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.”

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.

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), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram!

Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at [email protected].

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.

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), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram!

Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at [email protected].

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.

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), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram!

Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at [email protected].

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!

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), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram!

Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at [email protected].

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.

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), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram!

Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at [email protected].

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.

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), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram!

Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at [email protected].

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:

• Frankenmuth, Michigan
• Bronner's Christmas Wonderland
• St. Lorenz Lutheran
• Concordia Theological Seminary – Fort Wayne, IN
• Eero Saarinen - Wikipedia
• History of Concordia, Wisconsin
• Mission Central
• Zion Lutheran Fairbanks
• Texas Wendish Heritage Museum
• Saxon Lutheran Memorial
• Concordia Historical Institute
• Tour the LCMS International Center
• Concordia Seminary

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), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram!

Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at [email protected].

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.

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, and visual artist Kelly Uffenbeck.

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), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram!

Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at [email protected].

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.

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), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram!

Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at [email protected].

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.

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), Erin (@erinaltered), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram!

Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at [email protected].