Thirty-eight high school youth from around the United States came to St. Louis to participate in Vocatio, held June 18-23, at Concordia Seminary. Vocatio is a week-long event for high school students designed to identify, inform, and encourage youth with respect to church work vocations.

Activities during Vocatio focused on the Bible verse, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (Romans 12: 1-2) The high school participants delved into this theme through the four disciplines of the formation of ministry: exegetical, systematic, historical, and practical.

During Vocatio, participants went to a St. Louis Cardinals game, visited the Saxon Lutheran Memorial, and helped out around Concordia Seminary’s campus as well. Representatives from Concordia University System schools held a college fair for the participants to learn about what they have to offer.

“The part of Vocatio I liked best was the time spent with other Lutherans my age, praising and learning about and communicating with God,” one participant commented.

“I loved nearly everything about this highly effective experience,” another participant said. “The discussions were very informative and helpful and the activities were fun. I am so glad about how many friends I made during this week.”

The 2012 Vocatio will take place June 23-28. For more information on Vocatio, contact the admissions office, Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105; 800-822-9545; admissions@csl.edu.