The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

When Jesus first saw Peter, He said to him, “‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter)” (John 1:42). God the Father chose Peter to make the great confession of Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Then Jesus made a play on words with Peter’s name, “You are Peter (Petros), and on this rock (petra) I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). This rock was not Peter himself but rather his confession of Jesus as the Christ. Later, in the epistle that bears his name, Peter further confessed Jesus as a living stone, chosen and precious to God, and the cornerstone of God’s spiritual house of chosen children.Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the April 2024 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled "A Chosen Community" on 1 Peter 2:4–10. This year, "Searching Scripture" is themed "Elect Exiles" and will walk through the First Epistle of St. Peter. 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.1 Peter 2:4–104 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious,and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”[a]8 and“A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.Read full chapterFootnotes1 Peter 2:7 Greek the head of the cornerEnglish Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org

How significant is singing the psalms in the life of the congregation? Dr. Charles Brown, professor of music and chair of the arts division at Concordia University Chicago, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how the Psalms are accessible for congregational singing, what is unique about singing the Psalms, how singing Psalms encourages congregational song in general, what is unifying about singing the Psalms, and how singing the Psalms can be both technical and expressive.Dr. Brown is a Keynote Speaker at the upcoming LCMS Institute On Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music, happening July 9-12 at Concordia University Nebraska in Seward, Nebraska. Learn more and register at lcms.org/worshipinstitute.

What does a volunteer coordinator do on the mission field, and how can you serve in a role like this? Erin MacKenzie — Volunteer Coordinator for the Latin America and Caribbean Region with the LCMS Office of International Mission, and Ariana Gomez — Manager of Missionary Recruitment with the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Sarah to share Erin's story about being a Volunteer Coordinator, including how she came to serve in this role, her day-to-day responsibilities, what she loves about this position, and some necessary skills for serving in a role like this. More opportunities to serve in roles like this are open now! To learn more and apply for a long-term (2+ year) missionary position, visit servenow.lcms.org and lcms.org/careers. Chat directly with Ariana about potential openings at ariana.gomez@lcms.org.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Sing a beautiful Easter Cantata with us today. Rev. Brian Hamer, US Navy Chaplain, joins Sarah and Andy to talk about J.S. Bach's BWV 4, "Christ lag in Todesbanden" (Christ Lay in Death's Strong Bands), including the texts for this cantata, unique features that set it apart from Bach's other sacred works, the familiar melody that unites each movement, and beautiful highlights from each of the movements. Find the familiar hymn, Lutheran Service Book 458, at hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/458, and read Chaplain Hamer's column on this cantata and hymn at whatdoesthismean.org/lifted-voice--brian-hamer/cantatas-over-coffee-christ-jesus-lay-in-deaths-strong-bands.

What can we learn from Maundy Thursday hymns? Benjamin Kolodziej, Church Organist and Musicologist, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Maundy Thursday Hymns, their history, theology, and author. Hear this discussion on Lutheran Service Book 445 "When You Woke That Thursday Morning," Lutheran Service Book 446 "Jesus, Greatest at the Table," and Lutheran Service Book 617 "O Lord, We Praise Thee."

Rev. Sean Daenzer, Director of Worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and International Center Chaplain, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the services of the Triduum during Holy Week, the origins of these services, what makes Tenebrae a unique service among the others, and the beautiful Responsories used in the Medieval church during these Tenebrae services.Listen to the Responsories by Carlo Gesualdo on YouTube.This program originally aired April 5, 2023.

How does Lutheran Elementary education make a difference for students, and how does LESA support families and educators? Amee Colvin — Director of Fund Development and Marketing with Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA) in St. Louis, MO, and Mark Debrick — Principal of Zion Lutheran School in St. Charles, MO, join Sarah to talk about how Zion Lutheran serves the surrounding community, what makes Zion a unique place for children to learn about Jesus, how Zion partners with LESA to provide exemplary education for their students, the work that LESA does to support families and educators, and the upcoming A Night for Kids Dinner and Auction on April 13, 2024. Learn more about the Dinner and Auction at lesastl.org/2024-a-night-for-kids-dinner-auction-pre-event. Find the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article on Lutheran Schools at stltoday.com.

We hear Psalm 22 during Holy Week, so how do we see it fulfilled? Rev. Andrew Jones, pastor of First Lutheran Church and Preschool in Concord, California, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the place of Psalm 22 in Holy Week, the theme of Psalm 22, how it walks us through Holy Week, and where we see fulfillments of the Psalm in Holy Week. Read his CPH blog post at blog.cph.org/study/the-fulfillment-of-psalm-22-in-holy-week.This program originally aired March 30, 2021.

Why is supporting church workers important to the LWML? Eden Keefe, President of LWML (Lutheran Women in Mission), joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about both her personal interest and LWML's interest in supporting and loving church workers, why LWML is invented in forming and recruiting church workers in congregations and school, the $100,000 mission offering grant for Set Apart to Serve, and her encouragement for women and laity to intentionally encourage young people to consider full-time church work. Learn more about the LWML and their mission grants at lwml.org.Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative at lcms.org/setaparttoserve.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.

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, Texas, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the difference between Palm Sunday and Sunday of the Passion, how the Church typically observes Palm Sunday, what makes this day unique in the Church Year, and the scripture readings and hymns we have for this day. Learn more about our Lutheran Church Year and practices at lcms.org/worship.This program originally aired March 25, 2021.