Armed Forces Day - 2025
2025-05-17
Armed Forces Day is on Saturday, May 17, 2025, and congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod may commemorate the holiday during weekend worship services.
The LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces encourages congregations to give thanks to God for our nation’s military veterans, service personnel, chaplains and families who have faithfully answered the call to serve.
LCMS congregations may plan their commemorations with the help of free resources, including:

Introduction letter

Sermon by Rev. Chaplain (Captain) Kyle D. Mietzner

Bulletin inserts: General (Color)

Bulletin inserts: General (Black-and-White)

Bulletin inserts: Responsive Prayer and Ministry-By-Mail

Other 2025 celebrations

Memorial Day is Monday, May 26, and may be commemorated on Sunday, May 25.

Independence Day is Friday, July 4, and may be commemorated on Sunday, July 6.

Veterans Day is Tuesday, Nov. 11, and may be commemorated on Sunday, Nov. 9.

Any Saturday and/or Sunday of your choice.

For more information and resources, visit lcms.org/armedforces.

2025 LCMS Youth Gathering
2025-07-19 - 2025-07-23 | New Orleans, La., New Orleans, LA, United States
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s National Youth Gathering is scheduled for July 19–23, 2025, in New Orleans, La.
Registration is scheduled to open in fall 2024. More information will be posted on this page as it becomes available.
Held every three years since 1980, the LCMS Youth Gathering provides thousands of youth and adults the opportunity to come together as a community of God’s people to learn more about Jesus Christ, the Christian faith and their Lutheran identity.
During the five days of the Gathering, youth spend time together in God’s word, worship, service and fellowship with others from across Synod.
Visit lcmsgathering.com for the latest information.

LCMS Youth Ministry

lcms.org/youth

youth.ministry@lcms.org

888-843-5267

facebook.com/lcmsgathering

twitter.com/lcmsnyg

Latin America Missionary Alumni Event
2025-08-07 - 2025-08-08 | Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States
The Lutheran Center—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is commemorating 125 years of mission work in Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC) in 2025, and current and former LAC missionaries will gather for an anniversary celebration on Aug. 7-8 at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
The missionaries will reflect on their work around Latin America and the Caribbean, and attendees can enjoy fellowship time while learning how the Lord continues to work in LAC. The Synod’s multi-generational mission work will be celebrated under the banner of “Remember, Repent, Rejoice.”
All LCMS missionary alumni of the Latin America and the Caribbean region are invited to attend this special event. Service includes that of a career missionary, Globally Engaged in Outreach (GEO) missionary, or Volunteer Youth Ministry (VYM) missionary under LCMS World Mission or LCMS International Mission.
Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 7

5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — Cocktail reception and dinner at Concordia Historical Institute (located on the campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis)

Friday, Aug. 8

8:30 a.m. to noon — Missionary alumni presentations and roundtable discussions

Noon to 1 p.m. — Lunch

1 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Missionary presentations and roundtable discussions

4 p.m. — Vespers with dinner reception to follow

Attendance is free. Attendees are responsible for their own travel and lodging accommodations.
Email lcmslac@lcmsintl.org for more information.

Church Worker Appreciation Month
2025-10-01 - 2025-10-31
Our church workers dedicate themselves, day in and day out, to serving their church and school communities. That means it’s always the right time to show them our appreciation.
To help the church be intentional in showing that appreciation, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has set aside the month of October and other special days throughout the year to highlight different kinds of church workers and their service. You are encouraged to join with your brothers and sisters in Christ across the LCMS in using these opportunities to show appreciation to our church workers, who serve us in a multitude of ways as they preach, teach and care for God’s people in body and soul.

Oct. 12 — Pastor Appreciation

Oct. 25 — Deaconess, Director of Family Life Ministry, Director of Christian Outreach, and Director of Church Ministries Appreciation

April 26 — Director of Parish Music Appreciation

May 4–8 — Teacher Appreciation

June 26 — Director of Christian Education Appreciation

The LCMS offers suggestions and resources to show your gratitude and support for church workers.
View resources

LCMS Worker Wellness

lcms.org/worker-wellness
workerwellness@lcms.org

Set Apart to Serve — LCMS church work recruitment initiative

lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve
setapart2serve@lcms.org

Teacher Colloquy Webinar
2025-10-15
Do you know an educator who might be interested in teacher colloquy?
A free Teacher Colloquy Webinar will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. (CDT) to go over the process, requirements and benefits of becoming rostered as an LCMS Minister of Religion—Commissioned. Teacher colloquy is a great way for educators who attended a non-LCMS college or university to gain robust theological grounding and roster status.
The webinar, brought to you by Set Apart to Serve, will be hosted by the Rev. Dr. Paul Philp, executive director of Concordia University Education Network (CUEnet), and Wendi Murphy, CUEnet office operations manager and registrar.
The webinar will cover many topics, such as common questions and myths about colloquy; real colloquy stories; a walk-through of the requirements, coursework, timing and financial aid; and the next steps for those who are ready to begin the process.
Interested teachers can register for the live Zoom webinar at thelc.ms/teacher-colloquy-webinar. Schools might consider scheduling a watch party for staff to attend together. The webinar will be recorded and available for on-demand viewing.

Church Worker Appreciation – Director of Parish Music
2026-04-26
Our church workers dedicate themselves, day in and day out, to serving their church and school communities. That means it’s always the right time to show them our appreciation.
To help the church be intentional in showing that appreciation, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has set aside the month of October and other special days throughout the year to highlight different kinds of church workers and their service. You are encouraged to join with your brothers and sisters in Christ across the LCMS in using these opportunities to show appreciation to our church workers, who serve us in a multitude of ways as they preach, teach and care for God’s people in body and soul.

Oct. 12 — Pastor Appreciation

Oct. 25 — Deaconess, Director of Family Life Ministry, Director of Christian Outreach, and Director of Church Ministries Appreciation

May 4–8 — Teacher Appreciation

June 26 — Director of Christian Education Appreciation

On April 26, we continue our year of church worker appreciation observances by thanking God for directors of parish music, one of the seven commissioned (auxiliary) offices that support the work of the Holy Ministry.
View resources

LCMS Worker Wellness

lcms.org/worker-wellness
workerwellness@lcms.org

Set Apart to Serve — LCMS church work recruitment initiative

lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve

setapart2serve@lcms.org

Church Worker Appreciation – Teacher
2026-05-04 - 2026-05-08
Our church workers dedicate themselves, day in and day out, to serving their church and school communities. That means it’s always the right time to show them our appreciation.
To help the church be intentional in showing that appreciation, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has set aside the month of October and other special days throughout the year to highlight different kinds of church workers and their service. You are encouraged to join with your brothers and sisters in Christ across the LCMS in using these opportunities to show appreciation to our church workers, who serve us in a multitude of ways as they preach, teach and care for God’s people in body and soul.

Oct. 12 — Pastor Appreciation

Oct. 25 — Deaconess, Director of Family Life Ministry, Director of Christian Outreach, and Director of Church Ministries Appreciation

April 26 — Director of Parish Music Appreciation

June 26 — Director of Christian Education Appreciation

During the week of May 4–8, we continue our year of church worker appreciation by thanking God for school teachers, one of the seven commissioned (auxiliary) offices that support the work of the Holy Ministry.
View resources

LCMS Worker Wellness

lcms.org/worker-wellness
workerwellness@lcms.org

Set Apart to Serve — LCMS church work recruitment initiative

lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve

setapart2serve@lcms.org
