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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 Sarah's Japanese Sweet Potato Pie Erin's Cran-Apple Pie Erin's Cran-Apple Pie Erin's Cran-Apple Pie Bri's Milk Chocolate Pretzel Tart Bri's Milk Chocolate Pretzel TartConnect 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.

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 WeedonFestival Sermons of Martin Luther, translated by the Rev. Joel R. BaseleyConnect 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 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 politicsThe 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 CPHConnect 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.

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. 101-114Pernille 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.

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.

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 groupConnect 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.

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.

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 Salad6-10 servings ½ lb bacon, fried and crumbled.4 T bacon fat1 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 vinegar4 T water2 T sugar1 t corn starch1.5 T whole grain mustardOnce 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 SaladMix 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:Erin’s Recipe Card: Spaghetti Squash CasseroleThe Lutheran Ladies’ Guide to Chrismons™Christmas Poetry Slam!Erin’s One-Question Interview: The Value of Your LifeRachel’s Trivia Challenge: Mardi Gras!The Socially Distanced EpisodeErin’s Recipe Card: The Great Jell-O® EpisodeBri Gets Real: Physical Stewardship of the Body

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.