The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

How do grief and loss affect us? Dr. Mark Vande Braak, PhD, FT, MT-BC (Director of Grief, Loss, and Trauma with Lutheran Family Service) joins Andy and Sarah for Mental Health Monday to talk about thanatology and the study of grief, how we experience grief, the difference between grief and loss, and what is important to understand when speaking with or caring for someone who has experienced a loss. Find the webinar support groups mentioned in this episode at lutheranfamilyservice.org/supportgroups.
 
 Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9am CT! Find all episode with the tag "Mental Health Monday."

How can a family culture encourage children to consider church work vocations? Cheryl, Phillip, and Evan Magness join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about their family culture. Evan, junior at Concordia University Chicago, shares where he is in his formational journey, when he decided to consider studying to become a pastor, the experiences in high school and college that helped form him as a young adult, and the family culture which shaped him as a Christian. Cheryl and Phillip share what has been important in raising their children to help them consider future vocations, how spiritual formation happens in their home, and how worship and congregational life have been a significant part of that spiritual and vocational formation.
 
 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.

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 9, Rev. Dr. Stanish Stanley (Executive Director of Christian Friends of New Americans) joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about how he came to St. Louis, his experience listening to KFUO, his first time as a guest on KFUO, how KFUO and CFNA have partnered together for the sake of the Gospel, and how KFUO supports him and those he serves.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

How can you have fun golfing while supporting the important work of Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA)? Mike Albers (CFNA volunteer) and Kerry Pozaric (CFNA Business Manager) join Andy and Sarah to talk about how they've seen CFNA showing love and mercy in the name of Jesus to refugees and immigrants in St. Louis this year, why they are personally involved with this Gospel-driven work, the responses they've received or heard from those who have benefited from the support of CFNA, and how everyone can support the work of CFNA during the Annual Golf Tournament. Learn more and register at cfna-stl.org/golf.
 
 CFNA Golf Tournament
 Please join us at Greenbriar Hills Country Club for a day of fun and fellowship while supporting refugees in the St. Louis area.
 
 Monday, October 14, 2024
 
 11:00 am — Check-In and Box Lunch
 12:00 pm — 18-Hole Scramble
 5:30 pm — Dinner and Prizes

It's almost time for Advent and Christmas! Elizabeth Pittman (Director of Public Relations for Concordia Publishing House) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the exciting offerings from CPH for this Advent and Christmas season, including the beautiful Enduring Grace: A Church Year Journal, the Enduring Grace journal for kids, and this year's Advent and Christmas package for congregations titled "His Name Shall Be Called" which includes Daily Devotions, a Children's Book, a Christmas Program, and other resources.
 
 Find these resources at:
 cph.org/enduring-grace-a-church-year-journal-year-c
 cph.org/enduring-grace-a-church-year-journal-for-kids-year-c
 cph.org/advent

What makes a hymn a hymn? Dr. John Behnke (Organist at Trinity Lutheran Church of Southwest Florida, Composer, and Professor Emeritus of Concordia University Wisconsin) and Rev. Stephen Starke (published hymnwriter and retired Pastor of St. John Amelith Lutheran Church in Bay City, MI) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the upcoming "A Day with Hymnwriter, Rev. Stephen Starke" happening on January 24, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Southwest Florida in Port Charlotte, Florida. Hear a conversation about what makes a hymn different from other types of music we sing, what makes a hymn a good hymn, how hymns from hundreds of years ago are still relevant today, and how hymns create community among God’s people. Learn more about this event at https://www.facebook.com/events/1142207233541604 and about Trinity Lutheran Church at trinitylutheranchurchswfl.org.

Concordia University students studying to become church workers had the chance to share about church work vocations at Higher Things Conferences this summer. In Part 2 of 2, Young Adult Representatives (YARs) Hannah Weaver, Jakob Nath, and James Pape join Andy and Sarah to talk about why they wanted to serve as YARs, stories about their experiences talking with Higher Things participants at all three conferences, what they loved about this experience, and their advice for anyone considering church work vocations. Learn more about Higher Things at higherthings.org.
 
 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.

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 8, Rev. "Jolly" John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about how he began working with KFUO Radio, how Wrestling with the Basics began, the impact he has seen while sharing the Gospel over the radio, and what he loves about talking about Jesus to listeners worldwide.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

Most of Peter’s First Epistle is straightforward in meaning, but this month’s reading contains two difficult passages: 1 Peter 3:18–20 and 4:6. Consulting a faithful and reliable resource such as The Lutheran Study Bible is advisable when you are faced with challenging texts. For the first difficult passage, one should ask, “What else could this refer to other than Christ’s victorious descent into hell to proclaim defeat over sin, Satan and the enemies of God?” This is the proper meaning, as we confess in the Apostles’ Creed: Christ “descended into hell.” With the second difficult passage, other Scriptures clarify the meaning: “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27; see also Luke 16:19–31). “Those who are dead” (1 Peter 4:6) to whom the Gospel has been preached must be those dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1) in this life who need to hear and believe the life-giving Word of Christ. In the verses for this month, Peter makes it perfectly clear that Baptism is a saving bath that unites us with Christ’s resurrection and gives us power for a new life. As a baptized community made alive “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21), we now “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
 
 Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the September 2024 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “A Baptized Community” on 1 Peter 3:18–4:6. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Elect Exiles” and will walk through the First Epistle of St. Peter. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us!
 
 Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.

What makes teaching 5th grade at a Classical Lutheran School a unique experience? Mrs. Brittany Wilber, Fifth Grade Teacher at Faith Lutheran School in Plano, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what she loves about being a teacher at Faith Lutheran School, what is unique about teaching 5th grade, how catechesis is included in the curriculum, how classical education forms young adults in the Lutheran faith and prepares them for future vocations, and the relationship between teachers, parents, and pastors at Faith Plano.
 
 Learn more about Faith Plano, including the upcoming Golf Tournament to support the school, at flsplano.org.

Josh Douglas, Gift Planning Advocate with LCMS Mission Advancement, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why he joined LCMS Mission Advancement, what a Gift Planning Advocate does, how he builds relationships with people across Synod as he helps them plan their giving, why joyful giving matters, and how to start the process of a long-term gift for the LCMS. Learn more at giftplanning.lcms.org.
 
 This program originally aired on October 2, 2023.

What does a Christ-centered understanding of vocation look like in daily life? Deaconess Kristin Wassilak (Dean of the College of Theology, Arts & Humanities; Program Leader for Deaconess Studies and Classical Lutheran Education), Rev. Dr. Chad Kendall (Assistant Vice President for Mission & Identity; Associate Professor of Theology; Supervisor of the Office of Church Relations) and Rev. Simeon Raddatz (University Chaplain, Program Lead for the Pre-Seminary Program) from Concordia University Chicago join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about what vocation looks like in daily life and in church work, what influenced each of them to pursue a church work vocation, some of the greatest joys and challenges of church work, and the opportunity for high school students to explore studying for church work vocations at the Careers for Christ weekend at Concordia University Chicago. Learn more and register for Careers for Christ at cuchicago.edu/c4c.
 
 Hear Deaconess Kristin's story in our Set Apart to Serve series at kfuo.org/2023/12/08/coffee-hour-120823-set-apart-to-serve-deaconess-ministry.
 
 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.

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 7, KFUO's Lead Producer Jenny Williams joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about her many years with KFUO Radio, how she's seen technology changed during her time with KFUO, some of her favorite memories over the years, and why she's loved working with KFUO Radio.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 6, former on-air host Rev. Doug Nicely ("In His Steps" and "Do You Have A Minute") joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell to talk about how he served KFUO as an on-air host, stories of his time with KFUO Radio, the impact he saw while sharing the Gospel over the radio, and what he loved about talking about Jesus to listeners worldwide.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

What is the need for a biblical understanding of reconciliation? Dwight Schettler (President of Ambassadors of Reconciliation) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what reconciliation is from a Biblical viewpoint, how Ambassadors of Reconciliation has equipped Christians with the truth and skills to live lives of reconciliation, how reconciliation is a "heart" matter, and the various upcoming opportunities to learn more about and practice reconciliation. Find details about these upcoming opportunities at aorhope.org.

Why should we consider the relationship of technology to the soul? Dr. David Maxwell (Professor of Systematic Theology and Chairman of the Department of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis), Dr. Kevin Golden (Director of Resident Field Education, Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology, and Dean of Theological Research and Publication at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis), and Erika Petsch (Director of Continuing Education at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the 2024 Theological Symposium "Technology and the Church: Promise and Peril" happening September 17-18 at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. They discuss why artificial intelligence and other technologies are important to them as individuals and seminary professors, what questions have arisen among students about emerging technology, and what attendees will learn and experience at this year's Theological Symposium. Learn more and register for Symposium at csl.edu/event/34th-annual-theological-symposium.

Why are hymns important for young adults, and how can we teach young people to love and appreciate hymnody? Rev. Kevin Twit, Campus Minister with Reformed University Fellowship at Belmont University (Presbyterian Church in America) and the founder of Indelible Grace Music, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his service as a campus minister of the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), how hymns shaped his faith in childhood and into adulthood, why hymnody is important to him and crucial to teach to young adults, how he introduced traditional hymnody to students who may be unfamiliar, and the next album from Indelible Grace available now on streaming platforms. Learn more about Indelible Grace and find their music at igracemusic.com.

Concordia University students studying to become church workers had the chance to share about church work vocations at Higher Things Conferences this summer. In Part 1 of 2, Young Adult Representatives (YARs) Brianna Pike and Josh Rueter join Andy and Sarah to talk about their church work programs, how they were chosen to be YARs, the conversations they had with Higher Things participants at the Wisconsin and Portland conferences, and how this experience shaped how they view their own future vocations as church workers. Learn more about Higher Things at higherthings.org.
 
 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.

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 5, former on-air host Rev. Don Matzat, joins Sarah and guest co-hosts Joanie Harwell and Gary Duncan to talk about how he served KFUO as an on-air host, stories of his time with KFUO Radio, the impact he saw while sharing the Gospel over the radio, and what he loved about talking about Jesus to listeners worldwide.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

Could a Catholic be on the Throne of England? In this final episode of our series on the Puritan movement, we hear how the Church of England worked through this question with Catholic James as heir to the throne. Learn about the creation of the Whigs and Tories, the reign of King James, how religious freedom ebbs and flows during this period, and the Act of Toleration in 1689 that finally allowed dissenting churches (Baptists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians) freedom of worship, although not yet freedom to participate in government. It wouldn’t be until the 1829 Catholic Emancipation Act that Roman Catholics would be granted admission to politics in England.
 
 Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah for our nine-episode series on the History of the Puritan Movement in England. Find more from Dr. MacKenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.
 
 Interested in going deeper? Recommended reading from Dr. MacKenzie includes Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken, English Puritanism by John Spurr, Reformation in England by Peter Marshall, Puritan Christianity in America: Religion and Life in 17th Century Massachusetts by John Carden, and Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

How is relief organized after a community experiences a disaster? Rev. Trae Fistler (Mid-South District Disaster Response Coordinator) and Ms. Janet Simko (former Mid-South District Disaster Response Coordinator) join Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Rev. Kevin Robson (Chief Mission Officer for the LCMS) during our series on Mercy Stories to talk about where their interest in disaster response began, how LCMS congregations have been impacted by disasters in the Mid-South District, how disaster response is carried out in communities, and how this response of mercy has changed the communities where they serve.
 
 Read more about Mercy Work in the LCMS at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy.

Rev. Peter Bender, Director of the Concordia Catechetical Academy, and Rev. Dr. Al Espinosa, member of the board of directors for the Concordia Catechetical Academy, join Andy and Sarah to talk about what catechesis is, what the Catechism is, why catechesis is important, how the Concordia Catechetical Academy began, how the Concordia Catechetical Academy serves the church at large, and how the status as a Recognized Service Organization will help them better carry out this faithful work. Find the Concordia Catechetical Academy at peacesussex.org/cca.
 
 This program originally aired on September 19, 2023.

How does a young man explore the possibility of pursuing a future pastoral vocation? Ninth-grader Emmit Ohlde, who recently attended a Higher Things conference, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about his experience at Higher Things, what he enjoyed about the worship and learning experiences, how Higher Things helped him consider what a pastoral vocation would look like, and how he lives out his faith along with his passion for athletics. Learn more about Higher Things at higherthings.org. 
 
 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.

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 4, John Fischer, who was Chief Engineer for KFUO Radio for about 50 years, joins Sarah and guest co-hosts Joanie Harwell and Gary Duncan to talk about how he served KFUO for many years, some of the fun he used to have while on staff, stories about radio engineering from many years ago, and what he loved about working in radio for all that time.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

Coming out of the Interregnum period, what happens when the English monarchy is restored? In episode 8 of our series on the Puritan movement, we learn about Oliver Cromwell’s son making a mess of politics, leading to Charles II agreeing to come back as the Constitutional Monarch in 1660. Under Charles II, religious liberty becomes a critical issue for the variety of denominations in England. Hear about how politics embroiled with religion in the Act of Uniformity, the Test Act, and the discovery that the heir to the throne was a Catholic.
 
 Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah for our nine-episode series on the History of the Puritan Movement in England. Find more from Dr. MacKenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.
 
 Interested in going deeper? Recommended reading from Dr. MacKenzie includes Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken, English Puritanism by John Spurr, Reformation in England by Peter Marshall, Puritan Christianity in America: Religion and Life in 17th Century Massachusetts by John Carden, and Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

What does mercy work look like immediately following a natural disaster? Joel and Kathy Matthews, Disaster Response Site Coordinators in the LCMS Florida-Georgia District, join Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Rev. Kevin Robson, Chief Mission Officer for the LCMS, during our series on Mercy Stories to talk about where their interest in disaster response began, how they see this mercy work as a part of their Lutheran identity, how Hurricane Ian impacted the Florida-Georgia region, the opportunities they had to serve their neighbors during this time, what disaster response looks like immediately and after time has passed, and how they care for themselves as caregivers during these difficult times. Learn more about LCMS Disaster Response at lcms.org/disaster. 
 
 Read more about Mercy Work in the LCMS at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy.

How does a Christian care for someone suffering with depression and anxiety? The Rev. Dr. Stephen Pietsch, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what sparked his interest in pastoral care and counseling, how his pastoral ministry shaped how he teaches pastoral care to his seminary students, how the teachings of Martin Luther informed how he cares for people suffering from mental illness, and what attendees at the Lay Bible Institute on “Christian Caregiving for People Suffering with Depression and Anxiety” can expect to learn. Find the Lay Bible Institute and registration information at concordiasem.regfox.com/lay-bible-institute-fall-2024.

How do Directors of Christian Education (DCE) serve in the Parish? National Association of Directors of Christian Education members Kayla McGowan (Director of Christian Education at Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Aiea, HI) and Katie Morgan (Director of Christian Education at Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, CO) join Andy and Sarah to talk about their paths to becoming DCEs, their DCE formation, how each of them serves in different roles, how they collaborate with other professionals in the church, where they find joy in serving as a DCE, and how NADCE serves DCEs in their vocations. Learn more about NADCE at nadce.wildapricot.org.
 
 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.

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 3, Rev. Dr. Chuck Spomer, former guest and co-host on The Bible Study and former pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in St. Louis, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell, to talk about how he served KFUO over the years, how he saw people being reached with the Gospel during his time with KFUO, and his favorite memories of KFUO over the years.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 2, Dr. Mary Manz Simon, former host of “Front Porch Parenting” for 15 years on KFUO, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell, to talk about how she served KFUO over the years, how she saw Front Porch Parenting reaching listeners in practical ways, and her favorite memories of working for KFUO.
 
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

The King and Parliament went to war in 1642 and changed the course of the monarchy. In episode 7 in our series on the Puritan movement, the reformation of the Church of England moves ahead when Westminster Abbey discovers the disunity within Puritan belief and practice. Learn how the Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Baptists differentiate themselves, the most contentious doctrinal points, and how these groups became settled in America.
 
 Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah for our nine-episode series on the History of the Puritan Movement in England. Find more from Dr. MacKenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.
 
 Interested in going deeper? Recommended reading from Dr. MacKenzie includes Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken, English Puritanism by John Spurr, Reformation in England by Peter Marshall, Puritan Christianity in America: Religion and Life in 17th Century Massachusetts by John Carden, and Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

Rev. David Fleming, Director of Spiritual Care with DOXOLOGY, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Rev. Kevin Robson, Chief Mission Officer for the LCMS, during our series on Mercy Stories to talk about the work of DOXOLOGY for spiritual care and counsel for church workers, the challenges pastors and other church workers face today, how the Take Heart retreats served church workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the In HIS Image conferences support parents and church workers facing current issues today. Learn about DOXOLOGY at doxology.us and find details about the In HIS Image programs at doxology.us/programs/in-his-image.
 
 Read more about Mercy Work in the LCMS at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy.

This issue of LW focuses on the church as a teaching and learning community. Peter encourages Christian education oriented toward apologetics, the defense of the Christian faith: “Always [be] prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). Lutherans have a wonderful resource for apologetics in the Small Catechism, which is a foundation and guide for deeper knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. Peter does not encourage Christians to force their faith on others but tells them to be well-prepared to — when asked! — offer a gentle, respectful account of why Christ the Lord is the way, the truth and the life.
 
 Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the August 2024 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “A Community of Hope” on 1 Peter 3:8–17. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Elect Exiles” and will walk through the First Epistle of St. Peter. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us!
 
 Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.
 
 1 Peter 3:8–17
 Suffering for Righteousness' Sake
 
 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For
 
 “Whoever desires to love life
 and see good days,
 let him keep his tongue from evil
 and his lips from speaking deceit;
 11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
 let him seek peace and pursue it.
 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
 and his ears are open to their prayer.
 But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
 
 13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
 
 Read full chapter
 
 
 
 English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org

How does a constantly changing congregation welcome new members, stay true to its Lutheran identity, and encourage young people to consider church work vocations? The Rev. Larry Peters, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Clarksville, TN, joins us for our Set Apart to Serve series from the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music to talk about how they are an intentionally welcoming congregation, how they welcome new Lutherans into Lutheran liturgy and practice, how the church has grown over the years and how that has changed their staffing needs, and the realistic challenges of calling a new pastor. Learn more about Grace Lutheran Church at glctn.org.
 
 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.

We’re celebrating 100 years of God’s blessings on KFUO Radio with a special series featuring guests from KFUO’s long history! In Episode 1, Dr. Paul Devantier, current producer and voice of BY THE WAY and previous executive director of LCMS Communications and KFUO, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Joanie Harwell, to talk about his years serving the LCMS and KFUO, how he saw the lives of listeners shaped and impacted by the message broadcast on KFUO, the landmark Supreme Court case that KFUO fought in the 1990s, the incredible expansion of technology during his tenure, and his favorite memories of working at KFUO.
 
 Learn more about KFUO’s 100th Anniversary Celebration at kfuo.org/100.

How did the Scottish Rebellion happen, and what effect did this have on the Church of England? In episode 6 of our series on the Puritan movement, we learn more about how the separation but shared monarchy of England and Scotland causes political and religious issues. The Scottish Reformation had produced a Presbyterian church, so when Charles I tries to unite England and Scotland in worship practice, the Scots rebel. Hear how Charles’s dicey relationship with Parliament comes to a head during this time, how Charles decides to deal with the rebellion, and how the Catholics make this situation even more tenuous.
 
 Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah for our nine-episode series on the History of the Puritan Movement in England. Find more from Dr. MacKenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.
 
 Interested in going deeper? Recommended reading from Dr. MacKenzie includes Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken, English Puritanism by John Spurr, Reformation in England by Peter Marshall, Puritan Christianity in America: Religion and Life in 17th Century Massachusetts by John Carden, and Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

Lauren Humphrey, junior Director of Church Ministries student at Concordia University Wisconsin and Summer Intern with LCMS Youth Ministry, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Rev. Kevin Robson, Chief Mission Officer for the LCMS, during our series on Mercy Stories to talk about her experiences performing acts of mercy while on mission trips with Concordia University Wisconsin, why these mission trips are formative for her and other students, how acts of mercy are integral to our Christian lives, and how mission trips helped her see the church at large and the value of our global partners.
 
 Read more about Mercy Work in the LCMS at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy.

A group of Lutherans from Australia attended the LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching, and Church Music in Seward, NE, and we want to share their story! Peter Wittwer, Chairman of the Creative Word Fellowship, and Hayley Simons, leader of Victorian Youth Camps, join Andy and Sarah from the LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching, and Church Music to share how they serve in their local churches, how they got connected with the Institute, what they were hoping to learn and experience, what has been encouraging for them, some similarities and differences between Lutherans in Australia and Lutherans in the United States, and what they will bring back with them to their congregations in Australia.

How is a young church musician formed through Lutheran education at Concordia University Irvine? Olivia Thoelke, Church Music/Director of Parish Music student at Concordia University Irvine, joins Andy and Sarah from the LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music to talk about where her interest in church music began, who has been most influential in shaping her as a child of God and as a church musician, how she chose Concordia University Irvine for her church music formation, how her Lutheran education is preparing her to serve the church, and what she is gaining from her time at the Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music.
 
 Learn more about Concordia University Irvine’s Director of Parish Music (DPM) Program at cui.edu/academicprograms/undergraduate/church-work/director-of-parish-music-program
 
 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.

How does the LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music help form musicians and church workers? Kathy May, serving at Peace Lutheran Church and Academy in Sussex, WI, joins Andy and Sarah from the LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music to share how she serves at Peace Lutheran Church and Academy, what she has learned from attending several Institutes over the years, how these experiences have served her in the church and her personal life as a musician, and how these Institutes have helped form new church musicians.

Charles I ascended to the throne in 1625. How did he approach his rule differently? In episode 5 of our series on the Puritan movement, we dive into both the political and religious issues during the reign of Charles I, including his touchy relationship with Parliament, his alliance with anti-Calvinists and Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud, the ensuing drama between the Archbishop and the Puritans, and how these relations caused twenty thousand Englishmen to settle in America. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah for our nine-episode series on the History of the Puritan Movement in England. Find more from Dr. MacKenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.
 
 Interested in going deeper? Recommended reading from Dr. MacKenzie includes Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken, English Puritanism by John Spurr, Reformation in England by Peter Marshall, Puritan Christianity in America: Religion and Life in 17th Century Massachusetts by John Carden, and Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

Why is giving attention to wellness and mental health important for church workers in today’s cultural context? Rev. Kevin Bueltmann, Executive Director of Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat in Wickenburg, AZ, joins Andy, Sarah, and guest co-host Rev. Kevin Robson, Chief Mission Officer for the LCMS, during our series on Mercy Stories to talk about how Shepherd’s Canyon serves the Church today, how church worker wellbeing impacts their ministry and mercy work, ways that church workers may experience exhaustion or burnout, and how congregations can support church workers in a culture of wellness. Learn more about Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat Ministry at shepherdscanyonretreat.org. 
 
 Read more about Mercy Work in the LCMS at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy and at https://lcms.org/mercystories.

The 1847 historical sanctuary, parsonage and school at St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Minden, IL, was destroyed by a tornado and subsequently rebuilt. How does this building serve the community of St. John’s and New Minden? The Rev. Tim Mueller, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Minden and St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Covington, IL (KFUO Radio’s Church of the Week), joins Andy and Sarah to share the amazing history of St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Minden, the many tornados that have affected this property, how St. John’s has served the community over the years, why the 1847 building was restored, and the upcoming building rededication on July 28. Learn more about St. John’s and how to attend the rededication at stjohnnewminden.360unite.com.

How do Young Adult Volunteers (YAVs) serve at the LCMS Youth Gathering? Brandon Heath — LCMS Youth Gathering Planner: YAV Co-Manager and DCE at Christ Lutheran Church in La Mesa, CA, Laura Courvoisier — LCMS Youth Gathering Planner: YAV Co-Manager, Wes Gong — LCMS Youth Gathering Planner: YAV Leadership Team, and Leah Baranski — LCMS Youth Gathering Planner: YAV Leadership Team join Andy and Sarah to share their stories of serving as Young Adult Volunteers at previous Gatherings, how these experiences have shaped them into their current vocations, how YAVs will serve at the 2025 LCMS Youth Gatherings, and how to apply. Learn more and apply to be a YAV at lcmsgathering.com.

What was the state of the Church of England when Charles I became king? In episode 4 of our series on the Puritan Movement, learn about the difference between Calvinists and Anti-Calvinists/Anti-Puritanists, how Arminianism played a role in the developing theology of the time, who Charles Montague was and his role in the drama with Parliament and Charles I, and the growing tension between Charles I and his Parliament. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah for our nine-episode series on the History of the Puritan Movement in England. Find more from Dr. Mackenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.
 
 Interested in more? Recommended reading from Dr. MacKenzie includes Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken, English Puritanism by John Spurr, Reformation in England by Peter Marshall, Puritan Christianity in America: Religion and Life in 17th Century Massachusetts by John Carden, and Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

How does Project 24 change the lives of students and families in Kenya? Britt Odemba, serving the Lord as an LCMS missionary in Kenya, joins Andy and guest co-host Rev. Kevin Robson, Chief Mission Officer for the LCMS, during our series on Mercy Stories to talk about how she became a missionary in Kenya, the ways in which she serves today, what Project 24 is and how it serves students and families, the relationship between Project 24 and Christ’s Care for Children: Kenya, who she collaborates with on the mission field to accomplish her work, what students learn at Project 24 schools, and the outlook for the future of these students and schools. Learn more about Britt Odemba and how to support her work at lcms.org/odemba. Find more information on Project 24 and Christ’s Care for Children: Kenya at lcms.org/make-a-gift/christs-care-for-children-kenya. 
 
 Read more about Mercy Work in the LCMS at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy.

How do musicians serve the church in music composition? Kile and Jacqueline Smith, musicians serving the church, join Andy and Sarah at the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music to talk about how music has been a part of their lives, how they met and how music was a part of their relationship, how they became a part of the LCMS, and how they serve the church as musicians and composers. 
 
 Learn more about our Lutheran understanding of worship at https://www.lcms.org/worship.

How does a Lutheran teacher build relationships with students, families, and colleagues? Debbie Armbruster, retired teacher at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and School in Eureka, MO, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve series to talk about her experiences in Lutheran education as a student, how she was formed in her Lutheran faith and vocations at Lutheran schools, her journey to becoming a Lutheran educator, and how she uses her creative and varied background to build relationships with students, families, and colleagues. 
 
 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.

How do visual art and graphic design serve the church and ministry of the Word? April Parviz, Graphic Designer and Visual Artist, joins Andy and Sarah from the 2024 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching, and Church Music to talk about her life as a graphic designer and visual artist, how excellence plays a role in creative arts, how her art is a reflection of who she is and what she believes, and her current series “Sleepers Awake.” Learn more about April and her work at aprilparviz.art. Learn more about Intersect Arts at intersectstl.org and the Holy Cross Lutheran feast service holycrossstl.org/feast. 
 
 Learn more about our Lutheran understanding of worship at https://www.lcms.org/worship.
 
 A follow-up note from April: "Just to be clear, any good that comes through our prayers or music or art comes from God, and only God. We are not the ones controlling or creating that good. He just allows us to carry it sometimes, which is one of the most lovely gifts, I think."

We have come to the reign of King James in episode 3 of our series on the Puritan Movement. Who was King James and how did the Puritan Movement resurface during his reign? Hear about how the Puritan movement became the Separatists, when Puritans officially left the Church of England, the development of the group that would travel to the New World, and the story of the Puritans who traveled to Plymouth under Willliam Brewster. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah for our nine-episode series on the History of the Puritan Movement in England. Find more from Dr. Mackenzie at video.ctsfw.edu.
 
 Interested in more? Recommended reading from Dr. MacKenzie includes Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken, English Puritanism by John Spurr, Reformation in England by Peter Marshall, Puritan Christianity in America: Religion and Life in 17th Century Massachusetts by John Carden, and Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.