First week is an experience filled with community building, wrestling with new ideas, and information sharing to support you as a student/scholar making the transition to theological education and Christian public leadership.

During First Week students met with faculty and peers while doing theology through the lens of real world issues. Small groups, made up of students, staff and faculty, will engage these issues through the Bible, denominational documents, popular culture and current literature, and a day of immersion in a context related to the issue you've been studying.  Read more about the topics here: 

The time spent in your small group during the core of each day is designed to:    

• Connect you with a small group which includes faculty, staff and peers. 
• Introduce you to life in a seminary community.
• Envision the mission of the church and seek God’s activity in the world.
• Build a foundation of resources for success in seminary.

The topic or theme of your group is not the only part of the discussion, but rather serves as a framework for taking up these other tasks.  We hope you will learn something about your topic, but only as it provides a forum for discovery of your vocation and an opportunity for your theological voice to begin to grow.

Any questions about the days, times or necessity of attendance should be directed to Patricia Lull at stdntsrv@luthersem.edu.  Please keep us updated on your address and other methods of contact.  We will be sending additional details about First Week, registration for fall semester and degree program information throughout the summer.  . 

Can't wait to get started? Take the Luther Seminary virtual tour or check out other new student information.Each day begins at: 

Olson Campus Center
1490 Fulham St.
St. Paul, MN 55108

Check out Luther Seminary campus maps and buildings.

FIRST WEEK 2009SCHEDULE (tentative)
Monday, August 31, 2009
8:00 am	Info Fair
9:00 am	Worship with Holy Communion
9:45 am	Welcome and Introduction to First Week
10:15 am	Coffee and refreshments
10:30 am - 2:00 pm	Topic Groups includes lunch The time spent in your small group during the core of each day is designed to accomplish a number of things:  to ground you with a small group of people, to begin to think about life in a seminary community, to vision about the mission of the church, to seek out God’s activity in the world and to build a foundation for success in seminary.
2:00 pm	Break
2:15 pm	Degree Program Meetings (part 1)
3:45 pm	Break
4:00 pm	Special Interest Gatherings and First Week choir
5:15 pm	Off campus dinner groups
Tuesday, September 1,  2009
8:00 am	Info Fair and Library Breakfast
9:00 am	Worship
9:45 am	Degree Program Meetings (part 2)
10:45 am	Break
11:00 am	The Dean' of Student's Message
12:00 noon	Advisor's Lunch
1:15 pm	Topic Groups
3:00 pm	Break
3:30 pm	Financial Sustainability for Seminarians (workshop and dinner)
	This event includes information and discussion about financial aid, financial sustainability and a presentation by Nathan Dungan, founder of ShareSaveSpend  (Please indicate on the sign-up form whether or not you will attend this event.)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
8:30 am	Off Campus Immersion
4:30 pm	Return to campus
Thursday, September 3, 2009
8:00 am	Info Fair - student groups
8:30 am	First Week Choir
9:00 am	Topic Group sessions
10:00 am	Topic Group Presentations
11:30	Closing worship
12:00 noon	Presidential Lunch
Schedule subject to change

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We ask that you please sign-up in advance for the First Week experience!  This allows us to provide personalized information to you and plan for enough resources and FOOD!

More Questions?  See our Frequently Ask Questions page