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. Clean Start needs toiletry items and new (still in the package) men’s and women’s underwear and socks among a list of other items. Look in the upcoming bulletins for a more detailed list of needs. The committee will place a box in the room off the Narthex to collect items on two Sundays: March 22nd and March 29th

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

2/22/26 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:

 

  • This past Sunday at worship I informed you during the announcements that Ernie Thoms had suffered another major stroke, on Saturday.   Here is the latest on him.  This stroke is worse than the one he had in July.  He is still in ICU at AnMed and not receiving visits at this time.  He has made some improvements this week.  Please continue to keep Ernie, Jeanette and their two sons – Keith and Darrell, and family in your thoughts and prayers.

  • That being said, our Day of Recognition for Ernie that was scheduled for this coming Sunday has been postponed.

  • Sunday School classes for all ages will resume on Sunday.

  • Sunday’s worship theme will be about facing the temptations of life.  Our Old Testament reading will be Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 (Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) and the Gospel readings will be Matthew 4:1-11 (Jesus squaring off against the devil for 40 days and nights in the wilderness).  And what would a worship service on temptation be like, without our final hymn being A Mighty Fortress Is Our God?

  • The Lutheran Men in Mission will gather on Monday evening for their monthly supper meeting at 6:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.

  • Each Wednesday night, up until Easter, you are invited to our Lenten meal (6:00 p.m.) followed by our Lenten worship service.  A free-will offering will be received for the meal each week. We will be focusing on the petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father Who Art In Heaven.”

  • If you are not able to attend our mid-week worship services, they will be recorded each week and placed on our church website.

  • If you are interested in purchasing one of the red congregational T-shirts I showed you in my sermon last Sunday, with the words, “The church has left the building . . . to serve God’s people!,” please let me know.  I have about a dozen remaining.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

BOLD WOMEN SUNDAY

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BOLD WOMEN SUNDAY
During both of our worship services today we will be celebrating the bold women in our life. It is on this day that we
give thanks to God for all women who have acted or are acting boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. Some women are bold in
their unceasing prayers. Other women are bold in their service to those in need. Still other women are bold in their
advocacy or through their hospitality. Whether we live out our bold story of faith in the workplace, family, home, or community, our faith compels us to make a difference in the lives of others. It’s all about living out our baptismal call, about being a disciple of Christ. 
Amy Goodson will be giving our Temple Talk this morning.

Lent Reminders

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LENT
Just a reminder
The Forty Days before Easter are the Lenten season. During this time we omit the refrains that are
connected to celebrating Christ’s resurrection and we use the verses appropriate for Lent. They are:
• We refrain from singing Alleluias because of its connection to Easter.
• There is no Absolution (minister declaring our forgiveness, page 118) for all of Lent is a time of self-examination.
• We omit the Hymn of Praise: “Glory to God in the highest” and we instead lead straight into The Prayer of the Day.
• We sing the Lenten verse: “Let your steadfast Love” page 125.
• We use the Apostles’ Creed.
On Easter Sunday, April 5th, we will return to the verses praising our Lord and His resurrection.

Why is there a dead tree in the Sanctuary?

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You can’t help but notice the “dead” tree covered in caterpillars which has appeared in the Sanctuary. You may question – why is it here or what is it about?
Things are different in both the church and nature this time of year. There are some things “sleeping” in our worship such as the use of Alleluias. Everything in our yards such as the grass and trees look dead but they too are just “sleeping”. Some of God’s creatures such as caterpillars make cocoons. Although we might think they are dead, they actually have rebirth as a butterfly.
This tree is actually here to help each of us to remember that while the weather often is cool and gray and the grass is brown and the trees bare, there is the hope that Spring is coming! Bulbs are blooming and the days are getting longer. Just as we have hope for Spring, Lent gives us a time to hope for Easter and the promise that the resurrection brings. Just as the change of seasons brings surprises, keep watching the tree thru the Lenten season – there are more surprises to come!
In past years this has been a project of the LCY and the Sunday School children but this year we included all families of the congregation during a Family Fun Night event.

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING SUNDAY update

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SOUPER BOWL OF CARING SUNDAY
Last Sunday, the youth collected $681.00 total funds (Patriots $189.00, Seattle $493.00). These donations will go to AIM. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

02/15/25 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church,

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

  • Thank you for your generosity this past Sunday.  Together we as a congregation gave $681.00 to the Souper Bowl of Caring!  In case you are wondering of the break down, $493.00 was given to Seattle and $189.00 was given to New England as your favorite team.  Perhaps we influenced the Super Bowl after all! The real winner is AIM who will be the recipient of these funds.

  • This Sunday is Transfiguration of Our Lord Sunday.  I will be preaching on the gospel text, Matthew 17:1-9.  It would be helpful for you to read over ahead of time this text, as well as the Old Testament reading, Exodus 24:12-18.  You should have no trouble see the connection between the two.

  • Our Community Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper will take place next week at Boulevard Baptist Church from 4:30-7:00 p.m. Sunday after worship will be the last opportunity to purchase tickets. Our congregation is always well represented at this event, not only in the eating but with our Lutheran Men in Mission doing a lot of the cooking.  This is a great time for fellowship before we enter the solemn season of Lent.

  • You may have noticed two Shrove Tuesday events listed in our recent bulletins and newsletter. Please be mindful that our friends at Church of the Ascension Anglican will be using our Fellowship Hall that evening.

  • We are offering two Ash Wednesday worship services next week.  The first one will take place at 12:00 Noon and the second one at 7:00 p.m. Both services are identical with the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion being offered.  Come to the worship service of your choice.  Every Wednesday in Lent, I will be preaching a Lenten series on the Lord’s Prayer.

  • A week from today, the women of the congregation are invited to their monthly Luther’s Ladies Circle Meeting at 6:00 p.m.

  • We celebrate with Davis and Sarah Ann Bannister on the birth of their son, Roy Hyland Bannister, who was born February 5. Congratulations are also in order for proud grandparents, Jay and Suzie Bannister, and great-grandmother, Georgia Lou Welborn.

  • We celebrate as well with Joejee and Jamie Jameson on the birth of their son, Joe Mattox Jameson, who was born February 7.  Congratulations are in order for proud grandparents, Lawson and Leigh Freeman.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer