Volume 8, Issue 4 - April 2008
PASTOR’S LETTER
ALLELUIA!
That’s about the only word we can think of to describe the joy we felt on Easter morning: the delicious breakfast, the magnificent music, the full sanctuary, the children and their butterflies, Emanuel’s baptism, the Word preached and the meal shared. Every minute of it makes us grope for words; but the word that lay buried in the cold ground of Lent and that burst out of our mouths on Easter morning, is the best expression of what happened. ALLELUIA!
Thank you to all who made this Lent, Holy Week and Easter so inspiring. To those who made soup, who attended the Lenten Vespers, who sang, who played instruments, who read scriptures, who prayed, who served communion, who greeted and welcomed guests, who served as ushers, who cleaned the sanctuary, who attended the Holy Week services, who made breakfast, who set up tables and cleaned up afterwards, who folded bulletins, who dyed eggs, who helped with coffee hour, who carried banners, crosses, candles and butterflies in the processions… in other words, to all of you, THANK YOU. And above all, let us THANK GOD for gathering us and filling us with the Spirit of the Risen Christ. May Christ’s joy raise you to new heights in the days, months, and years ahead.
Pastors Kari and Steve
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.” 1Tomothy 6:18-19
We have been richly blessed throughout the years at The Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion. We are blessed by the magnificent edifice in which we praise and worship our even more magnificent God. We are blessed by the pure and powerful notes our musicians raise heavenward to God’s glory. We are blessed that as we sometimes walk through hours darker than we ever knew life could hold, God uses Holy Communion’s ministries to reveal to us the Gospel light, the light no darkness can overcome.
The Gospel light is revealed through the Pastors’ deep compassion and care as well as through the faithful and personal ministry of Holy Communion’s entire membership.
It doesn’t take long for a visitor to recognize the storied history of our church. I am thankful that the talk in the church these days is not merely about its past accomplishments, but about our future as well. Through the adoption of our Vision Mission Direction Plan, I believe God is preparing this congregation to be used by him throughout our community. I hope each of you will continue to join our family as we take this journey of faith to see what God has in store for us—as individual believers and as a congregation.
Ronald R. Coolbaugh, Editor