Needlepoint project page update

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Our Needlepoint project page
https://htlc-anderson.org/htlc-needlepoint-project/
has now been updated to include the new Chrismon ornaments dedicated on Sunday 12/13/20

The photos for the most recent ones are at the very bottom of the page

12/20/20 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are a few weekly updates to pass along to you:

 

  1. 2021 Offering Envelopes are ready to be picked up in the room off the narthex.  You can help us reduce our mailing costs by stopping by the church during the week and picking up your box (or getting it on Sunday), or by picking up your family member’s envelope boxes or nearby neighbors, and delivering them.

  2. If you have not already done so, you should be receiving a phone call soon from your Church Council caller, concerning whether you will be attending a Christmas Eve Service and if so, which one.

  3. As you can imagine, with four Christmas Eve worship services, we will be using many volunteers, such as:  Lectors, Communion Assistants, Ushers, Soloists, Video Recorders, those to set up Communion and those to clean up afterwards.  We have every spot filled except that we are needing two ushers for the following Christmas Eve worship services:  11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.  (We already have two commitments to serve at the 11:00 p.m. service.)  If you would be willing to assist, please send me a REPLY.

  4. I wanted to keep you informed that Pat Ross’ son, David, tested positive for COVID earlier this week.  So far, Pat has not shown any symptoms.  Until we are sure that Pat is in the clear, she will be working from home.  We are grateful to Diane Richardson, who has been filling in some this week in the office.

  5. The Sunday bulletin will be sent out later this week.

  6. I will be preaching on the gospel reading this Sunday, Luke 1:26-38 and exploring how God often calls the least equipped, but have hearts that are willing.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

12/13/20 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of HTLC,

 

A few updates to pass along to you:

 

  1. Tomorrow, our Christmas Pageant will take place at BOTH worship services to spread out our attendance numbers.  Yes, one of the services will be recorded for those choosing to worship from home during these challenging COVID times.

  2. Monday is the deadline if you wish to place a poinsettia in the church for the Christmas Eve services In Memory Of or In Honor of a loved one.  Just fill out the form in Sunday’s bulletin, your December newsletter, or simply call Pat on Monday morning with the information.  The cost of the flowers is $16.00.

  3. As part of the worship service tomorrow, we will be dedicating our “new” old Chrismon symbols.  The old Christmas tree skirt, made by our members 60 years ago, was recently cleaned and made into symbols for our tree.

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Christmas Eve Services

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CHRISTMAS EVE
WORSHIP SERVICES – DECEMBER 24TH
In order to spread out our attendance numbers and to help keep everyone safe, we are offering four
Christmas Eve worship services this 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, several 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.

Advent Services

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ADVENT SCHEDULE
MID-WEEK 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 we will be using the Service of the Word with a spoken service. Our
schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, December 2 7:00 PM STOLEN IDENTITIES
Wednesday, December 9 7:00 PM SHEPHERDS – STAR WITNESSES
Youth to put up the tree after the service
Wednesday, December 16 7:00 PM THE ANGELS SONG

12/6/20 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Friends and Members of the Congregation,

 

Here are a few things worth mentioning:

 

  1. We will be placing 35 poinsettias in the church for the Christmas Eve worship services.  22 have been spoken for but there are 13 remaining.  If you are interested in purchasing a plant In Honor Of or In Member Of a loved one this Christmas season they are $16.00 and will be provided by Whitten’s Nursery.  There is a form in the church bulletin and the November and December Messenger, or contact Pat in the office with the appropriate information.  All names will be printed in all four of the Christmas Eve bulletins.  The deadline is, Monday, December 14.

  2. We keep Phil Cahaly in our prayers as he undergoes shoulder surgery today at Emory  University Hospital.

  3. The Messenger was mailed out earlier this week on Tuesday.  Hopefully you will receive your copy soon.

  4. I will be preaching on the First Reading and the Gospel Reading tomorrow, focusing on the preparation for the coming of the Lord.  Questions to ponder:
    1. When you hear the word “wilderness,” what images come to your mind?
    2. What does it mean for us to “make his paths straight”?
    3. What is the difference between focusing on the event of Christ and the person of Christmas?

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

11/29/20 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of HTLC,

A few things to pass along to you:

  • Sunday, November 29, we begin the season of Advent.  Most of the gospel readings will now change to Mark.

  • I will be preaching on Mark 13:24-37 tomorrow, with the theme of “Waiting On God.”

  • We look forward to receiving Lawson and Leigh Freeman as new members into our church family tomorrow, with their son, Joejee, at the Late Service.

  • The Messenger will be mailed either on Monday or Tuesday of next week.

  • If you selected a tag from the Angel Tree, please remember that all items need to be placed into the Office Parlor by Wednesday of next week.  Anything brought in after that will be your responsibility to take it to AIM.

  • Our first Midweek Advent Service will be on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. using the Service of the Word (a spoken service).  I will be preaching on Hebrews 1:1-8, “Stolen Identities.”  There will NOT be an Advent meal served.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

11/22/20 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

  • 11/22/20 is Christ the King Sunday and we focus on our Lord in His power and majesty.  We will be looking at the Gospel Reading of Matthew 25:31-46, which should sound familiar as it is the same scripture we use for Project Inasmuch.  

 

  • A big thank you to all who picked up tags from the Angel Tree.  All have now been removed and the gifts are starting to pour in.  Please remember to let yourself into the church office using the same door code and placing them in the Church Parlor (the room with the fireplace).

 

  • Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

     

    • Tomorrow is Christ the King Sunday and we focus on our Lord in His power and majesty.  We will be looking at the Gospel Reading of Matthew 25:31-46, which should sound familiar as it is the same scripture we use for Project Inasmuch.

     

    • A big thank you to all who picked up tags from the Angel Tree.  All have now been removed and the gifts are starting to pour in.  Please remember to let yourself into the church office using the same door code and placing them in the Church Parlor (the room with the fireplace).

     

    • The Lutheran Men in Mission have decided to hold a meeting on Monday, November 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  We will be practicing social distancing and you are asked to wear a mask.  We will have a program and take care of some business but we will NOT be eating supper together, so please eat before you come.

     

    In Christ,

    Pastor Fischer

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Angel Tree Reminders

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Angel Tree Reminders
It’s that time again….
Time to help AIM provide Christmas for many Anderson families.
1. Please do not wrap gifts.
2. Leave gift, with tag attached, in the church office parlor
(use door code).
3. Gifts should be returned NO LATER than, Sunday, December 2nd,
after which, you will be responsible for delivering your gifts to A.I.M.
4. 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 this,
please contact Roz Eckardt

11/15/20 Congregational Weekly Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of HTLC,

 

A couple of things to pass along to you:

 

  • The Advent devotionals are now ready for you to pick up in the narthex.  Again, we ask that you limit them to one per family.

  • Thank you for your tremendous response with the Angel Tree.  As of this afternoon, there were only five remaining tags on the tree.  Don’t forget that you are asked to drop off the purchased items in the Office Parlor  (the room before the Office Conference Room, near the fireplace) using the front door code (the same code for the church front door).   Please make sure and attach the tag to the gift as that is the only way we have of identifying which gifts go to which child.

  • You will notice in the bulletin that beginning Sunday, we have returned to having the words printed for the solos.

  • Sunday, I will be preaching on the gospel text, Matthew 25:14-30.  Questions to ponder:
    • What exactly is a “talent”?
    • Why are some servants given more than others?
    • Where is the fairness in this story?
    • Where is the grace in this story?
    • Do you feel more like the servant with five talents, or the one with two talents, or the one given just one talent?
    • What does the sermon title have to do with this parable?

 

 

See you Sunday for worship (either in-person in the sanctuary or through the website service).

 

Pastor Fischer