Yesterday, as I watched the frightening scene play out on the steps of Capitol Hill, something caught my eye. In the midst of all the banners and flags, someone was holding a yellow sign with the words “Jesus Saves” emblazoned in black. I know nothing about who was holding that sign or why.

John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, encouraged every small group meeting to begin with a question: How is it with your soul? More probing than our traditional “how are you?” greeting, this question calls us to look beyond the surface and examine how – or if – we are experiencing the presence of God’s grace in the midst of life’s circumstances. How are we doing in that place where the center of our spiritual selves meets with the living God?

So, what do you do when a global pandemic prevents you from gathering for worship and forces you to stay at home? For Ed Griffin, the answer involves a trombone. On a typical Sunday, worshippers in the sanctuary can hear Ed play along as part of the orchestra in support of our congregational singing, but in these times, which are anything but typical, Ed uses his beloved instrument to bring a little joy to his neighbors.

With Easter only days away, many of our homes have Easter decorations, many of us may have taken family photographs in our Easter best, and many posts on social media are celebrating the risen Lord. While Easter is the central holiday of our faith, it can only be celebrated in its fullest when we allow ourselves to live into the dark days that precede it.

One of the richest blessings for Christians in the 21st-century is the abundance of devotional material that’s available at a moment’s notice...