EASTER SERVICE LEGAL TIFF AVERTED.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

Saying it is turning the other cheek, the world's largest Christian television ministry announced Tuesday that it will not put on an Easter sunrise service this year at the Hollywood Bowl.

Santa Ana-based Trinity Broadcasting Network won the right to put on the service after it won a coin toss last month against the group that has sponsored the service since 1921, the Hollywood Bowl Easter Sunrise Service.

Los Angeles County officials ordered the coin toss to settle a dispute over rights to the service.

Last week, HBESS said it would be seeking a court order today to prevent TBN from taking over the event.

Trinity Broadcasting Network issued a statement Tuesday saying it faced two choices.

``When this group initiated moves to sue the (Los Angeles) Philharmonic (which operates the Bowl) and Los Angeles County to enjoin the service at the Hollywood Bowl because they were not controlling it, TBN faced two choices - fight back hard or turn the other cheek,'' the statement said.

``It has chosen the latter in the hope that no one is distracted from the true meaning of Easter: salvation, hope and eternal life through the loving sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the cross for all of us.''

Norma Foster, HBESS president, said the service will be conducted as usual on March 1.

``We are very thrilled that the people won and the people got their service back,'' Foster said.