The echoes of a wonderful RFS bounce around the halls of our campus. A Winter storm looms on the horizon, reminding us that Spring has not yet arrived. We begin our Lenten Journey with Ashes on Wednesday…

Special Notes about Ash Wednesday

• Rev. Tim Coltvet, our Director of Contextual Education, is preaching and will also help to offer ashes to all you wish to receive them.
• This will be a Contemplative Liturgy with lots of candles and lots of silence.
• The Chapel Cafe Opens!! The Chapel and Community Life have partnered to run an experiment during Lent. We will offer coffee and freshly baked pastries every Wednesday in the Narthex immediately following Chapel. Come to chapel to be fed spiritually, physically, and relationally!

Virtual Vespers Begins on Thursday

I am excited to announce that we are running another experiment during Lent that is designed to cultivate a space for the Luther Seminary community to gather on Zoom every Thursday evening at 7:00pm Central Time. This Virtual Vespers will be a very casual environment where we will spend 40ish minutes in a simple scripture reading/contemplation practice and then break out into small groups for conversation and prayer. We hope this will allow a space for distance learners who are not able to attend the daily morning practices to have an opportunity to participate in the communal spiritual life of Luther Seminary. All are welcome. See the Community Announcements email for the link.

An Ash Wednesday Reflection

Our Lenten Journey begins on Wednesday where we hear the sobering words, “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” This can seem morbid, especially in a society that lives in stark denial of our mortality. Yet, it is important for us to remember that our life is not the central theme of the story. Each of us are important, but we are all supporting characters in the larger story of the universe.

I invite you to meditate on this image. What does it tell you about yourself? God? Our place in the story?

On this Monday morning we look forward to the final day of Spring RFS 1. We’ve had 70 students on campus all weekend and it has been wonderful to connect in chapel, over meals, and in class. Today we have a special Monday Chapel service. Pastor Jon Anderson will preside over our contemporary style Holy Communion service and Rev. Dr. Terri Elton will preach. Note that our normal Monday text study will not happen today in lieu of this chapel service, but you can watch on the livestream.

Chapel in RFS 2

We look forward to welcoming 60 students on campus for RFS 2 this Wednesday – Friday. It is such a wonderful time to have students, staff, and faculty interacting on campus in real time. Here are the opportunities we have to worship together.

Wednesday Transfiguration

We are pulling out all the stops to celebrate the Transfiguration of Jesus in Chapel on Wednesday with an organ-led ELW Liturgy of Holy Communion. Pastor Joyce Ngandango will preside and Rev. Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker will preach. Be sure to tune in on YouTube if you are not on campus.

Thursday Why Jesus in Lunch Church

We welcome visiting lecturer Dave Male, Co-Director of Vision and Strategy for the Church of England, to offer his Why Jesus? story in lunch church on Thursday. This is the only time we livestream lunch church. Be sure to check out the zoom link to hear this powerful story.

A Missional Sending on Friday

We close out our week of chapel services on Friday with a simple service of singing, prayer, and a sending message. Dr. Dwight Zscheile will preach and offer us a vision of our missional call. Be sure to tune in on YouTube

A Glimpse!

This week in our journey through the Gospel of Luke we come to the climactic turning point in Jesus’ story. His time of ministry in Galilee is finished. He is ready to turn his eyes to Jerusalem and take his death march. He is warning his disciples that following him will lead to their own crosses. It will be dangerous and difficult.

So, he gives them a glimpse. Peter, James, and John get to see the glory of the Lord. They get to see how Jesus stands with Moses and Elijah. They get to hear the voice of God speak, “This is my son, my chosen, listen to him.”

Sometimes, when things get difficult, we need that reminder that there is something deeper, bigger, and beyond this present darkness.

For the Revised Common Lectionary

• Exodus 34:29–35 – Moses’ face shined with God’s glory
• Psalm 99:1-9 – God speaks from the holy mountain and from the pillar of cloud
• 2 Corinthians 3:12–4:2 – We all reflect God’s light to the world
• Luke 9:28–36 (37–43) – Jesus is transfigured

The Winter term is over. We spend this week preparing for the Spring term. We look forward to greeting over 80 students who will gather on campus for intensive classes on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (and don’t forget open mic night on Friday!)

Oh, and it is the seventh, and final, week of Epiphany. We follow the Revised Common Lectionary and the texts this week are challenging, given the current political climate in the USA.

International Worship on Wednesday

It is the third Wednesday of the month. That means our International Student Association is in charge of leading our service of Holy Communion. This is a monthly opportunity to lift up the rich cultural diversity of our student body and be reminded that we are part of a global movement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We welcome Pastor Saleem Akhtar to preside and Ruth Ibrahim to preach. Be sure to tune in on the livestream.

Chapel This Weekend

We are pleased to offer chapel services during RFS at 11:00am.

• Saturday – I will lead a simple service of welcome, worship and prayer.
• Sunday – All students are invited to attend worship services in local congregations, or online with Pastor Terri Elton.
• Monday – Rev. Dr. Terri Elton will preach, and Pastor Jon Anderson will preside over a contemporary service of Holy Communion.

You Want Me to Love Them?!?

The Revised Common Lectionary this week takes us further in Jesus’ sermon on the level place where he says to “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” These are especially difficult words for our LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC students right now. It seems that the USA is turning to tyranny and seeking their harm.

As Dean of the Chapel I have two things to say to our vulnerable students right now. First, know that you are loved at Luther Seminary. Each of you is a beloved child of God, filled with the dignity that comes by the grace of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Second, it is a valid feeling to be afraid and a real temptation to allow your fear to turn to hate. Jesus’ words are extremely difficult, and utterly necessary for our world today. I invite you to read my extended post here.

Oh God, grant us the courage to love our enemies and show mercy to all people in the way that you have shown mercy to us. Heal our country. Protect the weak.

I encourage us all to spend time soaking in the texts for this week:

• Genesis 45:3-11, 15 – Joseph forgives his brothers for leaving him for dead
• Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 – Trust in God’s justice, not our own vengeance
• 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 – Death is not the end, but the beginning of a new thing
• Luke 6:27-38 – Love your Enemies

Why Does Jesus Speak So Harshly to the Rich and Comfortable?

The Revised Common Lectionary takes us to Jesus’ teaching in chapter 6 this week. We will be here for two weeks. This is Luke’s version of Matthew’s sermon on the mount. Instead of going up on a mountain and proclaiming beatitudes, Jesus comes down from the mountain to stand on a level place. He heals everyone in the crowd–rich, poor, Jew, Gentile. Then he speaks stark, clear words of blessings and warnings, much like Moses did in Deuteronomy.

Notice who is blessed and who is warned. Blessed are the poor, the hungry, the mourners, the hated on account of the Son of Man. They are in the company of all the prophets of God.

Woe to whom? Who are the ones in danger? The rich, the comfortable, the ones who seek fame and popularity more than God’s love and justice; these are the ones who should beware.

It seems Jesus is saying, “When Rome destroys Jerusalem, who will be crying then? When the city that was built up on the backs of the poor and outcast comes crashing down, who will be laughing then?”

It could be easy to let these words sow a spirit of spite and hatred toward the rich and powerful oppressors of our world. But, stay tuned. Next week Jesus reminds his disciples to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them.

For now, let us consider our own hearts. Where do you fall on this spectrum? Are you among the poor, the sad, the mourning, the oppressed for the sake of Jesus? Or, are you among the rich, comfortable, and status-seeking-self-protecting crowd who dehumanizes, uses, and dismisses the “lower” classes?

As a middle-class American, I find myself caught in the middle. I am not rich, but I am comfortable. I am protected by the culture built on the backs of the oppressed. Oh Lord, forgive me for the ways I embrace the heart of riches and chase after comfort. Give me courage and wisdom to stand in solidarity with the poor and vulnerable, for your name’s sake. Read my commentary on this HERE.

For the Revised Common Lectionary

• Jeremiah 17:5-10 – Blessed are those who trust in the LORD
• Psalm 1 – Blessed is the one who is rooted in the Torah
• 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 – Resurrection is the ground of our hope
• Luke 6:17-26 – Blessing and Warnings

Contemplative Liturgy This Wednesday

This is the second week of February. That brings us to our Contemplative Worship Style for Holy Communion on Wednesday. Join us for a time of silence and contemplative stations of intercession, confession, and communion on the level place. May these difficult words of Jesus’ sermon work deeply in our souls.

What is the proper response when we encounter Christ?

The Revised Common Lectionary this week takes us to the story when Jesus borrows Simon’s boat, tells him to cast his nets into deeper water, and Simon leaves everything to follow Jesus. When Simon sees Jesus’ power his first response is to say, “Get away from me, I am a sinful man.” The First reading takes us to a similar moment in Isaiah 6 when God calls Isaiah to be a prophet. Isaiah says, “I am a man of unclean lips.” In both stories God does not reject these sinful men. Instead, God transforms them and empowers them to be messengers of God’s love and salvation for the world.

Oh, that we would be both undone and transformed by God’s presence this week.

• Isaiah 6:1–8 (9–13) – Isaiah is called by God
• Psalm 138:1-8 – The Psalmist praises God for God’s steadfast love
• 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 – Our hope is in the resurrection of Christ
• Luke 5:1–11 – Jesus calls fishermen to fish for people

Circle Practice Begins on Tuesday

Join us in the OCC Meditation Chapel on Tuesday at 11:00am and on Zoom as Dr. Mary Hess leads us in our first Circle Practice of the season. We will practice this important community building skill on the first Tuesday of each month. This is a time to gather in openness and learn to listen deeply to others in order to mend fences, build bridges, and become a stronger community in Christ.

Dr. Kristofer Phan-Coffman Preaching in our ELW Liturgy on Wednesday

This is the first week of February. That means it is time to gather on Wednesday to celebrate Holy Communion in the liturgical style of the ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship). We are excited to hear from Dr. Kristofer Phan-Coffman, our assistant professor of New Testament.

A Visual Guide to the Lectionary texts…Enjoy!

We’ve entered into the weekly rhythm of Epiphany and the Winter term at Luther. I’d like to say it has been an ordinary week, but nothing seems ordinary about how world events are currently unfolding. It is easy to get caught up in anxiety.

It is my prayer that we can find our anchor and be deeply centered in the steadfast love of God this week. The readings from the Revised Common Lectionary for this week are very appropriate for our current moment in the USA context. Jeremiah was called by God to speak truth to blind and corrupt political leaders who were about to lead their people into disaster. The Psalmist claims God as their anchor in the storm. The apostle Paul speaks to the bickering and divided Corinthians about a more excellent way: The Way of LOVE. Then, in our Gospel, we see that Jesus calls out the biggotry in his hometown crowd and they want to throw him off a cliff.

I invite you to join me each day at 11:00am Central Time for a spiritual practice to help us be centered as a community. Check the Weekly Rhythm tab on the left for details.

Dr. Cameron Howard preaching

We welcome Dr. Howard this Wednesday in our service of Holy Communion in the Chapel of the Incarnation. Click the Watch Livestream tab on the left to watch it live, or watch it later. The bulletin is linked in the video description.

Our first week of Contemporary Worship

Every fourth Wednesday we will practice a contemporary style of worship. We are vey pleased to welcome Brian Schroeder back to Luther to work with Erin to lead us in lively, thoughtful worship in a more casual, interactive tone.

Here is a visual summary of the RCL texts this week. Enjoy!

Observing MLK Day

We observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this week in two ways. First, there is no school on Monday! Second, here is the video of our MLK observance in chapel during RFS on January 10. We were honored to have Rev. Dr. DeWayne L. Davis preach, followed up by three of our students–Alyssa Saleem, Annette VanZeyl, and T.T. Daniel Tsokspor–who gave presentations on the global impact of Dr. King’s work.

Wednesday International Liturgy

We are very excited to welcome our International Student Association to lead us in worship this week. Every third Wednesday our international students will bring their home culture to the forefront and offer Luther Seminary a taste of how the body of Christ worships God around the world. Be sure to tune in here.

Jesus Begins his Public Ministry

We look to the third week of Epiphany as we walk through the Gospel of Luke this year. Luke chooses to begin Jesus’ story of ministry with a scene from his hometown, Nazareth, found in Luke 4:14-21. We will spend two weeks in this text and the corresponding texts from the Revised Common Lectionary. Join us for all of our daily spiritual practices. Click here for schedule and links.

The Winter RFS is finished and the short term is begun. It is time to step into the bright and cold rhythm of the Epiphany season. The new year is a great time to think about new starts. Our mission at Luther is to educate leaders for Christian communities called and sent by the Holy Spirit to witness to salvation through Jesus Christ and to serve in God’s world. This world in which we serve is rapidly changing and one of the key skills leaders need is to be able to experiment with new approaches to ministry that fit the context in which they have been called to serve.

As Dean of the Chapel, I feel that it is part of my call to model this type of leadership as God has called me to cultivate spiritual community at Luther. This Winter and Spring we are going to experiment with a new rhythm of worship that more accurately reflects the diversity of our student body, staff, and faculty.

Each Wednesday of the month we will gather to worship God and share in Holy communion, as usual, but each week we will practice a different style of liturgy.

First Wednesday | ELW Liturgy

We honor the long-standing and beautiful liturgical practice of the ELCA, following the liturgy as it is prescribed in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Hymnbook.

Second Wednesday | Contemplative Liturgy

This is a simple, quiet, reflective liturgy where we speak less, expand silence, bring our prayers to God, and listen for the still small voice.

Third Wednesday | International Liturgy

Two-thirds of our residential students are citizens of another country who have left their homes, their cultures, and their style of worship to live on the campus of Luther Seminary. This third Wednesday will be led by our international students so that they can have space to worship God in a form that is familiar and an expression of their cultural context. This will create space for all of us to expand our understanding of how God’s church gathers around the world.

Fourth Wednesday | Contemporary/Experimental Liturgy

Our student body, staff, and faculty is increasingly ecumenical representing multiple modalities of worship styles. We want to give space for this difference in worship style. Additionally, the contexts in which our leaders serve is increasingly secular and filled with people who have either no church background or have experienced great church trauma. This week is a laboratory for how we might find new ways to gather people around word and sacrament that will be contextually relevant in multiple contexts.

I ask you to join us in prayer as we experiment with this new rhythm. We are one body, one spirit, and we do all of this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This is a big week in the chapel at Luther. On Monday we will celebrate Holy Communion under the leadership of Dr. Dirk Lange. This is a special opportunity for the 144 students who have gathered on campus for our Residential Focused Session (RFS) this weekend to share in communion together before they head back home.

We will take a rest on Tuesday and not convene our normal Contemplative practice. I encourage you to find a space in your day to breathe deeply and let the love and grace of God seep deeply into your soul.

On Wednesday we welcome our students for the second RFS session where we will have over 70 students gathering on campus Wednesday – Friday. We will start our time together with our regular Wednesday practice of Holy Communion. Dr. Jennifer Pietz will preach about the Baptism of our Lord. On Thursday I will lead a simple spiritual practice during Lunch Church as a way for our students to experience this alternative form of communal practice. Finally, on Friday we welcome Rev. Dr. DeWayne L. Davis to preach and guide us in a service of remembrance and honoring of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

To all the students who are with us on campus this week, may God bless you and keep you as you study intensely in community. To all of our students, alumni, staff, and faculty, Blessed Epiphany and celebration of our Lord’s baptism and our identity in Christ through our own baptisms.

On Saturday of the RFS 1, I spoke to the students about the Spiritual Life of Luther Seminary and our hopes for the new year. These words are for all of us. May you find encouragement in them. The talk starts at 15:41

Peace, all!

Welcome to 2025, Beloved Luther Seminary Community!

This weekend we eagerly await the arrival of students from around the country to converge on the campus for intensive classes in our Winter Residential Focused Session (RFS). Chapel takes a special focus this weekend for a few reasons.

First, the largest class this weekend is on Worship, taught by Dr. Dirk Lange along with Mary Preus and Tom Witt. These masters of liturgical practice will lead us in worship with Holy Communion on Monday, January 6. This is Epiphany, so it should be a great service.

Second, on Saturday, January 4, I will have the opportunity to offer a simple chapel service of prayer, contemplation, and reflection on how to cultivate a healthy, sustainable spiritual life as a Christian Public Leader.

Third, we encourage students to visit a local congregation for worship on Sunday morning. It is always refreshing to participate in worship in a new context and be reminded of how vast is the body of Christ.

If you will not be on campus, you are always invited to tune in to our Livestream on YouTube.