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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: “LENT into EASTER, GOD’S WELCOME!” At our Lenten worship times (Wednesdays, 12 noon and 6:30 PM), our sending song is “All Are Welcome”. I have lifted up Lent as a time of welcome for the people of God. Perhaps not thought of as a particularly welcoming time, Lent is a perfect time of welcome. First, it is a time that God welcomes us. The center of the Christian faith is the cross of Jesus. Like St. Paul said, some are offended by the cross. Yet it is the cross that gives us life and mission. So to be welcomed by Jesus, Who goes to the cross for us, is a very welcoming presence. The stark setting of our sanctuary during this season reveals both the wilderness of our lives without a Savior, and the cost of our salvation as we view the simple cross entwined with the thorny Russian Olive branches. It is also a time when we are reminded of sharing this welcome of Jesus. Lent in some ways makes it easy to talk with others about Jesus Who gave his life. Not just for us, but for the world. For each person we encounter, each person in our circle of folks. Historically, the Season of Lent was a time of baptismal preparation. Intense instructions were made available as those new to the faith anxiously prepared themselves for the flowing waters of baptism. Again, a perfect theme to share with those close and those we meet as Lent becomes for us a time of centering on God’s continuing presence in baptismal grace. In the hymn written by Marty Haugen the volume increases in the words of the refrain: All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.” The verses we sing together talk about building a house “where love can dwell... where saints and children... learn to forgive.” Each verse reminds us of Christ’s presence in bringing us together, building with us, and leading us in words and acts of grace. Our practice of welcoming is noticed as we treat one another with God’s grace, as we introduce ourselves to others, as we serve one another as we are served by the One Who goes to the cross for each one! Lent does make it easy to share the faith, and Lent is the foundation that makes Easter more joyous as a Risen Jesus welcomes us from the other side of death. Easter’s “ALLELUIAS” can truly burst forth from lives saved from death and held in everlasting love. In the last weeks of Lent, come and sing, come and move closer to Jesus’ cross. Know the welcome of the One Who dies that you might live abundantly. Share the welcome of God’s Son that puts us on the path of mission! LENTEN WEDNESDAYS: March 5 and 12, WORSHIP @ noon (with a meal following) and 6:30 PM (with a meal @ 5:30 PM) HOLY WEEK - Palm/Passion weekend - March 15-16 Saturday worship at 5 PM; Sunday @ 8 and 10 AM Maundy Thursday - March 20 12 noon (with a meal following) - 6:30 PM! SERVANT WASHING with HOLY COMMUNION Good Friday - March 21 12 noon (abbreviated/meditative focus/cross veiling STATIONS of the CROSS @ 6:30 PM (you are invited to come early for this service as groups of people will begin the journey to the Stations of the Cross within Trinity) EASTER WORSHIP @ 8 & 10 AM — brunch served from 8:30 to 10:15! Pastor Jim