Dear Friends,

This is a season for contemplation and reflection, a time to focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we have been reminded over the past few weeks, this is a time to put to death our old self—one defined by the world, culture, or traditions—and to be born anew, solely focused and centered on God. We must remember God’s absolute love for us.

Dear Friends,

Some people love Lenten music so much that they propose we keep singing it during Easter. There is an emotional pull in the Lenten texts—introspective, contemplative, longing, hopeful, repentant, forgiving, loving—that inspires composers, singers, and active listeners in ways that festive music sometimes glosses over. But we can have both!

Dear Friends,

Last Wednesday morning, my day started with a bang. Literally! As I was walking Java down South Ocean Boulevard at 6:00 a.m. — in the dark, thanks to daylight savings — I whacked my head on a palm tree sticking out into the sidewalk.

In just a few short days, we will celebrate a truly special moment in Bethesda’s history—the 100th anniversary of the laying of our church’s cornerstone. On Sunday, March 16, following the 11:00 a.m. service, we will gather on the lawn for a brief ceremony with music, prayer, and fellowship as we honor this milestone.