8/11/24 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are this week’s highlights:

 

  • A big “Thank You” goes out to Diane Richardson for filling in as our secretary this week.  Pat returns to the office on Monday morning.

  • The Memorial Service for Kathy Weeks is tomorrow, Friday, at 1:00 p.m. in our sanctuary.

  • Tomorrow, Ms. Jackie McConnell will be celebrating her 102nd birthday!

  • We rejoice that we will be receiving Joby Hefner, Michelle Nelson, and Patrick Sayers as new members at Sunday’s 8:45 a.m. worship service.

  • Sunday, I will be preaching on the Second Reading from Ephesians 4:25-5:2, as we focus on Paul’s words of encouragement to live a life as those marked with the Holy Spirit.

  • Finally, as your pastor, I would like to take this opportunity to share an observance/concern I have.  The church attendance for the Late Service , the past 3 Sundays, has been subpar.  Normally, our attendance numbers are near 50 for both worship services, but since July 21, our attendance has been low at the Late Service, the lowest I have ever seen – 39, 29, and this past Sunday 31. (In case you are wondering, the attendance at the Early Service has been holding steady.)  I realize that these are the summer months when vacations have been in full swing, in fact, my family and I were away this past Sunday.   I realize that we have had visiting pastors the past two Sundays.  I also realize that things come up from time to time.  Now that school is back in session and summer is winding down, it I my sincere hope that these latest numbers are not the new norm for our Late Service but instead, that our attendance numbers will now rebound to their former levels.  I encourage you and your family to make every effort to be with us each Sunday (at both worship services).  You may sometimes think you will not be missed, but nothing could be further from the truth. 

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

08/07/24 SUMMER FUN NIGHT

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SUMMER FUN NIGHT
We continue our monthly summer gatherings in Fellowship Hall for a time of Food, Fun &
Fellowship around a Biblical theme. Adults and Kids of all ages are invited to join us! There will
be crafts, games, and song. The meal will be provided.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 7 5:30 –7:00 p.m. (Please note date change.)

WHAT: “JOSEPH’S COAT”

Saturday Servant Update

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Thank You Saturday Servants!!!

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church has always been there for their neighbors in need and July was no exception. For three Saturdays in July, we met to make peanut butter and jelly and bologna and cheese sandwiches. In assembly-line fashion, we packed bags with fruit, cookies/cakes, and chips. At the end of the month we had made 429 bagged lunches which contained a lunch for Saturday and a lunch for Sunday. That is 858 sandwiches, not to mention the additional peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that were made! Many volunteers were needed to accomplish this task, from those who did the prep-work in the kitchen, those who made the sandwiches and worked the assembly line, to the individuals who traveled to the Anderson Emergency Soup Kitchen to distribute the lunches to our neighbors.

Costs were kept low as a result of local business donations of bread, water, a discount in fruit costs, your food donations and a Thrivent Grant and monetary gifts.

Great job HTLC Saturday Servants! Many thanks to you for your donation of your time, goods, and financial support to feed our hungry neighbors in Anderson.

Many Thanks,
The Service Committee

8/4/24 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of HTLC,

 

Here are these week’s updates to pass along to you:

 

  • A big “Thank You” for the wonderful participation we had for our final week of Saturday Servants.  We had 33 show up this past Saturday, the 2nd largest number ever, to make sandwiches!  The Lord was definitely with us as we distributed the food to those hungry.  As you can imagine, we never know how much to prepare for, but we had just enough.  And while I am at it, thank you to all who donated food items through the weeks, picked up bread and fruit, made arrangements for donated water bottles, set up tables, did the kitchen preparation, and we thank Leslie Cox and Jamie Corrigan for organizing our events this year.   I actually had one woman ask me while we were packing up to leave, “Will your group be back next Saturday.”  To which I replied, “No ma’am.  But another church will be here.”  She was deeply touched by the generosity of our congregation.  Again, thank you to all who helped make this year’s Saturday Servants event to run so smoothly.

  • Our next Family Fun Night will be Wednesday as we take a look at Joseph’s Coat.  With the return of school, please note that we meet 30 minutes earlier, from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

  • We will be receiving New Members on Sunday, August 11!

  • The Learning Committee will soon be kicking off a new Sunday School year and is making plans to begin a new Sunday School class for our younger children, ages 3-5th grade.  More information to come.

  • We are grateful to have Diane Richardson sitting in the office next week, filling in for Pat as she takes some time off.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

7/28/24 Guest Speaker

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GUEST SPEAKER
We welcome Pastor Hitoshi Adachi as our guest preacher. Since June of 2019, Holy Trinity has supported the ministry of Pastor Hitoshi and his wife, Satako, as part of our yearly budget.

He was born into an Eastern Orthodox family in Yokohama, Japan, and became a fourth generation Christian. She studied at Friends Junior High and High School in Tokyo that was founded by Quakers and became a Christian.

Hitoshi and Satoko met at Nihon Kohden, a Japanese manufacturer of medical devices and married in 1985. Two years later she left the company when their first child was born. He became the president of their US subsidiary in Southern California in 1997. Hitoshi, Satoko, and their three children moved there and were invited to Resurrection Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach, eventually becoming Lutherans.

Several years later Hitoshi felt the call of God after helping a coworker deal with cancer and then death. He left the company in 2006, entered studies at Luther Seminary, and was ordained in 2010.

Pastor Hitoshi served as an assistant to the Bishop in the Pacifica Synod as well as a pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach that included a Japanese ministry. For the last eight years, Pastor Hitoshi has served as a missionary to Kumamoto, Japan. Satako has served as an organist and a pianist for congregations for many years.

7/28/24 Weekly Congregational Update

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are this week’s updates to pass along to you:

 

  • Pat and I are trying something new in the bulletin to make it easier to follow.  Beginning this Sunday, we have moved the Psalm reading off the back cover of the bulletin and have worked it into the liturgy so that you will not have to turn any pages.  It is easier said than done as there are several parts of the bulletin that change sizes from week to week (the length of the Psalm and the words to the anthem(s).

  • The date of the Deutsches Fest has changed from November 9 to October 5.  Please mark your calendars accordingly.

  • The Service Committee will be receiving Frozen Casseroles for Calvay Home for Children this Sunday and on August 4.  This is a 2-week outreach blitz, just in time for the new school year.  All the details are in your bulletin.

  • We are very blessed to have as our Guest Preacher Sunday, at both of our worship services, Pastor Hitoshi Adachi.  You will recall that he and his wife, Satako, are our missionaries to Japan.  Pastor Hitoshi will be preaching on our gospel, John 6:1-21, as well as bringing a personal word of thankfulness to our congregation.  I will be leading the remainder of the worship service.

  • Thursday of next week, the Dining Divas will gather for their monthly supper outing.  This group has grown to having almost 20 women in attendance each month.  If you are planning to attend, you will need to RSVP Beth Cribbe so that adequate space can be reserved.
  • Our last Saturday Servants for the year will take place this Saturday in Fellowship Hall at 10:00 a.m.  We will gather to make sandwiches and bagged lunches for those hungry in the Anderson area.  We had 35 volunteers on week 1, 20  last Saturday, and are hoping for a few more Saturday.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

7/21/24 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are this week’s updates to pass along to you:

  •  Youth and Adult Enablers are having a wonderful time in New Orleans this week as part of the National Youth Gathering.  They are with 16,000 other Lutheran youth from all across our nation.  Our group will be returning home Saturday evening.

  • We will gather again on Saturday of this week to assemble bagged lunches for our Saturday Servants outreach ministry.  Our time to meet is at 10:00 AM.  Note the new time.

  • Sunday, I will be preaching on the gospel reading, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, as we focus on the importance of being in a deserted place from time to time.

  • Some of you have already asked when our Deutsches Fest will be this year.  You can go ahead and mark your calendars for November 9, 4:00-7:00 p.m.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

7/14/24 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

Here are this week’s congregational happenings:

• We had a tremendous turnout this past week for our Saturday Servants event. In fact, we had the largest numbers yet with 35 helping out! You are reminded that we will NOT gather this coming Saturday to make sandwiches as the 2nd Saturday of each month (for the entire year) is handled by another congregation. We will resume again on July 20 and 27.

• With our youth of the congregation and adult advisors leaving Monday to attend the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, we will have a Rite of Blessing over them as part of the Late Service Sunday.

• Sunday, I will be preaching on the gospel, Mark 6:14-29, as we hear again the story of Herod ordering the beheading of John the Baptist and how this story might be applied to our life. I am sure I have peaked your interest.

• Earlier this week, we received a letter from two churches praying for our congregation as part of their ministry. They are St. James Lutheran Church in Graniteville and The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Newberry. I have posted them on the bulletin board in the hallway of the Education Building, next to the library.

• I spoke with Shirely Ebert this morning and found out that Bill has been placed in the care of hospice about two weeks ago. You are asked to keep Bill and Shirley in your thoughts and prayers. Even though they moved to Lexington, SC two years ago, they are still members of Holy Trinity. Their address is listed in our church directory if you would like to send them a card.

In Christ
Pastor Fischer

Thank You! from Pastor and Jill

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Dear Members of Holy Trinity,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your recent generosity and kindness shared with me and my family this past Sunday. The staff recognition of me and Jill for our years of service to the congregation has truly been an event to be remembered and treasured. For the many hours of planning of the Mutual Ministry Committee, for the work before, during and after the Celebration of the Fellowship Committee, for the wonderful talents of Beth Cribbe and Brenda McGowen shared in song, and to all others who helped shape this marvelous event – thank you, thank you, thank you!
It is such a joy to worship, minister, and serve Christ with you!

Pastor Fischer

 

A Note from the Organist/Choir Director:

Just a note to express my gratitude for the love and appreciation shown to Pastor and me on June 30th.  To love and be loved is the greatest joy on earth! Much thought and effort went into planning this event and it was a huge success!
A tremendous thank you to the congregation, the Mutual Ministry Committee, the Fellowship Committee for their always tireless work in the background, to Paul Wagner for the video, to Dave Korn for the photos, to Brenda McGowan and Beth Cribbe for the cute song. In other words, thank you to everybody!

The outpouring of gifts and support and food was overwhelming and unexpected. It was truly a day to remember and cherish!

Love to all, Jill

7/7/24 Weekly Congregational Updates

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Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are this week’s updates to pass along to you:

 

  • This coming Saturday will be our first Saturday Servants project this year.  We will gather in Fellowship Hall at a new time, 9:45 a.m., to allow us to make more sandwiches.  We will begin right on time so if you come early, you will be asked to wait until the designated time. Then at 10:50 a.m., a handful of us will travel over to the Anderson Emergency Soup Kitchen location (formerly Roy’s Diner, 1527 South Main Street), to distribute the sandwich bags to those hungry in the Anderson area.  There is not sign up.  Just show up.

  • As part of our Holy Trinity tradition, for a change of pace, we switch over to using the blue With One Voice (WOV) hymnal for the months of July and August.

  • Sunday I will be preaching on the gospel reading, Mark 6:1-13, as we hear the amazing story of how Jesus could do few miracles when he returned to his home town of Nazareth, due to their unbelief.  My message will focus on handling our disappointments in life.

  • A week from today, Wednesday, July 10, our next Summer Fun Night will take place from 6:00-7:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.

  • Retired Lutheran pastor/author, Frank Honeycutt (brother-in-law to Anna and Chris Caldwell and Andy and Sharon Christmas) has just released the new book, Miracles For Skeptics – Encountering the Paranormal Ministry of Jesus.  If you are interested in ordering this book, please use the link: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802883155/miracles-for-skeptics/

  • Several of you have inquired whether the Staff Celebration from last Sunday was recorded.  Yes, it was, thank you Paul Wagner.  Just clink on the church webpage, and there is a link under Sunday’s worship service.

  • Dear Members of Holy Trinity, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your recent generosity and kindness shared with me and my family this past Sunday.  The staff recognition of me and Jill for our years of service to the congregation has truly been an event to be remembered and treasured.  For the many hours of planning of the Mutual Ministry Committee, for the work before, during and after the Celebration of the Fellowship Committee, for the wonderful talents of Beth Cribbe and Brenda McGowen shared in song, and to all others who helped shape this marvelous event – thank you, thank you, thank you!  It is such a joy to worship, minister, and serve Christ with you!

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer