Announcements

As we enter the holiday season, Residential Life is delighted to invite you to several special
gatherings designed to build community, foster connection, and celebrate together. All members
of the community are warmly welcome to attend.

• Pancake Breakfast—Tuesday, December 23, 9–11 a.m. CT, OCC Café
  Start your Christmas prep with a relaxed and cozy pancake breakfast. Come enjoy hot pancakes, good conversation, and a joyful start to the day. Let us know (email sayashim002@luthersem.edu) if you plan to attend so we can plan accordingly. Staff and faculty are also welcome.
• Game and Movie Night—Saturday, December 27, Time: 4–7 p.m. CT, OCC 10
  Take a break and join us for an evening of games, a movie, and fellowship. Snacks and hot beverages will be provided in a comfortable, festive atmosphere.
• New Year’s Eve Celebration and Worship—Wednesday, December 31
  10:30 p.m.–12:10 a.m. (midnight) CT, Bockman Hall 116
  All are invited to a student-led worship gathering as we reflect on God’s faithfulness in 2025 and pray together as we welcome 2026. The evening will include music, prayer, reflection, and fellowship. Hot tea, hot cocoa, and snacks will be available as we celebrate the New Year together.

In this devotion, Cody Sanders, associate professor of Congregational and Community Care Leadership, wonders how we might root the very essence of who we are in our baptismal identity.
Read today’s God Pause.

Important update about our gathering today: As many of you know, Dale Dobias cannot be with us today, and it is his energy and humor that truly make our DIY Nativity come to life. We simply can’t imagine pulling it off without him, so we are canceling the DIY Nativity play and in its place will be still be gathering for coffee, cider, hot cocoa, cookies, and desserts while we sing carols together. We felt this would be a beautiful way to come together in community and song during this season. We also ask that you keep Dale and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this time. We look forward to seeing you all later this morning . . . Wednesday, December 17 at 11 a.m. in the chapel lobby and OCC dining areas. Everyone is invited—students, staff, and faculty—as we gather for cocoa, cider, coffee, and treats and a community lunch from Andiamo Italian. Join us for fellowship and snacks, sing carols and a community meal, and celebrate coworkers who have reached various milestones.

In this devotion, Cody Sanders, associate professor of Congregational and Community Care Leadership, shares how we might think and pray about suffering that has no answer we can come up with, suffering in need of salvation. Read today’s God Pause.

Check out this week’s blog post from Dean of the Chapel Steve Thomason—Christmas Break and Advent 4.

In light of recent, tragic news, here are library books (over 500), articles, and other resources that address the topic.