LCMS Calendar

2026 March on the Arch in St. Louis
2026-04-25 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Aloe Plaza, St. Louis, MO, 20, S 20th St,, St. Louis, MO, 63103
The annual March on the Arch is Saturday, April 25 in St. Louis.
There will be sponsor tables, including LCMS Life Ministry, with information and resources. The rally begins at 11:00am at Aloe Plaza (across from Union Station, 20th and Market Street).
The march begins at 12:00pm and ends at the Gateway Arch (the distance is just over a mile). Light refreshments will be provided for participants at the Arch grounds. Join other Lutherans for this event and witness to the sanctity of life.
Information on parking garages and metro stations can be found here, but there is ample street parking as well. We look forward to seeing you there!

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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

LCMS Board for International Mission meeting – April 30-May 1, 2026
2026-04-30 - 2026-05-01
The LCMS Board for International Mission is scheduled to meet on April 30 and May 1, 2026, in St. Louis.
The Board for International Mission is charged with developing and determining policies in support of mission and ministry in foreign countries for the Office of International Mission.

FORO — Peru
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-03
LCMS International Mission will host a FORO about mission work in Peru on May 1-3, 2026.
What is a FORO?
A FORO — Spanish for “forum” — fosters relationships between missionaries serving on behalf of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and mission partners. The meetings facilitate networking, start conversations, and focus resources to make disciples of all nations for generations to come.
When do FOROs occur?
Once or twice a year, LCMS missionaries meet with partners — people from churches, organizations, schools, and partner churches — in their mission field. They discuss strategies to make disciples, address community needs, emphasize mutual listening, and encourage shared decision-making.
Why are FOROs needed?
Missionaries don’t only need funding and volunteers. Missionaries need relationships. They need support networks. They need people to walk with them, pray with them, listen to them, learn from them, and stand with them. FOROs help provide those relationships.
To learn more about FOROs, visit international.lcms.org/foro.

Contact
Erin Mackenzie, LCMS Missionary
erin.mackenzie@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

Board for National Mission - May 2026 meeting
2026-05-07 08:00 - 2026-05-08 17:00
The LCMS Board for National Mission is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 7, and on Friday, May 8, 2026.
The Board for National Mission is charged with developing and determining policies for the coordination of and in support of district ministries which support congregations and schools.
Read more about the LCMS Board for National Mission.

FORO — Uruguay
2026-05-15 - 2026-05-17
LCMS International Mission will host a FORO about mission work in Uruguay on May 15-17, 2026.
What is a FORO?
A FORO — Spanish for “forum” — fosters relationships between missionaries serving on behalf of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and mission partners. The meetings facilitate networking, start conversations, and focus resources to make disciples of all nations for generations to come.
When do FOROs occur?
Once or twice a year, LCMS missionaries meet with partners — people from churches, organizations, schools, and partner churches — in their mission field. They discuss strategies to make disciples, address community needs, emphasize mutual listening, and encourage shared decision-making.
Why are FOROs needed?
Missionaries don’t only need funding and volunteers. Missionaries need relationships. They need support networks. They need people to walk with them, pray with them, listen to them, learn from them, and stand with them. FOROs help provide those relationships.
To learn more about FOROs, visit international.lcms.org/foro.

Contact
Rev. James Sharp, LCMS Missionary
james.sharp@lcms.org

Armed Forces Day - 2026
2026-05-16
Armed Forces Day is on Saturday, May 16, 2026, 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 Chaplain (Major) Bobby Niemtschk, U. S. Army

Bulletin inserts: General (Color)

Bulletin inserts: General (Black-and-White)

Bulletin inserts: Responsive Prayer and Ministry-By-Mail

Other 2026 celebrations

Memorial Day is Monday, May 25, and may be commemorated on Sunday, May 24.

Independence Day is Saturday, July 4, and may be commemorated on Sunday, July 5.

Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11, and may be commemorated the preceding or following weekend.

Any Saturday and/or Sunday of your choice.

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

LCMS Board of Directors - May 2026 meeting
2026-05-22 - 2026-05-23
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on May. 22-23, 2026, in St. Louis.
The Board of Directors is the legal representative of the LCMS, and it is the custodian of all the property of the Synod — directly or by its delegation of such authority to an agency of the Synod.
The BOD exercises supervision over all the property and business affairs of the Synod, except in those areas where it has delegated such authority to an agency of the Synod or where the voting members of the Synod, through the adoption of bylaws or by other convention action, have assigned specific areas of responsibility to separate corporate or trust entities.
In such circumstances, the BOD retains general oversight responsibility as defined in Synod Bylaws.

Trinity Sunday
2026-05-31
Trinity Sunday will be commemorated on Sunday, May 31, 2026, as the Church continues to confess the confident truth that the Triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — has given himself for our salvation.
To attend a Trinity Sunday service, visit locator.lcms.org/church to find a local Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congregation. Enter your zip code and click “Search” to see a list of area churches, service times, and contact information.
If you are homebound, traveling, or otherwise unable to attend a service in person, KFUO Radio airs worship services throughout the church year. Visit KFUO.org to view the schedule and listen to services.
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Confessing the Holy Trinity
The Athanasian Creed, which was written by an anonymous author in the fifth century, is the Church’s confession of the Holy Trinity. On Trinity Sunday, the Church proclaims the Christian faith through the words of the Athanasian Creed.
“The Athanasian Creed declares that its teachings concerning the Holy Trinity and our Lord’s incarnation are “the catholic faith.” In other words, this is what the true Church of all times and all places has confessed. More than fifteen centuries later, the Church continues to confess this truth, confident that the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, has given Himself for our salvation.”

The Athanasian Creed — Text (Lutheran Service Book p. 319)

The Athanasian Creed — Spoken responsive version

The Athanasian Creed — Sung version

The Athanasian Creed — Sung responsive version

The Athanasian Creed — With hymn verses

Source: This translation of the Athanasian Creed (Quincunque Vult) is from Lutheran Service Book. Copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. Distributed by the LCMS Worship for congregational and school use and streaming only. Commercial reproduction or reproduction for sale of this work in part or in whole without the written permission of the copyright holder is prohibited.

Liturgical colors for Trinity Sunday
The altar will be adorned with white, which is the color of purity and completeness. This color assists in bearing the message that “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” Christ’s triumph from the grave on Resurrection Day is the cause for our rejoicing. His purity before his Father becomes our purity. White reinforces that message of joy.

Three-Year Series A
Scripture readings

Gen. 1:1–2:4a

Psalm 8

Acts 2:14a, 22–36

Matt. 28:16–20

Lectionary summary
The Holy Triune God Recreates Us in the Image and Likeness of Christ Jesus
The holy Triune God “created the heavens and the earth,” and “behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:1, 31). However, after Adam and Eve fell into sin and plunged God’s good creation into decay and death, the Son of God would be “delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” to be “crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men” (Acts 2:23). As Jesus “received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:33), He also raises up all the baptized and pours out the Spirit upon them through the preaching of His Gospel. He sends out His apostles to “make disciples of all nations” by “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” and “teaching them to observe all that [He has] commanded” (Matt. 28:19–20). Through such baptizing and teaching — Gospel and Sacraments — the holy Triune God recreates us in the image and likeness of His incarnate Son, Jesus, the Christ, and behold, it is “very good” (Gen. 1:31).

One-Year Series
Scripture readings

Isaiah 6:1–7

Psalm 29

Romans 11:33–36

John 3:1–15 (16–17)

Lectionary summary
The Holy Trinity Reveals Himself to Sinners
When Isaiah beheld the glory of the Lord, he cried out “Woe is me!” For the sinner cannot stand in the presence of a holy God and live (Is. 6:1–7). But God the Father lifted up His Son Jesus for us on the cross, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. This eternal life of Christ is given us according to the Holy Spirit’s good pleasure in Baptism. “Unless one is born [again] of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). To sinners in fear of death, the messengers of God place on our lips the living body and blood of Christ and speak His words of absolution, “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for” (Is. 6:7). Having received forgiveness and life from the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit, we join with the angels in praising the blessed Trinity, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!” (Is. 6:3). “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:33–36).

LCMS Worship

lcms.org/worship

Worship planning resources

Subscribe to monthly resources email

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YouthLead Servant Event — June 2026
2026-06-14 - 2026-06-19 | Camp Lutheranhaven: Albion, Ind., 1596 S 150 W, Albion, IN, 46701, United States
LCMS Youth Ministry will host its inaugural YouthLead Servant Event from Sunday, June 14, to Friday, June 19, 2026 at Camp Lutherhaven in Albion, Ind.
The gathering blends a week-long servant event and our YouthLead training. Part of each day will serve the Burmese Mission Outreach’s Party in the Park, which shares Christ’s love through fun and fellowship with Burmese refugees in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The remainder of each day will be for large- and small-group time to cultivate Christian leadership skills, including communication development, writing and leading a devotion, and more.
Who can attend Youthlead?
Any high school youth who is an active member of an LCMS congregation and desires to be a leader along with adults who desire to mentor young leaders.
How much does it cost?
Registration is $300, which includes food and housing during the training, supplies, and a T-shirt. Some of the cost of this training is graciously provided by a grant from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.
Participants will have to provide their own transportation to and from Camp Lutherhaven.
If you would like to bring a group of more than four youth and two adults, please contact julianna.shults@lcms.org before you register.
What are the accommodations?
Housing will be in Camp Lutherhaven’s Daniel Retreat Center with men and women staying on separate sides of the cabin.
Participants should bring towels, sleeping bags, pillows, and other bedding as everyone will be staying on bunk beds.
Meals and snacks will be provided through Camp Lutherhaven and Burmese Mission Outreach.

Download flyer
Register

LCMS Youth Ministry

lcms.org/youth

youth.ministry@lcms.org

888-843-5267

facebook.com/LCMSyouth

facebook.com/lcmsgathering

twitter.com/LCMSyouth

Festival of Scripture & The Arts — 'Song of All Songs'
2026-06-20 - 2026-06-21 | Concordia University Chicago: River Forest, Ill., 7400 Augusta Street, River Forest, IL, 60305, United States
Concordia University Chicago (CUC) will host a Festival of Scripture & The Arts on its campus in suburban River Forest, Ill., on June 20–21.
The weekend will include a set of lectures and presentations on the Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) by LCMS authors Rev. Dr. Andrew Steinmann, Dr. Paul Raabe and Rev. Dr. Joel C. Elowsky, who are published in the forthcoming book Interpreting the Song of Songs: Reception History from Qumran to the Modern Era (Baker Academic, September 2026).
Professional recitations of the Song of Songs by members of the theater department, poetry on themes of the Song of Songs by students and faculty of CUC, and commissioned artwork for the event will accompany the world premiere of music faculty Jonathan Stahlke’s “Song of All Songs,” a 45-minute work which takes the entire biblical text of the Song as its basis.
The work is composed for two choirs, orchestra and soloists, and will be performed by members of the All-Music Alumni Reunion, meeting that same weekend. The performance is free and open to the public.
Free tickets for the performance or registration for the festival weekend may be secured online (beginning March 2026).
For more information, contact jonathan.stahlke@cuchicago.edu.

Church Worker Appreciation – Director of Christian Education
2026-06-26
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

April 26 — Director of Parish Music Appreciation

May 4–8 — Teacher Appreciation

On June 26, we continue our year of church worker appreciation observances by thanking God for directors of Christian education (DCEs), 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
