The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

How does the Divine Service form Christians and church workers? Rev. Sean Daenzer, LCMS Director of Worship and LCMS International Center Chaplain, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about how the Lord guided him to become a pastor, how his love for church music and worship developed, who has most shaped his understanding and love of worship, how the Divine Service formed him as a Christian and pastor, and the importance of the Divine Service in forming church workers.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.

It's almost time for Advent and Christmas! Elizabeth Pittman (Director of Public Relations for Concordia Publishing House) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the exciting offerings from CPH for this Advent and Christmas season, including the beautiful Enduring Grace: A Church Year Journal, the Enduring Grace journal for kids, and this year's Advent and Christmas package for congregations titled "His Name Shall Be Called" which includes Daily Devotions, a Children's Book, a Christmas Program, and other resources.Find these resources at:cph.org/enduring-grace-a-church-year-journal-year-ccph.org/enduring-grace-a-church-year-journal-for-kids-year-ccph.org/adventThis episode originally aired on September 10, 2024. The Coffee Hour is underwritten by Concordia University Wisconsin. Live Uncommon. Learn more at cuw.edu.

We're looking ahead to the First Sunday in Advent! The Rev. James Gier, Senior Pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah to study the readings and themes for the First Sunday in Advent. They discuss how we observe and prepare in Advent, what we learn from the prophets about the coming King, what kind of King is coming, how the Advent season is full of both repentance and hope, and where we see these themes in both the days of Noah and the New Testament Church.Find Ascension Lutheran Church at alcsfw.360unite.com/home.First Sunday in Advent (Series C)• Jeremiah 33:14–16• Psalm 25:1–10• 1 Thessalonians 3:9–13• Luke 19:28–40 or Luke 21:25–36As 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 did a Short Term Mission team serve in Leipzig? Deaconess Kim Bueltmann, who serves the Lord in Germany, and volunteers Sharon Delmore and Linda Forte join Andy and Sarah to talk about the area where Deaconess Kim serves in Germany, the growing outreach festival that happens every year in Leipzig, how the local church and short-term volunteers work together to accomplish the festival, how Sharon and Linda served during their time in Leipzig, and what they learned about the local community and mission work while serving. Find how you can serve on a Short Term Mission Team at servenow.lcms.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.

Rev. Sean Daenzer gives today's sermon based on Matthew 25:1-13.>> The broadcast of chapel services is brought to you by LCMS International Mission and Ministry to Armed Forces.>> Learn more at international.lcms.org and lcms.org/armedforces.>> To learn more about long and short-term opportunities to serve, visit servenow.lcms.org.Tune in weekdays at 10:00 a.m. CT to hear daily chapel services from the LCMS International Center. Find service information including the lectionary, hymn, and homilist for the day at kfuo.org/daily-chapel-schedule.

How does Ministry Focus support the Lord’s work through financially supporting church workers? The Rev. Ken Krueger, President and Chair of Ministry Focus, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Ministry Focus's impact over the last year, how this has made a difference for church workers through the year, and the very exciting new opportunity for Ministry Focus through a grant from the Lilly Foundation. Learn more and find the Church Worker Grant application at ministryfocus.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.

We celebrate our Church of the Week this week, Peace Lutheran (Lemay) in St. Louis! The Rev. Dr. Jon Furgeson, Senior Pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in St Louis, MO, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Peace Lutheran's place in the St Louis community, Peace's invitation to neighbors this Advent and Christmas season, and the many services and events from Thanksgiving, through Advent, and the Christmas season, including the Tree Lot, Boar's Head Festival, and Christmas Concert. Learn more and find service and event details at peacelutheranstl.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 is ministry more of a lifestyle than a profession? Kathy Chapin, Principal at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Orchard Farm, MO, joins Andy and Sarah for the Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about her journey into church work and who influenced her decision to become a Lutheran teacher and administrator, her formation and continual education as a church worker, how ministry is more of a lifestyle than a profession, and how Trinity intentionally forms and recruits youth to consider full-time church work. Read her YouthEsource article here.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.

How do LCMS seminaries have a global impact on confessional Lutheranism? In our special crossover series "From Wittenberg" with The Lutheran Witness Podcast, the Rev. Roy Askins (Executive Editor of The Lutheran Witness) speaks with the Rev. Dr. Thomas Egger (President, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO) and the Rev. Dr. John Bruss (President, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN) to highlight the role of LCMS seminaries in supporting the proclamation of the gospel globally. They discuss how the presence of Jesus Christ is central to the church's mission, how the history of the world is centered in God's plan of redemption, why apologetics should not overshadow the joyful proclamation of the gospel, and the importance of unity among confessional Lutherans globally. Find these seminaries at csl.edu and ctsfw.edu.Learn more about LCMS Church relations at lcms.org/about/leadership/president/church-relations.Find The Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.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.

It's time to celebrate Christmas with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra! Julia Paine, 2nd bassoonist with the St Louis Symphony Orchestra, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how she became a professional bassoon player and why she still loves playing, what she loves about playing Christmas music with the SLSO, and all of the upcoming Christmas performances. Find details for these performances at slso.org.A Baroque ChristmasFriday, December 6, 10:30am CSTSaturday, December 7, 7:30pm CSTThe Pillsbury Theatre at Washington University’s 560 Music Center560 Trinity Ave., St. Louis, MO 63130Celtic Woman Christmas SymphonySunday, December 8, 7:00pm CSTStifel Theatre1400 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103IN UNISON Christmas with Take 6Friday, December 13, 7:30pm CSTStifel Theatre1400 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103The Muppet Christmas Carol in ConcertSaturday, December 14, 7:00pm CSTSunday, December 15, 2:00pm CSTStifel Theatre1400 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103Mercy Holiday CelebrationTuesday, December 17, 7:30pm CSTWednesday, December 18, 7:30pm CSTJ. Scheidegger Center for Performing Arts at Lindenwood University2300 W. Clay St., St. Charles, MO 63301Saturday, December 21, 2:00pm CSTSunday, December 22, 2:00pm CSTStifel Theatre1400 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103How to Train Your Dragon in ConcertSaturday, December 28, 7:00pm CSTSunday, December 29, 2:00pm CSTStifel Theatre1400 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103New Year’s Eve CelebrationTuesday, December 31, 7:30pm CSTStifel Theatre1400 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103As 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.