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Registration is now open for the 2026 Minnesota Mockingbird conference in Bloomington on October 2 and 3. Mockingbird is an ecumenical, grace-focused ministry devoted to “connecting the Christian faith with the realities of everyday life.” This year’s conference theme is “Grace for the Ages,” exploring what grace looks like at different stages of life. There will be talks on everything from grace in parenting adult children, lessons from the last third of life, the relief that can come from realistic depictions of imperfect people in middle-grade novels, how a church focused on consolation rather than happiness seeking could benefit a generation of stressed-out young people, how God actually shows up in the young adult years, and more. Speakers include Paul Zahl, Gretchen Ronnevik, and Luther Seminary’s Andy Root and Joey Goodall. Click here to view the full schedule. Student tickets are available at a discounted rate. Feel free to reach out to Joey Goodall (jgoodall002@luthersem.edu) with any questions.

National Service Dog Month shines the spotlight on the contributions of service dog. This month-long observation honors the highly trained canines that have a profound impact on their handler’s lives and educates the public about proper etiquette when encountering a service dog. A service dog is a dog that is trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. Unlike an emotional support or therapy animal that provide companionship, a service dog performs tasks directly related to the disability of the handler. This includes assisting people with physical disabilities, such as balance, blood sugar changes, mobility, and even seizures. Service dogs also provide assistance for people with invisible disabilities, such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). For more information, contact disability@luthersem.edu.

In this devotion, Joe Jorgensen ’23 M.Div., reminds us that love is always what the rules are pointing to. Read today’s God Pause.

Is your Luther internship on the horizon? Do you have questions about where to start or what to expect? Join our Contextual Learning team on Tuesday, September 22 from 4–5 p.m. in OCC 213 or via Zoom (link in email) for an info session about internships. This session is intended for ELCA candidates in both the ‘Word and Sacrament’ and ‘Word and Service’ paths.

The stacks will remain closed as we prepare for the upcoming move. It is still possible to check out books, either by placing a hold on the item on the library website or by speaking with library staff for assistance. The library itself will remain open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, starting September 1.

Students, faculty, and staff—join us Tuesday, September 22 on the Luther Seminary online (registration for the in-person event is now full) for the 2026 Fretheim Lecture in Biblical Theology with Craig Koester—The Death of Jesus and the Message of Life: According to the Gospel of John. This year’s Fretheim Lecture on Biblical Theology explores how, through the crucifixion, God conveys the fullness of his love for the world in order to evoke the faith that gives life. “Life” is the heart of the gospel John proclaims, Koester says, and it defines who God is and what God gives. Learn more and register at luthersem.edu/fretheim/26.