Article 7

This is the last of three specials to give you some of the Easter celebration at Bethany Lutheran Church. There is a lot of music that was recorded Easter Sunday. Please note that there are parts that sound faint and others that are louder depending on their position to a recording microphone. Our system is designed primarily for worship, but the recording can give you a sense of what we experience. The message in this podcast is what was delivered at the Sunrise service, which is held at Mt. Comfort Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia. The sermon preached later at Bethany will be part of "The Story" series that we are in.

This is a special podcast highlighting the Good Friday service conducted at Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia. The music you will hear is from the Bethany Singers. The songs include “No Temple Now, No Gift of Price” by Hyslop; “O, Come and Mourn with Me” by Young and Mengel's “Is This the Savior?”.

We take a short break from "The Story" to give you some of the music and message from Holy Week 2016. In this podcast you will hear the message from Maundy (Holy) Thursday and parts of the worship service, as well. Including the choir anthems "Drop, Drop, Slow Tears" and "Behold Him in Dark Gethsemane".

Episode 18 of "The Story" is a little unusual. In the introduction, I experiment with a new recording method (let me know how you like it, and if you have any recommendations for portable recording). Kindly ignore what I say about the music in the introduction as I changed my mind and decided to bring back two songs from the 2015 C2W concert at Bethany Lutheran. Finally, the sermon is more of a conversation about Daniel 3. The original sermon was never captured in a worship recording because there was no worship on that Sunday, thanks to Snowzilla. Nonetheless, we made due on that day, and here in this podcast, as well.

The 2016 episodes of "The Story" continue with the exile of God's people. The prophet Jeremiah reveals not only the judgment for sin, but also God's plan for forgiveness and restoration. In addition to the sermon, there is also a musical offering by Bethany Lutheran's Praise Ringers. Hear more about "The Story" and future podcasts in the introduction to this episode.

Time to get back on track and share the rest of "The Story"! From Bethany's worship, you will hear the songs "Hosanna" and "Go, My Children" are led by C2W ("Created 2 Worship") and also the Old Testament lesson that was appointed for the "Baptism of our Lord" from our worship service. "Living God" is the title of the sermon that focuses on Isaiah the prophet and faith-based vision.

In episode 15 of "The Story", I have a little Christmas gift to end 2015. No, not the "gift of Amos", which I mention in the sermon. I am referring to the extra helping of Christmas music before and after the sermon. Trinity Handbells offers "I Wonder As I Wander" (Niles arr.Bettcher), followed by the Hosanna Choir singing "We Praise You Jesus, At Your Birth" (arr. Shaw), and then the Bethany Bells playing "How Still We See Thee Lie" (arr. Edwards). After the sermon, you will hear "Silent Night" with instruments, choir and congregation. Thank you for listening in 2015! The current sermon series - "The Story" - will continue in January 2016.

More joyful Advent and Christmas music is heard in episode 14 of "The Story". While the sermon explains the division of God's kingdom, the atmosphere of our worship reflected the third Sunday in Advent. Consequentially, we have the Bethany singers singing the epistle lesson from Philippians ("Rejoice in the Lord"), and I added "Joy to The World" at the end from Christmas Eve 2014 with congregation, brass, organ and handbells.

The Christmas crush of episodes continues with episode 13 of "The Story" and the wisdom of Solomon. In addition to the sermon you will also hear our Sunday School children introduce and sing "Away in A Manger" and special musical guests Rachel and William Blase perform "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" arranged by the Piano Guys.

King David calls himself the "sweet Psalmist of Israel" in his last words (2 Samuel 23). The Psalms are a musical tradition in the church today that connect our lives to the power of God to transform us, as God transformed David. We take a look at this aspect of King David at the beginning of Advent where we are celebrating the first coming of the King in David's line who was born on Christmas. In this podcast, there is also a children's message, a children's choir anthem and some Advent organ music at the end.