Dear Christian friends,

     Do you see each other–fellow Christians–as “friends”?  The love that is ours in Christ is love that we ought to have for one another.  Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  Of course, that’s the kind of love Jesuss showed us when He laid down His life on the cross for our sins.  That is the highest love there is–called sacrificial love–you may have heard it as Christian “agape” (ah-gopp-ay) love.  This is love in Christ.  It is the kind of love God has for us.  But with Christ in us–His Spirit and His love–so we love one another.

     How does this highest love express itself?  Yes, laying down one’s life for his friends–literally.  It means that you would be willing to die to save the life of another–like the military hero who falls on a grenade and sacrifices himself to keep his comrades from getting injured or killed.  But it is love that expresses itself in any and every way that we put others and their needs before ourself.  This kind of love and exercise of love is impressed by the pastor upon the couple planning to get married.  This is Christ’s love active in the Christian marriage bond.  This kind of love is ultimately that we show ourselves as “little Christs” (Luther) to our neighbor, especially to those of the household of faith.  So, as Paul writes in Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”  We are here for each other–in the best of times and even in the worst of times.

    The family of God here at Holy Trinity are in Christ and our relationship to each other as church is actually even more intimate than our earthly, temporal relationships (whether you feel that way or not, that doesn’t change anything).  We are what we are in Christ and He tells us in His Word what we are–and it is far above earthly ideas of love and family.  So, dear friends, let us strive after loving one another in Christ.  And let us show “agape” love–sacrificial, committed no matter what, purposeful, unconditional–all these things.  Let us go the extra distance to be of service to each other and to be a blessing to each other, to share each other’s sorrows and pain, to rejoice when times of rejoicing come our brother or sister’s way.  And if there are needs, let us in love respond to those needs.

    May our God of infinite love and mercy help us by His grace!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:       .

Jr. Confirmation this evening at 6:30PM.

Trustees meet this evening at 7:30PM.

Wednesday:

AM Bible Study at 10:00AM

Join us for our Lenten Supper at 600PM

Vespers at 7:00PM

Thursday:

Bible Study at 6:15PM

Choir at 7:00PM

Sunday:  Matins at 9:00AM    There is NO Holy Communion this Sunday.

              SS/Youth Bible Study at 10:30AM

              Pastor will not have his Bible study this Sunday but will resume on April 6th.

This Sunday is the last Sunday to get your Easter Lilies Order in.  Use the yellow form in the bulletin.

Lilies cost $13.50 each.  They are used to help beautify our sanctuary for Easter.

Usher:  Brian Lassy

             Karl Lassy

Elder:   Gene Giblin

Altar:    Donna Madonna

Acolyte:  Megan Hendrickson

Coffee:   R. Nadeau

Have a blessed week in the Lord!

Pastor Kotila