The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

Ruth Meyer, author of N is for Nativity: Christmas from A to Z and Our Faith from A to Z, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about where the idea began to write an alphabet book on the Christmas story, the creative process for writing an alphabet book, and how families can enjoy this new book for Christmas. Find her books at cph.org/n-is-for-nativity-christmas-from-a-to-z, cph.org/our-faith-from-a-to-z, and ruthmeyerbooks.com.

Rev. Bryan Roberts, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Pevely, MO, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the needs of the community in Jefferson County, how LCMS congregations in Jefferson County work together to meet the needs of this community, what is available at Grace Day, and how this day supports families in the Jefferson County area. Learn more about Zion Pevely and Grace Day at zionpevely.com and facebook.com/zionpevely.

FLAME, Lutheran artist and author of "Extra Nos: Discovering Grace outside Myself," available now from Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his journey into the Lutheran faith, the people who were influential in this journey from childhood, how his love of rap music blossomed into more than just a hobby, how he discovered Lutheran theology, and why clarity in theology and confession is a top priority for him. Find FLAME's book at cph.org/extranos and all things Extra Nos Academy at extranosacademy.com.

Andy and Sarah talk with presenters at the upcoming CCLE Conference XXIII at Concordia University Nebraska, July 18-21. Rev. Robert Paul, Headmaster of Memorial Lutheran Church and School in Houston, TX, talks about "Culture Cultivation and the Administrator’s Role," including the role of an administrator in creating school culture and parents also play a role. Rev. Phillip Fischaber, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut, IL, talks about "Teaching Latin and Other Languages the Lutheran Way," including why Latin and other languages important today and how teachers can teach Latin to their students. Matt Rivers, Parent and Volunteer Instructor in Music at Faith Lutheran High School in Plano, TX, talks about "Teaching Hymn Composition to High School Students," including what happens when we set high expectations for our students and how he teaches hymn composition to high schoolers.Learn more about CCLE Conference XXIII at live.eventtia.com/en/6340/Home and the work of CCLE at ccle.org.

Bill Schranz — Director of Education & Synodical Careers and Director of Colloquy at Concordia University Nebraska, and Lead Placement Director for the Concordia University System, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about his path to becoming a Lutheran teacher, the process of formation to placement for commissioned church workers, his role as placement director in the formation and placement of commissioned church workers, what Synod and Concordia Universities are doing to address the church worker shortage, and what you can do to begin addressing a shortage in church workers.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.

Amy Hubach — DCE Internship Placement Coordinator and Assistant Professor at Concordia University Nebraska, Deaconess Caitlin Ramirez — LCMS missionary serving the Lord in Peru, and Anne Gonzalez — Manager of Short-term Mission Training & Engagement with the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Andy and Sarah to talk about serving on an international short-term mission team, learning about tradition and culture in Peru, how they served while in Peru, how these teams are a great partnership with missionaries in the region, and upcoming opportunities to serve as an international volunteer with the LCMS. Learn about opportunities at servenow.lcms.org.

Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast, Jr, President of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, joins Andy and Sarah for our History of Lutheranism in America series to talk about the formation of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, including the people who began the ground work for forming what became The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, the challenges that they faced, how the creation of our Synod happened, and what we can we learn from our history that would be helpful as we gather for convention this year.Find all three episodes in this series at kfuo.org/tag/history-of-lutheranism-in-america.

Rev. Dr. James Gimbel, President of Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how we understand “vocation” from a Biblical perspective, the difference between vocation and career, how Martin Luther understood and taught about vocation, what it means to be a "mask of God," and how we see vocation playing out in different areas of our lives. Read Dr. Gimbel's insightful article from The Canadian Lutheran at canadianlutheran.ca/on-vocatio.This is a rebroadcast from August 24, 2022.

Rev. Roger James, Assistant to the General Secretary for the International Lutheran Council, joins Andy and guest co-host Rev. Brady Finnern at the 2023 LWML National Convention to talk about who makes up the International Lutheran Council, why this Council was formed, the church bodies that are active members (including the LCMS), and what is accomplished through this partnership. Learn more about the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org.

Mike Schiemann, Principal of Bethany Lutheran School in Parma, Ohio, joins Andy for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about how the church and church work were a part of his childhood and youth, when he began thinking about church work as a possible vocation, how church worker formation different in the Lutheran Church-Canada than The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, what his formation as a Lutheran teacher looked like, and his advice for a young adult or college student who is uncertain about what their future vocations and callings might be.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.