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Text Box: Trinity Lutheran Church 301 E. Stuart St. Fort Collins, CO 80525 Pastor Jim Rasmussen Church Musician Marcia Yernberg Chancel Choir Director Dr. James McCray Youth Directors Erin and Andy Sprain TLC Preschool Director Brenda Harju Office Manager Linda Bleich Financial Secretary Debbie Schwartz Church Phone: 482-1226 FAX: 482-0817 TLC Preschool: 221-9852 Website: www.trinitylutheranfc.org Email: trinity@trinitylutheranfc.org Office Hours: 9 am - 3 pm Mon - Thurs. 9 am - noon Friday Radio Broadcast 600 KCOL 9:30-10 am Bulletin Deadline: Wed., noon Tidings Deadline: 17th of the Month The Tidings is published monthly as a ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church. Worship Times Saturday Praise- 5:00 pm Sunday - 8:00 & 10:00 am Education Hour 9:00 am Church Office Hours Monday - Thursday 9:00 - 3:00 Friday 9:00 - 12:00 Text Box: “GET OUT OF THE BOX (TOMB)!” Early on a Wednesday in Lent I had retreated to prepare for our mid-week Lenten worship services. A couple hours later Terry came down to the basement. As she was walking towards me, in her socks, she suddenly exclaimed, “THE FLOOR IS ALL WET!” I wear shoes even at 5:30 in the morning. The water heater had given up the ghost. I called the plumber, who just happened to be in the neighborhood, he diagnosed the problem (dead water heater), left to get a replacement, and by 11:15 AM I had an almost ‘hot’ shower and was on my way to church. As the plumber was cleaning up Terry asked for the box the water heater came in. FOR ANDIE, OF COURSE! Before heading out for Cincinnati and the first birthday of granddaughter, Ava, Andie was at the house while her mother went to work and before her father finished work and picked her up. Andie and I were playing in the box. It started out with Terry and Andie, but Terry left to get a meal started. Andie then enlisted my participation: “GRANDPA, COME IN THE BOX!” I crawled in the box - it was a big one. But Andie noticed my feet weren’t all the way in. “GRANDPA, GET YOUR FEET IN THE BOX! She said it a couple of times. And believe it or not I got my feet in the box. It was delightful to hear the giggles from this two-year-old. It was hard to get her to leave the box for supper. Easter has come. We heard the glorious news that Jesus is out of the box - out of the tomb of death. And because Jesus is alive, He invites us to Himself that we might embrace life and be fully alive! I thought about that tonight (2/26/08) as I was driving to PVH. We don’t have trouble getting into the boxes we create, but we sure have a hard time coming out of them. We get comfortable, even if they become crowded with all the traditions we store in the box with us. In April, we will all have the opportunity to ‘to see and touch’ areas of ministry in our midst. Each ministry will have a display to entice and welcome greater participation. We are a congregation that invites all to share in ministry. That means getting out of our boxes. Try something new. Listen to the Risen and Living Lord call you anew into ministry! Each ministry is chaired by a very passionate person. Each of them are willing to welcome you, and listen to you, that together our ministries might grow. Plan on joining us. I’m sure you’ve noticed the positive and exciting approach to ministry in these last months. Come, join the fun! Get out of the box you’re in, rise to new life through ministry! Pastor Jim