Resumption of Worship services July 5th, 2020

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church,             June 10, 2020

 

The Church Council met via Zoom for its meeting Monday evening to discuss  when and how the congregation might safely return to in-person worship.  After consulting with guidelines and input from the Synod and the CDC as well as other congregations, the Church Council has approved in-person worship to resume beginning July 5 in Fellowship Hall.  This is Phase One with the goal to be back in the Sanctuary as soon as it is feasible.  Fellowship Hall was chosen as the site of worship because of two advantages that it has over the sanctuary – the spacing is more flexible (chairs can be moved around) and the environment is more conducive for sanitizing.  The Council is fully aware that the worship service arrangements are not for everybody and each individual will need to decide for themselves if they feel comfortable returning to worship at this time.  Over the next several weeks, I will be working with others in the congregation to work out all the details.  If you have questions or comments, please do not hesitate to call me in the church office (224-4220) or my cell phone (933-7434).  Below are a list of the changes that will need to occur to make this happen. 

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

 

 

  • To help facilitate social distancing, chairs in Fellowship Hall will be set up in 19 clusters, 7 feet apart, to accommodate a total of 50 worshipers.
  • To minimize possible exposure to the virus, worship services will be shorter than what we are accustomed to.
  • To spread out the attendance, there will be two Sunday morning worship services, one at 8:45 a.m. and one at 11:00 a.m.
  • Surfaces will be cleaned between the worship services.
  • In the place of hymnals, we will be using bulletins with a printed 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.
  • Offering plates will not be passed during the worship service but instead, be placed at the entrance.
  • Holy Communion will be offered the first Sunday of each month, with July 5 being a Communion Sunday.
  • 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.
  • You are asked to enter using the door from the back parking lot (not the door off Oakland Street). Entering and exiting, the door will be either propped open or someone will open the door for you so that you will not have to touch the door handle.
  • Social gathering after worship is not recommended within the Fellowship Hall. However, you may gather outside in the parking lot, keeping proper distance.
  • 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 Fellowship Hall, 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. 
  • Please note, during this time when we are not using the Church Sanctuary for Sunday worship services, funerals/memorial services will not be permitted in the Sanctuary.  

Fathers Day 2020

FATHER’S DAY is June 21st. A special offering, sponsored by the Lutheran Men, is being received to be given to the South Carolina Lutheran Men in Mission. If you would like to make a donation In Memory Of or In Honor Of your Father, please fill out the form below. The names will be listed in the bulletin on Father’s Day and in the July/August Newsletter. The deadline is June 15th.

 

You can download and print a form by clicking on the link below

Fathersday2020

AIM in Need of Food/Donations

AIM in Need of Food/Donations
We have learned recently that AIM is in dire need to replenish its Food Pantry.

Because of COVID-19, the normal income of food donations is drastically lower due to churches not being open and thereby decreasing the amount of food items brought in each week, and to the cancellation of the Postal Service Food Drive, which is the largest source of canned goods for the Food Pantry. Added to this crisis is the increase in the need of the community as unemployment levels have increased.

Holy Trinity is reaching out to address this need in two ways. You may drop off needed food items (listed below) at your convenience in the room off the narthex, using the church door access code, or you may make a monetary donation directly to AIM or through the church. We are grateful to Amy Goodson who has agreed to drop off the food items to AIM as they come in.


Food Items Needed Include: Peanut Butter, rice, dried beans, pasta, canned meat, canned fruit, canned soup, oatmeal, grits, flour, sugar, cereal, cooking oil—cleaning/personal hygiene list: bath soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet tissue, laundry soap, bleach, cleaning solutions (Lysol, Mr. Clean for example).

Please note: perishables are not included.

Upcoming Events and Cancellations

UPCOMING EVENTS
Lutheroad – Cancelled
Vacation Bible School – Cancelled
Deutschesfest – Tentatively: Saturday, November 7

Weekly Congregational Update 06/07/20

Dear Members and Friends of HTLC,

Here are some things worth noting:

  • Please check the bulletin each week for a current list of needed food items for Saturday Servants.  Shirley Ebert sends me an update on Thursday morning.
  • You may drop off items in the room off the narthex using the front church door.  
  • Bob and Jean Vinson will be returning home on Monday, after spending several months at The Garden House.
  • I am saddened to inform you of the death of Hattie Lever on 06/04/20.  For many years Hattie was a devoted WELCA leader, member of our congregation, and community volunteer .  You are encouraged to keep her five children, and other family members, in your prayers
  • Please be aware of email or text scams out there requesting gift cards.  Several of you have been contacted by someone claiming to be me or other pastors in the area.  I will never request a gift card from you and if you ever have doubts on the authenticity of the request, simply ask that person to give you a call.   
  • This Sunday is Trinity Sunday.
  • I will be preaching on the theme, “A Holy Kiss.” In preparation for Sunday’s message, research “kiss” in the Bible.
  • In the Word of God, the holy kiss was a sign of love, respect, friendship, and honor.  Some biblical references include:
    • Jacob kissed his father – Genesis 27:27
    • Laban kissed Joseph – Genesis 29:13
    • Esau kissed Jacob – Genesis 33:4
    • Joseph kissed his brethren – Genesis 45:15
    • Aaron kissed Moses – Exodus 4:27
    • Moses kissed Jethro – Exodus 18:7
    • Naomi kissed Ruth and Orpah – Ruth 1:9
    • David kissed Jonathan – I Samuel 20:41
    • The father kissed the prodigal son – Luke 15:20
    • Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss – Luke 22:47-48

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

weekly update 05/31/20

Dear Members and Friends of HTLC,

A few things to share with you:

  • This Sunday, May 31, is Pentecost Sunday.  Even though we will not be able to gather for worship, you are still encouraged to wear something with the color red for the day.
  • The Messenger was mailed out today so hopefully you will be receiving this soon.
  • Please read over the changes for our Saturday Servants this year due to COVID-19.
  • After spending a few days in the hospital due to a slight stroke, Elaine Rummage is now at National Health Care.  If you would like to send her a card, her address is in the Bulletin.
  • Several of you have requested the address for Pam Whitt’s sister.  It is:  Kim Ard, 18 Apache Trail, Myrtle Beach, SC  29588.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

New cloth mask challenge

Cloth Mask Challenge 2.0
“Caring for the Community”
After reaching our initial goal of 8,000 cloth masks to provide to our staff, AnMed Health is re-launching our challenge to the community – this time, to provide face-coverings for patients and their caregivers in anticipation of potential shortages.

AnMed Health now requires all patients arriving for appointments or procedures to wear a face-covering. This policy applies to patients arriving at all hospital campuses, emergency rooms, outpatient facilities and physician practices. We’re asking for your support in providing these masks to those who may not have one.


As businesses in our community begin to reopen, AnMed Health encourages residents to continue wearing face coverings whenever in public and to continue practicing social distancing and good hand hygiene.


Details about making/delivering fabric masks

 No specific pattern or style is required
 Donations of bandanas accepted as well
 Use tightly woven cotton fabric
 When fabric masks are complete, please drop them off at the AnMed Health Women’s and Children’s Hospital at 2000 East Greenville Street, Anderson, S.C., daily 24/7

Thank you for thinking of our staff, patients and community during this time! We are truly “in this together!”

PENTECOST SUNDAY, MAY 31

PENTECOST SUNDAY, MAY 31
Pentecost is significant in both the Old and New Testaments. “Pentecost” is actually the Greek name for a festival known in the Old Testament as the Feast of Weeks
(Leviticus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:9).
The Greek word means “fifty” and refers to the fifty days that have elapsed since Easter (Acts 2:1-21).

It is traditional to wear red this day.

Congregational update week of 05/24/20

Dear Members and Friends of HTLC,

 

A few updates to pass along to you:

 

  • Please make sure and read the bulletin article concerning food needs at AIM.
  • The Messenger will be going out next week so if you have a family member graduating from college or a technical school, Tuesday is the last day to get this information to Pat in the church office.
  • Even though many of us may not be traveling like we normally do this Memorial Day Weekend, let us remember what this holiday is all about.  Let us honor and remember those who died while serving our country in the Armed Forces.  As the old saying goes, “Freedom is not free.”
  • I will be preaching on the Ascension of Jesus, based on our First Lesson, Acts 1:6-14, if you would like to read this ahead of time and give it some thought.
  • In the meantime, be thinking what you do to make it through difficult times.  What keeps you going?
  • During this time apart, please know that I continue to spend time each day in prayer for each of you.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Congregational update week of 05/17/20

  • This past Monday evening the Church Council held a conference meeting using Zoom and decided to continue to prohibit the gathering for worship for at least the next 30 days.  Council is monitoring the situation carefully and will revisit the situation again at its next meeting in June.  We are simply not ready to gather safely for worship.  I will tell you that the Church Council has begun discussion of what worship may look like when we are ready to reopen, including the location of worship and how to administer Holy Communion in a safe procedure.  As you are aware, the federal government may not prescribe standards for interactions of faith communities in houses of worship.  However, the SC Synod continues to share recommendations for congregations from the Communities of Faith CDC.
  • Our Bible Study Sunday evening will focus on the topic of anger.  Join us through Zoom and by contacting Jane Cahaly, our leader.
  • Sunday, I will be preaching on the gospel reading, John 14:15-21, by focusing on the fact that we are never alone.  Thought to ponder:
    • What does it mean when Jesus says he will give us another Advocate?
    • What does the word “Advocate” mean?
    • What is the function of an “Advocate”?
    • How has the Holy Spirit spoken to you, lead you, in the past?

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer