The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

Benjamin Kolodziej, Church Organist and Musicologist, joins Andy and Sarah for our series on the first 100 years of LCMS Music History to talk about the creation of The Lutheran Hymnal, the move from German to English in the LCMS, and the key people during these years of music in the LCMS.

Benjamin and Rebecca Helge, who serve the Lord in the Eurasia region based in the Czech Republic, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the communities where they serve, what's unique about the culture in these communities, the needs they meet and how they serve the community, the people they serve alongside, the relationship with the Lutheran church in the Czech Republic, and how they celebrate Advent and Christmas. Read their story and how to support their work at lcms.org/helge.

Christina Stackle, DCE at Peace Lutheran Church in St Louis, our Church of the Week, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the history of Peace Lutheran Church, special Advent and Christmas services at Peace, the Tree Lot, and the Boar's Head Festival. Find details for all of these events at peacelutheranstl.org.

Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor — Managing Director for Human Care and Ministerial Support and Director of Life Ministry with the LCMS Office of National Mission, and Rev. Ken Krueger — Vice President and Chief Customer Officer for Concordia Plans, join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about how each of them became church workers, why worker wellness is important to them, what worker wellness and the wellness wheel are, how the Synod is addressing worker wellness, and how different ministries across Synod work together to ensure worker wellness. Learn more about Church Worker Wellness at lcms.org/wellness and Concordia Plans at concordiaplans.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.

Randy Ronning and Leah Sallach, LCMS Servant Event Planners, and Rev. Mark Kiessling, Director of LCMS Youth Ministry, join Andy and Sarah to talk about what LCMS Servant Events accomplish every year, why they love Servant Events, what experiences participants have at these events that are unique and life-changing, and what to know about 2024 Servant Events. 2024 LCMS Servant Events | Now Available! Service opportunities provide young people with the chance to grow in their God-given gifts and show them how their skills can be used both in church work and in roles outside the church. LCMS Servant Events across the country are now open for summer 2024. Find a servant event for your group by clicking below, and find out more about LCMS Servant Events at lcms.org/servantevents.

Benjamin Kolodziej, Church Organist and Musicologist, joins Andy and Sarah for our series on the first 100 years of LCMS Music History to talk about interesting historical characters from 1860-1920, how Lutheran church music was being influenced during the turn of the century, and how global events influenced many things in the Lutheran church. Find the YouTube video mentioned at Order of the Holy Communion, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 1941.

Dick Gast —President of Southern California Lutheran Layman League and General Chairman of the Lutheran Hour Float Committee, and Lynn Gast — Chair of Petal Pushers, join Andy and Sarah to talk about how Petal Pushers began and what they do with the Lutheran Hour Ministries float in the annual Rose Parade, some of the more memorable floats they've been a part of, how the floats are decorated (which might surprise you!), what happens throughout the year as they build the float, and how to volunteer your time as a float decorator. Learn more about how to volunteer as a float decorator or to support the work of the Petal Pushers at shop.petalpushers.org.

Deaconess Kim Bueltmann, serving the Lord in Germany, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the Leipzig and Chemnitz communities where she lives and serves in Germany, how these communities have changed since she first began serving in Germany, the challenges of Lutheran theological resources in Farsi, translating hymns and prayers into Farsi, and how she's seen the Lord at work in His Word and Sacraments in the congregations she serves. Read Kim's story and how to support her work at lcms.org/bueltmann and facebook.com/DeaconessKim.

Rev. Joel Fritsche — Director of Vicarage and Deaconess Internships and Assistant Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary in St Louis, and Dr. Todd Peperkorn — Director of Vicarage and Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, join Andy for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about their journeys into pastoral ministry, what vicarage is and how it was an important part of their formations, what they want students to gain in their vicarage experiences, what they consider when coordinating vicarages for current pastoral formation students, what factors affect vicarage placement, the relationship of the vicar to his pastoral supervisor, and important things for a congregation to understand when requesting a vicar.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. Rick Jones, Vice President—Spiritual Life at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the reality that some youth face today regarding trauma and mental health/illness, the services offered through Dakota Ranch, what sets Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch apart from other residential treatment centers, what it looks like to care for the whole person, and stories of how Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch has made a difference for youth. Learn more about Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch and the unique ways you can support their ministry at dakotaranch.org.