Trinity Travels tours Concordia Seminary

Four of us from Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn, Illinois headed for a tour of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis Missouri.

Tim and Roxie Seifert drove. Marlene Rahe and I took positions in the backseat enjoying the ride. Tim and Roxie shared with us their work at the seminary earlier in year.

As Trinity’s LERT team, they responded after a devastating tornado took out several trees, causing damage to the beautiful campus. Trinity’s LERT team worked tirelessly along with other emergency crews.

Concordia History

I had learned a bit of the history of the brave German’s that had traveled to the US from Saxony during a tour of the Perry County Lutheran Historical Society a couple years ago. They came in 1839 to Missouri’s Perry County. On the Seminary Website they share, “… In 1849, the preparatory division and the school of theology of the young institution moved to St. Louis and relocated to South Jefferson Avenue and Winnebago Street. The preparatory division moved to Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1861. In 1926, the campus moved to its current 72-acre site in suburban Clayton.”

Today around 600 students attend, 15% of which come from other countries. The grounds are beautiful, and before we even entered the building, we were straining to see the amazing stained glass. I soon learned they offer a Stained Glass Tour of the Church.

The Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus

A young woman Sophie, who is originally from Belgium and is in a graduate program set to graduate this May, met us at the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus door. This is the heart of the campus, where the seminarian’s “hear of the Lord’s promises and receive His gifts.”

Sophie shared that the chapel was dedicated in 1992 with the stained glass added from 2020 to 2022. The amazing wooden ceiling is in the shape of the cross. The chapel is the main chapel for the students where they worship mornings at 9:30 a.m. Sophie said everything stops so everyone students, workers and community alike can come to service.

The stained glass tells a story with Te Deum Laudamaus (We Praise You O God). Each window has its own story, images that you could spend hours trying to find and depict. When we arrived, we could hear someone playing the amazing pipe organ. It was like getting our own concert.

There was also a small what appeared to be pipe organ as well. I have never seen anything quite like it.

Sophia noted that the baptismal font is at the front of the church. Then baptisms can occur and she said, “You can enter into the service as a baptized child of God.”

The beauty of baptism also flows through the windows on the bottom with the color blue.

A cafeteria to win awards!

We could smell the food before we ever entered the building. We passed through an area that was is used for receptions, and programs. It also makes a lovely wedding venue!

If they gave out cafeteria awards, this would win a Bronze star!

On to the Library!

Sophia explained that Concordia Seminary is the oldest and longest continuously operations seminary in the US. She told us about some of the program offered at Concordia as we walked. She explained that the job of a Deaconess is like being “The caretaker of the soul.”

The library is a lovely building where students spend much of their time. With rolling shelves, a beautiful view and a few historic items like composer Sebastian Bach’s Bible on display! “

The library holds the largest collection of Lutheran books in the US,” Sophia said.

Tower and Chapel of the Holy Apostles

The tower was built in two sections as finances became available. In the upper level there is a Carillion, and there is a specific tour for this that we need to come back for.

The Chapel of the Holy Apostles is at the base of the tower. The door to the chapel is a piece of art both in its beauty, and spiritual wording from John 10-9, “I am the door. By me if any man shall enter in he shall be saved.”

Dedicated in 1963 for private devotions and small gatherings. The alter has a Greek saying that helps prepare men and women for service and to go throughout the world. Written in Greek it is excerpted from Romans 10:14-15. “And how are they to hear without someone preaching? and how are they to preach unless they are sent?”

The Throne of Grace is an amazing woodcarving of the Holy Trinity, God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Rarely are their images of God the Father. This chapel is a place to stop and pray. In fact, Sophia did that for us before we too leave. She and this place touched our hearts, and it will touch yours too.

Concordia Seminary is a peaceful place, a lovely place to come and learn about students learning about the Lutheran faith and how to spread God’s word throughout the world.

Tours are open to the public. To schedule one, go online, or call! After our tour, we made a quick stop on the hill for sustenance at Mama’s on the Hill.

A beautiful end to a beautiful day! Have you been? Where else have you traveled for faith? Let me know!