The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

Rev. Sean Daenzer, LCMS Director of Worship and International Center Chaplain, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how memorizing Scripture is helpful to us, ways to make memorizing verses a little easier, and the challenge from the LCMS for her members to learn Scripture verses each week. Read the Reporter article at blogs.lcms.org/2020/synod-chaplain-issues-scripture-memory-challenge and find the current challenge verse at lcms.org/memoryverse.

Dwight Schettler, President of Ambassadors of Reconciliation, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what a crisis situation can bring to the surface about our own priorities and personalities, why now is a great time for personal peacemaking, and the free courses available right now from Ambassadors of Reconciliation. Find more details at aorhope.org.

Chris and Adriane Heins of Heins Family Farms in Higginsville, Missouri, join Andy and Sarah to talk about how a dairy farmer typically serves their neighbors, how the recent pandemic has changed how they serve their neighbors, and what we can do collectively to help our neighbors, including milk donations to local food pantries.

Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about ambiguous loss, the difference between actual missing out on things and the fear of missing out (FOMO), what JOMO (joy of missing out) really means, and how we balance all of these heavy emotions. Read her article “From FOMO to Joy” at youthesource.com/2020/04/08/from-fomo-to-joy and find the discussion guide at youthesource.com/2020/04/08/from-fomo-to-joy-leaders-guide. Also, read DCE Julianna Shults’ post on ambiguous loss at youthesource.com/2020/03/25/ambiguous-loss. Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9am CT! Find all episode with the tag “Mental Health Monday.” View Deaconess Heidi’s Mental Health Playlist on Youtube and find all of her writings at heidigoehmann.com.

Deaconess Christel Neuendorf, who serves alongside her husband Rev. James Neuendorf in Puerto Rico, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the work they have been doing in Puerto Rico over the last year, how this pandemic has affected the mercy work they’ve been establsihing, and how the community has responded in time of crisis. Learn more about Deaconess and Pastor Neuendorf and how to support their work at lcms.org/neuendorf. Find LCMS resources during the COVID-19 pandemic at lcms.org/coronavirus.

Deaconess Cheryl Naumann, who administers and conducts mercy work in the Dominican Republic, based in Santiago, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the three main areas of her work and how the pandemic has affected them, the unexpected blessings they are experiencing as a result of the current crisis, and how her family is doing during this time. Learn more about Deaconess Naumann, her husband Rev. Dr. Jonathan Naumann, and how to support their work at lcms.org/jonathan.naumann. Find LCMS resources during the COVID-19 pandemic at lcms.org/coronavirus.

Deaconess Ruth McDonnell, PhD student at Concordia Seminary, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about metaphor theory in hymnody, how our Christian worldview guides how we read hymns, and how we can understand the theology of the hymns of Holy Week. We study Lutheran Service Book 454 “Sing My Tongue the Glorious Battle” and give hints for studying Lutheran Service Book 438 “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth.”

Rev. Joel Fritsche, director of Concordia Seminary and Mercy Center in Palmar Arriba (Santiago), Dominican Republic, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what is happening right now at the seminary, how studies have changed for the current seminarians from around the Latin American region, and how the community in Santiago has responded to the pandemic. Learn more about Rev. Fritsche and his family and how to support their work at lcms.org/fritsche. Find LCMS resources during the COVID-19 pandemic at lcms.org/coronavirus.

Rev. Ted Krey, Latin American & Caribbean Regional Director for the LCMS, located in the Dominican Republic, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what missionary work in this region looks like now during the COVID-19 pandemic, how missionaries are being cared for during this time, and how our partner churches in this region are also responding to the crisis. Learn more about Rev. Krey and his family and how to support their work at lcms.org/krey. Find LCMS resources during the COVID-19 pandemic at lcms.org/coronavirus.

Rev. Charles St-Onge, who serves as regional area facilitator for the Latin American & Caribbean (LAC) region for the LCMS from his home base in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how the LAC region has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, how the missionaries in this region are continuing their work, and how his own work at home in Quebec has been affected. Learn more about Rev. St-Onge and his family and how to support their work at lcms.org/stonge. Find LCMS resources during the COVID-19 pandemic at lcms.org/coronavirus.

Rev. David Warner, who serves with his wife Shelee as LCMS missionaries in Cartagena, Spain, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how their work as been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the status of the community around them and throughout Spain, and how they are still able to share the Gospel of Christ and support their neighbors. Learn more about them and how to support their work at lcms.org/warner. Find LCMS resources during the COVID-19 pandemic at lcms.org/coronavirus.

Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about practicing gratitude, including where gratitude actually comes from, making the switch from attitude of lack to attitude of enough, and ways we can practice gratitude in our daily lives. Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9am CT! Find all episode with the tag “Mental Health Monday.” View Deaconess Heidi’s Mental Health Playlist on Youtube and find all of her writings at heidigoehmann.com.

Rev. Weslie Odom, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Arlington, Texas, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching the Scriptures” feature in the April issue of the Lutheran Witness. Follow along and search the Scriptures with us! Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.

Sue Nahmensen, CEO of Lutheran Elementary School Association in St. Louis, joins Andy to talk about how Lutheran schools are partnering with parents during this time of significant change, how the work of LESA is needed by many families and schools now, and how to support LESA in their work during this time. Find the online auction catalog at lesa.schoolauction.net/auction2020/catalog and learn more about LESA at lesastl.org.

Rev. James Sharp, who serves with his wife Angela and their children as LCMS missionaries in Uruguay, join Andy and Sarah to talk about how their work as been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, what family life looks like right now, and how they are still able to share the Gospel of Christ and support their neighbors. Learn more about them and how to support their work at lcms.org/sharp. Find LCMS resources during the COVID-19 pandemic at lcms.org/coronavirus.

Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise, Executive Director of Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF), joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the children’s Bible storybooks for Muslims in Indonesia, other translation projects happening in Southeast Asia, and how to follow and support the work of LHF. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

Joe Willmann, Senior Instructional Designer with Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the available CPH FaithCourses, how you can use them during your time social distancing, and the full amount of resources available at cphfaithcourses.com.

Jim Sanft, CEO of Concordia Plan Services (CPS), joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what CPS has been focusing on since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, what members and ministries need to know about the CARES Act, and how CPS will continue to support members and ministries throughout this crisis. Learn more about the resources available from Concordia Plan Services at concordiaplans.org/coronavirus.

Paul Federwitz, Chief Information Officer & Assistant Director for Program Ministries with Lutheran Bible Translators (LBT), joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his family’s experience with the coronavirus epidemic in Ghana, the outlook in his community, and how the pandemic has affected LBT missionaries around the globe. Learn more about LBT’s work at lbt.org.

Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about small things like food, being outside, and hugs (or physical touch) that can calm our anxiety and connect us to God in everyday life. Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9am CT! Find all episode with the tag “Mental Health Monday.” View Deaconess Heidi’s Mental Health Playlist on Youtube and find all of her writings at heidigoehmann.com.

Bill Indelli, Executive Director of Walcamp in Kingston, Illinois, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what makes Walcamp a destination for families, how outdoor ministry makes a difference in the lives of those who attend, and opportunities for teens and families this summer. Learn more about Walcamp at walcamp.org.

Dr. Dan Sem, Dean of the Batterman School of Business at Concordia University Wisconsin, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the 3D printers at the Makerspace Lab at CUW, how this lab is contributing to the shortage of masks during the coronavirus pandemic, and how others are and can be involved. Read more about this story at blog.cuw.edu/covidmasks. Contribute to the campaign at charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/3dprinter-covid-masks or, if you have a 3D printer and would like to contribute, register your 3D printer at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfQCc5c_eaLBvzqPS7uBuBEtQ6wlpaja50HJwYjkBIDjLPszA/viewform.

Dr. Craig Oldenburg, Camp Director at Camp Concordia in Gowen, Michigan, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what makes Camp Concordia a destination for families this summer, stories from campers who have benefited from Camp Concordia’s programming, and how Camp Concordia is unique. Learn more about Camp Concordia at campconcordia.org.

Steve Johnson, Executive Director of Lutheran Valley Retreat in Woodland Park, Colorado, and President of National Lutheran Outdoors Ministry Association (NLOMA), joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how the summer camp industry is fairing right now, what makes Lutheran Valley Retreat a destination for families, and stories of campers that attend programs at LVR. Learn more about Lutheran Valley Retreat at lvr.org and NLOMA at nloma.org.

Tim Jank, Executive Director of Camp Lutherhaven in Albion, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what makes Camp Lutherhaven a destination for families this summer, what a typical summer camp day look like, and a story of a camp team member who has benefitted from the blessings of Camp Lutherhaven. Learn more about Camp Lutherhaven at lutherhaven.org.

Mark Nolte, Executive Director of Heit’s Point in Lincoln, Missouri (Lake of the Ozarks), joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what makes Heit’s Point a destination for families, what a typical summer camp day looks like, and information parents would need to know as camp approaches. Learn more about camps at Heit’s Point at heitspoint.com.

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, Texas, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what gossip is, what God commands us about gossip, and how Jesus takes on gossip. Read Pastor Hull’s blog at ziontomballtx.org/sheepdog.

Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, joins Andy and Sarah on this first “at-home edition” during coronavirus to talk about small things we can do to calm our anxiety and connect us to God in everyday life, including breath, water, and food. (Outside time and hugs/physical touch are also on the list, and we’ll cover those in a future episode.) Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9am CT! Find all episode with the tag “Mental Health Monday.” View Deaconess Heidi’s Mental Health Playlist on Youtube and find all of her writings at heidigoehmann.com.

Christina Shaffer & Janie Schlie, Deaconess students at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, join Andy and Sarah to talk about their participation in the Mission Education team from Concordia Seminary this January, where they shadowed missionaries in the Dominican Republic to learn about life as a missionary. Learn more about deaconess studies at Concordia Seminary at csl.edu/academics/programs.

The Lutheran Ladies Erin Alter, Bri Gerzevske, and Rachel Bomberger, join Sarah on this special Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge takeover episode of The Coffee Hour to share how the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge podcast was created, the community that has been created by this endeavor, and their own favorite Lutheran women in honor of Women’s History Month. Find the podcast at kfuo.org/lutheranladieslounge or wherever you listen to podcasts. The Lutheran Ladies Lounge is a podcast produced by KFUO Radio and hosted by Sarah Gulseth, Erin Alter, Rachel Bomberger, and Bri Gerzevske. Created for Lutheran ladies to have a place to escape to with inviting conversations, laughter, and fellowship with Lutheran sisters, we invite all of you Lutheran ladies to join Sarah, Erin, Rachel, and Bri on the sofa in the Lutheran Ladies Lounge to sit, rest your feet, and stay a while. If you’re a Lutheran lady, join us in our Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge.

Cheryl Swope, educator and author of Simply Classical: A Beautiful Education for Any Child, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about quick tips for homeschoolers for parents who all of a sudden find themselves figuring out homeschooling, including routine, vision, and ways to enjoy this time together. Find Cheryl’s work at cherylswope.com.

Dr. Wanda Routier, Director of Special Education at Concordia University Wisconsin, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the new Teacher of the Visually Impaired program at Concordia University Wisconsin, how education for the visually impaired is different from other educational settings, and what this program entails. Read more about this program at blog.cuw.edu/tvi-program.

Rev. Kevin Thomson and Becky Blake from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Des Peres, Missouri, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the Mission Ambition 5k race, the work that Mission Ambition will help fund, and race details. Learn more and register at stpaulsdesperes.org/5k.

Rev. A. Trevor Sutton, pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan, and PhD student at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why tough questions are important to pay attention to, why answering them with trivial answers can be detrimental, and how we can go about answering these tough questions in good ways. Read his article in The Gospel Coalition at thegospelcoalition.org/article/tough-questions-trivial-answers.

Rev. Sean Daenzer, worship director for the LCMS and International Center chaplain, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why we should do devotions at home, simple formats to use, and how this is beneficial to family life. Find the PrayNow App for Android and Apple, along with the Treasury of Daily Prayer and Lutheran Service Book, at cph.org. Find downloadable Daily Prayers at cph.org/care. Find resources available from the LCMS at lcms.org/coronavirus.

Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about keeping good mental health during the coronavirus pandemic, including healthy ways to address fear and anxieties, physical distancing and social distancing that’s still good for our mental health, and tending to our neighbor’s mental health as well as physical health. Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9am CT! Find all episode with the tag “Mental Health Monday.” View Deaconess Heidi’s Mental Health Playlist on Youtube and find all of her writings at heidigoehmann.com.

Grammy nominated hip-hop artist FLAME joins Andy and Sarah in studio to talk about his unique journey to the Lutheran faith, his background in music and the arts, and how the arts can be used to create conversations on faith and theology. As a bonus, hear the Facebook live audio from after the radio broadcast! Find his latest work at clearsightmusic.com/extranos and follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @flame314.

Joyce Kroll— volunteer with the 2019 English Bible Camp in Poland, and Anne Gonzalez, DCE— Manager of Short-term Mission Training & Engagement with the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Andy and Sarah to talk about Joyce’s experiences as a volunteer for the English Bible Camp, what she expected and experienced serving on this trip, and what opportunities are available to serve this year. Learn more and find your opportunity to serve at servenow.lcms.org.

Coach Jody Token of The Great Flip joins Andy and Sarah to talk about her new self-defense curriculum for LCMS Schools, including why self-defense is important for kids to learn, what the curriculum involves, and what teachers will need to be equipped to teach this in their classrooms. Learn more and find the curriculum at thegreatflip.com.

Jake Weber, Associate Editor for Music & Worship with Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about One and All Rejoice: A New Children’s Hymnal, including the necessity for a new hymnal, how families and schools can benefit from this new hymnal, the liturgies and psalms available, and the wonderful selection of 200 hymns. The hymnal will be available Summer 2020, and resources like audio recordings will be available throughout the coming years. See a preview and bookmark for updates at cph.org/rejoice.

Tanner Olson— Author, Poet, and Speaker, whose book I’m All Over the Place: A book of prayers, poems, and wonderings is available at writtentospeak.com, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his upcoming poetry tour to tropical Nebraska, what and how he will be sharing poetry to those in attendance, and a sample of his poetry. Find tour dates and details at writtentospeak.com/tour.

Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Journey and Destination, including the concept of Saint & Sinner, the concept of Now & Not Yet, how these impact our view of ourselves and God’s work in our lives, and how these impact our view of others. Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9am CT! Find all episode with the tag “Mental Health Monday.” View Deaconess Heidi’s Mental Health Playlist on Youtube and find all of her writings at heidigoehmann.com.

Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching the Scriptures” feature in the March issue of the Lutheran Witness. Follow along and search the Scriptures with us! Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.

Rev. Michael Meyer, Director of Disaster Training with the LCMS Office of National Mission, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the severity of destruction from the tornadoes in the Nashville area, the congregations and community members affected, and how congregations and LCMS Disaster Response are responding to this disaster. Learn more about LCMS Disaster Response and how you can help at lcms.org/disaster. Keep these congregations and pastors in your prayers: Rev. Keith Enko Emmanuel Lutheran Church and Preschool in Hermitage, Tennessee Rev. Andrew Smith Heavenly Host Lutheran Church and School in Cookeville, Tennessee Keep these organizations in your prayers as they respond to the disaster: Lutheran Church Charities and Shepard’s Heart Ministry

Bill Fankhauser from Sacred Groundz Coffee, along with Josh and Cara, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the great year Sacred Groundz has had, how the opportunity has impacted the lives of those they serve, and exciting new things in their future. Learn more about Sacred Groundz at sacredgroundzstl.com and facebook.com/SacredGroundzSTL. To support Sacred Groundz in their effort to purchase a brick and mortar location, visit their GoFundMe page at charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/sacred-groundz.

Christina Schempf and Sarah Bernhardt from Intersect Arts Center join Andy and Sarah to talk about the Dovetail concert and cuisine series, how food and music go hand in hand, and details for the event series. For details and to register, visit intersectstl.org/dovetail-1. Registration closes one week prior to the event.

Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, Minnesota, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the struggles of Lent, themes we see in our lives during Lent, and why we can still have joy.

It’s Men’s Gathering day on The Coffee Hour! In the first half, Luke Vandercar, David Vandercar, and Joshua Vandercar join Andy and Sarah to talk about how the Men’s Gathering began, what makes this gathering unique for the men who attend, and what they will be studying and doing this year. In the second half, Rev. Jonathan Fisk, senior pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rockford, Illinois, and keynote speaker for this year’s Men’s Gathering, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why a men’s retreat is a good thing, what he will be speaking about at the Men’s Gathering, and an over of his latest book ‘Without Flesh.’ Find details and register for the Men’s Gathering at mensgathering.us. Find Pastor Fisk’s book ‘Without Flesh’ on amazon.com/Without-Flesh-Church-Dying-Though/dp/0758666446 and cph.org/withoutflesh.

Deaconess Kim Trombley, Vice President of Religious Life with Bethesda Lutheran Communities, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about Developmental Disabilities Month, the needs of those who are developmentally disabled, and the wide variety of resources and programs Bethesda provides to meet those needs. Learn more about Bethesda at bethesdalc.org and get involved with Developmental Disabilities Month at includeallabilities.com.

Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about suffering and faithfulness, including the relationship between the two, what scripture says about suffering, and how we build each other up through suffering and comfort. Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9am CT! Find all episode with the tag “Mental Health Monday.” View Deaconess Heidi’s Mental Health Playlist on Youtube and find all of her writings at heidigoehmann.com.