{The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge} HYMNASTICS 2026: Fanny Crosby Wins the Gold

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In honor of the world’s most prestigious sporting event, the Lutheran Ladies are launching their own Winter Hymnastics series. Over the next three episodes, they’ll laugh, they’ll cry, they’ll sweat (literally), and above all, they’ll sing as they celebrate some of the greatest hymns and hymnwriters past, present, and even yet to come.

In this Story Time episode, Sarah examines the life of the MVP of nineteenth-century hymn writing herself: Fanny J. Crosby.

Though she wasn’t a Lutheran lady (and though the Ladies can find zero evidence of her hymns appearing in Lutheran hymnals), this dear sister in Christ wrote nearly 9000 hymns and Gospel songs, more than 1000 secular poems, 4 books of poetry, two best-selling autobiographies, at least five cantatas, and more during her lifetime, easily clinching the title of “most prolific lady hymnwriter of all time.”

Learn about her childhood blindness, her rigorous biblical education, her charitable works and political advocacy, her unusual marriage, her modest lifestyle, and her ongoing legacy as Sarah narrates the inspiring story of her 94 years of life.

It’s a WINTER HYMNASTICS “WRITE THIS:” Challenge!! SUBMIT BY MIDNIGHT 2/12/26 AT forms.office.com/r/1T4PVpK7dM.
Write an original hymn stanza in Common Meter (think Amazing Grace).
Pick an Uncommon Occasion (a saint day or other exciting day in the church year) and write a hymn for it!
Let us know what public domain tune you’d like us to use.
Find Common Meter (86 86) tunes on page 1007 of Lutheran Service Book.
We will sing or read these in the third Hymnastics episode, recording on February 13.

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 lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

The Lutheran Ladies Lounge is the podcast produced by KFUO Radio and hosted by Sarah Gulseth, Erin Alter, and Rachel Bomberger. Created for Lutheran ladies to have a place to escape to with inviting conversations, laughter, and fellowship with Lutheran sisters, we invite all of you Lutheran ladies to join Sarah, Erin, and Rachel on the sofa in the Lutheran Ladies Lounge to sit, rest your feet, and stay a while. If you’re a Lutheran lady, join us in our Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge.