The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

National Lutheran Schools Week was January 26-31, and we're celebrating with conversations featuring teachers and students! In Part 2, we hear from Laura Hanson (English Teacher and Choir Director) and students Mason and Linda from Lutheran High School South in St. Louis, MO on what they love about their Lutheran education. Then, we hear from 4th grade teacher Casey Schmidt and students Theo and M...

National Lutheran Schools Week was January 26-31, and we're celebrating with conversations featuring teachers and students! In Part 1, we hear from Principal Andy Spieler and students Paylin and Cade from Immanuel Lutheran School in Perryville, MO, who share their favorite things about Immanuel in Perryville. Then, hear from teacher Joseph Meador (Strings, Choir, and Band Director, and Theology Te...

On the Epiphany of Our Lord (January 6), we followed the Wise Men as they brought gifts (Matthew 2:11) predicted by the Old Testament (Isaiah 60:6) to Jesus, “He who has been born king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). The Wise Men even found Christ using the Old Testament: at first, through the fulfilled prophecy of Numbers 24:15–19 concerning a star and a king’s scepter in Israel; ultimately, through...

What is Free Will and how do we understand conversion? The Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District and host of KFUO Radio’s Concord Matters, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the Formula of Concord reading plan he created for 2025, including what "free will" means, how we are converted, heresies surrounding free will, the role of God's Word in conversion, and where we f...

How do relationships, opportunities, and invitations encourage young people to remain in the church and consider church work? Rev. Seth Flick, pastor of Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hartland, WI , joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about his formation as a pastor and who encouraged him in this pursuit, his congregation's emphasis on their duty to raise up future c...

How does Doxology serve church workers? Dr. Beverly Yahnke (Executive Director for Christian Counsel with Doxology) and the Rev. David Fleming (Executive Director for Spiritual Care with Doxology) join Andy to talk about the story of Doxology, the need for their services and spiritual care today, Doxology's continued service to the church, and how Doxology creates a culture of care for workers who...

How can we show love to our neighbors through acts of mercy? Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor (Managing Director, LCMS Office of National Mission), the Rev. Dr. Brian Heller (Manager of LCMS Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry), and the Rev. Andy Becker (Manager of Family Discipleship) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the Mercy: Love Throughout Life conference happening March 14-15, 2025. They discuss...

How does Concordia University Wisconsin's Hesed Transition Program serve adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities? Professor Kelly Osowski (Director, Hesed Transition Program at Concordia University Wisconsin) and Kathy Loveless (parent of Noah, current Hesed student at CUW) join Andy and Sarah to share Kathy and Noah's story, Noah's educational journey and his parents' hopes for hi...

Why and how does the Church write new hymnody? The Rev. Dr. Jon Vieker, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Practical Theology, and Dean of Chapel at Concordia Seminary in St Louis, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why authors are still writing new hymnody (because we can always have more), what we learn about our church forefathers from our hymnody, if hymn writing has changed ov...

What does someone on the Seminary's Board of Regents do, and why is this work important? Matt Kenitzer, a member of the Board of Regents for Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his upbringing in the church, what drew him to the LCMS, why faithful leadership in the church is important to him, how he became a member of the Board of Regents, and all the critical work t...

How does Grace Point Institute for Relational Health serve the church and her members? The Rev. Dr. Mark Hannemann, MDiv, DMin, LMHP, LPC, CLC (Co-founder and President of Grace Point Institute for Relational Health) joins Andy to discuss why Grace Point was founded, the services it offers, where these services are needed today, how Grace Point serves locally, and how it fosters a culture of care...

What is Team Flex, and how do they serve at the LCMS Youth Gathering? Leslie Sullivan (Team Flex Manager) and Danny Swafford (Team Flex Leadership) join Andy and Sarah to talk about their roles on Team Flex, how Team Flex serves at the LCMS Youth Gathering, responsibilities they and others have on Team Flex, and how to apply to serve in this way. The application deadline is April 30! Learn more an...

The Concordia University, Nebraska, (CUNE) University Chamber Choir may be coming to a tour stop near you! Dr. Kurt Von Kampen (Professor of Music, Chair of the Music Department, and Director of the Acapella Choir, Concordia University, Nebraska) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the role of music at CUNE, the variety of music opportunities at CUNE, who makes up the University Chamber Choir, and...

The 2025 March for Life is Friday, January 24! Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor, Managing Director with the LCMS Office of National Mission, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what happens at the National March for Life, why the LCMS has had a consistent presence at The March for Life, what is unique about this year, the invitation for President Harrison to be a speaker at the Rally, and how people can...

How is the LCMS responding to the devastating wildfires in Southern California? First, the Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson, Director of LCMS Disaster Response, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his recent visit to Southern California and the impact of the fires, how the disaster has affected LCMS congregations and members, how LCMS Disaster Response is partnering with the Pacific Southwest District and con...

How does a family make the transition to Seminary? Ross and Jenni George, a new seminary family at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about Ross's first career and how he made the decision to pursue pastoral ministry, how the Divine Service and community at Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston helped to shape him, the conversa...

How does Grace Place Wellness ensure the wellness of professional church workers? The Rev. Dr. Greg Walton (Vice President of Ministry Solutions, Grace Place Wellness, with LCEF) joins Andy to talk about the work of Grace Place Wellness, how they serve professional church workers, why church worker wellness is important to them, and how they help the local congregation make decisions to care for t...

It's time for the annual Texas Lutheran Writers Round Up! Texas Writers Ruth Meyer (N is for Nativity and other books), Martha Van Buskirk (Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Grace: God’s Purpose in Your Every Day), Christina Hergenrader (Inspired by the Holy Spirit: Four Habits for Faithful Living and other books), and the Rev. Michael Newman (Faith Notes, A Christ-Centered Survival Kit for Young Men ...

How do Chaplains get to make the love of Christ known in their vocations as Chaplains in the Armed Forces? Chaplain Kurtis Bueltmann (US Air Force Chaplain, Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, TX), Chaplain David Edwards (US Air Force Chaplain, Serving at Patrick Space Force Base, Brevard County, FL) and Chaplain Craig Muehler (Director, LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces) join Andy and Sarah to talk ab...

What makes the season of Epiphany so special? The Rev. Dustin Beck, Pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what Epiphany is, how Epiphany furthers our understanding that Jesus is God and man, what we learn from the account of the Magi, how we understand Jesus’ baptism, the significance of the wedding at Cana, and how the Epiphany season takes us from...

How does Journey Mapping help individuals and congregations support future church workers? Annie O’Donoghue (Manager, Standing Partnership) and Nick Sargent (Vice President, Standing Partnership) join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about their work with Standing Partnership and their role with Set Apart to Serve, what journey mapping is and how they used this tool to unde...

What is Concordia Counseling and how do they serve the Church? Deaconess Michelle Downey, Director of Concordia Counseling, joins Andy to talk about the work of Concordia Counseling today, how church workers are equipped to respond to needs and crises, how being Lutheran shapes how she approaches mental health and wellness, and how Concordia Counseling has helped the local congregation. Learn more...

The Old Testament is about Jesus, which is reason enough for us to open our Bibles and read it regularly. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). Jesus opens our minds to understand the Hebrew Scriptures (Luke 24:45) and teaches us how to read them. “Everything written about Me in the Law of Mose...

How does the Book of Concord help us understand Original Sin? (And what on earth is concupiscence?) The Rev. Brady Finnern, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District and host of KFUO Radio's Concord Matters, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the Formula of Concord reading plan he created for 2025, including the context of the Formula of Concord in our church history, what was happening in Ge...

Rev. Sean Daenzer, Director of Worship for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and Chaplain for the International Center joins Andy for a brief history of the hymn, Let All Together Praise Our God (LSB 389). Angels We Have Heard on High used with permission from TheHymnalProject.com a resource of the Michigan District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Find your edition of the Lutheran Service...