03/29/26 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are this week’s updates to pass along to you:

 

  • We keep in our prayers Chris Caldwell and his family upon the death of his brother, Johnny, on Tuesday of this week.

  • The April edition of The Messenger was dropped off yesterday at the post office to be sent out.

  • Abiding Savior Lutheran Church is having a Spring Youth Activity this Saturday from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Crafts, games, an
    Easter Egg Hunt and snacks will take place.  Children, Youth and Adults are invited to participate.

  • This past Saturday the Property Committee sponsored a Congregational Workday at the church.  We will do this again this coming Saturday beginning at 9:00 a.m. to spread mulch.

  • Our collection for Clean Start ends this coming Sunday.  We have gotten off to a fantastic start due to your generosity! This event is sponsored by our Service Committee.  For a complete list of items we are seeking, please see Sunday’s bulletin.

  • This coming Sunday, being a 5th Sunday, we will have One Combined Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. (no Sunday School classes though). This will be Palm Sunday as well.  Whether permitting we will begin our worship service outside on the front sidewalks.  However, with the temperatures that are expected, more than likely, we will gather in the sanctuary as usual, except that the Processional Gospel well be read from the back of the church as we begin worship.

  • In the place of Sunday’s message, the congregation will be participating in the Passion Reading.  This is the only time of the year when we hear the entire crucifixion story of Jesus.

  • A Potluck meal will take place in Fellowship after Sunday’s worship service.  The meat will be provided by the church. You may drop off your food items before worship, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Members of the Fellowship Committee will warm up dishes as needed.

  • On Maundy Thursday of next week, we are offering two identical worship services to choose from.  One will take place at 12:00 noon and the other at 7:00 p.m. as we explore the Lord’s Prayer petition, “Forgive Us Our Trespasses As We Forgive Others.”  The only difference in the two services is that the Stripping of the Altar will take place at the conclusion of the 7:00 p.m. service, symbolic of Jesus’ humanity being stripped from Him at the hands of the Roman soldiers.

  • Then on Good Friday of next week, we are offering two identical worship services to choose from, as we finish up our series on the Lord’s Prayer, focusing on the petition, “Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil.”  Tenebrae will be a part of both services as we close by hearing the Last Seven Words of Christ.

  • As you make your Easter worship plans with your family, on Easter Sunday, our Sunrise Worship Service will take place at 7:00 a.m., followed by a meal that will be provided in Fellowship Hall. Our second worship service will take place at 11:00 a.m.  It is my prayer that you will take part in as many services as you are able during this Holiest Week of the year.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

03/22/26 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are this week’s updates to pass along to you:

 

  • Congratulations are in order for Kathleen Dial and Micah Burroughs who were united in Holy Matrimony this past Saturday, March 14.

  • The new Christ In Our Homes daily devotionals for April, May, and June, are now ready to be picked up in the narthex.

  • Thank you so much for your quick response this past Sunday.  All 35 Easter Lilies are now spoken for and we need no more.  These names will be included in the Easter Sunday bulletin.

  • A load of mulch will be delivered to the church tomorrow.  The Property Committee is sponsoring a Congregational Work Day this week, on Saturday, beginning at 9:00 a.m.  If you are able to help, just show up with a rake and wheelbarrow.  We will be focusing on spreading the mulch in the Prayer Garden and around the shrubbery near the church buildings.  Another Work Day will take place the following Saturday, March 28, at 9:00 a.m.

  • The Service Committee is sponsoring a 2-Week collection project for Clean Start beginning on Sunday.  The following items are being gathered in the room off the narthex: sock (white), underwear, men’s t-shirts up to 4X, men’s boxer and briefs (any size), women’s brief’s (any size).  Please note that these items must be new.  Other items needed include: small deodorants, shampoo and soap (travel or large sizes), toothbrushes and toothpaste, disposable razors, mouthwash, laundry detergents, blankets, cleaning supplies, face cloths, paper towels and trash bags (13 and 30 gallons).

  • Sunday, for our message we will be looking at the incredible story of Lazarus being raised from the dead.  It is based on the Gospel Readings, John 11:1-45.  Don’t worry. I will be doing an Abridged Version of this reading Sunday in worship.

  • On Monday evening, the monthly supper meeting of the Lutheran Men in Mission group will gather in Fellowship Hall at 6:00 p.m.

  • Our final Wednesday Mid-week Lenten meal and worship will take place on Wednesday of next week.  This will be a Potluck Meal so please bring a dish (or two) to share.  Worship will follow at 7:00 p.m. as we take a look at the Lord’s Prayer petition, “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread.”

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Cross of Flowers

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CROSS OF FLOWERS
Again, this year the cross will be outside in front of the church. Please remember to bring your flowers Easter
Sunday morning from your garden or from the grocery store to cover the cross. This is a great opportunity for
family photos. What a beautiful way to celebrate our risen Lord!

Wednesday Lunch Bunch

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Wednesday Lunch Bunch
Our first gathering of the Wednesday Lunch Bunch will
be on April 22nd at 11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Each quarter, we will have a presentation on a health topic and lunch. Our first topic will be diabetes, and our speaker will be Julianna Lyle from Clemson Cooperative Extension. Come join us for this opportunity to learn more about this important topic!

9AM Congregational Work day

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CONGREGATIONAL GROUNDS WORKDAY
MARCH 28TH 
START TIME (WEATHER PERMITTING) 9:00 a.m. until finished

We are gathering for a spring workday to care for our church grounds and facilities. Your
help will make a real difference, and there is a task for every ability and energy level.

The following help is needed:
• Spreading of mulch around specified landscape areas.
• Outdoor cleanup and trimming.
• General tidying wherever needed.

Please bring tools:
• rakes
• shovels
• wheelbarrows
• push carts

03/15/26 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are this week’s updates to pass along to you:

  • If you were not able to attend Ernie’s funeral this morning, don’t forget that it was recorded and is available to watch on the church website.

  • We are way behind our numbers on where we usually are this time of the year, concerning Easter lilies for Easter Sunday.  To place an Easter lily in the church In Honor Of or In Memory Of a loved one on Easter Sunday, please fill out the Order Form in the bulletin or March newsletter and place it in the offering plate on Sunday or mail it back to the church office.  35 lilies have been ordered.  Only 9 have been spoken for.

  • Sunday, I will be preaching on the gospel reading, John 9:1-41, as we explore the three things we begin to see, once the Lord has opened our eyes.

  • Our next mid-week meal and worship service will take place on Wednesday, with the Lenten meal at 6:00 p.m. followed by worship at 7:00 p.m. We will look at the Lord’s Prayer petition, “Thy Will Be Done.”

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Collection project for Clean Start

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UPCOMING PROJECT

The Service Committee will be facilitating a collection project for Clean Start the last two Sundays in March:  March 22 and March 29.  The committee will have a box in the room off the Narthex to collect items on the two Sundays.

Clean Start is a non-profit organization that offers a place 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings) for homeless, poor, and marginalized men and women to come in to achieve basic hygiene.  They can take showers, have their clothes washed, have access to phone and mail, and receive other resources from the caring volunteers that offer their support. 

 

Most urgent needs currently are:

  • Socks (particularly white socks)
  • Underwear
  • Men’s tees up to 4X
  • Men’s boxer & briefs any size
  • Women’s briefs any size

(All items must be new.)

Other items needed are:

  • Small deodorants
  • Shampoo & soap (travel or large size)
  • Toothbrushes & toothpaste
  • Disposable razors
  • Mouthwash
  • Laundry detergent
  • Blankets
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Laundry Detergent
  • Face cloths
  • Paper towels
  • Trash bags (13 & 30 gallons)

3/8/26 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Congregational Members and Friends,

 

Here are this week’s updates to pass along to you:

 

  • This Saturday, the Crafty Ladies will meet to work on their hobbies in Fellowship Hall from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. If you have any questions on this, please reach out to my wife, Beth.

  • Don’t forget to reset your clocks Saturday evening before going to bed due to Daylight Saving Time beginning.  We will lose an hour of sleep.  Remember, “Spring forward, fall back.”

  • It appears that scams are making their rounds again, concerning pastors and their members.  There is a text out there, supposedly from me, asking you to do an errand for me as I am heading into a meeting, so please reply to my text.  First of all, I never sign a text or email “Rev. J. Chris Fischer.”  Secondly, always check the source.  Is the email from my email address or the text from my cell phone number?  When in doubt, call or text me directly and ask me.

  • Is there ever a time in your life when you may doubt God’s presence?  Sunday, I will be preaching on the First Reading from Exodus 17:1-7 as we look into this topic for our sermon message.

  • Wednesday evening, we continue our Lenten meals and worship services. At 6:00 p.m. our Lenten meal will take place in Fellowship Hall, followed by our mid-week Lenten service at 7:00 p.m.  We will explore the Lord’s Prayer petition, “Thy kingdom come.”

  • I am saddened to inform you of the death of Ernie Thoms early this morning at the Rainey Hospice House.  We keep his wife, Jeanette, and family, in our thoughts and prayers.  I will send you an email with the funeral arrangements when they are finished.  (In case you are wondering, we will still dedicate the Mechanical Room in Fellowship Hall in Ernie’s name at our later date.) 

 

“Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Ernie Thoms.  We humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming.  Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.”   – Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 283 

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Urgent Need For Weekend SnackPack Encouragement Cards

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Urgent Need For Weekend SnackPack Encouragement Cards

Childhood hunger is real. In South Carolina, 60% of school-age children qualify for free or reduced breakfast and lunch. The Weekend SnackPack Program, sponsored by the United Way of Anderson County, fills the gap when these children aren’t in school. Teachers and guidance counselors identify children who fall into this gap and provide them with a bag of child-friendly, ready-to-eat foods on Fridays.

Each bag includes a colorful, handwritten note of encouragement from volunteers. Over 800 bags are distributed weekly, and almost 30,000 cards are needed throughout the school year. In 2025 our congregation made over 1,000 cards. So far this very we have contributed 300 cards.

You can help meet this need by making cards at home. Stop by the room off the narthex and pick up a “SnackPack Encouragement Note” bag with supplies and directions. Please place your completed notes in the designated box on the table in the room off the narthex. The Service Committee will collect the notes throughout the year and deliver them to the director of United Way’s Weekend SnackPack Program.

If you have any questions, contact Jamie Corrigan at (864) 224-8070 or Leslie Cox at (301) 788-9035.

The Service Committee

3/1/26 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

Here are this week’s updates to pass along to you:

  • Sunday I will be preaching on both the Old Testament reading, Genesis 12:1-4, as well as the gospel reading, John 3:1-17, as we look at aging in the Lord.

  • On Wednesday evening, we continue our Lenten meal (6:00 p.m.) followed by our Lenten mid-week worship service (7:00 p.m.) as we explore the Lord’s Prayer petition, “Hallowed be thy name.”

  • A week from today, Thursday, the Dining Divas group will enjoy a meal at Master’s Wok.  Please reserve your spot with Beth Cribbe if attending.

  • We keep in our prayers:
    • Marijane Coggins – upon knee replacement surgery
    • Diane Richardson – upon gall bladder surgery
    • Brenda Hucks – who is awaiting surgery for broken bones in her hand
    • Ernie Thoms – who continues his stay in the ICU following his stroke

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer