The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

What is the history behind the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, and how does it fit uniquely into our church year? The Rev. Sean Daenzer, LCMS Director of Worship and Chaplain for the LCMS International Center, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what this day in our church year is and what makes it important, why the global church celebrates Transfiguration on different dates, the unique features of this day, why the One Year Lectionary has "Pre-Lent", and how Transfiguration transitions us into the season of Lent. Learn more about our church year and liturgical feasts at lcms.org/worship.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.

Rev. Dr. Joel Elowsky, professor of Historical Theology and coordinator of International Seminary Exchange Programs at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, joins Andy and guest co-host Pastor James Cleland to talk about St. Valentine, including why the church commemorates him on February 14, what we know about the era in which Valentine lived and served, how Valentine served the church, what we can learn from his example, and why this day of his commemoration is associated with love, relationships, greeting cards, candy, gifts and flowers.This episode originally aired on February 11, 2022.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 is Lutheran Mission - Australia (LM-A) and why did it begin? The Rev. Matt Anker, President of Lutheran Mission - Australia, joins Andy and Sarah to begin our series on Lutheranism in Australia, sharing a brief history of the Lutheran Church in Australia, the theological history leading to the Theses of Agreement, when it became clear a new mission was needed, what has been important in the formation of Lutheran Mission - Australia, how the formation of a new mission has been received, what has brought joy to everyone involved, and what is next for Lutheran Mission - Australia. Learn more about Lutheran Mission - Australia at lutheranmissionaustralia.org.au and follow them online at facebook.com/LutheranMissionAustralia.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 does a second career journey from the music industry to pastoral ministry look like? The Rev. Paul Hemenway, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Edmond, OK, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about his life prior to his journey to seminary, skills from the music industry that have translated into pastoral ministry, how he finally made his way to seminary, who supported him on this journey, what he loves about being a Lutheran pastor, and words of wisdom and encouragement for others who are considering church work vocations.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.

National Lutheran Schools Week was January 26-31, and we're celebrating with conversations featuring teachers and students! In Part 2, we hear from Laura Hanson (English Teacher and Choir Director) and students Mason and Linda from Lutheran High School South in St. Louis, MO on what they love about their Lutheran education. Then, we hear from 4th grade teacher Casey Schmidt and students Theo and Mattie from Word of Life Lutheran School in St. Louis, MO about their experiences in a Lutheran school.Learn more:Lutheran High School South: lslancers.orgWord of Life Lutheran School: wordoflifeschool.netLCMS School Ministry: lcms.org/how-we-serve/education/elementary-schoolsNational Lutheran Schools Week: resources.lcms.org/reading-study/national-lutheran-schools-week-resourcesAs 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.

National Lutheran Schools Week was January 26-31, and we're celebrating with conversations featuring teachers and students! In Part 1, we hear from Principal Andy Spieler and students Paylin and Cade from Immanuel Lutheran School in Perryville, MO, who share their favorite things about Immanuel in Perryville. Then, hear from teacher Joseph Meador (Strings, Choir, and Band Director, and Theology Teacher) and students Kylie and Andrew from Metro East Lutheran High School in Edwardsville, IL, about what they love about MELHS and their plans for after high school.Learn more:Immanuel Lutheran in Perryville: ilsperryville.orgMetro East Lutheran High School: melhs.orgLCMS School Ministry: lcms.org/how-we-serve/education/elementary-schoolsNational Lutheran Schools Week: resources.lcms.org/reading-study/national-lutheran-schools-week-resourcesAs 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.

On the Epiphany of Our Lord (January 6), we followed the Wise Men as they brought gifts (Matthew 2:11) predicted by the Old Testament (Isaiah 60:6) to Jesus, “He who has been born king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). The Wise Men even found Christ using the Old Testament: at first, through the fulfilled prophecy of Numbers 24:15–19 concerning a star and a king’s scepter in Israel; ultimately, through the fulfillment of Micah 5’s words about the Good Shepherd of Judah being born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2–5). And not only does the whole Bible reveal Jesus as King, it also shows that He is God’s Prophet, one like — yet greater than! — Moses.Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the February 2025 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “The Prophet Like Moses” on Deuteronomy 18:15–19. 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.

What is Free Will and how do we understand conversion? 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 what "free will" means, how we are converted, heresies surrounding free will, the role of God's Word in conversion, and where we find this in Scripture. 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.February | Free WillWEEK 1:Ep II 1 (p. 477)AC XVIII (p. 40–41)WEEK 2: Ep II 2–6 (p. 477–478)Ap XVIII (p. 197–198)WEEK 3:SD II 48–73 (p. 529–533)WEEK 4: Ep II 7–19 (p. 478–479)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 do relationships, opportunities, and invitations encourage young people to remain in the church and consider church work? Rev. Seth Flick, pastor of Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hartland, WI , joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about his formation as a pastor and who encouraged him in this pursuit, his congregation's emphasis on their duty to raise up future church workers, how they use relationships, opportunities, and invitations to encourage children in the faith, and the roles of other church workers and parents in their approach.Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative at lcms.org/setaparttoserve.This episode originally aired on March 8, 2024.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.

How does Doxology serve church workers? Dr. Beverly Yahnke (Executive Director for Christian Counsel with Doxology) and the Rev. David Fleming (Executive Director for Spiritual Care with Doxology) join Andy to talk about the story of Doxology, the need for their services and spiritual care today, Doxology's continued service to the church, and how Doxology creates a culture of care for workers who can then faithfully carry out their given ministry. Learn more about Doxology at Doxology.us.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.