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.  

I have a little fun in the opening of this week's podcast to make the point that this is a great point to jump on board and catch "The Story" train.  David is introduced in this week's sermon, and he is someone after the Lord's own heart.  What does that mean?  I admit, I've been a little obsessed with this question, and that comes out in the sermon.  What also comes out in this podcast is a lot of music from all corners of Bethany Lutheran.  First, you will hear two selections from a recent C2W (Created 2 Worship) concert that highlights some of the great vocals you will hear when they lead worship at Bethany.  After the sermon is a special organ/flute duet by the mother - daughter team and of Linda and Lindsay Hemphill as they offer variations of "Nun Danket Alle Gott" at this year's Thanksgiving service.  

Where is the king?  We go looking in the next episode of "The Story."  First, search for part six of "Story Starters" and you will hear more about the Sunday School opening at Bethany Lutheran.  In the sermon, there is more about the search for a king in "The Story".  Finally, hear another selection from a recent concert at our church.  The song "Shine, Jesus, Shine" is offered by some young guests of C2W (Created 2 Worship).  

A look at faithfulness and redemption as "The Story" continues through the life of a woman named Ruth.  The Story Starters feature gets re-started and there is some music to enjoy, as well.  

Thank you for listening to this podcast.  Good choice!  In episode 8 of "The Story" we go through the book of Judges and talk about people who may not be our first choice to be heroes of the faith, but God's choice delivers His people time and again.  You'll hear the sermon from All Saints Sunday as well as music from our Praise Ringers, AIM choir and C2W (Created 2 Worship).  

After many years and many misfortunes in the wilderness, we get to land God promised in chapter seven of "The Story".  The sermon and music in this podcast were recorded at the Bethany Lutheran Reformation Sunday celebration for 2015.  The sermon includes some notes about Lutheran Church history tied in with the book of Joshua.  Special music in this podcast includes an anthem from our newly formed "Praise Ringers" playing an arrangement of "Ein Feste Burg" along with one of the hymns we sang where the brass instruments sounded especially good (to my ear) - Martin Luther's "O Lord, We Praise Thee."  Listeners who hang around until the very end may also hear the Linda and Lindsay Hemphill organ/flute duet playing "Amazing Grace."  

After God calls His people to holiness, we have some trust issues out in the wilderness in chapter six of "The Story".  Instead of the "Story Starters" feature normally heard in this podcast series, there is more music from C2W (Created 2 Worship) to enjoy.  

God calls His people to be a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation after a daring rescue from slavery in the next chapter of "The Story".  It has been a while since I released a new podcast, so this episode will have a simpler format.  The sermon is sandwiched between two songs from the Bethany Lutheran singing group, C2W (Created 2 Worship).  

The next chapter of "The Story" is where God's actions bring about a major turning point.  The "Story Starters" feature looks at the role our assigned weekly readings play in this church campaign.  After the sermon, listen for the King's Ringers playing "Ring A Joyful Song".

I had to make a little adjustment for the sermon, this week, but we still have part three of "The Story" and an amazing act of forgiveness.  The third "Story Starter" targets the question of what Bible to use while we do this campaign.  At the end, hear some new music from our African Immigrant Ministry.  There is a clip from their "Praise and Worship" followed by the song "One More Time."  Whether you are listening one more time, or for the first time, may God bless you as we draw near to His Word.  

Continuing the podcast series that ties in to "The Story" at Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia.  Week two begins with a major hint of how God is going to be with His people.  In addition to the second sermon in this series, there is also a new (to us) song by C2W (Created 2 Worship) and part two of the "Story Starters" feature.