Whether you’re adding to a Halloween celebration or celebrating Reformation Day in place of Halloween, begin with telling the story of Martin Luther. An internet search will bring up several websites from which to gather information.
Martin Luther stated that we should stand on Scripture, faith, and grace alone. Talk about what the Bible says about salvation.
You might choose to watch the half-hour YouTube presentation The Torchlighters: The Martin Luther Story (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcpoRT4WZSs).
Children like candy and treats. If you’re not going trick-or-treating, you might opt to give each child a giant candy bar. Or perhaps you all create a special dessert together. Or go to the ice cream store and each choose a sundae.
For activities, have the children write on pieces of paper something the Bible says. They can take turns “nailing” their papers to the “church door,” like pin the tail on the donkey.
Churches then had stained glass windows, so children can create their own “stained glass” window. Draw a window on a piece of paper. Draw lines to create the designs in the window. These may be pictures, such as a dove or flower or may just be shapes. Color the shapes, leaving space between each. Then, using black paint, paint over the window. The crayon should resist the paint, and the paint will make the “solder” between each stained-glass piece. Alternatively, draw the window and shapes in black crayon, then color or paint each section.
For more ideas, see https://arrowsandapplesauce.com/studying-reformation-with-kids and https://www.redeemingfamily.com/originals/reformation-day-celebrating-being-saved-through-faith and others.
And look for my picture book coming October 1, 2026, about how one family chooses to celebrate Reformation Day!
Image: Pixabay