Dear Friends,

On Palm Sunday, two kingdoms crash violently into one another. One is the kingdom of earthly power: that might-makes-right, survival-of-the-fittest dominance that pushes others down to get ahead. The other is God’s kingdom: the way of unwavering, self-giving love that willingly lays down power to lift others up.

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.