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.
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God Pause for April 20: Acts 2
In this devotion, Bill Boelter ’87 M.Div., says we find strength and regular renewal as we gather with others in worship. Read today’s God Pause.
Want to Practice or Learn German? [In-Person]
A group will be gathering at 9:30 a.m. for no more than one hour on Monday mornings for the remainder of the spring term to support each other in our independent study of the German language. For more information reach out to ccarter001@luthersem.edu or kbaptiste001@luthersem.edu. All levels of German knowledge are welcome! Feel free to bring any learning tools/resources you find helpful.
Chapel Schedule for the Week: April 20-24
You are invited to join in community faith formation every weekday (Monday-Thursday) at 11:00 a.m. CT. We gather in a variety of ways and places. See the schedule below to see how you can join us in-person and online.
Monday, April 20, 11 a.m. CT
Text study with the chapel staff on Zoom (link in email).
Tuesday, April 21, 11 a.m. CT
Contemplative Practice in the Meditation Chapel and on Zoom.
Wednesday, April 22, 11 a.m. CT
Service of Holy Communion in the Chapel of the Incarnation. Dwight Zscheile, professor of Congregational Mission and Leadership, will preach, and Danielle Dokman, Ph.D. student, will preside. We will explore Jesus’ community in the Spirit in the context of community today.
The service will be livestreamed.
Thursday, April 23, 11 a.m. CT
Lunch Church in the OCC Dining Room will be led by Arnold Swai, M.A. student.
Share your prayer requests.
Tanzania Travel Course Information Meeting
Students interested in learning more about the January 2027 Tanzania travel course are invited to a Zoom meeting on Thursday, April 30, 5–6 p.m. CT. Students logged into their Luther Seminary account can use the Zoom link shared in the daily email and on the shared Community Calendar. We will talk about itinerary, costs, travel arrangements, and course learning goals. If you are interested and cannot make the meeting, please email Kathryn Schifferdecker, kschiffer@luthersem.edu.
Travel Course to Tanzania – January 2027
Come experience one of the vibrant churches of the Global South—the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania—one of the fastest-growing and largest Lutheran church bodies in the world with 8.5 million members. Students will participate in a conference with ELCT pastors, learning from them about topics like evangelism, women’s leadership, poverty and the prosperity gospel, and church-sponsored development work. There will be much singing (and some dancing) involved. We will be based in the small city of Iringa, Tanzania, and will also stay in rural villages for a weekend. There will be time at the end of the trip for relaxation at a safari camp in Ruaha National Park and on the island of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean. The cost will likely be around $4600, depending on the price of airline tickets. This cost includes airfare, lodging, transportation, and many meals. There is financial aid available through the St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA for students under the age of 36—interested students should apply as soon as possible. This is a CD course but can also count as a Bible elective. Likely, other financial aid will be available for all students too. If you are interested in this trip, contact Kathryn Schifferdecker, kschiffer@luthersem.edu, by early May, as space is limited. Also note that the dates may change by a day on either end but will be set by early summer. The dates for the course as currently planned are January 16-31, 2027.