Residential and commuter students, you are warmly invited to join us for a Men’s Cookout in the Bockman Hall basement kitchen as we prepare a special dinner-style meal for our Residential Life Holiday Feast on December 15. Cooking begins at 1:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5:00 p.m. This gathering is not only a time of cooking and community but also a moment of cultural learning for some and a significant shift in experience for many. We invite you to come with openness as we share traditions, learn from one another, and build deeper connections. Come and be in community together as we prepare good food from the oven, pray, share testimonies, and celebrate this season. You are welcome to bring a gift for someone of your choosing as we spread joy and fellowship. We are also delighted to share that Shamani Shikwambi, our Interim Dean of Students, will be joining us partly during the cooking and all through the dinner time. All residential and commuter students who are able are encouraged to attend.
Staff and Faculty—Join Us at Mt. Olivet for RFS 2 in January
We encourage faculty and staff to be part of Winter RFS 2 at Mt. Olivet (January 14–16, 2026), even if you are not teaching. There are multiple ways to participate:
- Join us any day for worship at 8:00 a.m. in Serley Chapel, to the right of the main sanctuary.
- Join us any day for lunch at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. In particular, faculty are encouraged to attend on January 14 and staff are encouraged to attend on January 15.
- Sign up for a support shift to help make RFS a success. Check out available roles and sign up for a shift by adding your name to the support schedule.
Contact academicdean@luthersem.edu with any questions.
God Pause for December 4: Matthew 3
In this devotion, Elizabeth Schoenknecht ’04 M.Div., writes that, in a world full of distractions, Advent is a time to quiet those distractions and listen closely for the pure voice of God.
Read today’s God Pause.
Thursday Chapel: Lunch Church [In-Person]
We gather at 11:00 a.m. CT in the OCC Dining Room for Lunch Church.
Topic: Call Stories, Bold Yeses, and Advent Wonder
Speaker: Jen Gruendler, Associate Director for Enrollment Services
Come explore the several call stories and various bold yeses found in the birth narratives of Jesus and wonder how they might intersect with your own senses of call. Let us immerse ourselves in Advent wonder, good news of great joy, and hope for the weary and afraid. Lunch is provided.
Share your prayer requests.
Ready to Create a Plan for Your Debt?
- Lutheran Social Service (LSS) of Minnesota – Financial Counseling is here to help! Whether you’re looking to create a sustainable plan for student loan repayment, managing credit card debt, or facing home foreclosure, LSS certified financial counselors are available to meet with you and your immediate family members at no out-of-pocket cost to you through its ongoing partnership with Luther Seminary’s Stewardship Leaders Program. Note: You don’t need to be Lutheran or located in the state of Minnesota to access this valuable resource!
- To explore what LSS has to offer, visit the LSS/Luther Seminary Financial Choice website.
- To set up a phone appointment with a certified financial counselor, call 800.528.2926 and tell them you are a Luther Seminary student.
- Already met with an LSS certified financial counselor? Send your certificate to Grace Pomroy at gpomroy001@luthersem.edu to receive a $50 Amazon gift card.
- Questions? Contact Grace Pomroy at gpomroy001@luthersem.edu.
God Pause for December 3: Romans 15
In this devotion, Elizabeth Schoenknecht ’04 M.Div., reminds us that the gospel message shatters our definitions of who is “right” and “wrong”—the good news is for all people. Read today’s God Pause.