Happy Easter

On this Easter Sunday, we are so very thankful for God's provision of the church we attended this morning. This church is the only one of our denomination in the Twin Cities area, and it just so *happens* to be two miles from our apartment. This was our third week in attendance, and we felt so blessed this morning by the service, and by the extraordinary friendliness of the congregants. We have been approached and greeted warmly by what seems like every family in the church. We were stopped in the parking lot on our way in by a friendly middle-aged couple. A very excited Miss Peanut was given a pink Easter egg immediately following the service by an adorable little boy. At least five to six individuals stopped us to introduce themselves and say "hello" before we reached our car in the parking lot. One man even introduced himself by shouting hello and extending his hand out of the window of his truck.

It is so very affirming to see the Body of Christ at work. We found this to be true during our three years in Chicago, where a small group from our church became very close friends and demonstrated a willingness to care for us as brothers and sisters in Christ. They provided rides to the airport, meals in their homes, a place to shower when the heat and hot water in our apartment went kaput, food and visits when Miss was born, and *true* fellowship.

Whether we attend this new church for weeks, months, or years, we will always be thankful for their faithfulness to the Word and their simple kindness. They are truly showing us a living demonstration of what is being taught each Sunday . . . not by seeking to enroll us in "programs" or activities, but by being authentically *kind*.