The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge from KFUO Radio

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.

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In this “super special” holiday episode, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel each share their own original unpublished Christmas poems.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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.