Archives for October 2025

In this devotion, Dan Schewe ’15 M.Div., invites us to think about what we have received from those who have gone before us. Read today’s God Pause.

We gather at 11:00 a.m. CT in the Chapel of the Incarnation and online* for worship. Join us for a service of Holy Communion with preacher Kristofer Phan Coffman, associate professor of New Testament, and musicians Erin Deboer-Moran, director of music, and Jonathan Rundman.
*For those joining via livestream: Worship will be guided by a powerpoint embedded in the youtube video. Any hymns from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) hymnal will be presented by hymn number only—you may want to have a copy of ELW accessible.
Share your prayer requests.

Please join the Admissions Office in congratulating Mollie Schellinger on the new arrival of her baby, Ingrid Helene Schellinger. Here is a message from Mollie: “Ingrid joined us on October 16, and we are overjoyed to announce her early arrival. These newborn days have been both beautiful and stretching in the best ways. They’ve reminded me how much grace there is in the small and ordinary moments.” You can send well wishes and blessings to mschellinger001@luthersem.edu or leave physical cards in the Admissions mailbox or OCC 100—we will make sure Mollie gets them.

Join Doug Dockter of the Order of Lutheran Franciscans on Thursday, October 30, during Lunch Church for a brief introduction to Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi and the vows and ministry of the Order of Lutheran Franciscans. After answering your questions, we proceed to a short blessing of the animals. Bring photos of the animals in your life that you want blessed. If you plan to bring your pet to campus, to arrive at 11:30 and we will hold a blessing ceremony outside (or in the OCC lobby if weather is inhospitable).

Please join the Admissions Office in welcoming (back) Erica Dolmar, who will be serving as a temporary Application Coordinator while a staff member is on parental leave. Erica will focus on maintaining the critical day-to-day flow of the admissions process, specifically related to applicant records, application processing, and immediate applicant communication. Thank you, Erica, for taking on this important work and for serving the Admissions Office and our applicants during this critical moment in the application cycle.

It’s time to make your benefit elections for the coming year. This is your opportunity to make important decisions related to your health coverage, retirement contributions, tax-advantaged accounts, and life insurance and beneficiaries. The open enrollment period is now through Monday, November 3. Visit myPortico to: review your 2026 benefit options; make any benefit changes to meet your needs for the coming year; confirm your 2026 enrollment elections.
Tip. Explore detailed information about your health benefits on myPortico on the ELCA-Primary Health Benefits and ELCA Medicare-Primary Health Benefits page. If you have questions, Portico’s award-winning customer care center is available to help. Call 800-352-2876 or email mail@PorticoBenefits.org.
Extended hours are available: Tuesdays and Thursdays until 7:30 p.m. CT; Saturdays, October 25 and November 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT. If you have any questions specific to Luther Seminary, you may also contact Human Resources at hr@luthersem.edu.