Concordia Seminary, St. Louis will begin its 181st academic year with an opening worship service at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23, in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus.

The Opening Service will serve as an official welcome to new students and the beginning of the 2019-20 academic year. This year's theme is: "Grace. Mercy. Peace. Lives of Significance." Seminary President Dr. Dale A. Meyer will present the theme during his sermon on John 9:1–5.

The service also will include recognition of new staff and the installations of five faculty members into new positions: Associate Provost Dr. Benjamin Haupt; Dean of Faculty Dr. David Peter; Director of Placement Dr. Glenn Nielsen; Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program Dr. Mark Rockenbach; and the Buehner Duesenberg Professor of Missions Dr. William Schumacher, who replaces Dr. Victor Raj who retired in June. Vicarage and internship assignments also will be announced for pastoral and deaconess students in the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Program, Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) Program and Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) Program.

The Opening Service is part of Orientation week, which begins Aug. 20. During Orientation new students in all academic programs are familiarized with their programs and campus life. Orientation includes a servant event for students to volunteer at various sites around St. Louis.

The new academic year festivities also include the first concert of the 2019-20 Concordia Seminary Concert Series — the Opening Weekend Hymn Festival at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. The event will feature guest organist Dr. Jeffrey Blersch, professor of music and university organist at Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward, as well as an ensemble choir made up of faculty, staff, students and local congregations. To sign up for the choir, visit here.

Everyone is encouraged to join in the celebration of the new academic year by using the hashtags #CSLorientation and #LivesOfSignificance, and sharing photos and information on social media with their friends and family.

The public is invited to the Opening Service and Hymn Festival. Concordia Seminary is located at 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105. Those who cannot attend can watch both events via live stream at csl.edu/live.

About Concordia Seminary

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and other leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). To learn more, visit csl.edu.