The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

How are future pastors and deaconesses formed at Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW)? The Rev. Dr. Jon Bruss (President of Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN) and the Rev. Matt Wietfeldt (Assistant Vice President of Admission at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about what they love about being at CTSFW, the church work programs CTSFW offers, what campus life looks like, some things that make formation at CTSFW unique, opportunities like Christ Academy and Symposia which serve the church at large, recruitment efforts for future church workers, and first steps for someone considering church work programs. Learn more at ctsfw.edu.Christ’s church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers.Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations.Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS:1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers.2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers.3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation.To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Dr. Richard Fischer is retiring after more than 51 years at Concordia University Chicago, and we celebrate his legacy today. Dr. Richard Fischer (distinguished professor of music and conductor of Concordia University Chicago’s University Band and Wind Symphony), Adam Friedrich (Concordia University Chicago Alumni), and Amanda Bowman (Concordia University Chicago Alumni) join Andy and Sarah to talk about Dr. Fischer's formation as an educator, how he began at Concordia in 1974 and how his role evolved over time, some favorite highlights from his years of teaching and leadership at Concordia, Adam and Amanda's time with Dr. Fischer and their favorite memories, and how their education and experience with Dr. Fischer shaped who they are and how they serve today. Read more about "Doc" Fischer at cuchicago.edu/news/2025/02/dr.-richard-fischer-to-retire-after-51-years-of-musical-excellence-at-concordia-university-chicago.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Concordia Publishing House is launching a new VBS, and it's based on a hymn! Dr. Lisa M. Clark (Senior Editor, Curriculum Resources, Concordia Publishing House) and Mary Laesch (Editor, Curriculum Resources, Concordia Publishing House) join Andy and Sarah to preview the new "Wake Awake" VBS curriculum, including the inspiration for this hymn-based curriculum, how this VBS is different from others, the theme for this curriculum, what the structure looks like (including some brilliantly fun snacks and crafts!), special features like catechism lessons, and how listeners can learn more. Find this VBS curriculum (shipping in January) at cph.org/wake-awake-watching-for-jesus-hymn-vbs.Join the VBS email list from CPH by sending a message to vbsteam@cph.org.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

'Tis the season to celebrate Christmas with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra! Peter Henderson (SLSO Principal Keyboard player joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his time with the SLSO, what he loves about playing Christmas programs with the SLSO, what makes these programs so special for the St. Louis community, and the line up for this year's celebration. Learn more about how you can attend at slso.org.--------------------------------------------------------------------------Handel’s Messiah | Joyful PraiseFriday, December 12, 7:30 CSTSaturday, December 13, 7:30 CSTSunday, December 14, 3:00 CST Nicholas McGegan, conductorSherezade Panthaki, sopranoSara Couden, contralto (SLSO debut)John Matthew Myers, tenorPhilippe Sly, bass-baritoneSt. Louis Symphony Chorus | Erin Freeman, director G.F. Handel's Messiah: G.F. Handel’s Messiah has stood the test of time. Originally written as a retelling of Jesus’ life through text compiled from the King James Bible, the oratorio has gained prominence as a holiday favorite, especially the “Hallelujah Chorus.” Nicholas McGegan, one of the world’s foremost experts on Handel’s music, conducts the SLSO and St. Louis Symphony Chorus in this beloved holiday tradition. Joining McGegan is a quartet of vocal soloists, including soprano Sherezade Panthaki, mezzo-soprano Sara Couden in her SLSO debut, tenor John Matthew Myers, and bass-baritone Philippe Sly. --------------------------------------------------------------------------IN UNISON Christmas with the Clark SistersThursday, December 18, 7:30 CSTFriday, December 19, 7:30 CST Kevin McBeth, conductorThe Clark Sisters, vocalsSt. Louis Symphony IN UNISON® Chorus | Kevin McBeth, directorRepertoire and additional artists announced later.Supported by Bayer Fund. A beloved holiday tradition for decades, the SLSO and St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus celebrate the season with soulful melodies of Christmas favorites. This year, the ensembles are joined by gospel legends the Clark Sisters. This festive concert brings together a beautiful blend of gospel, jazz, and traditional holiday tunes. As a group, the Clark Sisters have won two Grammy Awards and are the highest-selling female gospel group in history. In 2020, the Clark Sisters were honored with the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award at the 35th Annual Stellar Awards. In 2022, the group was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. --------------------------------------------------------------------------Mercy Holiday CelebrationSaturday, December 20, 2:00pm & 7:30pm CSTSunday, December 21, 2:00pm & 7:30pm CSTTuesday, December 23, 2:00pm CST Stuart Malina, conductorKennedy Holmes, vocalsSt. Louis Symphony Chorus | Erin Freeman, directorRepertoire and additional artists announced later.Presented by Mercy. Experience the magic of the holidays as St. Louis native Kennedy Holmes joins the SLSO to perform seasonal favorites and exciting twists on timeless classics. A cherished tradition, this festive performance promises to fill the air with cheer. From the joyous sounds of sleigh bells to new renditions of beloved tunes, this concert brings the holiday season to life in a way that only the SLSO and hometown favorite Holmes can. Holmes originally rose to fame during season 15 of the NBC hit show “The Voice” and has since performed with the SLSO several times. --------------------------------------------------------------------------Home Alone in ConcertSaturday, December 27, 2:00pm & 7:00pm CSTSunday, December 28, 2:00pm CST Joshua Gersen, conductorThe St. Louis Children’s Choirs | Dr. Alyson Moore, artistic directorJohn Williams Home Alone A true holiday favorite, this beloved comedy classic features renowned composer John Williams’ charming and delightful score performed live by the SLSO. Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who’s accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation and who must defend his home against two bungling thieves. Hilarious and heart-warming, Home Alone is fun for the entire family. The SLSO is joined by the St. Louis Children’s Choirs for this holiday treat. --------------------------------------------------------------------------New Year’s Eve CelebrationWednesday, December 31, 7:30pm CST Stéphane Denève, conductorStewart Goodyear, piano Leonard Bernstein Candide OvertureGeorges Bizet Selections from L'ArlésienneJacques Offenbach Excerpts from Gaîté ParisienneOrchestrated by Manuel RosenthalGeorge Gershwin Rhapsody in BlueOrchestrated by Ferde GroféGeorge Gershwin An American in ParisRevised by Frank Campbell-Watson Break out the bubbly and ring in the new year in style with the SLSO’s sparkling New Year’s Eve Celebration, led by Music Director Stéphane Denève. Denève pays homage to two countries in this rousing program: his native France and his adopted home of the US, concluding with George Gershwin’s An American in Paris, capturing the essence of his two home nations. Canadian pianist Stewart Goodyear returns to the SLSO for Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

What happens when we die, and what is eternal life? The Rev. James Huenink (Pastor of First Lutheran Church in El Cajon, CA) joins Andy and Sarah for Episode 8 of our “Prepared with a Reason” series to talk about some worldly visions of the human's purpose and what happens after or in death, the ideas of ongoing progression and material despair, where we see these assumptions in our culture, how Christians can respond to these worldviews faithfully, and what Pastor Huenink finds particularly interesting about this topic.Find the “Prepared with a Reason” curriculum at cph.org/prepared-with-a-reason-leaders-guide-digital-edition.Other resources mentioned in this episode:The New Science of Politics by Eric Voeglein: amazon.com/New-Science-Politics-Introduction-Foundation/dp/0226861147Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright: amazon.com/Surprised-Hope-Rethinking-Resurrection-Mission/dp/0062089978First Lutheran Church of El Cajon Youtube channel: youtube.com/@FirstLutheranChurchofElCajonAs you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.Today's episode of The Coffee Hour is underwritten in part by Concordia University, Irvine. You can learn more about Concordia University, Irvine at cui.edu.

How does LAMP bring Jesus' love to remote places in Canada? The Rev. Dr. Steven D. Schave (LAMP Executive Director) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how the Lord is working in the remote places of North America through LAMP, the outcome of the 55 for 55 Initiative, what led to the initiative's success, the challenges they overcame during this initiative, and how listeners can be involved with LAMP. Learn more at lampministry.org.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

How does St. Paul's Lutheran in Des Peres, MO celebrate Christmas? Matthew Gerhardt (Kantor, St. Paul's Lutheran Church and School, Des Peres, MO) joins Andy and Sarah to share about St. Paul's as our Church of the Week, including a history of the tradition of Lessons and Carols, how Lessons and Carols became a part of the seasonal traditions at St. Paul’s, some of the pieces that will be included in this year's program, the commitment of volunteer musicians, and details for attending. Learn more about St. Paul's Des Peres and the Lessons and Carols service by visiting stpaulsdesperes.org.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

How are church work students formed at Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP)? The Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich (President of Concordia University, St. Paul) and Breana Winnes (Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions for Concordia University, St. Paul) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about what they love about what they get to do, an overview of the church work programs at CSP, why these programs are important to CSP, what makes these programs unique among the Concordias, what campus life is like at CSP, and how prospective students can learn more and visit campus. Learn more about Concordia St. Paul at csp.edu.Christ’s church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers.Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations.Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS:1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers.2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers.3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation.To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

What do the Formula of Concord and Scripture have to say about other factions and sects? The Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District and host of KFUO Radio’s Concord Matters, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the Formula of Concord reading plan he created for 2025, including the questions concerning other factions and sects that are addressed in December's readings. How does this last reading sum up the year-long study? Who were the Anabaptists, and what were their false teachings? Who were the Schwenkfeldians, New Arians, and Anti-Trinitarians? What do we learn from understanding each of these groups?Find the full reading plan from The Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org/2024/reading-plan, and find correlating Concord Matters episodes at kfuo.org/formulaofconcord.December | Other Factions & SectsWeek 1: Ep XII 1–11 (p. 500–501)SD XII 1–27 (p. 616–617)Week 2: Ep XII 12–19 (p. 501–502)SD XII 28–36 (p. 617–618)Week 3: Ep XII 20–31 (p. 502)SD XII 37–40 (p. 618–619)Week 4: Off for Christmas!As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

As our year of focusing on the Old Testament comes to a close, it is fitting that we conclude with texts from the Messiah’s first “biographer,” the prophet Isaiah, whose career spanned 740–680 B.C. Thanks to the Lutheran composer Handel, whose “Messiah” is especially popular around Christmas and Easter, many of Isaiah’s prophecies are quite familiar (in fact, about one-third of the movements in “Messiah” are from Isaiah!). As we open these Old Testament texts, we discover the incarnate Lord and the gifts of forgiveness of sins, life and salvation that He came to bring.Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the December 2025 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled "Son of David, Son of God" on Isaiah 9:2–7 and Isaiah 11:1–10. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Opening the Old Testament” and will walk through ways that the Old Testament witnesses to Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy and peace, delivered through the holy Christian church. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us!Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.