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Join us January 25–27, 2026, for a 3-day retreat that explores God’s call on your life. We will explore the biblical witness on divine calling and God’s ongoing calling in our lives. There will be time for rest, play, worship, and prayer. Throughout the retreat we will use storytelling and the witness of community and faith practices to dig deeply into our stories and the story God is unfolding in each of us. We will gather at Shores of Saint Andrew Bible Camp in New London, Minnesota. Participants will have the opportunity to carpool to/from campus or meet at the retreat center. The cost of the retreat including 2 nights lodging and 6 meals is $200—thanks to the support of a Luther Seminary grant. Scholarships are available for current Luther Seminary students thanks to the Stewardship Leaders Endowment Lab grant—email Ashley Wheeler (awheeler002@luthersem.edu) for more information. Retreat enrollment is limited, so register soon. Registration closes Monday, December 15. The retreat is led by Steve Thomason, Dean of the Chapel and Faculty, Ashley Wheeler in Candidacy and Contextual Education, and Jen Gruendler in Admissions.

To support students who may be facing food insecurity, Luther Seminary operates a direct-order grocery process for the seminary community. Luther Seminary’s Grocery Assistance Program is a lifeline for students facing food insecurity. Started during the pandemic, this vital program continues to provide essential groceries to an average of 25 students each week. Through the program, students can request necessary food items that are then carefully processed, purchased, and delivered to campus by dedicated volunteers. This initiative helps students meet their nutritional needs and fosters a sense of community and support within the seminary. Your generous donation will ensure that this program can continue to make a real difference in the lives of Luther Seminary students. On the Grocery Assistance Program webpage, you can make a one-time or recurring gift to support this important ministry.

In this devotion, Elizabeth Schoenknecht ’04 M.Div., reminds us that, in Christ’s community, you are welcome and you belong. Read today’s God Pause.

As previously announced, Rahfat Hussain started this week as chief financial officer for both Luther and Augsburg University. Today is Rahfat’s first day on Luther’s campus. Please give him a warm welcome as he gets to know the seminary community in the upcoming weeks.

Luther Seminary has received a five-year, $10 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the Luther Collective, a seminary-led collaboration that seeks to develop a renewed vision for theological education. The grant will support Luther’s strategic work with five partner organizations to develop a new, networked educational paradigm for leaders of Christian communities that is both sustainable and responsive to local settings. The Luther Collective project is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. This initiative is designed to help theological schools across the United States and Canada as they prioritize and respond to the most pressing challenges they face in preparing pastoral leaders for Christian congregations both now and into the future. Read more.

In this devotion, Elizabeth Schoenknecht ’04 M.Div., writes that, in a world full of distractions, Advent is a time to quiet those distractions and listen closely for the pure voice of God.
Read today’s God Pause.