Sunday Forum

When & Where

Sundays, September through May 
9:45 – 10:45 am
Shepherd of the Valley (Rooms 20-21)
No registration necessary

Listen to previously recorded presentations from 2024-25.
Listen to presentations recorded prior to 2024.

What to Expect

During the months of September – May, people of all ages are invited to hear professors, teachers, and members of our congregation present topics connected to our faith. These speakers inspire us in our faith to seek a better understanding of God in today’s ever-changing world. There is time set aside for questions at the end of the presentation.

Join the group to learn about upcoming Sunday Forum presentations.

2024-25 Schedule

Take a peek at how translation committees work and understand how to make good use of the notes, titles and other helps in your Bible.

Pam grew up in Maplewood, Minnesota. She studied at the University of Minnesota (BA), Jerusalem University College, Bethel Theological Seminary (MA), and Yale University (PhD). She has taught on the faculty of Boston University School of Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Fuller Theological Seminary.

For three years, SOTV’s Pastor Peter Harrits served as an ELCA Missionary in Southeast Asia. As Country Coordinator for the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission program he trained and supported young adult volunteers from the United States as they accompanied churches and social service agencies in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysian Borneo – including children who were born ‘stateless’ and remain unclaimed and uncared for by any country on Earth.

During this Sunday Forum session, Pastor Peter will share from his experience with those ministries tending to stateless children in Southeast Asia, introduce us to the challenges children face, discuss the laws and policies behind the problem, and bear witness to the ways people of faith are meeting the needs of their neighbors. At the same time, he’ll ask us to consider our hearts and the corners of the world that we call home.

Born and raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Peter’s worldview has been shaped by the witness of communities of faith around the world and sharpened during his studies at Hamline University and Yale Divinity School. Bridging cultures and empowering others to more faithfully accompany their global and local neighbors is central to his sense of vocation. Along the way, he has served congregations and faith-based organizations in suburban Minnesota, inner-city Connecticut, Southeast Asia, and East Africa.

What is an epistle? What went into writing a letter in the ancient world? Join Luther Professor Kristofer Phan Coffman to get a glimpse into the world of Paul and learn more about what went into writing the letters that we know so well.

Kristofer Phan Coffman ’16 M.Div. holds a tenure-eligible New Testament faculty position. Coffman completed his Ph.D. in Classical and Near Eastern Religions and Culture at the University of Minnesota and is the first person of Cambodian descent to receive a PhD in Biblical Studies.

He is the author of the book chapter “Christmas Cookies in Cambodia: The Bible and Race in America” in “Dialogues on: Race” and has written several book reviews as well as academic articles on topics ranging from Norwegian-American Lutheran history to biblical interpretation and translation. In addition to his academic work, he has a keen interest in food and farming. Coffman has written popular articles on responsible consumption and agriculture, translates recipes for the award-winning new Nordic chef Mikkel Karstad and served as copy-editor and translation consultant on the forthcoming cookbook “SAOY: The Forgotten Flavors of Royal Cambodian Home Cuisine” by Chef Rotanak Ros.

The Church at a Crossroads: Learn from college students about the present and future of Christian community at the U of M and beyond.

Lutheran Campus Ministry-Twin Cities is situated amongst 55,000 young adults at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Join the conversation about what we’re learning at LCM about the kinds of Christian communities young adults crave, where young adults find meaning, and what their hopes are for the world.

Pastor Kate Reuer Welton grew up in South Dakota and settled back in Minneapolis after many adventures, including completing a Master of Divinity degree at Harvard Divinity School. Kate was called to serve as Campus Pastor at the University of Minnesota in 2010 and remains excited about proclaiming the Gospel in this lively context and working with student leaders to discern God’s call for our community each year.

Pastor Kate has worked as a community organizer and teacher in a wide range of places including Lutheran Social Service of MN, Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, and Native Arts High School on Lake Street in Minneapolis. Her favorite travel adventures include studying Spanish in Oaxaca and hiking the Annapurna Trail in Nepal with her little brother. Kate is married to Jim, mother to Benjamin and Eleanor, and is an eager gardener in May and June. She enjoys hiking and camping with her family, and the occasional Netflix binge. Her approach to the Christian life? “Awe, wonder, and curiosity.”

Information coming soon!

Celebrating the rich history of companionship between the Saint Paul Area Synod (ELCA) and the Iringa Diocese (ELCT), in September 2024, choirs from Minnesota and Tanzania joined voices in Iringa, Tanzania. Directed by Deacon Mark Ertl, the choir enjoyed opportunities to sing with several Tanzanian choirs while learning new songs and a growing appreciation for the Tanzanian people, their Christian faith, and their cultural heritage. Six people from the choir had an opportunity to spend additional time with SOTV partner parishes in Tungamalenga, Makifu, and Usolanga. Join members of the choir for the sharing of stories, songs, learnings, and reflections on a shared faith.

March 23: The powerful stories of Holy Week–the Entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, and Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection–have inspired artists over the centuries to create many beautiful and meaningful images. Over three weeks, we will explore a range of Holy Week and Easter scenes from a variety of times and places in the Christian tradition. Our series begins with the Entry of Christ into Jerusalem. We will also look at the stories at the Last Supper before turning scenes at the Garden of Gethsemane.

March 30: The powerful stories of Holy Week–the Entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, and Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection–have inspired artists over the centuries to create many beautiful and meaningful images. Over three weeks, we will explore a range of Holy Week and Easter scenes from a variety of times and places in the Christian tradition. In our second session, we will focus on events from Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane to the Crucifixion at Golgotha. 

April 6: The powerful stories of Holy Week–the Entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, and Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection–have inspired artists over the centuries to create many beautiful and meaningful images. Over three weeks, we will explore a range of Holy Week and Easter scenes from a variety of times and places in the Christian tradition. In our third session, we will finish the series by looking at the entombment, the resurrection, and Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances.

Kristin Anderson is a Professor Emerita of Art & Design at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. Her Augsburg courses included art history and architectural history surveys as well as more specialized offerings such as American Art, Scandinavian Art, and Women and Art. She also taught a popular course, The Designed Environment, about the architectural and urban history of the Twin Cities. The class met at a different location for each session, bringing students face-to-face with the buildings and spaces they studied.

A graduate of Oberlin College (A. B.), Kristin has master’s degrees in art history (University of Minnesota) and church history (Luther Seminary) as well as a PhD in American Art, Architecture, and Popular Culture from the University of Minnesota. She meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards in architectural history.

Labyrinths are ancient designs, thousands of years old that are experiencing a resurgence of interest. Today labyrinths are found all over the world in a variety of settings, including schools, parks, hospitals, churches and private homes. Learn about the intriguing history and modern adaptations of these graceful, meandering pathways, how they are used in prayer, how they differ from mazes, and how to locate dozens of public labyrinths in our region. Lots of photos and information.

Lisa Gidlow Moriarty is a professional labyrinth maker and advanced certified labyrinth facilitator who designs and creates labyrinths in all materials, from canvas to concrete, finger to full-size. She has traveled internationally to research and experience ancient labyrinths, and has installed labyrinths in the USA and internationally, from the Africa to the Yukon. She works with schools, hospitals, churches and individuals to create labyrinths and programming for all ages and interests. Lisa is past president and Midwest Regional Representative of the international Labyrinth Society (www.labyrinthsociety.org) and is the owner of Paths of Peace Labyrinths and Resources. She also offers workshops, presentations and retreats. Visit her websites at www.pathsofpeace.com and www.canvaslabyrinths.com to learn more about Lisa’s work.

Share this page:

Facebook
Twitter
Email
Join our email list

Join our email list

Text here

Join our email list
Text here
Join our email list
Text here