Archives for March 2021

The time has come once again to dust off your old joke book, bribe your kids to do a dance with you, and get in touch with your wacky side.

That’s right, the Luther Seminary Variety Show is back, friends … and it’s virtual.

At 7 p.m. Central May 7 we will gather on Zoom to watch our fellow community members show us what they’re made of, which is bound to lead to fun and hilarity! All acts will be pre-recorded, so even the performers will get the chance to just kick back and take it all in.

But in order for this to happen, we need all y’all to send us some variety.

No talent required! Do a dramatic reading, lip sync your favorite song, show off your pet’s tricks, do a wacky skit with your family. The possibilities are endless, but the time isn’t; please limit your video submissions to three minutes.

The deadline for submissions is May 3. Sign up on this Google Sheet for more information on submissions and the link to the Google Folder where submissions should be uploaded.

If you have any questions, please email communitylife@luthersem.edu.

There will be no Friday Morning Yoga next week (April 2), but Session Two will begin the following week! Elizabeth Schoenknecht will continue hosting our weekly yoga class via Zoom this April and May. You can come to any or all of the classes, and all abilities and levels of experience are welcome and encouraged to come. These short classes are an excellent way to slow down, connect with your body, and be present with your fellow community members!

These classes are held at 10:15 a.m. Central Fridays. The Session Two dates are as follows:

April 9
April 16
April 23
April 30
May 7
May 14

A reminder with the Zoom link will be sent out every Thursday prior!

We move closer to the heart of the season: Jesus and his cross. As Sufjan Stevens sings: “There is no shade in the shadow of the cross.” The cross is where suffering is revealed … and then refracted to healing. We acknowledge brokenness. Of the environment. Of human relationships. Of deep-seated hatred.

In our prayer we cry to God: Do not leave us in the depths of our sin–separation, brokenness, pain, but give to us the fullness of your redeeming grace. A grace that turns us outwards to heal, mend, and love.

Nate Crary and Luther Seminary student Hannah Sackett lead this week’s episode of the Liturgy of the Hours.

Benny Roberts will join us for Holy Conversations at 11 a.m. Central today on Zoom. The Zoom link will be included in the community announcements email.

Roberts stewards Urban Ventures’ programming geared toward helping secondary youth explore post-secondary options, including supporting the Act Six team. He brings a wealth of leadership experience, a passion for youth development, and innovation to his role as the college and career director for Act Six. He graduated from Webster University in St. Louis, where he majored in sociology and focused on communications and leadership. We hope you can join us as he guides our conversation.

Dear faculty, students, and staff,

As a part of her promotion review, Professor Jennifer Wojciechowski will offer a public presentation at 11:45 a.m. Central Tuesday, March 23, via Zoom. Opportunity for a Q&A will immediately follow. All are invited to join.

Please use this Zoom link to listen and participate. The passcode will be included in the community announcements email.

All gatherings will be at 11 a.m. Central on Zoom, except for Fridays, which are on the Luther Seminary Chapel Facebook page. The Zoom link will be available in the community announcements email.

Monday, March 22 – Sabbath
We invite you to use the 11 a.m. Central time for sabbath as we rest as a community.

Tuesday, March 23 – Holy Conversations
Benny Roberts will join us for Holy Conversations this week. Roberts stewards Urban Ventures’ programming geared toward helping secondary youth explore post-secondary options, including supporting the Act Six team. He brings a wealth of leadership experience, a passion for youth development, and innovation to his role as the college and career director for Act Six. Roberts graduated from Webster University in St. Louis, where he majored in sociology and focused on communications and leadership. We hope you can join us at 11 a.m. Central on Zoom as he guides our conversation.

Wednesday, March 24 – Chapel
Preacher: Barbara Lundblad
Join us for our regular Wednesday gathering at 11 a.m. Central on Zoom! Our preacher this week received a B.A. in English from Augustana College (1966), an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School (1979), and a D.D. from Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. An ordained minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lundblad served 16 years as a parish pastor in New York City, as well as campus pastor at Lehman College and New York University. She has taught preaching at Yale Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary, Hebrew Union College, and in the D.Min. program of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools. In 2007, she served as president of the Academy of Homiletics. Her teaching interests include preaching in partnership with the congregation, preaching and social transformation, new forms of preaching, and preaching as an integral part of worship. Please help us welcome her to our community in chapel!

Thursday, March 25 – Senior Preacher
Preacher: Seth Wynands, M.Div. student
Be sure to join us in chapel at 11 a.m. Central as we support this fellow student of our community. See you on Zoom!

Friday, March 26 – Facebook Live Worship
Liturgists: Zach Busch
Zach will lead us in worship on the Luther Seminary Chapel Facebook page at 11 a.m. Central.

As a reminder, a new episode of the podcast is released every Tuesday, so be sure to check that out wherever you are. Also, if you haven’t filled out the Spring 2021 Chapel Volunteer Interest Form yet, please do so if you would like to be involved in our chapel offerings!