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Join fellow female-identifying seminarians for a time of fellowship, devotion, and a presentation night on Wednesday, September 30. A potluck dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. with meeting to follow at 6 p.m. If you are a distance learner and would like to join our meeting via Zoom, we will work to make that possible. Visit this Google form for more information and to sign up.

Do you have a prayer or hymn that is meaningful to your faith? A prayerbook is being created by and for the Luther Seminary community, and we want your suggestions. Please email prayers or hymns to aaakre002@luthersem.edu with the subject line “prayer.” We’re not able to take original compositions—only existing texts. Please include whatever information you have about copyright to the text you’re submitting. Search through hymnals, wallets, and prayerbooks for those beloved words that aided you, so they might now aid others.

Please join the Office of Institutional Research on Tuesday, October 27 from 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. in OCC 10 and on Zoom (link in email) to learn about the Alumni ExperienceSurvey. This is a hybrid event with a free lunch for those attending in person. We will be sharing the survey design process, delivery experience, and what we are learning from the responses followed by a time for Q&A. If you have questions, email research@luthersem.edu.

Open Enrollment for 2027 will begin rolling out on Monday, October 19. Watch for your email invite from Portico beginning on that day. These are sent in batches, so yours might arrive a day or two after October 19. Everyone will have two weeks to complete the enrollment process. A reminder that, on Wednesday, October 14, from 9–10:30 a.m. in OCC 10, the seminary’s Portico representatives will be on campus to present plan details and answer your questions. Calendar invites and the Overview of Benefit Changes have been sent out.
And a second reminder that, as announced last month, we have two changes that will impact employee out-of-pocket costs: (1) an increase in medical plan premiums and (2) an increase in annual deductibles. If you have questions about these changes or about Open Enrollment generally, please contact Carrie Johnson (cjohnson007@luthersem.edu) or Joe Ahrens (jahrens001@luthersem.edu).

In this devotion, Bethany Kurschner ’92 M.A., wonders why we resist asking for and receiving help. Read today’s God Pause.

Please join me in thanking Bethany Riethmeier for her seven years of service to the seminary as our Donor Relations Manager. Bethany recently accepted a Campaign Manager role with Avivo, a Minnesota nonprofit focused in the housing, mental health services, recovery, and career development space, serving neighbors and communities across the greater metro area. We know that she will continue to use her project management, thoughtful event planning, and gracious customer service talents in new ways to support Avivo’s growing philanthropy program. Bethany’s last day with the seminary will be Friday, October 9—please wish her all the best! —Jill Kane