04/16/23 Weekly Congregational Updates

/in , /by

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

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

 

  1. If you placed an Easter lily in the church for this past Sunday, please stop by the church and pick up your lily/lilies.

  2. For two straight Saturdays, we have had our Litter Pick Up day rained out.  We are rescheduled for this coming Saturday, April 15.  Whether you signed up to help or not, we would love to have you join us.  We will gather in the parking lot in front of Home Goods on Clemson Blvd. (behind the currently closed Hardees).   We will work from 9:00-11:30 a.m., cleaning up litter along both sides of Fritz Drive, and the Beltway Connector.  All supplies will be provided (safety vests, gloves, grabbers and bags).  All we need is you!  Even if you can only help out one hour, come join us!

  3. You are invited to attend the 2nd Annual Southeastern Intentional Grandparents Conference to be held April 28-29 at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Summerville, SC.  Our own Jane Cahaly will be one of the presenters.  For more information, please contact Cheryl Cargill (ccargill49@gmail.com) or visit their website: https://grandparenting.com

  4. Have you ever wondered why Jesus chose to retain His resurrection scars on his hands, feet, and side?  Sunday, I will be preaching on the Gospel text, John 20:19-31, as we take a look at the interesting story of Jesus appearing to Thomas and the other disciples.  In Sunday’s bulletin, no doubt, you have noticed the artist’s sketch of praying hands.  I will also be covering why this piece of artwork is in the bulletin.

  5. We just finished up a very busy Holy Week and Easter of worship services.  I take this opportunity to say a word of deep gratitude to those who helped make this all possible:
    1. Pat Ross – for bulletins, bulletins, bulletins (9 extra, to be exact) during Lent/Holy Week/Easter
    2. Jill Helgeson – for all the extra hours of music practice and preparation, including time with our Easter trumpeter
    3. Choir Members – for attending extra choir practices and many of whom attended two worship services on some of the days
    4. Virgil Hobbs and Joshua Fischer for reading the parts of Jesus in our Palm Sunday Congregational Drama reading
    5. Brenda McGowan – for a special arrangement of “Were You There” and many practices with Virgil Hobbs and Lauren Guthre, and with Mary Ann Hobbs for our Good Friday worship services (If you have not yet seen this service, you will want to do so, on our church website.)
    6. For all our Bible Bearers, Torch Bearers, Crucifers for our two Easter worship services (and for their parents in getting them to practice)
    7. Cherie Brown and Diane Richardson – as part of our Fellowship Committee, for organizing and planning our well attended (70+) Easter Breakfast and those from the congregation for providing wonderful breakfast casseroles
    8. Mike and Leslie Cox, Claude Calloway, and Mary Ann Hobbs for sprucing up the church grounds in removing weeds from the mulch beds
    9. Nancy Korn and Amy Goodson – for taking care of worship needs (Lenten Tree/Resurrection Tree, setting up for our Good Friday Candles and Prayer, setting up Easter Lilies, etc. )

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

4/9/23 Weekly Congregational Update

/in , /by

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

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

 

  1. We have another Maundy Thursday worship service, tonight, at 7:00 p.m. , which will include The Stripping of the Altar.

  2. Tomorrow, we are offering two Good Friday worship services, 12:00 Noon and 7:00 p.m.  Our Anglican brothers and sisters in the Lord will join us for the evening service.

  3. A reminder that we enter and leave the sanctuary tomorrow, Good Friday, in silence for the somberness of the day.

  4. Easter Sunday, we have two worship services, 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.  Both services are identical to each other.

  5. Holy Communion will be intinction on Easter Sunday, on the floor level.

  6. An Easter Breakfast will be provided (free of charge) after the 7:00 a.m. service in Fellowship Hall.

  7. There will be NO adult Sunday School class Sunday morning.

  8. Don’t forget to bring your cut flowers to decorate the Easter cross, which will be out in front of the church Easter Sunday.  This will be a wonderful opportunity to take your family photos to remember a great occasion.

  9. This coming Sunday will be the last Sunday Allan and Jeri Cole will be with us before they move to Texas to be nearer their family.  We will be doing a Rite of Farewell and Godspeed for them toward the end of the worship service.  Their new address will be:  137 Old Blue Mountain Lane, Georgetown, TX  78633.

  10. And of course, the big question on everyone’s mind: you want to know what the weather forecast will be this weekend.  I am a minister, not a weatherman, but what I have seen is this:  3+ inches of rain for Saturday but the weather is supposed to be clear for Easter!

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

4/28-29 Southeastern International Grandparents Conference

/in , , /by

WHAT: 2ND Annual Southeastern Intentional Grandparents Conference
WHEN: April 28-29, 2023
Starting at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: St. Paul’s Anglican
316 West Carolina Avenue
Summerville, SC 29483

General Session Speakers include Dr. Larry McCall, Sharon Gamble, and Josh Mulvihill. This conference also features workshops with speakers from around the country, including our own Jane Cahaly.
THE NEED:
More than thirty-million Christian grandparents live in the United States today. Each one has an incredible potential-second only to the parents to influence their grandchildren for Christ. Despite this potential, grandparents are one of the most underserved groups in the church. This results in a host of grandparents who feel ill-equipped to pass their faith to future generations.
THE SOLUTION:
The Southeastern Intentional Grandparenting Conference is designed to inspire and equip
grandparents to pass a legacy of faith to future generations —Psalm 78:1-8.
For more information, please contact Cheryl Cargill (ccargi1149@gmail.com) or Sherry Schumann (sschumann@christiangrandparenting.com)
Website: https://grandparenting.co

04/02/23 Weekly Congregational Update

/in , /by

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church,

With Holy Week and Easter just around the corner, there is much going on in the congregation.

• The April Messenger was mailed out earlier this morning. We are hoping for another quick delivery like last month

• With the threat of rain Saturday morning, the Litter Pickup Day will be rescheduled to a later date.

• With Sunday being Palm Sunday, for those able to do steps, the congregation will gather on the sidewalk outside the front of the church to begin our worship service. We will be carrying palm branches and “reliving” the procession of Christ into Jerusalem.

• On Palm Sunday, as part of our worship service to begin Holy Week, we will again be doing a Passion Reading with the congregation participating. This will be in the place of the sermon. Many Lutheran congregation have been doing this reading for quite some time. Last year we did this for the first time and it was well-received.

• We will have two worship services for Maundy Thursday, one at 12:00 Noon and the other at 7:00 p.m. Both services will have Holy Communion and are identical, except the 7:00 p.m. service will have the Stripping of the Altar at the conclusion of the service.

• Then we will offer two worship services for Good Friday, one at 12:00 Noon and the other at 7:00 p.m. Both services will be identical, except that our Anglican brothers and sisters in the Lord from Church of the Ascension will be joining us for the 7:00 p.m. service.

• As you make your Easter planes, we will return to our pre-COVID worship schedule of offering two services for Easter Sunday. We will have an Easter Sunrise Worship Service with Holy Communion at 7:00 a.m. and another Easter Holy Communion service at 11:00 a.m. Both services will be identical. Please keep in mind there will be no Adult Sunday School class this day as we will return to have our much-enjoyed Easter breakfast following the 7:00 a.m. service. A nursery for children 3 and younger will be provided for the 11:00 a.m. worship service.

It is my sincere prayer that you will join us in as many of these special worship services as you able.

Pastor Fischer

Easter morning Cross of Flowers

/in , /by

CROSS OF FLOWERS
Again this year the cross will be outside in front of the church .
Please remember to bring your flowers Easter Sunday morning from your garden or from the grocery store to cover the cross.
This is a great opportunity for family photos.
What a beautiful way to celebrate our risen Lord!

03/26/23 Weekly Congregational Updates

/in , /by

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

 

Here are a few things to pass along to you this week:

  • Men, don’t forget that our monthly Lutheran Men In Mission supper meeting is at a different time and date for March.  It is actually TONIGHT at 6:30 p.m.  All of the men of the congregation are invited to attend.

  • We have discovered that the zip code for Bob and Janice Davenport is incorrect in the Church Directory.  It should be 29625 not 29621.

  • Thank you for your response concerning the need for more Easter Lilies for Easter Sunday.  As of today, we only need 11 more. If you would like to place an Easter Lily in the sanctuary In Honor Of or In Memory Of a loved, please contact Pat in the church office of fill out the form in the bulletin this coming Sunday and drop it into the offering plate.

  • For those interested, we will be picking up litter together as a group on Saturday, April 1.  There is a sign up sheet in the room off the Narthex.

  • We now have a date for this year’s Deutsches Fest.  It is Saturday, October 21.

  • Sunday, I will be preaching on our First Reading, Ezekiel 37:1-14 and our Gospel Reading, John 11:1-45, as we cover our Lord’s conquering of death.

  • Wednesday evening, will be our final Lenten Supper.  This will be a Potluck Meal so please bring a dish to share as we gather at 6:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.  Afterwards, we will cover the 5th Word of Christ from the Cross, “A Word of Suffering” at 7:00 p.m. in our Midweek Lenten worship service.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

04/22/23 WELCA Spring Foothills Conference

/in , , /by

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church will be hosting the WELCA Spring Foothills Conference in our Fellowship Hall on April 22, 2023 (10:00 am to 12:30 pm).  Jane Cahaly will be our guest speaker, so in case you missed it before, come to hear her presentation on the Salt & Light Ministries.  All women of the church are welcome to attend if you are in a circle group or not.  The two circle groups, along with the WELCA board, are busy planning this event and the theme will be “God’s Spring Blessings.”  A light continental breakfast as well as lunch will be served.  There is no charge for this event, but the group does take up a freewill offering.

If you plan to attend, please contact Beth Fischer 864-933-7446 by April 9 so we can get a count of the number attending.

   

ALL ladies of all ages are welcome to attend either (or both) circle groups.  Katie’s Ladies meet on the 2nd Tuesday morning each month at 10:00, and Luther’s Ladies meet on the 3rd Thursday evening at 6:00.  Both meet in the office conference room.  Contact Beth Cribbe for questions about the morning group and Beth Fischer about the evening group.  Attending circle groups is a good way to get to know the ladies in our church and share God’s love.

03/19/23 Weekly Congregational Updates

/in , /by

Dear Members and Friends of the congregation,

 

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

  • If you despise seeing trash on the side of the road as much as I do,  come join us on Saturday, April 1 from 9:00-11;30 a.m.  Our Service Committee is sponsoring a Litter Pick Up day.  To date, we have 8 who have signed up and we would like to get a few more to join us.  There is a signup sheet in the room off the narthex (or email me back and I will add your name to the list).  All supplies will be provided (bags, gloves, grabbers, reflective vests). If you have questions, call Leslie Cox @ 301-788-9035 or Jamie Corrigan @ 864-224-8070. 
  • With Easter fast approaching you have the opportunity to provide Easter Lilies in the sanctuary In Memory Of or In Honor Of a loved one.  We will be placing a total of 35 lilies in the church on Easter. To date we only have 6 flowers spoken for. If you are interested in doing this, please fill out the form in your bulletin Sunday and drop it into the offering plate, or use the form in your March Messenger and mail to the church or contact Pat in the office by phone or email.

  • This Sunday I will be preaching on the miracle of Jesus healing the blind man, recorded in John 9:1-41 as our gospel reading.  We will take a look at the questions we grapple with in life.

  • Wednesday of next week, March 22, the Youth will be providing the supper for our Lenten Meal at 6:00 p.m.  They will be providing grilled cheese sandwiches and vegetable soup.  Then at 7:00 p.m. we will gather for our Lenten worship service, continuing our series on “The Seven Last Words of Christ,” as we look at Jesus declaring, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” from Matthew 27:46.

    Under our Prayer Concerns we keep in our thoughts and prayers the following members:

    • Thomas Hartle, on the death of his son, Kevin.
    • Chad Evans, on the death of his grandmother, Imogene Brown.
    • Bob and Janice Davenport, on the death of their son, Ron.  I will be conducting the funeral service for Ron tomorrow morning, Friday, at 10:30 a.m. at The Standard Cremation and Funeral Center in Anderson, if you would like to attend.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

3/23 Lutheran Men in Mission meeting date change

/in , , /by

LUTHERAN MEN IN MISSION
SUPPER MEETING
PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE
Thursday, March 23
6:30 p.m.
Dave Phillips, CEO Executive
Director of HOPE Mission of the
Upstate, will be the speaker.
FELLOWSHIP HALL

Easter Schedule

/in , /by

Sunrise Worship with Holy Communion
7:00 a.m.
Breakfast to follow

Worship Service with Holy Communion
11:00 a.m.

CROSS OF FLOWERS
Again this year the cross will be outside in front of the church. Please
remember to bring your flowers Easter Sunday morning from your garden or
from the grocery store to cover the cross. This is a great opportunity for
family photos. What a beautiful way to celebrate our risen Lord!