Easter Schedule

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Sunrise Worship with Holy Communion
7:00 a.m.
Breakfast to follow

Worship Service with Holy Communion
11:00 a.m.

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!

Share a Mug project update

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SHARE A HUG IN A MUG!
How many of us start the day with a cup of coffee – black, cream, sugar? We often take it for granted, yet for the homeless population in our community it’s a treat. HOPE Missions of the Upstate, a charitable and religious non-profit organization located on South Tower Street in Anderson, serves up steaming hot coffee (and breakfast, but we’ll talk about that later) to 75 to 100 people each day. Starting at 7:00 a.m. a volunteer mans the coffeemaker and makes as many as 60 pots of coffee, one after another, going through three to five pounds of coffee, four to six pounds of sugar and up to two 35 oz. containers of powdered non-dairy creamer a day. That adds up to about $50 a day.

Project update

On behalf of the Service Committee, thank you so much for your generosity!  Together we were able to donate over a month’s supply of coffee, cream and sugar to HOPE Missions of the Upstate. On Tuesday, we delivered 130 lbs. of coffee, 62 lbs. of powder creamer and 139 lbs. of sugar! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

 

3/12/23 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of the Holy Trinity,

 

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

 

1) On behalf of the Service Committee, thank you so much for your generosity!  Together we were able to donate over a month’s supply of coffee, cream and sugar to HOPE Missions of the Upstate. On Tuesday, we delivered 130 lbs. of coffee, 62 lbs. of powder creamer and 139 lbs. of sugar! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

2) If you are interested in being a good steward of the earth, for those who would like to participate, we will be gathering on Saturday, April 1 from 9:00-11:30 a.m. for a Litter Pick Up activity.  Please see the bulletin for all the details.  There is a Signup sheet in the room off the narthex.

3) Don’t forget to change your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed Saturday night.

4) Sunday, I will be preaching on the Gospel, text, John 4:5-42, as we focus on the Samaritan woman at the well.

5) Wednesday, March 15, the Lutheran Men In Mission will be providing the Lenten Supper at 6:00 p.m.  We will be firing up a recently-donated grill, given anonymously to the church in memory of Bill Christmas.   The menu will consist of grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, buns, baked beans, slaw, chips and all the fixings.  Afterwards, we will gather in the sanctuary for our next Lenten worship service, at 7:00 p.m., as we explore the words of concern from our Lord for His mother Mary, from the cross.

6) The new Christ In Our Home devotionals, for April, May, and June, are now available in the narthex.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Things to remember about Lent

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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 Allelulias 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.
• 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 9, we will return to the verses praising our Lord and His resurrection.

Easter Lily order form

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EASTER LILY ORDER FORM

We would like to place Easter Lilies in our windows and on the Chancel steps for the services on Easter Sunday. The cost is $16.00. If you desire to place an order for one or more lilies, please use the form below. Fill in the information and place it in the offering plate or mail it to the church office as soon as possible. The deadline is Sunday, April 2. Note: Payment must accompany your order.

Because 35 lilies must be special ordered from Whitten’s to have them arrive at their peak for Easter, they will be assigned on a first-ordered, first-served basis. When 35 have been assigned, no more can be purchased. Thanks for your understanding. The Worship and Music Committee

Click on the link below to download the form

EASTER LILY ORDER FORM 2023

03/05/23 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Blessings on this late Thursday afternoon.  Here are a few things I deem important to pass along to you this week concerning the congregation:

 

  • The church newsletter, The Messenger, was mailed out yesterday and many of you have informed me that you received it today.  Wow!  That is quick.

  • I am deeply impressed with the amount of sugar, coffee creamer, and coffee that is coming in daily as part of our “Gathering and Giving” project on behalf of the Service Committee.  A reminder that this coming Sunday, is the last day to drop off your donations.  You can either bring your items to worship with you Sunday, or let yourself into the church using the door code during the week and place your donated items in the room off the narthex.    Our sugar, coffee creamer, coffee is being gathered for HOPE Missions of the Upstate.  [Make sure to check out their impressive website.]  I am planning to share a photo with you next Thursday of all that has been collected.

  • We did not have the greatest turnout at our Lenten meal last night (with 33) and Lenten worship (with 36) but I am hoping that this improves as we continue into the Lenten season.  Wednesday of next week, we will again gather for another Lenten meal. This one will be provided by the Katie’s Ladies Circle. At 6:00 p.m. They will be serving ham, rolls, and a variety of salads (including potato salad, pasta salad, baked beans, mixed salads) and desserts.  A Freewill Offering will be received.  Then at 7:00 p.m. we will gather for our Lenten worship focusing on the words of our Lord from the cross, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”  Worship will last about 45 minutes.  Please join us as we continue our Lenten journey together!

  • Sunday, I will be preaching on the gospel text, John 3:1-17, as we explore the interesting dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus, and the involvement of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

02/26/23 Weekly Congregational update

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

Here are this week’s updates:

  • On Tuesday, earlier this week, 70+ members of our congregation joined others for a wonderful afternoon/evening at our Community Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper.  Some photos of this event will be in our next newsletter.

  • This coming Sunday I will be preaching on handling temptation, based on the Gospel text, “Matthew 4:1-11.”

  • Don’t forget that we are collecting the following items as part of our Share A Hug In A Mug! Outreach ministry to HOPE Missions of the Update.  Make sure and check out their website!
    • Ground Coffee (like Maxwell House or Folgers)
    • 4 lb. bags of sugar
    • Powder Non-Dairy Creamer
    • These items can be dropped off at the church in the room off the narthex, where a big bin and table have been set up for this purpose.  The electronic door code to the front door of the church is still not working so you will need to enter one of the side doors (like the ramp door) using the door code. The last day to drop off donations is Sunday, March 5.

  • Monday evening the LMM will gather for a supper meeting at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.

  • On Wednesday, March 1 we will begin our Lenten Suppers (6:00 p.m.) and Lenten worship services (7:00 p.m.).  Each week the meal will be provided by different groups within the congregation.  A free-will offering will be received. As for the worship services, we will begin a series on “The Seven Last Words of Christ.”  I will be preaching on Luke 23:32-34 as we explore the first statement of Jesus from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” said while the Roman soldiers were pounding the nails into his hands and feet.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Why is there a “dead” tree covered in caterpillars 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. 

02/19/23 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of the Congregation,

 

Just a few things to pass along to you this week:

 

  • Thank you to all who contributed to the Souper Bowl of Caring event this past Sunday.  Together we gave $462.83 to AIM!

  • Looking ahead, after a recommendation from the Worship and Music Committee and endorsed by the Church Council, we will be returning to the With One Voice (blue hymnal) in the months of July and August.  It has been 3 years since  we have done this and we look forward to returning to this annual change of pace for worship this summer.

  • If you plan to attend the Community Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and do not have tickets, is it not too late.  This afternoon is the LAST opportunity to purchase your tickets.  You have until 2:30 p.m. this afternoon to call and catch Pat before she leaves the Church Office.  As of right now, we have sold 64 tickets to our congregation!  This event will take place Tuesday afternoon/evening at Boulevard Baptist Church.  The $10.00 will get you a fabulous meal of pancakes, bacon, coffee, orange juice, and milk and all the money raised will go to HOPE Missions of the Upstate.  The pancake supper will run from 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. and many of our Lutheran Men in Mission from Holy Trinity will be doing the cooking, cleaning and serving.  Don’t forget to bring your ticket(s) to the supper!

  • On Ash Wednesday, we are offering two identical worship services in our sanctuary.  One service will take place at 12:00 Noon for those who prefer to drive during the daylight hours.  The other service will take place at 7:00 p.m.  Both services will have the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion.

  • This Sunday is Transfiguration of Our Lord Sunday.  I encourage you to read over the First Lesson (Exodus 24:12-18) and the Gospel Reading (Matthew 17:1-9) and think about the following questions:
    • How are these two passages similar?
    • What is the “Shekhinah” in the Old Testament? (Google this)
    • Who is Moses and Elijah?
    • What is the significance of their presence being with the Lord in the Gospel?
    • What “mountain top” experiences have you had in your life?
    • How do our “mountain top” experiences from our past influence us today?

 

Hope to see you Sunday,

Pastor Fischer

 

2/12/23 SOUPER BOWL OF CARING SUNDAY Update

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Thank you to all who participated in the Souper Bowl of Caring last Sunday. The total raised for both Super Bowl teams was: the Eagles ($165.00) and the Chiefs ($297.83) for a grand total of ($462.83). All monies received will be sent to AIM. Thank you for your generosity.