Musings about Martin Luther

2017 is the 500th anniversary year of the Protestant Reformation and even though I attend a Presbyterian church we've been hearing quite a lot about Martin Luther, especially during the month of October since he nailed those 95 thesis on the church door in Wittenburg on October 31, 1517.  Tonight we had a class that focused on Luther's music and I learned a few things I didn't knwo before. For example during the years 1523 to 1524 he wrote 23 hymns.  He liked to write new texts but often used old popular melodies familiar to his congregation. His contention was "Why should the Devil have all the good tunes?"  A notable exception to tbis practice is his best know hymn "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" for which he wrote the tune and text. He wrote that hymn in 1529. I think it's great that it has lasted for almost 500 years.  Another hymn he wrote, one of my favorites, is "From Heaven Above".  Originally this hymn had 15 stanzas but our current hymnal has cut it to five, which was probably a wise decision.  In the days when sermons typically ran two hours or more a 15 stanza song probably seemed like nothing but I think modern congregations, no matter how devout, might get a little restive after the first 10 verses or so.