Subscribe to get notified about new events!

Return To Wittenberg

Return to Wittenberg fosters a deeper understanding of the Christian faith through conferences and discussions centered on the principles of the Reformation, emphasizing the significance of Word and Sacrament in living a life of grace.

An academic seminar is a small-group session that convenes over a series of recurring meetings to really focus on a particular subject. In a seminar, everyone participates in discussion to share insights and ideas around the topic, rather than a lecture format. Seminar attendees have an opportunity to get into the meat of our conference theme through intensive reading and discussion of texts related to our conference theme.&nbsp; This year, we will consider the theme of &quot;Return to the Heart&quot; in four main sessions focused on readings from: the Bible, the Fathers, the Liturgy, and literature. We invite you to join us before the formal conference starts for this fourth annual R2W Seminar! Reading materials will be sent out in advance so you can read ahead and get the most out of our discussions.&nbsp; Seminar registration is limited; first-come, first served! Make sure you secure your spot by signing up early. The Seminar will take place from Thursday morning to Friday afternoon. Room and board are included in the registration fee. We will also pray the Divine Office together. It is an edifying experience.

2026 Seminar: "Return to the Heart"

A+D 2026 marks the 10th anniversary&nbsp;of Return to Wittenberg (R2W)! The theme of our 10th annual conference, &quot;Return to the Heart,&quot; celebrates another auspicious anniversary: The quincentennial of Luther&#39;s publication of the Deutsche Messe in 1526, which we will have the chance to experience together (translated into English) as part of the conference.&nbsp; The&nbsp;Deutsche Messe, which means &quot;German Mass,&quot; was Luther&#39;s prototypical example of what the principles of his 1523 &quot;Order of the Divine Service in the Congregation&quot; could practically look like in the German language. The structure was the same as his 1523 publication of a reformed Latin Mass, but with different musical and textual emphases as befitted the differences in culture and language.&nbsp; On a deeper level, Luther&#39;s composition of the Deutsche Messe underscored a return to the heart of the Mass---Word and Sacrament---in much the same way that the entire Evangelical Reformation underscored a return to the heart of the Christian faith. That is, the understanding that we are not justified by a legalistic adherence to the letter of the Torah, but rather by faith in the unmerited gifts of God&#39;s grace that we receive through the death and life of our Lord Jesus Christ. All of this is to the end that we might live with Him in His Kingdom, which is found within you---in the heart.&nbsp; We will take this theme of &quot;Return to the Heart&quot; to an even deeper level, considering what it means for each of us individually and for the cosmos as a whole for time and eternity. The contexts of the Feasts of the Reformation and All Saints, which will coincide with our 2026 dates (Thursday, October 29 through Sunday, November 1), will help to scaffold our discussions and presentations.&nbsp;

Return To Wittenberg

Events

Events

2026 Seminar: "Return to the Heart"

Get your tickets

2026 Conference: "Return to the Heart"

Get your tickets

Powered by