The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge from KFUO Radio

A book club reveal this epic needs its own episode ... Lounge-alum Bri rejoins the Ladies to wrap up their book club discussion of Little Women with style, flair — and an all-new original Bri’s Radio Theatre audio play imagining Meg, Jo, and Amy March at the LCMS National Youth Gathering (chaperoned, of course, by our old friend DCE Dana, the overworked church worker). But wait ... who’s that mysterious voice playing Marmee March? IT’S AUTHOR KATIE SCHUERMANN, here to help us announce the release of her new novel (our next Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club pick): The Saints of Whistle Grove. From the publisher: After 150 years of preaching the Gospel, the little country parish of Whistle Grove has closed its doors for good, but the faithful Rev. Edmund G. Oglethorpe remains. There is the empty building and the crumbling cemetery to maintain, and who else will bury old Miriam Werth when the time comes? Told through the voices of generations past and present, The Saints of Whistle Grove follows the journey of a son in search of his mother, a daughter in need of connection, a family without a home, and the cemetery that brings them all together. Join the blessed saints of Whistle Grove in pondering the wondrous mystery that, whoever believes in Christ, “though he die, yet shall he live.” Visit Kloria Publishing to learn more, and watch for a pair of exciting giveaways next week on Facebook and Instagram. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

In this Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club recap episode, Rachel leads Sarah and Erin in a highly anticipated conversation on Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. How does Alcott’s cast of sisters offer a range of imaginative options for understanding virtuous womanhood? What are we to make of artsy-but-annoying Amy and tomboy Jo? Despite its being filled with religious themes and moral platitudes, can we call this a Christian book? How (if at all) does it measure up as “feminist” literature in the modern age? And most pressing of all: Should Josephine March and Theodore Lawrence have gotten married in the end? Tune in next week to hear our most epic new-book-club-pick announcement to date! Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

Following up on last year’s Baptism party episode, the Ladies are once again forming a Party-Planning Committee — and this time, they’re tackling confirmation. In this three-segment Sharathon episode, the Ladies provide friendly advice to anyone hosting a confirmation party. Erin (recipe subcommittee) starts things off with an Apostles’ Creed-themed menu, featuring gingerbread, Braunschweiger (a “lost and condemned food”), and red-and-white gelatin poke cake. Sarah (music subcommittee) explores several hymns that are appropriate for confirmation, including “Christ Be My Leader” and “Shepherd of Tender Youth.” Finally, Rachel (subcommittee for interesting conversation) ends the episode with a short Trivia Challenge on the history of confirmation. Sources referenced in Rachel’s Trivia Challenge: John M. Brenner, “A Brief Study of Confirmation” (BrennerConfirmation.pdf (wisluthsem.org)) A History of Confirmation - About Catholics The History and Development of the Sacrament of… | Loyola Press Sacraments? Baptism? Confirmation? - The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville (pclawrenceville.org) What do I need to know about confirmation in the UMC? Confirmation Facts for Kids (kiddle.co) The Recovery of Memorization in Confirmation: A Study of Junior Confirmation at Concordia Lutheran Church, Geneseo, Illinois (lutherancatechism.com) The Confirmation Slap | Latin Mass Society (lms.org.uk) Learn more about Sharathon 2024 and give now at kfuo.org/sharathon. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

We’re back in class, ladies! Once again, Sarah’s sharing study notes from her graduate courses at Concordia University Irvine’s Townsend Institute for Counseling and Leadership. In this insightful episode, she covers: How great teamwork skills relate to the Body of Christ Pat Lencioni’s Working Genius model for productivity How a productivity model applies to everything from marriage, to church council, to homeschool co-ops "I think the most beautiful part about this is how Lencioni frames the [Working Genius] model,” Sarah says. “He specifically talks about the geniuses as the things God has gifted you to do, how He has wired you. I’ve talked about this before in several places, about recognizing the gifts God has given and not given to us, and using those gifts to the best of our abilities. This fits so beautifully with our description of the Body of Christ, that each of us in individually gifted with ways to serve each other within the unity of the Body. So this assessment gives us insight into how God has wired us so we can lean into the spaces that are our strengths, and uplift others in the spaces that are not our strengths but someone else’s strength.” Find the Working Genius podcast, book, assessment, and insights at workinggenius.com. For even more from Pat Lencioni, including the Table Group podcast, visit tablegroup.com. Click to learn more about CUI’s Townsend Institute for Counseling and Leadership. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

It’s a HAM-ERGENCY! Easter Sunday is over and done — but what's a Lutheran lady to do with all that leftover ham? In this Iron Ladle Challenge, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel (together with dozens of ladies from the Lutheran Ladies Lounge Facebook group) are coming to the rescue, with a smorgasbord of recipe ideas all involving ham. Will you use your leftover ham in savory Cuban sandwiches? Fluffy crustless quiche? Hawaiian-inspired ham musubi? Ham empanadas? Korean bahn mi sandwiches? Ham-and-bean soup? Ham-and-potato casserole? Devilled ham? Ham salad? Ham balls? Whatever recipe you choose, the fridge (and the table) will be empty when you’re done. Cuban Sandwich (Sarah's Favorite) For a full recipe, see seriouseats.com/cuban-sandwich-recipe. Cuban bread (can be substituted with French bread) Mayo Mustard Ham Mojo roasted/pulled pork Swiss cheese Salami (optional) Dill pickles Can be hot-pressed for an even better eating experience. Rachel’s Fluffy Ham-and-Cheese Quiche Begin with Crustless Quiche - Ham and Cheese | RecipeTin Eats Adjustments: Grease pans with bacon grease Use cream for sure (not milk) Use six eggs per quiche (not four) Do not feel limited to just two cups of add-ins. So long as one cup is cheese, you can add extra “add-ins” — sauteed onions, green peppers, kale, mushrooms, asparagus (so many options) — without ruining the quiche HAMBALLS AND SAUCE, from Cristin Otte and Ann Otte (in a church cookbook, via Debbie Larson) For the ham balls: 1 lb. ground ham 2 lbs. hamburger 3/4 c. bread crumbs 3/4 c. graham cracker crumbs 2 eggs, beaten 1 can tomato soup 3/4 c. water For the sauce: 2 cans tomato soup 1/2 c. water 4 T. brown sugar 4 T. vinegar 2 T. mustard Mix the ham ball ingredients together and form into balls. Mix the sauce ingredients and pour over balls. Bake at 325 to 350 degrees for 1 ½ to 2 hours. A variation on this from Victoria Maaske: Ham balls meatloaf style with a ketchup and grape jam sauce. More HAM-ERGENCY recipes: Ham Loaf- https://www.spendwithpennies.com/glazed-ham-loaf/ Masubi- (sub ham for spam) https://omnivorescookbook.com/spam-musubi/ Kimbap- korean seaweed rice rolls- https://mykoreankitchen.com/easy-kimbap/ Bahn Mi- vietnamese sandwiches- https://omnivorescookbook.com/ham-banh-mi/ Vegetable hash- (sub diced ham for pancetta) https://smittenkitchen.com/2010/05/spring-asparagus-pancetta-hash/ Baked ham and dijon sandwich-https://www.food.com/recipe/easy-delicious-ham-and-dijon-sandwiches-108947 Ham empanada recipe from Uruguay. But they are in spanish, so you will need to be clever if you want to make them. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

As an aid to Good Friday meditation and devotion, the Ladies once again welcome listener contributions in a new “Write This:” creative challenge, this time inviting their fellow Lutheran ladies to compose additional stanzas to the beloved Passion hymn “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded.” Beginning with a brief account of how the hymn came to be and its connection to the Lutheran worship tradition, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel then read and sing their way through 14 listener submissions and several of their own. Follow us on Instagram (instagram.com/lutheranladieslounge) or check our Facebook group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) to read and ponder the text of all twenty new hymn stanzas this Holy Week. Click to read more about “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” at hymnary.org. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

Justine Siegemund (born Justine Diettrich; 26 December 1636 – 10 November 1705) was a groundbreaking midwife whose illustrated medical book The Court Midwife (1690), was the first German medical text authored by a woman. In this episode, Sarah tells her story. Born in Silesia as the daughter of Lutheran minister, Justine married age 19 but was unable to bear children. Her own struggles with infertility and a prolapsed uterus led her to study obstetrics and become a midwife — eventually delivering almost 6,200 infants in her 42-year career and serving as court midwife to several German princely families. Her inspiring story teaches us not only to value life but also to find purpose in the obstacles we face. For further reading: The Court Midwife from The University of Chicago Press press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo3620306.html Google Doodle for Justine Siegemund: doodles.google/doodle/celebrating-justine-siegemund Wikipedia entry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justine_Siegemund Justina Siegemund and the Art of Midwifery Journal Article ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2791243 Center for Women's Health entry: ohsu.edu/womens-health/women-who-inspire-us-justine-siegemund Brooklyn Museum entry: brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/heritage_floor/justine_dietrich Health Savvy Blog entry: healthsavvyblog.medium.com/justine-siegemund-the-lasting-legacy-of-the-unsung-trailblazer-of-midwifery-b9f29f5534f5 Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

This week, the Ladies are rolling out a brand-new interview series: Mother + Daughter. Each of these conversations will feature a different pair of Lutheran women who are joined not only by the closest bonds of kinship but also by the fellowship they share as Lutheran sisters in Christ. In the first of these conversations, we welcome Cheryl and Caitlin Magness. Cheryl Magness is managing editor of Reporter, the official newspaper of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Her writing has also appeared in publications including The Federalist, Touchstone and The Lutheran Witness. Caitlin Magness is a manager in the food services industry, a graduate student completing her master's degree in library science, and a self-published novelist. Cheryl and Caitlin currently share a home and are both active members of Village Lutheran Church in Ladue, Missouri. How can mothers and daughters navigate a young woman’s transition from childhood to adulthood? How can they model mutually supportive interactions both in person and online? What strategies help keep tension from taking over in a multigenerational home? What does it look like when two very different writers live under one roof? Click to read Cheryl Magness’s most recent contributions to Reporter. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

This week, the Ladies are reviving an old segment from the early days of the show: “How to Lutheran,” an exploration of distinctive aspects of Lutheran life that are so familiar as to be almost unnoticed. This week, Rachel’s looking at table prayers: Why do we say them? Which ones do we pray? What’s so distinctively Lutheran about the way Lutherans say grace? And what’s so “common” about the so-called “Common Table Prayer.” “It is, then, a good and worthy practice to pray before and after meals,” says Rachel. “All our ‘daily bread’ ultimately comes from God, and it’s appropriate to acknowledge this reality out loud and thank Him for His gifts." Resources referenced in this episode include: Who Wrote the Common Table Prayer? – The Lutheran Witness (lcms.org) Come, Lord Jesus – The Lutheran Witness (lcms.org) (Gene Veith, 2021) Come, Lord Jesus – The Lutheran Witness (lcms.org) (David Loy, 2011) Letting these gifts be blessed – The Lutheran Witness (lcms.org) (Emily Olson, 2018) Praying Before A Meal: Does The Bible Say We Have To? - Pray With Confidence Pre-meal Prayer: John Crist's Official Rules (youtube.com) Luther’s Small Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther (cph.org) Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest (Sung to Tallis' Canon) - A Common Table Prayer (youtube.com) Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

Unsurprisingly, Lutheran Service Book contains a substantial collection of “Trust” hymns — and also unsurprisingly, many of those hymns are dearly loved by Lutheran ladies. In this Hymn Sing with Sarah episode, Sarah tells the stories of over a dozen different trust-based hymns, a list informed by listener polls conducted earlier in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group. Lyrics featured include “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart (LSB 708), “Jesus Savior, Pilot Me (LSB 715), “Jesus Lead Thou On” (LSB 718), “How Firm a Foundation” (LSB 728), “I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus” (LSB 729), “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” (LSB 733), “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” (LSB 739), and “I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb” (LSB 740). “These hymns confess what God promises to provide for us,” says Sarah. “They talk about how God will provide for us, how he forgives our sins, rescues us from death and the devil, gives us eternal life, and promises to be always with us. They also confess that nothing can separate us from God. We are His children, and literally nothing can take that away from us. There’s a reason they are favorites.” Stay tuned at the end for a 2021 performance of “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart” by the Concordia Seminary Choir (including Sarah Gulseth) with Dr. Jim Marriott on the organ. (Used with permission.) Links mentioned: "Trust Hymn" Facebook Group Poll facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge/posts/7257427070985875 Hymn Sing with Sarah Episodes Good Shepherd Sunday kfuo.org/2022/05/06/lutheran-ladies-lounge-episode-136-hymn-sing-with-sarah-good-shepherd-sunday Hymns for the Nation kfuo.org/2022/07/01/lutheran-ladies-lounge-episode-144-hymn-sing-with-sarah-hymns-for-the-nation Two Year Anniversary Great Moments in Lutheran Lady History kfuo.org/2021/09/24/lutheran-ladies-lounge-episode-104-two-year-anniversary-great-moments-in-lutheran-lady-history Jesus Savior Pilot Me arranged by Jonathan Kohrs youtube.com/watch?v=Hvo4eQ8fNC8 Featured audio: View the entire video here: youtube.com/watch?v=hSPDYsXpcWA Lutheran Service Book 708 "Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart" Performed by the Concordia Seminary Choir, conducted by Dr. Jim Marriott. Organ by Dr. Jim Marriott. Audio performance used with permission. Text and Tune: Public Domain Setting: © 1950 Bärenreiter. Used with permission. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

The Rev. Dr. John Kleinig is emeritus lecturer at Luther College, Adelaide, South Australia, and author of several books on Lutheran theology and spirituality, including Grace upon Grace, Wonderfully Made, and the volume on Prayer in the Lutheran Spirituality Series. In this warm and pastoral Kitchen Table Talk conversation, Dr. Kleinig answers vital questions on prayer from a biblical Lutheran perspective. What is prayer? What different forms does it take? Is there such a thing as a “Lutheran rosary”? How does Christ teach us to pray, even today, through His Word? What does it really mean to pray “in Jesus’ name”? For further reading, check out the following books by Dr. Kleinig, which were referenced in the episode: Lutheran Spirituality: Prayer Grace upon Grace: Spirituality for Today Wonderfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body For further listening, check out our Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club discussion of Wonderfully Made. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

How much do you know about Valentine’s Day? In her latest trivia challenge, Rachel’s quizzing the Ladies on the holiday that everyone seems to love (or hate, or not actually care about ... as Rachel says, “There are only really three options.”). Was Saint Valentine real? What’s his story? Is it romantic? If now, where did all the lovey-dovey stuff come from? (Hint: the answer will probably surprise you.) And what, exactly, do postage stamps, black noodles, cow hugging, and riots all have to do with Valentine’s Day? Resources referenced in this episode include: Valentine's Day - Wikipedia St. Valentine - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online The Love Birds of Valentine's Day - JSTOR Daily The young men and maids delight; or, the new English valentine writer; containing a variety of verses ... To which is added several new songs ... 1787 Valentine’s Day: Countries Where It’s Illegal to Celebrate Season of Love and Why Parents' Worship Day - Wikipedia Commemorations - Church Year - The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (lcms.org) Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

On February 9, 2024, people across the nation are celebrating their love of the pizza pie on National Pizza Day. In light of this tasty festival, Sarah is asking the Big Question: Does pineapple belong on pizza? Taking the opportunity to share her love of Detroit-style pizza (and why it's the best, in her opinion), Sarah then takes the ladies through the history of Hawaiian pizza, why she thinks pineapple does belong on pizza, if there's more than one philosophical question about pineapple on pizza, and what the ladies in the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge Facebook group think about pineapple on pizza. Share your opinion on the poll at facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge/posts/7197264107002172. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

It’s an Iron-Ladle Challenge, and this time, the Ladies are tackling budget-friendly recipes. The rules are simple: Make a balanced meal that you and your family will actually eat. Spend as little money as possible. Pantry items* are freebies. *Shelf-stable foodstuffs that you buy in bulk and regularly keep on hand. Will Sarah, Erin, and Rachel each rise to the creative challenge and bring a healthy, tasty, super-frugal meal to the table? Listen and find out! Scroll down for featured recipes. Erin’s Masaman Curried Cauliflower 12 servings $11.61, $.97/serving 4 T oil (approximately) 1 large onion, chopped 1 head Cauliflower, cut into large bite size pieces 1 can Masaman curry paste 1 large can diced tomatoes 1.5 lb potatoes, cut into large bite size pieces 2 cans chickpeas, drained (OR! 12 oz bag frozen green peas- small cost savings. But maybe less kid friendly.) 1 bunch cilantro, chopped Salt and pepper Rice, cooked Hot sauce, optional In a dutch oven, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the chopped onion and sauté for a couple of minutes. Add the curry paste and stir to combine. Add the cauliflower and toss well. Then add the diced tomatoes, potatoes, and chickpeas. Mix well. Cover and simmer until the cauliflower and potatoes are done. Add water if the pan starts to look dry. When the cauliflower and potatoes are done, add salt and pepper to taste. Right before serving, stir in the cilantro. Serve over rice. Add hot sauce, if you like-a the spice. Serve with baked chicken drumsticks Ericka’s baked chicken drumsticks $.98/lb, ~$.25/serving Chicken drumsticks Mayonnaise Tony Chachere’s Seasoned salt Brush/rub drumsticks with mayonnaise (it helps the seasoning to stick). Put in a baking dish. Season with Tony Chachere’s (if you like-a the spice) or seasoned salt (if you don’t) or a mix of the two (if you like a tiny spice). Bake at 350° until the meat starts pulling away from the bones. Check at 1 hour. If there is a lot of juice in the pan, drain off the juices and put back in the oven for 5-10 minutes more. Sarah's Coleslaw Beef Stirfry Individual serving ( ~$3/serving) 200g (ish) bagged coleslaw (tricolor is best!!) 2.5oz (ish) slivered almonds 4oz ground beef Olive oil Salt and pepper Optional: raisins, dried cranberries, cranberry sauce In a frying pan on medium-high heat, sauté almonds and beef in about 2Tbs olive oil until done. Add the coleslaw and a couple tablespoons of water. Cover and lower to medium heat. Stir occasionally. It’s done the the coleslaw is just turning translucent and is “al dente.” If you have purple cabbage, you do not want it to turn blue. Add raisins, cranberries, or cranberry sauce on your plate. Options: use chicken instead of beef, or any leftover meat. Rachel's Delicious Pantry Favorites ~ FREE per serving A pot of beans, simmered on the stove. Your favorite skillet cornbread recipe (Rachel used this one: gardenandgun.com/recipe/southern-skillet-cornbread) Coleslaw (recipe in the Slaw-Yeah episode! kfuo.org/2020/07/17/lutheran-ladies-lounge-episode-043-erins-recipe-card-slaw-fest) Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

Dr. Erik Ankerberg joins Sarah, Erin, and Rachel to discuss the latest Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club pick: George Herbert’s The Temple. An expert on Herbert’s poetry (as well as a longtime fan), Dr. Ankerberg shares a depth of insight as he helps the Ladies unpack this beautiful but obscure volume of devotional verse. Who was George Herbert? To what extent was his Anglican faith influenced by Lutheran theology? What makes his poetry feel so fresh and relevant for Christians today? Poems discussed in detail in this episode include the following: “The Pulley” “The Collar” “The Holdfast” “Love (3)” At the conclusion of the episode, the Ladies announce their next book club pick: Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Dr. Erik Ankerberg is president of Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor. Prior to his inauguration in 2023, he earned his Ph.D. in Renaissance Literature from Marquette University (dissertation: Toward a Re-Formed Confession: Johann Gerhard's Sacred Meditations and "Repining Restlessnesse" in the Poetry of George Herbert) and spent many years as an English professor. Click to learn more about Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor or to read Dr. Ankerberg’s inaugural address (which includes George Herbert’s sonnet “The Holdfast”). Learn more about George Herbert and sample his best-known poems at PoetryFoundation.org. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

Thinking caps on, ladies! Class is in session! Once again, Sarah’s sharing study notes from her graduate courses at Concordia University Irvine’s Townsend Institute for Counseling and Leadership. In this stimulating episode, she covers: Macro cultures and their effect on organizations and communities The value of articulating personal values, mission, and vision statements A helpful model for engaging in difficult conversations "What happens when we avoid hard conversations?” Sarah asks. “Things fester, grow, become more of a problem, become more stressful, and become harder to manage, right? So if we have the confidence to deal with something at the start, we can manage things in a better, more productive way. ... We want to ultimately build up relationships and become closer to people, and dealing with conflict in a healthy manner can actually do that. Building up a culture of healthy confrontation means people live in truth with each other rather than avoiding the truth.” Resources referenced in this episode include: “Having Difficult but Effective Conversations” by Dr. John Townsend Organizational Culture and Leadership by Edgar H. Schein Click to learn more about CUI’s Townsend Institute for Counseling and Leadership. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

Amy Scholz is director of church and donor relations for Lutheran Braille Workers. She’s also an LCMS pastor’s wife, a fellow Lutheran lady, and a veteran family caregiver, having walked alongside both her father and her husband as they navigated serious health conditions decades apart. In this One-Question Interview, Amy joins the Ladies to share her story and talk frankly about caregiving. How does God prepare his servants (women especially) for the work of “caregiver”? What are the bad days like? The good days? How can women keep themselves and their relationships strong in a caregiver scenario? How can they stay refreshed and spiritually resilient as they fulfill this calling? To dig more deeply into this topic, check out Kim Marxhausen’s Weary Joy: The Caregiver’s Journey (recommended by Amy Scholz and available from CPH). Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

Happy Epiphany from the Lutheran Ladies! To celebrate the day, we’re rebroadcasting one of Sarah’s favorite Hymn Sing episodes. Sarah begins this deep dive into favorite Epiphany hymns with the so-called “Queen of Chorales,” Philipp Nicolai’s “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright” (LSB 395). She then digs into the stories behind other beloved lyrics, including “Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning” (LSB 400), “As with Gladness Men of Old” (LSB 397), and “Arise and Shine in Splendor” (LSB 396). Click to listen to an entire podcast episode on Elisabeth Cruciger, the author of Sarah’s favorite Epiphany hymn, “The Only Son from Heaven” (LSB 402). At the end of this podcast, hear “Arise and Shine in Splendor” (LSB 396), recorded at the LCMS International Center during the Epiphany of Our Lord Divine Service on January 6, 2023. Text: Martin Opitz, 1597-1639; Tr. Gerhard Gieschen, 1899-1987, alt. Copyright: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used with permission. Music: Heinrich Isaac, c. 1450-1517. Public Domain. Improvisations by organist and performer Jacob Palmer. Used with permission. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

As they have for the past three years, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel are offering blessings, wishes, and prognostications for the New Year. After revisiting last year’s prognostications to see if any came true (spoiler alert: NO), each of the Lutheran Ladies presents a good wish, a word of blessing, and a wild-and-crazy prediction for what life will hold in 2024. Find LCMS Memory Verse resources at lcms.org/memoryverse. Click to revisit the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge New Year’s specials from 2020, 2021, and 2022. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

“Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the Lounge – not a creature was stirring, not even a…uh. Nothing really rhymes with ‘lounge,’ here. Sorry, guys, that's unfortunate. ...” Former co-host Bri Gerzevske revisits the podcast for a hilarious Bri’s Radio Theatre Christmas Special in this festive episode filled with laughter, cookies, and Martin Luther himself. Part homage to Clement C. Moore’s “A Visit to Saint Nicholas,” part absurdist fever dream, Bri’s script has the Ladies scratching their heads, rolling on the floor, and basking in holiday cheer. From all of us at The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge: Merry Christmas! Boom Sound Effect by Denys Kyshchuk from Pixabay. Music by AudioCoffee: www.audiocoffee.net Music Box from pixabay.com. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.