Over 100 people attended the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s (PCI) first special worship service to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Last night’s event, which took place in Abbey Presbyterian Church in Dublin, was the first of three celebrations to celebrate its impact, legacy and enduring importance.

Entitled ‘Faith at the Crossroads: Rediscovering the Reformation’ the free public event commemorated the nailing of a list of 95 short theological statements to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on 31st October 1517 by Martin Luther. Known as his ‘95 Theses’ and critical of the religious order of the day, this simple act was to change the course of world history.

A mix of worship, discussion and teaching, musicians from New Irish Arts led the worship, which also included the premier of Stand Still. Commissioned by PCI to mark the Reformation’s quincentenary, the new hymn is inspired by the life and writings of Martin Luther and is by Jonathan Rea, the artistic director and chief executive of New Irish Arts and Rev. Chris Kennedy, minister in Dún Laoghaire Presbyterian Church.

Scripture readings were read by members of the local congregation and those attending ‘Faith at the Crossroads’ also got a flavour of some of the key moments in Martin Luther’s life from excerpts of a 1983 film staring Jonathan Pryce as Luther.

There was also an opportunity to reflect on some of the key themes of the Reformation in a ‘table talk’ with former Moderator, Very Rev. Dr. Trevor Morrow, minister emeritus of Lucan Presbyterian Church in County Dublin and Rev. Dr. Martyn Cowan, lecturer in historical theology at PCI’s Union Theological College. Also contributing was Heather Humphreys TD, minister of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, who is a member of the Presbyterian Church and attends a congregation in County Monaghan.

Speaking in Abbey Presbyterian after the event, the Moderator, Rt. Rev. Dr. Noble McNeely said that Presbyterians have a rich heritage that came directly out of the Reformation, which in itself was significant reason to mark what happened in 1517.

“This evening was a very special time of fellowship and celebration as we gave thanks, not just for what happened 500 years ago this month, but what lies at the heart of the Reformation itself,” he said.

“Luther’s momentous rediscovery was that a person’s salvation, that is being made right with God as if we had never sinned, was secured by believing in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. The revelation that salvation wasn't achieved by doing good works, or by any other means, but trusting in Jesus' death and God's grace alone has enabled men, women and children to know their sins have actually been forgiven. As I have said before, a wonderful reason to celebrate.”

Guest speaker, Dr. Conrad Mbewe, pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Zambia, brought a global perspective of the Reformation when he spoke on Romans 3:21-36, the passage of Scripture that Luther himself described as ‘the chief point, and the very central place of the Epistle, and of the whole Bible.’

Dr. Mbewe said, “Historically, the Reformation was perhaps the most significant period in the life of the church after the days of the apostles. It gave us back two essential elements of our faith; firstly, it gave us back the Scriptures in the language of the common man and secondly, it gave us back the gospel as it is taught in those same Scriptures.”

“The Christian Faith is a body of truth that points us to how God wants us to be reconciled to Him and how He wants us to live in His world. The Reformation helps us to see this reality afresh, we need to reflect on the heritage we get from that era in order to put steel back into our spiritual lives.”

There are two more opportunities to take part in ‘Faith at the Crossroads: Rediscovering the Reformation’. This evening at Waterside Theatre in Londonderry and again on Thursday 19th October in Assembly Buildings, Belfast. All events begin at 7.30pm and should conclude by 9.15pm.

Photos: (1) (LtoR) Rev. Chris Kennedy leads the table talk team with Heather Humphreys TD, Very Rev. Dr. Trevor Morrow and Rev. Dr. Martyn Cowan, (2) Dr. Conrad Mbewe preaches the sermon on Romans 3:21-36 (3) Principal participants and guests Dr. Cowan, Rev. Kennedy, Dr. Morrow, Dr. Mbewe, Mrs Humphreys, the Moderator Dr. McNeely, Dublin City Councillor Larry O’Toole (representing the Lord Mayor of Dublin) and Jonathan Rea, the artistic director and chief executive of New Irish Arts.