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 [email protected].

“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 ...

• 100th Anniversary - KFUO Radio
• KFUO Centennial Documentary
• (8) 100 Years of Christ for You. - YouTube
• KFUO Radio

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

• Early Days of Radio, 1920 — Vermont Historical Society
• Radio Activity: The 100th Anniversary of Public Broadcasting | Smithsonian

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 [email protected].

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.

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 [email protected].

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.

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 [email protected].

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

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 [email protected].

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:

• Choir - Wikipedia
• Why do Lutherans Sing? Lutherans, Music, and the Gospel in the First Century of the Reformation | Church History | Cambridge Core
• Singing the Reformation - Lutheran Reformation
• The Young Lutheran's Guide to The Orchestra
• How a superspreader at choir practice sickened 52 people with COVID-19 | Live Science
• Pandemic brings opportunities for some choirs hit by coronavirus restrictions | ABC News - YouTube
• Interest in choral singing is not declining in America, so why are church choirs disappearing? – Baptist News Global

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 [email protected].

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.

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 [email protected].

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.

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 [email protected].

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.

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 [email protected].

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.

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 [email protected].