December through March is my favorite time to pastor in Florida. Music is the primary reason. We begin the first weekend in December with our annual Christmas Keyboard Festival. Next year will mark the 20th year in a row for this four night event. The platform is filled with four concert grand pianos, the orchestra, the 100-voice choir and guest artists. Our 2,000 seat sanctuary is packed for each presentation. On New Year’s Eve we open our annual Winter Concert Series. So far this year we have enjoyed Dennis Swanberg (The Swan!) and Janet Pascal. On January 17th, our guest will be Lulu Roman of Hee Haw fame. Yes, Virginia, I loved that show. Anything with Buck Owens on it had to be enjoyable! On January 24th, for the 12th year in a row, our guests will be the incredible Ralph Carmichael and his big band. This is not some “pick-me-up” group, good friend. No, no – these are 16 of the best players in the world! In fact, last year, one of the players left here the following day to fly to L.A. to Capital Records to back up Barbra Steisand. That’s pretty tall cotton! On Sunday, January 31, we will again host the Annie Moses Band, maybe the most prolifically-talented family I have ever heard. This will be their third visit with us. On Sunday night, February 14th, it will be Larry Ford and Friends. Larry, a Grammy-award winner, and his wife are members of our church. You see and hear Larry on over 80 of the Bill Gaither videos. On Sunday night, February 21st, our guest will be Florida’s most beloved musician, Paul Todd. On Sunday night, February 28th, Dino makes a return engagement here, his fifth, I believe. And we close the concert series on Sunday night, March 17th, with America’s favorite Gospel Quartet for the past 60 years, the Blackwood Brothers. All of the concerts begin at 7 o’clock and we never make an admission charge. I don’t believe churches should charge admission. We do receive offerings, however.

Music fills the scriptures, and it ought to fill the churches as well. Good music! The best that we can do. Only our best is ever good enough for our Lord.

Love to see you at any or all of these concerts. If you would like group reservations, call the church: 239 936-4420 and ask for the music department.

See you at the concert!

Dan Betzer