The Coffee Hour from KFUO Radio

What is the Vicarage Placement Service and what's it like to experience this? Henry and Stacey Eising, second-year seminarian family at Concordia Seminary, join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about what a vicarage is, what preparation happens before vicarage assignment day, how field work and classes prepared Henry to serve, the planning that happens before moving for vicarage year, and what happens after vicarage. 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.

This issue of LW encourages us to be a praying community. First Peter 2 presents Jesus as the Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep on the cross, which brings to mind two of Jesus’ prayers from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34) and “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46; see also, Psalm 31:5). While the Righteous One suffered for sinners in order to reconcile them to God, He also showed us how to be patient under affliction and where to turn for help: His Father and ours, to whom we baptized children of God cry out, “Our Father…” Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the May 2024 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled "The Shepherd’s Community" on 1 Peter 2:11-25. 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 2:11–25 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Submission to Authority 13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,[a] whether it be to the emperor[b] as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[c] of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Read full chapter Footnotes 1 Peter 2:13 Or every institution ordained for people 1 Peter 2:13 Or king; also verse 17 1 Peter 2:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface 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

Who is Jeremiah, and what are we going to learn from him in this series? Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, author of Overcoming Life’s Sorrows: Learning from Jeremiah, joins Andy and Sarah for Part 1 of our series on Overcoming Life's Sorrows to talk about how Jeremiah is, what we can understand about Babylon and Assyria, a brief overview of the timeline of Jeremiah, how the themes of hope and destruction are presented in Jeremiah, the writing style of Jeremiah, and what we have to look forward to in this series. Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing is Professor of Theology & Ministry, Director of the Pre-Seminary Program, and Director of The Center for Biblical Studies at Concordia University St. Paul, and author of Overcoming Life’s Sorrows: Learning from Jeremiah available from Concordia Publishing House. Find all episodes in this series at kfuo.org/tag/overcoming-lifes-sorrows.

What is a mission education team, and what is its purpose? Aaron Wade — First-year student at Concordia Theology Seminary Fort Wayne, Patrick Randolph — Fourth-year student at Concordia Theology Seminary Fort Wayne, and Erin MacKenzie — Volunteer Coordinator for the Latin America and Caribbean Region with the LCMS Office of International Mission, join Andy to talk about their service on a mission education team, why Aaron and Patrick were interested in the mission education team to the Dominican Republic, what they learned during their time in the Dominican Republic, and how their time has shaped their seminary education and pastoral formation. Learn more about serving on a mission education team at servenow.lcms.org.

What is the emotion of Agency, and how do we experience it? Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, MSW, joins Andy and Sarah in our mini-series on Emotions to talk about how "agency" is defined, where or when we experience agency, how agency is subjective and/or objective, how agency is related to accessibility, and a helpful exercise to experience agency. Find your copy of Emotions and the Gospel: Created for Connection at books.cph.org/emotions-and-the-gospel. Listen to all episodes in this series at kfuo.org/tag/emotions-and-the-gospel. Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9am CT, or listen to all episodes at kfuo.org/tag/mental-health-monday. View Deaconess Heidi's Mental Health Playlist on Youtube, listen to the Life in Relationship Podcast, and find all of her writings and resources at heidigoehmann.com.

What does formation as a Director of Christian Education (DCE) student look like? Concordia University Chicago DCE students Scott Treptow, Josh Meeks, Emily Minor, Justin Weber, and Mckenna Stanley, along with Dr. Debbie Arfsten — Professor of Christian Education, DCE Program Director, Director of Synodical Placement for Concordia University Chicago, join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about the students' interest in becoming a DCE, how the DCE program has affirmed their interest in this service to the Lord and His church, which classes have been key to their formation as servants in the church, and how Dr. Arfsten considers the experiences that are most important to the formation of servant leaders in Christian education. 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.

What happens during Christ Academy events at Concordia Theological Seminary? Rev. Matthew Wietfeldt, Assistant Vice President of Admission and Director of Christ Academy at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how Christ Academy has become a regular part of seminary life for the seminary community, the various offerings of Christ Academy each year, the focus of Christ Academy Family Institute, and what happens at Christ Academy Family Institute. Learn more and register at ctsfw.regfox.com/2024-christ-academy-family-institute-cafi.

How is Vocatio a great experience for high schoolers considering church work? Rev. Micah Glenn, Director of Recruitment and Enrollment at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what "Vocatio" means, how students gain a clearer understanding of church work and vocation at Vocatio, what students learn and experience during this event, and how this event has made a difference for past attendees. Learn more and register at csl.edu/admissions/visit/vocatio-high-school.

Why have a conference on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music? Rev. Sean Daenzer — Director of Worship for the LCMS, and Christina Roberts — Kantor at Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Grand Rapids, MI, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the 2024 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music happening July 9-12, 2024, at Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE) in Seward, Nebraska. They talk about how this conference will benefit pastors and church musicians, the theme of this year's conference, what attendees will learn in the keynote and special sessions, the fellowship festivities, and details about registration. Learn more and register at lcms.org/worshipinstitute.

What is the place of singing in Classical Lutheran education? Rev. Robert Paul, Associate Pastor and Headmaster at Memorial Lutheran Church and School in Houston, Texas, joins Andy and guest co-host Jordan Harms to talk about why classical Lutheran education is important to him and why he is invested in it, what happens at a CCLE conference, the place of singing in classical Lutheran education, and what this year's conference attendees will learn. Learn more and register at ccle.org/current-conference. Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education Conference July 23-26 at Concordia University Nebraska “Cantate: Sing to the LORD a New Song.”

What is the emotion of anger, and how do we experience it? Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, MSW, joins Andy and Sarah in our mini-series on Emotions to talk about what may be difficult to understand about anger, how anger is associated with justice and fairness, some anger-adjacent emotions, and how we can healthily process anger. Find your copy of Emotions and the Gospel: Created for Connection at books.cph.org/emotions-and-the-gospel. Listen to all episodes in this series at kfuo.org/tag/emotions-and-the-gospel. Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9am CT, or listen to all episodes at kfuo.org/tag/mental-health-monday. View Deaconess Heidi's Mental Health Playlist on Youtube, listen to the Life in Relationship Podcast, and find all of her writings and resources at heidigoehmann.com.

How is gift planning beneficial for KFUO Radio and its donors? Mike Fischer, Senior Gift Planning Advocate with LCMS Mission Advancement, joins Andy and Sarah during Sharathon 2024 to talk about his work with Mission Advancement, what Mission Advancement's guiding theme of "Blessed to be a Blessing" means for KFUO Radio listeners, and how Mission Advancement can help KFUO listeners with planned giving. For more information, contact Mary Schmidt at (314) 996-1518. Learn more about Sharathon 2024 and give now at kfuo.org/sharathon.

How is KFUO Radio an essential part of prison ministry? Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Nehrt, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Greenville, IL, and Prison Ministry Coordinator for the LCMS Southern Illinois District, joins Andy and Sarah during Sharathon 2024 to share the success of the recent Prison Ministry Conference and how KFUO Radio has been helpful to him and those he serves. Learn more about Sharathon 2024 and give now at kfuo.org/sharathon.

Why is it important to tell the church’s story of how she raises up faithful church workers? Rev. Dr. James Baneck, LCMS Executive Director of Pastoral Education and Executive Director of Set Apart to Serve, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series during Sharathon 2024 to talk about the Set Apart to Serve stories we've shared over the last two years, who these stories have shaped his view of church work, some of his favorite stories, why it's important to share these stories, and what's next for the Set Apart to Serve Initiative. Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative at lcms.org/setaparttoserve. Learn more about Sharathon 2024 and give now at kfuo.org/sharathon. 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.

Why is it important to remember and teach the church’s history today? Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie, Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins Andy and Sarah during Sharathon 2024 to talk about why learning history is so important for Christians, why it's important for laity as much as pastors and church leaders, his favorite era in church history to teach, and what we can look forward to in the next series in church history. Learn more about Sharathon 2024 and give now at kfuo.org/sharathon.

Why is it important to hear God’s Word daily? Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins Sarah during Sharathon 2024 to talk about the treasure of God's Word, what he would say to the team of founders of KFUO as they were considering this new medium of AM Radio 100 year ago, and how important our listeners and donors are as we continue this radio ministry for another 100 years. Learn more about Sharathon 2024 and give now at kfuo.org/sharathon.

How does the LWML share God's Word, and how does KFUO partner with LWML? Eden Keefe, President of LWML - Lutheran Women in Mission, joins Andy and Sarah for Sharathon 2024 to talk about how LWML partners with other organizations and ministries to proclaim the Good News of Jesus, what is beautiful and good about these partnerships, how the tiny little mite boxes make a big difference for these opportunities to support Gospel work around the globe, what's on deck for LWML this year and next year, and how KFUO has been a blessing for the LWML. Learn more about Sharathon 2024 and give now at kfuo.org/sharathon.

What do we learn about Christ in the Five Books of the Psalms? Does the order of Psalms actually matter? Rev. Dr. Adam Hensley, associate professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the order of the Psalms and why that matters, the pictures of Christ in the Psalms, what we learn about Christ through these pictures, and how the Psalms shape his own teaching and devotional life. Dr. Hensley is a Keynote Speaker at the upcoming LCMS Institute On Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music, happening July 9-12 at Concordia University Nebraska in Seward, Nebraska. Learn more and register at lcms.org/worshipinstitute.

KFUO Radio's Annual Sharathon is happening April 18-20, and we need your support to continue sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. Mary Schmidt — KFUO Radio Director of Development, and Rev. Doug Griebenaw KFUO Radio Mission Advocate, join Andy and Sarah to talk about what we mean when we say we are listener-supported, what happens during Sharathon each year, how KFUO programming supports Lutherans in their daily lives, how necessary your contributions really are (hint: very necessary!), and our thank-you gifts this year. Learn more and give at kfuo.org/sharathon.

What is the emotion of calm, and how do we experience it? Deaconess Heidi Goehmann, LCSW, MSW, joins Andy and Sarah in our mini-series on Emotions to talk about what "calm" actually is and how it's different from "peace," why we seek calm, how calm is related to anxiety, the relationship between brokenness and calm, and how we recognize or find calm. Find your copy of Emotions and the Gospel: Created for Connection at books.cph.org/emotions-and-the-gospel. Listen to all episodes in this series at kfuo.org/tag/emotions-and-the-gospel. Hear Mental Health Mondays each Monday at 9am CT, or listen to all episodes at kfuo.org/tag/mental-health-monday. View Deaconess Heidi's Mental Health Playlist on Youtube, listen to the Life in Relationship Podcast, and find all of her writings and resources at heidigoehmann.com.