The crowd gathers Wednesday at Snack-N-Pack on East Jefferson Street for the release of 95 Nails beer, created by North Country Brewing to celebrate the upcoming 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. The Rev. Tara Lynn of Grace @ Calvary Lutheran Church blesses the beer with a prayer and a quote from Martin Luther.

The congregations of Butler Area Lutheran Ministries are making it possible for everyone to raise a glass to the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

In addition, BALM will host a Festival Worship Service next Wednesday, All Saints' Day, as part of ongoing activities to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

The service will be at 7 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church, 241 N. Main St. The Rev. William Chris Boerger, secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will preach. The Rev. Melissa Stoller, assistant to the bishop for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, will preside. Musicians from all the host BALM congregations will participate.

The Rev. Kimberly van Driel is the pastor of First English Lutheran Church and will serve as master of ceremonies for the service.

A team from the congregations involved worked with North Country Brewing in Slippery Rock to create a lager to celebrate the spirit of the Reformation with 95 Nails Beer.

The beer was unveiled Wednesday at the Snack-N-Pack, 353 E. Jefferson St., and will be available as long as supplies last.

A full story appeared in the Butler Eagle.