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In this devotion, Cody Sanders, Associate professor of Congregational and Community Care Leadership, prays that God would be our help and our hope as we move through the shadows of this season toward the light that is beginning to dawn. Read today’s God Pause.

We gather at 11:00 a.m. CT in the OCC Meditation Chapel and on Zoom (link in email) for contemplative practice of your choice—mindful sketching, centering prayer, or however you choose to engage silence. Facilitated by Dean of the Chapel Steve Thomason, we read the text and then practice in silence for 15 minutes. Afterward, you are welcome to sit in fellowship or go about your day. Share your prayer requests.

Bring your own lunch to OCC 10 on Tuesday, December 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.—or join us on Zoom (link in email)—to learn about what the archives working group has done so far. The group will share some of their findings and next steps and invite conversation on how the archives can best serve this community into the future. Contact Caleb Rollins with any questions at crollins002@luthersem.edu.

Check out this week’s blog post from Dean of the Chapel Steve Thomason—Our Final Week of Chapel and Advent.

The Business Office will be closed from Monday, December 22, 2025, through Friday, January 2, 2026 for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday break. During this time, we will not be processing any financial transactions, including payments, invoices, voucher requests, or reimbursement requests.
To ensure your items are processed before the closure, please note the following deadlines:

• All invoices, voucher requests, and reimbursement requests must be submitted to the Business Office by noon on Tuesday, December 16.
• Any requests submitted after this deadline will not be processed until the week of January 5.
• Online student account payments made after noon on Friday, December 19 will not be posted to accounts until Monday, January 5.

We encourage everyone to plan ahead and submit materials early. Thank you for your cooperation as we work to ensure a smooth transition before and after the break.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
If you’re anything like me, it seems to be getting harder and harder to live freely and lightly, and I need all the support I can muster to stay focused on learning the unforced rhythms of grace. Join us for week 2 of “Be Still” this upcoming Thursday, December 11 at 6:15 p.m. CT. We will continue to engage with practices and discussions in our Advent series centered on slowing down, being present, and exploring ways we can be receptive to hope, peace, joy, and love. This week, we will focus on ways we can rest in our receptivity to God’s Peace. Thanks to all joined last week! Don’t worry if you missed the first session on hope. It’s never too late to slow down and be still. Come as you are to as many upcoming sessions as you are able at 6:15 p.m. CT on Thursdays 12/11 and 12/18 and Sunday 12/21 on Zoom (link in email). Email me at awestphal001@luthersem.edu if you’re interested in joining, if you’re interested but can’t make it, or if you have questions.
—Alison Westphal