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In this devotion, David Haven ’86 M.Div., reminds us that faith is not something we create or sustain but a gift from God. Read today’s God Pause.

We gather at 11:00 a.m. CT in the Chapel of the Incarnation and livestreamed for a Service of Holy Communion with preacher Mark Granquist, professor of Church History.
*For those joining via livestream: Worship will be guided by a powerpoint embedded in the youtube video. Any hymns from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Hymnal (ELW) will be presented by hymn number only and you may want to have a copy of the ELW accessible during worship.

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.

Planning for your summer courses? Consider the elective “God the Holy Spirit” to learn more about the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives and throughout the world. The course fulfills an elective requirement for Systematic Theology and Justice and Reconciliation. It is offered online asynchronous, though you will have a choice for asynchronous and synchronous small groups. Contact Lois Malcolm (lmalcolm@luthersem.edu) for more information.

Join the seminaries of the ELCA Admissions Cohort for a virtual fireside chat on Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. CT. Hear from current pastors, deacons, and faith leaders as we explore seminary discernment and resources for LGBTQ+ prospective students. Current seminarians are welcome to attend as well and hear from panelists from ELCA churchwide, Queer Confirmation, and Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries. Invite folks you know who are discerning seminary to attend. Register here.

As congregations and communities navigate the growing complexities of pastoral care, it is not always clear how to respond to the complex mental health challenges that exist in our congregations and in our surrounding communities. Join the Future Communities Lab and the Congregational Collective on April 21 from 12–1 p.m. CT for a virtual conversation with practical theologian and registered mental health nurse John Swinton. Register for the free webinar here.