The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge from KFUO Radio

#345. Party Planning Committee: Baby Shower!

Fri, 08 May 2026 10:45:00 -0500

The Party Planning Committee is back in session — and this time, they’re celebrating new babies and their mamas with a bouncing buggy full of fun baby shower ideas.

Sarah kicks off the episode with a top ten (make that top 20) list of “unexpectedly amazing not-on-the-registry gifts,” including magnetic sleepers, towel warmers, amber nightlights, and more. Erin then rolls out a cute and creative assortment of shower snacks — including some adorable “Nutter-Butter babies.” Finally, Rachel draws on listener feedback and ideas to present a selection of shower games and activities (ranging from super cool to downright cringe-inducing) and encouraging words of wisdom for new moms.

Whether you’re hosting a baby shower at home or church, this episode will help you pack your Pinterest board full of great ideas.

To take a peep at those sweet “Nutter-Butter babies,” click here.

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!

#344. Sharathon 2026 Crossover: The Ladies Join Concord Matters

Fri, 01 May 2026 10:45:00 -0500

In this special Sharathon crossover episode, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel join the Rev. Brady Finnern as guests on KFUO’s Concord Matters, a weekly program dedicated to discussing the Book of Concord, what the Lutheran Confessions mean for our Lutheran faith, and how they can be applied practically in our various vocations.

How well catechized are our Lutheran Ladies, anyway? What do they remember about the Small Catechism from their confirmation days? How familiar are they with the other confessional documents in the Book of Concord? Can Rachel set aside her “quizmistress” title long enough to answer the “Triglotta Trivia” questions Pastor Finnern has prepared for them?

The Rev. Brady Finnern is president of the LCMS Minnesota North District and host of Concord Matters. Learn more or listen here.

Support KFUO’s entire lineup (including Concord Matters and The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge) when you give during Sharathon 2026.

#343. Book Club Wrap Up: The Little White Horse

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:45:00 -0500

In this book club recap conversation, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel discuss themes and ideas in a literary work almost lost to history: Elizabeth Goudge’s The Little White Horse.

Why would an author like Elizabeth Goudge, once a bestseller, go out of fashion? How many genres can one little book be squarely in at the same time? How does this luminous coming-of-age fairy tale school us in the art of dealing with old sins? And what even is an “ideal woman,” anyway?

At the end of the episode, Rachel reveals the Ladies’ summer read book club pick for 2026: Ryan Tinetti’s The Quiet Ambition: Scripture’s Surprising Antidote to Our Restless Lives.

#342. Fermented Fun, Part One: Sauerkraut and Mystery Foods

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:45:00 -0500

As Americans begin for the first time to appreciate their gut microbiomes and understand the importance of nurturing good bacteria in the body, fermented foods are enjoying a long-overdue moment in the spotlight — and Erin, for one, is thrilled.

In episode one of her new miniseries, “Fermented Fun,” Erin introduces the age-old concept of preservation by fermentation and highlights some of the many foods and beverages that involve some form of fermentation. From pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi, and sourdough to yogurt, beer, wine, and kombucha, the culinary applications are nearly endless.

At the end of the episode, Erin samples a tray of mystery delicacies assembled by fellow fermentation enthusiast (and KFUO on-air personality) Andy Bates, with hilarious results.

#341. Conversations with Creatives: Math and AI with Meghan Hopfer

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:45:00 -0500

Can math and computer science be creative pursuits?

While many people associate creativity with artistic pursuits like painting, writing, and making music, God’s gift of human ingenuity extends to all corners of the human experience — as the Ladies find out when they interview Meghan Hopfer, a former math major currently working in the field of computer science and data management.

How does math intersect with creativity — or even art and beauty? Why do so many women dislike math and other STEM subjects? How can math, computer science, and creativity come together to seat 20,000 people at the LCMS Youth Gathering — and save a week of painstaking human labor? And how does someone working in the field view the rapid rise of AI?

Meghan Hopfer is a computer science professional currently serving with the LCMS Foundation. A graduate of Concordia University, Nebraska, she has also worked on staff for the LCMS Youth Gathering, where she was integral in automating key parts of the planning process.

#340. Adventures in Lutheranism: Good Friday Traditions

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:45:00 -0500

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.

He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities.

Good Friday marks both the low and high point of the Easter Triduum, as Christians remember with sorrow the suffering of our Lord and rejoice in His great mercy to us on the cross.

In this Adventures in Lutheranism episode, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel discuss the various Good Friday traditions they’ve cherished throughout the years, unpacking as they go the three key liturgies used for this day in Lutheran churches — Tre Ore, Tenebrae, and Chief — along with several notable liturgical features: the stripped altar, the darkened sanctuary, the reproaches, and the strepitus, among others.

However your church chooses to mark the occasion, we pray that God would bless your worship throughout this blessed Holy Week.

#339. Leading Ladies: Bri Gerzevske, Oddball Leader

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:45:00 -0500

Although Lounge-alum Bri Gerzevske is known and loved by listeners for her zany sense of humor and oddball comedy, what many may not know is that she is also a seasoned advancement professional known and loved by her colleagues for her “oddball leadership” philosophy.

What exactly is “oddball leadership”? In this episode, Bri (while sporting a giant foam cowboy hat over her headphones) breaks down the concept for Sarah, Erin, and Rachel, encouraging them to embrace a leadership style marked by belonging, gratitude, joy — and a higher-than-usual tolerance for chaos and creativity.

Whether you’re a leader in the workplace, the church, the community, or the home, Bri’s insights will help you imagine a different paradigm for leadership, one marked by compassion and curiosity and punctuated by crazy good fun.

Click here to learn more from Bri at Oddball Leadership.

#338. Rachel's Trivia Challenge: The Old Testament!

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:45:00 -0500

Although Scripture is never trivial, Bible trivia games can be an effective and motivational teaching tool — as the Ladies discover once again in this week’s episode.

Following up on her New Testament Trivia Challenge last fall, Rachel’s back with a new slew of tricksy brain benders, this time drawn from the Old Testament canon.

Covering plagues and prayers and promises — and everything in between — Rachel’s questions will help you test your own biblical literacy, even as they train you to trace the glorious thread of God’s plan for our salvation in Jesus Christ throughout the entire corpus of Scripture.

Extraneous sources mentioned in this episode include ...

#337. Sarah Goes to School: Spiritual Care for the Everyday Lutheran Lady™

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:45:00 -0500

Class is back in session, Ladies, as Sarah continues her diaconal studies at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis!

In this episode, Sarah invites listeners to look over her shoulder as she reviews notes from her first intensive: Intro to Spiritual Care and condenses 20 hours of class material into five key takeaways useful for the “Everyday Lutheran Lady™.”

Covering core concepts like the four directions of worship, the different levels and layers of tradition, theologies of glory and the cross, the theology and practice of prayer, principles of spiritual caregiving and visitation, and the art of active listening, Sarah offers a crash course survey that’s as edifying as it is educational.

Resources referenced include the following:

Gathered Guests: A Guide to Worship in the Lutheran Church by Timothy H. Maschke
Is God Listening? Making Prayer a Part of Your Life by Andrew E. Steinman

#336. Wild Card: D&D One Shot – Lutheran Ladies Battle Soup Supper Monsters

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:45:00 -0600

Last fall, Erin asked her first-ever Big Question: Is Dungeons and Dragons actually great? Following up on that conversation, the Ladies put their money where their mouths are and, with the help of Lounge-alum and amateur Dungeon Master Bri Gerzevske, show listeners how the game is played. Under Bri’s able guidance, Lutheran ladies “Barbella,” “Melodia,” and “Mumsy” battle two epic monsters that attack the church fellowship hall during a Lenten soup supper. Will our tenacious trio triumph over Aspicus the Enduring (a sentient salmon Jell-o mold) and Krauthex the Viscous (a coleslaw colossus vaguely resembling Jabba the Hutt)? More importantly, after they do, who’s going to clean up the mess? 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.

#335. Hymnastics 2026 – Write This: Common Meter, Uncommon Occasion

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:45:00 -0600

In honor of the world’s most prestigious winter sporting event, the Lutheran Ladies have embarked upon their own Winter Hymnastics series. Throughout this series, they’ll laugh, they’ll cry, they’ll sweat (sometimes literally), and above all, they’ll sing as they celebrate some of the greatest hymns and hymnwriters past, present, and even yet to come. In this final episode of the series, the Ladies (joined once again by their fellow #hymnnerds Katie Schuermann and Dr. Lisa Clark) welcome listener submissions in an all-new Write This: Challenge. The assignment this time? To write one or more hymn stanzas in common meter for an uncommon occasion in the life of the church. Featuring 20 original hymns and hymn verses — covering various saints’ days, confirmation, hymn festivals, Synod conventions, and more — this episode will inspire singers and hymnwriters everywhere to look for, and fill, quiet moments throughout the church year with new hymns of praise. Katie Schuermann is an author and storyteller whose books include the Anthems of Zion series from CPH, The Saints of Whistle Grove (a Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club pick), and most recently, the Creed series, including The Big Father and His Little Boy and The Beloved Son and His Brother. Dr. Lisa M. Clark is senior editor of curriculum resources at CPH and one of the LCMS’s most beloved and prolific hymn writers. Find a complete list of her available novels, devotionals, Christmas programs, picture books, choral music, and more at CPH.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.

#334. Hymnastics 2026: Katie & Lisa Go for Gold!

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:45:00 -0600

In honor of the world’s most prestigious winter sporting event, the Lutheran Ladies have embarked upon their own Winter Hymnastics series. Throughout this series, they’ll laugh, they’ll cry, they’ll sweat (sometimes literally), and above all, they’ll sing as they celebrate some of the greatest hymns and hymnwriters past, present, and even yet to come. In this (surprise!) (bonus!) third of four episodes, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel welcome fellow Lutheran ladies and ardent #hymnnerds Katie Schuermann and Lisa Clark to the Lounge. Both Katie and Lisa will be keynote presenters at the upcoming fifth annual Prevallet Hymn Writing Workshop scheduled for February 28 on the campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. After offering the Ladies an enticing preview of their workshop presentations, Katie and Lisa embark on a few “hymnastics” challenges of their own. Can they identify — from lyrics alone — whether a hymn was written by a male or female hymnwriter? How will they fare when put on the spot with a lightning-fast popcorn interview and a challenging game of “this or that”? Come for the inspiration — stay for the fun! — as you enjoy this lovely, lively conversation. Listeners within driving distance of Saint Louis, don’t miss your chance to see Katie Schuermann and Lisa Clark in person at the Prevallet Hymn Writing Workshop on Saturday, February 28. The cost is $15 to attend; registration closes February 24. Learn more at csl.edu/event/prevallet-hymn-writing-workshop-2026. For those who aren’t local, the hymn festival following the workshop will be livestreamed on March 1. Learn more at csl.edu/event/a-hymn-festival-featuring-the-hymns-of-lisa-clark-and-katie-schuermann. Katie Schuermann is an author and storyteller whose books include the Anthems of Zion series from CPH, The Saints of Whistle Grove (a Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club pick), and most recently, the Creed series, including The Big Father and His Little Boy and The Beloved Son and His Brother. Dr. Lisa M. Clark is senior editor of curriculum resources at CPH and one of the LCMS’s most beloved and prolific hymn writers. Find a complete list of her available novels, devotionals, Christmas programs, picture books, choral music, and more at CPH.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.

#333. HYMNASTICS 2026: Hymnnathlon Team All-Around

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:45:00 -0600

In honor of the world’s most prestigious winter sporting event, the Lutheran Ladies have embarked upon their own Winter Hymnastics series. Over three — make that four — consecutive episodes, they’ll laugh, they’ll cry, they’ll sweat (sometimes literally), and above all, they’ll sing as they celebrate some of the greatest hymns and hymnwriters past, present, and even yet to come. In this second of four episodes, Erin challenges Sarah and Rachel to a series of hymn-related challenges, which they tackle together as a team. Can they name the hymn based on a single measure of the tune? Speed read lyrics without one stumble? Remember every single word to a few beloved hymns? Choose hymns that are objectively beautiful in every way? Joining the Ladies halfway through are celebrity judges Deaconess Cara Patton (coordinator for LCMS Worship Ministry) and Kantor Christina Roberts (Our Savior Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan). 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.

#332. HYMNASTICS 2026: Fanny Crosby Wins the Gold

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:45:00 -0600

In honor of the world’s most prestigious sporting event, the Lutheran Ladies are launching their own Winter Hymnastics series. Over the next three episodes, they’ll laugh, they’ll cry, they’ll sweat (literally), and above all, they’ll sing as they celebrate some of the greatest hymns and hymnwriters past, present, and even yet to come. In this Story Time episode, Sarah examines the life of the MVP of nineteenth-century hymn writing herself: Fanny J. Crosby. Though she wasn’t a Lutheran lady (and though the Ladies can find zero evidence of her hymns appearing in Lutheran hymnals), this dear sister in Christ wrote nearly 9000 hymns and Gospel songs, more than1000 secular poems, 4 books of poetry, two best-selling autobiographies, at least five cantatas, and more during her lifetime, easily clinching the title of “most prolific lady hymnwriter of all time.” Learn about her childhood blindness, her rigorous biblical education, her charitable works and political advocacy, her unusual marriage, her modest lifestyle, and her ongoing legacy as Sarah narrates the inspiring story of her 94 years of life. It's a WINTER HYMNASTICS "WRITE THIS:" Challenge!!‼️SUBMIT BY MIDNIGHT 2/12/26 AT forms.office.com/r/1T4PVpK7dM.‼️ Write an original hymn stanza in Common Meter (think Amazing Grace). Pick an Uncommon Occasion (a saint day or other exciting day in the church year) and write a hymn for it! Let us know what public domain tune you'd like us to use. Find Common Meter (86 86) tunes on page 1007 of Lutheran Service Book. We will sing or read these in the third Hymnastics episode, recording on February 13. 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.

#331. Book Club Wrap Up: The Screwtape Letters

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:45:00 -0600

In this book club recap conversation, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel talk through one of the most beloved spiritual classics of the modern era: C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters. How does Screwtape offer us a unique perspective on the nature of spiritual warfare? What do we learn about temptations large and small? How does the devil seek to tempt us, in large ways and small? In what way does this book open our eyes to the nature of heavenly (vs. hellish) love and the eternal realities that quietly underly all our earthly experiences? At the end of the episode, Rachel reveals the Ladies’ next book club pick, one that weds three crowd-favorite genres (classic literature, historical fiction, and children’s literature): Elizabeth Goudge’s The Little White Horse. 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.

#330. Kitchen Table Talk: The Church Year and Lectionary with Dr. Carl Fickenscher

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:45:00 -0600

In this Kitchen Table Talk episode, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel welcome the Rev. Dr. Carl Fickenscher for a friendly and informative conversation all about the church year. What is the church year? Where did our liturgical calendar come from? How do the lectionary, seasons, and festivals of the church year all work together to proclaim Christ and strengthen faith? What’s the difference between the one-year and three-year lectionaries? How does the church calendar intersect with, diverge from, and transcend the secular calendar? The Rev. Dr. Carl Fickenscher is professor of pastoral ministry and missions at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. He is also the author of Looking Forward to Sunday Morning: Reflections on the Church Year (new from CPH) and guest of the weekly “Looking Forward to Sunday Morning” series on Issues, Etc. 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.

#329. Iron Ladle Challenge: SOUP.

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:45:00 -0600

There’s a chill in the air on this midwinter day — and a warm, mouth-watering aroma wafting from the kitchen. That’s right: the Lutheran Ladies are brewing up savory pots of soup in an all-new Iron Ladle Challenge! Erin leads off with a Finnish salmon soup (lohikeitto) that leaves her co-hosts drooling. Rachel then shares a trio of seasonally appropriate soups: seafood chowder for holiday decadence, “feel-better soup” for post-holiday recovery, and curried butternut soup (AKA sunshine soup) for midwinter malaise. Finally, Sarah shares her foolproof formula for improving the perfect, healthful (Instant Pot) soup every time. Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto) (From Erin) Serves 4-6 Ingredients: 1# salmon fillet 2T butter 1 large leek, sliced .25# mushrooms, thinly sliced 8 cups chicken stock or bone broth, divided 1 jar clam juice .5# russet potatoes, peeled and diced 1 lg carrot, sliced 1t whole allspice Fish sauce for salt .5# bag frozen kale (or 1 large bunch of fresh kale) (spinach is too delicate) 10g fresh dill, finely chopped, divided 4-8 tablespoons heavy cream Instructions: Heat 4 cups of stock and gently poach the salmon fillets until just cooked. Remove the salmon to a plate and reserve the salmon broth. When fillets are cool cool, remove and discard the skin. Meanwhile, melt butter in a soup pot and saute the leeks and mushrooms for ~10 minutes. Add all of the stock (4 c from salmon and 4 c remaining) to the pan with the leeks and mushrooms, along with the potatoes, carrots, allspice, and half of the fresh dill. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are just tender. Add the kale and return to a simmer. Stir in a couple of dashes of fish sauce for salt (less than 1 teaspoon). Add the salmon pieces to the soup and gently heat until warmed through, just a few minutes.  Add cream, the remaining dill, and salt and pepper to taste. If Freezing (you will use less stock initially) Heat 4 c stock and gently poach the salmon fillets until just cooked. Remove the salmon to a plate and reserve the salmon broth. When fillets are cool cool, remove and discard the skin. Meanwhile, melt butter in a soup pot and saute the leeks and mushrooms for ~10 minutes. Add the 4 c salmon broth to the pot with the leeks and mushrooms, along with the potatoes, carrots, and allspice. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are just tender. Add a couple of dashes of fish sauce (less than 1 teaspoon). Strain the vegetables, reserving broth until cool. Divide among 4 freezer containers: Poached salmon Frozen kale and dill. 2oz clam juice/container Vegetables (kale, mushrooms, potatoes, carrots Broth (start with ¾ cup, and distribute the remaining) To serve, heat on the stove until hot, adding a 1 cup container of bone broth to fill out the rest of the broth. While soup is reheating, put a small puddle of cream (1-2 tablespoons) in soup bowl and slowly add hot soup. Seafood Chowder (From Rachel) HT Cari Haan Saute together over medium heat for approx 5 minutes: 1 stick of butter 1/2 onion - diced 1 tsp garlic salt or powder 1/2 tsp thyme Mix in: 1/2 cup flour 1 cup half 'n' half 2 cups milk 4 oz (half block) of cream cheese (softened in microwave) 1 can cream of potato soup 1/2 tsp black pepper 8 oz. can of minced clams (with juice) 8 oz can of tiny shrimp (with juice) 16 oz of flaked crab broken up in desired sized pieces (I use the artificial crab meat) 16 oz of frozen salad-sized (extra small) shrimp (May add milk as needed for desired consistency . . . will need to do this when heating leftovers) Heat until hot throughout. Serve with oyster crackers and shredded Cheddar cheese. Note: May substitute or add additional seafood as desired. The more you put in, the tastier it gets. :) Rachel's Feel Better Soup Note: quantities are approximate. I rarely measure anything for this recipe. Saute in 2 T olive oil: 1 lb. diced chicken 1 c diced celery 1 c diced carrots Cook until chicken is browned and vegetables are beginning to soften. Add 2-4 cups chopped cabbage and/or kale. Cook lightly. Add 4-6 cups chicken broth or an equivalent combo of bullion and water. Add salt, thyme, and turmeric to taste. Add starch of your choice: barley, rice, or noodles. Cook through. Serve with warm tortillas or crusty bread. Curried Butternut Squash Soup (From Rachel) Halve, remove seeds, and oven roast one butternut squash, upside down in a little water. (350 oven for about an hour or until soft throughout) Cool slightly, then use a tablespoon to remove squash from peels Use blender, immersion blender, or foley mill to puree squash In saucepan, combine squash puree with chicken broth (approx. 2 cups), 1 can unsweetened coconut milk, and 1-2 cubes of Golden Curry flavor. Cook over medium heat until all ingredients are blended and soup is hot. Do not boil. Non-curry option: Use whole milk instead of coconut milk, and flavor with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, or other favorite seasoning. Sarah's Instant Pot Soup Formula Single serving 4(ish)oz meat (beef, chicken, salmon, etc) 8oz baby carrots 4oz green beans or peas (or other legume) 50g cabbage (or a handful lol) 2oz butternut squash 1 Tbs olive oil 1 cup water 2 tsp Celtic gray salt (or to taste) black pepper Brown meat (not necessary with fish) in olive oil. Place all ingredients in Instant Pot. Steam for 0 minutes (will vary by IP make/model) Instant pressure release. 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.

#328. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Close of Service Hymns

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:45:00 -0600

Following up on a promise made early last year, Sarah’s turning to the end of her Lutheran Service Book to sing — and get a lot better acquainted with — all eight “Close of Service” hymns in this all-new Hymn Sing episode. Hymns featured include “Go, My Children, with My Blessing” (LSB 922), Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing (LSB 924), “Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise” (LSB 917), “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer” (LSB 918), and “Abide, O Dearest Jesus” (LSB 919). Get to know the stories behind the hymns you love as you sing along with resident #hymnnerd Sarah. And, stay tuned to the very end for a very special treat from Lutheran Lady Erin Bode and the Themba Girls. As always, to learn more about these and other hymns in Lutheran Service Book, check out Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns, available from CPH. Links mentioned in this episode: Conversation with Benjamin Kolodziej on Friedrich Lochner — The Coffee Hour, kfuo.org. Battle for the Augsburg Confession in American Lutheran History, Episode 1. Dr. Cameron MacKenzie — The Coffee Hour, kfuo.org The Themba Girls with the Erin Bode Group, Album Recordings —YouTube Close of Service Hymn Poll in the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge Facebook Group Copyright Information: Lutheran Service Book 922, “Go My Children, with My Blessing” Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, 1919-2008. (c) 1983 Concordia Publishing House, used with permission. Tune: Welsh, 18th century. Public Domain. Recording from The Themba Girls and the Erin Bode Group, used with permission. Erin Bode, lead vocals Senzy Khumalo, lead vocals Adam Maness, guitar 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.

#327. New Year’s Wishes and Prognostications for 2026

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0600

After an unexpected two-year hiatus, the Ladies’ annual New Year’s Wishes and Prognostication episode is back! After first looking back over their 2023 prognostications to see if any came true (spoiler alert: wide-leg jeans — who knew?), Sarah, Erin, and Rachel each present listeners with a good wish, a zany "prognostication” for what life will hold in 2026, and a word of blessing for a good New Year. Click to revisit the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge New Year’s specials from 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. 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.

#326. Christmas Better-Than-Ever Poetry Slam, Regifted

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0600

Spoiler alert: We're back to shamelessly regifting our Poetry Slams because we love them so much, but this year is a first-time regift! Five years after their first Christmas Poetry Slam in 2019 (routinely “regifted” ever since), the Ladies have finally picked up their pens to write a fresh batch of poems for the holiday season. And this time, they have help. Joining Sarah, Erin, and Rachel in the Lounge are authors Katie Schuermann and Lisa Clark. Together, they share original Christmas poems ranging from psalms of lament to epic odes to hilarious parodies. Whether you cry or laugh (or do both at once), you’ll almost certainly be inspired to make poetry a more regular part of your holiday celebrations. Katie Schuermann is a household name in many LCMS circles, beloved for her cozy novels (among them, our summer book club pick The Saints of Whistle Grove) and for her nonfiction books including He Remembers the Barren and Pew Sisters. Click to visit Katie’s website or browse her books from Concordia Publishing House, Kloria Publishing, and Emmanuel Press. Download the music for her poem “The Last Shall Be First” here. Lisa M. Clark is an editor at Concordia Publishing House and the author of devotions, picture books, Bible curricula, Christmas programs, young adult novels — and literally hundreds of original hymn texts. Click to browse Lisa Clark’s books at Concordia Publishing House. 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.

#325. How to Lutheran: Children's Christmas Programs

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:45:00 -0600

Former co-host and semi-regular guest Bri Gerzevske stops by the Lounge for a holiday visit — and this time, she’s mining her own recent life experience to offer Sarah, Erin, and Rachel her expert “Guide to a Fun and Fabulous Christmas Program at Church.” Among Bri’s words of wisdom are these key takeaways: Don’t go it alone! YOU NEED A VILLAGE FOR THIS. Treat the kids like “professionals.” Show gratitude by keeping the main thing the main thing. “Producing a children’s Christmas program is hard work,” Bri says, “but it’s deeply fulfilling. With collaboration, joyful structure, child empowerment, and gratitude, the program becomes meaningful for everyone. True ‘success’ lies not in perfection, but in ministry, community, and shared joy.” Brianne Gerzevske is a fellow Lutheran lady, LCMS pastor’s wife, and director of managed contributor care for LCMS Mission Advancement. She is a former co-host of The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge and remains a regular guest and occasional contributor to the program. 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.

#324. Erin's Soapbox: The Internet Ruined Christmas Lists

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:45:00 -0600

Normally, when one of the Ladies asks a Big Question, the answer ends up being exploratory and open-ended — but not today. Today, Erin isn’t asking. She's telling. It’s Erin’s Soapbox: The Internet Ruined Christmas Lists. In this episode, Erin compares the traditional handwritten Christmas list (with its general descriptions of needs and wants) to the modern Amazon wish list (with its detailed prescriptions for specific gifts, right down to the desired size, pattern, and color) and finds that there is really no comparison. “Part of what happens with an old-fashioned Christmas list is relational,” says Erin. “The person giving the gift gets to really consider what they know about the person they are selecting a gift for, and consider what they would enjoy. And the receiver gets to learn something about the person who gave it.” Amazon and other online wish lists, by contrast, are transactional, require (and allow) no creativity, and do little to enhance relationships. Throughout the conversation, Erin, Sarah, and Rachel all share stories about good, bad, and sometimes highly idiosyncratic Christmas wish list experiences and offer practical tips for how to craft — and shop from — a well-made Christmas list. 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.

#323. Wild Card: Theological Imagination with Malcolm Guite

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:45:00 -0600

How do imagination, poetry, and fantasy literature like of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis help us deepen our faith in Christ? Sarah sits down with esteemed poet Malcolm Guite in this special Wild Card episode (recorded on location at the Getty Sing! Conference) for a conversation full of delightful storytelling, brilliant insight into the Christian faith, and encouragement to lean into the imagination God has given each of us. “What they [Tolkien and Lewis] meant was that the human mind and the depth of the imagination, especially the imagination, knows more than we do. There's a deeper wisdom. And that story knows more than we do, that a great story, a story which is working at the level of myth. Mythopoeic is actually older and wiser than we are, and even the author writing the story doesn't know everything that's in it. And a really great story is continuously suggesting more.” Malcolm Guite is a poet, musician, Anglican priest, and literary scholar who has taught at universities including Cambridge, Duke, and Regent. He’s penned five volumes of poetry, several books on Christian faith and theology, and a highly acclaimed biography of Samuel Taylor Coleridge entitled Mariner. He has lectured widely on the fantasy writings of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and is currently undertaking his own epic retelling of the legends of King Arthur. Find his writing wherever books are sold and view his YouTube channel at youtube.com/@MalcolmGuitespell. 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.

#322. Coffee Hour Crossover: Figgy Pudding!

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0600

“Bring us some Figgy Pudding!” Inspired by the traditional Christmas carol, Andy Bates (co-host of The Coffee Hour) joins Sarah (also a co-host of The Coffee Hour) and Erin in the Lounge for a festive, fig-filled crossover episode all about the legendary dish everyone’s heard of (but few have ever actually tasted): Figgy Pudding, also known as Christmas Pudding. What is it made from? Is it secretly its own food group? Will Erin try it again? From its origins as a savory dish, through the faux liturgical feast day of “Stir Up Sunday,” and ending with Andy sharing his first go at making this dish at home, this episode invites you to celebrate the holiday season with the hosts of The Coffee Hour and The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Podcast. Click to learn more: Andy's recipe Figgy Pudding Recipe - Food.com (Replaced butter with plant butter, milk with oat milk, and brown sugar with madhava raw sugar) A Lutheran Witness article mentioning Stir Up Sunday The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge cover Fruitcake in this Recipe Card Episode 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.

#321. Rachel's Trivia Challenge: The New Testament!

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:45:00 -0600

Although Scripture is never trivial, Bible trivia games can be an effective and motivational teaching tool — as the Ladies discover in this week’s episode. Inspired by Sarah’s account of the New Testament knowledge exam she took upon matriculating into Concordia Seminary’s deaconess program, Rachel here quizzes her friends — and all the ladies listening at home — on their New Testament acumen. From sleepy sermon-goers to sparring sisters-in-Christ to Greco-Roman power couples, Rachel's questions will help you test your own biblical literacy — even as they inspire you to dig in and get even better acquainted with the people, places, numbers, and key passages of the New Testament. 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.

#320. Sarah Goes to School: Deaconess Studies, Commence!

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:45:00 -0600

Class is back in session, Ladies, this time at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis! What even is deaconess ministry, and how do deaconesses serve the church? Sarah begins her studies in the Online Deaconess Studies program at Concordia Seminary, and she’s revisiting experiences from Orientation Week at the Seminary and her first class in Deaconess Ministry, including insights into personality types and theological frameworks. Are you an eagle, parrot, dove, or owl? Sarah shares how understanding another person’s tendencies in group work, stressful situations, or everyday relationships helps you walk better together. Building on this understanding of self and others, she briefly describes how we can rightly understand insights from God’s First Article Gifts and discern theological wisdom to grow into better leaders and guides for those around us. “I’m understanding more and more why they call it church worker formation. Wearing the blue, putting on my crucifix every day, being more bold about talking theology with people, it’s all part of the formation. This program isn’t just to learn theology and be let free in the wild. We’re learning about what it means to serve people, to serve in the church, to really bring God’s Word to people in a hugely wide variety of ways. It's the unexplainable feeling of growth. You are wildly conscious that you’re a different person than you were a week ago because of what you’ve learned and experienced, and it’s wonderfully scary and amazing.” Next time, Sarah will share insights from her Introduction to Spiritual Care class. Stay tuned! Click to learn more: Concordia University’s Online Deaconess Studies The DISC Assessment Birds and Taking Flight Profiles Dr. Mark Rockenbach’s Practical Theological Framework 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.

#319. Kitchen Table Talk: Sabbath Rest with Dr. Joel Biermann

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:45:00 -0600

Following their recent book club discussion of Joel Biermann’s Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play, the Ladies welcome Dr. Biermann himself to the Lounge for a Kitchen Table Talk conversation all about Sabbath-keeping and the Third Commandment.

What does Sabbath have to do with the meaning of life? What does the Bible teach us about how we are to “remember the Sabbath”? How are work, leisure, sleep, play, and worship all woven together in the fabric of creation and the life of the believer? How does Christian theology inform how we spend our time?

The Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann is professor of systematic theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. His books include Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play (CPH) and Wholly Citizens: God’s Two Realms and Christian Engagement with the World (Fortress). Hear more from Dr. Biermann on his YouTube channel, in our previous Kitchen Table Talk episode with him, or his interviews on The Coffee Hour with Andy and Sarah.

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.

#318. Party Planning Committee: Reformation + All Saints' Day

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:45:00 -0500

While “Halloween” for most people involves scary costumes, candy, and jack-o'-lanterns, the Ladies are tracing the word back to its roots — “All Hallows’ Eve” — as they team up to plan a Halloween-alternative All Saints/Reformation Day party around the theme of “saints, reformers, and heretics.”* The episode starts with each of the Ladies suggesting a pair of apropos costume ideas. Sarah then shares a curated Spotify playlist (link here) to set the musical mood before providing a range of ideas for party decorations, favors, and crafts. With the party “vibes” all in order, Erin offers recipes fit for a feast and Rachel demonstrates a handful of fun party games, including “Two Doctrines and a Heresy” and saints-based pub trivia. Check out ... Companion Party Spotify Playlist Recipe for eyeball buckeyes Pics and instructions for a fake fire craft *Fun fact: Martin Luther fits all three categories. 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.

#317. Book Club Wrap Up: Day 7 - For Work, Rest, or Play

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:45:00 -0500

In this Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club recap episode, Rachel leads Erin and Sarah through a discussion of Joel Biermann’s Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play. What does it mean to "remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy"? Does how we think about "leisure" change how we "remember the Sabbath"? How does a biblical understanding of Sabbath help us recognize good and bad ways to use the days that God has given us? At the end of the episode, Rachel reveals the Ladies' next book club pick — one of her all-time favorites, which Sarah has never yet read: C. S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters. 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.

#316. One Question Interview: Infertility

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 10:45:00 -0500

“What should we be talking about that we’re not?”

That’s the starting prompt for every installment of “Erin’s One-Question Interview.”

While the answers to this question may change, the quality of these vital, hard-hitting conversations remains the same.

In this episode, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel welcome special guest Carrie Ill to the Lounge to share her personal experience with infertility. Why is it so hard for women to talk about infertility? What is it about this condition that makes it so painful and fraught with grief? How does Lutheran theology shape our ways of thinking about infertility? How can Lutheran women show compassion and sensitivity in their conversations with one another — regardless of family size and fertility struggles?

Carrie Ill is a pastor’s wife, Lutheran schoolteacher, and fellow Lutheran lady.

Resources referenced include: He Remembers the Barren by Katie Schuermann

The National Infertility Association (resolve.org)*

*Note: This is a helpful but not Christian resource; not all guidance given may be in accord with Lutheran doctrine.

For more insight into a Lutheran view on IVF, these posts from The Lutheran Witness provide theological and ethical guidance: witness.lcms.org/tag/ivf

Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge.

#315. How to Lutheran: Quilting Circles

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 10:45:00 -0500

In their latest “How to Lutheran” conversation, Rachel celebrates the ongoing legacy of quilting circles in Lutheran Churches. Beginning with a look back at the significance of quilts and quilting bees in American history, she then explores biblical examples of women who used their skill with textile arts to help those in need. From there, the conversation examines the heyday of Lutheran quilters after the Second World War and the state of quilting circles today, considers ethical pitfalls to avoid when quilting for charity, and offers a range of novel ideas for using quilts to spread the love of Christ. Click to learn more about donating quilts to the following organizations: Lutheran World Relief Orphan Grain Train Download LWML’s “Blessing of the Quilts” litany here. Listen to our conversation about Adam Minter’s book Secondhand (referenced in the episode) here. Many thanks to Miriam Maassel Neumann (Rachel’s great aunt) for sharing her quilting story in a written interview featured in the episode. Click here to view a list of free downloadable Bible studies by Aunt Miriam, available from LWML. 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.

#314. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Praise & Adoration Hymns

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 10:45:00 -0500

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:10). As we mark the beginning of the end of Ordinary Time and begin our descent toward the end of the church year, Sarah’s turning her attention to Praise and Adoration hymns in this all-new Hymn Sing episode. Hymns featured include “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (LSB 790), “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” (LSB 803), “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (LSB 805), “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (LSB 809), and “How Great Thou Art” (LSB 801), along with more than a dozen other well-loved classics. Get to know the stories behind the hymns you love — and get better acquainted with hymns you may not yet know well — as you sing along with #hymnnerd Sarah. As always: to learn more about these and other hymns in Lutheran Service Book, check out Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns, 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.

#313. International Mission 101: Missionary Recruitment

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 10:45:00 -0500

Have you ever imagined becoming an international missionary? Can you think of someone in your life who would make a good missionary? In this third International Mission 101 episode, Erin invites her colleague Anne Gonzalez to the Lounge to answer common questions about missionary recruitment. Who is qualified to be an LCMS missionary? What mission roles are open to (and even ideally suited to) Lutheran lay women? What’s the recruitment process like? DCE Anne Gonzalez is manager of lay missionary recruitment for the LCMS Office of International Mission. Click to learn more about LCMS International Mission, what missionaries do, types of missionary service, and current mission service opportunities. 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.

#312. Sixth Anniversary Vintage Potluck Party!

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:45:00 -0500

The Ladies are celebrating their SIXTH ANNIVERSARY in style this week — with a potluck party for the ages. The challenge: prepare and share at least one recipe published in a vintage (pre-A.D. 2000) church cookbook. The result: pull up a chair, grab a fork, and find out for yourself! From perennial favorites like broccoli salad and tater tot casserole, to neglected classics like chocolate eclair cake and corn chip taco salad, to some truly unexpected historical artifacts like beet cake and jellied salmon loaf, this smorgasbord of an episode is bound to have you smiling, sobbing, or even salivating as you listen. 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.

#311. Adventures in Lutheranism: Children's Choir

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:45:00 -0500

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” — Psalm 150:6 In this episode, Rachel embarks on a new Adventure in Lutheranism as she helps start and lead a new children’s choir at her church. After cruising through a cursory history of children’s music in church, she invites Sarah, Erin, and her own daughter, Emalie, to share their personal stories of singing in Lutheran children’s choirs. She then relates her own recent experience as a children’s choir director, outlines the benefits of children’s choirs for both children and the congregations who love them, and shares advice and encouragement for leading a successful children’s choir in your own congregation. Sources, links, and resources for further study mentioned in this episode include: Portraits in American Lutheran Sacred Music, 1847–1947 - CPH {The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge} Adventures in Lutheranism: Church Choir Why Music Is Important in Church According to Luther - CPH blog American Lutheran History Question- Why did Lutherans not bring the Boy Choir tradition to America? : r/Lutheranism - Reddit Going My Way (1944) - Official Trailer 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.

#310. Erin's Big Question: Dungeons & Dragons

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:45:00 -0500

For the first time ever, Erin’s asking a Big Question in the Lounge — and it’s a doozie: Is Dungeons and Dragons actually great? Throughout the 80s and 90s, as Erin recalls, many conservative Christians regarded the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons as “a gateway to advance along the primrose path to perdition” — something roughly in the same moral category as “cigarettes and death metal." Now, with the rise of Gen X nostalgia culture, the popularity of Dungeons and Dragons is once again on the rise among players of all ages. Should Lutheran ladies be concerned? Or is there a place for collaborative story-telling games like D&D in the life of a Christian? And if D&D is “actually great” (as Erin posits, having now played for a year herself) are there any simple, practical ground rules that can help make sure it remains a wholesome experience for all involved? 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.

#309. Kitchen Table Talk: Mary and the Saints

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 10:45:00 -0500

What are Lutherans to think about the saints? How, especially, are we to regard the most controversial saint of all — Mary, the Mother of Jesus? In this Kitchen Table Talk episode, aired in honor of Mary’s commemoration on August 15, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel welcome the Rev. William Weedon to talk through pressing questions about whether and how we can faithfully and appropriately celebrate the saints of God. What actually is a saint? How have Lutherans historically thought about saints? How does the Lutheran view differ from that of Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Evangelical Christians? What can we learn from the saints today? The Rev. William Weedon is assistant pastor and catechist at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Hamel, Illinois; host of The Word of the Lord Endures Forever from Lutheran Public Radio; and author of several books for children and adults, including I Remember: A Life of Mary and Celebrating the Saints. Resources referenced include the following: I Remember: A Life of Mary - Amazon.com Celebrating the Saints - Concordia Publishing House Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary – The Lutheran Witness The Word of the Lord Endures Forever Thank, Praise, Serve, and Obey: Recover the Joys of Piety - Concordia Publishing House We Praise You, O God – Kloria Publishing The Sanctoral Calendar of Wilhelm Loehe's Martyrologium 'With All the Company of Heaven': Angels, Saints and Our Departed Loved Ones at the Lord's Table – The Lutheran Witness 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.

#308. Our Favorites, Revisited: CORN

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:45:00 -0500

This riveting episode from August 2024 celebrates America's love of corn culture, so the Ladies wanted to share it again.

Q: Why shouldn’t you tell secrets in a cornfield?

A: Because the corn has ears!

It’s a “cornival” of craziness as Erin leads Sarah and Rachel in an Iron Ladle Challenge celebrating the joys of “corn culture” (or “corny culture”) in midsummer.

After discussing results from a pair of lively listener polls on how to cook and butter corn-on-the-cob (Facebook group members can find those here), the Ladies share their own favorite sweet corn recipes. Which will you try? Rachel’s creamy corn chowder? Sarah’s cowboy caviar? Erin’s colorful confetti corn salad? Or all of the above???

Still can’t get enough corny goodness? Check out this adorable music video on YouTube.

Erin’s Confetti Corn Salad

Vegetables:

2 cans corn, drained
1 small green pepper, chopped
2 green onions, sliced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 large tomato, chopped

Dressing

1 Tablespoon lemon juice
3 Tablespoons mayo

Directions

mix dressing
toss with salad
add pepper to taste

Rachel’s Corn Chowder

(Measurements are all approximate.)

Dice ½ yellow onion and ¼ green pepper. Sautee in 2 T butter in a heavy pot over medium heat until soft.

Peel, wash, and dice 3 or 4 medium potatoes. Add to pot with water or chicken broth to barely cover.

Add *either* 2 cans creamed sweet corn or 1 quart garden corn from the freezer.

Add salt and pepper (and chicken bullion in place of broth) to taste.

Simmer until potatoes are soft.

Add 2-4 cups whole milk and return to low simmer. (Be careful not to boil after this point.)

Thicken in one of two ways (or both together):

Melt ¼ cup butter and 2 T all-purpose flour in a small skillet and stir slowly into chowder.
Use potato masher to mash some of the potatoes to release the starch.

Serve with crusty buttered bread.

Sarah’s Cowboy Salad

Mix together:

Cowboy Caviar Salsa (Trader Joe’s)
Lettuce
Shredded cheese
Taco-spiced beef
Any other fun salad ingredients because there are no rules.

Sarah just loves cornbread

Betty Crocker recipe with lots of variation: bettycrocker.com/recipes/traditional-cornbread-recipe/8990e15c-fc1d-4a8d-b8b3-4b37f45eca49

#307. Sarah Goes to School: CUI Graduation → CSL Deaconess Studies!

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 10:45:00 -0500

Class is back in session, Ladies — one more time (for now)!

Sarah wraps up her studies at Concordia University Irvine’s Townsend Institute for Counseling and Leadership as she revisits her capstone project on humor in the workplace and celebrates the completion of her M.A. in organizational leadership. She also gives Erin and Rachel an eye-opening crash course in different types of humor and how they contribute (or don’t) to workplace morale, team building, and productivity.

Is your favorite style of humor affiliative, self-enhancing, self-defeating, or aggressive? Listen in to find out what those terms mean and which is your default — and learn, too, about how to optimize your use of humor to bring people together and get things done.

“I hope you’re inspired to think about humor in a different way,” says Sarah. “Being funny, witty, or engaging in banter isn’t just a cute thing to do. It has real positive impacts not only in the workplace, but in relationships and in your own mental health.”

At the end of the episode, Sarah announces her next big academic adventure: Concordia Seminary’s Online Deaconess Studies program. Stay tuned!

Click to learn more:

#306. International Mission 101: Missionaries Carol Halter & Chelsea Irwin

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 10:45:00 -0500

It’s a story of joyful mission service with two LCMS Lutheran Lady Missionaries! In this delightful conversation (recorded in person at the LWML Convention in Omaha), the Ladies welcome Deaconess Carol Halter, the LCMS’s longest-serving missionary, and Chelsea Irwin, one of the youngest LCMS missionaries, to share their stories of serving as international missionaries.

Did they always want to serve overseas? What do they actually *do* as a missionary? How have they seen Jesus at work in the lives of the people they serve? Did Carol’s story *really* influence Chelsea in her vocational path?

Deaconess Carol Lee Halter has served as an evangelistic missionary among the Chinese people in Hong Kong since 1981. From 1969 to 1981, Carol served as a missionary with the Chinese Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in San Francisco. For three and a half years before that, she was a volunteer missionary in Hong Kong. Carol does humanitarian, evangelistic and educational work among Chinese people of all ages who live in Hong Kong. Her prayer is that all Chinese people will hear the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ — especially from each other.

Chelsea Irwin serves the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in the Eurasia region as missionary coordinator for volunteer opportunities. Based out of Český Těšín, Czech Republic, she works with LCMS missionaries and local church partners to place and send volunteers to serve in Eurasia. These individuals or groups engage in projects such as English Bible Camps, theological education and mission education, to name a few. Chelsea seeks to challenge volunteers to live out the Great Commission by viewing each day as a mission trip. She encourages them to support and stay connected to the Eurasia region, as well as serving in their own churches and communities.

To learn more, check out the following links:

#305. Leading Ladies: Donna Snow

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 10:45:00 -0500

In this joy-filled conversation (recorded in person at the LWML Convention in Omaha), the Ladies welcome “leading lady” Donna Snow to Lounge, as they continue celebrating and learning from Lutheran women in positions of influence in the church and around the world.

Donna Snow is founder and CEO of Artesian Ministries, an organization dedicated to equipping disciples to share Jesus by becoming biblically literate. She’s also a sought-after speaker and the author of more than a dozen books and Bible studies, including Without This Ring: Surviving Divorce, Chosen: A Study of Esther, and, most recently, Strong and Courageous: Studying God’s Promises in Joshua.

Click to learn more about Artesian Ministries or browse Donna Snow's books from CPH.

#304. Young Lutheran Ladies: International Missionary Kids

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:45:00 -0500

Inspired by the LCMS Youth Gathering, the Ladies round the homestretch with part three of their summer series celebrating young Lutheran ladies.

In this eye-opening multicultural International Mission 101 conversation, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel welcome to the Lounge missionary teens Bella (daughter of the Rev. Dr. J.P. and Aimee Cima, serving in Cambodia) and Lydia (daughter of the Rev. Dr. Carl and Chenhsi Hanson, serving in South Korea).

What does daily life look like for these third-culture kids? Where do they go to school? What comfort foods do they enjoy? Do they drive? What is church like for them? What do they wish more folks knew about life on the mission field?

Click to learn more about, pray for, or support these mission families in the field:

#303. Young Lutheran Ladies: Leadership, Jesus, and YouthLead

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 09:45:00 -0500

Inspired by the LCMS Youth Gathering, the Ladies embark on part two of a three-part summer series celebrating young Lutheran ladies.

In this inspiring conversation, the Leading Ladies series gets aged way down, as Sarah, Erin, and Rachel welcome LCMS YouthLead executive team and participants Reagan, Ava, and Lucy to the Lounge to share their stories and perspectives on leadership.

How did these audacious young women first step into leadership roles in their churches?

What is YouthLead, and how did they get involved? How have they grown through leadership opportunities, including YouthLead? What do they think is important for other young Lutheran Ladies to know about leading in their own communities and congregations?

About YouthLead (from LCMS.org):

For 40 years, YouthLead (formerly Lutheran Youth Fellowship) has equipped teens to develop and use their leadership skills as they serve Christ within their congregations and communities. We offer resources and training to equip teens to lead and mentor each other.

Our annual leadership training event is facilitated by the teen YL Leadership Team. The event makes use of leadership resources developed to give teens the tools they need to mature in their faith, become leaders in their congregations, and reach out to their peers with the love of Christ.

Click to learn more about YouthLead, LCMS Youth Ministry, and the LCMS Youth Gathering.

#302. Young Lutheran Ladies: Kitty, My Rib Book Club Wrap Up

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:45:00 -0500

Inspired by the LCMS Youth Gathering, the Ladies embark on a three-part summer series celebrating young Lutheran ladies. It’s “bring a teen to Book Club” day in the Lounge!

Lutheran lady teenagers Lorraine, Janice, and Eva stop by for a book club recap episode, joining Sarah, Erin, and Rachel as they talk through questions raised by E. Jane Mall’s cozy Lutheran classic Kitty, My Rib.

What did our teenage readers think of Mall’s fictionalized depiction of Katharine Luther? Did they learn anything new about not just about Katie and the Reformation but also about 1950's-era Lutheranism in America (when the book was written)? What spiritual lessons can readers of all ages take from this book? What can Katie’s example teach us about how to live out our Christian vocations here on earth?

At the end of the episode, the Ladies unveil their October book club pick: Joel Biermann’s Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play.

Learn more about Kitty, My Rib here.

To dig more deeply into Katharine Luther’s life (and follow up on Lorraine’s recommendation for further reading) check out Katharina Von Bora: A Reformation Life by Rudolf K. Markwald and Marilynn Morris Markwald.

#301. Our Favorites, Revisited: Hymns for the Nation

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 09:45:00 -0500

The Ladies are celebrating our nation's birthday on July 4 by revisiting a favorite episode from 2022 all about hymns for the nation.

Hymns for the Nation, or Patriotic Songs? Or both? As Americans are celebrating Independence Day, Lutherans once again consider the worth of hymns and songs that focus on God’s gift of land and government. Within the context of our Two Realms (or Two Kingdoms) theology, Sarah considers the hymns found in the “Nation and National Songs” section of the Lutheran Service Book, along with some popular American favorites.

Hymns featured in this episode include “God Bless Our Native Land,” “Before You, Lord, We Bow,” “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” “God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Arm,” plus a few American songs you’ll likely know.

The third hymn in the Nation and National Songs section, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was featured in the Hymns Sing with Sarah episode for Black History Month.

Read all 101 additional verses for “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” in this PDF from alliedmerchantnavy.com.

To learn more about these and other hymns in Lutheran Service Book, check out CPH’s two-volume set Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns.

#300: Katie Luther's Herring Barrel Time Machine

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:45:00 -0500

[Enter Sarah]: “All right! Here we go! Time to record our 300th episode. Open up the studio. Turn on the mics... Wait a sec. Where’s Rachel? For that matter, where’s Erin? Where are my fellow Lutheran Ladies? My sisters in Christ? Something is definitely fishy here.”

What happens when Erin and Rachel are late to a podcast recording session and Katharine Von Bora shows up instead — in her very own, state-of-the-art herring barrel time machine?

It’s a Story Time adventure for the ages as the Lutheran Ladies celebrate their 300th episode in rare style. Join Sarah and Katie (soon-to-be Luther) as they travel through time on a quest to find their fellow Lutheran ladies — their sisters in Christ — and end up meeting a Who’s Who of Lutheran women along the way.

To revisit the stories of each of the women featured in this episode, click the links below:

Anna Magdalena Bach: {The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge} Story Time with Sarah: The Wives of J.S. Bach - KFUO Radio
Emilie Buenger Walther: {The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge} Story Time with Sarah: Walther's Wife, Emilie - KFUO Radio
Catherine Winkworth: {The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge} Story Time with Sarah: Catherine Winkworth - KFUO Radio
Bessie Effner Rehwinkel: {The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge} Story Time with Sarah: Dr. Bessie Rehwinkel — Pioneer, Doctor, Pastor's Wife - KFUO Radio
Gertrude Simon: {The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge} The Heroic Story of Gertrude Simon: China, 1943 - KFUO Radio

Special credit to Aubrey Blank for voice acting the scene transitions.

#299. Rachel's Trivia Challenge: History of Heresies

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 10:45:00 -0500

The word “heretic” gets bandied about online so much these days that it has become almost meaningless, but it remains an important theological concept with serious implications for the life of the church.

In this unexpectedly sobering Trivia Challenge, Rachel quizzes Erin and Sarah on the meanings and history of major heresies in the church, from Gnosticism to modernism and beyond.

What even is “heresy,” anyway? Where is heresy mentioned in the Bible? How were the ecumenical creeds specifically formulated to combat heresy? What are good and bad ways to respond to heresy in the church? And is heresy still something we actually struggle with today?

Resources referenced in this episode include the following:

Journey through Church History: Student Book - Concordia Publishing House (highly recommended for families and educators!)
Journey through Church History: Leader Guide - Concordia Publishing House
Lutheran Witness: May 2025 – The Lutheran Witness: Councils and Conventions
Lutheran Witness: August 2023 – The Lutheran Witness: Heresies Ancient and Modern

Other sources mentioned include:

#298. Bri's Radio Theatre: Jonah & The Whale

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 10:45:00 -0500

The sun is out, boats are on the water, fish are jumping, and the beach is calling. It’s the perfect time to revisit one of the Bible’s most memorable water-based narratives: the story of Jonah.

Welcoming former co-host Bri Gerzevske back once again for another hilarious installment of Bri’s Radio Theatre, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel are jumping feet-first with her into the briny deep.

How will Captain Trish handle the runaway prophet on board her ship? What will the Ninevites do when they hear Jonah’s message of doom and gloom? Will Jonah ever learn what God wants to teach him? And what does this all have to do with the death and resurrection of Jesus?

Disclaimer: This episode is satire, Trish is a fictional character, and we already know our script probably wouldn’t pass LCMS Doctrinal Review on the first try. Enjoy.

#297. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Pentecost and Trinity Sunday

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:45:00 -0500

A blessed Pentecost to all! To mark the feasts of Pentecost and Trinity Sunday, Sarah’s digging into a dozen hymns associated with these holy days in a brand-new Hymn Sing episode.

Hymns featured include fan favorites “Holy, Holy, Holy” (LSB 507), “Holy Spirit, Light Divine” (LSB 496), and “Glory Be to God the Father” (LSB 506), together with lesser-known classics like “Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest” (LSB 498/499), “O Day Full of Grace” (LSB 503), and “Come Down, O Love Divine” (LSB 501).

Get to know the stories behind the hymns you love — and get better acquainted with hymns you may not yet know well — as you sing along with #hymnnerd Sarah.

As always: to learn more about these and other hymns in Lutheran Service Book, check out Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns, available from CPH.

#296. Rachel's Big Question: Should I Line Dry My Clothes?

Fri, 30 May 2025 10:45:00 -0500

As the weather warms up and the sun grows brighter and hotter, Rachel’s taking the opportunity to ask a big question that turns out to be just a little more controversial than one might expect:

Should I line dry my clothes?

Beginning with a quick survey of the history of laundry drying techniques and traditions, Rachel then looks how and why American housewives made the transition from “drying greens” and clotheslines to gas or electric tumble dryers — and how the “right-to-dry" movement in the 2000s and 2010s marked a resurgence in popularity for the humble, affordable, counter-cultural, and even occasionally illegal clothesline.

Resources referenced in this episode include:

#295. Write This: "A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing" Hymn Stanzas

Fri, 23 May 2025 10:45:00 -0500

In honor of the Feast of the Ascension, the Ladies are once again welcoming listener submissions for a Write This challenge — this time based around the Venerable Bede’s eighth-century lyric “A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing.”

Featuring 25 original hymn verses— covering Easter, the Ascension, the Sacraments, and more — from 15 creative contributors, this episode will inspire and deepen devotion as Christians everywhere prepare to celebrate one of the church's most ancient holy days.

For a good chuckle, check out Rowan Atkinson’s character Mr. Bean struggling with the peculiar meter of this beloved hymn tune.

To learn more about the historic names for Easter and read their respective introits in the one-year lectionary, visit the Lutheran Lectionary website.

#294. International Mission 101: LCMS Mission Work

Fri, 16 May 2025 10:45:00 -0500

What have you always wanted to know about LCMS International Missions (but were maybe afraid to ask)?

In this second International Missions 101 conversation, Erin draws on insights from her day job as Director of Short-term Mission for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to answer common questions about how the LCMS equips and sends missionaries and engages in missions throughout the world.

How does the LCMS do missions? What is the central focus and goal of all mission activities? How do we decide where to plant new missions? What kinds of people become missionaries (are they all pastors?), and what kind of work do they do?

To learn more, check out the following links:

International Mission – The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
LCMS International Mission Facebook Page
How you can serve: Missionary Service – The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Short-term mission opportunities: Serve Now – Mission service opportunities
Erin’s *other* podcast: 5 Minutes with a Missionary Archives – KFUO Radio
Coffee Hour episodes with missionaries: Short Term Mission Stories

#293. Kitchen Table Talk: Infant Faith

Fri, 09 May 2025 10:45:00 -0500

Do infants have saving faith? Can they be counted as full members of the Body of Christ?

These are some of the thorniest questions Christian parents and grandparents face, especially since they tend to arise at some of life's most painful moments: after miscarriage, in cases of extreme disability, or when a child has tragically died before Baptism.

In this Kitchen Table Talk conversation, Chaplain Sean Daenzer returns to the Lounge to offer theological hope and comfort for those agonizing over these kinds of questions — comfort based not on human reason or empirical evidence, but on the sure Word of God.

How do infants and young children figure into the Kingdom of God? What role does Baptism play in salvation? How have nonbiblical concepts like “limbo” and the so-called “age of accountability” shaped how our culture thinks and talks about infant salvation? And how, given all that Scripture says about infant belief, can parents from conception onward begin passing on the faith to their prenatal and infant children?

Find a Pregnancy Loss Resources List downloadable PDF here.

#292. Adventures in Lutheranism (Homeschool Edition): Competitive Speech and Debate

Fri, 02 May 2025 08:45:00 -0500

“Hello, judges, my name is Rachel Bomberger, and I’ll be your next podcast speaker today. My timer is set for 0:00, counting. If all my judges are ready ...? Great. Then let’s begin ...”

In this Adventures in Lutheranism (Homeschool Edition) episode, Rachel introduces Sarah and Erin to the world of competitive speech and debate and shares the story of her own family’s ongoing involvement with the NCFCA Christian Speech and Debate.

Beginning with an overview of the various speech and debate events and what it’s like to attend a tournament in person, Rachel then answers Sarah and Erin’s specific questions (“How is this part of the kids’ education?,” “What's the craziest thing they've had to debate?,” and the like). At the end of the episode, she puts her cohosts on the spot and challenges them to an on-air impromptu speech round.

To learn more about the two most prominent Christian homeschool speech and debate leagues, visit the links below:

Correction: Since time of recording, NCFCA has announced that they will discontinue moot court in future seasons.

#291. Story Time with Sarah: Birgitte Katerine Boye

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 10:45:00 -0500

Birgitte Katerine Boye (1742–1824) was a prolific and accomplished Lutheran poet, hymnwriter, and playwright in her native Denmark. In this episode — part Story Time, part Hymn Sing, part ode to Scandinavian Lutheranism — Sarah shares her story with a world that has largely forgotten her.

In and around rabbit trails on Mahler’s Second Symphony, single-stanza festival hymns, and the wonderfully named Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, Sarah examines the life and hymnody of this extraordinary Lutheran lady, with a special focus on the three Boye hymn lyrics that have appeared in recent LCMS hymnals: “Rejoice, Rejoice This Happy Morn” (LSB 391), “He Is Arisen! Glorious Word” (LSB 488), and “Holy Spirit, God of Love” (TLH 230).

For further reading, check out the following resources:

#290. Our Favorites, Revisited: “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” Write This Challenge

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0500

We revisit a special devotional episode from Good Friday 2024 as we meditate on Christ’s death for our sins.

As an aid to Good Friday meditation and devotion, the Ladies welcome listener contributions in a “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) to read and ponder the text of the lovely new hymn stanzas this Good Friday.

Click to read more about “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” at hymnary.org.

#289. Book Club Wrap Up: The Anxious Generation

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 10:45:00 -0500

In this book club recap conversation, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel talk through one of the most talked-about nonfiction books of the year: Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.

How have our collective relationships with screen-based technologies and social media evolved since the early 2000s? What effects has this shift had on young people? How are Christian perspectives on both screen use and adolescence distinct from those of the secular world around us? What strategies can families employ to counteract the negative effects of what Haidt calls “the great rewiring”? Are there things that every Christian can do to help young people transcend a screen-based childhood and escape the “Anxious Generation”?

At the end of the episode, Rachel unveils this year’s pick for the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club summer read: E. Jane Mall’s classic fictional biography of Katharina Luther, Kitty, My Rib.

Click to read more from Jonathan Haidt, including the article on close-knit communities Sarah references in the episode.

#288. Party Planning Committee: Easter Feast! (Sharathon 2025)

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 10:45:00 -0500

It’s a party within a party (within a party?) as the Lutheran Ladies welcome special guest Tori Egger during Sharathon 2025 to talk about hospitality, sharing Christ’s love — and how to host one epic Easter Feast.

Tori Egger is a fellow Lutheran lady and mother of six. She frequently welcomes guests into her home on the campus of Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, where her husband (the Rev. Dr. Thomas Egger) serves as seminary president.

“Bringing people into your home —” she says, “opening your heart and your home to them — is just one way of showing Christ’s love to your neighbor. Once you can kind of catch that vision — that really, hospitality is sharing Christ’s love with your neighbor, with the saints around you who need it — you can find lots of really easy ways to do it.”

For more on how to host your own midnight Easter feast, check out Liv Booth’s recent article for The Lutheran Witness:

How to Host a Midnight Easter Feast – The Lutheran Witness

#287. Iron Ladle Challenge: Eggs!

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 10:45:00 -0500

This year (as eggs are currently selling for $4.95 a dozen on average), the pressure’s on to sustain beloved family traditions while also ensuring that none of those precious Easter eggs go to waste.

This sounds like a challenge for the Lutheran Ladies ...

In their latest Iron Ladle Challenge, Erin, Sarah, and Rachel are cooking with eggs — both raw and hard-boiled. Rachel offers a fresh take on the classic seven-layer salad with her nine-(or-ten?-)layer Cobb salad; Sarah whips up a Paleo-friendly, coffee- and cardamom-infused, almond-milk baked egg custard (from scratch!); and Erin digs deep into her own family history to serve up a literal golden oldie, Egg à la Goldenrod.

Spring is the air — and eggs are on the table — in this delectable episode.

Rachel’s Many Layered Cobb Salad

In an 11 x 15 pan, layer (in order):

1 head chopped iceberg lettuce
1+ cup chopped celery
1+ cup frozen baby peas, cooked and cooled
Dressing: 1(ish) pint mayonnaise, mixed with 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning
1+ cup thin sliced grape tomatoes
1 diced chicken breast (rotisserie, roasted, or fried)
5+ chopped hard boiled eggs
½ pound crumbled bacon
Shredded Colby-jack cheese to taste

(Optional extra layers: diced onions, chopped avocado; may substitute bleu cheese for Colby-jack.)

Dairy-Free Baked Egg Custard (from Sarah)

(paleopantry.org/dairy-free-baked-egg-custard-made-with-almond-milk)

600ml almond milk

1 vanilla pod (or 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract)

4 egg yolks, plus 2 whole eggs

3-4 tablespoons honey (to taste)

1 whole nutmeg, for grating

Preheat the oven to 150°C/300°F.

Pour the milk into a saucepan. Slit the vanilla pod in half length ways. Scrape out the seeds with the tip of the knife and add to the milk, along with the pod. Heat slowly over a gentle heat to just below boiling point, until you see small bubbles barely breaking the surface. Expect this to take at least 10 minutes, and stir frequently with a whisk or wooden spoon. Take off the heat. Fish out and discard the vanilla pod.

Whisk the eggs and honey until fully blended. Gradually pour the hot milk over the eggs in a thin stream, whisking constantly to prevent the hot milk from curdling the eggs. Keep whisking until fully blended. Push through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps.

Pour the custard into 4 ramekins with a capacity of at least 200ml, or one large dish – the recipe makes about 800ml. Finely grate the nutmeg, then sprinkle over the top (you may have more nutmeg than you need, but personally I go for a generous dusting).

Arrange the ramekins / dish in a deep roasting tray, leaving space around the sides. Pour in just-boiled water from the kettle, until it reaches half-way up the sides of the ramekins. Transfer to the lowest shelf of the pre-heated oven, where the heat is gentlest.

Check after 30 minutes for ramekins / 1 hour for a large dish. The custard should be just set. Test for doneness by giving a gentle shake – if there is a slight wobble in the centre of an otherwise solid mass then it is done, otherwise return to the oven and re-test in another 5 minutes.

Either leave to cool for 30 minutes and serve warm, or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to serve chilled. The custard will keep well for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. For best results, remove from the refrigerator half an hour before serving. For a refreshing breakfast, serve with tart berry fruits.

Note: Sarah substituted maple syrup for honey and extremely fine-ground cardamom coffee grounds for nutmeg.

Egg à la Goldenrod (from Erin)

Serves 3-4

½ c butter

½ c flour

1 t salt

1 t pepper

3 ½ c milk

5 eggs, hardboiled

Biscuits for serving (at least 6, but make 12)

Peel the eggs and remove the yolks, whole if possible. Reserve the yolks. Cut the whites into small, bite-size pieces.

Heat butter in a saucepan over low heat until melted. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly. Gradually add in the milk, stirring (yes, constantly). Once it is all incorporated, simmer and stir (!) for 1 minute. Mix in the egg whites.

Grate the egg yolks with a fine grater into a small serving dish. This is the Goldenrod!

Serve the egg gravy over biscuits. Top with the egg yolk Goldenrod and a sprinkle of paprika.

#286. Leading Ladies: Eden Keefe

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 07:45:00 -0500

The Ladies welcome “leading lady” Eden Keefe to the Lounge, as they continue to celebrate and learn from Lutheran women in notable positions of influence in the church and around the world.

Eden Keefe serves as president of Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML). Previously, she was mission editor for Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly and vice-president of Gospel Outreach for LWML.

Learn more about LWML at their website, or register here for this summer’s LWML Convention in Omaha, Nebraska.

#285. Party Planning Committee: PI(E) DAY!

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 10:45:00 -0500

It’s a savory smorgasbord of circular fun as the Lutheran Ladies convene the Party Planning Committee to celebrate Pi(e) Day in style.

Is March 14 actually a liturgical holiday? No. Do we at the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge just love pie (and also irrational, transcendental numbers)? You betcha.

Sarah gets the party started in dramatic fashion with a Big Question: What kind of oven is the best kind for baking? Electric? Gas? Convection? Gas convection? She has some thoughts — and so do lots of ladies in the Lounge.

Erin keeps things cooking with a mouthwatering recipe for chicken pot pie that can be scaled up or down for every occasion. (Scroll down to see her recipe and comments below.)

Finally, Rachel adds meaning to madness with a trivia challenge all about pie and pi.

“I just love pi,” says Rachel. “It humbles me deeply even to think about it. ... Enjoy your Pi Day. Eat some pie, but also: do some math. Because it’s marvelous.”

Erin's Chicken Pot Pie

Makes one 9x9 casserole dish

5-6 T butter
5-6 T flour
1/3 c chopped onion
½ t salt
¼ t pepper
½ t herbes de Provence
2 c chicken broth
1 c milk
11 oz cut up, cooked chicken
1 # frozen mixed vegetables
1 recipe crust (below)

Heat butter over low heat until melted. Mix in the flour, onion, salt, pepper, and herbs. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in the broth and milk, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute (still stirring!!). Stir in the chicken and frozen vegetables. Set aside.

Crust

350 g flour
1 t salt
2.5 sticks butter, sliced into small chunks
3 t celery seed
3 oz cold water (plus more as needed)

Combine about 225g flour (just eyeball about two-thirds of your flour), butter and salt in a food processor. Pulse 25 times. Add remaining flour. Pulse 5 times.

Turn out into a bowl and sprinkle with 3oz cold water. Combine with a spatula. Add more water sparingly, as needed, until it comes together.

Combine into 2 disks, one a bit larger than the other, and chill for at least 2 hours before rolling (ideally you will chill it, but if you need to get this made pronto, press on!).

Preheat oven to 425.

Roll out the larger portion into a rectangle big enough to fill an 9x9 casserole. You need to make it big enough to go up the sides. So depending on how deep your casserole is, you might need a bigger or smaller square. But start with around 13x13-ish. Lay the crust in the dish. It will drape over the sides a little bit.

Roll out the other portion of dough into a square about 11x11. Add the reserved filling and cover with the second portion of dough. Roll the edges under and flute. Cut a charming design in the top, or just poke it with a knife a few times, to allow steam to escape.

Bake, uncovered for 30-35 minutes, until it is browned and bubbling. It may take longer. You might need to protect the crust with foil, if it is browning but not yet bubbling.

Notes:

You can also use this recipe to make Mini Chicken Pot Pies! If you use 4-inch pie pans, you can make 10 miniature double crusts. You might need to adjust the filling quantity a bit (I forgot to make notes on that). Assemble in the same way as the full-size pie, heap the filling a bit. Cut a little heart on the top to make yourself smile a month from now when you eat this.

Freeze on a cookie sheet until frozen solid. Wrap each pie in plastic wrap and store in ziplock freezer bags- 4 will fit in a gallon bag.

To bake a mini pot pie, unwrap the plastic wrap and place on a baking sheet with some foil underneath (it might bubble over). Do not thaw; don’t wait for the oven to preheat, just put it in. You might need to protect the crust from over-browning. I usually start with the crust covered and then remove it midway. You could also do the reverse.

Bake in a toaster oven at 350 for 70 minutes with convection, until beautifully browned and bubbly. Let it cool for 5-10 minutes, so you do not destroy your tongue with the molten filling.

Learn more about the topics discussed in Rachel’s trivia segment by cruising Wikipedia entries for “pie” and “pi” and checking out these links:

#284. International Mission 101: The Origin Story

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 10:45:00 -0600

In this episode, Erin’s launching an exciting NEW series of episodes entitled “International Mission 101.” Beginning with the startling revelation that she is not, in fact, a full-time professional podcast host but rather a 25-year veteran of the LCMS Office of International Mission, Erin here shares her own mission origin story.

How did an unemployed physical therapist end up first as a missionary to Japan and then as a director of short-term missions at the LCMS? (You’ll just have to hear the story to believe it.)

As you listen, you may find yourself asking: How might God be calling me to mission service? If so, Erin ends the episode by sharing some ideas and opportunities.

Learn more at the links below about:

International Mission - The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
How you can serve: Missionary Service - The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Short-term mission opportunities: Serve Now - Mission service opportunities
Erin’s *other* podcast: 5 Minutes with a Missionary Archives - KFUO Radio
Coffee Hour episodes with missionaries: Short Term Mission Stories

#283. Rachel's Trivia Challenge: Lutherans in America (Part 1)

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 10:45:00 -0600

Put your thinking caps on, ladies! It’s time for another round of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge!

This time, Rachel’s spotlighting "Great Moments in the History of Lutherans in America.” Beginning with the age of exploration and going through the Colonial Era up to the formation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in 1847, she's quizzing Erin and Sarah on some of the lesser-known and more unexpected chapters in American Lutheran history.

Which explorer brought a Lutheran chaplain along on his quest to discover the Northwest Passage? Which American colony was actually founded by Lutherans? Did Lutherans fight more notably as Patriots or Tories in the Revolutionary War? What is a “Prussian Union,” anyway? And can either Sarah or Rachel say “Die Deutsche Evangelisch-Lutherische Synode von Missouri, Ohio und andern Staaten” without tripping over their own tongues?

Resources referenced in this episode include:

Jens Munk: An expedition ahead of its time | Canadian Geographic
Early History of American Lutheranism (Bible Hub)
Peter Stuyvesant’s relentless quest for order in New Amsterdam pushes Africans out of the church | A Journey through NYC religions
Henry Melchior Muhlenberg - Living Lutheran
Fighting Words | Christian History Magazine
Demagoguery or Democracy? The Saxon Emigration and American Culture (Rev. Dr. Larry Rast, Concordia Theological Quarterly)
Saxon Lutheran immigration of 1838–39 - Wikipedia
Die Deutsche Evangelisch-Lutherische Synode von Missouri, Ohio und andern Staaten – The Lutheran Witness (Rev. Roy S. Askins)
"History of Lutheranism" series with Rev. Dr. Larry Rast (The Coffee Hour on KFUO Radio)
"100 Years of LCMS Music History" series with Benjamin Kolodziej (The Coffee Hour on KFUO Radio)

#282. Sarah Goes to School: Time Management & Productivity

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:00 -0600

Class is back in session, 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 episode on focus and productivity, drawn largely from Michael Hyatt’s Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less, she covers how to:

STOP. This is where we Formulate, Evaluate, and Rejuvenate.
CUT. This is where we Eliminate, Automate, and Delegate.
ACT. This is where we Consolidate, Designate, and Activate.

“Putting some of these concepts into action has helped me so much with focusing my work and productivity – and letting go of the ‘hustle-productivity-do-all-the-things-at-once' culture,” says Sarah.

“We stress ourselves out about doing 'all the things’ and just need a reminder that it’s okay to not do 'all the things.’ We aren’t called to do that. We’re called to serve each other in love because we are forgiven children of God, and that in itself gives us a lot of freedom.”

#281. Kitchen Table Talk: Artificial Intelligence

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:45:00 -0600

The Rev. Dr. Scott Stiegemeyer is associate professor of theology and bioethics at Concordia University Irvine; previously, he served as parish pastor of congregations near Pittsburgh, Pa., and Chicago, Ill. In this Kitchen Table Talk conversation, Dr. Stiegemeyer answers pressing questions on AI (artificial intelligence) from an ethical and theological perspective.

How does God’s Word inform our perspective on artificial intelligence? How does AI require us to think deeply about what it truly means to be human? What is it about artificial intelligence that makes it scarier or more troubling for people than many technological innovations that have come before? From a Christian perspective, are there good, bad, and neutral uses for AI? Is AI evil?

" So I don't think we have the luxury of not grappling with because we live in the world, right? Think of it in terms of vocation, that we have a joyful obligation of freedom to serve our neighbor, to be a little Christ for someone else. And so if this thing could be damaging, we should care about how it may damage us and impact our ability to serve the Lord in numerous vocations."

#280. Iron Ladle Challenge: Super Bowl Snacks!

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:45:00 -0600

"Personal foul: lack of exciting Super Bowl snacks, on the party host. Fifteen-yard penalty. Repeat snack production."

Don’t want this party foul scenario to happen to you? Sarah, Erin, and Rachel are on your team, and they’ve got your back! In this week’s Iron Ladle Challenge, they’re offering a range of fun and tasty snacks that go way beyond pizza rolls and potato chips. From Rachel’s keto-friendly shrimp salad and no-rice sushi to Sarah’s Sweet Potato Chicken Poppers to Erin’s savory “Cheeseburger Dip ‘All the Way’,” these ideas will help you take your game day buffet to the next level.

From Erin:

Cheeseburger Dip “All The Way”

6 slices of bacon
1 small-medium onion, chopped fairly small
2 cloves garlic, minced
.5 lb ground beef
Salt and Pepper
16 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
8 oz cream cheese/Neufchatel, softened
Equivalent of 2 medium dill pickles, chopped
Good blop of mustard
Healthy squirt of ketchup

Cook the bacon until crispy. Drain on paper towels and then chop. Remove most of the bacon grease and reserve for another use. Return the pan to heat and sauté the onion. Once it is starting to turn golden brown, add the garlic and sauté for a couple more minutes. Transfer the onion mixture to a bowl, along with the chopped bacon.

Return the pan to heat and brown the ground beef, breaking it up well. Season it with salt and pepper. Once it is browned (not just cooked, you want some of that good Maillard browning!!!!!), transfer to the bowl with the onions. If your beef is very fatty, you can drain some of that off first.

Add the cheddar cheese and cream cheese. Stir to combine. Heat this mixture, stirring frequently- either on the stove top, in the microwave, or in a crockpot. As the cheese melts, mix in the pickles, mustard and ketchup.

Taste it. What does it need more of? Add that.

Serve with tortilla chips.

Note: you could sub ground turkey for the ground beef. If you do that, you should use more of the reserved bacon grease.

Additional Recipes from Erin:

Sardine Rillettes - Little French Bakery

Anchovy Butter - The Two Bananas

From Sarah:

Sweet Potato Chicken Poppers - Unbound Wellness

Maple Roasted Almonds - From It's A Veg World After All

From Rachel:

Keto Shrimp Salad Bites - Healthy Little Peach

No-Rice Low-Carb Sushi

Thinly spread a one-inch strip of cream cheese on a sheet of nori.

Add toppings to taste (preferably cut longwise):

Leg-style imitation crab meet
Avocado
Cucumber spears
Green onions
Shrimp salad (see recipe above)
Get creative!

Carefully roll the toppings in the nori, using another dab or two of cream cheese to seal the edge if needed. Let sit for a few minutes for the nori to soften. Cut into generous (two-inch or so) slices — too thin and they’ll fall apart. Serve with soy sauce and wasabi.

#279. Book Club Wrap Up: Jane Eyre

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 10:45:00 -0600

Rachel leads Sarah and Erin in a lively romp through their latest Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club selection, Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre.

What does this book written by a woman about a woman surrounded by women teach us about what it means to be a woman? How comfortable are we really with Jane and Rochester's May/December, boss/employee romance? How well do the book’s many religious moments and messages fit within a Lutheran worldview? What difference does it make in a person’s life to know how to forgive others — quickly, freely, and completely?

At the end of the episode, the Ladies announce their next book club pick: Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.

#278. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Beginning of Service Hymns

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 10:45:00 -0600

At the beginning of this new calendar year, Sarah’s celebrating beginnings — specifically those hymns in the “Beginning of Service” section of Lutheran Service Book. These classic favorites may sometimes go unnoticed and unappreciated, sitting as they do at the very back of the hymnal, but there’s nothing unlovable about them.

Hymns covered in this episode include “Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty (LSB 901), LSB 902 “Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now” (LSB 902), “Come, Thou Almighty King” (LSB 905), “O Day of Rest and Gladness” (LSB 906), “God Himself Is Present” (LSB 907), and “Christ Is Our Cornerstone” (LSB 912).

Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group members click here to view and participate in our ongoing poll!

Learn more about the Friedenkirchen (“Churches of Peace”) discussed at length in the episode here.

Hear musicians from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Saint Charles, Missouri, perform "Lord, We’ve Come This Day to Worship” (the dark horse hymn of the episode) on YouTube.

#277. Bri's Radio Theatre: The Four Magi Road Trippin'

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 10:45:00 -0600

There's a star in the East, and Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar — together with their newfound friend and hanger-on Trish (who has just completed her "spiritual road trip certification") — are on an epic journey to worship the Christ child in the manger.

Will they opt for meaningful and traditional gifts (gold, frankincense, myrrh), or impulse buy the adorable onesie instead? Will they fall for Herod's duplicity, or decide that he definitely doesn't "pass the vibe check"? And will Trish lead the whole party astray at the first Chick-fil-A sign she sees?

Former co-host Bri Gerzevske (along with her hilarious alter ego, Trish) is back for an all-new Epiphany Radio Theatre sketch: "The Four Magi Road Trippin'."

Disclaimer: This episode is satire, Trish is a fictional character, and we already know our script probably wouldn't pass LCMS Doctrinal Review on the first try. Enjoy.

Click to browse previous episodes of Bri's Radio Theatre.

#276. Wild Card: A Glimpse into History with Mrs. Kretzschmar

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 10:45:00 -0600

“ You have told a story that no other living person could have told us.”

This Wild Card episode is a glimpse into KFUO Radio’s rich 100 years of history with audio from KFUO’s 25th Anniversary in 1949. KFUO Host Elmer Knoernschild interviewed Certified Lutheran Lady Mrs. Kretzschmar, who was the wife of one of KFUO’s founders, the Rev. Dr. Richard Kretzschmar. In this conversation, she shared her memories of those very early days of KFUO Radio and how the Lord made this dream of a radio ministry a reality.

“Dr. Maier very often has something to say about that meeting that we were in. I said, oh yes, that day I thought you were both dreaming. He said, I thought that myself.”

“That's right, but it was a dream that came true. The Lord saw to that.”

Find more KFUO history at kfuo.org/100.

#275. Our Favorites, Revisited: Prayer with Dr. Kleinig

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 10:45:00 -0600

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 originally from February 23, 2024, 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:

For further listening, check out our Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club discussion of Wonderfully Made.

#274. Our Favorites, Revisited: Christmas Carol Trivia

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:45:00 -0600

How well do you know your favorite holiday songs? We're revisiting an episode of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge—all about Christmas carols!

Which beloved Christmas Eve hymn originally referenced Baby Jesus’s curly hair? Which carol writer once posed as the Virgin Mary for a famous pre-Raphaelite painting? Which faux medieval ballad is regularly sung at Boar’s Head Festivals around the country? And the trickiest question of all: which Christmas carol is Sarah’s all-time favorite (today)?

A lightning round at the end challenges listeners to identify carols based only on the title or first line of the song in its language of origin.

Click through to listen to previous Rachel’s Trivia Challenge episodes.

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!

#273. Christmas Poetry Slam, Better Than Ever

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:45:00 -0600

Five years after their first Christmas Poetry Slam in 2019 (routinely “regifted” ever since), the Ladies have finally picked up their pens to write a fresh batch of poems for the holiday season.

And this time, they have help.

Joining Sarah, Erin, and Rachel in the Lounge are authors Katie Schuermann and Lisa Clark. Together, they share original Christmas poems ranging from psalms of lament to epic odes to hilarious parodies. Whether you cry or laugh (or do both at once), you’ll almost certainly be inspired to make poetry a more regular part of your holiday celebrations.

Katie Schuermann is a household name in many LCMS circles, beloved for her cozy novels (among them, our summer book club pick The Saints of Whistle Grove) and for her nonfiction books including He Remembers the Barren and Pew Sisters. Click to visit Katie’s website or browse her books from Concordia Publishing House, Kloria Publishing, and Emmanuel Press. Download the music for her poem "The Last Shall Be First" here.

Lisa M. Clark is an editor at Concordia Publishing House and the author of devotions, picture books, Bible curricula, Christmas programs, young adult novels — and literally hundreds of original hymn texts. Click to browse Lisa Clark’s books at Concordia Publishing House.

#272. Story Time with Sarah: KFUO Radio Turns 100

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:45:00 -0600

“Once upon a time, in a city far, far away (otherwise known as St. Louis), a few men with a big dream and even bigger prayers began a radio ministry that would last the test of time for 100 years ...”

In a major milestone for Lutheran broadcasting, KFUO Radio (home of the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge podcast) is celebrating 100 continuous years on the air this month. In this trivia-rich Story Time episode, Sarah relates key moments from a century of audio excellence.

From its launch in a drafty attic studio to its Lutheran Hour glory days to a landmark 1998 legal victory for religious liberty, KFUO’s history has been marked by boldness, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to the Gospel.

To learn more about KFUO’s history and current programming, check out ...

For more information about the early history of radio broadcasting in America, visit ...

#271. Kitchen Table Talk: Individual Confession & Absolution

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 10:45:00 -0600

Chaplain Sean Daenzer joins Sarah, Erin, and Rachel for another Kitchen Table Talk conversation — this time on the theological hot topic of individual Confession and Absolution.

What is individual (or private) Confession and Absolution? What biblical basis and historical basis is there for this practice? How did Luther (in the Small Catechism) recommend it be done? How does Lutheran Confession and Absolution differ from the more culturally familiar Roman Catholic version of the rite? Why did Lutherans largely abandon this historic practice — and why is it seeing a resurgence today? Who can benefit from it? And how, exactly, does individual Confession and Absolution even work, practically speaking?

Discover more biblical teaching and preaching from Chaplain Sean Daenzer in the KFUO Radio archives.

Find the Small Catechism at catechism.cph.org.

#270. Leading Ladies: Deaconess Dr. Kim Schave

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 10:45:00 -0600

In a special Leading Ladies crossover with Sarah Goes to School, Sarah welcomes Deaconess Dr. Kim Schave for a conversation on leadership, vocation, and psychological safety. What is psychological safety in the workplace, and what happens when organizations do or don't practice it? How can ministry leaders incorporate psychological safety in faith-based environments?

Deaconess Dr. Kim Schave is Director of MBA and MSBA Programs and Assistant Professor of Accounting at Concordia University Wisconsin & Ann Arbor Schools of Business. She was previously executive director of Humanitri in St. Louis and Director of Project and Policy Administration with the LCMS.

#269. How to Lutheran: EXTREME FELLOWSHIP!!!

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:45:00 -0600

For most of us, the word “fellowship” brings to mind coffee and donuts on Sunday after church — or perhaps a monthly church potluck or seasonal Lenten soup supper.

For certain intrepid Lutherans, however, “fellowship” can mean much more than that.

In this episode, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel are highlighting and celebrating examples of EXTREME FELLOWSHIP!!! in Lutheran churches. From paintball tournaments to fashion shows, indoor camping to triangle dinners to ninja toilet treats (trust us: you’ll just have to listen to understand this one), Lutherans are, it turns out, pros at finding fun and creative ways to spend time together as the body of Christ.

And then, of course, there’s the most extreme act of fellowship of all: the Lord’s Supper.

Resources referenced in this episode include the following:

Communities That Confess: How the Church Confesses Christ in a Culture of Isolation – The Lutheran Witness by Joel Biermann
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

#268. Adventures in Lutheranism: Church Choir

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:45:00 -0600

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! (Psalm 98:4). In this Adventures in Lutheranism episode, Rachel shares her recent experience joining a new-to-her church choir.

Beginning with a brief foray into the history of sacred choral music — from ancient Greece to Garrison Keillor and beyond — she then examines the physical and mental health benefits of singing in groups and ponders the long decline of church choirs (even as choral singing in general has been on the rise). She invites Sarah and Erin to relate their own experiences with church choirs before sharing her personal choral history up to the present day. At the end of the episode, she airs interviews with each of her four children, who confirm that church choir is absolutely for all ages.

Sources cited in this episode include:

#267. Iron Ladle Challenge: Party Mix!

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 10:45:00 -0600

In 1952, Ralston Purina first published a recipe for its now-famous Chex™ party mix as an advertisement in Life magazine. Although few people now make Chex™ mix (or any party mix) from scratch — especially since the advent of a pre-packaged version in 1985 — in this Iron Ladle Challenge, Erin, Sarah and Rachel are bringing back homemade party mixes.

With fun add-ins like Goldfish crackers and Sriracha, a preponderance of butter, and cups (and cups) of dry cereal, these fresh takes on classic recipes will inspire both nostalgia and creativity — just in time for the holiday season.

Erin’s Spicy Sweet Tropical Party Mix

Makes enough to fill 1 extra-large jade green Tupperware container (274-12) from the 80’s.

Combine in a very large bowl:

9 c assorted Chex™ cereals

3 c Bugles

2 c lightly salted peanuts

1.5 c small pretzels

2 c banana chips

Heat in a small saucepan:

12 T butter

6 T Worcestershire sauce

½ c honey

½ c sriracha

1 t garlic powder

2 t salt

When the butter is melted, transfer to a jar with a secure lid and shake well to fully combine the WORSHUSHER and sriracha with the melted butter. Pour the about a third of the liquid gold over the dry ingredients and stir gently, but thoroughly. Pour another portion of the tasty goodness over the cereal and such and stir. Finally, pour the last of the molten flavor over the crunchy bits and stir well, but don’t crush the mixture.

Spread the buttery mix onto two large cookie sheets. Bake at 275° for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. After 45 minutes, stir once more and increase to 325° and bake for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool. The mix will crisp up as it cools. It will fit perfectly in your grandmother's big green Tupperware container.

Optional: if your party people enjoy spice, you can sprinkle on some chili powder or cayenne when it finishes baking. But use caution. There are no takebacks with cayenne.

Rachel's Kid-Friendly Party Mix

View this image of the original Chex™ Mix on the Wheat Chex™ box!

The Original Chex™ Party Mix | Nuts and Bolts Snack Mix Recipe

Adjustments:

Remove peanuts and/or mixed nuts. Half of my kids don’t see the point. Replace with Goldfish crackers.
Add 1 cup parmesan crisps. (So good, especially when baked with Worcestershire sauce.)
Replace bagel chips/rye chips with oyster crackers (regrettably), since my local grocery doesn’t sell these items separately from premade party mixes.*
Note for next time: Increase the butter. Maybe even double it.

*This wasn’t as tasty as I thought it would be. If I do this again and still can’t find bagel chips, I’ll just swap in an extra cup of Chex™, or try a different add-in altogether.

Sarah's Puppy Chow Party Mix

My inspiration is from this recipe from Bon Appetit: bonappetit.com/recipe/puppy-chow-party-mix

Yield Makes about 5 quarts (YES FIVE QUARTS)

Ingredients

1 12-ounce box Rice Chex™ cereal (about 10 cups)
7 ounces bittersweet chocolate (70% cacao), chopped (about 1¼ cups)
¾ cup creamy peanut butter
¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter
1½ teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2½ cups powdered sugar, divided

Add-ins

2 cups rye chips
2 cups butterscotch chips
2 cups thin pretzel sticks

Directions

Place cereal in a large bowl. Heat chocolate, peanut butter, butter, and salt in a medium heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water (do not let bowl touch water), stirring, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal and toss with 2 spoons or spatulas until coated. Let cool slightly, about 10 minutes.

Transfer cereal mixture to a large clean bowl (so powdered sugar doesn’t absorb into chocolate coating from original bowl). Sift ½ cup powdered sugar through a fine-mesh sieve onto cereal, coating entire surface. Toss to coat. Repeat 2 more times.

Transfer cereal mixture to 2 parchment-lined sheet trays, spreading evenly. Sift ½ cup powdered sugar over both trays (do not mix). Chill 2 hours or let sit at room temperature overnight (break into individual pieces, but leave some clumps, if sitting out overnight).

Transfer cereal mixture and powdered sugar from sheet trays to a large clean bowl and toss to coat. Sift remaining ½ cup powdered sugar over and toss to coat again. Add rye chips, butterscotch chips, and pretzels; toss to combine.

Do Ahead: Puppy chow can be made 2 days ahead. Store in an airtight container at room-temperature.

#266. Book Club Bonus: Pastor Matthew Harrison & Johann Gerhard

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 10:45:00 -0500

The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison is president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. His published works include At Home in the House of My Fathers, A Little Book on Joy, and an English translation of Johann Gerhard’s Meditations on Divine Mercy — recently featured as the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club’s 2024 Reformation read.

In this episode, Pastor Harrison tells the stories behind this little book — both Gerhard’s story as author and his own as translator. Who is Johann Gerhard, and why is he one of the great Lutheran theologians? Which of Gerhard’s meditations does Harrison keep revisiting in his own prayer life, and why?

At the end of the episode, Erin takes the opportunity to ask Pastor Harrison some more personal questions: Who are the most important women in his life? What are the coolest things he’s gotten to do as president of the LCMS? Who is the person who keeps him most humble?

Get to know both Gerhard’s Meditations and President Harrison more deeply in this warm and personal interview.

Click to listen to our recent book club wrap-up episode or order your own copy of Gerhard’s Meditations on Divine Mercy.

#265. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Epic Hymnwriter Commemoration Day

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 10:45:00 -0500

On October 26, the church commemorates THREE notable Lutheran hymnwriters: Philipp Nicolai, Johann Heermann, and Paul Gerhardt.

Hold onto your hymnals, friends: this Hymn Sing with Sarah episode is a harmonious hymn fest in triplicate.

Hymns featured in this episode include:

“Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying”
“O Morningstar, How Fair and Bright”
“O Christ, Our True and Only Light”
“O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”
“I Will Sing My Maker’s Praises” (PDF from CTSFW: ctsfw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/LSB-977-I-Will-Sing.pdf)

To learn more about these and other beloved hymnwriters, check out Hymnary.org or the monumental Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns from CPH. For readers seeking a more compact treatment, CPH also offers Eternal Anthems: The Story behind Your Favorite Hymns in two volumes.

#264. Book Club Wrap Up: Johann Gerhard’s 'Meditations on Divine Mercy'

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Sarah, Erin, and Rachel “close the book” on their latest Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club discussion with this episode on Johann Gerhard’s Meditations on Divine Mercy, translated by the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison.

Can a 400-year-old prayerbook help Lutherans grow in their faith today? How can we more faithfully structure and prioritize our prayers to make the most of every moment before the throne of God? And how can such a tiny book take such a lot of time and effort to get through?

At the end of the episode, the Ladies announce their next book club pick: Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.

#263. Bri's Radio Theatre: Trish Finally Debuts Her Podcast Ideas

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Who says Lutherans don’t have a sense of humor?

Beloved Lounge alum Bri once again visits the podcast — this time as her hilarious alter ego “Trish,” who “after, like, three years” of calls and emails has finally scored a meeting with Sarah, Erin, and Rachel to pitch all her best podcast episode ideas.

Will Trish’s pitches on “canning the fruits of the Spirit” or “forging handmade spiritual armor” find an eager audience? Will the Ladies decide to cover the “Emoji Standard Version” of the Bible? And what exactly does it mean to be the graduate of an “accreditedited” online spiritual memes certification program?

Disclaimer: This episode is satire, Trish is a fictional character, and none of the URLs or Instagram accounts mentioned in the episode are real. Enjoy.

Click here to read movie reviews by Pastor Ted Giese (mentioned in the episode) or to enjoy previous Bri’s Radio Theatre episodes.

#262. Leading Ladies: Julianna Shults

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Sarah, Erin, and Rachel welcome Julianna Shults to the Leading Ladies interview series, in which they seek to celebrate and learn from Lutheran women in notable positions of influence in the church and the world.

Julianna Shults is a fellow Lutheran lady and rostered Director of Christian Education (DCE), currently serving as program manager of resources and leadership for LCMS Youth Ministry. Previously, she served in congregational youth and family ministry and at the helm of the LCMS’s Lutheran Young Adult Corps. She is co-author of Relationships Count: Engaging and Retaining Millennials and Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry (CPH), and she co-hosts the KFUO podcast End Goals.

Click to learn more about LCMS Youth Ministry, the LCMS Youth Gathering (registration opens November 1), or the End Goals podcast from KFUO.

#261. Sarah Goes to School: Wildly Important Goals

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Class is back in session, 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 episode on achieving “wildly important goals,” she covers how to:

Identify and focus on life goals that are “wildly important” — and worth going after wholeheartedly
Act on “lead measures” of progress while tracking that progress through “lag measures”
Keep a “compelling scoreboard” to help you visualize and celebrate every small achievement
Create a “cadence of accountability” to keep you honest, on pace, and moving forward

“If you made ONE change in behavior, habits, schedules, what would it be that changes the course of your life?” Sarah challenges Erin and Sarah in this episode, adding later, “This is supposed to be a winnable game, but also a really high-stakes game.”

To dig more deeply into the material covered in this episode, check out The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling.

#260. Five Years Later: A Game Show Party!

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 10:45:00 -0500

September 20, 2019: The first-ever Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge episode dropped.

FIVE YEARS LATER ...

September 20, 2024: The Ladies are celebrating a milestone birthday party!

In this five-year anniversary episode, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel challenge each other in their own versions of vintage television game shows.

Rachel quizzes Erin and Sarah in a Lounge-themed homage to “The Newlywed Game” —“The Co-Host Game!” Sarah then stumps Erin and Rachel to guess their “Password”-inspired clues on “Mystery Word.” Finally, Erin takes sweet, spicy, cabbage-flavored revenge with a series of wacky minigames a la “I Survived a Japanese Game Show.”

Laugh along at home as the Ladies celebrate the show’s wooden anniversary in style.

To revisit the show’s previous anniversary episodes, click below:

#259. Kitchen Table Talk: Voting as Lutherans with Dr. Joel Biermann

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 10:45:00 -0500

The Rev. Dr. Joel D. Biermann is the Waldemar A. and June Schuette Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and author of several books, including Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play (new from CPH) and Wholly Citizens: God's Two Realms and Christian Engagement with the World (Fortress).

In this lively and insightful Kitchen Table Talk conversation, Dr. Biermann answers timely questions on how to live, talk, think, and vote faithfully as a Christian citizen.

Can Christians (in good conscience) opt out of the voting process? If we are to vote, how do our Lutheran doctrines of vocation and the “two realms” inform our civic engagement? What pitfalls should we try to avoid as we engage in party politics and the democratic process? Can Christians still vote their consciences when there don’t seem to be any truly good or godly choices on the ballot?

To learn and think more about this topic, subscribe to Dr. Biermann’s YouTube channel, or check out his recommended follow-up read, Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis by James Davison Hunter.

#258. Rachel's Trivia Challenge: Sunday School

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 10:45:00 -0500

As Lutherans young and old head back to Sunday school this fall, Rachel wants to know: How much do you really know about the history of Sunday school?

It’s a Trivia Challenge for the back-to-school season, full of eye-opening factoids about the roots of Christian education in the church.

Where and when did the first “Sunday school” begin? What did pastors originally think about this ecclesial innovation? Why were Lutherans late — but enthusiastic — adopters of Sunday school for young people? And what on earth is a FLANNELGRAPH?

Resources referenced include:

Related episodes:

#257. Erin's One Question Interview: Suicide

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 10:45:00 -0500

“What should we be talking about that we’re not?”

That’s the starting prompt for every installment of “Erin’s One-Question Interview.” While the answers to this question may change, the quality of these vital, hard-hitting conversations remains the same.

In this episode, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel welcome special guest Cassie Moore into the Lounge to talk about one of the thorniest and most uncomfortable topics of all: suicide.

What do Lutherans really believe about suicide? Why are we so afraid to talk about it? How can we better engage in the sacred work of suicide prevention among hurting young people?

Cassie Moore is an author, speaker, LCMS youth ministry veteran, and fellow Lutheran lady. She is author of Authentic Youth Ministry: Straight Talk about Working with Kids, Teens & In-Betweens and creator of the webinar series From A to (Gen) Z: The Church and the Digital Generation with Concordia Publishing House. Learn more about her work at CassieAHMoore.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling, know that help is available. Call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org. You are not alone. Jesus loves you, and so do we.

Resources referenced in this episode include:

Resilient Minds - Christ-Centered Mental Health Curriculum (cph.org)
Home - youthESource — free youth ministry resources
I Will Grieve for the Suicide (lcms.org) — free ebook by the Rev. Peter Preus
Word Of Hope (word-of-hope.org) — Lutherans for Life deaconess hotline
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Call. Text. Chat. (988lifeline.org)
QPR Institute | Practical and Proven Suicide Prevention Training QPR Institute (en-US)
Mental Health First Aid

#256. Party Planning Committee: St. Monica Day!

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 10:45:00 -0500

According to Lutheran Service Book, the commemoration of St. Monica falls on August 27 each year. But who exactly is St. Monica? And how does one celebrate her? To answer these questions (and more), the Party Planning Committee is back!

Monica, mother of St. Augustine of Hippo, is remembered today as an example of faith, patience, and godliness in the face of complicated family relationships.

In this episode, Rachel briefly tells Monica’s inspiring life story before suggesting an appropriate menu and party plan befitting the saint’s fabled austerity — featuring vegetable porridge, bread, water, loud weeping, and all-night prayer vigils. Thankfully, Erin and Sarah intervene with a much more festive set of ideas, including Erin’s original recipe for St. Monica buns (see below) and Sarah’s home-grown party games: pin the collect on the saint, “Aqueducts and Leviathans” (a fun “Shoots and Ladders” spinoff), and, of course, a hymn sing.

St. Monica's Buns

Recipe by Erin Alter

Makes 12 buns (can easily be doubled)

Dough

½ c (117 ml) milk, any kind, lightly warmed

1 ¼ t (½ packet) instant yeast

2 T (25 g) granulated sugar

¾ t salt

1 large egg

4 T (57 g) butter, softened

1 ¾ c (227 g) flour

Filling

3 T packed brown sugar

¼- ½ t cinnamon

Scant 1/8 t ground ginger

Good pinch of salt

2 peaches, pitted and diced

Garnish

Milk

Turbinado sugar

Whisk together warm milk, yeast, sugar, and salt a large bowl. Whisk in eggs. Add softened butter, chunked up. Use Danish dough whisk to incorporate flour. Stir vigorously for the duration of one of your favorite songs (ideally 4-6 minutes; the song will help it go faster). The dough will be smooth but still extremely sticky. This is proper.

Transfer the whole mess into an oiled bowl big enough to hold it when doubled. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, and from here there are two possible schedules:

Method 1: Let the dough rise at room temperature until it just shy of doubles, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Transfer dough to the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days. It is impossible to work with this dough when still at room temperature; don’t even try.
Method 2: Let the dough rise in the fridge a minimum of 8 hours, and up to 2 days. It will be just about doubled when it comes out.

From this point, you are now back on the same track, regardless of your rising method. Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease a muffin tin. Combine brown sugar, spices, and salt. Mix in the diced peaches. Set aside to get juicy.

On a well-floured counter, divide the dough in quarters, and then divide each quarter into 3 pieces, so you have 12 pieces of dough.

Roll each piece of dough into a ball. On a well-floured counter, use a rolling pin to flatten it out into a circle, ~ 4 inches wide. Add flour as needed to keep it from sticking. Work fairly quickly, so the dough doesn’t get too warm.

Holding the circle of dough in your palm, add two heaping spoonful’s of the peaches to the center. Gather the edges of the dough up around the sides, forming a little nest. Nestle the nest into the muffin tin and repeat. If you have extra peaches at the end, you can see if there are any buns that you could scoop a little more into.

Brush the dough edges with a little milk and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.

Bake for 16-18 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly. Let cool at least 5 minutes before removing from the muffin tin and serving.

Optional: Serve with crème fraiche.

Note: If you add extra peaches to a bun, don’t let the peaches heap up over the dough much at all. If you do, they will probably overflow in the oven and you will have delicious buns that are very, very sticky to eat and an extremely messy pan to clean. And non-overflowed buns are just as delicious, and much more pleasant to eat.

Crème Fraiche

Combine 1 c heavy whipping cream with 1 heaping T sour cream in a container with a tight fitting lid. Shake for 15 seconds (don’t turn this to butter!). Leave it on the counter for 24 hours, covered. Stir it 2-3 times during that time. It will become thickened (similar to yogurt, but not nearly as thick as Greek yogurt) and delicious. Note: If your kitchen is too cold, it won’t thicken.

Resources referenced:

Accounts of St. Monica:

Recipe for Roman puls porridge:

Romans in Britain - Recipe for Puls Fabata (Fava bean porridge) (romanobritain.org)

Recipe for Roman bread:

How to make Roman bread: a Roman bread recipe (vita-romae.com)

Aqueducts and Leviathans!

Want to play a fun game of Aqueducts and Leviathans? Download the PDF Aqueducts and Leviathans Board Game here!

#255. Leading Ladies: Elizabeth Pittman

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Sarah, Erin, and Rachel welcome their second guest — Elizabeth Pittman — to the Leading Ladies interview series, seeking to celebrate Lutheran women in notable positions of leadership or influence in the church or the world.

Elizabeth Pittman is director of public relations for Concordia Publishing House and host of the CPH podcast. In this episode, Elizabeth tells her story: from high-profile PK to law school graduate to Capitol Hill staffer to wife and mother and publishing professional. Along the way, she offers special encouragement to women who are struggling with work-life balance, seeking to exercise their leadership skills in an out-of-the-spotlight way, or striving to use their voices in a winsome, faithful way in the public sphere.

To hear more from Elizabeth Pittman, check out the CPH podcast at CPH.org or on YouTube, and browse CPH’s latest new releases here.

Revisit our first Leading Ladies interview with Teresa Todd here.

#254. Rachel's Big Question: How should I educate my kids?

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Inspired by the August issue of The Lutheran Witness on education, Rachel's asking a (really) Big Question:

How should I educate my kids?

It’s a quandary that arises regularly for many families, especially at this time of year — and rightly so. We love our kids and want them to be well equipped to take our places as leaders in the church, their families, and society at large. While the law of the land requires young people to receive at least a basic level of education in subjects like math, English, science, and social studies, Scripture also encourages parents to be intentional about raising their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” How can we as Lutherans navigate these often conflicting sets of priorities and choose the educational options that work best for each family?

Getting vulnerable and sharing her own family’s labyrinthine educational story, Rachel carefully examines the pros and cons associated with a variety of different schooling options and offers practical, Gospel-centered takeaways for anxious families.

To find an LCMS school near you, check out the school locator at LCMS.org.

Click to learn more about:

Homeschool laws in your state via the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) website
Classical options through the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education
Saint Paul’s Lutheran School (boarding school in Concordia, Missouri)
Wittenberg Academy (online LCMS classical school)

Revisit Bri’s Big Question episode on “Does Lutheran education make you a Lutheran?” and listen to other Big Question conversations at KFUO.org.

#253. Iron Ladle Challenge: CORN!

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Q: Why shouldn’t you tell secrets in a cornfield?

A: Because the corn has ears!

It’s a “cornival” of craziness as Erin leads Sarah and Rachel in an all-new Iron Ladle Challenge celebrating the joys of "corn culture" (or “corny culture”) in midsummer.

Still can’t get enough corny goodness? Check out this adorable music video on YouTube.

Erin's Confetti Corn Salad

Vegetables:

2 cans corn, drained
1 small green pepper, chopped
2 green onions, sliced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 large tomato, chopped

Dressing

1 Tablespoon lemon juice
3 Tablespoons mayo

Directions

mix dressing
toss with salad
add pepper to taste

Rachel’s Corn Chowder

(Measurements are all approximate.)

Dice ½ yellow onion and ¼ green pepper. Sautee in 2 T butter in a heavy pot over medium heat until soft.

Peel, wash, and dice 3 or 4 medium potatoes. Add to pot with water or chicken broth to barely cover.

Add *either* 2 cans creamed sweet corn or 1 quart garden corn from the freezer.

Add salt and pepper (and chicken bullion in place of broth) to taste.

Simmer until potatoes are soft.

Add 2-4 cups whole milk and return to low simmer. (Be careful not to boil after this point.)

Thicken in one of two ways (or both together):

Melt ¼ cup butter and 2 T all-purpose flour in a small skillet and stir slowly into chowder.
Use potato masher to mash some of the potatoes to release the starch.

Serve with crusty buttered bread.

Sarah's Cowboy Salad

Mix together:

Cowboy Caviar Salsa (Trader Joe's)
Lettuce
Shredded cheese
Taco-spiced beef
Any other fun salad ingredients because there are no rules.

Sarah just loves cornbread

Betty Crocker recipe with lots of variation: bettycrocker.com/recipes/traditional-cornbread-recipe/8990e15c-fc1d-4a8d-b8b3-4b37f45eca49

#252. Story Time with Sarah: The Wives of J.S. Bach

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Johann Sebastian Bach — whom the Lutheran church commemorates on July 28 — was not a Lutheran lady ... but his two wives sure were!

In this Story Time episode, Sarah introduces us to the two wives of J.S. Bach: Maria Barbara Bach (1684–1720) and Anna Magdalena Bach (1701–1760). Between them, these faithful, capable Lutheran women bore Bach 20 children (ten of whom lived to adulthood; four of whom grew up to be composers like their father) and supported the composer throughout the long and fruitful years of his illustrious musical career.

For further reading:

A helpful guide to Bach’s many children:

https://www.classicfm.com/composers/bach/guides/children/

And just for fun (for anyone surprised to find that Barbara is a German name):

Barbaras Rhubarb Bar (feat. Marti Fischer) (youtube.com)

#251. Book Club Wrap Up: The Saints of Whistle Grove

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Author and fellow Lutheran lady Katie Schuermann joins Rachel, Sarah, and Erin in a recap discussion of the latest Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club selection, The Saints of Whistle Grove.

In a book full of memorable Lutheran characters, which are the most lovable? The most frustrating? How does identifying with a problematic character help us identify and own up to our own faults and frailties? What can we learn from the story of a legacy Lutheran congregation about what it means to be members of Christ’s church? How do the tombstones in our cemeteries bear witness to our hope of resurrection?

At the end of the episode, the Ladies introduce the next Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club read: Johann Gerhard’s Meditations on Divine Mercy, translated by Matthew C. Harrison. Order the book at CPH.org.

To learn more about Katie Schuermann and her work, visit katieschuermann.com.

#150. Sarah Goes to School: Making Decisions

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 08:45:00 -0500

Class is back in session, 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 episode on responsible decision-making, she covers:

Why pro-con lists aren’t necessarily the be-all-and-end-all of decision-making tools
How to recognize and defeat the “Four Villains of Decision Making” — narrow framing, confirmation bias, short-term emotion, and overconfidence
How widening your options first can help you avoid decision-making pitfalls
Why preparing to be wrong can increase the odds of a right decision

“If you’re a human person, you have to make decisions. That’s just life,” Sarah says. “At the end of the day, people want to know the process for making change was fair and their input was appreciated."

To dig more deeply into the material covered in this episode, check out Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.

#249. Our Favorites, Revisited: Hymns for the Nation

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 08:45:00 -0500

Happy (Belated) Independence Day! To celebrate in a very "Lutheran Lady" way, we're revisiting a favorite episode from 2022 all about hymns for the nation.

The third hymn in the Nation and National Songs section, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was featured in the Hymns Sing with Sarah episode for Black History Month.

Read all 101 additional verses for “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” in this PDF from alliedmerchantnavy.com.

To learn more about these and other hymns in Lutheran Service Book, check out CPH’s two-volume set Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns.

#248. Write This: Devotional Psalms

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 09:45:00 -0500

Inspired by the upcoming 2024 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music (July 9–12), the Ladies are turning their attention to the book of Psalms. In the last episode of this five-episode series, they welcome listener submissions in a new “Write This:” creative challenge, this time showcasing original psalms.

Building on their earlier conversation with Sarah Reinsel about the poetry of the Psalms, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel read and discuss 13 listener submissions and share their own psalmic poetry.

Featuring contributions from fellow Lutheran ladies including ...

Lisa M. Clark
Lauren Schaidt
Melissa Hecht
Joanna Lee
Becky Rohde
Jean Engebritson
Erin Forsberg
Hannah Pennell
Kelly Nava
Katrina Jurica
Lisa Rhonemus
Annette Skibbe
Alli Bauck

#247. Iron Ladle Challenge: Food in the Psalms

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Inspired by the upcoming 2024 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music (July 9–12), the Ladies are turning their attention to the book of Psalms. In the fourth of a five-episode series, Erin, Sarah, and Rachel attempt Psalm-inspired menu planning in a new twist on the Iron Ladle Challenge.

From the “apple of your eye,” to “manna from heaven,” from “wine to gladden the heart of man” to “burnt offerings of fattened animals” — and beyond — the Psalms are full of food references. Can the Ladies find them all and suggest a range of recipes that celebrate both the beauty of the Psalms and the goodness of the Lord?

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

— Psalm 34:8

Recipes mentioned:

8"x8" wall print of Psalm 4:7

Download the 8"x8" wall print of Psalm 4:7 here.

5"x7" card of Psalm 4:7

Download the 5"x7" card of Psalm 4:7 here.

Download the 5"x7" card of Psalm 4:7 (with bleeds) here.

5"x7" card of Psalm 104:14-15

Download the 5"x7" card of Psalm 104:14-15 here.

Download the 5"x7" card of Psalm 104:14-15 (with bleeds) here.

#246. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Psalm Paraphrases

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Inspired by the upcoming 2024 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music (July 9–12), the Ladies are turning their attention to the book of Psalms. In the third of a five-episode series, Sarah turns her attention to Psalm paraphrases in a special Hymn Sing episode.

Lyrics featured in this episode include hymns by Isaac Watts (“Joy to the World,” “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need”), Martin Luther (“A Mighty Fortress,” “Out of the Depths”), Joachim Neander (“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”), Johann Gramann (“My Soul Now Praise Your Maker”), and many more.

Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group members: visit our ongoing poll in the group to vote for your favorites and see how they rank.

Resources referenced in the episode include:

#245. Wild Card: Poetry In The Psalms

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Inspired by the upcoming 2024 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music (July 9–12), the Ladies are turning their attention to the book of Psalms. In the second of a five-episode series, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel welcome fellow Lutheran lady Sarah Reinsel (LCMS writer, editor and former English teacher) to the Lounge to talk about the literary beauty of psalmic poetry.

What makes literature literature and poetry poetry? Are the Psalms poetry? What universal and uniquely Hebrew poetic devices do we see in the Psalms? What do we gain by learning to appreciate their literary beauty more deeply?

At the end of the episode, the Ladies introduce an all-new “Write This:” challenge — write your own psalm. Submit your original work by June 12 to be included in our online recap: https://forms.office.com/r/yJCNbUErwN

To learn more, check out the following:

Sarah Reinsel is a staff writer and editor for LCMS Communications. She studied English at Hillsdale College and earned her master's in medieval literature from the University of St. Andrews. Find an archive of Sarah’s LCMS online articles here.

Need inspiration? Check out or revisit these authors and poets recommended by Sarah Reinsel during the episode:

Augustine of Hippo
William Shakespeare
John Donne
George Herbert
Gerard Manly Hopkins
Czesław Miłosz

#244. Kitchen Table Talk: The Psalms, and Why We Love Them

Fri, 31 May 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Inspired by the upcoming 2024 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music (July 9–12), the Ladies are turning their attention to the book of Psalms. In the first of a five-episode series, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel welcome Chaplain Sean Daenzer back to the Lounge for a Kitchen Table Talk conversation on the theology of Psalms.

How are the Psalms structured (and why is this important)? Where do we find the Gospel in the Psalms — and the Psalms in the Gospel? What can we learn from the Psalms about how to rejoice in — and lament to — the Lord? How has the church used Psalms in its worship throughout history? How can we get the most out of reading the Psalms devotionally?

To learn more, check out the following:

#243. Leading Ladies: Teresa Todd

Fri, 24 May 2024 10:45:00 -0500

In this episode, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel introduce a new interview series: Leading Ladies, a celebration of Lutheran women in notable positions of leadership or influence in the church or the world.

Their first guest in this series is Teresa Todd, fellow Lutheran lady and wife of Chaplain (RDM) Gregory N. Todd, who currently serves as the 28th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy. Chaplain Todd previously served as the 20th Chaplain of the Marine Corps and the tenth Chaplain of the Coast Guard. Over 32 years as a chaplain spouse, Teresa has supported her husband through a variety of Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard assignments, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and chaplaincy work at Ground Zero in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

In this episode, Teresa tells her story, shares her wisdom, and offers encouragement to ministry and military wives everywhere.

Click to learn more about LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, listen to Chaplain Todd on KFUO’s The Coffee Hour, watch a recent television interview with him on The 700 Club (starting at the 11:00 mark), or hear a Story Time with Sarah episode on military chaplaincy in American history.

#242. Rachel's Trivia Challenge: Church Feasts, Festivals, and Ordinary Time

Fri, 17 May 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Following up on her earlier foray into liturgical calendar trivia last Advent, Rachel here offers “The Church Year, Part 2.”

Tackling Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, Ordinary Time, Michaelmas, saints’ days, the Last Sunday, and more, Rachel quizzes Erin and Sarah with 16 questions ranging from easy to expert level. Will Rachel manage to stump her smarty-pants cohosts? Will they be able to stop laughing long enough to remember whether or not Athanasius wrote the Athanasian Creed? Find out in the latest installment of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge.

“I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: humans need holidays,” Rachel reminds us. “ We need feasts and fasts and seasons to break up the monotony of our days. The church calendar gives us that, and we’d be fools not to accept the gift. Because when we let our holy-days go, we find ourselves with a string of ho-hum secular holidays instead.”

Select sources referenced in this episode:

#241. Adventures in Lutheranism: The Altar Guild Part 2 – Life Hacks

Fri, 10 May 2024 10:45:00 -0500

Altar Guild ladies ... this one’s for you!

Following up on Rachel’s historical tribute to the Altar Guild last year, Sarah’s continuing the conversation with an all-new Adventures in Lutheranism episode spotlighting Altar Guild life hacks.

“Part of the beauty of serving on Altar Guild is passing knowledge and wisdom from one generation to the next,” says Sarah, “and I’m leaning all into that wisdom today.”

From removing wine and lipstick stains from purificators to washing glass communion cups to troubleshooting oil candles — and beyond — this episode comes crammed full of practical tips for tending the altar of God.

#240. Bri's Radio Theatre: The Women Announce Book Club!

Fri, 03 May 2024 10:45:00 -0500

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.

#239. Book Club Wrap Up: Little Women

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 07:45:00 -0500

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!

#238. Sharathon 2024: The Confirmation Party Planning Committee!

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 10:45:00 -0500

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:

Learn more about Sharathon 2024 and give now at kfuo.org/sharathon.

#237. Sarah Goes to School: What's Your Genius? Teamwork in the Body of Christ

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 10:45:00 -0500

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.

#236. Iron Ladle Challenge: HAM-ERGENCY! Leftover Ham.

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 10:45:00 -0500

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.

#235. Write This: "O Sacred Head" Hymn Stanzas

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:45:00 -0500

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.”

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.

#234. Story Time with Sarah: Justine Siegemund, Groundbreaking Midwife

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 10:45:00 -0500

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

#233. Mother + Daughter: The Magnesses

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 10:45:00 -0500

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.

#232. How to Lutheran: Table Prayers

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 10:45:00 -0600

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:

#231. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Trusting the Lord

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:45:00 -0600

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

#230. Kitchen Table Talk: On Prayer with Dr. John Kleinig

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 10:45:00 -0600

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.

For further reading, check out the following books by Dr. Kleinig, which were referenced in the episode:

For further listening, check out our Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club discussion of Wonderfully Made.

#229. Rachel's Trivia Challenge: Saint Valentine's Day ♥

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:45:00 -0600

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:

#228. Sarah's Big Question: Does Pineapple Belong on Pizza?

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:45:00 -0600

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.

#227. Iron Ladle Challenge: Frugal Meals

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 10:45:00 -0600

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)

#226. Book Club Wrap Up: George Herbert's 'The Temple' with Dr. Erik Ankerberg

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 10:45:00 -0600

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.

#225. Sarah Goes to School: Understanding Others, Personal Values, Difficult Conversations

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 10:45:00 -0600

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!

#224. One Question Interview: Caregiving with Amy Scholz

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:45:00 -0600

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).

#223. Our Favorites, Revisited: Epiphany Hymn Sing!

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 08:45:00 -0600

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.

Music: Heinrich Isaac, c. 1450-1517. Public Domain. Improvisations by organist and performer Jacob Palmer. Used with permission.

#222. New Year's Eve Wishes and Prognostications for 2024

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 08:45:00 -0600

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.

#221. Bri's Radio Theatre: A Visit from St. Martin

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:45:00 -0600

“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.

#220. Write This: Christmas Carols

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 10:45:00 -0600

In honor of the Christmas season, the Ladies are welcoming listener contributions to a new “Write This:” creative challenge, this time featuring original Christmas carol lyrics to familiar tunes.

What makes a Christmas carol different from a Christmas hymn? Can you set a Christmas hymn to the tune of “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”? Why are timeless and original Christmas carol lyrics SO HARD to write? And which intrepid Lutheran lady listeners rose to the challenge?

Referenced in this episode:

#219. Party Planning Committee: Saint Lucia Day!

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 09:45:00 -0600

In honor of St. Lucy’s Day on December 13, the Party Planning Committee is back: this time with tips and tricks for holding your own Saint Lucia Day celebration.

While Saint Lucia (Anglicized: Lucy) is not celebrated everywhere in Lutheran tradition, she is accorded a spot in Lutheran Service Book’s list of church year commemorations—largely due, no doubt, to her outsized place of honor in Scandinavian Lutheran tradition.

After taking a few moments to answer the question: “But isn’t that Catholic?” Rachel borrows Sarah’s story time privileges to share “Twas the Night Before the Diocletian Persecution: The (Mostly) (Maybe?) True Story of Lucia of Syracuse.” Sarah then discusses popular celebratory traditions and introduces several versions of a Sankta Lucia folk song, and Erin brings the conversation to a warm and tasty conclusion with a delectable tray of traditional St. Lucia buns. (See recipe below.)

Deep in the northern sky bright stars are beaming

Christmas is drawing nigh, candles are gleaming.

Welcome they vision rare, lights glowing in thy hair

Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!

Child of the holy light, banish the dark of night

Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!

Many thanks to Rev. Weslie and Kristina Odom and their children for the Swedish rendition of the Sankta Lucia folk song.

For more history and folklore, read about Saint Lucy on her Wikipedia page and the global Saint Lucy celebrations on their Wikipedia page.

Additional music for this episode from Grand_Project at pixabay.com/users/grand_project-19033897.

St. Lucia Buns

Adapted from: simplyrecipes.com/recipes/st_lucia_saffron_buns

Makes 14-20 buns

Ingredients:

¾ c milk (175ml)
½ t turmeric
¼ cup (50g) sugar
1 packet active dry yeast (.25 oz) (check the expiration date on the package to make sure it's still good!)
3.5-4 cups (490g to 570g) all-purpose flour
½ t salt
½ t ground cardamom
4 T butter, just melted
¼ c sour cream
2 eggs, beaten

Finishing:

1 egg, beaten
Raisins (optional: soak them in warm water to plump them up first)
Sugar (turbinado is especially nice)

Directions:

Heat milk, turmeric, and half of the sugar, just until the sugar is dissolved. Let the mixture cool until it is warm to the touch, NOT hot.
Sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk, stir briefly, and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.
In a large bowl, whisk 3.5 c (490g) flour, remaining sugar, salt, and cardamom. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the yeasty milk, 2 eggs, butter, and sour cream. Mix until most of the flour is incorporated.
Turn the dough out onto a flour-sprinkled counter and knead. Add more flour, little by little, as needed, until the dough is still a little sticky to the touch, but does not completely stick to your hands.
Oil the dough ball and place in a large bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.
Divide the dough into 14-20 portions. Roll each portion into a long snake. Curl the ends in opposite directions, spiraling into an "S" shape.
Place on a lined baking sheet. Cover and place in a warm spot until the buns double in size, 30-60 min.
Preheat over to 400° F. Brush each bun with egg wash. If using raisins, place them in the middle of each spiral. If using sugar, sprinkle it on each bun.
Bake at 400° F for 10-11 min. Turn halfway through cooking to ensure even browning, until the buns are light golden brown.

Eat warm! They are best freshly baked.

Notes:

You can do one or both rises in the fridge, overnight or while you are at work. For the first rise, just make sure the bowl is well covered. For the second rise, make sure the pan is well covered, but also that there is room for the buns to rise. I used an oiled sheet of foil to cover for the second rise, so that I could give it a little extra room. In each case, if you have time let the refrigerated dough sit in a warm place a bit to take some of the chill off before moving on.

#218. Rachel's Trivia Challenge: The Church Year, Part 1

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 09:45:00 -0600

Happy New Year! As we prepare to celebrate the first Sunday of Advent this week — and with it, the beginning of a new church year — Rachel takes the opportunity to quiz Sarah and Erin on the finer nuances of the liturgical calendar, focusing here on the festival seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, and Easter.

What are the three “advents” of Christ that we look for in the weeks before Christmas? Which came first: Christmas or Epiphany? What on earth is Gesimatide (and why don’t most Lutherans observe it anymore)? Why do Orthodox Christians celebrate the Resurrection on a different Sunday from the rest of the church?

Find answers to these questions and more in this merry romp through the first half of the church year — and watch for a follow-up Trivia Challenge covering the rest of the church year (“ordinary time”) in the spring.

Sources referenced in this episode:

#217. Kitchen Table Talk: Transgenderism, Sexuality, and God's Design for Humanity

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 08:45:00 -0600

The Rev. Dr. Scott Stiegemeyer is Associate Professor of Theology and Bioethics at Concordia University Irvine; previously, he served as parish pastor of congregations near Pittsburgh, Pa., and Chicago, Ill. In this Kitchen Table Talk conversation, Dr. Stiegmeyer answers burning questions about gender identity and sexuality in biblical Lutheran perspective.

What is gender? Is it real? Who gets to define it? How do we define gender vs. Sexuality (or is it even “versus” situation)? What does the Bible teach us about gender and sexuality? What makes our current cultural moment so panic-inducing for biblical Christians? How can Lutherans guard young people from false teaching about gender identity — and lovingly speak God’s truth about the beauty of his plan for sexuality to those around them?

“The male / female binary within humanity is beautiful, it's good, and it's true,” says Dr. Steigemeyer. “We should marvel at how God has created us to be and that [our marriage relationships] can be fruitful and ... self-giving.”

Resources referenced in this episode include the following:

Wonderfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body by the Rev. Dr. John Kleinig*
Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters by Abigail Shrier
“Learning about Sex” series from CPH
Sexuality Mentality: Creating a Culture of Biblical Integrity by Heather Ruesch*
Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow
The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory by Abigail Favale
Friends for Life podcast season 2 (on Gender and Sexuality)

*For further listening, check out our Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club discussion of Wonderfully Made and our One-Question Interview with Heather Ruesch.

#216. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Tell the Devil to Get Lost!

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 10:45:00 -0600

In honor of St. Michael and All Angels, Halloween, and the End Times readings for the last Sundays of the church year, Sarah’s offering “spiritual warfare ammo” in the form of hymns that rebuke the devil in Jesus’ name.

Lyrics featured in this Hymn Sing episode include “A Mighty Fortress” (LSB 656/657), “O Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe” (LSB 666), “Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure Eternal” (LSB 533), “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It” (LSB 594), and Sarah’s favorite hymn of all: “Jesus, Priceless Treasure” (LSB 743).

Loaded with Scripture, hymn lyrics, and the stories behind some of the hymnals most hopeful and defiant hymns, this conversation will help listeners better confess, as Martin Luther famously did:

“When the devil throws our sins up to us and declares we deserve death and hell, we ought to speak thus: ‘I admit that I deserve death and hell. What of it? Does this mean that I shall be sentenced to eternal damnation? By no means. For I know One who suffered and made a satisfaction in my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Where he is, there I shall be also.’”

Hear the full story of "God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It" in the Baptism Party Planning Committee episode.

Find the Lutheran Service Book: Psalms and Hymns Pocket Edition and Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns from Concordia Publishing House.

#215. Iron Ladle Challenge: Thanksgiving Stuffing!

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 10:45:00 -0600

Thanksgiving is coming — and that means it’s time once again to put on our eating pants and enjoy some delicious “hot fat carbs.”

In this Iron Ladle Challenge, the Ladies discuss and share favorite recipes for what they consider the ultimate comfort-food Thanksgiving side: stuffing.

Do we call the dish “stuffing” or “dressing”? Should stuffing actually be stuffed into an uncooked turkey? Should it be served hot or cold — and if hot, how do you keep it warm while the rest of the feast bakes? Which is better: yeast bread or cornbread stuffing? What are the best add-ins to ensure the most savory, palatable, and memorable side dish?

And can Erin and Rachel agree to disagree about their very different approaches to "savory bread pudding”?

Erin's Stuffing with Everything

Ingredients:

1 lb. sliced bread, cut into cubes, and toasted in a 375 oven
1 lb. bulk sausage- Italian, breakfast, garlic herb, your choice OR 1 lb. bacon lardons
6 T butter, divided
2 c onion, chopped
1 c celery, chopped
1 t dried thyme
.75 t salt
.5 t pepper
1/8 t cloves (or a good sprinkle)
2 med/lg apples- sweet tart variety, small bite size pieces
.5 c parsley, minced
.75 c pecans, toasted (set a timer so they don’t burn in the oven! Start checking at 5 min)
.75 c dried fruit- cherries are especially good
1 c stock- plus more

Directions:

Brown the sausage (or bacon lardons) in a large skillet. Once it is well browned, remove it to a very large bowl and strain off fat, if there is an excess. Alternatively, decrease the butter, if your fat is especially tasty.

Add half the butter to the pan and sauté the onions and celery until tender. Add the thyme, salt, pepper, and cloves. Combine well then remove to the bowl. Add the remaining butter and the apples to the pan and sauté until tender. Be sure to scrape up any good brown bits with the juice released from the apples. Add the apples to the bowl.

To the sauteed ingredients, add the toasted bread cubes, parsley, pecans, and dried fruit. Toss well to thoroughly combine. Then drizzle 1 cup of stock over the mixture and toss Even More Thoroughly.

If possible, let the stuffing mixture rest for an hour (or refrigerate for a couple of days). Before cooking, test a few bread cubes to see if they need more stock. They should be chewy and delicious- not soggy and not tough. Stop testing now. It will be even more delicious after baking, if you can even believe it.

Heat the oven to 350. Put the stuffing into a buttered 9x13 casserole dish. Cover with foil so it doesn’t dry out. Bake ~25 minutes then remove foil and bake uncovered for 15 minutes until brown and crisp and glorious.

Sarah's "Bossard Family Stuffing"

1 box of Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Classic Stuffing
Prepare according to directions. Don't skimp on that butter, folks. Chill stuffing.
In the meantime, chop apples (gala are great) and walnuts (get the whole ones and crack them open if you want!), and gather raisins, all to taste. When the stuffing is chilled, add ingredients and combine. Return to refrigerator until ready to eat!

Rachel’s Out-of-the-Bag (and Out-of-the-Can) Stuffing

Sautee half a diced onion in a generous dollop of butter until almost carmelized.
Add fresh chopped sage and thyme to taste.
Add a cup or so of chicken broth and the juice from two cans of whole oysters. And also, if you like, more butter. :)
Bring liquid to a boil and add one bag of Pepperidge Farm Country Style stuffing.
Cover, remove from heat, and let sit five minutes.
Fold in oysters (chopped or not) and transfer to buttered baking dish.
Bake at 350 degrees to desired toastiness.

#214. Wild Card: Postpartum Mental Health (PMAD)

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 07:30:00 -0500

Nadine Grayl is a licensed clinical social worker, a trained deaconess, a pastor’s wife, a mom of three, and a fellow Lutheran lady. She’s also a survivor of postpartum depression who now has a passion for helping and treating other women suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

Between one in five and one in seven pregnant and postpartum mothers suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders — yet many of these women suffer in silence, ashamed of their feelings, frightened of their intrusive thoughts, and too troubled and weak even to reach out for help.

In this interview, Nadine shares her own story and offers a wealth of personal and professional insights to help Lutheran women better understand, identify, and help those facing a range of postpartum mental health challenges.

Resources referenced in this episode include:

Postpartum.net and the Postpartum Support International helpline: 1-800-944-4773
Mom and Mind podcast
The Wellness Pod podcast
This Isn't What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression by Karen R. Kleiman and Valerie Davis Raskin
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers by Karen Kleiman and Molly McIntyre
Beyond the Blues: Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression & Anxiety by Shoshana S. Bennett and Pec Indman

#213. Sarah Goes to School: Leadership, Relationships, and Character

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 10:45:00 -0500

Sarah’s going back to school — and we all get to go with her!

In this episode, the Ladies inaugurate a new series on the podcast: “Sarah Goes to School.” Drawing on study notes from her graduate courses at Concordia University Irvine’s Townsend Institute for Counseling and Leadership, Sarah shares what she’s learning about organizational leadership, vocation, character, and how relationships really work.

“If you take away anything from all of this, this is it: When in doubt, be present with people,” says Sarah. “It’s so important for people to feel like they have people who are ‘for them,’ even if you disagree with them.”

Click here to learn more about CUI’s Townsend Institute for Counseling and Leadership.

#212. Book Club Wrap Up: Extra Nos - Discovering Grace Outside Myself

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 10:45:00 -0500

Author and musician FLAME joins Rachel, Sarah, and Erin in a recap discussion of the latest Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club selection, Extra Nos: Discovering Grace outside Myself.

The show bounces back and forth between host questions and reader questions (submitted via the Book Club Facebook event page).

How did FLAME become FLAME? How does a theological biography differ from an ordinary life story? What can we learn from FLAME’s journey from charismatic evangelicalism through Calvinism and into a profoundly Lutheran confession? How did faithful women play a vital role in that journey? And what’s coming next for one of Lutheranism’s most exciting recording artists?

At the end of the episode, the Ladies introduce the next Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club read: George Herbert’s The Temple. (Read along with Rachel in the Penguin Classics edition here.)

To learn more about FLAME and his work (including albums, podcasts, and other projects), visit Extra Nos Academy, check out the Extra Nos Academy YouTube channel, or follow FLAME314 on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).

Order the book at CPH.org.

#211. Rachel’s Big Question (Part 2): Modesty, AKA What Should I Wear?

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 10:45:00 -0500

It’s a question every Lutheran woman — indeed, nearly every human being on the face of the planet — gets to ask every single day. And in part two of her Big Question episode, Rachel’s once again asking it on air:

What should I wear?

Rachel begins by interacting extensively with a blog post by Reformed Evangelical writer Mary Kassian entitled “Does God Care What I Wear?” The Ladies then discuss common pitfalls Christians face when talking about modesty: body shaming, victim blaming, double standards, purity culture, hypocrisy, and more. Sarah, Erin, and Rachel each share their own “personal dress codes” and explain how they make decisions about how to dress and how not to dress. Finally, the Ladies head back to Scripture for a Christological, eschatological big-picture understanding of what it means to be eternally clothed in Christ’s righteousness in our Baptism.

ICYMI: Check out part one of this conversation here.

#210. Rachel's Big Question (Part 1): Modesty, AKA What Should I Wear?

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 10:45:00 -0500

It’s a question every Lutheran woman — indeed, nearly every human being on the face of the planet — gets to ask every single day. And in this Big Question episode, Rachel’s asking it on air:

What should I wear?

Beginning with a Wikipedia-level introduction to who wears clothes and why, Rachel then plunges into a range of relevant Scripture passages — Genesis 3, Isaiah 61, Ezekiel 16, 1 Peter 3, and 2 Timothy 1, among others — and revisits the writings of Early Church Fathers including Clement of Alexandria and Cyprian of Carthage. Together with Erin and Sarah, she explores ancient social customs from China to Greece and the history of female fashion from Helen of Troy to Mother Teresa, highlighting especially the extreme and unprecedented evolution of modesty norms that took place throughout the 20th century.

Towards the end, each of the Ladies shares her own story, exploring how from an early age she has had to navigate the tension between fashion and modesty — between showing off and covering up — as a Christian woman.

Stay tuned for part two of this conversation on modesty in the next episode.

#209. Iron Ladle Challenge: Best of the Bars Tournament!

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 10:45:00 -0500

Our intrepid kitchen scientist Erin wanted to know: Which is the undisputed queen of dessert bars on the Lutheran potluck table?

So, using Maximum Science™, she took to Facebook to help her find out. Beginning with a call for nominations that resulted in dozens of entries, she whittled the list of competitors down to eight, then used a series of polls to determine the ultimate winner. Throughout all seven Facebook polls, Lutheran ladies worldwide watched anxiously to see which dessert would be named “Best of the Bars.” Would it be the decadent 7 Layer Bars? The outsider Strawberry Pretzel Dessert? The upstart Jam Shortbread Bars? Or would that faithful classic — Lemon Bars — win the day at last?

In this Iron Ladle Challenge, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel enjoy a play-by-play of the Tournament of Bars, and each shares her own favorite bar recipe — for cranberry-almond shortbread bars, lemon bars, and peanut butter bars, respectively.

Cranberry Almond Shortbread Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. (Might work better at 375, depending on your oven.)

Shortbread:

Mix until well-combined:

2 cups blanched fine almond flour
4 Tbs olive oil (the more flavorful, the better!)
4 Tbs maple syrup (or honey)
pinch of salt
2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Oil a small baking dish ( i.e. 7x5, 8x8, etc.). Pack dough into the dish, making sure it's evenly spread. Bake in oven about 20-25 minutes, until the edges are golden and the middle is no longer soft.

Cranberry sauce!

In a medium saucepan, mix:

1 bag of fresh or frozen cranberries (I use from frozen almost exclusively.)
3/4 cup water
2/3 cup maple syrup

Cook on high heat, stirring frequently, until the cranberries begin to pop or separate. Turn down heat and mash the cranberries. Turn off heat and let cool before serving. Store in the fridge!

Serving options:

Put a layer of cranberry sauce on top of the bars for the last 10 minutes or so of the bake time to make more solid cranberry layer.
Keep shortbread and cranberry sauce separate and let people layer their own!
Make fresh cranberry sauce and mix a little gelatin in before layering on top to make a more solid cranberry layer.

*PRO TIPS:

This burns very quickly! Keep a careful watch once the edges start to darken.
It will likely not be done as soon as you smell it, like other baked goods. They will likely need 3-5 more minutes after you start to smell them.
Do not layer fresh cranberry on completely done bars and let them sit for a long time. The cranberry will soak in and become mush!

Peanut Butter Fingers

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cream together:

½ cup softened butter
½ cup white sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar

Beat in:

1 egg
1/3 cup peanut butter
½ tsp. vanilla

Separately, mix:

1 cup flour
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt

Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until well combined. Finally, mix in:

1 cup rolled oats

Spread in greased 9x13 pan and bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes. As soon as the pan comes out of the oven, sprinkle evenly over the bars:

1 cup chocolate chips

After 5-10 minutes, when chocolate chips are melted, use the back of a metal tablespoon to spread the melted chocolate smoothly over the pan, up to within about ½ inch of the crust. Allow chocolate to cool and firm before cutting bars into rectangles.

Haley Hazen's Grandma Ebeling LEMON BARS: A 4-STAR RECIPE

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix and press into a 9x13 pan:

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Mix and pour on top of baked crust:

2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1/4 cup flour
6 Tbs lemon juice

Bake again at 350 for 15 minutes.

"BE SURE TO USE BETTER, NOT MARGARINE." These are wise words.

#208. Our Favorites, Revisited: Mardi Gras!

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 10:45:00 -0500

Inspired by Bri’s Greatest Hits and the 200th episode of The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel are each revisiting their own favorite episodes from the past four years of podcasting.

This week, Sarah looks back (laughing) at her all-time-favorite Trivia Challenge, in which she got to show off her rarefied knowledge of how to spell “pączki.”

It’s Episode 22: Rachel’s Trivia Challenge—Mardi Gras

From the original show notes:

How much do you (think you) know about the cultural and theological underpinnings of Mardi Gras? Test your knowledge in the latest edition of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge!

Learn more about the meanings of some of Mardi Gras’s many names, what Luther said (or maybe didn’t say) about the festival, how to spell the name of a popular Polish pastry, and the real reason Christians celebrate at this time of year. (Hint: it’s not pancakes.)

To dig deeper into a few of the sources mentioned in the show, check out Pr. Bryan Wolfmueller’s blog post on Luther and fasting, the Oma Way blog on German fastnacht traditions, and Bob Scribner’s article “Reformation, carnival, and the world turned upside down.”

#207. Our Favorites, Revisited: Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 10:45:00 -0500

This week, Erin revisits an unforgettable conversation with Elizabeth Entenmann, recorded in October 2021 to commemorate Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

It’s Episode 105: Erin’s One Question Interview

From the original show notes:

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and in this installment of Erin’s One-Question Interview, the Ladies welcome Elizabeth Entenmann as she shares the heartrending story of her personal experience with pregnancy loss.

Beginning with two first-trimester miscarriages and culminating in the tragic loss of her near-term son Rocky, Liz’s honest and open account provides a touching reminder to the Church that pregnancy loss may be closer than we might think—but that God’s love and mercy are always closer still.

#206. Our Favorites, Revisited: The Great Jell-O® Episode!

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 09:45:00 -0500

This week, Rachel takes us back to May, 2020—the height of the pandemic lockdown—remembering with appreciation an episode that not only brought laughter to lonely days but also epitomized a classic feature of Lutheran life and fellowship.

It’s Episode 34: The Great Jell-O® Episode.

From the original show notes:

In this special extended installment of Erin’s Recipe Card, the Lutheran Ladies pull out recipes old and new as they prepare and taste test an eclectic range of variations on that iconic Lutheran potluck staple: Jell-O® salad.

Whether you prefer your gelatin sweet or savory or somewhere in between, unadorned or crammed full of flavors and textures, barely sweetened or knock-your-socks-off sugary, you’re sure to encounter a recipe here that tickles your fancy.

#205. Bri's Greatest Hits #5: The Lutheran Ladies' Aid Brigade on April Fool's Day

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 10:45:00 -0500

As Bri Gerzevske prepared to leave The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge after nearly four years as a cohost, she took a little stroll down memory lane, revisiting and recording new intros for five of her all-time favorite episodes.

It’s Bri’s Greatest Hits — #5 BONUS. The Lutheran Ladies’ Aid Brigade

In this April 1, 2022 episode, Anthems of Zionauthor Katie Schuermann joins Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel for a Bradbury-inspired episode to celebrate April Fool’s Day.

“We are fools for Christ’s sake …” (1 Cor. 4:10a)

This episode was written by Katie Schuermann and is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and songs are either products of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events or places or works of art is coincidental.

Inspired from the Anthems of Zion series of books © Katie Schuermann, published by Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. www.cph.org. To order the titles in this series, please contact Concordia Publishing House at 800-325-3040 or visit them online at cph.org.

To find these books and more, visit katieschuermann.com.

#204. Bri’s Greatest Hits #4: Financial Peace University Radio Theatre

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 09:15:00 -0500

It’s Bri’s Greatest Hits — #4. Financial Peace University Radio Theatre

In this August 2022 episode, Bri and the Ladies explore fiscal responsibility and ways to spend wisely during tight financial times through five brief comedy sketches inspired by Dave Ramsey’s popular Financial Peace University program. While Financial Peace has great merit to bring people out of debt, Bri takes this opportunity to poke fun at its lack of sound theology, Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps “that sometimes have adult feet,” and the ridiculous lengths one might go to for their financial goals.

In the end, though, Bri reminds the Ladies that our financial status doesn’t determine our salvation.

Find Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University from Ramsey Solutions and explore his Seven Baby Steps. And if you need a budget, check out You Need A Budget.

New to Bri’s Radio Theatre? Listen to past episodes here.

Bri's Greatest Hits #3: The Walther League

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 10:45:00 -0500

It’s Bri’s Greatest Hits — #3. The Walther League

In this December 2021 episode, Sarah explores the rise and fall of the Walther League, spotlighting the many people and organizations—Walter A. Maier, the We Raise Foundation, and the National Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Association among them—who trace their roots back to this energetic (if occasionally unorthodox) association of Lutheran young people.

From its earliest beginnings in 1893 till its final meeting in 1968, the Walther League was a major force and rite of passage in Lutheran life. This juggernaut youth organization—named for LCMS founding President C.F.W. Walther—brought young adults together for worship, education, service, recreation and fellowship. It also forged new generations of Lutheran leaders and served as the unofficial “marriage bureau” of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, bringing untold numbers of marriage-minded young people together in holy matrimony.

To learn more, check out Jon Pahl’s book Hopes and Dreams of All: The International Walther League and Lutheran Youth in American Culture, 1893-1993.

#202. Bri’s Greatest Hits #2. I Don’t Want to Have the Prayer

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 09:45:00 -0500

It’s Bri’s Greatest Hits — #2. I Don’t Want to Have the Prayer

In this November 2020 episode, Rachel lead Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a book club recap discussion of Karen Kuhlmann Averitt’s memoir I Don’t Want to Have the Prayer: A Messy Pastor’s Kid Does Her Memory Work.

The show opened with a special guest appearance by the author herself, joining the Ladies to answer listener questions about the book submitted via Facebook. It then continued with a more in-depth conversation covering key questions raised by the book.

Click to learn more about Karen Kuhlmann Averitt’s I Don’t Want to Have the Prayer or to browse a complete list of books by Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge authors.

#201. Bri’s Greatest Hits #1. Slaw Yeah!

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 09:45:00 -0500

It’s Bri’s Greatest Hits — #1. Slaw Yeah.

In this “Erin’s Recipe Card” episode, which first aired in July 2020, Erin introduced Sarah, Bri, and Rachel to a tangy twist on a summertime favorite: Cowboy Coleslaw. Rachel may have started out a little skeptical of this complex concoction (combining apples, grapes, dill pickles, onions, and stone-ground mustard), but Bri went wild for it, even creating an epic power ballad to coleslaw on the spot.

Visit the original episode show notes for Erin’s recipe.

#200. Write This: 200 Episodes, 31 Hymn Stanzas, 1 Tribute to Faithful Women

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 10:45:00 -0500

It’s our 200th episode — and to celebrate, our faithful Lutheran Ladies (and their faithful listener friends) are creating new stanzas for Herman Stuempfle’s hymn “For All the Faithful Women” (LSB 855).

Featuring 31 original lyric tributes — to Anna, Esther, the Hebrew midwives, Tirzah, “that Proverbs 31 woman,” and Lutheran women everywhere — these new stanzas are sure to inspire laughter, tears, and a new appreciation for your sisters in Christ.

#199. Book Club Wrap Up: That Hideous Strength

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:45:00 -0500

In this Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club recap episode, Rachel leads Sarah and Erin in an epic conversation of C.S. Lewis’s That Hideous Strength.

What broad cultural trends did Lewis notice and write into this still-eerily-relevant novel that are still bearing fruit even today? How can his insights about how worldly organizations function help us build godly Christian communities? What can we learn about spiritual warfare — especially how to recognize, faithfully resist and even combat the evils of our own day? And what’s the deal with Merlin?

Listen till the end to hear an announcement of the next Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club pick: FLAME’s Extra Nos: Discovering Grace outside Myself (brand new from CPH).

#198. The Party Planning Committee: A Farewell Extravaganza

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 09:45:00 -0500

In this bittersweet episode, the Ladies throw a surprise farewell party for Brianne Gerzevske, who, after four years of faithful service, is leaving the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge.

Beginning with “Top 10 Moments in Bri-story,” the festivities continue with a custom Mad-Lib, a “Wear Sunscreen”-style commencement address, a colorful cake reveal, and a card shower.

From cooking with fruit snacks to reinventing Chrismons to asking big questions and beyond, Bri’s contributions to the show have routinely been marked by creativity, hilarity, good humor, and godly compassion. If you'd like to share your love and appreciation with her during this time of transition, consider participating in our farewell card shower either virtually (via Facebook or Instagram or by email to lutheranladies@kfuo.org) or with an old-fashioned greeting card sent to KFUO Radio:

Bri Gerzevske

c/o Sarah Gulseth

KFUO Radio

1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.

Saint Louis, MO 63122

#197. LIVE from the 2023 LWML National Convention: Part 2

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 10:45:00 -0500

On June 23, the Lutheran Ladies had the honor and pleasure of presenting a live stage show version of their podcast as the Saturday night entertainment at the LWML National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

This week, we’re sharing part 2 of our audio highlights from the show. In today’s episode, enjoy the following segments:

Game Show: Lutheran Lady Feud
Interlude: Projectile Swag Break
Hymn Sing with Sarah: "Listen, God is Calling" (Music © Lutheran Theological College, Makumira, Tanzania. Published with permission)
Finale: “Never Have I Ever”

Click to watch livestream from the entire show on Vimeo.

#196. LIVE from the 2023 LWML National Convention: Part 1

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 10:45:00 -0500

This week and next, we’ll be sharing audio highlights from the show. In today’s episode, enjoy the following segments:

Introduction
Rachel’s Trivia Challenge: Interesting Wisconsin Facts #1
Bri’s Radio Theatre: Trent and the Potluck Ladies … or Is It?
Rachel’s Trivia Challenge: Interesting Wisconsin Facts #2
Storytime with Sarah: Gertrude Simon's Trek Across the Mountains of China
Rachel’s Trivia Challenge: Interesting Wisconsin Facts #3

Click to watch livestream from the entire show on Vimeo.

Learn more about One Cup of Water, which Sarah referenced in her Story Time segment, at archive.org.

#195. Erin's Recipe Card: The Cream Puff

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 10:45:00 -0500

In honor of the great state of Wisconsin (currently hosting the LWML National Convention and the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge cohosts), Erin devotes her latest Recipe Card episode to a quintessential Dairyland delicacy: the cream puff.

Despite some initial trepidation, Erin shows her fellow Ladies how easy, delicious, and not-at-all-scary homemade cream puffs can actually be.

“This would not have occurred to me,” says Erin, explaining her choice, “but apparently the Wisconsin State Fair is known for cream puffs. It’s a classic treat.”

For the simple Betty Crocker recipe highlighted in the episode, click here.

To learn the science behind and advanced techniques for crafting choux pastry from Serious Eats, click here.

#194. Wild Card: Ode to Lutheran Sushi

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 10:45:00 -0500

Take a dill pickle. Wrap it up in lunch meat and cream cheese. Slice it into bite-sized nuggets. What do you get? Dill pickle roll-ups — AKA Lutheran Sushi!

In this Wild Card episode, Bri offers a loving tribute to this most midwestern of Lutheran potluck appetizers. She leads Sarah, Erin, and Rachel in sharing memories of their encounters with and opinions of this culinary cultural icon before ending the episode with an original poetic ode to Lutheran sushi.

Oh dill pickle-roll up,

So white, and pink, and green!

Your placement at the potluck

Is the best I’ve ever seen. …

Learn how to make your own dill pickle roll-ups from IamHomesteader.com.

#193. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Baptism Hymns!

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 10:45:00 -0500

In this Hymn Sing episode, Sarah makes a long-overdue foray into hymns for and about baptism.

Beginning with an unexpected set of poll results from the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group, Sarah goes on to relate the backstories of several crowd favorite baptism hymns. Which of these water-and Spirit-drenched hymns does Sarah most love? Which does she not love so well?

Hymns covered in this episode include “Father Welcomes” (LSB 605), “We Know That Christ Is Raised” (LSB 603), “Baptized into Your Name Most Holy” (LSB 590), “Dearest Jesus, We Are Here” (LSB 592), and “All Who Believe and Are Baptized” (LSB 601).

“Our newest goddaughter was just born 2 days ago from the day of recording,” says Sarah, “and she’ll be baptized in a couple weeks, so baptism is spinning in my brain right now!” And as a treat at the end of the episode, hear Village Lutheran Church in Ladue, MO, sing her goddaughter's baptism hymn, "I bind unto myself today" (LSB 604) at her baptism.

To learn more about the hymns and hymnwriters mentioned (but not covered) in this episode, check out our recent conversations on Emilie Juliane von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and how to host the perfect baptism birthday party.

#192. Rachel's Trivia Challenge: The Small Catechism!

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 10:45:00 -0500

It’s confirmation season, when young catechumens everywhere stand up before their congregations to confess their faith and show off their in-depth knowledge of Luther’s Small Catechism. But how much do the Lutheran Ladies know about the Small Catechism (and catechisms in general)? How much do you know?

In this installment of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge, Rachel quizzes Sarah, Erin, and Bri to see what they remember from their own confirmation classes. What is a catechism? Are there other catechisms besides Luther’s? Why did Luther write his Small Catechism, and for whom? What lines lodge especially well in our minds, and how did Luther specially craft his words to be clear and memorable?

Find out answers to these questions and more in this rollicking round of trivia.

Sources referenced in this episode:

#191. Story Time with Sarah: Emilie Juliane von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt

Fri, 26 May 2023 10:45:00 -0500

Emilie Juliane (sometimes alternatively spelled Ämilie or Aemilie; 1637—1706) was a devout Lutheran lady, Countess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt — and one of the most prolific of all German female hymn-writers, with almost 600 hymns attributed to her authorship.

In this Story Time episode, Sarah delves into the now-relatively-obscure life of one of 17th century Lutheranism’s most noteworthy women, beginning with her tragic and turbulent childhood during the Thirty Years’ War and continuing through her early orphanhood, her close relationship with her cousins (one of whom became her best friend and fellow #hymnnerd, another of whom she married), and the loss of her only daughter.

The episode ends with a discussion of the several English translations of her hymns included in recent LCMS hymnals: “Once in the Blest Baptismal Waters” (LSB 598), “Who Knows When Death May Overtake Me” (TLH 598), “The Lord Hath Helped Me Hitherto, By His Surpassing Favor” (TLH 33), “God Brought Me to This Time and Place” (LW 456).

To learn more about Emilie Juliane, check out Judith P. Aikin’s biography A Ruler’s Consort in Early Modern Germany: Aemilia Juliana of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. For more about the lives of beloved hymnwriters, check out Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns or Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns, Volume 2, both available from CPH.

#190. Conversations with Creatives: Molly Lackey, Historian and Artist

Fri, 19 May 2023 10:45:00 -0500

Molly Lackey is social media and special projects assistant at the Concordia Historical Institute in Saint Louis, Missouri, and author of Confessing Jesus: The Heart of Being a Lutheran.

In this “Conversations with Creatives” episode, Molly nerds out with the Ladies about “cottage core,” Japanese artist Sadao Watanabe, archival photographs and artifacts, fonts and paint colors, the history of LCMS missions, and much more.

What wall paint colors pair well with an exhibit of Japanese wood cut prints? What does one do with a triple major in history, German, and Latin? What makes watercolor painting less “scary” than oils? What’s the weirdest artifact currently housed at CHI? Find answers to these and other burning questions you never thought to ask in this lively and often hilarious conversation.

Click to learn more about the Concordia Historical Institute and its ongoing Sadao Watanabe exhibit, or to order Molly Lackey’s book Confessing Jesus: The Heart of Being a Lutheran from CPH.

You can also listen to previous “Conversations with Creatives” podcast episodes featuring baking professional Mary Kruta, liturgical seamstress Anna Hart, singer/songwriter Erin Bode, microfarmer Beth Ritzman, writer/editor Lisa Clark, author/soprano Katie Schuermann, visual artist Kelly Uffenbeck, and designer/entrepreneur Jessie Bell.

#189. Bri's Big Question (BBQ): Are Dog Moms Real Moms?

Fri, 12 May 2023 10:45:00 -0500

It's the time of year when we celebrate motherhood. Growing in popularity are terms that include "mom" to define people who care for non-human creatures and things.

And so, in this edition of Bri’s Big Question (BBQ), Bri’s asking: Are Dog Moms Real Moms?

Beginning with an exposition on what we as Lutherans believe about pro-life culture and the vocation of motherhood, Bri then shares her views on vocation and the stewardship of God's creation, including how mothering children and mothering creatures are two different things. She and the other Ladies continue in a lively discussion on what it means to mother human children and "mother" creatures, what the order of creation means, and how we can steward the good gifts God gives to us.

Next Book Club Pick: 'That Hideous Strength' by C. S. Lewis

Tue, 09 May 2023 10:45:00 -0500

In this excerpt from their May 5 book club recap episode, the Ladies (re)announce their next pick for the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club: C.S. Lewis’s That Hideous Strength.

From the publisher’s description:

The final book in C.S. Lewis’s acclaimed science fiction Space Trilogy, which follows Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra, concludes the adventures of the matchless Dr. Ransom.

Now, the dark forces that have been repulsed in Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra are massed for an assault on planet Earth. Word is that the mighty wizard Merlin has come back to the land of the living after many centuries, holding the key to ultimate power for the force that can find him and bend him to its will. A sinister technocratic organization is gaining power throughout Europe, with a plan to “recondition” society, and it is up to Ransom and his friends to stop this threat by applying age-old wisdom to a new universe dominated by science. The two groups struggle to a climactic resolution that brings the Space Trilogy to a magnificent, crashing conclusion.

Written during the dark hours immediately before and during World War II, C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy stands alongside such works as Albert Camus’s The Plague and George Orwell’s 1984 as a timeless classic, beloved by succeeding generations as much for the sheer wonder of its storytelling as for the significance of its moral concerns.

Click to learn more about C. S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy, to see a list of previous Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and runners up, or to revisit past online book club events in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group.

#188. Book Club Wrap Up: The Princess and the Goblin

Fri, 05 May 2023 10:45:00 -0500

In this Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club recap episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in an imaginative exploration of George MacDonald’s The Princess and the Goblin.

What value do children’s stories and fairy tales hold for readers of all ages? How can one unpack a book that isn’t a straightforward allegory but is nonetheless loaded with theological meaning? Are there different kinds of goodness — and what do they look like? Is the “bright shadow” of holiness in a story ultimately more annoying or refreshing?

Listen till the end to hear a re-announcement of the next Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club pick: C.S. Lewis’s That Hideous Strength.

#187: Sharathon 2023: The Baptism Birthday Party Planning Committee!

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 10:45:00 -0500

Need help planning a baptismal birthday party? Never fear! The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge party-planning committee is here!

In this four-segment Sharathon episode, the Ladies provide friendly advice to anyone hoping to celebrate a baptism birthday in style. Rachel (subcommittee for interesting conversation) starts things off with a short Trivia Challenge all about the history and theology of baptism. Erin (recipe subcommittee) introduces a luscious simul-justus-et-peccator-inspired dessert recipe for Choco-Flan, also known as Impossible Cake. Sarah (music subcommittee) tells the story of a beloved baptism hymn: “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It,” and Bri (subcommittee for fun) brings it home with five tips for planning the most enjoyable party possible.

Sources referenced in Rachel’s Trivia Challenge:

Erin’s friend’s recipe for Choco-Flan

Recipe from Clelia Gonzalez

Preheat oven at 350.

For the cake: store bought cake mix, I personally like Devil's food one because to me is more chocolatey, but any chocolate cake mix will do, prepare cake mix as per instructions in the box.

For flan: you'll need 6 large eggs, one can of evaporated milk, one can of condensed milk, a dash of vanilla extract, put all ingredients in blender, until well mixed.

Now, grease, with butter or non-stick spray, a Bundt cake pan, now proceed pouring all the cake batter. When done proceed to slowly pour all of the flan mix, bake for about 40-50 mins, or until you stick a fork/toothpick and comes out clean.

Let it cool down, and store in fridge. Once it is cold, you can release it onto a plate. Decorate with "cajeta/dulce de leche or caramel syrup and chopped pecans, you can decorate it prior to storing in fridge or prior to eating it.

Enjoy!! 

The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge podcast is produced by KFUO Radio, the listener-supported broadcast voice of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. To support the work of KFUO Radio during Sharathon (or anytime) — and request an exclusive Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge thank-you gift — visit kfuo.org or text “KFUO” to 41444.

#186. Kitchen Table Talks: The Large Catechism

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 10:45:00 -0500

Once again, the Lutheran Ladies welcome a man (GASP!) into the Lounge for a Kitchen Table Talk conversation, inspired by Martin Luther’s famous Reformation “table talk” conversations with his students.

In this episode, LCMS International Center chaplain Pastor Sean Daenzer returns to offer guidance on yet another timely and important theological hot topic: Luther’s Large Catechism.

What is the Large Catechism? How is it related to Luther’s (much more familiar) Small Catechism? Why don't more Lutherans read this “extended edition” of the catechism — and why should they? What are Rev. Daenzer’s favorite, “don’t-miss” excerpts from the Large Catechism? And what (if any) controversies may lie hidden within the text?

The Rev. Sean Daenzer serves as director of worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and as chaplain of the LCMS International Center in Saint Louis. A veteran guest of KFUO Radio programs including Concord Matters and Sharper Iron, Rev. Daenzer can now be heard regularly through his Daily Chapel sermons.

Click to browse available editions of Luther’s Large Catechism from Concordia Publishing House.

#185. Friends for Life Crossover: Celebrating Life!

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 10:45:00 -0500

In this special crossover episode, the Lutheran Ladies join Steph Neugebauer and Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor at the Friends for Life podcast, which is celebrating its two-year anniversary this week.

What do Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel love about life? How do they celebrate life? What shapes their core beliefs about God’s gift of life? Find out in this lively, life-infused conversation.

About the Friends for Life podcast:

We believe that God is the author and sustainer of all life. We also know it can be hard to speak about the intrinsic value of that life when it feels like the world is trying to drown us out.

We’re right here beside you. In this podcast of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Life Ministry, we’re coming alongside one another as a community of Christ’s redeemed people, ones who are speaking up for and living out the sanctity of human life. Together we’ll explore life issues in a way that honors our heavenly Father’s value of human life, serves our neighbor, and connects us to others who are doing the same. Join us, so that together we can be friends for life.

#184. Story Time with Sarah: The Triduum

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 09:45:00 -0500

A blessed Good Friday to our listeners! In this special Holy Week-themed Story Time episode, Sarah introduces Erin, Bri, and Rachel to the Triduum, the historic series of days and services leading up to Easter.

Beginning with Maundy Thursday and continuing through Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and the Great Vigil of Easter, Sarah tells some of the stories and meanings behind these beloved services. Why did some Germans call it “Green Thursday”? When did British Monarchs stop washing feet? What is the correct liturgical color for Maundy Thursday? Why do we call Good Friday good? What are the Reproaches? What’s a strepitus? Which Triduum service historically begins outside with a bonfire?

Find answers to these and other questions as you deepen your understanding of these sacred services.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

#183. Bri's Radio Theatre: "Brothers In Christ" Holy Week Sitcom

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 10:45:00 -0500

The Lutheran Ladies present another brand-new edition of Bri’s LIVE Radio Theatre: "Brothers In Christ"—the sitcom featuring Jesus' disciples Peter and John, and a surprise special guest.

In this riveting episode of "Brothers In Christ," follow Peter and John through the events of Holy Week as they race each other literally everywhere, endure deep emotional confusion as Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and crucified, and wonder if they're going to be the next ones put to death.

Will these Brothers in Christ realize that Jesus was right all along?

Blessed Holy Week!

Sound effects made by the ultimately talented Bri Gerzevske and sourced from pixabay.com.

#182. Iron Ladle Challenge: Carrot Cake!

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 10:45:00 -0500

In last week’s episode, Mary Kruta (of Kruta Bakery in Collinsville, Illinois) challenged Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel to try their hands at what she considers the ultimate Easter dessert: carrot cake. (Listen to that episode here.)

This week, the Ladies comply in an all-new Iron Ladle Challenge. Will anyone but Erin succeed in creating a picture-perfect Easter carrot cake? (Nope.) Will there be crumbling landslides, overbaked layers, and an excessive use of the words “gloopy” and “goopy”? (Almost certainly.) Will at least one baker bring cookies to a cake fight? (You betcha!)

Scroll down to view photos of the various contenders and try these recipes yourself.

Bri's Pineapple (?) Earthquake Carrot Cake

Box mix of carrot cake with modifications:

Substituted half water and half pineapple juice for the water measurement

Cup of pecan chips

Buttercream frosting from a can with:

Can of drained pineapple chunks

Pecan chips

Splashes of pineapple juice

And, glaze each cake layer with pineapple juice before layering and frosting. Warning: the cake may fall apart.

Finally, garnish with Jell-O flavored jelly beans.

Rachel’s attempt at “Incredibly Moist and Easy Carrot Cake”

Recipe courtesy of Inspired Taste: Incredibly Moist and Easy Carrot Cake (inspiredtaste.net)

Pro tip: This recipe may cause you to overbake your layers. DO NOT OVERBAKE YOUR LAYERS!

Sarah's Experimental Carrot Cookies

2 cups finely ground almond flour

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup olive oil

2 Tbs. vanilla extract

pinch of salt

shredded carrots (about 2/3 cup? maybe?)

ginger to taste (aka a lot)

Mix. Scoop onto cookie sheet in tablespoon balls and flatten with a fork (or your fingers, lets be honest). Bake at 350 for approx 18-22 minutes.

Erin’s rendition of “My Favorite Carrot Cake Recipe”

Recipe courtesy of Sally's Baking Addiction: My Favorite Carrot Cake Recipe (sallysbakingaddiction.com)

Pro tip: You CAN use all the add ins. Just use smaller quantities. Also, increase your cinnamon. Always increase your cinnamon.

#181. Conversations with Creatives: Mary Kruta of Kruta Bakery

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 10:45:00 -0500

Mary Kruta is a wife, mother, Lutheran Lady, and part of the creative team behind Kruta Bakery in Collinsville, Illinois.

In this drool-worthy “Conversations with Creatives” episode, Mary shares stories and wisdom from her decades of experience helping to run a family-owned, from-scratch, small-town bakery. What’s it like to be part of a century-old family business? When do bakers really get up in the morning? Why do professional bakers refer to “formulas” instead of “recipes”? And how on earth does Mary maintain her trim figure despite being surrounded by mouthwatering baked goods all day?

At the end of the episode, Mary challenges the Ladies to try their hand at what she considers the ultimate Easter dessert: carrot cake.

To learn more about Kruta Bakery and the Kruta family, check out their website and Facebook page.

You can also listen to previous “Conversations with Creatives” podcast episodes featuring liturgical seamstress Anna Hart, singer/songwriter Erin Bode, microfarmer Beth Ritzman, writer/editor Lisa Clark, author/soprano Katie Schuermann, visual artist Kelly Uffenbeck, and designer/entrepreneur Jessie Bell.

#180. Adventures in Lutheranism: The Altar Guild, Part 1

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 10:45:00 -0600

In this Adventures in Lutheranism episode, Rachel begins a multi-part odyssey into the unknown world of some of the church’s most unsung heroes: the altar guild.

Beginning with a brief look at what the altar guild is, what it does, its history, and its scriptural foundations, Rachel then outlines her top seven (or is it ten?) reasons—from ironing to anxiety to white gloves—for never having joined the altar guild before now. At the end of the episode, Sarah shares her own experience as an altar guild member, and Rachel looks forward to learning more in future episodes.

Books referenced:

The Altar Guild Manual—Lutheran Service Book Edition by Lee Maxwell
What an Altar Guild Should Know by Paul H. D. Lang

To take the “Which Lutheran Lady Are You?” quiz mentioned in the episode, click here.

#179. Story Time with Sarah: The Texas Wendish Lutherans

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 10:45:00 -0600

You may have heard of C. F. W. Walther and the Saxon Emigration to Saint Louis and Perry County, Missouri. You may be familiar with Wilhelm Loehe and the Franconian missionary settlements in Michigan. But how much do you know about the Wends of Texas?

In this Story Time episode—releasing the day after Texas Independence Day—Sarah explores the history and heritage of the large group of Wendish Lutherans who settled in and around Serbin, Texas, in the mid-19th century. Joining her are subject matter experts Marian (Kaspar) Wiederhold and Jan (Knippa) Slack—longtime volunteers at the Texas Wendish Heritage Museum who are both direct descendants of the original Wendish settlers.

Who are the Wends? Why did they leave Europe for Texas of all places? What makes their homemade egg noodles so delicious? Find answers to these questions and others you never knew you needed answered in this inspiring and informative conversation.

To learn more about the Wends, the Texas Wendish Heritage Museum, or the annual Wendish Fest, click here.

See below for authentic Wendish noodle and coffee cake recipes referenced in the show.

Wendish Noodles

1 egg

Water to fill 1/2 of an egg shell (about 3 Tbs)

1 1/2 to 2 cups of flour

Beat egg and water together. Add a sprinkle of salt and enough flour to form a stiff dough. Roll out thin on a pastry cloth. Allow dough sheet to dry slightly (it should still be pliable), turning occasionally. Cut into thin strips when dry but still pliable. freezer if they won't be cooked right away. Cook about 8 minutes or until tender.

Allow cut noodles to dry thoroughly. Store cut noodles in a plastic bag in pantry or

When ready to cook your noodles, bring a pot of well-flavored chicken broth to a boil and add dried noodles.

Remove pot from burner, add butter as desired for flavor. Leaving lid on pot, let sit another 10-15 minutes.

Texas Wendish Heritage Society

Wendish Coffee Cake with Streusel Topping

Adapted from recipe in Our Favorite Cookbook, Texas Wendish Heritage Society

Page 67

Soften:

1 Pkg. dry yeast

1/2 c. Warm water

3/4 c. Warm milk

3/4 c. Sugar

Add 2 cups flour (mix well, cover, let rise until double in size).

Add 2 eggs and beat well

Add:

1 tsp. Salt

1/2 c. Melted butter

2 1/2 to 3 c. Flour to make soft dough

Beat well, cover, put in arm place, let rise to double in size.

Pat in two 9 x 13 greased pans.

Top with applesauce, pureed peaches or sour cream (about 1/2 cup per pan)

Top with streusel and bake for 20 - 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

Streusel for two 9 x 13 pans

3 c. flour

3 c. Sugar

3 sticks butter

1 T. Cinnamon

1/2 c. Chopped pecans (optional)

#178. Wild Card: Kaye Wolff Tells Her Story

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 10:45:00 -0600

Kaye Wolff is a pastor’s wife, a lifelong Lutheran lady, and a longtime leader in the LWML. Born in rural Alabama, Kaye was baptized and spent her early years at Christ Lutheran Church in Rosebud, Ala., the first of many Black Lutheran congregations established by Rosa J. Young’s pioneering missionary efforts. Her family took part in the Great Migration, leaving Alabama and settling in Detroit, Mich., in search of greater educational and economic opportunities.

In this loving and honest conversation, Kaye tells her life story, one marked by segregation, discrimination, and prejudice—but also by love, acceptance, grace, and steadfast faith.

To learn more, listen to our previous conversation with Kaye Wolff (discussing Rosa Young’s autobiography) or to Sarah’s Story Time episode on Rosa Young. You can also check out CPH’s Rosa Young in its Hero of Faith biography series for young readers.

#177. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Confession & Absolution Hymns

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 10:45:00 -0600

With Ash Wednesday just around the corner, Sarah’s taking a closer look at 11 “Confession and Absolution” hymns an all-new Hymn Sing episode.

Drawing on a Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook poll to identify crowd favorites in the genre, Sarah covers beloved and not-yet-beloved hymn texts and tunes, including Luther’s gut-wrenching “From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee,” Erdmann Neumeister’s “Jesus Sinners Doth Receive,” William M’Comb’s “Chief of Sinners Though I Be,” and more. Read additional stories on some of the hymn writers in the "Hymn Sing with Sarah: Communion Hymns, Part One" podcast and "Hymn Sing with Sarah: Thanksgiving Hymns!" episodes.

“These hymns are great for Ash Wednesday and Lent, but they’re also great to use as part of your preparation to receive the Sacrament,” says Sarah, adding, “Sometimes we can feel a little lost in how to prepare, or how to even pray when we feel weighed down by sins, and these hymns are a wonderful tool for us to pray through.”

Click to learn more about Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns or Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns, Volume 2, both of which are referenced during the episode.

Next Book Club Pick: George MacDonald’s 'The Princess and the Goblin'

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 10:45:00 -0600

In this excerpt from their February 10 book club recap episode, the Ladies announce their next pick for the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club: George MacDonald’s The Princess and the Goblin.

From one of many publisher descriptions:

"When Princess Irene and her nursemaid stay out too late one night and are chased home by goblins, a young miner boy called Curdie comes to their rescue. So begins a fantastic adventure in which Irene and Curdie must try to stop a goblin invasion, helped by Irene's mysterious great-great-grandmother. This much-loved tale was a personal favourite of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien."

Looking ahead, the Ladies also announce their upcoming summer book club read: book three of C. S. Lewis’s renowned Space Trilogy, That Hideous Strength.

Click to learn more about George MacDonald’s The Princess and the Goblin and C. S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy, to see a list of previous Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and runners up, or to revisit past online book club events in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group.

#176: Book Club Wrap Up: C.S. Lewis 'From Atheism to Christianity'

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 10:45:00 -0600

In this Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club recap episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a deep-diving discussion of Joel Heck’s From Atheism to Christianity: The Story of C. S. Lewis.

What factors cause a person to abandon faith and become an atheist? Which plays the dominant role in conversion: the intellect or the imagination? How do the books we read and the media we consume either strengthen or challenge our faith? Can the phrase "you are what you eat" apply to books and media, as well?

Listen till the end to hear an announcement of the next Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club pick: George MacDonald’s classic fairy tale The Princess and the Goblin.

#175. Conversations with Creatives: Liturgical Sewing with Anna Hart

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 10:45:00 -0600

Anna Hart is a wife, mother, fellow Lutheran lady, and the expert liturgical seamstress behind Anna’s Threads.

In this “Conversations with Creatives” episode, Anna educates Bri on the various types of ecclesiastical vestment, nerds out with Erin and Sarah about natural fiber fabrics and vintage sewing machines, and offers pro tips to Rachel on how to smooth out a wrinkly chasuble.

Click to connect with Anna Hart on Facebook or shop her products at Ad Crucem.

If you’re keen to follow in her footsteps and try your hand at crafting liturgical vestments and paraments yourself, check out the following resources mentioned in the episode:

To learn more about the biblical basis for liturgical vestments, listen in on the episode of Thy Strong Word discussing Leviticus 8 (which Anna references in this episode).

You can also listen to previous “Conversations with Creatives” podcast episodes featuring singer/songwriter Erin Bode, microfarmer Beth Ritzman, writer/editor Lisa Clark, author/soprano Katie Schuermann, visual artist Kelly Uffenbeck, and designer/entrepreneur Jessie Bell.

#174. Adventures in Lutheranism: National Lutheran Schools Week!

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 10:45:00 -0600

It’s National Lutheran Schools Week—and to mark the occasion, Bri’s hosting an Adventures in Lutheranism episode about this beloved annual celebration of Lutheran education.

Drawing both from social media feedback and her own deep memories, Bri looks at the whys and hows of NLSW—from spirit days to field trips, chapel services to servant events.

Click to learn more about NLSW and discover ideas and resources for celebrating it in your Lutheran preschool, elementary school or secondary school.

Click to see adorable Lutheran school children perform “It’s Cool in a Lutheran School” or download PDFs (below) of the sheet music for NJ Malenke’s anthem (shared with permission).

Copyright permissions:

"Brothers and Sisters in Christ." Words and music by Terry K Dittmer. Copyright (c) 1983 by the author. Used with permission.
"It's Cool in a Lutheran School." Words and Music by NJ Malenke. Copyright (c) 1986 by the author. Used with permission.
Performance of "It's Cool in a Lutheran School" by the children of St. Michael Lutheran School, Portage, MI. Used with permission.

#173. Wild Card: LWML President Debbie!

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 10:45:00 -0600

In this special, long-awaited Wild Card episode, the Ladies warmly welcome Debbie Larson, president of Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML), to the Lounge for a Wild Card interview.

What’s it like to lead the LCMS’s oldest, largest, and most influential women’s auxiliary? How do the missions of the LWML and the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge align? What’s on the horizons for Lutheran Women in Mission? Why did Debbie get a table saw for Christmas?

And most importantly: will President Debbie Larson throw a pie in Bri’s face at the LWML National Convention this summer?

“I tell all young women (and I’m one of them) that this is your grandmother’s LWML, and I won’t apologize for that. We have an incredible legacy. But it can also be your LWML and your children’s LWML, because you can accomplish the same things that God is asking us to accomplish in a new way.”

— Debbie Larson

Click to ...

#172. Rachel's Trivia Challenge: Martin Luther on Women

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 10:45:00 -0600

Because it’s January (and let’s face it: January is boring), Rachel and the Ladies need something to entertain them … and this time, that something is a Trivia Challenge all about what Martin Luther said and wrote about women!

Offering riddles, true-false questions, and other trivial queries, Rachel covers a range of occasionally outrageous quotes from Luther’s sermons, lectures, personal letters, and “table talk” discussions. Which biblical women did Luther seem to preach on most often? Should marriage (according to Luther) make life easier … or harder? How did he (and did he not) provide for his wife after his death? How did becoming a husband and father help Luther understand and appreciate women more?

To learn more, check out Luther on Women: A Sourcebook, edited by Susan C. Karant-Nunn and Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks.

For those who were curious about the Widow Luther’s male guardian: Sarah was right. It was Johannes Bugenhagen.

#171. Hymn Sing with Sarah: The Epiphany of Our Lord

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 10:45:00 -0600

Happy Epiphany from the Lutheran Ladies! To celebrate the day, Sarah’s digging into the backstories of Epiphany hymns in an all-new Hymn Sing episode.

Drawing from the results of a Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook poll to narrow and order her selections, Sarah begins her discussion with the so-called “Queen of Chorales,” Philipp Nicolai’s “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright” (LSB 395). She then covers other beloved Epiphany 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.

Music: Heinrich Isaac, c. 1450-1517. Public Domain. Improvisations by organist and performer Jacob Palmer. Used with permission.

#170. New Year’s Eve Wishes and Prognostications for 2023

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 09:45:00 -0600

As they have for the past two years, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel are offering blessings, wishes, and prognostications for the New Year.

After revisiting last year’s prognostications to see if any came true (one, at least, came eerily close), each of the Lutheran Ladies presents a good wish or word of blessing along with a wild-and-crazy prediction for what life will hold in 2023.

Click to revisit the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge New Year’s specials from 2020 and 2021.

#169. A Very Loungey Christmas Carol

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 08:45:00 -0600

The Lutheran Ladies present a brand-new edition of Bri’s Radio Theatre—and this time, they’ve all got a part to play.

When Bri gets into a verbal tussle with a BMW driver in a Target parking lot, she’s got some repenting to do. Thankfully, two ghostly figments of her imagination and one very real, very macabre Lutheran Lady friend are there to help her find the grace she needs to set things right.

It’s “A Very Loungey Christmas Carol.”

Merry Christmas!!

Sound effects made by the ultimately talented Bri Gerzevske and sourced from pixabay.com.

#168. Iron Ladle Challenge: Holiday Drinks

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 10:45:00 -0600

It’s a seasonal Iron Ladle Challenge—and this time, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel are mixing up festive holiday beverages.

Listen along as the Ladies laugh and quaff their way through mock champagne punch, creamy coffee, German glühwein, homemade cream soda, “hot buttery goodness,” and an extravagant (if imaginary) hot chocolate buffet.

Rachel’s Go-To Holiday Beverage

Ingredients:

Coffee
Half and half
Fresh whipped cream, not too sweet.

Combine coffee and half and half. Top with a generous dollop of fresh whipped cream.

Rachel’s Mock Champagne Punch

Ingredients:

White grape peach juice (2)*
Ginger ale**
Sparkling water***
Fresh red raspberries

Instructions:

The day before, freeze a portion of one bottle of juice, using ice cube trays or empty plastic containers.
Chill the other ingredients.
In a punch bowl, combine 1/3 juice, 1/3 ginger ale, and 1/3 sparkling water. Add frozen juice cubes. Top with fresh red raspberries to taste. Serve with a ladle.

* May substitute white grape, apple, or any amber colored juice.

** May substitute Sprite, 7-up or other clear soda pop.

*** May omit and double the soda, if you can stand the sweetness.

Sarah's Cream Soda from Scratch (aka the Sparkly Lumberjack)

Ingredients:

maple syrup
vanilla extract (the good stuff)
sparkling water

Pour maple syrup and vanilla extract into glass, to taste. Pour sparkling water in. Stir if desired. Enjoy!

*For a pint glass, Sarah uses approx 1.5-2 Tbs maple syrup and approx 1/8-1/4 tsp vanilla extract.

Classic Glühwein / Mulled Wine from the Chicago Christkindlmarket

Recipe from the Chicago Tribune.

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 20-25 minutes

Makes: 8 to 9 servings

4 cups apple cider

1 bottle (750 milliliters) inexpensive red or white wine

1/4 cup honey (or to taste)

2 cinnamon sticks

2 large strips lemon zest

1 piece ginger, about 1-inch long

1 orange, zested and juiced

4 whole cloves 2 whole star anise

6 black peppercorns

3 allspice berries

1/2 cup brandy (optional)

Combine all the ingredients in a large pot. Heat to a simmer over low heat. Allow to simmer, 10-15 minutes. Pour into mugs and serve. A crock pot also can be used to create a gentle simmer.

Erin's Hot Buttery Goodness

2c Brown sugar

8T salted butter, softened

1 ½ t cinnamon

½ t ginger

¼ t nutmeg

1-2 pinches cloves

½ t salt

1 ½ t vanilla

1t almond extract

Thoroughly cream all ingredients together with a mixer.

To serve: Scoop 1.5-2 T butter mixture into a small mug. Add ½ cup boiling water and stir until completely dissolved.

Optional: Stir in a little cream. Add a dash or two of angostura bitters.

Alternative: Scoop 1T butter mixture into a small mug. Add ½ cup boiling apple cider and stir until completely dissolved.

Bri's Hot Cocoa Concept

You'll just have to listen for this one. Merry Christmas!

Next Book Club Pick: Joel Heck’s 'From Atheism to Christianity: The Story of C. S. Lewis'

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 14:00:00 -0600

In this excerpt from their December 9 book club recap episode, the Ladies announce their next pick for the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club: Joel Heck’s From Atheism to Christianity: The Story of C. S. Lewis

From the publisher:

This is the story of how one of the world’s most famous atheists became one of its most famous Christians.

From Atheism to Christianity: The Story of C. S. Lewis is the spiritual homecoming story of Clive Staples Lewis, a careful and thoughtful scholar who spent fifteen years journeying the long road from atheism to theism and, eventually, to Christianity. Drawing from Lewis’s own writings, as well as those he sought out during his quest for spiritual understanding, From Atheism to Christianity highlights the longing, reluctance, searching, and surrender that defined these years of Lewis’s life and provides answers to the questions that surround this profound character:

What attracted Lewis to atheism and eventually Christianity?
How did he leave atheism behind?
Why did his journey take fifteen years?
Who influenced his thought during those years?
What authors did he read, and whom did he interact with and confide in?

Explore the most tumultuous and defining years of C. S. Lewis’s life, gathering clues that reveal the meaning of life for contemporary atheists and theists—all from the perspective of one who knew both atheism and Christianity from the inside.

Click to learn more about Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead, to see a list of previous Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and runners up, or to revisit past online book club events in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group.

#167. Book Club Wrap Up: Gilead

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 09:45:00 -0600

In this Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club recap episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a wide-ranging discussion of Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead: A Novel.

How does the past shape the present and the future (whether or not it’s remembered)? What does it look like to live with absolute commitment to a moral cause? Is it possible to love, forgive, and even bless an unrepentant prodigal? How can a story where nothing much happens keep readers riveted simply by the power of its voice and characters?

Listen till the end to hear an announcement of the next Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club pick: Joel Heck’s From Atheism to Christianity: The Story of C.S. Lewis.

#166. Kitchen Table Talks: The Incarnation of Christ

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 10:45:00 -0600

In this episode, LCMS International Center chaplain Pastor Sean Daenzer returns to offer wise and friendly counsel on a seasonally appropriate theological hot topic: the Incarnation.

What do Christians believe and confess about the bodily birth, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus? How does Christ’s ongoing bodily existence change the way we view and value our own bodies? How does the Incarnation form our view of what it means to consume the Body and Blood of Christ? To be the Body of Christ? How do these confessional convictions impact our aesthetics, particularly with regard to images like manger scenes and crucifixes? Above all, why is it important for Christians to keep talking about the Incarnation, especially during Advent and Christmas?

#165. Bri's Big Question (BBQ): Should we observe Black Friday?

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 09:45:00 -0600

Black Friday—the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season—is a longstanding American tradition, as famous for rowdy crowds as it is for irresistible bargains.

In this edition of Bri’s Big Question (BBQ), Bri’s asking: Should we observe Black Friday?

Beginning with a brief cultural history of Black Friday, Bri then relates her own personal history with the holiday. (Spoiler alert: it’s traumatic.) She and the other Ladies share how—if at all—they now observe the day. Bri ends the conversation with helpful lists of “ways to center on Christ during Commercialized Christmas” and “Bible verses I am going to tattoo on the insides of my eyelids during Commercialized Christmas.”

#164. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Thanksgiving Hymns!

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 09:15:00 -0600

With Thanksgiving Day on the near horizon, Sarah covers six beloved hymns of praise and thanksgiving in an all-new Hymn Sing episode.

Beginning with “Come Ye Thankful People Come,” Sarah tells the inspiring stories behind the texts and tunes of “Sing to the Lord of Harvest,” “For the Fruits of His Creation,” “We Praise You, O God, Our Redeemer, Creator,” “Praise and Thanksgiving,” and crowd-favorite “Now Thank We All Our God.” The episode ends with a pair of serenades by Bri, debuting an original Thanksgiving power ballad, and by Rachel and her family, demonstrating their Thanksgiving Day pre-meal grace.

Although Sarah confesses at the beginning that she hasn’t always been a fan of Thanksgiving hymns, she also admits by the end, “I think I have a new respect for Thanksgiving hymns. It’s a good thing to reflect on God’s gifts to us and thank Him for them!”

#163. Rachel's Trivia Challenge: Thanksgiving!

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 10:45:00 -0600

Just in time for averting awkward conversations around the Thanksgiving table comes an all-new edition of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge, in which Rachel quizzes the Ladies on a veritable trove of Thanksgiving trivia tidbits.

What’s the connection between Thanksgiving and the English Reformation? Where was the first day of Thanksgiving in the English American colonies actually celebrated? What’s America’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Why—and by whom—is the day after Thanksgiving known as “Brown Friday”? Which beloved Thanksgiving hymn was originally published as a table prayer?

Listen and laugh along as you nibble on a few new Turkey Day fun facts—and gain a new appreciation for what it means to give thanks on a national scale.

#162. Unexpected Iron Ladle Challenge: Leftover Halloween Candy!

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 10:45:00 -0500

It’s an Iron Ladle Challenge—and this time, the Ladies are solving a culinary problem that may or may not actually exist: What can you do with leftover Halloween candy?

Sarah melts candy corn (and smokes out her kitchen) to make homemade gourmet Butterfinger-style bonbons. Bri goes sugar-free (and also candy-free), decoupaging empty candy wrappers into fun notebook covers. Rachel tries her hand at a from-scratch gingerbread house (featuring banana Laffy-Taffys, jawbusters, and other reject candies)—and burns out the motor in her brand-new hand mixer in the process. And Erin overcomes a kitchen emergency (also involving a hand mixer) to save the day with her sweet and savory late-night-snack cookies.

Scroll down for photos and recipes, and view more photos at instagram.com/lutheranladieslounge.

Sarah's Candy Corn Peanut Butter Bars (aka Butterfingers)

from thespruceeats.com/candy-corn-peanut-butter-bars-520932

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Total: 30 mins

Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients

3 cups candy corn

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter, not the natural variety

12 ounces chocolate candy coating

Instructions

Gather the ingredients.

Line an 8x8 pan with foil and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray. Place the candy corn in a large microwave-safe bowl.

Microwave the candy corn for one minute, then stir as it starts to melt. Continue to microwave the corn in 30-second increments, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating. Cook the candy corn until it is completely melted and smooth, but be wary of overheating it and causing it to stiffen up.

Add the peanut butter to the melted candy corn and stir it in until it is completely incorporated. If you have trouble combining them, microwave the candy briefly (for 10 to 15 seconds at a time) just until it's warm enough to be easily mixed.

Scrape the candy out into the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer. While it is still warm, use a knife or pizza cutter to score it into small bars, 1 inch across and 4 inches long. You should get about 16 small bars from one batch, but you can always make them larger or smaller as desired. Let the candy cool completely.

Once cool, break or cut the bars apart along the scored lines. Melt the chocolate candy coating in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring frequently until it is melted and smooth.

Use forks or dipping tools to dip the bars completely in the coating. Once a bar has been dipped, hold it over the bowl to let the excess drip back down into the bowl. Place a dipped bar on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and repeat until all of the bars are dipped. Let them set completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator before serving.

When served at room temperature, the bars have a slight chew to them, but when refrigerated they're perfectly crispy and crunchy. Store candy corn peanut butter bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Bri's Candy Wrapper Notebook

Honestly there are no rules on this, but here are some directions/tips to get you started:

Choose your surface! Can be a composition notebook, a journal, a canvas, a piece of MDF. Sky’s the limit. (Not really but I’m sure you get it.)
Gather your other materials for your collage: leftover Halloween candy wrappers, a preferred adhesive (Schelmer’s School Glue(tm), Schmod Podge(tm) or similar), and your preferred finisher (varnish, artist’s fixative, etc.)
NOTE: Choose wrappers or parts of wrappers that lay flat and don’t easily “ribbon” or roll in on itself — unless you want to flatten those wrappers ahead of time. Otherwise, paper- and/or wax-based are probably best. Cardboard would also work!
NOTE: When choosing a finisher, make sure it is workable and has the desired level of “sheen” you want (matte v. glossy). When in doubt, just use clear packing tape. I won’t tell Martha Stewart.
Adhere the wrappers to the surface using the chosen adhesive. You can create a pattern, or use my preferred method (perhaps unsurprisingly), a free-for-all style.
NOTE: Although a collage is technically two-dimensional art, you may want to plan different “layers” to your project.
Ok, my style isn’t 100% free-for-all. My first layer is always the “background layer” when I want to ensure the entire surface is covered with my collage medium. From there, I build upon that layer in terms of what I want to be visible. (E.g., If you want to make sure a certain color or brand or aesthetic predominates in your collage, make sure those wrappers compose your final layer of the collage or at least are some of the last wrappers you glue onto your surface.)
When all of your wrappers have been arranged and adhered to your surface, you’re ready to apply varnish, a fixative or (again, seriously) clear packing tape to finish your artwork. Please follow the manufacturer’s instructions on whichever finisher you choose so that you don’t melt your skin off on contact or something!!

Erin's Friday Afternoon Snack Cookies

Late Night Snack Cookies from cookiesandcups.com/late-night-snack-cookies

makes 24 large cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter, room temperature

1 1/4 cups light brown sugar

1 egg + 1 yolk

1 Tbsp heavy cream or milk

1 Tbsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3 cups chopped Snickers candy, frozen

4–5 cups thick cut salted potato chips (I used Kettle Chips)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°

Line baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.

In bowl of stand mixer cream butter and sugar for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.

Turn mixer to low and add in egg, yolk, milk and vanilla. Increase speed to medium and mix until smooth and incorporated.

Turn mixer back down to low and add in flour, baking soda and salt, mixing until combined.

Add in Snickers candy and mix until evenly distributed. And finally add in potato chips and pulse until combined. Don’t over mix, as all the chips will break up too much.

Drop by heaping tablespoon onto lined baking sheet and bake 9-10 minutes until edges are golden. Allow to cool 2-3 minutes on baking sheet and transfer to a wire rack to continue cooling.

Notes

store airtight for up to 3 days.

Rachel’s Gingerbread House of Reject Candy

from simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_a_gingerbread_house

Prep Time 2 hrs

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 2 hrs 15 mins

Servings 12

Yield 1 gingerbread house

With 6 cups of flour, how you measure the flour makes a difference. Lightly fluff up the flour in the container, use a cup measure to scoop up flour, then use a blunt knife to level the flour. Do not pack or tamp down the flour in the cup.

These instructions were adapted from those found in the 1996 Joy of Cooking.

Ingredients

For the gingerbread house dough

6 cups (828g) all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling the dough (see recipe note)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 teaspoons ground ginger
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (170g) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups (284g) packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup molasses
1 tablespoon water

For the royal icing

2 large egg whites
2 2/3 cups powdered sugar, divided

Special Equipment

Stand mixer
Piping bag or freezer bag

Method

Make the Gingerbread Dough

Whisk the flour and spices:
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves or allspice, and salt. Set aside.
Make the butter, sugar, egg, and molasses mixture:
Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until fluffy and well blended. Beat in the eggs, molasses, and water until well combined.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients, and knead the dough:
Beat half of the flour mixture into the molasses mixture until well blended and smooth. Add in the remaining flour and continue to mix until well blended and a soft cohesive dough forms.
Turn the dough out onto a slightly floured work surface and knead by hand 5 or 6 times until the dough is smooth and combined. If dough is too soft, add a little more flour.
Divide the dough, wrap and chill it:
Divide the dough in half, pat into disks, and wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least two hours, preferably overnight.
You can make it up to 3 days ahead of time. Let sit at room temperature for at least 10 minutes before rolling out.

Make the Gingerbread House Pieces

Create and cut out the pattern pieces:
Create a gingerbread house pattern by cutting out pieces from our printable Gingerbread House Templates. They should print out with the correct proportions (1 inch on the pattern = 1 inch in real life), but if not, the dimensions are also given on the pattern so you can use a ruler and create your own.
You can either use the regular paper template pieces as-is or, if you prefer, you can trace the pieces onto stiffer paper like a manila folder or cardboard. I like cardboard because it's almost as thick as the gingerbread house pieces will be, and you can create a house model easily using the pieces.
Prepare the oven and cookie sheets:
Preheat oven to 350°F, with the oven rack in the middle. Have 2 to 3 flat cookie sheets ready.
Roll out the dough:
Spread parchment paper on a large flat surface for rolling. Dust the paper lightly with flour.
Working with one portion of the dough at a time, use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to an even thickness of 1/4 inch. Add a little flour to the surface of the dough, and check for sticking as you roll it out.
If it sticks to either your rolling pin or the rolling surface, dust with more flour. If the rolled out dough is very soft, you may want to freeze it for an hour before cutting out the patterns.
Cut out shapes in the dough with pattern pieces:
Rub a little flour over the surface of the dough. Place the pattern pieces on the dough, as many pattern pieces as will fit on the dough. Use a small sharp knife to cut out the pattern pieces from the dough, wiping the knife surface clean frequently.
Depending on how soft the dough is, you may need to use scissors to cut the parchment paper. You can cut out the patterns through the dough and parchment paper, placing the dough pieces with the paper directly on the cookie sheets.
If you are not using parchment paper, you may need to use a large metal spatula to transfer the dough pieces to a greased cookie sheet.
Space the pieces on the cookie sheet an inch apart from each other. If dough pieces stretch during the transfer process, push them back into shape.
You can cut out a door and window(s) at this point, or you can wait until after baking, soon after the pieces have come out of the oven while the cookies are still warm.
Bake:
Bake in a 350°F oven until the edges are just beginning to darken, 11-15 minutes for the large pieces, 6 to 8 minutes for the small pieces.
Rotate the cookie sheets halfway through the baking for more even browning. Remove the sheets to racks to cool, about 15 minutes.
Trim the pieces while warm:
While the pieces are still slightly warm, lay the pattern pieces over them and use a large straight chef's knife to trim off any parts of the pieces that have through cooking spread beyond the pattern.
Remove pieces to cool directly on racks to cool completely.

Make the Royal Icing

Make the royal icing:
Whisk the egg whites and 1 1/3 cups of the powdered sugar together until smooth .
If you are planning to eat your gingerbread house and are concerned about the safety of raw eggs, you can cook the egg white powdered sugar mixture in a double boiler until the mixture reaches a temperature of 160°F, but not higher than 175° (for more information, read How to Pasteurize Eggs at Home). You can also use pasteurized dried or liquid egg whites.
Add more powdered sugar, beat to stiff peaks:
Add the remaining 1 1/3 cup of powdered sugar to the sugar egg mixture. Using an electric mixer, beat on high speed until the icing holds stiff peaks. If it doesn't form stiff peaks, add more powdered sugar.
Place a dampened clean towel over the bowl of royal icing:
Keep this towel over the icing to prevent it from drying out while you work with it.
Pipe the icing with a pastry bag or cut freezer bag:
When you are ready to mortar or decorate, fill a pastry bag with the icing. If you don't have a pastry bag, you can make your own with a re-sealable plastic freezer bag, just cut off the tip (a small cut) of one of the corners of the bag. Plastic or metal piping tips are available in supermarkets which you can also use with a freezer bag, for more controlled piping.

Build the House Using Royal Icing as Mortar

This is where it really helps to have more than two hands working on a house, and why making a gingerbread house is so much more fun with company than alone. If you are working on this alone, it may help to grab some canned goods from the pantry and use the cans to help prop up the pieces while the icing mortar is drying.

Pick and line a base:
Pick a solid base for your gingerbread house - either a flat cookie sheet, or a thick, sturdy piece of cardboard. If you want, line the base with aluminum foil or wax paper.
Mortar the sides of the house with royal icing:
Pipe a thick line of icing along a short end of one of the side pieces. Press the iced side piece against the edge of either the front or back pieces.
Hold in place for a few minutes until the icing is partially set. Repeat with the other side piece. Prop up with cans if necessary.
Repeat with the other short edges of the side pieces and the remaining front/back piece.
Pipe icing along the seams, inside and outside of the house, to fill in any gaps and to add extra stability. Pipe icing along the edges of the house where it meets the base.
Let set for at least an hour before attempting to add the roof pieces.
Simple Tip!
If any of the gingerbread house pattern pieces break, as can happen easily when working with what are essentially cookies, most likely you can repair them.
On my house I forgot to cut out the door and window until the front piece had almost completely cooled. When I went to make the cuts, the piece broke. Fortunately, it was easy to mortar back together with royal icing.
We even created a "splint" out of cardboard and used royal icing to hold the splint to the piece. Let harden completely before using the piece for the house construction. When it comes time to decorate, you can pipe icing right over the broken seam and no one will be the wiser.
Mortar in the roof with royal icing:
Once the royal icing has dried enough so that the base structure is solid, you can go to work on the roof. Pipe icing all along the top edges of the structure, front and back and two sides.
The roof pieces are rectangular-shaped. Place the roof pieces so that the long ends of the rectangle are running along the top of the house.
It helps if you have two people working together to place the roof pieces on the house at the same time so that they meet easily at the top center, and extend out a little bit, forming an overhang at each end.
Gently hold the roof pieces in place for a few minutes until they are set enough so they don't slide off when you remove your hands.
Pipe the top seam of the house with extra icing. Let the house stand for at least an hour, and preferably 8 hours before decorating.
Mortar the chimney with royal icing:
The dimensions of the chimney can be a bit tricky because of the angle of the roof.
It's easiest to assemble the chimney first upside down, separate from the house. Pipe the pieces together with royal icing and let set until stable.
Then, turn the chimney right-side-up and attach it to the roof using piped royal icing. You can do this either right after the house has initially set (1 hour after assembly) or later, during the decorating process.
Decorate the house:
Decorate your gingerbread house with piped royal icing and candies such as red hots, gum drops, candy canes, chocolate truffles, or whatever you like.

#161. Story Time with Sarah: Catherine Parr and the English Reformation

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 10:45:00 -0500

Catherine Parr (sometimes alternatively spelled Katherine, Katheryn, Kateryn, or Katharine; 1512 –1548) was Queen of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII, the final queen consort of the House of Tudor, who outlived Henry by a year and eight months. She was also a devout Christian with distinctly Lutheran convictions and the author of several devotional and theological works including Prayers and Meditations and The Lamentation of a Sinner.

In this Reformation-themed Story Time episode, Sarah briefs listeners on the life and times of this plucky and compassionate woman, whose probing theological insights are often overshadowed by the Tudor court drama that usually dominates popular historical accounts of her world. Sarah ends with several quotes from Queen Catherine’s Lamentation, showcasing both her keen intellect and the depth of her faith.

To learn more about Catherine Parr, check out the Rev. Don Matzat’s Katherine Parr: Opportunist, Queen, Reformer: A Theological Perspective along with his edition of Parr’s The Lamentation of a Sinner.

#160. Wild Card: Women's Health & Roe v Wade with Dr. Donna Harrison

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 10:15:00 -0500

With midterm elections just around the corner—and voters faithfully contemplating the many post-Roe v. Wade candidates and referenda on their respective ballots—the Ladies welcome Donna Harrison, MD, to the Lounge for a heartfelt, hard-hitting conversation about abortion and women’s health.

Dr. Harrison is a board-certified physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology who currently serves as CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG). A committed LCMS Lutheran, she is also the mother of five living children and grandmother of ten.

Click to learn more about AAPLOG; to follow AAPLOG on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube; or to listen to their limited-series podcast The Post-Roe Review. You can also download their helpful and informative document “Myth vs. Fact: Correcting Misinformation on Maternal Medical Care.”

#159. Adventures in Lutheranism: Tracky Stamps and Stewardship for Kids

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 10:45:00 -0500

Just in time for Stewardship Sunday, the Ladies tackle the thorny subject of personal finance in Lutheran perspective … well, sort of.

For this Adventure in Lutheranism, Bri digs deep into her past to dig up a core memory of Tracky, a 90s-era mascot of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) designed to get kids excited about investing their quarters in the work of the church. Is Tracky really real, or did Bri dream the whole thing?

Along the way, Bri, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel also discuss LCEF’s current Young Investors Club and the value of solid stewardship education in uncertain economic times.

To learn more, check out LCEF’s Young Investors Club and Young Investors Stamp Program.

#158. One Question Interview: Domestic Violence Awareness

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 10:45:00 -0500

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and to help navigate the rocky waters of this challenging topic, Erin has invited Sandra (Ostapowich) Madden into the Lounge for a One-Question Interview.

This episode’s hot question:

What aren’t Lutheran ladies talking about when it comes to domestic violence that we should be?

Sandra (Ostapowich) Madden is a farmer, accountant, Lutheran lady, and survivor of domestic violence. Previously, she served on the LCMS Task Force for Domestic Violence, where she authored You Are Not Alone: A Prayer Book for Victims of Domestic Violence and was a contributor to Identify, Understand, Intervene: Training Manual for Domestic Violence. She also worked for many years with Higher Things.

For additional (non-LCMS) resources from Sandra Madden on surviving domestic violence and creating healthy marriages, check out:

If you or someone you love is in an abusive relationship, help is available. Call the Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. You can also text “start” to 88788 or chat live at thehotline.org.

#157. Adventures in Lutheranism: Camp Arcadia, Michigan

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 10:45:00 -0500

It’s an Adventure in Lutheranism for the whole family, as Rachel takes the Ladies on an epic vicarious vacation to Camp Arcadia on the coast of Lake Michigan.

From the pros (Scenery! Bible study! Family dodgeball!) to the cons (Open tabs! Shared bathrooms!) and everything in between, Rachel spills the beans on what it’s like to be a forty-something mother of four living the dream at Lutheran summer camp.

Click to learn more about Camp Arcadia, revisit our previous episode on NLOMA (National Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Association) camps, or find a NLOMA camp near you.

#156. Three Year Anniversary: Arch Book Shenanigans!

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 10:45:00 -0500

Happy third anniversary to the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge podcast!

To commemorate the festive occasion, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel throw an audio Arch Book party, spotlighting Concordia Publishing House’s classic series of picture book Bible stories as they try their hands at writing their own rhyming Bible narratives.

The only trouble? Nearly all the obvious Bible stories have already been made into Arch Books in the last fifty-plus years (some of them several times over). Listen and laugh as the intrepid Ladies scrape the bottom of the proverbial barrel, seeking out the handful of stories and angles that haven’t yet been adapted into Arch Books.

Listen to Rachel recount the story of “Eutychus and the Really Long Sermon” from Acts 20, and hear Erin reflect on the thankless job of Old Testament prophet in “Truthful, not Nice.” Sarah gets a little messy with her rendition of “Ezekiel and the Bad News for Jerusalem,” and Bri digs deep to tell the not-quite-G-rated tale of “Deborah and Barak, Jael and Sisera.”

Click to learn more about or order Arch Books, or to subscribe to CPH’s Family Arch Book Club.

If you happened to miss our first two anniversary podcast episodes, check out our first anniversary Shoebox Extravaganza and our second anniversary commemoration of Great Moments in Lutheran Lady History.

#155. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Himnario Luterano — Spanish Lutheran Hymnal!

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 10:45:00 -0500

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, and to celebrate, Sarah’s leading a special Hymn Sing episode on Himnario Luterano, the new Lutheran hymnal for the Spanish-speaking world.

This episode features information and anecdotes from key figures involved in the creation of this comprehensive worship resource, including the Rev. Ted Krey (Regional Director for LCMS International Mission, Latin America and Caribbean Region), the Rev. Sergio Fritzler (hymnal committee member), Deaconess Sandra Rhein (Sacred Music Educator, Asia Region with LCMS International Mission), the Rev. German Novelli-Oliveros (Outgoing President of the National Hispanic Convention), the Rev. Nathan Sherrill (Executive Director of David’s Harp), Deaconess Cheryl Naumann (Missionary / Director of the VDMA with LCMS International Mission), and the Rev. Dr. Jon Vieker (Dean of Chapel at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis).

At the end of the episode, listeners can enjoy a brief musical performance by the Krey family, showcasing two hymns from Himnario Luterano.

To learn more about the people, resources, and topics covered in this episode, check out the following:

Himnario Luterano online
LCMS International Mission, Latin America and Caribbean Region
The Lutheran Heritage Foundation (request a Spanish hymnal here)
Seminario Concordia El Reformador (LCMS-affiliated seminary in the Dominican Republic)
David’s Harp

View videos of singing from the new hymnal in the show notes at kfuo.org/lutheranladieslounge.

ICYMI: Next Book Club — Gilead

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 10:45:00 -0500

In this excerpt from their September 9 book club recap episode, the Ladies announce their next pick for the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club: Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead: A Novel.

From the publisher:

“John Ames is a preacher, the son of a preacher and the grandson (both maternal and paternal) of preachers. It’s 1956 in Gilead, Iowa, towards the end of the Reverend Ames’s life, and he is absorbed in recording his family’s story, a legacy for the young son he will never see grow up. Haunted by his grandfather’s presence, John tells of the rift between his grandfather and his father: the elder, an angry visionary who fought for the abolitionist cause, and his son, an ardent pacifist. He is troubled, too, by his prodigal namesake, Jack (John Ames) Boughton, his best friend’s lost son who returns to Gilead searching for forgiveness and redemption. Told in John Ames’s joyous, rambling voice that finds beauty, humour and truth in the smallest of life’s details, Gilead is a song of celebration and acceptance of the best and the worst the world has to offer. At its heart is a tale of the sacred bonds between fathers and sons, pitch-perfect in style and story, set to dazzle critics and readers alike.”

#154. Book Club Wrap Up: Bright Valley of Love

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 10:45:00 -0500

In this Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club recap episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a warm and enthusiastic discussion of Edna Hong’s Bright Valley of Love, “the true story of a handicapped child who finds a haven of love in the nightmare of Nazi Germany.”

Where does true joy come from? What ultimately makes a human life worth living? How does God's grace free us to live fully in the moment? What can faithful Christians of the past teach us about good and bad ways to combat great evil?

Readers and listeners will come away with a fresh perspective on the sanctity of human life—especially within the context of severe disability—and a renewed will to cherish the dignity and worth of the most vulnerable among us.

Listen till the end to hear an announcement of the next Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club pick: Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead: A Novel.

#153. Adventures in Lutheranism(ish): Rally Day!

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 10:45:00 -0500

September is “back-to-school” season for young people in general—and “back-to-Sunday-School” season for many young Lutherans in particular.

In this latest “Adventure in Lutheranism,” the Ladies tackle that venerable (though not universal) Protestant Sunday-school tradition: Rally Day, which gathers children and families back after a summer away for the launch of the new Sunday school year. Bri leads the conversation, diving through the murky waters of history in an attempt to understand both how this annual celebration got its start and how it is commonly practiced in churches today.

To learn more, check out the article on Rally Day (referenced by Bri in the episode) in the Congregational Library and Archives’s Beacon Street Diary blog.

#152. Story Time with Sarah: Portals of Prayer, Since 1935

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 10:45:00 -0500

Few Lutherans have never laid eyes on a Portals of Prayer devotional booklet, yet how much do you know about its 87-year history?

In this "Story Time with Sarah" episode, Sarah presents original primary source research on these timeless devotional booklets commissioned in 1935 by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States to provide members of the Synod with short daily devotions, interestingly written, at an affordable price. Stroll through the timeline of these ubiquitous volumes published by Concordia Publishing House to hear tidbits of history, including the first set of authors, partnership with KFUO Radio for audio recordings, the first Lutheran Lady to write for Portals of Prayer, and formatting successes (and otherwise) throughout the years.

At the end, Sarah shares stories from Lutheran Ladies about their own poignant, nostalgic, practical, or otherwise hilarious adventures with Portals of Prayer booklets.

The resources in this episode include:

CPH.org/Portals - your one-stop-shop for Portals of Prayer
75 Years of Portals of Prayer available from CPH
Portals of Prayer Devotional Bible available from CPH
Lutheran Braille Workers - to request Braille Portals of Prayer and other Lutheran Braille materials.
Walter Loeber's story of his time with KFUO Radio's Extension Service
The story of Alma Kern from LWML
And, if you're in the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge Facebook group, read ALL of the stories from the Ladies here!

#151. Iron Ladle Challenge: Thigh-Sized Zucchini

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 10:45:00 -0500

Zucchini. It’s affordable, easy to grow, deliciously versatile, and freakishly prolific. And this time of year, it’s absolutely everywhere.

But what’s a chef to do when the zucchini threatens to take over? Where can you turn when you find yourself buried in thigh-sized summer vegetables?

Never fear! The Lutheran Ladies are here to help, with an Iron Ladle Challenge all about zucchini. From Bri’s crispy zucchini fritters to Sarah’s oven-baked zucchini chips, from Rachel’s take on a classic French ratatouille to Erin’s mouth-watering zucchini bread, you’re sure to find a few tasty ideas for coping with the annual midsummer zucchini invasion.

Recipes from this episode:

Bri's Zucchini Fritters: justataste.com/5-ingredient-zucchini-fritters-recipe

Sarah's Low Slow Oven Zucchini Chips: aspicyperspective.com/baked-zucchini-chips

Sarah's Hot Fast Oven Zucchini Chips: healthyrecipesblogs.com/zucchini-chips

Rachel's Ratatouille: pbs.org/food/recipes/classic-ratatouille (substituting yellow squash for eggplant, for supply chain reasons)

Erin's Zucchini Bread: smittenkitchen.com/2019/08/ultimate-zucchini-bread.

#150. Bri's Radio Theatre: Financial Peace University

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 10:45:00 -0500

In this time of inflation, what better way to process rising prices and supply chain failures than with Bri’s Radio Theatre.

In five brief comedy sketches inspired by Dave Ramsey’s popular Financial Peace University program, Bri and the Ladies explore fiscal responsibility and ways to spend wisely during tight financial times. While Financial Peace has great merit to bring people out of debt, Bri takes this opportunity to poke fun at its lack of sound theology, Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps “that sometimes have adult feet,” and the ridiculous lengths one might go to for their financial goals.

In the end, though, Bri reminds the Ladies that our financial status doesn’t determine our salvation.

Find Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University from Ramsey Solutions and explore his Seven Baby Steps. And if you need a budget, check out You Need A Budget.

New to Bri’s Radio Theatre? Listen to past episodes here.

#149. Rachel's Trivia Challenge: Lutheran Road Trip!

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 10:45:00 -0500

In her latest Trivia Challenge, Rachel's taking Sarah, Erin, and Bri on the "Ultimate Lutheran Road Trip," spotlighting major Lutheran cultural and historical sites around the US. Play along at home as the Ladies' test their Lutheran-specific geographical knowledge, from north to south, sea to shining corn field.

To learn more about the locations mentioned in the episode, check out the following:

#148. Conversations with Creatives: Jessie Bell, Concordia Collective

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 10:45:00 -0500

Jessie Bell is a Navy chaplain spouse, homeschool mother of four, and the creative entrepreneur behind the Concordia Collective line of “fun Lutheran merch”—including its signature Family Lectionary.

In this “Conversations with Creatives” episode, Jessie talks with the ladies about growing up as a third culture missionary kid, supporting (and being supported by) her chaplain husband, raising kids to love the church year, and finding the courage and verve to start a creative online business venture.

Click to shop the Concordia Collective online store, and connect with Jessie on Facebook and Instagram.

#147. Adventures in Lutheranism: The LCMS Youth Gathering!

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 10:45:00 -0500

More than 20,000 Lutheran high school students, leaders, and volunteers recently attended the LCMS Youth Gathering in Houston, Texas, and in this Adventures in Lutheranism conversation, Sarah, Erin, and Bri get the inside scoop from one young Lutheran lady in particular.

Rachel yields her spot at the mic to her 17-year-old daughter Elanor, who shares the highs and lows of her time in Houston. From sessions and skits to shuttle buses and servant events, Ela provides an honest teen’s-eye view of the LCMS’s signature youth event.

To learn more about the LCMS Youth Gathering, visit lcmsgathering.com. Interested youth leaders should also check out End Goals, the official podcast of LCMS Youth Ministry, where they can listen to “Gathering Finishing Pack” episodes full of ideas for how to bring home the lessons learned in Houston.

#146. Wild Card: Shout Out to the Aunties!

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 10:45:00 -0500

Aunts and Uncles Day is celebrated in the United States on July 26, and in this Wild Card episode, Bri celebrates the unique and God-given vocation of aunt.

Beginning with each Lady’s personal account of aunthood, the conversation goes on to cover the deep love an aunt shares with her nieces and nephews, the opportunity aunts have to provide spiritual nurture and encouragement to the young people in their lives, and the joy that comes from this special set of family relationships.

Click to learn more about National Aunt and Uncle Day.

#145: Conversations with Creatives: Kelly (Schumacher) Uffenbeck

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 10:45:00 -0500

Kelly (Schumacher) Uffenbeck is a painter, teacher, and the dynamic creative force behind Agnus Dei Liturgical Arts.

In this “Conversations with Creatives” episode, she talks honestly about life, craft, business, faith, and what it really takes to be a professional artist in the world today.

Click to learn more about Kelly (Schumacher) Uffenbeck and Agnus Dei Liturgical Arts, find Kelly on Facebook, or check out her illustrated books from Kloria Press.

#144. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Hymns for the Nation

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 10:45:00 -0500

The third hymn in the Nation and National Songs section, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was featured in the Hymns Sing with Sarah episode for Black History Month.

Read all 101 additional verses for “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” in this PDF from alliedmerchantnavy.com.

To learn more about these and other hymns in Lutheran Service Book, check out CPH’s two-volume set Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns.

#143. Wild Card: Upcycling Thrivent “Live Generously” T-shirts

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 09:15:00 -0500

In this craft-tastic Wild Card episode, Bri loves and celebrates (to bits and pieces, in some cases) the Lutheran cultural phenomenon that is the Thrivent “Live Generously” T-shirt.

These “buttery-soft” T-shirts, which typically arrive in bulk with a Thrivent Action Teams Grant, are famously comfortable. They are also notoriously abundant—an unsurprising reality given the number of service projects the average Lutheran family participates in each year.

For all those Lutheran ladies tempted to “Marie-Kondo” their old or extra “Live Generously” T-shirts, Bri here offers ten ways to upcycle them for sustainable (re)use in in both home and wardrobe.

Click for illustrated instructions on any of the crafts mentioned in this episode:

To learn more about Thrivent Action Team Grants and how Thrivent members at your church can apply, click here.

ICYMI: Next Book Club — Bright Valley of Love

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 11:15:00 -0500

In this excerpt from their June 17 book club recap episode, the Ladies announce their next pick for the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club: Edna Hong's Bright Valley of Love.

From the publisher:

"In this stirring and true story, Gunther, a handicapped and neglected child born in Germany during World War I, finds a new home at Bethel, a Christian community for the physically and mentally impaired. At Bethel, Gunther learns to speak and sing, walk and work, and pray and praise. He experiences both the joy of making friends for the first time and the sorrow of having to say goodbye. Through the care of pastors, deaconesses, and teachers, Gunther finds meaning and purpose in music, thanksgiving, and the everyday exercise of a life lived well, no matter the limitations.

"The love and security of Bethel is threatened, however, by the Nazi regime as it targets the vulnerable. Can its 2,000 residents be saved?"

Click to learn more about Edna Hong's Bright Valley of Love, to see a complete list of Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and runners up, or to revisit past online book club events in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group.

142. Book Club Wrap Up: 'Wonderfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body'

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 09:45:00 -0500

In this Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club recap episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a lively and wide-ranging discussion of John Kleinig’s Wonderfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body.

What kinds of things can go amiss in our lives when we have an improper or incomplete theological understanding of the body? How does a solidly biblical theology of the body help us better think through what it means to be a human being—and a woman of God? And where do we go from there?

Touching on issues including chastity, birth control, marriage and singleness, Christian friendship, virtual church, sacramental worship, life after death, and more, this conversation will challenge and inspire you to a new and deeper gratitude for God’s gift of embodied life.

Listen till the end to hear an announcement of the next Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club pick: Edna Hong’s Bright Valley of Love, which you can find on Amazon.com in paperback, audiobook, and e-book.

Hear the Ladies' previous discussion on Physical Stewardship of the Bodyhere.

#141. Kitchen Table Talks: Original Sin

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 10:45:00 -0500

In a shocking break with convention, the Lutheran Ladies welcome a man (GASP!) into the Lounge as they introduce a new segment called Kitchen Table Talk, inspired by Martin Luther’s famous Reformation “table talk” conversations with his students.

In this debut episode, Rev. Sean Daenzer offers wise and friendly counsel on the theological hot topic of original sin. What does it mean that human beings not only commit sins but are actually born sinners? When and how was the doctrine of original sin first identified and developed? How do Jesus’ two natures (human and divine) get around this knotty problem and work together for our salvation? What about baptism? The so-called “age of accountability”? Concupiscence? (For that matter, what even is concupiscence?)

The Rev. Sean Daenzer serves as director of worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and as chaplain of the LCMS International Center in Saint Louis. A veteran guest of KFUO Radio programs including Concord Matters and Sharper Iron, Rev. Daenzer can now be heard regularly through his Daily Chapel sermons.

#140. Iron Ladle Challenge: Cookout Side Dishes!

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 10:45:00 -0500

It's a new Iron Ladle Challenge, and this time, the Ladies are tackling cookout side dishes!

Rachel begins with a rhapsodic ode to a Midwest classic: ramen noodle slaw. Sarah experiments with a new allergy- and intolerance-friendly medley of roasted veggies, and offers a bonus recipe for homemade sparkling ginger soda. Erin brings to the table a pair of vintage family recipes--for sour cream bean and tomato salad and champagne bean salad--and Bri goes full comfort-food with her favorite corn casserole.

Let your mouth water as you glean a few tasty ideas for your next summer cookout, picnic, or barbecue.

Rachel's Ramen Noodle Slaw

Ingredients

In a roomy bowl, combine:

1 bag coleslaw mix
2 packages crushed dry ramen noodles (prefer beef or soy sauce flavor; reserve sauce packet)
Add-ins to taste*

In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, combine:

1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable other other mild-tasting oil
2 ramen flavor packets

Instructions

Heat just until the sugar and flavorings are completely dissolved. Pour sauce over slaw. Mix (and mix well).

*Add-ins could include: toasted almonds, sunflower seeds, pepitas, toasted sesame seeds, slivered onions, slivered red cabbage, sliced green onions, chives, or scallions, pickled ginger, or french fried onions. Get creative!

Sarah's Sheet Pan Roasted Veggies

Ingredients

24oz chopped butternut squash
24oz chopped zucchini
12oz chopped broccoli

(Equal parts butternut and zucchini, half broccoli.)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400. Toss butternut in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on large baking sheet. Bake about 20 minutes, or until the butternut is starting to brown. While that’s baking, chop zucchini and broccoli. Keep separate. Toss both in olive oil, salt, pepper. (less is more.) Take butternut out, stir around. Layer zucchini on top, and broccoli on top. Put back in oven and bake about 20 more minutes until the broccoli is roasted on top and the zucchini is no longer hard.

Find pre-chopped butternut unless you like cutting up a whole one.
I quarter zucchini lengthwise and chop into ¼" ish slices, to make quarter rounds.
Chop broccoli into bite-size pieces. (Or buy pre-cut. No shame.)
I love olive oil, but too much will make it all mushy.
Other herbs like rosemary, thyme, or some garlic would be delicious. Even a dash of parmesan at the end would be very good!
I use Celtic salt for the flavor and minerals. Highly recommend.

Sarah's Homemade Ginger seltzer

First, ginger syrup from The Harvest Kitchen. Recipe: theharvestkitchen.com/ginger-syrup-recipe

Ingredients

3/4 cup filtered water
1 cup fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced (about 4oz)
3/4 cup clover honey (add to taste!)

Instructions

Peel ginger and cut into pieces. (You don't have to peel it.)
Bring ginger and water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
Strain through a sieve and reserve ginger for another use or discard.
Set ginger water aside to cool for 5 minutes
Add honey 1/4 cup at a time and mix with water until honey dissolves and you achieve desired sweetness.
Pour ginger honey mixture in a glass jar and seal lid. Store in refrigerator.

Add mixture to plain sparkling water until desired sweet/spiciness is achieved! (I added a little more than half to 1 liter of water, and that was about right.)

Erin's Champagne Bean Salad

Serves a lot

Combine:

1 can each:
Small Red Beans
Garbanzo beans
Black-eyed peas
Pinto beans
Cannellini beans
And 1 small can of corn
½ c Red onion, finely chopped

Combine in another bowl until the sugar is dissolved:

¾ c champagne vinegar
3 T sugar
2 T olive oil
½ t salt

Optional: ¼ c cilantro, chopped

Mix it all together. It gets better the longer it sits. Eat it at room temperature if possible.

Serve with tortilla chips, or a spoon.

Erin's Sour Cream Green Bean and Tomato Salad

Serves 4-8

Mix A:

½ c sour cream
¼ c Italian dressing

Mix B:

2 c green beans, cut up (lightly cooked)
1 ½ c cherry tomatoes, sliced (or 2 medium tomatoes, cut up)
½ c chopped spring onion (or other onion)

Combine A. Add B and mix well. Chill 2 hours.

Bri's Corn Casserole

Ingredients

1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 can creamed corn
1 can corn, drained well
1/3-1/2 cup sugar (I used a half because DUH)
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350℉.
Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
Grease a 1 1/2 - 2 quart baking dish, pour in corn cake mixture.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until mixture is still just a tiny big jiggly in the center.
Remove from oven, allow to cool 5-10 minutes and serve.

Serves “6.”

#139. Story Time with Sarah: Military Chaplaincy in American History

Fri, 27 May 2022 10:45:00 -0500

Just in time for Armed Forces Sunday, Memorial Day, and Military Appreciation Month, Sarah tells the story of American military chaplaincy in general and LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces in particular.

Beginning with George Washington and the Revolutionary War and continuing through the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and later conflicts, this Story Time episode shines a spotlight on the work Lutheran chaplains have done to share the love of Christ with soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, coast guardsmen, guardians, and others.

For more information, visit the Ministry to the Armed Forces page at LCMS.org, where you can learn more about Operation Barnabas, the Adopt-a-Chap program, and more. Follow LCMS MAF on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter to read stories and see photos of chaplains in action.

To dig more deeply into the early history of LCMS military chaplaincy, check out They Shall Not March Alone: Glimpses into the Life and History of the Chaplaincy of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

For more bonus stories from this episode, read about Chaplain Gregory Todd's promotion to Chief of Chaplains for the U.S. Navy, Chaplain Travis Ferguson's service in Qatar, and Chaplain Chad Czischke's service in Afghanistan.

#138. Erin's One Question Interview: Deaconess Ministry

Fri, 20 May 2022 08:45:00 -0500

Across the LCMS, consecrated deaconesses share Christ's love through works of mercy, spiritual care, administration, and teaching. Yet many Lutherans remain largely uninformed about who these professional church workers are and how they serve.

In this One Question Interview, Deaconess Sarah Longmire begins with one big question (What even is a deaconess?), before satisfying the Ladies' curiosity on a number of related subjects: What does a deaconess do? How are deaconesses formed and trained? How are they different from other church workers, especially pastors? What common misconceptions exist about deaconess ministry?

Deaconess Sarah Longmire is president of the Concordia Deaconess Conference, a free association of LCMS-rostered deaconesses and LCMS-certified deaconess candidates who subscribe to and live by the confessional position of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and who hold membership in a congregation or partner church of the same.

Click to learn more about the Concordia Deaconess Conference or LCMS Deaconess Ministry.

#137. Bri’s Big Question: Is Cancel Culture for the Christian?

Fri, 13 May 2022 10:45:00 -0500

In her latest “Big Question” conversation, Bri tackles one of the major conundrums of contemporary culture: What is cancel culture? And, more importantly: How can Lutherans best respond to this painful and contentious new reality?

The Ladies begin by defining basic terms before diving into how the Bible and the Lutheran confessions may apply. They then explore several practical implications: Can and should Christians ever cancel each other? What do you do when you are tempted to cancel somebody? How can you avoid cancelling others and being cancelled yourself? What can you do if you find that, despite your best efforts to make peace, you have been cancelled for your Christian statements and beliefs?

#136. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Good Shepherd Sunday

Fri, 06 May 2022 06:00:00 -0500

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

These familiar words from Psalm 23 and John 10 have been cherished by Christians throughout the ages for the deep comfort they bring. Also beloved are the hymns inspired by them—and it is these “Good Shepherd” hymns that are the focus in this Easter season Hymn Sing with Sarah episode.

Beginning with a broader discussion of the historical names and meanings of the Sundays between Easter and Pentecost (Quasimodo Geniti, Misericordias Domini, Jubilate, Cantate, Rogate, and Exaudi), Sarah then hones in on hymns and readings for Misericordias Domini ("the steadfast love of the Lord”), known in common parlance as Good Shepherd Sunday.

Sarah tells the stories behind three of the most popular Good Shepherd hymns—“The King of Love My Shepherd Is” (LSB 709), “The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want” (LSB 710), and “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” (LSB 711)—before inviting Erin, Bri, and Rachel to discuss their own favorite hymns in the genre.

Links referenced in this episode include:

Special thanks to Cantor Phillip Magness and Luther Gulseth for recording these hymns for this episode.

#135. Wild Card: Head Coverings in the History of Womanhood

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 10:45:00 -0500

Recently, more and more Lutheran women have expressed curiosity in the ancient Christian practice of female head covering.

In this wildest of Wild Card episodes, Rachel delves deeply into the history and meaning of veiling, examining the New Testament and its cultural context, the teachings of the Early Church Fathers, the Medieval art traditions, Luther’s writings, the Lutheran Confessions, and other sources as she seeks to better understand this now generally defunct tradition.

Why did most married Christian women faithfully cover their heads during worship (and in many cases, in all public settings) throughout the first 1900+ years of the Church’s history? And given this long history, why—and how—was the practice almost universally abandoned by Western Christians in the twentieth century?

Sources referenced in this episode include:

“Christian head covering” (Wikipedia)
“Homily 26 on 1 Corinthians” (Chrysostom/NewAdvent.org)
“A Survey of the History of the Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16” (A. Philip Brown II)
“Medieval Women Unveiled: Fashion, Gender, and Piety” (ArtUK)
Luther on Women: A Sourcebook
The Augsburg Confession, Article 28
“When Going Out without a Hat Was Grounds for Scandal” (Atlas Obscura)
Women in the Church: Scriptural Principles and Ecclesial Practice (LCMS CTCR)

#134. Sharathon 2022: What Lutheran Lady Do You Want To Be?

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 10:45:00 -0500

Which Lutheran ladies do the Lutheran Ladies want to be when they grow up?

In this four-segment Sharathon episode, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel each consider and describe one or more heroines of the faith who exemplify the kind of Lutheran woman they hope to become. From math teachers to missionary mentors, from beloved grandmothers to authors who play beloved grandmothers on the radio for April Fool’s Day, listeners to this episode will be introduced to an inspiring assortment of Lutheran ladies well worth emulating.

#133. Adventures in Lutheranism: Holy Week in Montevideo, Uruguay

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 08:45:00 -0500

In this special Holy Week episode, the Ladies welcome international missionary Angie Sharp into the Lounge—all the way from Montevideo, Uruguay!

Angie, a missionary educator, serves alongside her husband, the Rev. James Sharp, as they work to plant churches, teach the faith, and support local mercy work and community building activities. In this eye-opening and inspiring conversation, she shares what it’s like to celebrate Holy Week and Easter in what is arguably the most secular nation in Latin America.

Click to learn more about the Sharps and their work in Uruguay or to support them with your prayers and gifts.

#132. Wild Card: Easter Egg Traditions Around the Globe

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 10:45:00 -0500

How do Easter egg traditions enrich our celebrations of Christ’s resurrection?

In this Wild Card episode, the Ladies recount their own family Easter egg and Easter basket traditions past and present before accompanying Bri on a hilarious grand tour of Easter egg customs around the world. From egg-rolling in Scotland to egg showers (cascarones) in Mexico to the elaborately decorated pysanky of Ukraine, Bri provides a brief description of each practice, before offering a highly subjective (and, it turns out, occasionally debatable) score for each.

If you want to try something new and bring some international flair to your own Easter festivities, Bri’s round-up will provide you with a wealth of meaningful multi-cultural ideas.

For further reading, check out “Top Eight Easter Egg Traditions from around the World” from Language Connections.

To learn more about the Easter vigil service mentioned in the program, listen to our 2021 interview with church musician Emmy Woock.

#131. Surprise Special Guests with Trills, Frills, and... Gills?

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 06:45:00 -0500

A blessed April Fool's Day to you from Sarah, Erin, Bri, Rachel, and special guest Katie Schuermann, author of the Anthems of Zion series from Concordia Publishing House.

"We are fools for Christ's sake ..." (1 Cor. 4:10a)

Want to hear more from Candice, Nettie, Bev, and Mrs. Scheinberg? Subscribe to the print edition of The Lutheran Witness magazine at witness.lcms.org/Bradbury for new, continuing stories from Bradbury every month.

To find these books and more, visit katieschuermann.com.

ICYMI: Next Book Club — Wonderfully Made

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 10:45:00 -0500

In this excerpt from their March 25 book club recap episode, the Ladies announce their next pick for the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club: the Rev. Dr. John Kleinig’s Wonderfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body.

From the publisher:

"When it comes to thinking about our bodies, confusion reigns. In our secular age, there has been a loss of the body’s goodness, purpose, and end. Many people, driven by shame and idolatry, abuse their body through self-harm or self-improvement. How can we renew our understanding and see our bodies the way God does?

"In Wonderfully Made, John Kleinig forms a properly biblical theology of our bodies. Through his keen sensitivity to Scripture’s witness, Kleinig explains why bodies matter. While sin has corrupted our bodies and how we think of them, God’s creation is still good. Thus, our bodies are good gifts. The Son took on a body to redeem our bodies. Kleinig addresses issues like shame, chastity, desire, gender dysphoria, and more, by integrating them into the biblical vision of creation."

Click to learn more about John Kleinig’s Wonderfully Made, to see a complete list of Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and runners up, or to revisit past online book club events in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group.

#130. Book Club Wrap Up: The Enchanted April

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 10:45:00 -0500

Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a recap discussion of the latest Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club selection: Elizabeth von Arnim’s The Enchanted April.

How does a woman who feels "miserable" and is absolutely longing "for something else" find renewal and refreshment? How do seemingly impetuous leaps of faith drive both the stories we read and the lives we live? What can we learn theologically from a book that, on the surface, seems hostile to Christian religion?

At the end of the episode, the Ladies announce their next book club read—and for once, Rachel has absolutely nothing to do with the selection. What will it be? Listen to the end to find out!

Click to learn more about Elizabeth von Arnim’s The Enchanted April, to see a complete list of Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and runners up, or to revisit past online book club events in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group.

#129. Hymn Sing with Sarah: Holy Week Hymns

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 09:15:00 -0500

As Lutherans everywhere traverse the valley of Lent and prepare once again to remember Christ’s death and resurrection, Sarah looks forward to Passiontide with a Hymn Sing episode on Holy Week hymns.

Hymns featured in this episode include those for Palm Sunday (“Ride On, Ride on in Majesty,” “All Glory, Laud, and Honor,” “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna,” and “No Tramp of Soldiers’ Marching Feet”); Maundy Thursday (”When You Woke That Thursday Morning” and “Jesus, Greatest at the Table”); and Good Friday (“Jesus, In Your Dying Woes,” “O Darkest Woe,” “O Perfect Life of Love,” “Sing, My Tongue the Glorious Battle,” “The Royal Banners Forward Go,” and “Were You There?”).

Listening for a hymn you don’t hear covered here? Check out previous Hymn Sing with Sarah episodes on Lenten hymns, Easter hymns, and Communion hymns (parts one and two).

To learn more about these and other hymns in Lutheran Service Book, check out CPH’s two-volume set Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns.

#128. Erin's Recipe Card: Crock Pot Gumbo

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 15:02:00 -0600

With the pandemic finally winding down, more and more churches are resuming potlucks, Lenten soup suppers, and other fellowship meals. What better time to turn our attention to the humble, faithful Crock Pot?

In this edition of Erin’s Recipe Card, Erin’s sharing her Uncle Kermit’s spicy, savory Crock Pot gumbo recipe—a dish that’s just as perfect for warming up on cold days as it is for cooling down on hot ones.

Uncle Kermit’s Gumbo

Adapted for the slow-cooker by Erin

Ingredients

½ c roux- see note
6 stalks celery, chopped
1 med/large onion, chopped
2 large green peppers, chopped
¼ c parsley, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ t thyme
¼ t cayenne
½ t black pepper
½ t salt
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts- see note
.5- .75 lb. sausage, sliced ½” thick- see note
4-5 c chicken stock
Optional: .5 lb. shelled shrimp, optional but delicious

For serving:

Salt, to taste
Cooked rice
1 bunch green onions, including as much green as you can- sliced
Hot sauce

Directions:

Add all ingredients, except optional shrimp and serving ingredients, to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 7-9 hours, or on high for 4 hours.
Optional: Shrimp cook very quickly, so add them near the end of cooking or cook them separately and add before serving.
Taste and adjust for seasonings.
Serve in bowls with rice. Top with sliced green onions and hot sauce.
Gumbo is even better a day or two after you make it and it freezes beautifully.

Notes:

On roux: If you make your own, use 4 T oil and 4 T flour. Cook slowly in a pan, stirring frequently, until it turns a dark brown, like the color of fudge. This will take a very long time. Don’t go too quickly and burn the roux. If you see dark specks appear, you burned it and need to start over. Alternatively, take Uncle Kermit’s approach and use a jar of prepared Cajun roux. I bought mine on Amazon.

On chicken: Use whole chicken thighs/breasts and shred the meat at the end. Use tongs to remove the pieces to a plate, and shred with a fork. Alternatively, you can cut the chicken meat into bite size pieces before putting it in the crockpot. To make it easier to cut, do so when it is partially frozen.

On sausage: Use a smoked sausage. Andouille is traditional, but if you can’t find that- or if you prefer a milder sausage- kielbasa is a solid non-traditional option.

#127: Wild Card: Complicated Relationship Between Lutherans and Alcohol

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 10:45:00 -0600

Last week, the Ladies talked coffee. This week, they’re at the other end of the beverage spectrum, with an honest and hard-hitting Wild Card conversation on alcohol and Lutheran churches.

Is drinking a sin? How does Scripture inform our use of alcohol? What did Luther think and say about alcohol and drunkenness? What place (if any) does recreational drinking have in our life together as Lutherans? How can Lutheran women enjoy alcohol responsibly while also extending grace and compassion to those whose lives have been negatively impacted by alcohol abuse?

To learn more, check out the following resources:

LCMS.org FAQ on “What is the LCMS’s stance on the consumption of alcohol?”
Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller on “Martin Luther’s Top Five ‘Beer’ Quotations”
Eleanor Health on “Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism—How to Know if Someone Has a Problem with Drinking”
“Alcohol Facts and Statistics” from the National Institutes of Health
“Data on Excessive Drinking” from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

If you are shackled by addiction, let the chains fall. Jesus took your pain and struggles to the cross and you are loved and forgiven. There is hope and help for you on this earth until we await Christ’s return. To speak to someone right away about problem drinking, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) hotline: 1-800-662-4357.

#126: Rachel's Trivia Challenge: Coffee and Christianity

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 10:45:00 -0600

We all know and love enjoying coffee hour together after church. (Click here and here for recent evidence of how much we at The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge love this venerable Lutheran tradition.) But how much do you know about the connection between coffee and Christianity? Test yourself with the latest round of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge—all about coffee!

Which religious group pioneered the brewing and drinking of coffee? What was Pope Clement VIII’s reaction to his first sip of the stuff? Which 90s Christian rock band penned an ode to “good coffee, strong coffee”? And, perhaps most importantly, did Martin Luther drink coffee???

To learn more about this fascinating subject, check out the following resources:

“A Reformation History of Coffee” (Rev. Chris Gillespie/Coffee by Gillespie)
“Father, Son, and Holy Roast: How Coffee Became Christians’ Acceptable Vice” (Washington Post)
“Coffee: The Beverage That Fuels the Church” (Christianity Today)
“The Sipping Sacrament” (BeliefNet)
“The Beloved Church Coffee Hour May Soon Return as COVID-19 Fades” (Religion News Service)
Holy Grounds: The Surprising Connection between Coffee and Faith by Tim Schenck
“What Churchgoers Missed Most about In-Person Services” (Barna Group)

Need more trivia? Click through to listen to previous Rachel’s Trivia Challenge episodes.

#125: Story Time with Sarah: Amanda Husberg, Church Musician Extraordinaire

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 09:15:00 -0600

Amanda Husberg (1940–2021) was a church musician, early childhood educator, lifelong Lutheran lady—and the composer of hundreds of published hymn tunes, texts, choral pieces, and liturgies. In this episode, airing almost a year to the day of Husberg’s death (February 15), Sarah tells her story.

Drawing not only on published sources but on firsthand interviews with those who knew her, Sarah describes Husberg’s childhood in a Chicago-area LCMS congregation; her education at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska; her decades of service to the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York; and her astounding contribution to the American musical landscape as an organist, choir director, music educator, and composer.

Learn more about Amanda Husberg in Concordia University Chicago’s new documentary “The Life and Legacy of Amanda Husberg,” available to view freely on YouTube. Also, view Amanda's Funeral Mass Memorial Service on YouTube.

#124: Bri's Radio Theatre: Coffee Hour Pregame Show

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 10:45:00 -0600

Bri’s Radio Theatre is back, and this time, it’s all about coffee hour.

In three brief comedy sketches—each written, performed, and produced by Bri herself—the members of St. John (or is it St. John’s?) Evangelical Lutheran Church navigate the ins and outs of coffee hour, Sunday school, and Bible study, with expert play-by-play analysis from commentators “Justin Fication,” “Andi Fechtung,” and “Vicky Atonement.”

Enjoy NFL-style coverage of your favorite education-hour activities, from choosing a donut to wrangling hyperactive Sunday school children, in these lighthearted, laugh-out-loud vignettes.

New to Bri’s Radio Theatre? Listen to past episodes here.

#123: Iron Ladle Challenge: Coffee Hour Treats

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 10:45:00 -0600

In their latest “Iron Ladle Challenge,” the Lutheran Ladies each try their hand at making a tasty contribution for that most Lutheran of culinary events: the after-church coffee hour.

Erin leads off with a plate of picture-perfect, sweet and savory apple-cheddar scones, while Sarah samples a new-to-her, vegan- and allergy-friendly blueberry-almond cookie. Bri goes rogue with a vanilla bean syrup sure to fancy up even the plainest and most austere church coffee, and Rachel ‘fesses up after smoking out her house with a disastrous (yet somehow still delicious) batch of coffee cake muffins.

Laugh along (and learn from Rachel’s mistakes) as you glean a few appetizing ideas for your next turn at coffee hour baking.

Erin's Apple Cheddar Scones

Read the full recipe at smittenkitchen.com/2010/10/apple-and-cheddar-scones.

Makes 6 generous scones

2 firm tart apples
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar plus 1 1/2 tablespoons for sprinkling
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt plus additional for egg wash
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes plus additional for baking sheet if not lining it with parchment
1/2 cup sharp cheddar, shredded (white is recommended, I assume for aesthetics)
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 large eggs

Instructions

Position a rack at the center of oven and preheat oven to 375 °F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Peel and core apples, then cut them into one-sixteenths. (I assumed this meant chunks, not slivers.) Placed them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake them until they take on a little color and feel dry to the touch, about 20 minutes. They will be about half-baked. Let them cool completely. (You can speed this up in the fridge, as I did.) Leave oven on.
Sift or whisk flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together. Set aside. Place butter in the bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, along with cooled apple chunks, cheese, cream and one egg. Sprinkle flour mixture over the top and mix on low speed until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix.

[Don’t have a stand or hand mixer? I’d rub the cold butter into the flour mixture with my fingertips or with a pastry blender, hand-chop the apples coarsely and mix the rest together with a wooden spoon until combined. It might feel awkward, but it should all come together. Again, don’t overmix it though it will be harder to do this by hand.]

Generously flour your counter top and place the scone dough on top of it. Sprinkle with flour. Use a rolling pin to gently roll (or use your hands to pat) the dough into a 1 1/4-inch thick, 6-inch circle. Cut circle into 6 wedges. Transfer them to a baking sheet that has either been buttered or lined with a fresh sheet of parchment paper. Leave at least 2 inches between each scone.
Beat remaining egg in a small bowl with a pinch of salt. Brush the scones with egg wash and sprinkle them with remaining tablespoon of sugar. Bake until firm and golden, about 30 minutes. With a spatula, lift them to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Before you eat one, make sure you realize how addictive they might be. Once you’ve got that down, go for it anyway.

Do ahead: Scones are best the day they are baked. However, they can be made ahead of time and stored unbaked in the freezer until you need them. Simply brush them with the egg wash and sprinkle them with sugar, and bake them still frozen for just a couple extra minutes. This way they are always freshly baked when you want them. These scones were passable on day two and terrible on day three.

Bri's Vanilla Coffee Syrup

Recipe from mybakingaddiction.com/homemade-vanilla-coffee-syrup.

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups water
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 vanilla bean, split in half
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk together water, sugar, and vanilla bean.
Bring to a boil and reduce heat.
Simmer for about five minutes - the sugar should be completely dissolved.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
Once simple syrup has cooled, remove the vanilla bean and pour the syrup into a glass jar or bottle.
Store in refrigerator.

Sarah's Blueberry Almond Cookies

Edited from the original recipe from Simple Veganista: simple-veganista.com/almond-flour-thumbprint-cookies.

Ingredients

2 cups fine ground almond flour
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2/3 cup (approx) frozen wild blueberries

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicon mat.
Remove blueberries from freezer and let them thaw slightly.
Make the dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, olive oil and vanilla. Add the almond flour and salt, mix well until the mixture forms a soft dough consistency. Mix in the blueberries until evenly spread.
Shape the cookies: Scoop dough with a 1 tablespoon measuring scoop, scooping up rounded tablespoons full of dough. Place on a rimmed baking sheet, about 2 inches apart, and press into flat circles. Reshape as necessary to incorporate blueberries.
Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 10 – 15 minutes, oven may vary. Cookies should be golden brown around the edges. Once done, the cookies will be soft and harden as they cool.
Makes 16 – 18 cookies.

Rachel's Coffee Cake Muffins

Ingredients

Begin with your favorite basic muffin batter. Here’s mine:

2 c. flour
½ c. sugar
tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
¾ cup milk or cream
½ cup melted butter
2 large eggs

Instructions

Mix dry and wet ingredients separately before combining.
Make a cinnamon streusel topping by mixing softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little flour (measurements to taste).
Fill greased muffin cups 1/3 fill with muffin batter. At a table spoon or so of streusel. Add more batter on top. Optional: top with more streusel. Handy hint: DO NOT OVERFILL.
Bake at 350 for approximately 20 min.

ICYMI: Next Book Club — The Enchanted April

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 10:45:00 -0600

Shamelessly cherry-picking an idea from their recent interview with fellow Lutheran lady Katie Schuermann, the Ladies announce their next book club read: Elizabeth Von Arnim’s The Enchanted April. In this 1922 novel, ideal for all those who “appreciate wistaria and sunshine,” four Englishwomen, strangers to each other, split costs to rent an Italian castle for a month.

#122: Book Club Wrap Up: Jane Austen's 'Persuasion'

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 08:45:00 -0600

In this episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a recap discussion of the latest Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club selection: Jane Austen’s Persuasion.

What’s the deal with rank and social status in Regency England? What makes Anne Elliot such a likeable heroine? Is Lutheran-lady-lookalike Lady Russell more of a hero or a villain? Which big ideas, life lessons, and insights into the human condition are lurking beneath the surface of this deceptively simple “romance novel”?

At the end of the episode, the Ladies announce their next book club read—shamelessly cherry picked from a recent interview with fellow Lutheran lady Katie Schuermann. What will it be? Listen to the end to find out!

Click to learn more about Jane Austen’s Persuasion, to see a complete list of Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and runners up, or to revisit past online book club events in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group.

#121: Adventures in Lutheranism: Attending the National March for Life

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 09:45:00 -0600

You’ve seen it in the news: January 21, 2021, is the 39^th annual March for Life, held both in our nation’s capital and in cities and towns around the country. This afternoon, thousands upon thousands of people are marching nationwide to support the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death.

But what does it look, feel, and sound like to be physically present for the national March for Life in Washington, D.C.? In this “Adventures in Lutheranism” episode, Sarah and the Ladies welcome Steph Neugebauer, host of the “Friends for Life” podcast from KFUO, as they share their personal experiences marching for life.

Learn more …

Connect with other Lutherans marching for life here.

#120: Adventures in Lutheranism(ish): Brio Magazine

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 10:45:00 -0600

For better or for worse, the 90s were an era rich in alternative, “family-friendly” Christian cultural touchstones, from Bibleman to McGee and Me!, from WOW music compilation CDs to VeggieTales cartoons. In this Adventure in [quasi]Lutheranism, Bri looks back on what was for her the most iconic of 90s Christian publications: Focus on the Family’s Brio magazine.

Not content to base her reflections on memory alone, Bri takes a deep dive into a recent issue of Brio, a monthly print publication for Christian teen and tween girls that initially ran from 1990-2009 and was revived in 2017.

What exactly does Bri find in the pages of the magazine she once loved to mock? Listen and find out …

Click to learn more about Brio magazine or about LCMS RSO Higher Things (also referenced in this episode).

Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge). Follow us on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge, and also follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske). Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge e-newsletter here!

#119: Conversations with Creatives: Katie Schuermann

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 10:45:00 -0600

Katie Schuermann is a household name in many LCMS circles, beloved for her cozy Anthems of Zion trilogy of novels and for nonfiction books including He Remembers the Barren and Pew Sisters.

Joining Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel in the Lounge for an uplifting “Conversations with Creatives” episode, Katie shares a wealth of insights on how to stay refreshed creatively, why discipline is an important aspect of creative work, and how her Lutheran faith gives a deeper meaning to each of her artistic ventures.

Click to learn more about Katie Schuermann’s exciting new collaboration with The Lutheran Witness, browse her books from Concordia Publishing House and Emmanuel Press, visit her website, or listen to previous “Conversations with Creatives” featuring singer/songwriter Erin Bode, microfarmer Beth Riztman, and writer/editor Lisa Clark.

#118: New Year's Eve Prognostications for 2022

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 09:15:00 -0600

One year ago, on New Year’s Eve 2020, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel each offered five blessings and one bold prognostication for 2021—forecasting everything from a kombucha apocalypse to a pandemic of hugging. But did any of their predictions come true?

Listen in as the Ladies look back on their New Year’s blessings and prognostications from 2020 and offer a new round of predictions and good wishes for 2022.

Click to revisit the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge 2020 New Year’s special.

#117: Christmas Poetry Slam: 2021 Remastered Edition

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 09:15:00 -0600

Once again indulging in a little holiday nostalgia, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel here revisit their 2019 “poetry slam” holiday special as each (re)shares an original Christmas poem.

From a Dr. Seuss-themed power ballad to a nativity “limerichard,” from a rhapsodic ode on Christmas hymns to a Hamilton-inspired angelic rap verse, these now-familiar homespun lyrics are newly enriched by a fresh poem for 2021 from a surprise celebrity guest.

#116: Conversations with Creatives: Lisa Clark

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 10:45:00 -0600

By day, Lisa M. Clark is an editor at Concordia Publishing House, where she helps produce a variety of resources for the church.

By night (and on weekends, and sometimes on coffee breaks), Lisa Clark writes—devotions, picture books, Bible curricula, Christmas programs, young adult novels, and hundreds of original hymn texts.

In this “Conversations with Creatives” episode, Lisa joins Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel to share how faith and creativity go hand in hand in every aspect of our varied vocations.

Click to browse Lisa Clark’s books at Concordia Publishing House, or to listen to previous “Conversations with Creatives” episodes featuring singer/songwriter Erin Bode and microfarmer Beth Ritzman.

#115: Rachel's Trivia Challenge: Christmas Carols!

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 09:45:00 -0600

How well do you know your favorite holiday songs? Test yourself with the latest round of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge—all about Christmas carols!

A lightning round at the end challenges listeners to identify carols based only on the title or first line of the song in its language of origin.

Click through to listen to previous Rachel’s Trivia Challenge episodes.

#114: Story Time with Sarah: The Walther League!

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 10:45:00 -0600

In this edition of Story Time with Sarah, Sarah explores the rise and fall of the Walther League, spotlighting the many people and organizations—Walter A. Maier, the We Raise Foundation, and the National Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Association among them—who trace their roots back to this energetic (if occasionally unorthodox) association of Lutheran young people.

To learn more, check out Jon Pahl’s book Hopes and Dreams of All: The International Walther League and Lutheran Youth in American Culture, 1893-1993.

#113: Adventures in Lutheranism: The Boar's Head Festival

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 10:45:00 -0600

What on earth is a Boar’s Head Festival? And why are the Ladies so excited to talk about it?

In this “Adventures in Lutheranism” episode, Bri spearheads an enthusiastic discussion of the seasonal cultural phenomenon known as the Boar’s Head Festival—an annual choral and dramatic extravaganza that celebrates the roots of beloved Christmas songs and traditions through medieval pageantry and the timeless beauty of the Nativity story.

Joining the Ladies in studio are Rachel Hahn and Marty Heinbokel, who share their personal experiences directing the Boar’s Head Festival at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in St. Charles, Missouri.

Click to learn more about Boar’s Head Festivals, and scroll down to browse programs past and present from Immanuel St. Charles’s Festival below.

The Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival (Christ Church Cathedral)
The Story of the Boar’s Head Festival (Peace Boar’s Head)
Boar’s Head Feast (Wikipedia)
Boar’s Head Festival: A Festive End to Christmastide (ResourceUMC)

Click here to view the 1987 Immanuel Boar's Head Program.

Click here to view the 2017 Immanuel Boar's Head Program.

#112: Erin's Recipe Card: The Fruitcake Even Skeptics Will Love

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 10:45:00 -0600

Fruit + cake. What’s not to love?

In this edition of “Erin’s Recipe Card,” Erin introduces Sarah, Rachel, and Bri to her Grammy’s fruitcake as she recreates an epic, 100+-year-old recipe—one that calls for teamwork, patience, upper body strength, and pounds upon pounds of dried fruits and nuts.

Will Erin’s favorite holiday treat finally end the stigma against fruitcake? Will fruitcake skeptic Bri overcome her pop-culture-inspired prejudice and enjoy fruitcake for the first time? Will fruitcake aficionado Rachel confirm that this is, as the Erin’s family cookbook says, “The Very Best Fruitcake”? Listen and find out!

Very Best Fruitcake — A. Luedtke

Fruit and Nuts

1 pound pitted dates

2 pounds seedless raisins

1 pound currants

1 pound golden raisins

8 ounce jar maraschino cherries

8 ounce can pineapple tidbits

1/4 pound dried apricots, cut in half

1/4 pound dried, chopped figs (optional)

1 pound Brazil nuts

1 pound walnuts

1 pound hazelnuts

1 pound pecans

8 ounces shelled almonds

4 ounces cashews (optional)

One day in advance of baking, prepare the nuts and fruit. Shell nuts and leave them whole. Drain cherries and pineapple overnight on paper towels. Candied fruit may be substituted (but we never do). Dust all fruit with 1/4 cup flour; lay nuts on top; cover all with a towel overnight.

Batter

4 cups flour, combined with:

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon allspice or mace

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 pound butter (no substitutes, please)

1 pound brown sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

12 egg yolks (save whites)

1 ounce melted baking chocolate

grated rind of 1 lemon and 1 orange

juice of 1 lemon and 1 orange

1/4 cup grape juice or wine

Be sure to use a bowl large enough to hold all ingredients. A plastic tub may serve this purpose.

Cream butter with brown sugar and vanilla. Add egg yolks, chocolate, and lemon and orange rind. Mix flour with dry ingredients and add it to butter mix alternatively with liquids. Whip egg whites until quite stiff. Combine batter with prepared fruit and nuts. Carefully fold in egg whites and mix gently until thoroughly combined.

Spoon into pans which have been oiled and lined with parchment paper. Will fill 3 standard-sized bread pans and 3 smaller loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 2 - 2 1/2 hours. Watch and shift tins if one side is getting done too fast. Place 2 shallow cake pans with water at bottom of oven to make a moist cake.

Cool on racks.

Wrap in a layer of cheesecloth. Moisten the cloth well with wine, grape juice, bourbon or rum. Wrap in plastic wrap or foil and store in cool place. Once a week for the first month or two, check the cakes to see if the cheesecloth is dry. If it is, moisten them again and then re-wrap in plastic wrap or foil.

Bake a month or two before the holidays. They will keep for more than a year, well wrapped in the fridge.

Adventures in Lutheranism: Church Shopping

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 10:45:00 -0600

Americans—including American Lutherans—are a mobile bunch, and the majority of people will move at least a couple of times within their lives. Some folks will move many times over. And whenever a move to a new community does takes place, that inevitably means … church shopping.

In this week’s “Adventure in Lutheranism,” Rachel (a regular nomad and veteran church shopper) leads the conversation, exploring with Sarah, Erin, and Bri whether “church shopping” is ultimately a good or bad thing and reflecting on what Lutherans should and do look for in a new church home.

#110: Bri's Big Question: Why is the holiday season so complicated?!

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 10:45:00 -0500

“Why is the holiday season so complicated?!” That’s the “Big Question” at the heart of this week’s episode.

Although the winter holidays—Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, New Years, and Epiphany—are treasured as times of joy, celebration, and togetherness, they can also be marked by unmet expectations, unhealthy choices, financial strain, interpersonal conflict, isolation, and other triggers for anxiety and depression. How’s a Lutheran lady to cope?

Addressing the tension head on, Bri leads Sarah, Erin, and Rachel in an honest conversation about holiday stress, acknowledging the often dark reality beneath the holly-jolly veneer and offering a range of helpful tips for surviving “inevitably complicated holiday times.”

To read more about holiday depression and stress, click here.

#109: Story Time with Sarah: Elisabeth Cruciger, the First Female Hymnwriter of the Reformation

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 10:45:00 -0500

Elisabeth Cruciger (c. 1500–1535) was the first female poet and hymnwriter of the Lutheran Reformation—and in this Reformation-themed episode, Sarah tells her story.

From her early vows as nun in a Premonstratensian cloister to her introduction to Luther’s teaching through Johannes Bugenhagen, from her marriage to Wittenberg theologian Caspar Cruciger to her close, personal friendship with Martin and Katharina Luther, Elisabeth Cruciger’s life and faith were anchored in the Christ-centered theology of the Lutheran Reformation. Nowhere is this more evident than in the single surviving hymn attributed to her, “The Only Son from Heaven” (LSB 402), in which her faith, theological acumen, and poetic creativity are all fully on display.

Click to learn more about Elisabeth Cruciger, her Lutheran legacy, and to read Arthur T. Russell’s English translation of her hymn.

#108: Bri's How To Lutheran: Oktoberfestivities

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 10:00:00 -0500

Who doesn’t love a good fall festival? And sausages? And pretzels and mustard?

In this latest “How to Lutheran,” Bri (a first-generation Lutheran without a discernible drop of German blood in her) celebrates the German Lutheran cultural juggernaut that is Oktoberfest.

Starting with Oktoberfest’s German (Catholic) origins in Bavaria, Bri frolics through the past and present of this beloved cultural festival, which is observed annually in many American Lutheran churches. She, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel also relive favorite Oktoberfest memories and discuss what Oktoberfest might look like in less homogenous, more culturally diverse congregational contexts.

ICYMI: Next Book Club — Beloved Lady Novelists

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 10:45:00 -0500

The Ladies choose their next book club pick from a list of lesser known classics by beloved lady novelists:

Persuasion by Jane Austen
An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott
The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery

Which book will the Lutheran Ladies read next? Listen to the end and find out!

#107: Book Club Wrap Up: The Spirituality of the Cross

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 10:39:00 -0500

In this episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a recap discussion of the latest Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club selection: Gene Edward Veith Jr.’s The Spirituality of the Cross: The Way of the First Evangelicals.

Why would a Christian author at the height of his career choose a pagan setting (replete with false idols and human sacrifice) for his most mature novel? Why would a man known for both his historical erudition and his devotion to traditional gender roles retell Greek mythology’s greatest love story from the perspective of a single woman who is also a reigning queen? What’s with all the veils and mirrors (actual and metaphorical) in this book? And what does “till we have faces” mean, anyway?

What is so refreshingly distinctive about the way Lutherans understand the concept of vocation? How does the Lutheran doctrine of Two Kingdoms offer us a different way of thinking about what it means to be "in the world but not of the world"? How does a Lutheran view of Christology help us counteract the misguided “prosperity gospel” and reframe the way we understand and experience our own earthly suffering?

At the end of the episode, the Ladies choose their next book club pick from a list of lesser known classics by beloved lady novelists:

Persuasion by Jane Austen
An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott
The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery

Which book will the Lutheran Ladies read next? Listen to the end of the episode and find out!

Click to learn more about Gene Edward Veith Jr.’s The Spirituality of the Cross, to see a complete list of Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and runners up, or to revisit past online book club events in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group.

#106: Hymn Sing with Sarah: Reformation Communion Hymns

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 10:45:00 -0500

In part two of the podcast’s “Hymn Sing with Sarah” Communion hymn odyssey (listen to part one here), Sarah takes Erin, Bri, and Rachel back in time to celebrate hymns composed prior to 1715.

Eucharistic hymns covered in this episode include “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” “Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord,” “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness,” “O Lord, We Praise Thee,” “O Living Bread from Heaven,” “O Jesus Blessed Lord to Thee,” “Jesus Christ Our Blessed Savior,” “Now My Tongue the Mystery Telling,” “Thee We Adore O Hidden Savior,” and “The Death of Jesus Christ Our Lord.”

Special attention is paid to fan favorites “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing” and “I Come O Savior to Thy Table.”

To learn more about these and other hymns in Lutheran Service Book, check out CPH’s two-volume set Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns.

#105: Erin's One Question Interview: Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 10:45:00 -0500

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and in this installment of “Erin’s One-Question Interview,” the Ladies welcome Elizabeth Entenmann as she shares the heartrending story of her personal experience with pregnancy loss.

#104: TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY! Great Moments in Lutheran Lady History.

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 10:45:00 -0500

This week the Lutheran Ladies celebrate two years of podcasting with an “All Hands on Deck” walk back through great moments in Lutheran lady history.

Bri gets things started with a tribute to Phyllis Wallace, whose long running Woman to Woman show pioneered radio programming by and for Lutheran women in the 1990s and beyond. Erin follows with a short history of the Crock Pot—an essential piece of equipment for Lutheran potlucks everywhere. Sarah and Rachel look back even further, celebrating two women who notably broke ground in LCMS medical missions (Louise Ellerman) and Lutheran hymnody (Lina Sandell), respectively.

Click to learn more about topics from the show:

#103: Revisiting One Year Before We Celebrate Two Years!

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 10:45:00 -0500

Enjoy an encore presentation of The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge’s “One Year Anniversary Shoebox Extravaganza!” as Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel prepare to celebrate two years of podcasting next week.

In their one-year anniversary “all hands on deck” episode—which originally dropped on September 18, 2020—the Lutheran Ladies wanted to know: if you could put one small item in a shoebox that exemplifies the character and lived experience of Lutheran women, what would it be?

Tossing the metaphorical shoebox around their virtual studio, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel each answer the question in turn, suggesting a simple, mundane object that is, for them, truly emblematic of “church lady life.”

#102: Hymn Sing with Sarah: Communion Hymns, Part One

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 10:45:00 -0500

In her latest “Hymn Sing with Sarah” episode, Sarah leads Erin, Bri, and Rachel in a wide-ranging, occasionally rhapsodic discussion of “modern” (AKA post-Enlightenment) Communion hymns.

Beginning at 1715 and continuing through the present, this Hymn Sing episode covers the stories behind Eucharistic hymns including “Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray,” “Eat This Bread,” “O Gracious Lord, I Firmly Am Believing,” and more.

Special attention is paid to fan-favorite “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing,” Omer Westendorf’s beloved contribution to the groundbreaking post-Vatican-II hymnal People’s Mass Book.

To learn more about these and other hymns in Lutheran Service Book, check out CPH’s two-volume set Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns.

#101: Bri's Big Question: Does Lutheran education make you a Lutheran?

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 10:45:00 -0500

Just in time for the 2021-2022 academic year, Bri’s asking a “Big Question” for back-to-school season: Does Lutheran education make you a Lutheran?

Every Lutheran’s educational journey is different—and in this open and honest conversation, the Lutheran Ladies share their own Lutheran school stories as well as those of their listeners online.

From pre-K through university, Lutheran schools provide academically excellent, spiritually formative education to Lutherans and non-Lutherans alike. But are they worth it? (Spoiler alert: yes.)

Click to learn more about LCMS K-12 education and the Concordia University System, or to find a Lutheran school near you.

#100: EPISODE 100! Homage to the Ladies Lounge.

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 11:15:00 -0500

Join us this week in the Ladies’ Lounge for an all-hands-on-deck 100^th Episode Extravaganza!

Rachel gets the party started with a five-question “Trivia Challenge” covering the past, present, and future of restroom ladies’ lounges. She’s followed by Erin, who reveals her “Recipe Card” for a hospitable and well-equipped ladies’ lounge, and Sarah, who offers a pandemic-perfect “Hymn Sing” list of one-stanza hymns for proper handwashing, with demos sung by mission and ministry children. Closing out the festivities is Bri, who belts out a “Wild Card” smorgasbord of favorite moments from the show’s first 100 episodes in a hand-clapping, thigh-slapping musical tribute.

Links referenced include:

"The Rise and Fall of the Women’s Restroom Lounge" (Bloomberg City Lab)
"Ladies Rest Room" (Wikipedia)
Homemade Poopourri Recipe (Happy Money Saver)

Many thanks to our one-stanza-hymn singers:

"Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow" (LSB 805. Text and tune public domain.): The kids from the Donuts and Devos Podcast
"Kyrie! God, Father in Heav’n Above" (LSB 942. Text © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used with permission. Tune public domain.): Elanor Bomberger
"Our Father Who Art in Heaven — I" (LSB 957. Text and tune public domain.): The Krey Family, serving in the Dominican Republic
"God Word Is Our Great Heritage" (LSB 582. Text and tune public domain.): Sarah Gulseth
"On My Heart Imprint Your Image" (LSB 422. Text and tune public domain.): The Ladies' Lounge hosts, plus the Krey Family, serving in the Dominican Republic
"Create in Me" (LSB 956. Text and tune public domain.): The kids from the Donuts and Devos Podcast

#099: Erin's Recipe Card: Kartoffel Kloesse (aka Potato Dumplings)

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 10:45:00 -0500

In this Erin’s Recipe Card adventure, Erin’s tackling a classic German-American side dish culled from a vintage Lutheran lady cookbook: The Heritage of Cooking: A Collection of Recipes from East Perry County, Missouri.

Beginning with a ordinary, unpretentious ingredients—baked potatoes, day-old bread, flour, butter, salt—Erin whips up a fluffy, satisfying batch of Kartoffel Kloesse. These simple potato dumplings (stuffed with a homemade crouton and boiled in minutes on the stove) pair beautifully with roast chicken, beef rouladen, and other old-fashioned Lutheran Sunday dinners.

Potato Dumplings

2 lbs. unsalted potatoes (cooked the day before and riced)

Mix thoroughly with

4 eggs (well beaten)

2 tbsp. salt (scant)

2 tbsp. onion (finely minced)

2 tbsp. parsley (finely minced)

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. marjoram

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/2 c. flour

Mold potato mixture firmly into small balls with croutons as center. (4 clices of bread, diced and toasted in butter provide enough croutons.) Molded dumplings are dropped into boiling salt water and cooked for 3 minutes. They are done when they rise to the surface. (Serves 6.)

~ Mrs. George C. Fiehler

Potatoes cooling in front of the air conditioning vent

Egg and nutmeg mixture.

Fried croutons.

Finished Dumplings.

#098: Story Time with Sarah: Dr. Bessie Rehwinkel — Pioneer, Doctor, Pastor's Wife

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 10:45:00 -0500

From small-town Midwest girl to ground-breaking medical doctor, from pioneering homesteader to Lutheran pastor’s wife, Dr. Bessie (Efner) Rehwinkel’s life was anything but humdrum. In this history- and drama-packed episode, Sarah tells her story.

To learn more about Bessie Rehwinkel, check out the following resources:

Bessie Rehwinkel (CPH Heroes of Faith series) by A. Trevor Sutton
Dr. Bessie by Alfred Rehwinkel

To listen to other “Story Time with Sarah” episodes—featuring faithful women throughout history—visit the KFUO Radio online archive.

Book Club Wrap Up: John Steinbeck's 'Travels with Charley: In Search of America'

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 10:45:00 -0500

In this episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a recap discussion of the latest Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club selection: John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley: In Search of America.

How does Steinbeck's account of America square with our own experiences? Have Steinbeck's observations about societal issues proven true, and have we really learned anything since the 1960s? Is Steinbeck accurate in his description of what makes a man, or did he miss the mark? What can we, as Lutheran ladies, learn from Steinbeck's open, honest, and hospitable manner with strangers?

At the end of the episode, in honor of the next Book Club happening in Reformation October, Rachel presents three choices for the next book club pick in a list titled "Modern Lutheran Classics that Rachel Should Have Read But Somehow Hasn't Yet (Sorry)":

Hammer of God by Bo Giertz
The Spirituality of the Cross by Gene Edward Veith, Jr.
Grace Upon Grace: Spirituality for Today by John Kleinig

Which book will the Lutheran Ladies read next? Visit the Lutheran Ladies Lounge Facebook group to vote in the poll!

Click to see a complete list of Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and runners up, or to revisit past online book club events in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group.

#096: HYMNAPALOOZA Part Four: Bri's Radio Theatre, Featuring Doctrinally Reviewed Trent

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 10:45:00 -0500

In this final episode of Hymnapalooza 2021, Bri debuts a brand new set of Radio Theatre sketches starring everyone’s favorite “overly eager, irreverent, and sometimes accidentally heretical worship leader, Trent.”

“He’s very on fire for the Lord, bless his little heart, even though he misses the mark 98% of the time (if not more),” explains Bri, adding, “Fortunately for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, we have checks and balances in place, thanks to our friends at LCMS Doctrinal Review.”

Will any of Trent’s unorthodox original hymn compositions pass doctrinal review? Listen and find out, as you laugh, cry, and cringe your way into a deeper appreciation for an essential (if often under-the-radar) aspect of the LCMS publishing process.

Enjoy more Hymnapalooza content in our previous episodes on Doxology-composer Louis Bourgeois, “11 things you didn’t know were in the ,” and “hymntastic recipes”—and click to enter our fabulous #hymnnerd giveaway now!

#095: HYMNAPALOOZA Part Three: Erin's Hymn-tastic Recipe Card

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 10:15:00 -0500

How does an enthusiastic foodie celebrate #Hymnapalooza? With a hymn-inspired four-course menu, of course!

Join recipe maven Erin as she shares her ideas for a feast of hymn-tastic proportions — from savory roast lamb (inspired by LSB 633 and 550) to home-baked bread (LSB 629), from veggies and sides (LSB 561 and 892) to milk-and-honey desserts (LSB 672).

Recipes and recipe books mentioned in this episode include:

The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen by Paula Wolfert
Seven-hour garlic crowned lamb (free website registration required to view)
Milk and honey pie

Enjoy more Hymnapalooza content our previous episodes on Doxology-composer Louis Bourgeois and “things you didn’t know were in the hymnal,” and click to enter our fabulous #hymnnerd giveaway now!

#094: HYMNAPALOOZA Part Two: Rachel's Trivia (Non)Challenge — Did You Know THAT Is In Our Hymnal?

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 10:45:00 -0500

This July, the Lutheran Ladies are celebrating Hymnapalooza in the Lounge with a blowout #hymnnerd giveaway and four fun hymn-related episodes.

In this second installment, Rachel takes the lead, with a Rachel’s Trivia (non)Challenge highlighting “11 things you may not have known were in Lutheran Service Book.”

From operatic superstars to A-list poets, from “dudes with Greek and Latin names writing really old hymns” to “people alive today whom you may actually know in real life,” Rachel’s list highlights a few of the most interesting and the even downright unexpected sources for the 635 hymns in the LCMS’s signature service book.

“Lutheran hymnwriters, like Lutherans in general,” says Rachel, “look a lot of different ways. They come from all over history and all around the world. Many of them may not even consciously identify as ‘Lutheran,’ despite having written texts that jive perfectly with Lutheran doctrine or tunes that jive perfectly with those Lutheran hymn texts. Some of those hymnwriters liked to set make-up on fire.

Yet thanks to the careful theological work and frankly enormous imaginations of the people who put our hymnal together, we have a beautiful, varied, sometimes surprising, and altogether remarkable collection of hymns.”

Look for more Hymnapalooza content in future episodes, and click here to enter our fabulous #hymnnerd giveaway now!

#093: HYMNAPALOOZA Part One: Hymn Sing with Sarah & Louis Bourgeois!

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 10:45:00 -0500

This July, the Lutheran Ladies are celebrating Hymnapalooza in the Lounge with a blowout #hymnnerd giveaway and four fun hymn-related episodes.

In her opening salvo, Sarah kicks things off with a quick dive into the life of one of her “newest favorite composers”: Louis Bourgeois.

While not a Lutheran, the French Calvinist composer Bourgeois made an ongoing contribution to post-Reformation hymnody with his landmark 1551 edition of the Genevan Psalter, from which come five of the most familiar and beloved hymn tunes in Lutheran Service Book: “Freu dich sehr,” “Wenn wir in höchten Nöten sien,” “Old 124^th,” “Rendez à Dieu,” and “Old Hundredth.”

From pioneering four-part singing in the home, to advocating for the teaching of sol fege, to being officially censured and briefly jailed after changing Psalm tunes without a license, Bourgeois’s life was one of musical innovation and adventure, the fruits of which hymnerds everywhere continue to enjoy today.

Look for more Hymnapalooza content in future episodes, and watch for the launch of our fabulous #hymnnerd giveaway this week in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group!

#092: Rachel's Trivia Challenge: 80+ Years of LWML, On Location!

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 10:45:00 -0500

Recorded on location from the 2021 Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML) convention in Lexington, Ky., this installment of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge celebrates over 80 years of mission and ministry made possible by the LWML.

Meandering meaningfully through time from the 1920s through the present, Rachel does her best to stump Sarah, Erin, and Bri on “a few great moments in LWML history.”

How did Lutheran women make history in 1938? What strong ethical stand cost the LWML a convention in 1955? When and where was the first LWML “bat-phone” installed? Who was Flat Jan? And, of course: how is an LWML convention like the iconic 1980s mullet haircut?

Think you know the answers? Play along at home and discover how much you know (or don’t know) about the LWML.

Learn more about Lutheran Women in Mission at LWML.org, or dig deeper into the ongoing legacy of the LWML with three free ebooks, available at the LWML history page.

#091: Life Issues on Social Media — Crossover Event with Friends for Life

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 10:45:00 -0500

Heads up! An exciting new LCMS podcast—dedicated to sanctity-of-life conversations—has recently joined the KFUO Radio line-up.

In this special crossover episode, Sarah talks with Stephanie Neugebauer at Friends for Life, a new podcast from LCMS Life Ministry. Together, they explore answers to the thorny question: “How do we have a conversation about life issues on social media without losing friends?”

With her characteristic blend of expertise and effervescence, Sarah walks listeners through some helpful considerations and provides common-sense guidelines for engaging life issues in a winsome way on social media.

Learn more about Friends for Life here, or visit the online home of LCMS Life Ministries here. To see a complete list of LCMS partner podcasts, visit KFUO.org and click the drop down menu “LCMS Partner Podcasts.”

#090: Erin's Recipe Card: Iron Ladle Challenge — VBS Snacks

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 10:45:00 -0500

In this Iron Ladle Challenge, the Lutheran Ladies forego a common ingredient in favor of a common theme: Vacation Bible School snacks that double as craft activities.

Rachel leads off with a gelatin-based tableau of Jonah and the whale (which was of course, really, a fish), followed by Bri, whose fashion sense is on full-display with a customizable, candy-laden coat of many colors. Sarah’s tree of life sets a new high bar for “healthiest VBS snack ever,” while Erin’s savory goodies inspired by the book of Judges challenge the VBS status quo in a gut-splitting, paradigm-shattering way.

Laugh along as you glean a few tasty and mostly practical ideas for your church’s VBS or Sunday school snack time.

Rachel’s Jonah Jiggly Squares

Make two large (3 oz.) packages of blue gelatin according to package instructions for “jigglers” (using only boiling water, no cold). I used Starburst Blue Raspberry gelatin, which was delicious.
Pour gelatin into a casserole dish (13x9 or larger).
While you wait for the gelatin to cool to room temperature, mark out squares using masking tape across the top.
After the gelatin is lukewarm to the touch, add one Sourpatch Kid and one Swedish fish or gummy shark to each square. Talk with the children as they choose and place their gummies about how God sent the fish to swallow Jonah and save him from drowning.
Carefully move the pan to the refrigerator, using a chopstick or butter knife to reposition gummies that will inevitably shift en route.
Chill at least one hour.
Dip the pan in hot water for 15 seconds before cutting and serving jiggly squares.

Rachel's Jiggly Squares for the story of Jonah.

Finished product of Jonah Jiggly Squares.

Bri's Joseph's Candy Coat of Colors

Using 2 graham crackers, use a full one as the coat body and a half for each arm.
Spread cake frosting (or another semi-sticky substance) on the crackers.
Use colorful candy (or other colorful treats) to decorate the coat with many colors.

Bri's Joseph's Candy Coat of Colors

Sarah's Creation Tree

Arrange 4-5 thin apple slices in a circle on a small plate.
Make a small pile of "tree leaves" with kale or other green fruit or veggie (i.e. baby kale, microgreens, or kiwi) in the middle of the apple slices.
Decorate the tree leaves with dried cranberries or other colorful dried fruit or candy
Using a knife or spatula, shape a tree trunk out of almond butter or other nut butter or caramel sauce.
Optional: add a drizzle of honey for a little sweet kick.

Sarah's Tree of Life.

Erin's Lion Pull-Apart Bread

With one roll, draw a lion's face.
With another larger roll, cut into shapes for the lion's mane.
Drench the whole thing in honey butter.

Erin's Lion and Honey pull-apart bread.

Erin's Jael Meatballs

Make meatballs according to your favorite recipe.
Place meatballs into your favorite sauce.
Use a pretzel stick to peg the meatball.
Enjoy what might be the best VBS snack idea ever.

Erin's Jael Meatballs

#089: Adventures in Lutheranism: NLOMA Summer Camp

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 10:45:00 -0500

Let’s face it: some Adventures in Lutheranism are just a little more adventurous than others — and this episode, showcasing the 29 partner camps in the National Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Association (NLOMA), is proof positive.

Bri (camp name: Rex) leads this laughter-filled conversation, celebrating the “fire, friends, and faith” that both kids and counselors experience at Lutheran summer camp. From falling off horses to raiding the dining hall after hours, from finding spiders in the dark to singing the Superman prayer before meals, the summer camp memories shared in this episode will almost certainly put you in the mood for a long, woodsy hike (with campfire devotions after, naturally).

To learn more about Lutheran summer camps, visit NLOMA.org.

Check out previous KFUO conversations with camp people here, and previous Adventures in Lutheranism here.

Short: The Seaweed Snack — Comedy Behind the Scenes

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 08:45:00 -0500

The Lutheran Ladies present a short from behind the scenes, as Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel prepare to record while Rachel is brewing hotel coffee and relying on spotty hotel Wi-Fi. Erin tries to enjoy her seaweed snack while Sarah and Bri try not to melt down in laughter. (Fair warning, you'll hear some food crunching, in case that's not your thing.) Join us for this comedic interlude.

#088: Conversations with Creatives: Beth Ritzman

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 10:45:00 -0500

Is gardening a creative pursuit? Do microgreens have magical powers? Will kids eat chard?

In this next "Conversations with Creatives" episode, Beth Ritzman, a micro-farmer of microgreens, gardener on many levels, former missionary to Papua New Guinea, and fellow Lutheran Lady, joins Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel to share how creativity infuses every part of growing things. She also shares stories about how her microgreens small business got started, the differences of gardening in Fort Wayne versus Papua New Guinea, and the wonderful simplicity of growing and eating your own food. Listen in as she shares tricks and tips for gardeners in any stage of green space from three acres to just a patio. Whether you love to grow food or just eat food, you'll laugh along with the Ladies as they talk about creativity in God's creation.

Follow Beth Ritzman online! Click for her website SomethingBetterWithBeth.com and view photos of her beautiful microgreens on Facebook and Instagram. If you're local to Fort Wayne, visit Beth's plant sale on Sundays from 12:o0–2:00 p.m., and you can find more information on her Facebook page.

#087: Wild Card: Surviving Deployment

Fri, 28 May 2021 09:45:00 -0500

Deployment represents one of the greatest challenges to faith and life a military family can face. How can churches help?

In this frank and open conversation, Rachel (herself currently undergoing a lengthy separation from her deployed husband) answers questions from Sarah, Erin, and Bri about what life is like for a military family, what it takes to survive an extended deployment, and how Christians can support their military brothers and sisters in Christ throughout this difficult season of life.

With timely tie-ins to Memorial Day, Mental Health Awareness Month, Armed Forces Sunday, and National Military Appreciation Month, this episode also builds off Rachel’s recent Lutheran Witness article “How the Church Can Support Military Families During Deployment.”

Read Rachel's article in The Lutheran Witness online magazine at witness.lcms.org/2021/how-the-church-can-support-military-families-during-deployment.

Learn more about LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, including the Adopt-A-Chap program, at lcms.org/armedforces.

#086: Wild Card: God's Comfort for Anxious Thoughts

Fri, 21 May 2021 10:45:00 -0500

Lindsay Hausch is a pastor’s wife, mother of three, blogger, Lutheran lady, and author of Take Heart: God’s Comfort for Anxious Thoughts. In this episode, she talks with Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel about her own mental health journey and how her faith has grown in spite of (and even sometimes because of) her long-term struggles with social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Along the way, she offers a range of helpful ideas and strategies for living with anxious thoughts and putting them in Gospel perspective.

To learn more about Lindsay Hausch, check out the following:

Take Heart: God’s Comfort for Anxious Thoughts (available from CPH)
LindsayHausch.com (website and blog)
@comfortforanxiety (Instagram profile)

To hear more Mental Health Awareness Month-themed conversation from the Lutheran Ladies, listen to their episode on “Stewardship of the Mind and the Emotions.”

#085: Wild Card: Stewardship of the Mind and the Emotions

Fri, 14 May 2021 10:45:00 -0500

Smack dab in the middle of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Lutheran Ladies turn their attention toward a crucial aspect of personal health and wellness: “Stewardship of the Mind and the Emotions.”

Bri, who has lived with and successfully managed a mental health diagnosis throughout her adult life, leads this discussion, building on the “Stewardship of the Physical Body” conversation she first started last May. From regularly attending worship, to practicing self-care, to knowing when and how to seek professional help, this episode offers friendly, honest, hard-won wisdom on a range of topics relating to emotional wellness.

Click to learn more about the resources referenced in this episode:

Archive of “Mental Health Monday” episodes on The Coffee Hour
“Mental Health Monday” Coffee Hour episode about asking for help
Faith and Family episode (featuring Pastor David Fleming and Deaconess Heidi Goehmann) on different kinds of counseling and when to talk to a pastor or psychologist
Two-part Coffee Hour episode with Dr. Rick Marrs about the differences between professional counseling and pastoral care: Part 1 and Part 2
Making Christian Counseling More Christ-Centered by Rick W. Marrs
You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K. A. Smith

ICYMI: Book Club Announcement for 'Travels with Charley: In Search of America'

Mon, 10 May 2021 13:45:00 -0500

In this Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge short, the Ladies discuss their options and announce the next book club read: John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley: In Search of America.

Click to learn more about or order Travels with Charley, to see a complete list of Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and runners up, or to revisit past online book club events in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group.

#084: Book Club Wrap Up: Till We Have Faces

Fri, 07 May 2021 10:45:00 -0500

In this episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a recap discussion of the latest Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club selection: C.S. Lewis’s Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold.

At the end of the episode, in honor of the summer travel season, the Ladies choose their next book club pick from a list of first-person travel narratives:

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
Charles Kuralt’s America by Charles Kuralt
Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck
Sundays in America: A Yearlong Road Trip in Search of Christian Faith by Suzanne Strempek Shea
The Brendan Voyage: Sailing to America in a Leather Boat to Prove the Legend of the Irish Sailor Saints by Tim Severin

Which book will the Lutheran Ladies read next? Listen to the end of the episode and find out!

Click to learn more about C.S. Lewis’s Till We Have Faces, to see a complete list of Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and runners up, or to revisit past online book club events in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group.

#083: Adventures in Lutheranism: Call Day

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 10:45:00 -0500

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to participate in a Call Day service at an LCMS seminary, this episode is for you.

In this latest “Adventure in Lutheranism,” Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel share their perspectives on the annual seminary services at which pastoral candidates, vicars, deaconesses, and deaconess interns receive their first divine calls and vicarage/internship assignments. A meaningful rite of passage—and a rollercoaster of emotions—for students and their families, Call Day is a time of prayer and celebration, faith, hope, and nervous excitement.

Bri, whose husband Matt just received his vicarage assignment to Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Missouri, at Call Day 2021, leads this heartfelt discussion, with topics ranging from the practical (“wear comfortable shoes”) to the sublime (“remember that God is in control”).

To get an even better feel for what Call Day is all about, visit the Call Day webpages for both Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.

#082: A New Kind of Normal (Sharathon 2021)

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 10:45:00 -0500

What does a return to normal (or a turn towards a brand new kind of normal) look like in a post-COVID world?

In this special Sharathon episode, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel continue their impromptu series on what it means to survive and thrive in a global pandemic. Following on the heels of their earlier conversations (referenced in this episode as “the descent” and “the enduring”), they share the hopes, heartaches, and uncertainties they feel as they begin to resume daily in-person activities and leave social distancing behind.

The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge podcast is produced by KFUO Radio, the listener-supported broadcast voice of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. To support the work of KFUO Radio during Sharathon (or anytime) visit kfuo.org/give or text “KFUO” to 41444.

#081: Iron Ladle Challenge: The Diet of Worms

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 10:15:00 -0500

It’s an Iron Ladle Challenge! In honor of the 500^th Anniversary of Martin Luther’s defiant confession of faith at the Diet of Worms, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel are each cooking up a tasty recipe inspired by a single key ingredient: worms.

Beginning with a brief history of Luther’s legendary 1521 trial appearance at the city of Worms, the Ladies then launch into a four-course smorgasbord of wormy dishes, from Erin’s savory udon noodles to Sarah’s zoodle skillet, from Rachel’s quadruple layer dirt cake with gummy worm surprise to Bri’s sour gummy worm monstrosity.

Lutheran history has never tasted so good (or, in Bri’s case, so very, very bad).

To learn more about the Diet of Worms, check out Dr. Jack Kilcrease’s explanatory article on LutheranReformation.org or the Rev. Hans Fiene’s animate comedy musical on the Lutheran Satire channel.

Join Lutherans across the nation in celebrating “Here I Stand” Sunday on April 18, 2021, and support the ongoing confession of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod with a "Here I Stand" Thank Offering at lcms.org/givenow.

Erin's Udon Soup

Use these ingredients or others you'd enjoy together:

Udon noodles
Broth of choice
Baby Bok Choy (Pour boiling water over bok choy in steamer. That's all the cooking it needs!)
6 1/2 minute egg
Shitake mushroom

Sarah's Ground Beef, Butternut, and Zoodles Un-recipe

Brown butternut squash chunks (Sarah uses pre-packaged fresh chopped) in olive oil, salt, and pepper over medium heat. If cooking from frozen, leave the lid off the pan to allow the steam to escape.
Prepare zoodles according to package directions, if using pre-packaged. Otherwise, spiralize your zucchini and cook until al dente.
Add ground beef to butternut squash and brown. Spice to taste.
Add Zoodles to butternut and beef, and mix well. Cover pan and turn heat off to let the flavors combine. Let simmer for a few minutes.
Enjoy!

Rachel’s Dirt Pudding Piñata Cake

Using 8 or 9 inch round cake pans lined with wax paper or parchment, bake a chocolate fudge cake and fudge brownies according to the instructions on the packages. (For brownies, shorten baking time to about twenty minutes and remove when toothpick comes out clean.) Set aside on wire racks to cool.
Make dirt pudding dessert (leaving aside crushed Oreos for now) according to your favorite recipe. (Here’s mine. If you use this one, be sure to cut it at least in half for the cake.)
Cut circles about the size of a large cereal bowl from the centers of one cake round and one brownie round. (To see how a piñata cake of this sort would look like in a perfect world, check out this idiosyncratic YouTube tutorial.)
Begin building your cake with an uncut brownie round spread with chocolate fudge frosting.
Add the next two layers (cut cake round and cut brownie round), with frosting between and atop each layer.
Pause to add the filling in the cavity of the cake. Put down a layer of crushed Oreo cookie, then a layer of dirt pudding, then a layer of gummy worms. Repeat until the filling is even with the top of the hole.
Add the top (uncut) layer and frost the entire outside of the cake. Optional: dust with powdered sugar. If you have a talented teenage artist in the house, ask her to freehand draw you a Luther Rose in red frosting on the top of your cake. If you don’t, you may decorate the cake in whatever way seems best.
Enjoy!

Bri's Sour Gummy Worm Rice Crispy Treats

It's better if you don't try this one.

#080: Story Time with Sarah: Dorothea Craemer Goes to America

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 10:45:00 -0500

Digging back into the early days of Lutheranism in the American Midwest, this “Story Time with Sarah” episode focuses on the life and times of Dorothea Craemer, one of the “founding mothers” of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Leaving Germany as an unwed mother 1845, Dorothea met her future husband on the ship to America and, after their marriage in New York, traveled with him to serve as missionaries to the Chippewa (Ojibwe) people near Saginaw, Michigan. The series of moves that came after that first call—to Fort Wayne, Ind., Saint Louis, Mo., and Springfield, Ill.—reveals the Craemers growing significance to the Synod they helped found.

Click to read more from the Concordia History Institute about the Craemer family and their mission to Michigan, to learn about the history of St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, Mich., to view an archival photo of the Craemers’ marriage certificate, or to order CPH’s biography Dorothea Craemer in the Hero of Faith series for young readers.

#079: Adventures in Lutheranism: The Easter Vigil!

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 08:45:00 -0500

Emmy Woock (Director of Music Ministries at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, Illinois) joins Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel for the first episode in a new segment—Adventures in Lutheranism—which introduces Ladies and listeners alike to some aspect of Lutheran faith and culture that may have been previously unfamiliar to them.

In this joy-filled conversation, Woock (together with fellow enthusiast Sarah) describes the Holy Saturday Easter Vigil service she helped establish at her church, explains why this uncommon but nonetheless traditional liturgy is so special to her, and offers practical advice for church leaders and musicians interesting in holding their own Easter Vigils.

Click to read a short description of the Easter Vigil from the Rev. Michael Schuermann, or to view a sample bulletin for the service assembled by the Rev. Thomas Messer in Alma, Mich.

#078: Hymn Sing with Sarah: Martin Franzmann

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 10:45:00 -0500

Martin Franzmann (1907–1976) was a Lutheran pastor, theologian, college professor, and poet who wrote numerous books and hymns. In this “Hymn Sing with Sarah” episode, Sarah introduces her fellow hymn nerds to the life and work of the skilled hymn writer whose ministerial calling took him from Lake City, Minnesota, through Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, Mo., and all the way to Cambridge, England.

Along the way, Sarah also tells the stories behind several of Franzmann’s hymns, including the beloved lyric that is arguably his most well-known today: “Thy Strong Word.”

Click to check out the Rev. Matthew E. Borasso’s book The Art of Exegesis: An Analysis of the Life and Work of Martin Hans Franzmann or to read a short profile of Franzmann in the Composer of the Month series on the CPH blog.

Hear "Wearing of all trumpeting" on Youtube at https://youtu.be/7p75wmZn7So.

#077: Bri's Radio Theatre: The Lenten Soup Supper

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 10:45:00 -0500

Following up on her uproarious “Ode to Vitality Points” in January, Bri offers a new set of “Radio Theatre” comedy sketches, this time inspired by the Lenten soup suppers and Wednesday night services familiar in so many Lutheran churches.

Meet Trent, “the overly eager, accidentally irreverent, bordering-on-heretical praise band leader.” Get to know Dana, the “overworked, underpaid DCE intern.” Shake your head at young Billy, too addicted to fictional cell-phone game “Cootie Crunch” to socialize at the soup supper, and commiserate with Gladys and Annette, whose polite humility is the only thing standing between them and the last slice of Millie Baker’s famous homemade apple pie.

To hear more from Bri on midweek suppers, check out her early “How to Lutheran” episode: “The Midweek Supper.”

#076: Rachel's Trivia Challenge: What Does Lent Mean?

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 10:45:00 -0600

In Rachel’s latest Trivia Challenge, she quizzes Sarah, Erin, and Bri on all things Lenten.

What does the word “Lent” actually mean? How and where do our Lenten observances tie in with Scripture and Christian history? What made Lenten fasts in the Middle Ages so hardcore? How do Lutheran, Catholic, and Orthodox attitudes and practices differ today? Perhaps most intriguingly: what happens when one of the Ladies turns around and stumps Rachel?

Play along at home and learn more about this reflective, penitential season.

Sources referenced in this episode include:

“What are the origins of Lent?” (Religion News Service)
“What does the word ‘Lent’ mean?” (Aleiteia)
“Think Lent is tough? Take a look at Medieval Lenten practices” (Society of Saint Pius X)
“Great Lent” (Wikipedia)
“Just in time for Lent: Martin Luther on fasting and mortification” (World Wide Wolfmueller)

#075: Conversations with Creatives: Erin Bode

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 10:45:00 -0600

Erin Bode is a lifelong Lutheran lady, a pastor’s daughter, and a celebrated jazz performer known for her pure voice and impressive phrasing and style. To date, Bode and her band have released eight albums and toured the United States, as well overseas to Italy, Japan, and South Africa.

In this inaugural “Conversations with Creatives” episode, Bode joins Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel to share with them her about personal story, her musical career—and how her Lutheran faith has shaped both. She discusses how the global pandemic has affected professional musicians, explores her favorite hymns and songs, and opens up about her latest business venture: Your Song for Always, a creative collaboration with Victor Krauss offering custom songs, arrangements, and recordings for individuals and special occasions.

In the episode, listeners are treated to a luminous song performed by Bode: “The Moon Is Ours Tonight," a poem written by Bob Hellrung for his wife Cheryl, who always dreamed it could be a love song for her. Used with permission.

Click to learn more about Erin Bode and her new project Your Song for Always at yoursongforalways.com, or to browse albums on her website erinbode.com and on iTunes.

Music heard in this episode, performed by Erin Bode and her band. Used with permission.

"The Moon Is Ours Tonight," a poem written by Bob Hellrung for his wife Cheryl, and always dreamed it could be a love song for her.

“Christ Be My Leader,” arranged and recorded for Unity Lutheran Elementary School in East St. Louis, IL.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#074: Wild Card: Confronting the Social Dilemma

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 10:45:00 -0600

Events in 2020 and 2021 have left many Lutheran women questioning their relationships with (and heavy reliance upon) social media. In this “Wild Card” episode, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel take an honest look at their own attitudes toward digital platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, paying special attention to how their habits and perspectives have evolved over the past decade and a half.

What is there to love about social media? What is there to hate? How can we set healthy boundaries around our social media use? What happens if and when we walk away from our social networks? And what might be coming next — both for the digital landscape as a whole and for the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge in particular?

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#073: Hymn Sing with Sarah: Lift Every Voice and Sing Spirituals

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 10:45:00 -0600

In this jam-packed “Hymn Sing with Sarah” episode, Sarah leads Erin, Bri, and Rachel through a celebration of African American hymns and spirituals in honor of Black History Month.

Beginning with the story of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (often referred to in the U.S. as the “Black national anthem”), Sarah discusses the remarkable lives and creative work of brothers James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson, who penned the hymn’s lyrics and music, respectively.

The Ladies then dive into a broader discussion of African American spirituals—their history, meanings, and ongoing contribution to American faith and culture.

Watch the African American Spirituals of the Civil War concert from the Library of Congress at youtu.be/PQviOAz5584. Learn more about the history of spirituals from the Library of Congress, The Spirituals Database, and Britannica.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

ICYMI: Book Club Announcement for 'Till We Have Faces'

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 09:45:00 -0600

In this Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge short, the Ladies discuss their options and announce the next book club read: C.S. Lewis’s Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold.

Click to learn more about or order Till We Have Faces, to see a complete list of Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and runners up, or to revisit past online book club events in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#072: Book Club Wrap Up: The Westing Game

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 10:45:00 -0600

In this episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a recap discussion of a Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club “Ladies’ Choice” selection: Ellen Raskin’s Newbery-Award-winning middle-grade mystery The Westing Game.

How do children’s authors create surprisingly complex works that respect the intelligence of readers young and old? What can a story about a diverse group of people sharing an apartment building teach us about the Body of Christ? How does confessing the truth about ourselves and our secret shame set us free to find peace with God and with each other?

At the end of the episode, the Ladies choose their next book club pick from a list of “Rachel’s Regrets” (previous runners up that deserve a second look):

Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis
Caffeinated: How Our Daily Habit Helps, Hurts, and Hooks Us by Murray Carpenter
The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz
Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler

Which book will they pick? Listen to the end of the episode and find out!

Click to learn more about Ellen Raskin’s The Westing Game, to see a complete list of Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and runners up, or to revisit past online book club events in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#071: Erin's Recipe Card: Comfort Food — AKA Hot Fat Carbs

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 10:45:00 -0600

This February, as winter and the global pandemic alike drag on and on and on, why not enjoy some good old fashioned comfort food?

In this installment of Erin’s Recipe Card, the ladies share their favorite recipes for “hot fat carbs,” from savory red beans and rice, to crowd-pleasing meat loaf, to “ooey-gooey” peanut chicken curry—and beyond. Whether your comfort food of choice is lasagna or stew, cookies, pizza, or even coffee, you’re sure to end this tasty episode feeling hungry and inspired.

“When we feel like we need a little hug in our bellies,” Sarah so aptly says, “we eat something that we love.”

Click to learn more about Erin’s go-to cookbook, The Joy of Cooking, or to take a peek at the peanut curry recipe Rachel modified for this episode.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#070: Story Time with Sarah: Stanisława Leszczyńska, Midwife at Auschwitz

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 10:45:00 -0600

Stanisława Leszczyńska (May 8, 1896 – March 11, 1974) was a Polish Catholic midwife and member of the Polish Resistance who was incarcerated at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. During her time in the notorious death camp, she provided obstetrical and other medical care to her fellow prisoners and delivered over 3,000 children — most to certain death, a precious few to life.

In this heartbreaking-yet-hopeful Story Time with Sarah, the Lutheran ladies both celebrate the sanctity of human life and commemorate the Nazi Holocaust as they honor the remarkable legacy of this valiant, faithful woman.

Resources referenced in this episode include:

Stanisława Leszczyńska’s 1957 “Midwife’s Report from Auschwitz”
“’Give Me Your Children: Voices from the Lodz Ghetto” (Holocaust Encyclopedia)
The United States and St. Louis Holocaust museums
“This Midwife at Auschwitz Delivered 3,000 Babies in Unfathomable Conditions” (com)
“Stanisława Leszczyńska: Midwife in Auschwitz” (Polish News)
Stanisława Leszczyńska: The Miracle of Life in a Death Camp (video lecture)
The Midwife of Auschwitz: Extraordinary life of heroine who delivered 3,000 babies in horror death camp to be told in new documentary (The First News)
The War within These Walls (illustrated novel on the Warsaw Ghetto and Uprising)

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#069: Still Socially Distanced Episode

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 10:45:00 -0600

Thinking back over the year since “coronavirus” entered their collective vocabularies, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel revisit the subject of social distancing (first covered in March 2020) in this all-hands-on-deck conversation.

Taking an honest (and occasionally uproarious) look at the joys and woes of life in lockdown, each of the Lutheran Ladies offers her own heartfelt answer to the following prompts:

The thing I hate most about social distancing is …
Something that has surprised me about a socially distanced lifestyle is …
The thing that has kept me sane during social distancing is …
One new habit or practice I hope to keep going after social distancing ends is …
The thing I’m most looking forward to after the pandemic is …

Listen to the March 2020 “Socially Distanced Episode” here, and offer your own answers to the episode’s conversations prompts in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge).

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#068: Bri's Radio Theatre: Ode to Vitality Points

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 10:45:00 -0600

Beginning the New Year with what has now (officially) been branded a “Wild Card” episode, Bri celebrates physical, mental, and spiritual by offering her heartfelt paean to a program that has helped her achieve greater measures of all three: Concordia Plans and its Vitality® wellness benefit.

Extoling the virtues of this virtual tool that incentivizes participating church workers to track their health and fitness activities in exchange for real-world rewards, die-hards Bri and Sarah do their best to convince skeptics Erin and Rachel to give it a try.

The episode ends with three hilarious short radio dramas (each written, performed and produced by Bri) riffing on various aspects of the Vitality program.

Click here to learn more about Concordia Plans’ health and wellness benefits for enrolled church worker families or to take a online wellness quiz from Vitality® and learn your “Vitality Age.”

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#067: Rachel's Trivia Challenge: Rolling Into the New Year

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 10:45:00 -0600

In this edition of “Rachel’s Trivia Challenge,” Rachel guides Sarah, Erin, and Bri back through 4,000 years of New Year’s tradition as she quizzes them on the past and present of New Year’s resolutions.

Who made the first annual resolutions? What does Julius Caesar have to do with the New Year? Which Medieval party day made New Year’s Eve look tame by comparison? How have Lutherans (including Martin Luther himself) traditionally commemorated January 1? Which resolutions today are the most popular to make — and the least popular to keep? Test your New Year’s knowledge as you play along at home!

Resources referenced in this episode include the following:

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#066: Presenting: New Year’s Wishes and Prognostications

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 10:45:00 -0600

Tearing a page each from Amy Grant’s “Grown-Up Christmas List” and NPR’s Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me! Predictions segment, each of the Lutheran Ladies here offers five good wishes and one wacky prognostication to ring in the New Year.

Will 2021 be the year of the analog hobby? Will it go down in history as the year Lutherans on both sides of the northern border inaugurate a multinational seminary hockey game (replete with commemorative touk)? And however will we survive both the coming Kombucha Apocalypse and the almost inevitable Great Hug Epidemic? The answers to these and other big questions about 2021 may not be clear — but they sure are fun to think about.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#065: Regifting for 2020: Christmas Poetry Slam!

Fri, 25 Dec 2020 10:45:00 -0600

Travelling back in time to a simpler, happier, less 2020-ish point in history, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel revisit their 2019 “poetry slam” holiday special, as each (re)shares an original Christmas poem.

From a Dr. Seuss-themed power ballad to a nativity “limerichard,” from a rhapsodic ode to Christmas hymns to a Hamilton-inspired angelic rap verse, these homespun poems will have you snapping their fingers (and maybe even grabbing pen and paper to craft your own Christmas poems) as you marvel anew at the miracle of Christmas.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#064: Erin's Recipe Card: The Iron Ladle Cranberry Challenge!

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 10:45:00 -0600

In this “Erin’s Recipe Card” episode, the Lutheran Ladies take part in their first-ever Iron Ladle Challenge, as they each present a festive seasonal recipe showcasing an assigned ingredient — in this case: cranberries.

Which recipe will be your favorite? Will you favor Erin’s super simple sugared cranberry hors d’oeuvres? Rachel’s cranberry kale salad? Sarah’s cranberry thumbprint cookies? Bri’s cranberry ginger (AKA “cringer”) mocktail? Or will you avoid choosing a favorite and simply make them all in one crantastic feast? Whatever path you pick, there are no losers in this challenge.

Find Rachel’s article “Hot Dish Heaven” (in which her favorite kale salad is prominently featured) in the archives of The Lutheran Witness.

Sugared Cranberries

Coat raw cranberries in simple syrup, let dry so they're sticky, and then roll in sugar.

That's it. So easy.

Rachel’s Cranberry Kale Salad

Remove stems and tear one bunch of kale (about 5 good sized leaves) into a medium-to-large salad bowl. Massage the kale with 1 T olive oil and set aside.

In a jelly jar, combine:

1-2 T olive oil
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. honey
½ tsp. stone ground mustard
Dash salt + fresh cracked black pepper to taste

Shake in lidded jar to combine, drizzle over kale, and toss with tongs till evenly coated.

Top with dried cranberries, crumbled feta cheese, roasted salted sunflower kernels, and toasted almonds.

Cranberry Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookies

Adapted from The Simple Veganista simple-veganista.com/almond-flour-thumbprint-cookies

Ingredients

2 cups almond flour (Bob’s Red Mill Fine AF)
pinch of salt
¼ cup honey (original recipe calls for pure maple syrup)
¼ cup light flavored olive oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
⅓ cup slivered almonds, crushed or chopped (optional)
3 tablespoons homemade cranberry jam, divided (original recipe calls for triple berry chia seed jam)
Cranberry jam: 12oz fresh cranberries, 3/4 cup water, 3/4 cup honey. Mix water and cranberries over medium high heat until cranberries begin to pop. Stir in honey and reduce heat to medium low. Stir frequently until all cranberries are popped. Remove from heat and let cool. Jam will thicken as it cools. Refrigerate what you don't eat right away.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicon mat.
Make the dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey/maple syrup, olive oil and vanilla. Add the almond flour and salt, mix well until the mixture forms a soft dough consistency.
Almonds: Place the crushed almonds in a small bowl, set aside.
Shape the cookies: Roll dough into 1 inch balls (I used a 1 tablespoon measuring scoop, scooping up rounded tablespoons full of dough). Roll the dough balls in the crushed almonds, and place on a rimmed baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
Add the jam: Using your thumb or the back of ½ teaspoon measuring spoon, make an indent in the center of each cookie. Pinch together any large cracks around the sides of each cookie. Fill the indent with ½ teaspoon of jam.
Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 10 – 15 minutes, oven may vary (see notes). Once done, the cookies will be soft and harden as they cool.
Makes 16 – 18 cookies
Store: Store loosely covered on the counter for up to 3 – 4 days. You can also keep them in an airtight container, just note they will soften a bit but will still be chewy. Or keep in a covered container in the refrigerator for 7 – 10 days. To freeze, let cool and store in freezer safe containers with parchment paper between each layer, will keep for to 2 months.

Notes

Oil: This would be great with a lemon flavored olive oil. Coconut oil would also be great, just be sure it’s softened, or in liquid state, before using.
Nuts: Change up the nuts using your favorite or what you have on hand. Crushed pistachios, pecans, or walnuts would all work well.
Flavors: Add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon for a nice layer of flavor. Or try adding ½ teaspoon dried rosemary that’s been finely chopped. As mentioned above, use lemon olive oil, plus a little lemon zest.
Oven Time: Baking times may be vary since ovens are different. I baked all my batches for the full 15 minutes and they were perfect. Some may find 10 minutes is best, as noted in the comments. Use your best judgement.

The Very Merry Cran-Ginger Mocktail (a.k.a. THE CRINGER)

Adapted from The Speckled Palate: thespeckledpalate.com/sparkling-ginger-cranberry-mocktail

2 tbsp. turbinado sugar (“in the raw”)
The juice of 1 orange + 1 tsp. of its zest (any variety)
4 oz. ginger beer
2 oz. unsweetened cranberry juice

Garnishes: pomegranate seeds, orange slices, starfruit slices, sugared cranberries

On a small plate or tea saucer, combine sugar and orange zest; incorporate the orange zest throughout.
Onto another small plate or tea saucer, pour *some* of the orange juice — just enough to cover the surface of the plate.
Place your serving glass in the plate of juice, rim side down.
Transfer your glass to the plate of sugar, again rim side down. Turn the glass and move it around the plate, evenly coating the rim.
In a separate container, combine ginger beer and cranberry juice and lightly stir. If you prefer a less intense drink, add some of the reserved orange juice to the mixture before stirring.
Serve in the sugar-rimmed glass over ice and garnish.
Enjoy! Congratulations, you are fancy!!

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#063: Hymn Sing with Sarah: Advent!

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 10:45:00 -0600

Advent hymns have taken on new resonance in 2020, as Christians pray “Come, Lord Jesus!” with ever more eagerness and urgency. In this “Hymn Sing with Sarah” episode, Sarah leads Erin, Bri, and Rachel in a discussion of Advent hymns, old and new. Drawing from the results of a Facebook group poll, the ladies identify which Advent hymns are most beloved and talk more generally about what makes an Advent hymn an Advent hymn.

Sarah then digs deeply into the history and meaning of several popular hymns, including “O Come, O Come Emanuel” and “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.” She ends by sharing the heart-rending backstory to Jochen Klepper’s WWII-era hymn text “The Night Will Soon Be Ending.”

Sensitive content: This episode of The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge podcast touches on the Holocaust and the topic of suicide, beginning around 42 minutes. You are a loved and redeemed child of God, and you are not alone. If you are struggling and need to speak with someone right away, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255. Jesus loves you.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#062: The Lutheran Ladies' Guide to Chrismons™: PART TWO

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 10:45:00 -0600

Last Christmas, in her “How to Lutheran” episode “The Lutheran Ladies’ Guide to Chrismons™,” Bri introduced Sarah, Erin and Rachel to the past and present of the handcrafted gold and white ornaments that adorn so many church Christmas trees to this day.

In this follow-up conversation, Bri looks forward to the future of these “fancy Jesus ornaments,” proposing five new Christological symbols that she feels should join the Chrismon collection: a pineapple, a roll of duct tape, a bar of soap, an umbrella, and a ladle. Find out why these items in particular made Bri’s list—and be inspired to imagine your own new set of Chrismons™, as you learn to see symbols of Christ’s love in the mundane objects all around you.

Listen to “The Lutheran Ladies’ Guide to Chrismons™” here, or click to hear a KFUO interview on Chrismons™ with Meghan Schultz, owner of Red Letter Art & Design.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#061: 'I Don't Want to Have the Prayer' Book Club Wrap Up and Next Book Poll

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 10:45:00 -0600

In this episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a recap discussion of the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club Anniversary Read selection, I Don’t Want to Have the Prayer: A Messy Pastor’s Kid Does Her Memory Work.

The show opens with a special guest appearance by author Karen Kuhlmann Averitt, who answers reader questions about the book submitted via Facebook, then continues with a conversation covering key questions raised by the book.

How do the expectations placed on pastors’ families sometimes make their lives harder and more complicated than they need to be? How does God use the tough, lonely seasons in life to shape His children (including PKs) into compassionate, mature Christians? Just what is it about the Lutheran faith that keeps people coming back, even after a time of wandering?

At the end of the episode, Rachel announces plans for the next book club pick — a “Ladies’ Choice” selection to be chosen from among the following titles:

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (submitted by Bri)
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (submitted by Erin)
Dangerous Alliance: An Austentacious Romance by Jennieke Cohen (submitted by Sarah)
The Bird in the Tree by Elizabeth Goudge (submitted by Rachel)

Click to learn more about Karen Kuhlmann Averitt’s I Don’t Want to Have the Prayer or to browse a complete list of books by Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge authors.

Cast your vote for our next book club read in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#060: Erin's Recipe Card: Pie Fest!

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 10:45:00 -0600

Just in time for Thanksgiving, the Lutheran Ladies are taking on that flakiest and most finicky of festive desserts: pie.

In this special #PieFest installment of Erin’s Recipe Card, the Lutheran Ladies each try their hand at one or more different kinds of pie, from sweet to savory, lattice top to open-faced tart, all-butter to crumb. Pies featured include apple cranberry, Japanese sweet potato, chocolate pretzel, butternut squash, cookies and cream, broccoli chicken, and chicken pasty.

Filled with practical advice (keep that butter cold!), historical context, tips for dietary modifications, creative recipe tweaks, and friendly encouragement, this episode will give laughter and inspiration to Lutheran pie bakers everywhere as they roll up their sleeves for another season of holiday baking.

Rachel's Ice Cream Pie

Rachel's Pasties

Rachel's Pot Pie

Rachel's Butternut pies (and breads!)

Sarah's Japanese Sweet Potato Pie

Erin's Cran-Apple Pie

Bri's Milk Chocolate Pretzel Tart

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#059: Rachel's Trivia Challenge: All Things All Saints

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 10:45:00 -0600

Rachel quizzes Sarah, Erin, and Bri on “All things All Saints’”—from the mundane to the miraculous—in this slightly belated edition of “Rachel’s Trivia Challenge.”

Beginning and ending with a Lutheran view of saints and a discussion of how the “holy ones” among us—living and dead—can best be honored, the Ladies take time to traverse two millennia of saints’ lives, drawing inspiration and sometimes amusement from these occasionally over-the-top accounts of religious superheroes from days gone by.

What does the Augsburg Confession have to say about the saints? Which saint did Luther once pray to on one memorable occasion—and why? What common thread ties together at least half a dozen female saints and martyrs? Which storied Lutheran church is named for the patron saint of chefs and comedians? And who are the saints Lutherans should most especially honor and remember, both on All Saints’ Day and always?

Resources referenced in this episode include the following:

Celebrating the Saints by the Rev. William Weedon
Festival Sermons of Martin Luther, translated by the Rev. Joel R. Baseley

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#058: Bri's Big Question: How to Survive Election Season

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 10:45:00 -0600

In this week’s episode (recorded days before Election Day 2020), Bri asks a timely and relevant “Big Question”: How do I survive election season as a Lutheran woman?

In the honest and open conversation that follows, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel cover a range of topics and ideas at the intersection of Lutheran faith and politics: voting out of love for our neighbors, trusting “not in princes,” and finding our ultimate identity in Christ — not political party affiliations. They also touch on the place of social media in political discourse, the value of secret ballots, the way voting priorities change as you age, and whether or not this year’s election is actually the most contentious in American political history.

In the end, Bri reminds us that whether we vote red or blue (or something else entirely), we are sisters in Christ, and we are loved.

Learn more about the following resources mentioned or quoted in the episode:

The August issue of The Lutheran Witness on theology and politics
The Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann’s article “Beyond the Booth”
Peter Slayton’s article “Social Media Politics”
The Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer’s 2012 sermon “Trust Not”
The Lutheran Book of Prayer and Starck’s Prayer Book, both from CPH

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#057: Story Time with Sarah: Anna of Denmark, Electress of Saxony

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 10:45:00 -0500

Anna of Denmark (1532–1585) was a Danish princess from the House of Oldenburg who became Electress of Saxony through her marriage to Augustus of Saxony in 1548. As one of the most influential women in post-Reformation Europe, she played a vital role in preserving and promoting Orthodox Lutheranism in the years following Martin Luther’s death in 1546.

In this “Story Time with Sarah” episode, the Lutheran Ladies revisit the life and times of the energetic electress, celebrating Anna’s prowess as a horticultural and proto-pharmaceutical scientist, her faithfulness as a wife and mother, and — especially — her staunch advocacy and support for Lutheran theology and practice in the Holy Roman Empire.

Listen to last year’s Women of the Reformation trivia challenge, or learn more about Anna of Denmark, Electress of Saxony.

Sources listed in this episode:

Brian J. Hale: “Anna of Saxony and Her Library.” Early Modern Women: An Interdisciplinary Journal. Vol. 9, No. 1. Fall 2014, p. 101-114

Pernille Arenfeldt: “Gendered Patronage and Confessionalization.” Renaissance Women as Patrons of Art and Culture. Renaessanceforum 4. 2008. www.renaessanceforum.dk.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#056: Erin's One Question Interview: Being a Woman Is Beautiful

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 10:45:00 -0500

In her latest “One-Question Interview,” Erin welcomes missionary nurse and health educator Steph Schulte to the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge for a frank and honest conversation about reproductive health issues facing women both in West Africa and the United States.

“You are loved. God sees you. God knows who you are,” Schulte tells Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel, echoing the Gospel message she shares with the women who attend her health education classes.

“You are a beautiful creature of God. … Being a woman is beautiful.”

Stephanie Schulte works alongside her husband, the Rev. Gary Schulte, as an LCMS missionary to West and Central Africa. From her home base in the Republic of Congo, she serves as regional coordinator for mercy medical work, facilitating Community Health Education (CHE) initiatives and the deployment of mercy Medical Teams (MMTs) to francophone Africa.

To learn more about and support Steph Schulte’s work in West Africa, visit lcms.org/schulte.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#055: Hymn Sing with Sarah: Martin Luther and Hymns of the Reformation

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 10:45:00 -0500

It’s October — almost Reformation Day — and that means Luther hymns!

In this Hymn Sing celebration of Martin Luther the hymnist, Sarah leads Erin, Bri and Rachel in a wide-ranging discussion of Luther’s hymn text, hymn tunes, and liturgies.

Learn about the long list of hymns Luther wrote or translated (some of which may surprise you), how he incorporated hymnody into the Divine Service, and which hymns appeared in the first-ever Lutheran hymnal, published just five years after the state of the Reformation in 1524. Special attention is paid in this episode to the two “hymns of the day” assigned for Reformation Sunday: Paul Speratus’s “Salvation unto Us Has Come” and Luther’s own most beloved hymn, “A Mighty Fortress.”

Connect with the Lutheran ladies—and cast your vote in their ongoing poll of favorite Luther hymns—in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group

Connect with the Lutheran ladies—and cast your vote in their ongoing poll of favorite Luther hymns—in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#054: How to Lutheran with Bri: The LWML Mite Box

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 09:45:00 -0500

For nearly a century, beginning at the height of the Great Depression, Lutheran women have been collecting spare change in cardboard “mite boxes” to fund mission projects at home and abroad. These simple, unassuming collection boxes have helped bring in more than $100 million in mission offerings since 1942.

In this episode, inspired by the October 4, 2020, celebration of LWML (Lutheran Women in Mission) Sunday, Bri leads Sarah, Erin, and Rachel in a loving discussion of the past, present, and future of the humble mite box.

Click to read more about mite boxes and their history in the LWML, to watch a short video about the evolution of the mite box from 1949-2019, or to request a set of 25 mite boxes for your congregation.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#053: Erin's Recipe Card: Potato Salad Extravaganza

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 10:45:00 -0500

Whether you’re squeezing in one last late-season barbecue, enjoying a traditional Oktoberfest celebration, or preparing for a Reformation festival, Erin’s latest Recipe Card episode — celebrating the humble potato salad — is a must-listen culinary conversation.

Sampling both German and American potato salad recipes, the Ladies explore the history, nutrition, and geography of the perennially popular potluck dish, whose hearty, crowd-feeding appeal stretches from Wisconsin to St. Louis, Latvia to Korea and beyond.

Download Erin's recipe here: German Potato Salad

German Potato Salad

6-10 servings

½ lb bacon, fried and crumbled.

4 T bacon fat

1 small onion, chopped and sautéed in the bacon fat.

1.5 lbs red potatoes, boiled until nearly done. Drain well. Slice or cut into large bite size pieces. Keep warm until the dressing is ready.

Dressing: mix thoroughly:

4 T apple cider vinegar

4 T water

2 T sugar

1 t corn starch

1.5 T whole grain mustard

Once the onions are very tender, add the vinegar mixture and cook until thickened.

Combine the hot dressing and the potatoes. Add the bacon crumbles and stir gently. Adjust seasoning.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Optional: garnish with chopped parsley or sliced green onion tops or even a little bit of finely chopped kale. You could also reserve a bit of bacon to put on top.

Gets better as it sits. Store leftovers in the fridge.

Grandma Bomberger’s Potato Salad

Mix boiled potatoes diced without skins; boiled eggs, shelled and diced; sweet pickles diced; sweet onions diced (optional); and mayonnaise in a large bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste or let others season themselves.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

Short: Book Club Announce— Calling All Lutheran Lady Authors!

Sat, 26 Sep 2020 08:45:00 -0500

Are you a Lutheran lady author looking to share your work with your sisters in Christ? Submit your book to the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club for our Anniversary Read!

In celebration of our first anniversary, we’ll be choosing our next book from among titles submitted by members of the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group. If you’d like to see your book included on our list of possibilities, here’s how to submit it:

Send a note containing the title, ISBN, and a link for the book you want to submit to Rachel Bomberger via Facebook Messenger by 11:59 p.m. October 2, 2020. (Find her here: facebook.com/rachel.bomberger.7.)

Only submissions received directly from authors will be considered; authors must be members of the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group to be eligible. (Connect here: facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge.)

Both self- and traditionally published authors (from any publishing house) are welcome to participate.

Authors of multiple books should submit only one title — preferably whichever of their books seems best suited to the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club audience and format. (See previous discussions here for context: kfuo.org/?s=book+club.)

After submissions close, a series of polls will be run in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook group using a custom descriptive tagline for each book to decide the next book club selection.

Once the selection has been finalized, a complete list of all eligible submissions, including full publication information and links for each title, will be made available to group members on Facebook and shared via KFUO.org.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#052: 'Light in the Dark Belt' Book Club Wrap with Special Guest Kaye Wolff

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 10:45:00 -0500

In this episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri — together with special guest Kaye Wolff — in a recap discussion of the latest Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club selection: Rosa Young’s autobiography Light in the Dark Belt.

What were Dr. Rosa J. Young and her Jim Crow South world really like? How did she understand the connection between education, faith formation, and church planting? What has happened since her death to the churches and schools she founded and the Lutheran teachers and pastors who were raised up in them? Most importantly: how can Lutheran women today continue to honor Rosa Young’s legacy, carry on her mission, and share the Gospel in all times, places, and cultural contexts?

At the end of the discussion, the Ladies announce their plans for the next book club pick — an anniversary celebration of Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge authors.

Click to learn more about Light in the Dark Belt; to watch the documentary The First Rosa and listen to Sarah’s Story Time episode on the life of Rosa Young; or to check out LCMS Black Ministry’s recommended reading list and resource order form.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#051: One Year Anniversary Shoebox Extravaganza!

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 09:45:00 -0500

In this special one-year anniversary omnibus episode, the Lutheran Ladies want to know: if you could put one small item in a shoebox that exemplifies the character and lived experience of Lutheran women, what would it be?

Tossing the metaphorical shoebox around their virtual studio, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel each answer the question in turn, selecting and riffing on a simple, mundane object that is, for them, truly emblematic of “church lady life.”

Which ubiquitous consumer product is the Swiss Army knife of a Lutheran lady’s purse? What do you do when your ladle “runneth over”? What’s better than taking a nap during a sermon? When is a Lutheran lady like a key?

Find answers to these and other riddles in this effervescent celebration of Lutheran womanhood, as you ponder your own answer to the question: what’s in your shoebox?

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#050: Story Time with Sarah: Walther's Wife, Emilie

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 10:45:00 -0500

Many (if not most) American Lutherans have heard the name of C. F. W. Walther, the iconic and indefatigable founder of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. But how much (if anything) do we know about his wife, Emilie?

Christina Emilie Buenger Walther was an intrepid immigrant, a loving wife and mother, and a faithful “Lutheran lady” from her birth in 1811 to her death in 1887 at the age of 73. She endured a dangerous ocean crossing as a young adult, braved the hardships of the wilderness as a single woman, survived a brutal cholera epidemic as a pregnant mother, and partnered with her husband as he worked to lay the firm foundation for an American church body built solidly on the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions.

Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm may be the Walther everyone knows, but this Story Time with Sarah episode is all about Emilie.

To learn more about Emilie Walther and the early history of the LCMS, start by checking out the Concordia Historical Institute website, the Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum blog, and Warren Schmidt’s book Mama Buenger: Mother of a Synod.

Show Correction: The original Log Cabin is still in Altenburg, Missouri. A replica sits on the campus of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#049: Rachel's Trivia Challenge: One Year Anniversary!

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 10:45:00 -0500

The Lutheran Ladies kick off a month-long anniversary celebration in style with a laughter-filled year-in-review edition of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge, recalling the hymns, stories, guests, recipes and conversations that have made the first year of the podcast so special.

Do you remember everything Sarah, Erin, Bri and Rachel have covered The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge in the past year? More importantly … do they?

Revisit all 49 episodes to date at KFUO’s Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge archive, or jump to co-host favorites you may have missed using the links below:

#048: How to be the "Perfect" Seminary Wife

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 10:15:00 -0500

What does it mean to be the “perfect” seminary wife?

This is “Bri’s Big Question” for back-to-school season, and the answer, it turns out, is, well … complicated, at best.

Being married to a pastor or seminary student (or any church worker or church work student, for that matter) can be as fraught with anxiety and expectation as it is filled with blessings. It’s a way of life that at various times calls for humility, flexibility, resilience, self-awareness, desperate faith, a dash of therapy, and a whole lot of love.

Drawing on the real-life experiences of sem-wife Bri and pastor’s-wife Rachel — and further informed by a range of voices from the Concordia Seminary Facebook wives group — this honest conversation offers hard-won practical wisdom both to women who are “married to the ministry” and to women who want to better understand and support the ministry families around them.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#047: Bri's How to Lutheran: Ode to Confirmation Banners

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 10:15:00 -0500

In this “How to Lutheran” episode, Bri offers a heartfelt tribute to that acme of Lutheran artistic expression: the felt Confirmation banner.

Tracing the history of felt making back to its earliest roots in ancient Mesopotamia and touching on the long legacy of faithful women creating liturgical fiber arts as an act of devotion and encouragement, the Ladies also reflect on their own Confirmation memories and consider the significance of this spiritual rite in the lives of those who receive it.

The episode ends with a discussion of Confirmation Bible verses, as Sarah, Erin, and Rachel propose alternate “runner-up” verses for Bri, whose actual Confirmation verse was lost (along with her banner) many years ago.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

Short: Dwayne the Odd-Jobs Man

Sat, 08 Aug 2020 10:15:00 -0500

What do the Lutheran Ladies talk about when they think no one’s listening?

Sometimes Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge recording sessions flow smoothly and without interruptions. Sometimes they don’t—and when that happens, super-producer Sarah has a little cutting to do.

In this Lounge short, the ladies gather up a few loose scraps from the cutting room floor and offer them as a full-length stand-alone outtake. If you’ve ever wished you could be a fly on the wall during a “time out” in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge, here’s your chance.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#046: Hymn Sing with Sarah: Evening Hymns & Lullabies

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 10:15:00 -0500

In her latest “Hymn Sing” episode, resident #hymnnerd Sarah treats Erin, Bri, and Rachel to the history and personalities behind several favorite evening-time hymns and lullabies, focusing especially on listener favorites “Abide with Me,” “Now the Light Has Gone Away,” and “Now Rest beneath Night’s Shadow.”

Did you know that Henry Francis Lyte wrote “Abide with Me” as a kind of self-obituary? Or that Francis Havergal’s English version of Luise Hensel’s “Mude Bin Ich” is more of a paraphrase than a translation? Or that Johann Gerhardt caught Enlightenment-era flack for some of the logical (yet theologically appropriate) inconsistencies in his most famous nighttime hymn?

Grab your pillow and snuggle into your jammies. As it turns out, there’s no better way to end the day than with a hymn.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

ICYMI: Book Club Announcement for 'Light in the Dark Belt'

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 10:15:00 -0500

In this Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge short, the Ladies discuss their options and announce the next book club read: Rosa Young’s Light in the Dark Belt.

Click to learn more about or order Light in the Dark Belt; to listen to Sarah’s Story Time episode on the life of Rosa Young; or to check out LCMS Black Ministry’s recommended reading list and resource order form; or to browse all the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club picks and honorable mentions to date.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#045: ‘All the Pretty Things’ Book Club Wrap Up and Next Book Reveal

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 10:15:00 -0500

In this episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a recap discussion of the latest Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club selection: Edie Wadsworth’s memoir All the Pretty Things.

What makes poverty such a complex and thorny problem? What is the essence of Christian hospitality (and how does it tie into evangelism)? How does experiencing church for the first time (or for the first time … again) help us appreciate God’s gifts with new eyes? How can a memoir teach us compassion for people who carry around wounds we may know nothing about?

At the end of the discussion, the Ladies announce the next book club read: Rosa Young’s Light in the Dark Belt.

Click to learn more about All the Pretty Things or Light in the Dark Belt; to listen to Sarah’s Story Time episode on the life of Rosa Young; or to check out LCMS Black Ministry’s recommended reading list and resource order form.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#044: Erin's One Question Interview: What It Means to be Life-Affirming

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 09:45:00 -0500

In her latest “One-Question Interview,” Erin and the Ladies welcome Deaconess Tiffany Manor to the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge for an engaging, wide-ranging conversation about life, vocation, community, advocacy, and the church.

“Be present,” the newly installed LCMS Director of Life Ministry tells listeners who want to make a difference for life.

“Be curious. And listen.”

LCMS Life Ministry supports and encourages life “in the image of God,” through life-affirming programming, advocacy and teaching at both the national and international level. Learn more here.

Deaconness Tiffany Manor is director of LCMS Life Ministry under the LCMS Office of National Mission (ONM). Before joining the ONM, Manor served the LCMS New England District in the areas of church worker wellness, human care and school ministry. She also contributed to the Synod’s Ministerial Care Coalition (MC2); volunteered as a counselor at a pregnancy resource center; and served on the Lutherans For Life board of directors. Manor earned a Master of Arts in Deaconess Studies from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Congregation and Family Care at Bethel Seminary, Arden Hills, Minn.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#043: Erin's Recipe Card: Slaw Fest!

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 10:15:00 -0500

(SL)AW YEAH. It’s Slawfest season in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge.

In the latest installment of “Erin’s Recipe Card,” Erin introduces Sarah, Bri, and Rachel to a tangy twist on a summertime favorite: Cowboy Coleslaw.

Will Rachel love or hate this complex concoction featuring apples, grapes, dill pickles, onions, and stone ground mustard? Can Sarah find a way to modify the recipe that will allow her to enjoy coleslaw again for the first time in years? And what makes Bri love coleslaw so very much?

Tune in to learn all about the recipe that will have people talking (in a good way!) at your next church picnic — and don’t miss Bri’s epic power ballad to coleslaw at the halfway mark.

Cowboy Slaw

(Download Recipe Here)

Combine for the dressing:

1/3 – 1 c mayonnaise

2 T vinegar

1 T sugar

2 t coarse brown mustard

1⁄2 t salt

1⁄2 t freshly ground black pepper

Combine for the salad:

4-5 c coarsely shredded cabbage

2 med tart apples, chopped

3 lg dill pickles (1 c), chopped

1 c seedless grapes, halved

1⁄4 c chopped onion

Combine dressing and salad, mix well. Cover and chill in the fridge 2-6 hours before serving.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#042: How to Lutheran with Bri: The Church Picnic

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 11:15:00 -0500

Which is the greatest church picnic activity of all time?

Bri attempts a definitive answer in her latest installment of “How to Lutheran,” as she offers listeners a ranked list of the best — and worst — ways to pass the time at a summertime church picnic.

Which is better: softball, kickball, or dodgeball? Why do mothers in particular hate the egg toss? Which picnic activity has the most fanatical adherents? Which is almost guaranteed to end (or at least seriously strain) childhood friendships?

Find out answers to these questions and more — including the ultimate question: which will win? — in this hilarious send-up of a beloved summertime tradition.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#041: Story Time with Sarah: Catherine Winkworth

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 10:45:00 -0500

Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878) was not German; neither was she Lutheran. How, then, did this 19^th-century Anglican literary spinster become the foremost translator of German Lutheran hymns into English?

In her new “Story Time” episode, Sarah introduces Erin, Bri, and Rachel to the life and times of Lutheranism’s most ubiquitous female translator, the woman who penned the English lyrics to many of the our most cherished hymns, including “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” “From Heav’n Above to Earth I Come,” and “Now Thank We All Our God.”

From her sickly childhood, to her distinctive education, travels abroad, translation work, and advocacy for women’s education, to her untimely death in 1878, Winkworth’s life was marked by faith, hope, and loving devotion to her craft. This episode is sure to give you a new understanding and appreciation of this remarkable woman and the hymn lyrics she left behind.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#040: Sharathon 2020: Vignettes of the Ladies' Lounge

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 10:45:00 -0500

In this special hour-long Sharathon episode, which aired on KFUO Radio AM 850 on Thursday, June 25, 2020, the Ladies offer listeners a representative sampling (in miniature!) of four different kinds of Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge podcast episodes:

“Hymn Sing with Sarah” digs into the backstory of the beloved Tanzanian hymn “Listen, God Is Calling.”
“Rachel’s Trivia Challenge” quizzes Ladies and listeners alike on the early history of KFUO.
“Erin’s Recipe Card” showcases devilled egg recipes that run the gamut from classic to daring.
“How to Lutheran with Bri” pays homage to the faithful generosity of donors around the LCMS.

Prayerfully consider supporting KFUO Radio 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 follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#039: In Celebration of Fathers

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 10:45:00 -0500

Happy Father’s Day from the Lutheran Ladies!

Not being fathers themselves, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel take the unusual step of inviting two veteran fathers and friends of the show — Michael Grannis and Tony Alter (better known to listeners as “Erin’s Dad”) — into the Lounge for a special Father’s Day interview.

Reflecting on what fatherhood means to them, what Lutheran women can do to support fathers, and how churches and church leaders can play a vital role in the lives of young men without fathers, this lively and far-ranging conversation will provide rich and timely food for thought.

The episode ends with a groan-inducing round of “Dad jokes,” led by Bri.

The Rev. Michael Grannis is senior administrative pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Lincoln Park, Mich., and the proud father of eight children. The Rev. Tony Alter is a retired LCMS pastor, who remains grateful to his childhood congregation of Immanuel Lutheran in Memphis, TN, (then under the leadership of Pastor Gordon Gross) for helping him find and live into his vocation as both a father and a pastor.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#038: Rachel's Trivia Challenge: Vacation Bible School

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 10:45:00 -0500

It’s summer—and in most Lutheran churches, at least, and in most years, that means Vacation Bible School.

In her latest Trivia Challenge, Rachel quizzes Sarah, Erin, and Bri on the past, present, and uncertain future of this beloved children’s ministry tradition.

Who hosted the world’s first VBS programs and when? What factors helped make Lutherans relatively late (but nonetheless enthusiastic) adopters? What makes a Lutheran VBS so distinctive? How is Concordia Publishing House working to create innovative resources to help churches do VBS during a pandemic?

A hilarious lightning round at the end encourages listeners to guess: VBS theme or 60s B movie?

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#037: Story Time with Sarah: Argula von Grumbach Writes a Letter

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 10:45:00 -0500

Argula von Grumbach (1492–c. 1554) was a Bavarian noblewoman who became the first Protestant woman writer, publishing letters and poems defending Martin Luther’s groundbreaking theology.

In this installment of “Story Time with Sarah,” Sarah introduces Rachel, Erin, and Bri, to one of the coolest ladies of the Lutheran Reformation you’ve probably never heard of. Learn about how Lady Argula’s education, life experiences, and “straight shooting” personality each prepared her for the distinctive role she played in the early years after Luther’s 95 Theses — and about the high price she and her family paid for her outspoken promotion of Lutheran ideas.

Click to learn more about Argula von Grumbach or to read the full text of her 1523 letter to the University of Ingolstadt.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#036: Bri Gets Real: Physical Stewardship of the Body

Fri, 29 May 2020 12:45:00 -0500

It’s summer — and for many of us, that means beaches … and sunbathing … and swimsuits …

(Feeling insecure yet?)

In this episode of The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge, Bri leads Sarah, Erin, and Rachel in a conversation full of big questions about what it means to be “body positive” in the Kingdom of God.

How can we better understand our bodies — and the food and exercise that sustain them — as good gifts of God? How do Christ’s “rich wounds yet visible above” help us reimagine our own physical scars? How can we make peace with our bodies (no matter what they look like) and learn to become godly stewards of the physical vitality God has given us?

In short: what happens when we learn to measure our worth by the cross of Christ and not our pant size?

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

ICYMI: Book Club Announcement for 'All the Pretty Things'

Tue, 26 May 2020 12:15:00 -0500

It’s time once again to finalize the next pick for the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club! The category this time is “memoir,” and every one of the four finalists came directly from the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group.

Listen in to this Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge short to hear which book they (and hopefully you!) will be reading next.

Members of the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge group on Facebook can watch the events page for a chance to RSVP to the next book club discussion, coming in July, 2020.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#035: 'Jacob Have I Loved' Book Club Wrap Up and Next Book Reveal

Fri, 22 May 2020 12:30:00 -0500

Katherine Paterson’s Newbery Award-winning novel Jacob Have I Loved has been inspiring deep personal reflection for four decades. In this latest Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club recap episode, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel draw upon insights from their fellow online book club members as they talk their way through some of the big questions and ideas raised by this “deceptively simple” book.

What do we leave behind as we grow up? How does physical isolation intensify relationships? Do we really have to carry around the bitterness we feel? Who are the people who speak truth to us that we can actually hear? And how do the years change the way we encounter a beloved book?

At the end of the episode, they announce the next Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club’s pick: Edie Wadsworth’s All the Pretty Things: The Story of a Southern Girl Who Went through Fire to Find Her Way Home.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#034: Erin's Recipe Card: The Great Jell-O® Episode!

Fri, 15 May 2020 10:45:00 -0500

Ready for an extravaganza of colored fluffs and congealed salads? Good!

Find recipes and photos of the ladies' creations at facebook.com/groups/lutheranladieslounge.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#033: Bri's Big Question: Mom's Day Out

Fri, 08 May 2020 11:45:00 -0500

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and to celebrate the occasion, Rachel’s three young “Lutheran Ladies-in-training” recently stopped by the Lounge to give their mother a few minutes’ much-needed time off.

In this special “Mom’s Day Out” edition of Bri’s Big Question, Bri quizzes Elanor, Evalyn, and Emalie Bomberger on a wide range of topics including why they love church, what they really think about their mom, and which potluck foods they like best — and also least. (The answers may surprise you …)

It’s barely controlled chaos (in the best sense of the word), and Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel have rarely had more fun on air.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#032: Hymn Sing with Sarah: It’s Easter! Alleluia!

Fri, 01 May 2020 15:02:33 -0500

Alleluia! He is risen! It’s Eastertide, and for the Lutheran Ladies, that means hymns — hymns with all the alleluias put back in. In the latest “Hymn Sing with Sarah” conversation, Sarah gives Erin, Bri, and Rachel an all-access tour of just a few of the 45 Easter hymns featured in Lutheran Service Book. Covering both fan favorites like “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” and more personal picks like “Christians to the Paschal Victim,” this hymntastic episode may just have you saying with Sarah, “Holy moly! I really missed all of this stuff. This is awesome!” Click to learn more about the two-volume Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns from CPH. Text Copyright: Lutheran Service Book 459 “Christ is Arisen” © 1969 Concordia Publishing House. Used with Permission. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#031: Rachel’s Trivia Challenge: Pandemics, Plagues, and the Church

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 19:27:30 -0500

Theology meets epidemiology in the latest round of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge. Drawing on two millennia of church and world history, Rachel quizzes the ladies on the long and complicated relationship between Christians and plagues. The resulting “grand tour of life in the midst of death” reveals clearly that in a grand, cosmic sense, there is nothing very “novel” about the coronavirus pandemic — and that when it comes to sharing Christ’s love and compassion with our neighbors in a time of contagion, this is #notourfirstrodeo. Click to read Lyman Stone’s foreignpolicy.com article (which has been retitled since this episode was recorded) “Christianity Has Been Handling Epidemics for 2000 Years”; follow Lyman Stone on Twitter; read Martin Luther’s essay “Whether One May Flee From a Deadly Plague”; check out Rodney Stark’s comments on Early Christian interventions and plague mortality rates; read Katie Luther’s loving remembrance of her daughter Elizabeth; and read Warren Schmidt’s Lutheran Heritage Center article “Summer of Death — 170 Years Ago.”

#030: The Socially Distanced Episode

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 15:57:17 -0500

Q: How’s everyone feeling? In this special episode on living as a Lutheran in the time of coronavirus, Bri leads the Ladies through a series of questions and talking points on how to survive and (maybe) even thrive while enduring the many government-mandated community-wide lockdowns now in place around the country. How can Lutheran churches continue to bless their communities when they can’t even open their doors? How can Lutheran women — alone, yet together — support their churches and each other while they responsibly practice social distancing and self-isolation at home? How can Christians everywhere use this time to become better stewards of their God-given bodies, minds, and spirits? The answers to questions like these may not always surprise you, but they will nonetheless inspire and uplift you as you listen. No matter how you’re feeling going in to the episode, you may find yourself more hopeful and encouraged coming out. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#029: Holy Week Hymn & Scripture Meditation

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 11:19:56 -0500

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5 ESV) In this special Holy Week episode of The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge, Sarah presents hymns and scripture readings as we meditate on the suffering and death of Christ for our sins. Many thanks to Rev. Sean Daenzer, Peter Slayton, and Erin Alter for lending their voices to this episode. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#027: ‘Secondhand’ Book Club Wrap Up and Next Book Reveal

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 14:47:36 -0500

Ever wonder what happens to church rummage sale leftovers after they get dropped off at a local donation center? If so, you’re not alone. Dozens of women recently participated in a stimulating online exchange around the second Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club pick: Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale, and in this book club recap episode of the podcast, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel take their own turn at discussing and digesting some of the many compelling facts and insights found in Adam Minter’s book. Why is “stuff” so key to our sense of identity? Why do we want so badly for other people to value our castoffs? How might our buying and purging choices today potentially either bless or burden someone half a world away from us? And how can taking an honest look at our relationship with our belongings (and with consumer goods in general) help us better learn to trust in God for everything? At the end of the episode, they announce the next Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club’s pick: Katherine Patterson’s young-adult novel Jacob Have I Loved. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#028: Erin’s Recipe Card: Pineapple Dressing (AKA Butter Sponge)

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 14:47:02 -0500

Q: When is a dessert not a dessert? A: When you call it a dressing and serve it as a side! In the latest installment of Erin’s Recipe Card, Erin introduces Rachel and Bri to the buttery, sweet-and-savory goodness of pineapple dressing. Pair it with ham or pork loin for Easter dinner, or add bacon and brown sugar to tailor-bake a tasty twist on the Easter brunch casserole. Either way, the pan is sure to be empty at the end of the meal (as Erin’s on-air taste-testers can whole-heartedly testify). Pineapple Dressing recipe ½ cup butter 1 cup sugar 4 eggs 1 cup crushed pineapple 5-6 slices of bread, cubed – Cream butter, sugar, and eggs. Stir in pineapple, fold in bread cubes. – Bake uncovered in 1.5 quart casserole at 350° for 1 hour. – Delicious with ham! Discover more of Erin’s tasty, church-lady-approved recipes at kfuo.org/lutheranladieslounge. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

ICYMI: Book Club Announcement for ‘Jacob Have I Loved’

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 19:02:14 -0500

It’s time once again to finalize the next pick for the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club! Will Sarah, Erin, and Bri choose “literary fiction involving sisters”? Or will they go for “cultural criticism for a post-Christian society”? Listen in to this Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge short to hear which book they (and hopefully you!) will be reading next. Members of the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge group on Facebook can watch the events page for a chance to RSVP to the next book club discussion, coming in May, 2020. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#026: Hymn Sing with Sarah: Lent & Holy Week

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 15:40:59 -0500

Which are the greatest Lutheran Lenten hymns? In this episode, the Lutheran Ladies share their favorite Lenten hymns and discuss the results of a recent poll in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook poll. Resident #hymnnerd Sarah then tells the stories behind the creation of two of Lutheranism’s most beloved hymns: “My Song Is Love Unknown” (text by Samuel Crossman) and “O Sacred Head Now Wounded” (text by Paul Gerhardt). “Our favorites tend to be driven by emotion and memories,” says Sarah. “… and I don’t think there’s anything necessarily wrong with that. All of the Lenten hymns in our hymnal, they all have great texts. They all point you to Christ; they all point you to His suffering and death for our sins.” Click to learn more about Samuel Crossman, Paul Gerhardt, the poems of George Herbert or the (#hymnnerd-approved!) two-volume Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns, new from CPH. The Lutheran Ladies would also like to take this opportunity to remind listeners that — even if singing hymns together in church is off limits at the moment — Lenten hymns make wonderful devotional texts, and singing them alone or with others in your household can raise spirits and turn hearts to the cross. Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

The Lutheran Ladies Take Over The Coffee Hour!

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 14:36:06 -0500

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. Find The Coffee Hour podcast, co-hosted by Sarah Gulseth and Andy Bates, at kfuo.org/thecoffeehour. 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.

#025: How to ‘Lent’ like a Lutheran

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 12:43:10 -0500

Have you ever noticed how much tension can surround the idea of Lutheran Lenten fasting? “Giving up something” for the season is a popular and oft-touted practice, but is it necessary? And if it isn’t necessary, what’s the point? These are just a few of the questions the Lutheran Ladies tackle in their honest and wide-ranging conversation (led by “How to Lutheran” segment host Bri) about the whys and wherefores of Lenten fasting. Whether you don’t fast for Lent (but are curious to know why others do) or do fast for Lent (but are curious to know why others abstain), you’ll find food for thought here to challenge and enrich your understanding of Lenten discipline. Click to learn more about the March issue of The Lutheran Witness (mentioned in the episode), which explores fasting in Lutheran perspective. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#024: Erin’s One-Question Interview: Empathy

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 13:23:43 -0600

“What should we be talking about that we’re not?” In the latest installment of “Erin’s One-Question Interview,” Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel welcome special guest Heidi Goehmann into the Lounge to talk about mental health in the church — and, most especially, what it means to give and receive empathy. Deaconess Heidi Goehmann is a licensed clinical social worker who writes and advocates around the topics of mental health, relationships, and Jesus. She hosts the Life in Relationship podcast and the Heidi Goehmann Writes YouTube channel, is a regular “Mental Health Mondays” guest on KFUO Radio’s Coffee Hour program, and has published several books and studies with CPH, including Altogether Beautiful and, most recently, The Mighty & the Mysterious: A Study of Colossians. Learn more at heidigoehmann.com. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#023: Story Time with Sarah: First Generation Lutherans

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 13:52:37 -0600

It’s commonly believed that Lutheran churches are made up mostly of “dyed-in-the-wool” cradle Lutherans — those who were baptized into the faith in infancy and never left. But is that really so? In this special “Story Time with Sarah” episode, the Lutheran Ladies read and celebrate the inspiring personal stories of first-generation Lutheran women, gathered through the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group. Whether you’re a first-generation Lutheran yourself or come from a long line of pious Lutheran forebears, you’re sure to find much to ponder and give thanks for in this episode. The podcast opens with a hilarious birthday Mad Lib in honor of co-host Bri. Members of the Lounge discussion group may click here to see related threads on this topic. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

Short: Memorize the Athanasian Creed with us!

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 15:58:07 -0600

You probably have the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed memorized, but what about the Athanasian Creed? We want to help you learn it! Our memorization guide will help you memorize this Creed in time for Trinity Sunday. Download the PDF guide at kfuo.org/lutheranladieslounge, graciously provided by Deaconess Mary Moerbe and Concordia Publishing House. Join the Facebook event in the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge group here: facebook.com/events/183406652940671. Not a member of the group yet? Join in for community of Lutheran women! For quick reference, here are the checkpoints: February 21 – AC verses 1-4 February 28 – AC verses 5-6 March 6 – AC verses 7-12 March 13 – | CHECKPOINT | AC verses 1-12 March 20 – AC verses 13-19 March 27 – AC verses 20-23 April 3 – | CHECKPOINT | AC verses 1-23 April 10 – AC verses 24-26 April 17 – AC verses 27-28 April 24 – | CHECKPOINT | AC verses 1-28 May 1 – AC verses 29-31 May 8 – AC verses 32-34 May 15 – | CHECKPOINT | AC verses 1-34 May 22 – AC verses 35-37 May 29 – AC verses 38-40 June 5 – | CHECKPOINT | Athanasian Creed in its entirety June 7: Trinity Sunday! Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#022: Rachel’s Trivia Challenge: Mardi Gras!

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 16:35:49 -0600

How much do you (think you) know about the cultural and theological underpinnings of Mardi Gras? Test your knowledge in the latest edition of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge! Learn more about the meanings of some of Mardi Gras’s many names, what Luther said (or maybe didn’t say) about the festival, how to spell the name of a popular Polish pastry, and the real reason Christians celebrate at this time of year. (Hint: it’s not pancakes.) To dig deeper into a few of the sources mentioned in the show, check out Pr. Bryan Wolfmueller’s blog post on Luther and fasting, the Oma Way blog on German fastnacht traditions, and Bob Scribner’s article “Reformation, carnival, and the world turned upside down.” Correction note: While the Ladies did spell “pączki” right on the first try, they ultimately put the “swooshy thing” under the wrong letter. It goes under the a, not the c. Mardi Gras Pug Photo credit: DaPuglet on Visualhunt / CC BY-SA Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#021: Erin’s One-Question Interview: The Gift of Singleness

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 10:56:26 -0600

As couples everywhere prepare to celebrate romantic love this Valentine’s Day, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel are going against the flow — with a Valentine’s Day celebration of singleness. Inviting Deaconess Ellie Corrow (Missionary Care Coordinator for the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and bona fide single person) into the Lounge for “Erin’s One-Question Interview,” the Ladies explore singleness as a biblical Christian vocation and look at how the Church can do a better job of welcoming and ministering to single people. “St. Paul talks about singles in really very glowing terms,” says Corrow. “We tend to forget that. Marriage gets elevated, and singleness becomes this thing that you need to fix in your life. … What we fail to do is to support singleness as a valid vocation — and a joyful vocation.” Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#020: Story Time with Sarah: The First Rosa

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 16:24:54 -0600

Dr. Rosa J. Young was an “amazing woman of God who did great things” for Lutheran education and evangelism in the South, helping to found 30 Lutheran schools for underserved black students and establish 35 Lutheran churches in the region. In this edition of “Storytime with Sarah,” Sarah leads Erin, Bri, and Rachel through key moments in Rosa Young’s inspirational biography as together they celebrate and reflect on Young’s life, faith, and ongoing legacy. To learn more about Dr. Rosa J. Young and view a documentary about her produced by LCMS Black Ministry, visit lcms.org/thefirstrosa. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#019: Seeing Jesus Through Art

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 12:42:44 -0600

In this episode, Bri leads the ladies in a celebratory discussion of “the one painting of Jesus in every church ever”: Warner Sallman’s “Head of Christ.” Delving into the origin story of Sallman and his famous painting, Bri uses this familiar work of art to open a larger discussion of artistic representations of Christ throughout history and around the world, from early Christian iconography to contemporary artists like Yongsung Kim and Ed Riojas. Follow these links to dig more deeply into some of the many artists and topics covered in this far-ranging episode: Warner Sallman, “Head of Christ,” the Evangelical Covenant Church, Covenant Companion, He Qi, Sadao Watanabe, Yongsung Kim, “Christ Pantocrator,” Lucas Cranach, Ed Riojas, Kelly Schumacher (Agnus Dei Liturgical Arts), Jonathan Mayer (Scapegoat Studios). Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

ICYMI: Book Club Announcement for ‘Secondhand’

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 08:50:49 -0600

It’s time to finalize the next pick for the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club! Will Sarah, Erin, and Bri choose “historical fiction from the perspective of a sadder-but-wiser older character”? Or will they go for “nonfiction guaranteed to make you the smarty-pants at your next church event”? Listen in to this Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge short to hear which book they (and hopefully you!) will be reading next, as well as to learn about changes to the online book club format that will make the conversation easier and more accessible to all. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#018: Book Club: A Year Down Yonder and Next Pick Announcement!

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 12:47:14 -0600

Literature, history, fashion, community, trigger-happy grandmothers … This episode has it all. Wrapping up discussion of the first Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club pick, A Year Down Yonder, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri through a lively discussion of key themes in Richard Peck’s Newbery Award-winning young adult novel. Drawing upon listener insights shared through book club conversations in the show’s Facebook group, the ladies consider what makes the Depression such a fascinating era in American history, how fashion can be used more intentionally, and which relationship is ultimately stronger: friend, or neighbor? At the end of the episode, Sarah, Erin, and Bri help Rachel choose and announce the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club’s next pick: Adam Minter’s Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#017: Erin’s One-Question Interview: The Value of Your Life

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 16:17:21 -0600

“What should Lutheran ladies be talking about that we’re not?” In yet another first for the program, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel welcome special guest Heather Ruesch into the lounge for “Erin’s One-Question Interview.” (Who’d have thought that one question could lead to so much constructive conversation?) Heather Ruesch is a pro-life speaker, advocate, and educator who is currently traveling the country with the You Matter Tour, which “empowers adolescents to create a new, healthy perspective” on human sexuality. An LCMS pastor’s wife and mother of four, Heather is also the author of Sexuality Mentality: Creating a Culture of Biblical Integrity (CPH). Learn more about Heather and find out where she’ll be next at heatherruesch.com. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#016: The Heroic Story of Gertrude Simon: China, 1943

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 14:29:29 -0600

Twenty-two orphaned babies and toddlers. Daily Japanese bombing runs. Two hundred miles (by foot, through the mountains) stand between the children and relative safety. What’s an intrepid Lutheran woman missionary to do? In the first installment of her new “Storytime” segment, Sarah takes Rachel, Erin, and Bri back in time to China in 1943 as she tells the life story of Gertrude Simon, a Lutheran missionary nurse and educator who not only served in China and Hong Kong for forty of the most tumultuous years of the twentieth century but also orchestrated the dramatic wartime evacuation of nearly two dozen infant girls under her care. Program notes: The city mentioned four minutes into the episode (which Sarah and Rachel aren’t sure how to pronounce) is Hankou, formerly spelled Hankow/Hanchow, one of three neighboring cities (together with Wuchang and Hanyang) that have since merged to form modern-day Wuhan city, the capital of Hubei Province in China. The book that formed the basis for Sarah’s story is One Cup of Water: Five True Stories of Missionary Women in China, a collection edited by Janice Kerper Brauer. Published in 1997 by the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, the book is now out of print but can still be found in small quantities through used book sellers including Amazon. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#015: Bri’s Big Question: New Year’s Resolutions

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 12:00:35 -0600

New Year’s Resolutions: good, bad, or utterly pointless? This is Bri’s Big Question for January, and as usual, there may not be one right answer — just lots of lively and constructive conversation. Given that more than three fourths of the people who make New Year’s Resolutions fail within the first month — and that many resolutions are born from an unhelpful and even harmful sense of body negativity — are they really worth troubling over at all? Drawing in part on the Christian practices of self-examination and of Lenten fasting, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel share their own experiences with making (and breaking) New Year’s Resolutions and explore why, with the right mindset, resolutions might just be worth trying anyway. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#014: Christmas Poetry Slam!

Fri, 27 Dec 2019 11:32:04 -0600

Merry Christmas from the Lutheran Ladies! In this “super special” holiday episode, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel each share their own original unpublished Christmas poems. From a Dr. Seuss-themed power ballad to a nativity “limerichard,” from a rhapsodic ode to Christmas hymns to a Hamilton-inspired angelic rap verse, these homespun poems will have listeners snapping their fingers (and maybe even grabbing pen and paper to craft their own Christmas poems) as they marvel anew at the miracle of Christmas. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#013: Rachel’s Trivia Challenge: The Best Christmas Pageant (Quiz) Ever

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 17:31:23 -0600

‘Tis the season … for Christmas pageants! Join Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel as they embark on a riotous romp through the past, present and (hypothetical) future of nativity theatricals. What was the go-to costume choice for a mid-century modern shepherd? Which Medieval nativity drama likely incorporated Cirque-du-Soleil-style acrobatics? What do Gladys Herdman, Linus van Pelt, and Dominic the Donkey have to do with the Christmas story? And what, exactly, is an essay question doing in a trivia quiz? Find answers to these questions (and others you never thought to ask) in this edition of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge. Correction note: At approximately 19:00, the cohosts mention in passing that the Angel Gabriel visited Elizabeth. According to Luke 1, Gabriel appeared to Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah, not Elizabeth herself. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#012: Hymn Sing with Sarah: The Quempas Carol

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:45:33 -0600

In this episode, Sarah invites Erin, Bri and Rachel to share their favorite Christmas carols and caroling memories before waxing rhapsodic herself over the history and tradition of her own favorite Christmas hymn — “The Quempas Carol.” What does Sbarro have to do with Christmas caroling? Why does Rachel still blush sometimes when she hears “Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer”? And how, exactly, did little Sarah become the #hymnnerd she is today? The episode wraps with an ethereal a cappella rendition of the first verse of “The Quempas Carol,” sung by Sarah, Erin, and friends. Text Source: German carols, 14th cent.; Tr. composite Copyright: Translation © 1969 Concordia Publishing House Notes: Tr. Martin L. Seltz, 1909-1967; Tr. Herbert J. A. Bourman, b. 1908; alt. Used with permission from Concordia Publishing House. Tune Source: German carols, 14th cent. Copyright: Setting © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship Used with permission from Augsburg Fortress / 1517 Media.

#011: Erin’s Recipe Card: Christmas Cookies!

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 12:55:20 -0600

It’s Christmas cookie season! Who’s hungry? In this installment of Erin’s Recipe Card, Erin goes beyond the beloved-but-mundane sugar cookie to introduce Bri, Rachel and Sarah to a new-to-them Christmas classic: the lace cookie. Blending flour, sugar, oats, nuts and lots of butter (never margarine!) into a satisfyingly crunchy treat, Erin’s latest recipe is sure to be a sweet addition to seasonal cookie trays. While they nibble, the Ladies also wax lyrical about their own favorite Christmas cookie memories and recipes. From thumbprints to no-bakes, peanut blossoms to pfefferneuse, podcasting doesn’t get much sweeter than this. Lace Cookies from Sherry Hoskins Ingredients 1 1/2 cups quick oats (1 1/4??) 1 stick margarine butter 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 large egg, slightly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup chopped pecans Directions Preheat oven to 350°. Melt butter and pour over oats. Stir by hand until combined. Combine sugar, salt, flour, and baking powder. Fold into the oats and butter. Add the egg, vanilla, and pecans and mix until combined. Cover cookie sheet with parchment paper. Drop batter by 1/2 teaspoon into quarter-sized mounds. Bake at 350° for about 11 minutes or until edges turn slightly brown. Slide off parchment paper with spatula when partially cool. Cool completely and store in airtight container. Try not to eat them all in one sitting. (editor’s note.) Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

ICYMI: Book Club Announcement!

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 16:56:02 -0600

In this Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge ICYMI short, Sarah, Erin, Rachel, and Bri talk through their options as they finalize a choice for their inaugural book club pick: A Year Down Yonder, by Richard Peck. Want to join them in the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club? Here’s how: Listen regularly to the Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge podcast. A new book will be announced on air every 2-3 months. Buy or borrow the book. Selected titles are generally available in a variety of formats (including digital and audio) from both national chains and indie booksellers and can often be checked out from local libraries. Watch for and chime in on Facebook discussion threads labeled “book club.” These will begin appearing approximately 4-8 weeks after a book has been announced. Listen to the next book club segment of the podcast for follow-up discussion from the Lutheran Ladies. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#010: Rachel’s Trivia Challenge: The End of the World

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 16:19:20 -0600

In the latest installment of Rachel’s Trivia Challenge — focused on the Last Sunday of the church year and the End Times — Rachel embarks on a dystopian romp from rock band R.E.M. to evangelical A-lister Kirk Cameron and beyond, as she does her level best to stump Sarah, Erin, and Bri on all things eschatological. Which event in American history became known as the “Great Disappointment”? How did the advent of the internet affect End Times prognostication? What did Luther think about Revelation? And can you sing (from memory—no cheating!) the words to Rachel’s least favorite hymn in Lutheran Service Book? It’s the end of the world (according to the liturgical calendar, at least), and the Lutheran Ladies are feeling just fine, thank you very much. How about you? Listen in, play along, and find out! Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#009: The Lutheran Ladies’ Guide to Chrismons™

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 16:33:01 -0600

In 1957, an enterprising Lutheran lady named Frances Kipps Spencer created the first Chrismons™ — the now-familiar handcrafted gold and white ornaments that adorn so many church Christmas trees to this day. In this episode, Sarah, Bri, Erin and Rachel share the origin story behind these ornaments, delve into their rich Christological meanings, and get ready to craft their own versions of these time-honored Christian symbols. Will there be Styrofoam, sequins, and hot glue involved? (One can only hope!) See the brochure from East Liberty Presbyterian Church here. You can also find all things Chrismons™ from Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, VA, at chrismon.org. Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a special announcement from the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#008: Erin’s Recipe Card: Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 18:33:27 -0600

Looking for a savory new casserole to add to your fall potluck lineup? Look no further than Erin’s Recipe Card. In this episode, the ladies bake up and try an Erin original: Spaghetti Squash Casserole with spicy sausage, kale and a crispy Parmesan crumb topping. With vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and allergy- and intolerant-friendly variations all possible, this healthy and easily customizable recipe is sure to become a side-dish staple in a church basement near you. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram. --------------------------------------- Spaghetti Squash Casserole Serves 8-12 Created by Erin Alter for The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge. 2 spaghetti squashes- each about 6-8 inches long 1 medium/large onion, diced 2-3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence 2 bunches kale, chopped 5 tablespoons Olive oil, divided 1 pound Italian sausage, spicy recommended ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided ½ cup bread crumbs Salt and pepper Cut spaghetti squashes in half, scrape out seeds, rub with a little bit of olive oil, and roast cut-side down at 400° for 40 to 60 minutes until tender. (You’ll know it is done when it is Very Easy to shred the flesh into strands. It might need longer if your squashes are larger.) While the squash is roasting, take a walk and then sauté the onion, garlic, and Herbes de Provence in 4 tablespoons olive oil. Once the onion is soft, add half the kale and sauté until bright green and tender. Set aside. Brown the sausage. Once the sausage is browned, add the remaining kale and sauté until bright green and tender. Add to the reserved vegetables. When the squash is tender, use a fork to remove the flesh and separate the strands. Mix it together with the vegetables and sausage. Stir in ¼ cup of the Parmesan cheese. Adjust for salt and pepper. Place everything in a casserole dish. Combine the remaining ¼ cup Parmesan cheese with the bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sprinkle over the casserole. If the casserole is still quite hot from cooking the food, bake at 375° for 15 minutes, or until browned. If you took a break and are baking this after it has cooled considerably, it will need longer. Eyeball it. Options Swap out the Herbes De Provence for any herb blend you enjoy. If you can’t find spicy Italian sausage, or if you enjoy a little extra kick, add some crushed red pepper flakes to give it a little more get up and go. Want to make it vegetarian? Leave out the sausage and consider adding a can of drained/rinsed garbanzo beans. Gluten free? Consider using ground almonds or crushed potato chips, or search out gluten free bread crumbs. Don’t forget to check the sausage that you choose, to make sure it is gluten free.

#007: Hymn Sing with Sarah: All Saints’ Day

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 16:06:17 -0500

Warm up your vocal cords and join the Lutheran Ladies as they indulge their love of hymns with a new musical segment: “Hymn Sing with Sarah”! In this first installment, Sarah digs into the background and meaning of the beloved All Saints Day hymn “For All the Saints” as she and her co-hosts explore what makes All Saints Day (and the seasons and festivals of the liturgical year more generally) so special and significant for the life of the Church. The episode ends fittingly with an on-air singalong. (Stick around to the end of the episode for a special outtake version of this singalong!) To learn more about the difference between All Saints Day and All Souls Day (which the episode touches on briefly but not in depth), click here. For a deep dive into all your favorite Lutheran Service Book hymns, check out the new resource Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns, now available from Concordia Publishing House. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#006: Rachel’s Trivia Challenge: Women of the Reformation

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 16:54:29 -0500

This Sunday is Reformation Day (observed), and what better way could there be to celebrate in the lounge than with a Reformation-themed quiz? In her latest “Trivia Challenge,” Rachel stumps the ladies with a lively round of questions about women in the Lutheran Reformation. Listen, laugh, learn, and play along at home as Sarah, Erin and Bri answer questions about the Reformation that they never thought to ask: What might Katie von Bora have smelled like when she rolled into Wittenberg? What shocking event could have inspired the respectable Dr. Luther to write a friendly letter to three court damsels? Which Reformation princess was (briefly) sister-in-law to England’s most infamous serial husband? Can anyone pronounce “Bugenhagen” correctly on the first try? Spoiler alert: If you enjoy reading, be sure to listen through to the end of the episode, when the ladies share some big news for book lovers. Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

Short: #RealLife with Dogs and Kids

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 17:39:03 -0500

It’s a Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge short! Have you ever been on the phone, only to have the dog bark or the kids yell for help. So have we. For bonus content from the show and a chance to help shape future on-air conversations—and enjoy friendly fellowship with other Lutheran ladies—join The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#005: Bri’s Big Question: Trick-or-Treating

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 17:38:38 -0500

Should Lutherans go Trick-or-Treating on Halloween — or not? That’s Bri’s “Big Question” for October, and in this episode of The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge, the ladies are considering all the arguments and doing their level best to hash out answers (with a little help from their friends on Facebook and the LCMS’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations). Whether you dress up on Halloween and greet the kiddies at the door with full-sized candy bars or hide in your basement with all the lights out, you’re sure to find rich food for thought in this week’s conversation. SHOW EDITS: The pronounciation of “Samhain” is “sow-win” as in “cow” not “sew.” The commenter “Emily” is actually “Elizabeth.” We apologize for saying the wrong name! Connect with your favorite Lutheran ladies on social media (and help them think through their next “Big Question”) when you join The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#004: Rachel’s Trivia Challenge: Lutherans in Show Business

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 16:50:44 -0500

Put on your thinking caps and play along with Rachel’s Trivia Challenge! In this episode of The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge, Rachel stumps the ladies with a series of trivia questions about LCMS Lutherans in show business. What can J. S. Bach’s signature sign-off teach us about Lutheranism and celebrity? Where can a Lutheran celeb always go and not be fussed over? Which Hollywood character actor grew up as an LCMS pastor’s kid? And (of great interest to at least one lady) is Jon Hamm Lutheran? Connect with your favorite Lutheran ladies on social media (and gently rib Rachel for having accidentally given 1958 — rather than 1858 — as the date when Jon Hamm’s ancestors immigrated to St. Louis … oops!) when you join The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#003: How to Lutheran with Bri: The Midweek Supper

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 16:21:28 -0500

Some people look forward all year to Christmas, but in this episode, the Lutheran Ladies are already getting excited for Lent (143 sleeps, in case you’re counting!) — and with it, the Lenten soup supper. In Bri’s new segment “How to Lutheran,” she waxes rhapsodic over styrofoam bowls of chicken noodle soup, leaky yellow drink coolers and all the other austere culinary delights of a traditional Lutheran midweek meal. “Lenten midweek suppers are a great opportunity to foster community within your congregation,” Bri reminds us, adding, “They’re also a great opportunity to not have to cook for once.” For bonus content from the show, including step-by-step instructions for trying Erin’s featured recipe at home, join The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#002: Erin’s Recipe Card: Tuna Ring Ding

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 11:19:56 -0500

In their second episode, the Lutheran Ladies head down to the church basement for “Erin’s Recipe Card,” a segment celebrating classic recipes from Lutheran cookbooks. Taste-testing a vintage concoction of pineapple, tuna fish, and magical “goo” (that totally isn’t a New England snack cake, despite what it sounds like), they learn how to “Ring It!” — and why it’s always so important to let your fellow kitchen helpers know whether your contribution is actually a dessert or just a really fancy entree. For bonus content from the show, including step-by-step instructions for trying Erin’s featured recipe at home, join The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

Short: The Roll Down

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 12:31:38 -0500

It's a Lutheran Ladies' Lounge short! Every Lutheran lady shares unique experiences, and Sarah, Erin, Rachel, and Bri have a real conversation about the good and bad of pantyhose, and whether it's even still a thing for Lutheran ladies. For bonus content from the show and a chance to help shape future on-air conversations—and enjoy friendly fellowship with other Lutheran ladies—join The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

#001: Welcome to the Lounge.

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 12:00:20 -0500

In this inaugural episode of The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge, learn about the “gracious, women-only oasis” that inspired the podcast and get to know its four co-hosts: Sarah Gulseth (KFUO Radio), Bri Gerzevske (LCMS Mission Advancement), Erin Alter (LCMS Office of International Mission) and Rachel Bomberger (formerly of The Lutheran Witness). Why did Bri wear a chicken suit to a road race? Who’s with Rachel on #teamcucumber—and who’s definitely not? Is there any place Erin won’t bring her knitting? And just how many bicycles does Sarah own, anyway? Find answers to these questions and more … in episode one of The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge. For bonus content from the show and a chance to help shape future on-air conversations—and enjoy friendly fellowship with other Lutheran ladies—join The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

Introducing The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge!

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 17:15:16 -0500

Introducing The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge podcast! This podcast, created by Rachel Bomberger, Sarah Gulseth, Erin Alter, and Bri Gerzevske, is for Lutheran ladies. We will bring stories of Lutherans, discuss Lutheran pop culture, get to know each other and you, and discuss obscure things that we all experience as Lutheran ladies. This is a place you can escape to with inviting conversations, laughter, and fellowship with your Lutheran sisters. Join us on the sofa! Find the first episode mid-September on your favorite podcast app or at kfuo.org. If you’re a Lutheran lady, join us in our Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge.