Orientation Week 2025: “Here I am. Send me.”
The start of a new academic year at LSTC is more than just the turning of a calendar—it’s a threshold moment, a call to step into a community of learning, worship, and service. From August 25–29, new and returning students will gather for Orientation Week under this year’s theme, “Here I am. Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8).
The week begins Monday morning in the Life Together Center, where students will meet for refreshments. After breakfast, students will gather in the Chapel for morning devotions and a joyful welcome, both in person and on Zoom for those joining remotely. Sessions throughout the day cover everything from navigating MyLSTC and Brightspace to understanding campus security, with time to share a meal in Nieman Commons before taking a guided tour of the main campus. The evening closes with Dinner Church—a first taste of the worship life that will carry students through the year.
Tuesday opens with prayer before diving into vital topics: institutional policies, meeting faculty advisors, and mapping out curriculum plans. Lunches with advisors will hold space for deeper conversation, while the afternoon is designated for introducing students to the library’s resources, candidacy processes, and professional boundaries in ministry.
By midweek, Orientation shifts toward connection. Wednesday morning brings a devotion, an important session for international students on tax requirements, and a lively resource fair featuring student associations, LSTC departments, and local partners. Community Eucharist follows, anchoring the day in worship, before students set out on a walking tour of Hyde Park and the University of Chicago’s Regenstein Library.
Thursday focuses on academic readiness, with a morning devoted to plagiarism prevention and Turabian citation, followed by an afternoon grammar and writing refresher. On Friday, Orientation concludes with an off-campus experience: a visit to a local mosque led by Sara Trumm, offering a lived glimpse into the interfaith engagement at the heart of LSTC’s mission.
Even after the week ends, Orientation will continue with four follow-up sessions in the weeks ahead—introductions to music ministry and the gospel choir, a panel on diversity and equity, a downtown Chicago tour, and an additional conversation on campus security.From first hellos over breakfast to shared prayers in the Chapel, Orientation Week is designed to weave each student into the fabric of LSTC’s life. Whether you arrive in person or log in from afar, these days are an invitation: to learn, to worship, to connect—and to be sent into the world ready to serve. You can see the full orientation schedule here.