St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Saxonburg has mounted a former church door as a reminder of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

SAXONBURG — St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 310 W. Main St., has found a creative way to join Christian churches worldwide marking the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther sparking the Protestant Reformation.

Five centuries ago, the monk nailed a list of 95 points to the wooden doors of a university church in Wittenburg, Germany. His simple action ignited the Reformation movement.

An old wooden door at St. Luke's Lutheran Church has been given new life as a focal point of an outside display to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

“It's not just intended to help us remember the past, but the display celebrates how faith in Jesus Christ is reforming people's lives even today,” said the Rev. Roger Keller, St. Luke's pastor. “God's Word has the power to change lives, hearts and minds, to worship God first and then to love and serve others.''

The “Wittenberg” door display is located outside Centennial Hall behind the church at State and Main streets. The door was tucked away in storage after recent church renovations until it was transformed into a work of art.

“We took an old door that had been in the church, put accessories on it, and set it up outside Centennial Hall,” said Richard Smith, one of the project leaders.

Smith and Bob Kaltenhauser refurbished the door, painted it and added the hinges and the handle

The door was set up and installed by a group of church volunteers.

The door has two signs and is surrounded by a fence. One sign, the shape of a banner scroll, says “500th Anniversary. In 1517, Martin Luther nailed 95 objections to the door of the official church calling for reforms. No more payments to God. Salvation is free!”

Smith said the whole display is “how I pictured it. I am thankful and humbled by how creative power comes from the Holy Spirit.”

“As long as we are making a good point for everybody and focusing thinking on the Reformation which is an important thing for our church,” Smith added.

In addition to seeing the display, the public is welcome to post online at the church's website — stlks.com and click on the Wittenberg Door tab — about how faith in Jesus Christ has changed one's life.

Known as the Castle Church, the original location of the 95 Theses was damaged by fire in 1760. The original wooden doors were replaced in 1858 by bronze replicas bearing the Latin text of the theses.

The church was fully restored in 1892.

Today it serves as a youth hostel, museum and houses the town's historical archives.