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In this devotion, Karoline Lewis ’94 M.Div., Professor and Marbury E. Anderson Chair of Biblical Preaching, prays that, as we remember today how God freed the Israelites people, we too might be given the strength to trust in God’s promises to us. Read today’s God Pause.

Join our chapel staff for a text study today at 11:00 a.m. CT on Zoom (link in email), our last chapel gathering before Easter break.

The Operations and Technology Department has planned a severe weather drill for Wednesday, April 1 at 1 p.m. The drill will commence when the city’s planned outdoor warning siren test begins at 1 p.m. This exercise is an important part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and preparedness of our campus community. During the drill, we ask that all individuals follow the designated shelter procedures for their respective locations. Designated shelter areas are:

• Gullixson Hall and Bockman Hall. Tunnels and basement corridors connected by the tunnel between both buildings
• Olson Campus Center. Basement level

When the sirens sound, please proceed promptly and calmly to the appropriate shelter area and remain there until the drill has concluded by the direction of operations staff. We appreciate your cooperation and participation in helping maintain a safe campus environment. If you have any questions, please contact the Operations and Technology Department.

Come experience one of the vibrant churches of the Global South—the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania—one of the fastest-growing and largest Lutheran church bodies in the world with 8.5 million members. Students will participate in a conference with ELCT pastors, learning from them about topics like evangelism, women’s leadership, poverty and the prosperity gospel, and church-sponsored development work. There will be much singing (and some dancing) involved. We will be based in the small city of Iringa, Tanzania, and will also stay in rural villages for a weekend. There will be time at the end of the trip for relaxation at a safari camp in Ruaha National Park and on the island of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean. The cost will likely be around $4600, depending on the price of airline tickets. This cost includes airfare, lodging, transportation, and many meals. There is financial aid available through the St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA for students under the age of 36—interested students should apply as soon as possible. This is a CD course but can also count as a Bible elective. Likely, other financial aid will be available for all students too. If you are interested in this trip, contact Kathryn Schifferdecker, kschiffer@luthersem.edu, by early May, as space is limited. Also note that the dates may change by a day on either end but will be set by early summer. The dates for the course as currently planned are January 16-31, 2027.

Learn about the many locations and buildings of Luther Seminary and its predecessors in a photo slideshow playing in the OCC lobby and available online. The history of our institution and its buildings is rich and varied. You’ll see that reflected in images of old mansions, a hotel that housed classes for a year, and even a tiny house for a cat that used to be on the lower campus. If you have questions or want to learn more, reach out to Caleb Rollins in the archives at crollins002@luthersem.edu.

The Bible Division invites graduating M.Div. and M.A. students to submit papers for the Milton Prize in Old Testament and/or the Bruce Prize in New Testament. Prizes will be awarded at commencement to the students submitting the best papers in the areas of Old Testament and New Testament studies. The prizes include monetary awards. Papers written by graduating M.Div. or M.A. students during their seminary careers are eligible (both December 2025 and May 2026 graduates). These may be course papers, independent study projects, or papers written for this occasion. Papers should not exceed 6,000 words in length. Papers are due by email to Kathryn Schifferdecker, chair of the Bible Division, by Wednesday, April 15 (kschiffer@luthersem.edu). Learn more on these webpages about the criteria the Bible division uses to judge the papers: Milton Prize in Old Testament and Bruce Prize in New Testament. Winners of the Milton and Bruce prizes will be recognized at the commencement ceremony. (And did we mention there are monetary awards?) Talk with your Bible professors or Kathryn Schifferdecker for more information.