Easter 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!

4/6/25 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:

 

  • Thank you for your quick response following last Sunday’s request for Easter lilies.  To date, 19 flowers have been spoken for, however, we still have 16 lilies remaining.  If you would like to place an Easter lily (or two) in the sanctuary on Easter Sunday, In Honor Of someone or In Memory Of someone, please fill out the form in your bulletin or newsletter and either mail it to the church or place it in the offering plate.

  • The congregation’s Bread-Making Workshop, to be led by Amy Goodson, will be Saturday, beginning at 1:00 p.m., for those who have signed up.  All spots have been filled.

  • Sunday, I will be preaching on the cross and its impact upon us, still today.

  • Wednesday evening of next week will be our final Midweek Lenten Service and Meal.  Supper begins at 6:00 p.m. and the service at 7:00 p.m.  This is a Potluck Meal so bring a dish to share.

  • One last note:  There is the old adage for us to “stop and smell the roses.”  This time of the year, I add to that, please make sure and stop to admire all the beautiful trees and shrubs blooming right now, declaring God’s glory.  The azaleas on the church property are absolutely gorgeous right now, as well as the surrounding homes in the church neighborhood.  Make sure to thank the good Lord for healthy eyes to see His beautiful creation.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Easter Lilly’s 2025

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EASTER LILY ORDER FORM
We will be placing Easter Lilies in our windows and on the Chancel steps for the
services on Easter Sunday. The cost is $19.50. 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 13th. Note: Payment must accompany your order.
Enclosed is $_____________________ For______________ Lilies
In Memory of_____________________________________________________________
In Honor of_______________________________________________________________
Other (To the Glory of God)_________________________________________________
Given by_________________________________________________________________
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. Thank you for your understanding.
The Worship and Music Committee

Click on link below to download this form as word file

EASTER LILY ORDER FORM 2025

03/30/25 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:

 

  • The April Messenger was dropped off at the Post Office earlier today.

  • The new Christ In Our Home devotionals for April, May and June, are now ready to be picked up.

  • This coming Saturday, March 29, our Congregational Litter Pick Up will take place beginning at 9:00 a.m.  It is not too late to join us.  If interested, see last week’s bulletin for the details or call Leslie Cox or Jamie Corrigan.

  • With Sunday being a 5th Sunday, we will have One Combined Worship Service at 10:00 a.m.  A Potluck Meal will follow in Fellowship Hall.  The church will be providing chicken tenders and ham. You are asked to bring a dish to share.  You may drop your food off in Fellowship Hall before worship, beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Please keep in mind that the Fellowship Committee will be glad to heat up a dish but we do not have the facilities for them to cook everyone’s dishes.

  • Sunday, I will be preaching on the Gospel text, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, on the subject of the Prodigal Son.  With a sermon tile like, “My Brother Gets Away With Everything!” – you can probably figure out where I am going.

  • Our next Midweek Lenten Service will take place next Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. with our Lenten Supper starting at 6:00 p.m.

  • It is that time of the year when we begin to gather orders for our lilies for Easter Sunday.  The order forms are in your bulletin and newsletter.  Keep in mind that we will only be accepting 35 orders as these flowers have been  pre-ordered from Whitten’s to make sure that they are at their peak for Easter Sunday.

  • We keep in our prayers:
    • Kati Smith – who is expecting to be released from Linley Park Rehab on Saturday of this week.
    • Joby Hefner – who has been admitted to AnMed where she is undergoing some tests.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

3/23/25 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of the congregation,

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

  • The order has been placed for the new congregational T-shirts.  85 shirts have been ordered!

  • The new gazebo for the Prayer Garden was installed earlier this week.  It is part of the Prayer Garden update with new plants to be planted soon.  More information on this, later.

  • Sunday, I will be preaching on the gospel reading (Luke 13:1-9) as we revisit that age-old question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

  • We have had right at 50 in attendance at our Wednesday Midweek Lenten suppers and then in worship, the past two weeks. We will gather again this coming Wednesday. Won’t you come join us?

  • On Saturday of next week, March 29, we will gather as the Holy Trinity Litter Warriors to remove litter from some of our local roadways.  To date, we have 15 volunteers.  It is not too late to sign up.  There is a sheet in the room off the narthex to do so.  All supplies will be provided.

  • We keep in our prayers:
    • Sue Rasche and family, upon the death of her brother, Jack Hannahs.
    • Kati Smith, who is now at the Linley Park Rehab and Health Center for her physical rehabilitation.  She is in Room # 203.  (208 James Street in Anderson.)

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Breakfast Blessings Final Update

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Amazing Response!

The picture say it all! The generosity of our church members is incredible. It is one of the many reasons we are all proud to say, “I attend Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.”

On Tuesday, several members of the Service Committee met to tally, box and deliver your gifts to Hope Missions. Individuals from Hope Missions helped carry items into the building. They were very grateful for these “Breakfast Blessings.”
You donated the following:
• 84 pounds of coffee (This is approximately 2,142 cups of coffee.)
• 44 pounds of non-dairy creamer and 120 individual cups of creamer (This will provide creamer for approximately 1,088 cups of coffee.)
• 38 pounds of sugar
• 1,038 individual packets of oatmeal
• 706 individual packets of grits
We also received 2 boxes of protein bars and 32 Fruit and Grain Cereal Bars.
Thank you Holy Trinity for your outpouring of care and for continuing to make a positive difference in our community.

3/16/25 Weekly Congregational update

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

Here are this week’s updates:

  • We keep the following in our thoughts and prayers:
    • Kati Smith who fell and broke a bone in her ankle and fractured her pelvis.  She has been at AnMed this week and may be going to a rehab facility tomorrow.
    • Bob Vinson and family, upon the death of his wife, Jean.  The visitation will take place Monday afternoon in our Fellowship Hall from 1:00-1:45 p.m. The funeral will follow in our sanctuary at 2:00 p.m.  The burial will take place at Forest Lawn.

  • Sunday is the final day to order a newly designed church T-shirt.  Just fill out the order form indicating your size and the number of shirts you want and drop it into the church offering plate or mail to the church office.  All the info is in your bulletin and March newsletter.

  • Sunday, I will preaching on the First Reading (Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18), as we explore the 4 STEPS of Trust that Abram and Sarai followed, answering that old-old question:  “Is it possible to trust God, to have faith in God, even when all the evidence around us, says no?”

  • Last night we had a good turnout for our Wednesday Midweek Lenten meal (a variety of soups with breads, desserts, etc.) and worship. We will gather again next Wednesday for supper at 6:00 p.m. followed by worship at 7:00 p.m.

  • I know we are taught not to hate anything, but I do hate litter.  If you feel the same way, come join me and others as the Service Committee sponsors a Litter Pick Up Day for the congregation.  We will clean the roadside on the selected area on Saturday, March 29 from 9:00-10:30 a.m.  All supplies will be provided. There is a sign-up sheet in the room off the narthex.

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

3/9/25 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:

  • I am happy to report to you that Jill Helgeson did not break her ankle.  After seeing the orthopedist, her ankle has a sprain, not a fracture.

  • We celebrate with Sandi and Jim Jordan, on the birth of a grandson, Harlan James Jordan Holcombe, born to Ashely and Garrett on March 2.

  • Paul Wagner reports that the new church website is up and running and welcomes your feedback.  Please reach out to him at:  osuwags@att.net if you have any comments.

  • The response to our Breakfast Blessings Gathering for Hope Mission of the Upstate has been incredible and you still have until Sunday to bring in more donated items.  The list of items we are looking for is listed in your bulletin and newsletter.  Just let yourself into the church and place the items in the bin in the room off the narthex, or bring them with you Sunday.  Again, Thank You!

  • The deadline to order your HTLC T-shirts is March 16.  All the info is in your bulletin and newsletter.

  • Don’t forget to change your clocks Saturday night before going to bed.  We lose an hour of sleep.  Remember, “Spring forward, fall back.”

  • Sunday, I will be preaching on “Temptation and the Devil,” based on the gospel reading, Luke 4:1-13.  Some of the topics I will be covering include:
    • What do you know about the Devil?
    • What are some of the different names for the Devil?
    • What is the difference between temptation and testing?
    • What does temptation look like?
    • What are some of the best ways to handle temptations?
    • Is anyone immune from temptation?

  • Next Wednesday, March 12, we begin our Mid-week Lenten worship services for the next 5 weeks. Every week, we begin with a Lenten Supper at 6:00 p.m. and worship begins at 7:00 p.m.  Supper will be provided. I hope to see you there.

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

 

Thank You!!

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Thank You!!!
A big thank you for your participation in the recent Encouragement Card project for the United Way SnackPack Program. It was a very successful project with individuals making cards together and at their homes. We have made 657 cards thus far. We still have outstanding cards and will continue to update our tally. The outpouring of love and thoughtful messages on each card will have a positive impact on the children who receive these cards with their weekend SnackPack items. Your generosity and dedication to this program is a testament to the spirit of our church community.

Why Is That Dead Tree in the Church?

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Why Is That Dead Tree in the Church?
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.