The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

What is catechesis, and why does it matter for us in our daily lives? The Rev. Dr. Peter Bender (Senior Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church and Academy President of the Concordia Catechetical Academy (CCA) in Sussex, Wisconsin) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what catechesis is and is not, why catechesis is important for us in our daily rhythms of life, how Recognized Service Organization (RSO) status has benefitted the Concordia Catechetical Academy, how CCA's resources benefit the church at large, and the recent work that's been done to translate and distribute the Small Catechism. Learn more about Concordia Catechetical Academy at peacesussex.org/cca and lutherancatechesis.org.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

How is the Concordia University System helping young people attend Concordia Universities? The Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy (President of Concordia University System) and the Rev. Dr. Douglas Spittel (Vice President of Concordia University System) join Andy and Sarah for the monthly update from the Concordia University System, including what's been happening in the first few weeks of classes at our universities, how LCMS church work programs are funded, feedback from students receiving scholarships, and how CUS is related to the LCMS District Presidents. Learn more about CUS and sign up to receive their e-newsletter at cus.edu.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

How does LESA make Lutheran education possible for families in St. Louis? Amee Colvin (Director of Fund Development and Marketing, Lutheran Elementary School Association, St. Louis, Justine Eckhoff (parent of students at St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Des Peres, MO) and Laura Montgomery (Director of Education Resources, Lutheran Elementary School Association, St. Louis) join Andy and Sarah to talk about what Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA) does for schools and families, how they accomplish their work, why Lutheran schools are a priority for the Eckhoff family, how LESA has helped the Eckhoff family make Lutheran education a reality, and all the exciting things happening at this year's Brew in the Lou. Learn more about how to attend Brew in the Lou or to support LESA at LESAstl.org.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Why should we study what the Church Fathers taught? Flame (Grammy-Nominated and Stellar Award-Winning rap artist and author of Extra Nos: Discovering Grace Outside Myself and his newest book, Because Jesus Taught It: Christianity through the Eyes of the Church Fathers) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about where the idea for his newest book began, who the Church Fathers are, and why he chose to study what they taught. He shares what he found when he began studying them, how this knowledge influenced what he believes and confesses today, and what was most challenging and compelling about reading the Church Fathers. As a bonus for this episode, 3rd-7th grade students in the Quest program at St. Mark’s Lutheran School in Eureka, MO join Andy and Sarah as co-hosts to ask Flame their own questions.Find everything from Flame at extranosacademy.com, including his podcast "The Study." Find his latest book at cph.org/because-jesus-taught-it-christianity-through-the-eyes-of-the-church-fathers.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Where did Glenn Rollins get to travel this summer to share about Set Apart to Serve? Mr. Glenn Rollins (Manager, Set Apart to Serve) joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about the opportunities he's had this summer to meet with leaders and youth about futures in church work. He shares about the duties of the Young Adult Representatives at Higher Things conferences and what their interactions looked like at the conferences, the events he's been preparing for this Fall and how these events help leaders engage youth and adults in conversations about church work, and how he connects with leadership in LCMS districts to enable them to reach potential future church workers. You can learn more about the church work opportunities available in the Concordia University System and Seminaries at lcms.org/sas.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.Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Who is the Buszin family, and how did they influence the writing of a book about the history of American Lutheran Sacred Music? Benjamin Kolodziej (Church Organist and Musicologist, author of Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, 1847-1947 available from Concordia Publishing House) and the Rev. Scott Schilbe (Assistant Pastor/Minister of Music at Our Redeemer in Overland, MO, and Theology Teacher at Metro-East Lutheran High School in Edwardsville, IL), join Andy and Sarah for the BONUS episode in our series on Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music. Benjamin and Rev. Schilbe talk about who Walter Buszin was, his vision for sharing the history of American Lutheran sacred music, how his daughter Connie Buszin Seddon spoke about her father’s work, Benjamin and Rev. Schilbe's thoughts about stewarding the research and stories collected by the Buszin family, how the materials that Connie shared with Rev. Schilbe at the Good Shepherd Institute in 2022 began a research project like no other, how Benjamin's research developed from that box of materials, and why it was important to CPH that the stories of these significant musicians be published.Find Benjamin Kolodziej’s book Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, 1847-1947 at cph.org/portraits-in-american-lutheran-sacred-music. Find all episodes in this series at kfuo.org/tag/portraits-in-american-lutheran-sacred-music. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

We're looking at upcoming hymns of the day in our church year! The Rev. Sean Daenzer (LCMS Director of Worship and LCMS IC Chaplain) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about three beautiful hymns people may sing this weekend in church, covering themes of anxiety, trust, hope, comfort, and angels. Chaplain Daenzer talks about LSB 760 "What God Ordains Is Always Good" (15th Sunday after Trinity, One Year Lectionary), LSB 708 "Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart" (16th Sunday after Pentecost / Proper 21, Three Year Lectionary), and LSB 522 "Lord God, To Thee We Give All Praise" (for St. Michael and All Angels). Grab your hymnals and follow along!As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

How can high schoolers learn more about all that the Concordia Universities have to offer? Joshua Swartz (LCMS Missouri District Director of Schools) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what makes a Concordia University experience unique and valuable, what will happen at the Missouri District Lutheran College Fair on November 15, and what students and parents will learn about futures in church work as well as other programs available at Concordia Universities. Learn more and register under the Events tab at mo.lcms.org.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

In this crossover episode with The Lutheran Witness podcast, The Rev Roy Askins continues his conversation with LCMS Secretary Rev. Dr. John Sias on nominations for offices, boards, and commissions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

In this crossover episode with The Lutheran Witness podcast, The Rev Roy Askins talks with LCMS Secretary the Rev. Dr. John Sias on nominations for offices, boards, and commissions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. They discuss why the Synod needs nominations, who to nominate, the types of roles these nominees fill and much more. To learn more about the nomination process within the LCMS, visit lcms.org/nominate.As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let’s be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.