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In this devotion, Kjersten Karlsgodt Darling ’25 Ph.D. says that even as thoughts of abandonment haunt our own feelings, we know that God is present in our times of wilderness. Read today’s God Pause.

Here’s the schedule of RFS activities for today and tomorrow. For complete details, see the Spring 2026 RFS schedule. Also note: campus security | campus pastor availability | weather-related announcements | Spring 2026 Moodle site

Monday, March 2
8-10:50 a.m. —RFS 1 Classes
11:00-11:40 a.m. —Chapel
11:40 a.m.-12:30 p.m. —Lunch – faculty advisors available
12:30-4:20 p.m. —RFS 1 Classes

Tuesday, March 3
No Classes
Sign-up for Financial Wellness Sessions with Grace Pomroy
6:30–7 p.m. Weekly Lenten Soup, Bread, and Prayer Gathering, OCC Dining Room
7 p.m. Virtual Vespers, OCC 148 and online

Let’s gather on Zoom (link in email) on Tuesday evenings during Lent. Pastor Steve will host a simple time where we will check in with each other, read scripture, pray, and reflect on our Lenten theme: Encounter. We’ll begin at 7 p.m. and finish by 7:45. The Zoom link is also on the LS Community shared Google calendar.

Do you like art? Books? Then you’re going to love the wide selection of art books available to the community during Spring RFS. Many beautiful art-related books are available in the library’s periodical and reading rooms during regular library hours, with special extended hours Monday, March 2 from 9 a.m. to noon. Drop by and consider giving some art books a new forever home!

You are invited to join in community faith formation every weekday (Monday-Thursday) at 11:00 a.m. CT. We gather in a variety of ways and places. See the schedule below to see how you can join us in-person and online.

Monday, March 2, 11 a.m. CT
Service of Holy Communion in the Chapel of the Incarnation. Kathryn Schifferdecker, professor of Old Testament, will be preaching. We will be considering Abram’s encounter with God. The service will be livestreamed.

Tuesday, March 3, 11 a.m. CT
Contemplative Practice in the Meditation Chapel and on Zoom.

Wednesday, March 4, 11 a.m. CT
Service of Holy Communion in the Chapel of the Incarnation and livestreamed. Karoline Lewis, professor of Biblical Preaching, will be preaching. Explore our Lenten theme—Encounter with Christ—when Jesus encounters Nicodemus.

Thursday, March 5, 11 a.m. CT
Lunch Church in the OCC Dining Room with Why Jesus? by M.A. dtudent Joe Squire. Come hear about the difference Jesus makes in Joe’s life and participate in our all-community Lenten art project.

Friday, March 6, 11 a.m. CT
Join us in the OCC chapel for a simple sending service of song and prayer to close off RFS 2.
Share your prayer requests.

Our next “Brake Bread” event—where we gather around sustaining food while building deeper community connections and celebrating a particular campus space—will be during the Spring RFS 2 session, on Thursday, March 5, 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the OCC Dining Room. We’re calling this gathering Brake Bread: Community and Connection, as we host Luther board member Tracey Gibson in conversation with Emily Rova-Hegener and those in attendance as well. This “Brake Bread” event features dinner and drinks—including beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drink options but no coffee. Meal and drinks are provided by Community Life, the “Brake Bread” portion (including desserts!) by the Thrivent Grant. These “Brake Bread” gatherings are intentional moments to build relationships, listen to one another, laugh together, and celebrate the good work and learning being done among us. Please join us in this holy space to love one another more deeply in a time of uncertainty. If you have questions, email Emily Rova-Hegener in Contextual Learning, erovahegener001@luthersem.edu.