This idea popped into my head when I saw a church sign mentioning their
reformation day service.

When I went to Google for some more ideas, so it wouldn't just be a
single-idea joke, I was a little bit disturbed to discover that there
are apparently people seriously suggesting this as an alternative to
Halloween.

I'm not entirely happy with it (some of the ideas borrowed from the
serious reformation-day-party sites don't really have the "intellectual
theological joke" flavor I was aiming for, and there are a few smaller
details like forgetting to mention that the reason the neopagans next
door were there for their samhain party and it wasn't just a
spontaneous accumulation), but if I start trying to fix it, I won't
know when to stop.  Maybe I'll dust it off and make a few changes for
next year's announcement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Reformation day party Sunday night.  Come dressed as your favorite
reformer.

"Whenever the devil pesters you, at once seek out the company of
friends, drink more, joke and jest, or engage in some form of
merriment."                               --Attributed to Luther

Be prepared for a contest to find the best 95-word summaries of
Luther's 95 theses and Calvin's Institutes.  We'll also be having a
Diet of Worms eating contest (using gummy worms, not the real thing).

Weather permitting, we'll get the barbecue out and have a papal bull
roast.  While we're outside, we'll also try to arrange a three-way
soccer match between the Calvinists, the Lutherans, and the
Anabaptists.

Other possible activities include playing Pin the 95 Theses on the
Wittenberg Door and singing reformation carols for the neighbors.



The neopagans next door have invited us to watch their game of
theological roulette.  So in the unlikely event that you're into
watching people stand in a circle and blaspheme until somebody gets
struck by lightning, here's your chance.  I've warned them we're not
going to be selling indulgences.



In Other News:  Martin Luther's toilet has apparently been discovered!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3944549.stm