Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

It is here!  We are finally about to return to in-person worship in the sanctuary.  I realize that this is not an option for those uncomfortable being in crowds, due to COVID-19, but for others, it is a long time in waiting.  For those planning to attend worship in the sanctuary on Sunday, please keep in mind the following as you enter the church:

• You are strongly encouraged to wear a mask.  Masks will be provided at the door, if you need one.
• You may enter either through the front doors or the ramp door.
• An offering plate will be at each door to receive your tithes and offerings.
• We will be using every other pew, making sure to sit on the ends of each pew.
• Seats will be marked with a bulletin of possibilities where you might sit.
• The ushers will assist in the process.
• Holy Communion will be served at both worship services using wafers, and not bread.
• We will not be gathering at the altar, but instead, a Communion station will be on the floor level.
• I will be reviewing all the worship and Communion instructions in the announcements so please be on time. 

I will be preaching on the timely topic of settling differences.  In preparation for this, I ask you to read over and pray over the Gospel text, Matthew 18:15-20.  Please ask yourself these questions as you read:

• What does Jesus say we are to do with those who sin against us?
• What are the steps?
• Are these steps only for settling disagreements in the church?
• What would our nation/our world look like if we all practiced the words of Jesus in settling our disputes/disagreements with each other?

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

RETURN TO SANCTUARY WORSHIP
The Church Council has decided to open the sanctuary to in-person worship beginning next Sunday, September 6! We will be using all the safety measures we are currently using for COVID-19 at worship at Fellowship Hall.

Guidelines for Worship in the Sanctuary
For the most part, what we have been doing in Fellowship Hall will continue in the sanctuary, concerning worship practices and social distancing, however some of these guidelines are new. Please take the time and familiarize yourself with them before entering the Sanctuary for worship. For those unsure of when to return, perhaps reading over our worship plans will help guide you in your decision.

You may enter the service through the front doors or the ramp door. The doors will be either propped open or someone will open the door for you so that you will not have to touch the door handle.

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.

Surfaces will be cleaned after the Early Service.

To minimize possible exposure to the virus, worship services will be shorter than what we are accustomed to.

All hymnals have been removed from the pew. We will continue to use a bulletin containing the worship service.
Several recent studies have found that forceful, sustained breathing, such as during singing, appears to pose a greater danger of spreading the coronavirus. To minimize these dangers, the singing of hymns, the Kyrie, and the Psalms, will be omitted. In addition to a prelude, we will be using a soloist for a hymn and speak the remaining parts of the liturgy.

The Sharing of the Peace has been omitted.

We will be refraining from handshaking and hugging.

No nursery or Sunday School will be offered at this time.

The distribution of Holy Communion will be modified to minimize touch.

We will be using wafers instead of bread at this time.

Cups of wine and grape juice will be pre-filled, and cups will be spaced out on the serving tray to eliminate accidental touching of nearby cups.

For the protection of others, the wearing of masks is strongly encouraged during worship. You are encouraged to bring your own mask, however, masks will also be available at the door.

We will continue to record one of the worship services every Sunday morning and post these on the internet, as we have been doing.
A word of caution: We cannot provide a 100% sterile and sanitized environment at all times. Due to the size of the sanctuary, the complexity of the structures and the furnishings within, and the myriads of church members who come to worship, therefore, if you have underlying health issues/concerns, you should not be at worship

Dear Members and Friends of HTLC.

Here are a few updates to pass along to you:

1. We keep Beth Passow in our thoughts and prayers upon the death of her father, Burt Bradley.
2. We keep Mary Williams, who has pneumonia at AnMed, in our prayers.
3. We keep Paul Wagner in our prayers as he recovers from hip replacement surgery earlier today at Oconee Memorial.
4. You may remember Pastor Bruce Booher, who filled in for me in the pulpit, on two occasions. Below is a recent article the SC Synod sent out to all congregations inviting them to participate in three Zoom sessions concerning a heavenly twist to stargazing he will be presenting. 

 

 WHAT’S SO AMAZING THAT KEEPS UP STARGAZING?

Wednesdays – August 26 & September 2 & 9, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.

For nearly sixty years, the marvels of God’s universe have been a source of joy and wonder for Pastor Bruce Booher. You are invited to join him for a three session Zoom event to explore some of these marvels and consider how they can inspire faith and awe. There will be links and resources to help you continue to explore the marvels of God’s creation, and the opportunity for you to share your thoughts and questions.

Wonders of the Universe – 8/26/20 – Marvel at the beauty and majesty of some of the most exciting objects in the cosmos. Discover ways to make new faith connections with God’s magnificent creation. 

Touring Our Solar System – 9/2/20 – We will explore stunning images of the Sun, Moon and planets from observatories and space probes. Discover what you may expect to see through telescopes as an amateur astronomer.

Introductory Stargazing – 9/9/20 – Learn the basics of telescopes and binoculars and how to use them. Find out easy ways to locate some of the brighter deep sky objects in the night sky. Learn some constellations and the stories behind them.

Register in advance. These events are free, but you must register in advance. Each presentation will last about 30 minutes, followed by time for questions and discussion. These events are intended for ages 12 and up.

To Register

https://gsnorcal.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0sdO2gpzMpHt0eTU_EomJCzzqBmVgQfKFX

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

This past Sunday was our largest attendance yet, with a total of 62 for both services!

 

This coming Sunday we will be looking at the gospel reading from Matthew for the basis of our message – the miracle of Jesus Walking On Water, Matthew 14:22-33.   I encourage you to read over this passage several times before then as a devotional.  It may be helpful for you to jot down the key words or thoughts for you of this passage.  Some that I raise are:

• What is the most important element of this story?
• What is the context for this miracle?  What has just happened with Jesus and his disciples?
• Why is Jesus in prayer?
• Have you even had a time in your life when it seemed like the winds were against you?  Where was God in all this?
• What is important with the timing of Jesus’ intervention in the lives of the disciples?
• Does God ever allow storms to be in our lives?  If so, for what purpose?
• Again, what is the greatest miracle in this story?

 

I hope to see you Sunday in worship, or you seeing me at worship via the internet!

Pastor Fischer