12/12/21 Weekly Congregational Updates

/in , /by

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

Some things of interest to pass along to you:

1) All the gift tags from the Angel Tree have been taken. Thank you!!! Now we need all of them to return with the gifts attached by Wednesday, December 15. To date, of the 50 gift tags picked up, 28 Christmas gifts have been dropped off in the Church Office Parlor. We do not want any of these children to be left out so please make sure and drop off all gifts by the deadline.

2) The Church Council will begin polling the congregation tomorrow, using the Congregational Call List, to determine which Christmas Eve service you and your family will be attending (if you are), to help spread out our attendance numbers. I am receiving reports from many of you that you have received your December Messenger yesterday or today. Please look inside to read all the details of the four Christmas Eve Services to help you determine which service you will be attending.

3) This coming Sunday, our Congregational Christmas Pageant will take place during both of our worship services.

4) Barbara Thomas is now home, following her knee replacement surgery.

In Christ,
Pastor Fischer

12/5/21 Weekly Congregational Updates

/in , /by

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

This week’s things to share with you include:

  1. The December Messenger was mailed out Tuesday. Hopefully, your copy will arrive soon.

  2. We keep in our prayers Barbara Thomas who underwent knee replacement surgery on Tuesday.  She is expected to be moved to AnMed Rehab either today or tomorrow.

  3. The Angel Tree is now covered with tags, ready for you to stop by and pick up.  Please make sure to follow the instructions in the bulletin and newsletter.  The gifts are to be placed, unwrapped, with the tag attached, in the Church Office parlor by December 15.  You can use the door code to let yourself in.  The Parlor is located in the office, between Pat’s room and the Office Conference Room, with the fireplace.

  4. Several of you have asked if there will be a Memorial Service for Anita Brady.  The family has not requested a service.

  5. We are looking for one more person to fill a unique volunteer position in the church.  Responsibilities would include:  1) Refilling the sanctuary lamp (Eternal Candle which hangs from the ceiling) once a week, for a month.  This would be on a 3-month rotation;  2) Inspecting the fire extinguishers once a month on a 3-month rotation.   We currently have two volunteers serving in this capacity but need one more.  As I said, this is a unique need.

  6. Sunday I will be preaching on the Gospel reading, Luke 3:1-6 as we focus on John the Baptist and his call for us to prepare for the coming of the Lord.

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Angel Tree

/in , , , /by

Angel Tree
WE NOW HAVE THE TAGS ON THE TREE!!!!!!

1. Pick a tag off the “Angel Tree” in the Narthex and go shopping.

2. Please do not wrap gifts.

3. Leave gift, with tag attached, in the church office parlor (use door code).

4. Gifts should be returned NO LATER than, Wednesday, December 15th,
after which, you will be responsible for delivering your gifts to A.I.M.

5. In addition to selecting names from the Angel Tree in-person like we
Usually, do you also have the option of making a donation and someone from WELCA
will do, the shopping for you. If you would rather participate in this way,
just make a check out to “Holy Trinity Lutheran Church” and put
“Angel Tree” in the Memo. If you have any questions on any of this, please
contact Roz Eckardt

Christmas Eve Services

/in , /by

WORSHIP SERVICES – DECEMBER 24TH

In order to spread out our attendance numbers and to help keep everyone safe, we are again offering four Christmas Eve worship services this year just like we did last year. Worship space for three of those services should not be an issue, but we are asking those who normally attend the 11:00 p.m. service to consider attending the 8:00 p.m. service, as these two services will be identical. Then, two weeks before Christmas, the church council will be using the Congregational Call List to contact each family to tally worship preferences. The social distancing practices we use for each Sunday morning will also be followed for our Christmas Eve services. As an option, one of each type of the worship services will be recorded and placed on the church website. Below is the information you will need to help you and your family make your worship decisions.

Family Oriented Worship Services 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM
 We will be using the ABC’s of Christmas service as we used last year.
 Families/individuals “participate” in the message.
 Holy Communion will be offered.
 There will be no nursery provided.
 One of these two worship services will be recorded and placed on the church website.

Traditional Liturgical Worship Services 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM
 We will be using the liturgy similar to what we use on Sunday mornings.
 Holy Communion will be offered.
 Candle lighting participation will be offered.
 There will be no nursery provided.
 One of these two worship services will be recorded and placed on the church website.

A REMINDER THAT DURING ADVENT

/in , /by

A REMINDER THAT DURING ADVENT

-We use the Nicene Creed.

-The Prayer of the Day begins “Stir up….”

-Each week we light an additional candle on the Advent wreath.

-The blue paraments symbolize the hope that comes to the world in the birth of the Christ Child.

MORE VOICES NEEDED

/in , /by

MORE VOICES NEEDED
As we begin singing once again, I would like to invite all who are interested to join us. For now, we will only be practicing after the 8:45 a.m. service for the Early Service choir which meets at 8:30 a.m. to go over the music for the service. For the 11:00 a.m. service, we will meet at 10:40 a.m. to go over the music for the Late Service and then stay after the 11:00 a.m. service to go over the music for the next week. If needed, we will practice after the Wednesday night Advent Services. Please consider singing with us, we would love to have more voices!
Jill Helgeson

11/28/21 Weekly Congregational Updates

/in , /by

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

I pray this email finds you and your family planning to spend some time together this Thanksgiving holiday.  Here are some things to pass along to you concerning the congregation.

  1. On Sunday, we begin a new church year as we start the season of Advent, a time of preparation for the coming of our Lord, as we mark time using our Advent wreath.

  2. Speaking of Advent wreaths, for those who have signed up and reserved a spot, we will be gathering Sunday afternoon for our congregational Advent wreath making event at 3:00 p.m. in the back parking lot, behind Fellowship Hall.  Some greenery will be provided but you are asked to bring more.

  3. Sunday I will be preaching on the gospel reading, Luke 21:25-36.

  4. Our Mid-week Advent worship services begin a week from today, on Wednesday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m.  On this evening, we will be looking at the importance of not being too busy this time of the year. The other Mid-week Services will take place on December 8 and 15.

  5. Your help is needed on Saturday, December 4 as part of our Congregational Workday, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.  The list of projects we aim to tackle in the church yard are in your bulletin.  For more details, contact Ernie Thoms.

  6. We celebrate with Barbara Cleveland on the birth of her great-granddaughter, Katelyn Elizabeth Withrow.  Yet, even as we rejoice, we keep little Katelyn in our thoughts and prayers as she was born 3 months premature and weighs less than 3 pounds.

  7. We keep Bob Long in our prayers as well.  He is at the AnMed hospital. 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

12/4 Congregation Workday

/in , /by

Congregation Workday Saturday December 4,
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Remove leaves from shrubbery around the church buildings and playground.
Trim overgrown shrubbery away from the buildings and back from the sidewalks.
Remove roots of Indian Hawthorne plants from front of Fellowship Hall.
Remove leaves from around the Luther House front and back yards
Trim overgrown shrubbery around the Luther House
Bring trimmers, blower, rake, and wheelbarrow.
We have one electric trimmer, three rakes, three tarps and one wheelbarrow.

Advent Schedule 2021

/in , /by

ADVENT SCHEDULE
MIDWEEK ADVENT SCHEDULE

Due to COVID-19, we will not be gathering for our Advent meals like we have done in the past. However, we will gather for our Midweek Advent worship services with some modifications similar to what we do on Sunday mornings. Instead of using the Holden Evening Prayer Service, as we have done in the past, this year again, we will be using the Service of the Word with a spoken service. Our schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, December 1 7:00 PM   Message: “Too Busy”

Wednesday, December 8 7:00 PM   Message: “Take Me to Your Leader”

Wednesday, December 15 7:00 PM   Message: “No More Senseless Journeys”

Christmas Pageant – December 12
Our Christmas Pageant will still take place this year on Sunday, December 12, but with some modifications. The Pageant will take place at both worship services that day to spread out our attendance. The children and youth will not be participating this year. Only the choir will be participating to reduce the number of participants.

Calendar Updates:
Youth Christmas Party – will take place this year at the Goodson Farm on Sunday, December 19th beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Our Chili and Caroling Event – will not take place this year.

POINSETTIAS for the Christmas Eve services

/in , /by

POINSETTIAS for the Christmas Eve services will be provided for $16.00. Donors will be listed in the worship bulletin for the Christmas Eve services. If you would like to place an order for one or more, please fill out the form and place it in the offering plate or send to the Church office. The deadline is Monday, December 20th. Payment must accompany your order. Plants may be picked up after the 11:00 p.m. service Christmas Eve. (Please leave the three white poinsettias in the manger as they remain in the Sanctuary throughout the Christmas season.)

Click on this link to download order form

POINSETTIAS for the Christmas Eve 2021