Seminary Guild Board Meeting
2026-06-10 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Hasse Library – Library 112, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States

St. Barnabas, Apostle
2026-06-11

Third Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 6)
2026-06-14

Summer Greek begins
2026-06-15

Prof Insights: Faculty-Led Workshop: Professor Prieto in Irvine, CA
2026-06-16 - 2026-06-18 | Concordia University Irvine – Spectrum Campus, 16355 Laguna Canyon, Irvine, CA, 92618, United States
Reaching Out to Our Neighbors with the Gospel of Hope: Engaging and Learning from Our Global South Partners
Christ commissioned His apostles to be His witnesses “to the ends of the earth,” calling them to make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching (Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:19–20). For centuries, going abroad has been a central mission endeavor of the Christian church — and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) continues to faithfully participate in that global mission. However, shifting immigration patterns have opened new doors for outreach. The U.S. itself has become a mission field, as many immigrants arrive not only to receive the Gospel, but also to proclaim it. These brothers and sisters from the Global South bring with them vibrant faith and a passion for sharing Christ. How, then, can our LCMS congregations engage in meaningful outreach alongside these mission-minded partners — reaching into the diverse neighborhoods of our own nation with the love and truth of Jesus?

Dr. Ely Prieto
Associate Professor of Practical Theology, Associate Dean of Urban and Cross-Cultural Ministry, Director of the Center for Hispanic Studies, and Lutheran Foundation Professor of Urban and Cross-Cultural Ministry
Dr. Ely Prieto is associate professor of Practical Theology, the Lutheran Foundation Professor of Urban and Cross-Cultural Ministry, associate dean for Urban and Cross-Cultural Ministry and director of the Center for Hispanic Studies at Concordia, Seminary, St. Louis. A faculty member since 2021, Dr. Prieto has an extensive academic background teaching in the areas of homilitics, pastoral theology, church planning and administration. He was one of the editors of “O Povo de Deus (A Festschrift in Honor of Rev. Dr. Acir Raymann)” and has contributed chapters for a variety of published books, articles, book reviews, homiletical and sermonic studies and sermons.

Schedule

DAY
TIME

Tuesday, June 16
1-4 p.m.

Wednesday, June 17
9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Thursday, June 18
9 a.m.-noon

Registration fee: $160
Registration deadline: June 2, 2026
Location contact: Maddie Gong

Register
More Workshops

Note: The schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the workshop presenters.

Reduced Residency Graduate School Courses end
2026-06-19

Vocatio: High School
2026-06-20 - 2026-06-26 | Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States
High school men and women entering grades nine through 12 can explore God’s calling and direction for them during Vocatio: High School. The registration fee is $300 per participant.

Learn More

Registration deadline: May 31, 2026

Summer begins
2026-06-21

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 7)
2026-06-21
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 7)

FIRST READING
Jer. 20:7–13

PSALM
Ps. 91:1–10 (11–16)

EPISTLE
Rom. 6:12–23

GOSPEL
Matt. 10:5a, 21–33

Color

Prof Insights: Faculty-Led Workshop: Professor Elowsky in Fargo, ND
2026-06-22 - 2026-06-24 | Immanuel Lutheran Church (Fargo, ND), 1258 Broadway, Fargo, ND, 58102, United States
The Apostolic Fathers
A study of the primary literature of the Apostolic Fathers with application to the life of the church today. The study will primarily focus on the texts themselves, with attention given to issues of authorship, dating, the integrity of the text and the occasion for the writing, as well as major theological, ecclesiological and social issues that the writings address, such as martyrdom, church order, orthodoxy and heresy, and early Christian rituals.

Dr. Joel Elowsky
Professor of Historical Theology, Dean of Advanced Studies, Director of the Center for the Study of Early Christian Texts, and Frank and Valerie Fuerst Professor of Historical Theology
Dr. Joel Elowsky is professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He also is the director of the Seminary’s Center for the Study of Early Christian Texts and is a researcher for the Center for Early African Christianity at the Oden House in New Haven, Conn. He has been a faculty member at Concordia Seminary since 2014. His interests and areas of expertise include early church studies, the history of exegesis, mission work and African Christianity.

Schedule

DAY
TIME

Monday, June 22
1-4 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23
9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24
9 a.m.-noon

Registration fee: $160
Registration deadline: June 8, 2026
Location contact: Pastor Bernie Worral

Register
More Workshops

Note: The schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the workshop presenters.

SMP & GPC intensive courses
2026-06-22 - 2026-06-26

Nativity of St. John the Baptist
2026-06-24

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 8)
2026-06-28
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 8)

FIRST READING
Jer. 28:5–9

PSALM
Ps. 119:153–160

EPISTLE
Rom. 7:1–13

GOSPEL
Matt. 10:34–42

Color

St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles
2026-06-29

Barber Scholarship application deadline
2026-06-30

Siebert Lutheran Foundation application deadline
2026-07-01

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9)
2026-07-05
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9)

FIRST READING
Zech. 9:9–12

PSALM
Ps. 145:1–14

EPISTLE
Rom. 7:14–25a

GOSPEL
Matt. 11:25–30

Color

Prof Insights: Faculty-Led Workshop: Professor Thompson in Baxter, MN
2026-07-07 - 2026-07-08 | Minnesota North District Office, 7264 Fairview, Baxter, MN, 56425, United States
Family Discipleship: Exploring an Effective Partnership of Home and Congregation
This workshop serves pastors and leaders working with a congregations’ children and families in a highly effective approach to raise children in the faith, beginning at baptism and continuing into adulthood. It is biblically guided and confessionally grounded, serving churches of any size (one child through 500+). It can reignite Sunday schools and enhance catechetical programs and youth ministries.
The family discipleship approach taught by Dr. Thompson is based on clear biblical teaching, Lutheran Confessional instruction from Martin Luther’s catechisms and the Smalcald Articles, and is grounded in research, including the 2017 Millennial Research study. It showed that only one in five youth raised in LCMS congregations remain active in churches into young adulthood. Pastors learn how to equip parents and households in a Gospel-centered and forgiveness-focused strategy to fulfill their vocations. It looks to the home as formational with important habits, practices, and spiritual conversations, and emphasizes the faith life of parents as key in this work.
It also demonstrates what congregational ministries should and should not do per God’s calling. It avoids the pitfalls of inadvertently turning pastors into surrogate parents and the opposite problem of expecting parents to do the work of pastors. This approach helps each vocation and location—the Christian home and congregation—do what God has called and equipped them to do well in raising children in the faith to remain in the faith.
View a Concordia Seminary, St. Louis chapel sermon on the Table of Duties by Dr. Thompson on this topic. Listen to a podcast discussion on the Family Discipleship Initiative directed by Thompson in partnership with Dr. Todd Biermann of Concordia Center for the Family.

Dr. Mart Thompson
Associate Professor of Practical Theology, and Director of Specific Ministry Pastor Program
Dr. W. Mart Thompson is Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Director of the Family Discipleship Initiative at Concordia Seminary. His work is addressing curricular needs in pastoral formation to improve faith transmission to children. He has written a new book being published by Concordia Publishing House due out at the end of June, 2026: Family Discipleship with Christ: A Map of God’s Promises in Congregations and Families. (Guest chapters are provided by Dr. John T. Pless on Luther’s Small Catechism in the home and by Dr. Ely Prieto on multiethnic family discipleship. Dr. Robert Kolb has written the Foreword.)

Schedule

DAY
TIME

Tuesday, July 7
1-8 p.m.

Wednesday, July 8
9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Registration fee: $160
Registration deadline: June 23, 2026
Location contact: District President Brady Finnern

Register
More Workshops

Note: The schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the workshop presenters.

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10)
2026-07-12
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10)

FIRST READING
Is. 55:10–13

PSALM
Ps. 65:(1–8) 9–13

EPISTLE
Rom. 8:12–17

GOSPEL
Matt. 13:1–9, 18–23

Color

Prof Insights: Faculty-Led Workshop: Professor Fickenscher in York, NE
2026-07-14 - 2026-07-16 | Emmanuel Lutheran Church (York, NE), 806 N. Beaver Ave., York, NE, 68467, United States
And He Spoke Many Things to Them in Parables
The parables of Jesus are among the most beloved passages of Scripture yet are notoriously difficult to interpret. What, exactly, are these parables? Are they “earthly stories with a heavenly meaning”? How should we read and apply them faithfully as Christians in our lives today? This workshop will first explore what kind of stories parables are. Then, we will construct a method for reading them that is faithful to their literary form and that all God’s people can use. Finally, we will apply the method and walk through multiple parables together to see how Jesus uses this literary form to teach us more about who He is and what it means to belong to His kingdom.

Dr. James Fickenscher
Assistant professor of Exegetical Theology
Dr. James Fickenscher is assistant professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He’s a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Evangelical Theological Society. He has presented to both organizations on New Testament Greek Linguistics and the Pastoral Epistles. His areas of interest include New Testament Greek syntax and linguistics, hermeneutics of the New Testament, the intersection of biblical studies and mental health, the Pauline Corpus, and especially the letters of Timothy and Titus.

Schedule

DAY
TIME

Tuesday, July 14
1-4 p.m.

Wednesday, July 15
9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Thursday, July 16
9 a.m.-noon

Registration fee: $160
Registration deadline: June 30, 2026
Location contact: Pastor Mike Neidow

Register
More Workshops

Note: The schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the workshop presenters.

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 11)
2026-07-19
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 11)

FIRST READING
Is. 44:6–8

PSALM
Ps. 119:57–64

EPISTLE
Rom. 8:18–27

GOSPEL
Matt. 13:24–30, 36–43

Color

St. Mary Magdalene
2026-07-22

Prof Insights: Faculty-Led Workshop: Professor Hensley in Salina, KS
2026-07-23 - 2026-07-25 | Trinity Lutheran Church (Salina, KS), 702 S. 9th Street, Salina, KS, 67401, United States
The Book of Psalms and the Christ
Our Lord often quoted the Psalms and said that they testify about Him (Luke 24:27; John 5:39). In doing so, Jesus confirmed the Psalter’s prophetic witness about Himself as Israel’s coming Messiah. In this workshop, we will consider how the Psalter’s arrangement contributes to the Psalms’ rich picture of the Christ as Triumphant King, Royal Son, Suffering Servant, Priestly Mediator and Leader of Praise to the Father. We also will explore some of the manifold ways we hear Christ speaking in the Psalms as He identifies with sinners, announces God’s grace to them and enjoins them to join Him in prayer, praise and thanksgiving to God.

Dr. Adam Hensley
Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology
Dr. Adam Hensley is associate professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Previously, he served as professor at Australian Lutheran College (ALC) in North Adelaide, South Australia (SA), Australia, a college of the University of Divinity (2017-22), where he taught in the area of Old Testament studies and served as dean of chapel. He is known internationally for his work on covenant theology in the Psalms and is currently working on a commentary on Psalms 101-150. Dr. Hensley is also the author of “Covenant Relationships and the Editing of the Hebrew Psalter,” and serves as Old Testament editor for the “Concordia Commentary” series.

Schedule

DAY
TIME

Thursday, July 23
1-4 p.m.

Friday, July 24
9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Saturday, July 25
9 a.m.-noon

Registration fee: $160
Registration deadline: July 9, 2026
Location contact: Pastor Dennis Kootz

Register
More Workshops

Note: The schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the workshop presenters.

St. James the Elder, Apostle
2026-07-25

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 12)
2026-07-26
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 12)

FIRST READING
Deut. 7:6–9

PSALM
Ps. 125

EPISTLE
Rom. 8:28–39

GOSPEL
Matt. 13:44–52

Color

Faith and Writing Workshop
2026-07-28 - 2026-07-30 | Wyneken Hall 101, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States
Concordia Seminary’s Faith and Writing Workshop explores various forms of creative writing — starting a blog, creating a sermon or devotion, “traditional” forms of creative writing (story, nonfiction, drama, poetry) — and everything in between. Attention will be given to social media and new forms of expression, with ample time provided for creative exercises.
Registration: $190
Seminary Student: $95
Registration deadline: July 13, 2026
Register Learn more

California-Nevada-Hawaii District LLL Scholarship application deadline
2026-08-01

Pamela Ann Prevallet Hymn Writing Competition application deadline
2026-08-01

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 13)
2026-08-02
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 13)

FIRST READING
Is. 55:1–5

PSALM
Ps. 136:1–9 (23–26)

EPISTLE
Rom. 9:1–5 (6–13)

GOSPEL
Matt. 14:13–21

Color

Prof Insights: Faculty-Led Workshop: Professor Lessing in Santa Fe, NM
2026-08-03 - 2026-08-05 | Immanuel Lutheran Church (Santa Fe, NM), 209 East Barcelona Road, Santa Fe, NM, 87505, United States
Deliver Us: God’s Rescue Story in Exodus
God’s song of deliverance is your song, too. Dive into Exodus to discover the beat, rhythm and cadence of Exodus — and of your story and your song. Learn how Exodus expounds on Genesis, continuing the never-ending song while telling the riveting story of the Israelites being delivered out of Egypt, out of slavery and into God’s care through the wilderness. Be encouraged by reminders of God’s presence and His actions in your life through His delivering of the Israelites from slavery. Find Christ in the Old Testament through His presence, predictions and patterns. See how God reveals His name and character to His people throughout Exodus. The workshop also will dig deep into the 10 plagues, the 10 Commandments, and more with a theological background and easy-to-understand vocabulary.

Dr. Reed Lessing
Professor of Theology and Ministry, and Director of The Center of Biblical Studies at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn.
Dr. Reed Lessing is the Edwin F. and Esther L. Laatsch Chair of Old Testament Studies, the Pre-Seminary Director, and the Director of the Center for Biblical Studies at Concordia University, St. Paul. With over twenty years of parish ministry and fourteen years as a professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Dr. Lessing is well-positioned to provide biblical resources for leaders in the LCMS and beyond. He is the author of six commentaries in the Concordia Commentary Series, has written two books on the Old Testament and co-authored “The Messianic Message” (Concordia Publishing House) and “Prepare the Way of the Lord” (Concordia Publishing House).

Schedule

DAY
TIME

Monday, Aug. 3
1-4 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 4
9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 5
9 a.m.-noon

Registration fee: $160
Registration deadline: July 20, 2026
Location contact: Pastor Douglas Escue

Register
More Workshops

Note: The schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the workshop presenters.
