of solidarity, as if to say to the Catholics in Wittenberg – “The eyes of the world may be on the act of Protest that originated here against you and your people, but my heart as a descendant of that Protest is to pray with you, stand beside you as a brother in Christ, and bless you in the name of our shared Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
My presence in the Catholic Church was seen by few and noted by none. These types of hidden acts of intercession would become one of the spiritual disciplines of the Wittenberg 2017 initiative over the next seven years.
Street Scenes & Tower Prayer
I also took time that day to enjoy the streets of Wittenberg, which were crowded with Reformation Day revelers, church youth groups, and people dressed up in period costumes for historical re-enactments.
At one point I discovered they had just opened up the stairs to the top of the Castle Church bell tower, which had been closed the previous day. I paid my euro, and climbed to the top to enjoy the view and pray.
More Photos from Saturday with Julia
Thomas encounters a "closed door"
Another "closed door" in Wittenberg
Julia is happy about God's work getting us in to see the room in the Leucorea!
The large meeting room in the Leucorea, which seats 182
Thomas at "The Door" of the Castle (University) Church. This is called the Theses Door, because the (incorrect and unhelpful) legend is that this was the door that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to. The original wooden door was destroyed in a fire, and the replacement metal door has the 95 Theses engraved into it.
Luther's statue, main square, Wittenberg
Youth in front of the Melanchthon statue, Wittenberg main square
Wittenberg - Melanchthon statue - The scripture engraved in is Ephesians 4:3, "Make EVERY EFFORT to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"
In 2010, Wittenberg was already advertising for the 500th Anniversary in seven years
The Luther Oak where he reportedly burned the papal bull, Wittenberg
The Melanchthon room, in the Best Western ... the doors in back open into another smaller meeting room. We were able to reserve this room for 2017!
Julia & the door of the Melanchthon room
Julia & Thomas eating Italian food - a well-earned dinner (especially for Julia!) at the end of a long, eventful day
One more prophetic word
Before I left for Wittenberg, John Michael Wall shared with me a “sensing” that he had, as he was praying for my trip. (As you can see, so much of what God did through the years was, in my opinion, in response to prayers prayed by faithful, hidden intercessors like John Michael). “I see a red square,” he reported. “So if you see a red square in Wittenberg, it may be important.”
Well, when Julia and I were being taken through the lobby of the Best Western in Wittenberg, there were multiple decorative dividers, made of black metal with occasional red glass squares in them. We paid attention! And ended up reserving the first room for 2017 in this hotel, that day.