Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, November 1, 2026
So: Saturday night, Halloween. Sunday, Daylight Savings ends. Monday, Seahawks on national TV. Tuesday, U.S. midterm elections. Wednesday?
Wednesday, prayer meeting! Hooray!
Prayer is definitely in order for all Saturday night through Tuesday night events mentioned above. (Although I’m sorely tempted, I don’t pray for my preferred team to win; I pray no one will get hurt.)
October 31 is also celebrated by many as Reformation Day, in honor of the day (October 31, 1517) Martin Luther is thought to have nailed his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, thereby launching the Protestant Reformation.
That put a song in my head on Halloween night, and when I found I could not remember all the words, I looked them up so I could sing all verses. It’s such a confident, bold, declaring sort of song. Maybe you would like to sing along:
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
A mighty Fortress is our God,
A Bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His Name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That Word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His Kingdom is forever.
(Lyrics and music, Martin Luther.)
As I sang the song through, I gave thanks for all the truth I was singing. A good song to sing as we turn the page from Halloween to the month of Thanksgiving.
Thank You, Lord, for your forever kingdom.
Thank You that Your Word abides with us.
Thank You for being our Mighty Fortress.