{"id":453,"date":"2026-04-27T12:56:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T12:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/?p=453"},"modified":"2026-04-27T12:56:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T12:56:50","slug":"dont-let-your-hearts-be-troubled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/2026\/04\/27\/dont-let-your-hearts-be-troubled\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Let Your Hearts Be Troubled"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Do not let your hearts be troubled. That\u2019s what Jesus said to his disciples on the night that he was betrayed and arrested. How could he say that? Their world was about to be torn apart. The readings this week are troubling. The first reading tells the story of Stephen being unjustly accused, dragged outside the city and beaten to death with rocks. Peter is writing to a group of people who were being severely persecuted. The Psalmist cries out to God in a time of trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two key truths that this week\u2019s readings remind me of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, life is hard.<\/strong> The domination systems of the world operate through fear, intimidation and violence. Standing up for truth, justice and righteousness will almost always bring persecution. That\u2019s a tough pill to swallow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, the LORD is our refuge.<\/strong> Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He went to the extremes of persecution, forgave his executioners, buried our sin and shame in the tomb, and rose to new life. There are many dwelling places in the house of God. The grace, love, and power of God are expansive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children of God, remember this. You are a royal priesthood, called to be the love of God in the world. God\u2019s got you. Do not let your hearts be troubled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gather with us in Chapel on Wednesday to lean into the shelter and refuge of the LORD as we practice a contemplative liturgy and Holy Communion. We will hear scripture, sing, pray, light candles, and sit in silence together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will observe our normal weekly rhythm of spiritual practices this week:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

11:00am | Text Study<\/strong> \u2013 Zoom<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

11:00am | Contemplative Practice<\/strong> \u2013 OCC Meditation Chapel and on Zoom<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

11:00am |\u00a0Service of Holy Communion<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Chapel of the Incarnation or on\u00a0YouTube<\/a>. Rev. Dr. Steve Thomason,\u00a0Dean of the Chapel<\/em> and Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship<\/em>, will lead a contemplative liturgy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:45am | Chapel Cafe<\/strong> \u2013 Luther Cafe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

11:00am | Lunch Church<\/strong> \u2013 Dining Room A<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do not let your hearts be troubled. That\u2019s what Jesus said to his disciples on the night that he was betrayed and arrested. How could he say that? Their world was about to be torn apart. The readings this week are troubling. The first reading tells the story of Stephen being unjustly accused, dragged outside […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-453","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-uncategorized","7":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=453"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":455,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/453\/revisions\/455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}