The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

Benjamin Kolodziej — member of Faith Lutheran Church in Plano, TX, professional church organist and composer, and contributor to the Lutheran Service Book Hymnal Companion, joins Andy and Sarah to explore our rich hymnody for the season of Christmas! Today, we learn about Lutheran Service Book 358, "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come." Find this hymn at hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/358.Theme music, “Lo, How A Rose Er Blooming” from theHymnalProject.com, used with permission.Find your edition of the Lutheran Service Book at music.cph.org/lutheran-service-book/related-products and the LSB Companion to the Hymns at cph.org/p-33586-lutheran-service-book-companion-to-the-hymns-2-volume-set.aspx. Find more research at hymnary.org.

Rev. James and Angela Sharp, who serve the Lord as missionaries in Uruguay, join Andy and Sarah to talk about their respective work as church planter and educator, what makes Uruguay a unique country to share the Gospel of Jesus, how Uruguayans celebrate Christmas and other holidays in a very secular culture, and their own favorite Christmas traditions. Learn more about Rev. James and Angela Sharp, their family, and their work at lcms.org/sharp.

Shara Osiro, who serves as the regional shared ministries manager for the LCMS in Eastern and Southern Africa, and her husband Michael join Andy and Sarah to talk about her work in Kenya and across Africa, the team she works with to accomplish this work, how she and Michael met, the Christmas traditions in Kenya, and their favorite parts of Christmas in Kenya. Learn more about Shara and Michael at lcms.org/osiro.

Rev. Dr. John Bombaro, LCMS Eurasia Director of Theological Education based in Prague, Czech Republic, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the region and communities he serves, the various theological education institutions in the Eurasia region, what Christmas looks like in Prague, and Christmas traditions in the church and their home. Learn more about Dr. Bombaro, his family, and his work at lcms.org/bombaro.

Rev. Andrew Fedder, Missionary and Theological Educator and Area Facilitator for the Balkan-Mediterranean sub-region for LCMS International Mission, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the Balkan-Mediterranean sub-region, the needs in this large region, how he serves as a theological educator, Christmas traditions in the Balkans, and their own Christmas traditions in the home. Learn more about Rev. Fedder, his family, and his work at lcms.org/fedder.

Rev. Scott Heitshusen, pastor of Lifebridge Community Church in Sealy, Texas, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why affirming life is important to him and the saints of Lifebridge, the needs of the surrounding community in Sealy, how Lifebridge is meeting those needs, and how the LCMS Million Dollar Life Match is helping them care for their neighbors in life-affirming service. Learn more about the Million Dollar Life Match at lcms.org/life and lcmslife.org.

Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor — Director of LCMS Life Ministry, and Nicole Chappell — Deaconess Intern with LCMS Life Ministry, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the purpose of the Million Dollar Life Match, the types of ministries that have received grants, the goals of the projects that have received this grant, remaining opportunities to apply, and what’s on the horizon for Life Ministry in 2023. Learn more about the Million Dollar Life Match and local Life Marches at lcms.org/life and lcmslife.org.

Nick Sargent, Vice President of Standing Partnership, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about the work of Standing Partnership as they partner with organizations to create campaigns like Set Apart to Serve, why it's important to him that we talk to our youth about church work as a potential vocation, the upcoming Pilot Program with Set Apart to Serve, and how this Pilot Program will help create more conversations about church work vocations.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. Bart Day, President and CEO of Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF), joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how LCEF has fared with the rocky economy, ways that LCEF is planning for a sustainable future, and how building relationships has been important throughout the years. Learn more about LCEF at lcef.org.

Roger Kaza, Principal Horn player with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Christmas celebrations with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, including Gospel Christmas, Mercy Holiday Celebration, film score concert and movie nights, and New Year’s Eve concerts. Learn more at slso.org!