Bach Cantata Vespers presents the St. Matthew Passion March 28 and 29

Grace Lutheran Church's Bach Cantata Vespers will present J. S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion in two performances, on Saturday, March 28, at 6:00 p.m., and again on Sunday, March 29, at 4 p.m. The church is located at 7300 Division Street in River Forest. Admission is free. There will be a free-will offering, with a suggested donation of $25.

Soloists for the Passion include tenor Hoss Brock as the Evangelist, baritone Keven Keys as Jesus, soprano Maura Janton Cock, mezzo sopranos Karen Brunssen and Sarah Ponder, tenor Ryan Townsend Strand, and baritone Douglas Anderson. Michael D. Costello, Cantor at Grace, is the conductor.

Childcare will be available in the church nursery during the performances. Refreshments will be served during the 20-minute intermission. This presentation of the St. Matthew Passion is part of Grace's monthly Bach Cantata Vespers series, now in its 49th season.

Johann Sebastian Bach wrote his St. Matthew Passion for Good Friday worship services at the St. Thomas Church in 18th century Leipzig, Germany. Nearly three centuries later the St. Matthew Passion stands as one of the pillars of Western sacred music, both monumental and intimate, as it tells the dramatic story of Jesus' suffering and death while reflecting on the personal meaning and power of those events for believers.

For more information call 708-366-6900 or visit www.graceriverforest.org.