1/30/22 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Some notes of interest for you this week:

 

  1. The February issue of The Messenger was mailed out today.

  2. In preparation for our Congregational Semi-Annual meeting, the Annual Yearbooks will be ready for you to pick up a week from today, February 3.

  3. We keep in our prayers Jean Vinson who fell earlier in the week and broke her leg.  She is at the AnMed hospital.

  4. If you did not have a coin gift attached to your 2022 offering envelopes, please see Claude Calloway or contact the church office for your Holy Trinity coin.

  5. Before his death, Bob Long was very involved in the ministry of Good Neighbor Cupboard, even serving on their Board of Directors.  He would deliver our donated congregational food items to this food pantry. We are now looking for someone to do the same.  As you know, each month, we collect donated food items, on a rotating basis for two food agencies – AIM and Good Neighbor Cupboard. We are looking for someone who would be willing to deliver our donated food items to Good Neighbor Cupboard, once, every other month.  Please contact me if interested.

  6. In addition to the information printed in the bulletin and newsletter to order COVID test kits, you may also call 1-800-232-0233.

  7. This coming Sunday I will be preaching on the gospel text, Luke 4:21-30, as a continuation of last week’s sermon.  We will look more in depth as to why the words of Jesus infuriated the worshippers to the point of attempted murder.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

2/13/22 Souper Bowl of Caring

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Souper Bowl of Caring
The Youth will once again participate in the Souper Bowl Of Caring, on February 13th.
As in year’s past, there will be soup pots in the Narthex for you to indicate your favorite team.
All money collected will stay in our community and be donated to AIM.
Thank you for your contributions.

1/24 Lutheran Men in Mision meeting

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LUTHERAN MEN IN MISSION In–person Meeting January 24th at 6:30 p.m. In Fellowship Hall. No supper provided.
This meeting will also be held via Zoom.
Please be certain the Zoom app is installed on your tablet or computer and is up to date before the meeting. The current level for the Zoom application is: Version: 5.9.1 (3506)
Our meeting will be held in 40 minute segments.
When a segment expires, the meeting will be restarted with the same information and you can rejoin.
Virgil Hobbs is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: HTLC LMM- January 2022 Time: Jan 24, 2022 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4601449703?pwd=VmVmbUxKeGJwSzR0MXJuV3Y2d0o1UT09
Meeting ID: 460 144 9703
Passcode: FED3339

Latest Congregatinal COVID Guidelines

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Latest Congregational COVID Guidelines On January 10, the Church Council met, and following a lengthy and compressive discussion on current COVID levels in the community/nation, updated the Congregational Guidelines. The following change of recommendations were set forth by the Church Council (double underlined): Worship Services – beginning immediately, masks and social distancing are strongly encouraged and all singing by the congregation suspended. Soloist, following the sermon, will continue. • Offering plates will not be passed during the worship service but instead, be placed at the entrances. • To help facilitate social distancing, we will be using every other pew in worship, and using the ends of each pew. Each seat will be marked with a bulletin. • The pews unused from the Early Service will be used at the Late Service. • The Sharing of the Peace has been omitted. • We will be refraining from handshaking and hugging. • No nursery will be offered at this time. Meetings/Classes – All meetings/committees/Sunday School classes, Confirmation classes of the church may continue to gather, practicing social distancing, but meals may not be served. The wearing of masks to all indoor gatherings is strongly encouraged. Please note: We cannot stress this enough. Individuals feeling ill should refrain from attending worship and vaccinations are encouraged for those not yet vaccinated.

01/23/22 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Some things of interest to pass along to you this week include:

 

  1. If you have been watching the news at all this week, then you are aware that every residential household in the U.S. can now order, free of charge,  one set of 4 at-home COVID-19 tests from USPS.com.  Simply click on the link:  https://special.usps.com/testkits   and fill out the information.

  2.  Last Thursday I sent each of you a copy of the Church Directory Rough Draft and asked you to let me know if the information for you and your family is correct.  I have heard back from many of you.  If you have not yet notified me of errors or updates, then I take it that your information is correct.  You have until Monday to make changes.

  3. According to the latest weather forecasts, our Sunday worship services will not be affected by snow and ice.  Let’s pray that holds true.

  4. Sunday, I will be preaching on the gospel text, Luke 4:14-21, where Jesus gets up to read scripture in his local synagogue and reads from the prophet, Isaiah.  This story follows immediately upon his baptism and trip to the wilderness to go head-to-head with the devil.  We will be focusing on the mesmerizing words of Jesus as he sits down and gives a commentary on what he has just read.  We have heard these words all our life but have we really stopped to think about what Jesus is saying?  Those in the synagogue audience were the very first ones to hear the mission and purpose of Jesus’ life.  We will take a look at what these words still mean to us today.

  5. I have not worshipped with most of you this year yet.  The first Sunday, I was on vacation.  The second Sunday of the year, I was out sick.  And last Sunday . . . we moved our worship to Saturday due to the snow and ice.  With the weather and short notice, only 20 of us were able to gather together.  I am looking forward to seeing and worshipping with you Sunday.  I have missed you!

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Youth Sunday School Series

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CALLING ALL SUPER HEROES – SIXTH GRADE THROUGH SENIOR YEAR!!!
We are about to investigate the Bible searching for proof Spider Man has nothing on people like David, Samson, and even … Jesus?
Come and join us, beginning today, January 16, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. and help us with our in-depth investigation of God’s POWER in action and what it means for us personally. Forty-five minutes isn’t long, so we’ll need all of OUR superpowers to make great discoveries! It will take all of us…so BE THERE, please!!! Can’t wait!!!
Note: In order to allow us to spreadout and have more space, we will gather in the Pairs and Spares Room during this time of COVID.

01/16/2022 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of the Congregation,

 

A couple of things to pass along to you this week include:

 

  1. If you have been watching the weather forecast, there is a pretty good chance that a wintry mix will land on Sunday morning.  Amy Goodson, as Congregational President, and I will confer with each other, if needed, to decide if the worship services will be cancelled due to the weather.  A reminder that if that is the case, we will put into place the Call List where each member of the Church Council has specific people to contact in the congregation to relay a message.

  2. As announced this past Sunday in worship, despite having all 3 Pfizer vaccines, I tested positive for COVID last Friday.  I was absolutely sure I had a sinus infection and was floored to learn otherwise.  I am over all my symptoms (headache, chest congestion, sore throat) except a lingering cough that will not go away.  I returned to the office yesterday, wearing a mask, and keeping my distance.  We are very grateful as a congregation to have Amy Goodson lead both worship services this past Sunday, and deliver my sermon.

  3. The bulletin for this coming Sunday, that was sent out earlier today, has an error in it.  The minister is listed as Pastor Booher. That is not correct.   I am planning to be in attendance, weather permitting. I will be preaching on the gospel text, John 2:`1-11, as we explore what it means for us today to have our Lord chose his first miracle to be of changing water into wine at a wedding.

  4. This past Monday evening the church council, as part of its monthly meeting, revisited the COVID situation in Anderson and the safety of the congregation.  It should come as no surprise that the decision was made to return to omitting the singing of hymns and liturgical responses at all worship services and return to the wearing of face masks.  All meetings – LMM, Sunday School classes, confirmation classes, can continue to gather with the wearing of masks strongly encouraged and meals still not being served.

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

1/9/22 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

On this day of Epiphany, January 6, here are a couple of updates to pass along to you:

 

  • If you served as a Committee Chair in 2021, you are to submit a yearly report to Pat.  She will be working on these again on Monday so please make every effort to turn these in by Monday morning.

  • As a follow up to the notice I sent you earlier today concerning Bob Long’s death, there will be a private memorial service held in our sanctuary for the family at a later date.

  • Pat and I are very close to completing the new Church Directory for 2022.  I hope to send you a copy next week, via email, for you to proof, before we print.

  • Sunday is the Baptism of Our Lord Sunday.  I will be preaching on the gospel text from Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 and the connection we have between our baptism and prayer.   

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

12/26/21 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are a few things going on in our congregation right now:

 

Of those who have indicated their worship preference for the Christmas Eve worship services, the projected attendance numbers are:

11:00 a.m. The ABC’s of Christmas Service – 40

3:00 p.m. The ABC’s of Christmas Service – 52

8:00 p.m. The Liturgical Service – 58

11:00 p.m. The Liturgical Service – 40


On Sunday morning, December 26, you are invited to continue your Christmas celebrations by attending our “Musical Celebration of the Christ Child” at both of our worship services (8:45 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.).

On Sunday, we WILL have our Adult Sunday School class in Fellowship Hall at 10:00 a.m.

After a little over a month in the hospital, Bob Long was moved yesterday to NHC, in room 407B, where he will receive physical rehabilitation.

We keep in our prayers Steven Goodson who underwent surgery on his back earlier this morning and has returned home.

 

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Fischer

12/19/21 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are this week’s updates in the congregation:

 

  1. The 2022 offering envelopes are ready to be picked up in the room off the narthex.  A coin has been attached to every offering envelope box featuring an image of the front of the church and of the altar.  We are very grateful to Claude Calloway for this gift.  Note: We are waiting for a 2nd shipment of coins to arrive.  If your box does not have a coin, more are coming soon.

  2. Check out the church website Facebook page, near the bottom, to see images of our recent Trick-Or-Treat-So-Others-May-Eat food drive and our Congregational Wreath making event.

  3. The deadline to place a poinsettia in the sanctuary for our Christmas Eve worship services, In Memory Of someone, or In Honor of someone, is Monday, December 20.  Please see your bulletin for more information or call Pat in the office Monday morning.

  4. I am happy to report that the Church Council made the decision at its meeting Monday night, that beginning Christmas Eve, we will return to the singing of all hymns and liturgical worship parts of the services!

  5. The Church Council is in the process of polling each household of the congregation to determine which, if any, Christmas Eve worship service you and your family will be attending to spread out our numbers.   If you do not receive a call by Sunday, please let me know by email, phone call or text as I am the one tallying the attendance numbers.

  6. On Sunday, December 26, we will continue to celebrate the Christmas season, with “A Musical Celebration of the Christ Child” at both of our worship services that day.  This will be a service of Lessons and Carols with special music.  Make sure to invite and bring your family members for this occasion.

  7. Sunday, I will be preaching on our Old Testament lesson, Micah 5:2-5a, as we take another look at the significance of Bethlehem in the birth story.

  8. We continue to keep in our prayers, Bob Long, who continues his stay at AnMed.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer