Our long time friendly and dedicated custodian, Jim Lieberknecht, has earned his retirement from this position, however he does continue on as our bookkeeper.

We have been fortunate in finding a very capable and dependable replacement from our own ranks. Bob Ritterbush has accepted the part-time position of co-custodian with Anne Lieberknecht and started last March 4th.

Bob and his family have been members of Holy Trinity for about 14 years. Bob, who also teaches 6th grade in our Village Sunday school, recently retired from the County of Ventura where he managed their telephone communication systems at over 130 facilities including fire, police, health care and other public safety operations. He has begun a new part-time business of repairing and restoring antiques, including the repair of antique clocks. He is also an avid gardener (farmer) with many citrus trees and now a vineyard. He is eagerly anticipating his first wine tasting.

You will generally see Bob working around the church in the mornings, Monday through Friday. Contact Bob through the church office.

Although subject to some debate, many believe the word Easter comes from the Teutonic Eastre, or pagan goddess of Spring, whose existence was honored on the vernal equinox or first day of Spring. Others take special note of the common root of the word, or east, as where the sun rises. What is indisputable is that the Easter season at Holy Trinity commemorates events so profound and central to our Christian existence that the single festive day, Easter, marks only the beginning of what we know to be a seven week season celebrating the death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord, and the anticipation of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

That this celebration occurs in Spring is only fitting. Spring represents a time for rebirth, of newness, indeed of resurrection. We see rebirth in our church in the form of every new face that graces our Sunday services. It is seen in the blooming of flowers in our courtyard, lovingly planted by members of the church during our recent Spring work day. It shines through recently cleaned stained glass in our sanctuary every morning. It is heard in the heavenly voices of our choir.

If we walk in true discipleship, it is found, as it should be, in each of our hearts as we come to listen to our pastors share the Word each Sunday morning.

As we celebrate this most high and holy day and season of Easter, take a look around. Allow yourself to be awash with the newness of Spring and the rebirth surrounding you. He has risen. He is risen, indeed.

Gary Bague

Yes, I am still running, even after falling and breaking my hand. It has become something of a symbol to me. Life is like that, just when we think we have it all figured out or we are moving right along, something comes along to detour us and make us rethink or question. But, I have been running too long to make me stop doing that, even though breaking a hand is something I surely do not want to repeat.

As I think of the Easter Season, I am reminded of how the emotions of the disciples of Jesus must have been in constant turmoil as they journeyed through those tumultuous days. We are definitely removed from those days, but I would like to pray that we all would have that sense of wonder, that the God who became flesh and walked with God’s people has now conquered the ultimate enemy which is death, and that in these coming seven weeks that God’s action in Jesus would fill us with a living hope, as I Peter chapter one says. That we would approach our lives with renewed hope and renewed love for God and neighbor. In the coming days you will be hearing that we will be inviting you to have more and more concern for your neighbor and the life we share together on this earth.

Let the new life of the Resurrection be yours in these coming days, giving you a fresh look at your purpose here in this community and this place.

See you in church. Love,
Pastor Frank