10/18/20 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of our Congregation,

Here are several updates to pass along to you:

  1. This coming Sunday, October 18, is Breast Cancer Awareness Sunday.  You are encouraged to wear something pink to worship.
  2. We will be giving out the empty bags for you to fill for Trick-Or-Treat-So-Others-May-Eat as part of our food drive for AIM.   You are to return them full the following week, October 18.  If you are not yet comfortable coming to worship due to the coronavirus, there will be spare bags in the room off the narthex for you to pick up and return at your convenience beginning Sunday.  Don’t forget to use the door code to enter.
  3. By now you and your family should have received your copy of the Time and Talent sheets for 2021, as well as pledge cards for giving.  Please bring them back with you Sunday (or mail to the church office) and they will be blessed as part of the worship service this Sunday.  There will be a basket in the narthex and sacristy to receive these.   Because of COVID-19, we are not yet back to full capacity with our volunteers and really need you to prayerfully consider helping us through the use of sharing your Time and Talents with us.
  4. Several of you have asked me how we plan to hold our Semi-Annual Congregation Meeting on Sunday, November 8th.  With the threat of COVID-19 and in order to practice social distancing, the Church Council and I have discussed various methods to hold this meeting safely.  According to our Church Bylaws, proxies and absentee ballots are not permissible for this meeting so we have decided to be a little creative.  We have decided that we will still have our Congregational Meeting on November 8, but NOT during the Sunday School hour.  Instead, our meeting will take place at both the Early and Late Services that day during the worship service.  At the designated time, we will take 5-10 minutes to complete the voting process to elect new council members and to approved a budget for 2021.  In order to make this happen, you have a little homework on your part to complete before the meeting. You will receive the nominees and the budget as part of the November Messenger, as in years past.  However to vote on the budget, is a little more of a challenge since we will not be able to handle discussions as part of the meeting.  Along with the budget you will receive a sheet explaining the basic changes to next year’s budget compared to this year’s budget. If you have any questions or comments, you are asked to contact Diane Richardson, our church treasurer, and she will go over your budget questions.  Since the budget has already gone through the Support Committee and the Church Council, and next year’s proposed budget is slightly different from this year’s, we will be voting to approve the church budget with a simple yes or no answer as part of the meeting.  In the unlikely event, that there happens to be a tie in the voting process for new council members, we will have a tie breaker vote the following Sunday.  We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding in this time of COVID-19.  Our goal is to take care of the business of the congregation in an efficient and safe manner.  If I can answer any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

 

10/11/20 Congregational Weekly Update

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Dear Members and Friends of HTLC,

 

1 ) This Sunday I will preaching on the gospel reading from Matthew [22:1-14].  Some thoughts to ponder in preparation:

  • In your life, what important events have you received an invitation to attend – a wedding, a graduation, a retirement celebration?
  • What does it mean to get something marked in the mail “RSVP”?
  • What does this parable really mean?
  • What is the “proper clothing” referred to in this story?
  • Reading the chapters that proceed this gospel reading will give a better context/understanding.

2) Sadly, it is time for us to let Cheryl Lane move on to her new home in Cortland, NY.  We will be doing a Rite of Farewell and Godspeed blessing at the 8:45 a.m. service if you would like to come and say goodbye this Sunday.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Upcoming funeral information and Streaming of Dr Bryan Hill’s funeral service 10AM Friday 10/2/14

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Dr. Bryan Hill’s funeral service will be live-streamed and may be accessed by visiting

https://www.harrisfuneral.com/obituary/DrJBryan-Hill

Click on link at bottom of obituary to connect to the live stream

Graveside services will be 2:00PM, Friday, October 2, 2020 in Long Cane Cemetery, Highway 20, Abbeville, SC.

The family will greet friends immediately following the graveside service.

 

  • Dick and Mary Williams – You are invited to the graveside service this Saturday, October 3, at 2:00 p.m. at Memory Gardens, Central, SC.  This service will be outside, under their portico. 
  • Elaine Rummage – There was a memorial service earlier for the family in our sanctuary.  You are invited to attend the brief committal service on Tuesday, October 6, at 10:00 a.m. at the M.J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery.

 

 

10/4/20 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

A few updates to pass along to you:

 

  1. Several of you have asked which cemetery Bryan Hill’s graveside service will take place.  Evidently there are two.  The service will take place Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at the Upper Long Cane Cemetery, located on SC Highway 20.  If it helps, the cemetery is just down the road from the Upper Long Cane Presbyterian Church (194 SC-20) in Abbeville, SC. 
  2. We keep Susan Straup in our prayers as she recovers from cornea transplant surgery yesterday. 
  3. Sunday I will be preaching on the gospel reading, Matthew 21:33-46.  Some thoughts to ponder in preparation:
    1. The landowner in this story represents God.
    2. Knowing this, how does this parable portray God?
    3. Are we producing the “fruits” our Lord is expecting?
    4. Have you ever used something you did not own – a car rental, a house, a borrowed tool?
    5. What happens when we misuse or break that borrowed item?

 

See you Sunday at worship in the sanctuary (with Holy Communion) or on the internet,

Pastor Fischer

 

9/27/20 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of HTLC,

 

A couple of reminders to pass along to you:

  • Don’t forget that all council nominations are due by this Sunday, September 27.  If you have someone in mind (or several people) whom you feel would be a good candidate to serve on the church council, the simplest way to do this is to send your list of names to Pat in the church office via email.
  • Our Zoom congregational VBS program begins Sunday and runs for until the end of October.  This material is for all ages, not just the children, and has already been paid for.  We thought we would give it a try and if it works out, there are other sessions available next year. You will need to register using the link in the bulletin.  If you have any questions, please contact Kate Roehrs.
  • On Sunday, October 4, our Presiding Bishop, Bishop Eaton, will be installing our recently elected bishop of the SC Synod, The Rev. Ginny Aebischer.  This will take place at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Columbia and you are invited to join in via Zoom.  This service will be live streamed on the Synod website:  www.scsynod.com
  • We keep in our prayers Bryan Hill who had a major heart attack on Tuesday morning while checking in at the hospital to have a heart catherization.  He is in critical condition in the AnMed CICU.   We pray for Kim and the family as well, during this difficult time.
  • This past Sunday saw our largest attendance yet with a total of 75!  We had 33 at the Early Service and 42 at the Late Service.
  • The Inurnment Service has been set for Elaine Rummage.  If you would like to attend, this brief service will take place at the Dolly Cooper Veterans Cemetery on Tuesday, October 6 at 10:00 a.m.  In case you are wondering during this COVID time, it will take place outside at the pavilion.

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

 

09/20 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of HTLC,

  • I will be conducting the Memorial Service at the graveside of Dick and Mary Williams on Saturday, October 3 at 2:00 p.m. at Memory Gardens, Central, SC.  You are invited to attend.  Please note that social distancing will be observed and masks are recommended.

  • For our sermon message this Sunday, I will be preaching on the Old Testament reading of Jonah 3:10-4:11 and Matthew 20:1-16.  We will be exploring the age old truth that “Life Isn’t Fair!” and grappling with whether God is fair.

  • If you have someone in mind who you feel would be a good candidate to serve on the church council, please submit their name (or several names) into the Suggestion Box or simply email Pat Ross in the church office your suggestions.

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

9/13/20 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of HTLC,

Friday is the 19th anniversary of 9/11.  Please remember to keep our nation in your thoughts and prayers and for all those who still bear the emotional scars of the horrible events of that day.  We continue to pray for all first responders, firefighters, paramedics, rescue personnel, police officers, and military personnel, who put their lives at risk daily for the sake of others. 

 

On Sunday, I will be preaching on the subject of forgiveness.  The text is Matthew 18:21-35.  In preparation for this, I ask you to read, meditate and pray over this passage.   

Some thoughts to ponder:

  • How many times are we to forgive someone?
  • What exactly does that mean to forgive someone?
  • What does it look like and feel like?
  • We often hear that we are to “forgive and forget,” but is this good theology?
  • Is it easier to give forgiveness or receive forgiveness?
  • Isn’t it strange that the most difficult person to forgive is usually ourselves?

 

Worship in the sanctuary went very well this past Sunday and no issues were uncovered.  We plan to meet again this Sunday, for those who are comfortable doing so.  I pray you will either join us in-person or through the internet.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

 

9/6/20 Weekly Congregational Updates

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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

Vacation Bible School for Adults

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Remember Vacation Bible School?
Music. Crafts. Games. Worship. Maybe an impressively well-decorated fellowship hall.
We’re bringing it all back, but this time it’s online and it’s for YOU!
We are excited to announce that we will be doing VBS in a special way this summer! Holy Trinity has partnered with the organization Big Picture Big Purpose to bring Backyard VBS into your homes. The theme is Stories from the Old Testament.
Every week in September, beginning on Sunday September 27, 2020, you will receive an email with links to the bible lessons, songs, craft instructions, reflection questions, outdoor adventures, and a mission service project for the week.
You will have access to our Holy Trinity Backyard VBS Facebook page where you can post videos of yourselves singing the songs and playing games, pictures of your crafts, and sharing your mission projects. We will also have a Zoom ice cream social! This is multi-generational – Suitable for ages 4 – 104!
There will be a craft supply pickup TBD at Holy Trinity a few days before to hand out any necessary items.
Here is the Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/4222211001184226
Here is the sign-up page:
https://bigpicturebigpurpose.com/vbs-for-backyards-ot-signup-holy-trinity

09/06/20 RETURN TO SANCTUARY WORSHIP

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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