1/21/24 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are this week’s updates:

 

  • With all the cold weather we have been having and will have this week, I thought it is a good time to remind you of our weather decision making process for cancelling worship services.  In the event that we are expecting inclement weather (ice, snow, power out, etc.), the President of the Congregation and I discuss whether we need to cancel our worship services.  We watch the weather forecasts and whether other congregations are cancelling worship.  We check the roads, if possible, to see if they are passable.  Just a couple of years ago, the roads were clear but when I arrived at the church, the steps and ramp were completely covered over in ice, and so we cancelled worship as we did not want anyone to slip and fall.  When the decision is made to cancel worship, the President of the Congregation will call the members of the Church Council and they in turn have 10-11 church members to contact to inform them of the decision.  In the upcoming Year Book, is a page dedicated to the Congregational Call List with the names and phone numbers of each family.  If you have any questions on this, please reach out to me.

  • Our Community Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper will take place on Tuesday, February 13 at Boulevard Baptist Church.  We hope to have tickets available this coming Sunday (we are waiting for them to be dropped off at the church).  The cost is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children (12 and under). If you prefer, you can get your tickets online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shrove-tuesday-pancake-supper-tickets-794365958967?aff=oddtdtcreator    All proceeds will go to the Westside Community Center.

  • Sunday, I will be preaching on the First Reading from Jonah 3:1-5,10 as we look at the story of Jonah and those times in our lives when we refuse to do the will of the Lord.

  • We still have 5 remaining Sundays that need altar flowers.  If you are interested in one of these dates, please contact Pat in the church office and leave a message on the answering machine or wait to contact her on Monday morning.
    • April 28
    • June 30
    • August 4
    • September 22
    • December 8

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

1/14/24 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are some things happening this week:

 

  • When Robin Sandwich delivered our donated canned goods to Good Neighbor Cupboard last week, they asked her to express a word of thanks to the congregation for our continued support of their mission to feed the hungry.  They stressed that donations are especially important now, after the holidays, and that our recent donations will be put to good use.

  • The Statements of Giving for 2023 are now in the room off the narthex.  You may need these for your tax preparations.

  • We are needing another person (or possibly two) to deliver the altar flowers to shut-ins.  You would be responsible for one month at a time and depending on the number of volunteers we get, perhaps 3-4 months each year.  If you are interested or would like more information, please reach out to me.

  • After going through all the Time and Talent Sheets that were recently turned in, Pat has informed me that the following dates for Altar Flowers are still open for this year:  April 21, April 28, May 12, June 30, August 11, September 22, October 27, November 24 and December 8s.  if you would like to provide altar flowers In Memory Of someone or In Honor of someone, please contact Pat in the Church Office. You may send her an email, leave a message on the answering machine, or call her on Monday of next week when she returns to the church office.  In needed, Pat will also be able to give you a list of those florists in our area whom we recommend.

  • Now for some South Carolina Lutheran history.  The following was written by Susan McArver, Professor of History and Archives at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary:  On January 14, 2024, we will mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of the South Carolina Synod. The South Carolina Synod is one of the oldest synods in the ELCA, and observing our anniversary gives us an opportunity to look back at our history – in order to propel us more hopefully into God’s future. Before January 14, 1824, all Lutherans throughout the Southeast belonged to just one Synod: the Synod of “North Carolina and Adjacent States,” as it was called. Basically, that included all Lutheran churches from Virginia all the way down the Eastern Seaboard. But on January 14, 1824, four pastors who served in the state of South Carolina, along with two candidates for ordination, and five lay men, met together at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, now in Irmo, to form an independent Synod of their own – the Synod of SOUTH Carolina – and Adjacent States . . . The meeting was opened with “singing and prayer,” exactly as we open our Synod Assemblies today, 200 years later. They elected the Rev. Godfrey Dreher as the first President of the Synod until the next meeting – what we today, would call, a bishop. The Synod was small:  it reported the presence of just 24 Lutheran churches in South Carolina (and 6 of them were vacant). There were 2 in Georgia[i] and only about 1700 members[ii] in the whole territory. The Synod expressed great concern about the shortage of qualified pastors, and “lamented” that while “the harvest is plenteous, the labourers are few”.[iii] The stated reason for the formation of the new synod was that it simply took too long to travel all the way to North Carolina once a year to hold synodical meetings, and the Minutes record that the separation was a “friendly”[iv] one.

  • Please mark your calendars for our Community Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, which will take place again at Boulevard Baptist Church, on Tuesday, February 13 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. Ticket information will be forthcoming.

  • Sunday, I will be preaching on the Gospel text, John 1:43-51 as we hear those enticing words, “Come and see.”

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

1/10/24 Family Fun Night

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FUN NIGHT
Our next Family Fun Night will be on Wednesday, January 10th . We will meet in Fellowship
Hall for a time of Food, Fun & Fellowship around a Biblical theme. Adults and Kids of all ages
are invited to join us! There will be crafts, games, and song. The meal will be provided.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 10th
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
WHAT: “THE THREE WISEMEN”

NOTICE OF SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING

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NOTICE OF SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING
Semi-Annual meeting of the congregation will be held Sunday, February 11TH at 9:50 a.m. in the
Fellowship Hall. At this meeting the officers of the congregation, staff, committee chairs,
organization presidents/leaders will present a brief report highlighting the accomplishments of
the previous ministry year. There will be a light breakfast provided.

LUTHERAN MEN IN MISSION

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LUTHERAN MEN IN MISSION

Supper Meeting
January 22
6:00 p.m.
in
Fellowship Hall

WELCA MEETINGS

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WELCA MEETINGS
Katie’s Ladies
Leader: Beth Cribbe
Date: January 9
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Place: Office Conference Room
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Luther’s Ladies
Leader: Beth Fischer
Date: January 18
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Office Conference Room

1/7/24 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are this week’s updates:

 

  • This coming Sunday is Baptism of Our Lord Sunday.  All the music, prayers, scripture readings, and even the sermon will be tied to he central theme of Baptism.

  • I, of course, will be preaching on the gospel text of Mark 1:4-11, as we explore what it means to us to be baptized.

  • Some questions to ponder:
    • How often do you actually think about your own baptism?

    • How does baptism influence your life?

    • When difficult times come your way, how does baptism give you strength and comfort and hope?

    • Jesus waited until the age of 30 to be baptized.  Why would he wait this long?

    • After his baptism, He immediately began his 3-year ministry, up until his death.  How does your own baptism give you direction/purpose in life?

  • A challenge I have for you, if you are willing, is to read the three biblical texts assigned to this day (Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, and Mark 1:4-11} and figure out why they were selected for the theme of baptism. The 2nd and 3rd readings are easy.  Reading #1 is a challenge.

  • On Wednesday evening of next week, you are invited to join with us in Fellowship Hall for our next Family Fun Night.  Since we are near Epiphany, January 6, we will be looking at The Three Wise Men.  Some join us for supper, a bible story, a sing along, as well as a related art project. We begin at 5:30 p.m.

  • One last thing, I sent out a rough draft of the 2024 Church Directory.  Many of you have already sent me a reply letting me know if your information listed for you is correct and if not, you have sent me corrections.  If you have not yet done this, please take the 60 seconds needed to read this over and send me a reply, as Sunday is the last day to do this.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

12/31/23 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are this week’s congregational updates:

 

  • The January issue of The Messenger was mailed out on Wednesday of this week.  Hopefully, you and your household will receive your copy soon.

  • If you provided a poinsettia for the Christmas Eve worship services, you may stop by the church and pick one up anytime at your convenience.

  • With this coming Sunday, December 31 being a 5th Sunday, we will have One-Combined worship service at 10:00 a.m.   Please keep in mind that we will NOT have Sunday School OR a Potluck meal.

  • A reminder that the Christmas season runs all the way through until Epiphany, which is January 6.  We continue to sing the hymns of Christmas in worship until then and you are encouraged to keep your Christmas tree, lights, and decorations up until then.

 

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

12/24/23 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are this week’s updates:

 

  • In case you have not thought about the significance of this day, today, December 21 is the Winter Solstice.  Today is the shortest day of the year, or another way to look at it, tonight is the longest night.  Beginning tomorrow, the days begin to get a little longer each day by about a minute per day. By mid-January the increase jumps to about 2 minutes per day and by the middle of February, the daylight speeds up to 3 minutes per day.  Now you are ready for Jeopardy.

  • We are missing one of the wooden carries that are used to transport the flowers.  We have two but one is missing.  If you know of its location, please let us know.

  • Don’t forget, Sunday morning, we will have One-Combined worship service at 10:00 a.m. (There will be no Sunday School classes or potluck meal.)  I will be preaching on the Gospel Reading, Luke 1:26-38, as we explore the role of Gariel in giving the news to Mary that she is to carry God’s Child.

  • Again this year, you have a choice of attending two different Christmas Eve Worship Services
    • At 4:00 p.m., there will be a Service of Lessons and Carols w/ Holy Communion and Candle Lighting. This is a more family-oriented service with a Children’s Sermon and a Nursery will be provided (by Nancy Korn.)  Holy Communion will be by intinction.
    • At 11:00 p.m., there will Liturgical Service w/ Holy Communion and Candle Lighting.  Holy Communion will be at the altar, similar to what we do on Sunday mornings. This service is for those who desire to be in worship during the midnight hous of Christmas Day.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

12/17/23 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are this week’s updates:

 

  • We rejoiced to have Marijane Coggins (and Harry) back with us last night at our Midweek Advent meal and worship service.  Marijane has completed her chemotherapy treatments and is awaiting radiation treatments in January.

  • We keep Anita Roehrs in our prayers, who has been admitted to AnMed for treatment of flu-like symptoms.

  • As of 12/12/23, our house phone has been discontinued.  Most everybody already does so, but if you need to reach us, please call my family on our cell phones.

  • Sunday, I will be preaching on the Second Reading, from First Thessalonians 5:16-24 as we focus on Paul’s words, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

  • Sunday is the deadline to turn in all poinsettias requests for the Christmas Eve worship services.  If you have someone you would like to recognize in the bulletin either In Memory Of or In Honor Of, please fill out the form in the bulletin or newsletter.

  • Sunday afternoon, rain or shine, we will be gathering in Fellowship Hall to assemble before going Christmas Caroling. Please arrive a few minutes before 5:00 p.m. as we will be pulling out of the parking lot at 5:00 pm.!  Afterwards, we will gather back at the church for some delicious chili.  If you have any questions about this, please reach out to me, 864-933-7434.

  • We are still needing a few more pots of chili.  If you can help us out, contact Amy Goodson @, 864-934-4015.  You will not have to sit and wait for us to return to eat.  You can simply drop off your chili and return at another time to pick up your crockpot or cooking pot.  It will be washed and waiting for you.  Just ask Amy for the details.

  • Wednesday evening will be our final Advent Meal and Advent worship service.  The Youth Group will be providing the meal at 6:00 p.m. and our worship service will begin at 7:00 p.m.

  • As you begin to make your plans for worship on December 24, Christmas Eve, the way the calendar falls, Christmas Eve lands on a Sunday.  For our morning worship service, we are offering One-Combined Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. (No Sunday School or Potluck Meal).  Then that afternoon, we again will have a Lessons and Carols Christmas Eve Service at 4:00 p.m.  This service will have Holy Communion and candle lighting, as well as a nursery.  Then for those who enjoy being together in the sanctuary at the midnight hour when Christmas begins, we are offering a Liturgical Christmas Eve Worship at 11:00 p.m. with Holy Communion and candle lighting.  In case you are wondering, this is the same schedule and types of worship services we offered last year. 

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer