Saints of the Reformation—LCC releases new book to celebrate anniversary year

CANADA – Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) is celebrating the five-hundredth anniversary of the Reformation with a new book entitled Saints of the Reformation, which reflects on the lives of several key figures in the Reformation.

“The great Reformation of the church was not merely about events, ideas, and movements,” notes LCC President Robert Bugbee in a preface to the book. “It is also the story of people, individuals made of the same flesh and blood as we are. It is the story of their faith, their witness, their way of handling conflict, and the way in which their personal habits—even apart from their words—have left behind a message for us.”

The book collects nine biographies on Reformation figures, earlier versions of which were published by The Canadian Lutheran from 2013-2016. Included are biographies of Martin Luther, Katie Luther, Philip Melanchthon, Johann von Staupitz, Johann Esch and Heinrich Voes, Ursula von Münsterberg, Johannes Bugenhagen, and Lucas Cranach the Elder. Two of these biographies—the ones on Martin Luther and Katie Luther—received national awards from the Canadian Church Press.

Mathew Block serves as editor of the volume and provides an introduction reflecting on the reformers’ understanding of the word “saint” and the biblical mandate to remember our forebears in the faith. “Just as we look back to the Scriptures and find lives of worthy of honour and emulation, so too we find encouragement in the lives of other Christians throughout the church’s history,” he writes. “In this book, we look at a few of the saints from the period of the Reformation—people whom God used in important ways to draw attention back to the Gospel of Christ when it was in danger of being obscured.”

“Some of these saints you may have heard of before,” he continues. “Others are little known. But in the lives of all—men and women, royals and commoners, clergy and laypeople—the work of God is evident. They are our forebears in the faith, and their witness to Christ and His mercy remains a powerful testimony to this day.”

Some of these saints you may have heard of before. Others are little known. But in the lives of all—men and women, royals and commoners, clergy and laypeople—the work of God is evident. They are our forebears in the faith, and their witness to Christ and His mercy remains a powerful testimony to this day.

The book also presents commemoration dates, suggested prayers to God thanking Him for the work of each Reformation servant, and a further reading list for those wanting to learn more about them.

Churches are encouraged to use the new book as they celebrate the Reformation locally, for both in-house education and as an outreach tool. The book is available in print at the low cost of $4.62 each (plus shipping) from the online store Lulu. Those purchasing copies of the book online are encouraged to check Lulu’s home-page for coupon codes in order to save even more. Bulk orders may also be eligible for a discount, so congregation members may wish to order together for further savings on shipping and the cost of the book.

The book is also available as a free e-book for use on e-readers, mobile devices, and computers.

Authors of the biographies include Rev. Dr. Richard Beinert, Mathew Block, Rev. Dr. Edward G. Kettner, Dr. Leah Koetting Block, Mark Lack, and Peggy Pedersen.

Find out more about the book at LCC’s Reformation 2017 website here.

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