The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

How do the Psalms form us in our daily lives and the rhythm of worship? Dr. Geoffrey Boyle, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the posture of worship, how the Lord speaks to us in the Psalms, what the Psalms reveal about our Lord, how the Psalms shape our worship, and how the Psalms form us as children of God. Dr. Boyle 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's it like to serve on a short-term mission team with the LCMS? Rev. Richard Woelmer — Pastor of University Lutheran Church at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, Lewis Ostermeyer — Member of University Lutheran Church at IU and short-term mission participant, and Anne Gonzalez — manager of Short-term Mission Training and Engagement with the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Andy and Sarah to share about the team from University Lutheran Church who served in the Czech Republic, how they were able to serve, what they learned while they were there, and how you can serve in a similar way. To inquire about service opportunities, reach out to mission.teams@lcms.org and visit servenow.lcms.org.

What is the emotion of wonder, and how do we experience it? Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, MSW, joins Andy and Sarah in our mini-series on Emotions to talk about how wonder is connected to curiosity and surprise, the place of wonder in the midst of brokenness and the ugliness we experience in the world, the sensory and cognitive components of wonder, how wonder is a spiritual emotion, and how we practice wonder.Find your copy of Emotions and the Gospel: Created for Connection at books.cph.org/emotions-and-the-gospel. Listen to all episodes in this series at kfuo.org/tag/emotions-and-the-gospel.Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9am CT, or listen to all episodes at kfuo.org/tag/mental-health-monday.View Deaconess Heidi's Mental Health Playlist on Youtube, listen to the Life in Relationship Podcast, and find all of her writings and resources at heidigoehmann.com.

What does a young man's path to seminary look like, and how is he formed during seminary for the pastoral vocation? Jason Kohm, 4th-year seminarian at Concordia Seminary in St Louis, and Zachary Staehr, 4th-year seminarian at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about how they decided to study for the pastoral ministry, their path to and through seminary, who was most influential in their journeys, their vicarage experience and how that formed them for ministry, and how they feel looking forward to Call Day.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.

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.