FAVORITE RADIO PROGRAMS

• The Lutheran Hour- Sunday 8:00 am . WJAS-AM 1320

The Lutheran Hour is a long-running program of Scripture, Lessons, Music, and News for all Lutherans More information is available at the following websites: www.lutheranhour.org/ ; www.lhm.org/

Grace Matters- Sunday 7:30 pm WORD-FM 101.5

Grace Matters is the weekly 30-minute radio program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The program is currently heard on 175 radio stations in the United States, and in several other countries. It is heard online around the world.  Lutheran Vespers, now called Grace Matters, first aired in 1947on a single station, WNAX, in Yankton, South Dakota. The program was founded by Rev. Harry Gregerson who served as the speaker until he retired in 1970. Pastor Gregerson dreamed of having a permanent home for the ministry, a chapel for Lutheran Vespers, and in 1969 the Stavkirke was dedicated. Rev. Conrad Thompson was the speaker from 1970 to 1982. Following his retirement from the speaker’s position, Pastor Thompson and his wife, Swanee, spent two years traveling throughout the Midwest visiting listeners and raising funds for the ministry. Pastor Thompson was succeeded by The Rev. Dr. Richard Jensen (1982 – 1993) who was called as the speaker and director for the program. Jensen added contemporary music, including the music for the benediction, which was composed in 1983 by John Ylvisaker. The benediction still closes every program. The Rev. Larry Gedde served as speaker for Lutheran Vespers for a year following Jensen’s tenure. “I believe,” said Gedde, “ Lutheran Vespers is a treasure of our church because it is such a valuable means through which God’s grace can be widely shared.” In 1994 Rev. Walter Wangerin Jr. began to reach the listeners of Lutheran Vespers with his personal story-telling style of presenting the Gospel. In doing so he continued the tradition of his predecessors connecting radio listeners with the Good News of a gracious Lord who loves and redeems. Rev. Peter W. Marty became the sixth speaker for the program in 2005, and the name of the program was changed to Grace Matters. “I'd like to describe the new Grace Matters,” said Marty, “as a bit journalistic and a lot meditative. Each program is geared toward discovering how much grace matters in our lives. You’ll listen to conversations with people eager to see and know the grace of God active in their life and work.” Today, nearly 60 years later, Grace Matters is broadcast weekly on 175 radio station, two cable televisions stations, and by Trans World Radio (TWR) to many parts of the world through transmitters in Central Africa and Guam. The program is aired in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand and Puerto Rico. You can also listen to Grace Matters on the Web.

• With Heart and Voice Sunday 7:00am . West Virginia Public Radio…best frequencies 89.9 and 90.9 fm

This show is hard to pick up since the stations are out-of-state and not very powerful. If you are lucky enough to receive one of these frequencies, though, you will be treated to some of the best sacred choral and organ music the world has to offer. The host, Richard Gladwell, is British-born, but resides in Rochester , NY . He’s articulate, well-versed in the music, and has a neat British accent to boot! The website for more info is www.wxxi.org/whv/

• Pipedreams Sunday 10:00 pm WQED-FM 89.3

This show explores the many voices and nuances of the pipe organ. Mostly sacred music, with an occasional secular tune or program to add variety, is featured being played on some of the world’s oldest, largest, and most famous pipe organs, by the world’s renowned organists. Their website is: www.pipedreams.org/

• Sacred Classics Sunday 7:00 am to 10:00 am WQED-FM 89.3

This show is syndicated to WQED-FM from Minnesota Public Radio. It certainly is diverse, as the music selections run from sacred symphony to chant and choral works. Sometimes the host seems to get stuck on the symphonic/operatic themes a bit too much for my liking. I admit I prefer elegant choral singing with pipe organ in the background, but we must expand our horizons, mustn't we? To see a playlist, visit MPR's website and click 'Sacred classics' on the program page.