Weekly Update: 20-25 December 2022

Service Schedule for Christmas Week

Our schedule this week will look a little different due to the Christmas holiday (and the forecast for frigid weather):

Bible Studies: Both the Thursday morning Ladies Bible Study and the Friday morning Men's Fellowship Group are cancelled this week.

Christmas Eve Services: We will have two evening services on Saturday, December 24. The early service will be at 4:30 PM, and the later service will be at 7:00 PM. Both services will feature music from the Holy Trinity Choir. The early service will include a song from the HTAC Children's Choir. Both services will also include a candlelight closing to the liturgy.

Christmas Morning Service: Christmas falls on a Sunday, this year, so we will have a single Communion service on Christmas Day, beginning at 10 AM. As we always do on Christmas morning, we invite you to “come as you are." Wear your pajamas. The kids can bring a toy. And we'll all enjoy the very special worship that happens on the morning we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus.

All services on Christmas weekend will be broadcast via Zoom. The links to the individual services are listed on the “Zoom Links” page of our website.

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A Message of Thanks from Terry Brubaker and the Soli Deo Gloria choir

It was great to see a number of HTAC members at the SDG concert on Saturday, 17 December. I hope you were blessed by your choice to come. If you didn't attend and would like to see this concert (or want to see it again), it was live streamed and recorded. The link is below. 

Also, we have just released the videos from our concert in May and that link is below also (and you can see Terri Moon in this one!). The professional recording turned out fairly well. The sections in the playlist for this concert will automatically play or you can skip ahead to any of the pieces. If you have time to sit and watch either or both of these concerts at some point, then consider this our SDG choir's Christmas gift to you!

Link to December concert.
Link to May concert.

God's Blessings.

Thursday Spotlight: 15 December 2022

Adult Discipleship Class

­On Sunday, Glenn Paauw will offer the final installment of his three-part class on “The Humanity of Jesus” between the early and late services. The class will be held in the Holy Trinity Sanctuary and will begin around 9:50 AM. 

The recordings (videos) of the first two sessions are posted on the HTAC website at this link:

https://www.holytrinityanglican.church/adult-tct-lessons.

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Important Calendar Updates

­Here are some important calendar reminders for the remainder of the year and the beginning weeks of 2023: 

Christmas Eve Services: Saturday, December 24 @ 4:30 & 7:00 PM

Christmas Morning Service: Sunday, December 25 @ 10:00 AM

Lessons & Carols Service: Sunday, January 1 @ 10:00 AM (single service)

Annual Business Meeting and Chili Cookoff: Sunday, January 22 with a single worship service @ 9:30 AM, the Business meeting immediately after, and the Chili Cookoff after the meeting (approximately 11:30 AM)

Note: We will have our regular 2-service Sundays (8:30 AM and 10:45 AM) on January 8, January 15, and January 29.

Weekly Update: 13-18 December 2022

Adult Discipleship Class - The Humanity of Jesus ­­­­

The third and final installment of Glenn Paauw's adult discipleship class on “The Humanity of Jesus” will happen this coming Sunday (Dec 18) at 9:50 AM (between Sunday services) in the Holy Trinity Sanctuary. Here's a brief description of the class.

The Humanity of Jesus

When faithful Christians saw the doctrine of the divinity of Jesus being threatened, they responded by re-emphasizing this classic, orthodox element of the faith. But have we lost sight of the humanity of Jesus? Does it really matter?

Here’s what we’ll explore in this three-week Advent series:

Dec 4    The kind of human the story is looking for.

Dec 11    The human Jesus who was with us

Dec 18    The human Jesus who will be with us 

The videos of the first two sessions have been posted on the HTAC website, so if you missed either session, you can catch up. Here's the link:

https://www.holytrinityanglican.church/adult-tct-lessons.

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Annual Business Meeting & Chili Cookoff ­­­­

The Holy Trinity Annual Business Meeting for 2023 (where we vote on the budget) and the Annual Chili Cookoff are happening a little later than usual in 2023. We will have a single service at 9:30 AM on Sunday, January 22, followed immediately by the Annual Meeting, followed immediately by the Chili Cookoff and a congregation-wide potluck lunch. 

Mark your calendars! You won't want to miss this Sunday in January. Start getting your chili recipes ready!!

Thursday Spotlight: 8 December 2022

Check out our Advent Art Pieces

We continue to receive amazing art pieces, some visual and some written, for our Advent Art Project. Please check out the web pages with the latest additions, and look for the art pieces on display throughout the Church this weekend.  

You can find the links to all of the offered pieces on our home page at www.holytrinityanglican.church.

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­­­­Adult Discipleship Class

On Sunday, Glenn Paauw will offer the second installment of his three-part class on “The Humanity of Jesus” between the early and late services. The class will be held in the Holy Trinity Sanctuary and will begin around 9:50 AM. 

The recording (video) of the first session is posted on the HTAC website at this link:

https://www.holytrinityanglican.church/adult-tct-lessons.

Weekly Update: 6-11 December 2022

Adult Discipleship Class - The Humanity of Jesus 

We had a great beginning on Sunday to Glenn Paauw's adult discipleship class on “The Humanity of Jesus.” This coming Sunday (Dec 11), we will have the second installment of the series at 9:50 AM (between Sunday services) in the Holy Trinity Sanctuary. Here's a brief description of the class.

The Humanity of Jesus

When faithful Christians saw the doctrine of the divinity of Jesus being threatened, they responded by re-emphasizing this classic, orthodox element of the faith. But have we lost sight of the humanity of Jesus? Does it really matter?

Here’s what we’ll explore in this three-week Advent series:

Dec 4    The kind of human the story is looking for.

Dec 11    The human Jesus who was with us

Dec 18    The human Jesus who will be with us 

The video of the first session will be posted on the website later this week, so if you missed it, you can catch up. Glenn's teaching is excellent; don't miss out!

Thursday Spotlight: 1 December 2022

Evening Contemplative Service - December 4 

Holy Trinity will host an evening contemplative service in the form of a “Sung Compline” on Sunday, December 4 @ 6:30 PM in the Church Sanctuary. 

The service will be led by the HTAC Choir, accompanied by gifted musicians. In addition to the great music, the service will include poetry, visual arts and plenty of space to be with Jesus and to hear the Spirit's voice.

This service is open to all. Please invite your friends and family to join us for a time of reflection and anticipation in this season of Advent. 

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Check out our Advent Art Pieces

We have received nearly a dozen art pieces on loan for display at the Holy Trinity during Advent. 

In addition, we've received a number of excellent Advent playlists on Spotify and are gathering written works - poetry, prose and the like - with Advent-centric themes.

We still have three weeks of Advent ahead of us, so please send us visual art, music or written pieces that reflect your own heart and journey in this season of contemplation “in between” the first coming and the second coming of Jesus.

All of the art works that have been shared with us are posted on our Advent pages on the Holy Trinity Website. You can find the links to the pieces on our home page at www.holytrinityanglican.church.

On Sunday, be sure to check out the art displays in the Sanctuary, in the Fellowship Hall and elsewhere in the building.

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Adult Discipleship Class

Don't forget that Glenn Paauw will begin a three-part class on “The Humanity of Jesus” this Sunday between the early and late services. The class will be held in the Holy Trinity Sanctuary and will begin around 9:50 AM. Please join us for this examination of the implications for us of Jesus' incarnation.

Weekly Update: 29 Nov - 4 Dec 2022

Adult Discipleship Class - The Humanity of Jesus 

Glenn Paauw will be leading an adult discipleship class on the next three Sundays at 9:50 AM (between Sunday services) in the Holy Trinity Sanctuary. Here's a brief description of the class.

The Humanity of Jesus

When faithful Christians saw the doctrine of the divinity of Jesus being threatened, they responded by re-emphasizing this classic, orthodox element of the faith. But have we lost sight of the humanity of Jesus? Does it really matter?

Here’s what we’ll explore in this three-week Advent series:

Dec 4    The kind of human the story is looking for.

Dec 11    The human Jesus who was with us

Dec 18    The human Jesus who will be with us 

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Sunday Evening Service - A Sung Compline

Holy Trinity will host an evening contemplative service in the form of a “Sung Compline” this Sunday, December 4 @ 6:30 PM in the Church Sanctuary.

The service will be led by the HTAC Choir, accompanied by gifted musicians. In addition to the great music, the service will include poetry, visual arts and plenty of space to be with Jesus and to hear the Spirit's voice.

This service is open to all. Please invite your friends and family to join us for a time of reflection and anticipation in this season of Advent. 

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Advent Art Submissions

We are building a new web page on our Holy Trinity website to feature the various art submissions we are receiving for the Advent season. The page currently has the following elements already loaded:

Music: we've got links to several Spotify playlists built around Advent themes. We appreciate the work that Clay Clarkson put in to identify these playlists and to curate several of them.

Visual Arts: we're creating an image carousel of the paintings and other visual art pieces submitted in response to our call for Advent-themed art. All of these works are best experienced in person, but the image carousel will help you recall what you saw this past Sunday and will give you a preview of what to look for this coming Sunday and in the weeks ahead. If you click on the images in the carousel, you'll go to a detailed page for the particular piece with the comments and thoughts of the artist or the person submitting the work.

Written Arts: Finally, we will be adding written pieces - poetry, prose, etc. - submitted over the coming days. Links to those works will also be available on this new page.

The design work is still in process for this new page - Advent 2022: Beauty and the Arts - but feel free to check it out. And visit the page from time to time to see what new pieces have been submitted and what design improvements we've made.

Weekly Spotlight: 23 November 2022

Evening Contemplative Service - December 4 

Holy Trinity will host an evening contemplative service in the form of a “Sung Compline” on Sunday, December 4 @ 6:30 PM in the Church Sanctuary. 

The service will be led by the HTAC Choir, accompanied by gifted musicians. In addition to the great music, the service will include poetry, visual arts and plenty of space to be with Jesus and to hear the Spirit's voice.

This service is open to all. Please invite your friends and family to join us for a time of reflection and anticipation in this season of Advent. 

A Call for Art Pieces

Holy Trinity is inviting artists to consider offering visual art pieces and written art pieces for the Church to experience during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

We are looking for visual or written pieces that communicate these themes:

• Advent: longing for our Messiah, we wait in hope, joy, peace, and love.

• Christmas: we rejoice in the mystery and beauty of Christ's Incarnation.

If you have a work of visual art or written art that you would like to offer, please connect with the Church Office for instructions on how to submit your piece.

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Advent Materials Available­­­

Looking for something to help you or your family enter into the Advent themes of hope, joy, peace and love? We have several pieces you might consider available in the Fellowship Hall:

Advent Calendar: We have a fun Advent calendar for the kids. This hard stock calendar has little windows for each day of December leading up to Christmas and Bible verses for the kids to discover. 

Daily Devotional: We have copies of “Be Born In Us Today”, a daily Advent devotional authored by Chad Bird. This work is designed to remind us of how God's grace enriches our lives every day.

Daily Examen: We have printed a simple devotional guide for the daily Prayer of Examen, which we will be doing in our services on Sundays during Advent. This resource will walk you through the daily Examen, inviting you into a deeper awareness of God's presence and activity in your days.

In addition to these items, Pastor Matt Traylor has recently emailed resources to our families for use during Advent. He's shared an “Advent Family Prayer” and “The Ultimate Family Guide to Advent” to help our families enter into healthy rhythms of devotion and contemplation with our children. If you missed Pastor Matt's emails or didn't get them, let us know in the Church Office, and we'll forward them to you.

Weekly Update: 22-27 November 2022

A CALL FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS WRITTEN ART 

Holy Trinity is inviting artists to submit written works for the congregation during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Written work might include a poem, a short meditation, or even an original, beautifully-written prayer. If you have questions about the genre, formatting, topic, or more, please ask Michelle Drake, who can be reached by e-mail at misshindman@gmail.com. 

Some well-known themes of Advent are hope, love, joy, and peace. The main Biblical characters are the prophets, John the Baptist, and Mary. These are present within the strong themes of waiting and longing, often in darkness, for Christs’ second coming, even as we rejoice in His incarnation and first coming. There's lots to work with in Advent and Christmas!

How, When, and to Who

Written pieces will be distributed electronically to the congregation, will be posted on the Holy Trinity website, and ultimately, will be compiled into a small booklet. Please send your pieces, as well as a short introduction to or explanation of the work, and your full name to Michelle Drake at  misshindman@gmail.com by December 18th.  

It is our preference to distribute the written works throughout the season of Advent, so please begin submitting as soon as you desire between now and 18 December. Even though the deadline is the 18th, please submit work that we can share during all of Advent and even Christmas season. We look forward to your submissions, and thank you for your creative efforts! 

NOTE: If you would like to offer a “classic” creative writing piece for submission instead of one of your own, such as a poem by a favorite author or a prayer by one of the church fathers, you may do so. Please submit along with it a short explanation of its meaning to you, its Advent themes and purposes, and why you wanted to bring it before the congregation for consideration.

TriLakes Cares Giving Tree

The December 9 deadline for returning gifts from the Tri Lakes Cares (TLC) Giving Tree is fast approaching. You still have time to grab one of the remaining ornaments on the tree and bless someone for the holidays.

Pick an “ornament” from the tree and purchase the gift requested on the ornament. Return the gift UNWRAPPED (with the ornament taped on it) to the Church no later than 9 December.

If you have questions or need help, Ryan Paradis is our point of contact for the Giving Tree program.­

Reminder: Membership Class on Sunday

Membership Class: 27 November @ 12:30 PM

We will have our final Membership Class of 2022 on November 27 from 12:30 to 3:30 PM at the Church. 

The Membership Class reviews the theology and history of Holy Trinity and of Anglicanism in general. This is a comprehensive class on our collective and foundational beliefs, and it offers a look into what membership at HTAC is all about.

Whether you are seeking membership or not, this is an excellent class for learning more about HTAC and is highly recommended for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of our church.  It is also a required experience for those wanting to vote as members of the congregation at the annual meeting in January.

Prior reservations are not necessary for this class; however, it would be helpful to know if you intend to participate. Please email Deacon Mark in the Church Office if you plan to attend or if you have any questions.

Thursday Spotlight: 17 November 2022

Hanging of the Greens: Sunday, November 20

Holy Trinity will hold its Hanging of the Greens event on this Sunday, 20 November from 6 to 8 PM at the Church. 

Please join us, and invite your friends! This is a very special Church/community event that will include activities for the children, the decorating of our Christmas tree, special music and singing of carols, great food, and wonderful fellowship.

As we did last year, we will have a delicious cookie & sweet treat potluck buffet, so bring your favorite holiday cookies or treats to share.

Our plans to serve bar-b-que and buns did not work out. The meat we froze after the picnic in September did not fare well in the freezer and could not be served. So grab dinner before you come, or feast on the sweets at the event. 

A Call for Advent & Christmas Art

Holy Trinity is inviting artists to consider offering visual art pieces for display in the Church during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

We are looking for art that communicates these themes:

• Advent: longing for our Messiah, we wait in hope, joy, peace, and love.

• Christmas: we rejoice in the mystery and beauty of Christ's Incarnation.

Art pieces will be placed in various spots inside the Church, based on subject matter, size of the piece, and flow of the overall content.

If you have a work of art that you would like to offer for display, please send a photo and information about the piece using the Google form at this link: HOLY TRINITY ART PROJECT  

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to the Church Office or to Terri Moon.

Weekly Update: 15-20 November 2022

The Final Week: Operation Christmas Child

The 2022 edition of Operation Christmas Child draws to a close after this week.

The collection week runs from November 14 to 21. That means this coming Sunday, November 20, is the last Sunday you can drop off your gift shoeboxes at the Church.

If you haven't already done so, come by the Church this week and pick up a shoebox. Put together a special Christmas blessing for a child who needs to experience the love of Jesus.

You can find more information about the shoeboxes and how to prepare a gift package at the OCC website: 

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box/ 

TriLakes Cares Giving Tree

The Tri Lakes Cares (TLC) Giving Tree, which is part of a program that helps underprivileged children and seniors get through the holidays, is standing in our Church lobby and is filled with ornaments. 

Pick an “ornament” from the tree and purchase the gift requested on the ornament. Return the gift UNWRAPPED (with the ornament taped on it) to the Church no later than 9 December. 

The Giving Tree volunteers at TriLakes Cares will match up the gifts with the requesting families and will have them wrapped and delivered in time for Christmas.

If you have questions or need help, Ryan Paradis is our point of contact for the Giving Tree program. You can reach Ryan at (719) 964-6711.

IMPORTANT COMING DATES­­­­

Here are several important dates and events you'll want to mark on your calendars:

Hanging of the Greens: 20 November @ 6 PM

Our annual fellowship gathering to decorate the Church for Advent and Christmas is THIS SUNDAY!! We're “hangin' the Greens” before Thanksgiving this year, because we want all of the decorations in place for the first Sunday of Advent on November 27.

This is a wonderful gathering that you won't want to miss. We share snacks and treats, sing a few carols, entertain the kids with activities, and get all of our holiday decorations in place, including the Christmas tree. We have a special Christmas potluck with everyone bringing their favorite cookies and sweet treats to enjoy while we decorate and fellowship.

The event begins between 5:30 and 6 PM on Sunday evening (November 20) and usually ends around 8 PM. Please join us!!!

Membership Class: 27 November @ 12:30 PM 

We will have our final Membership Class of 2022 on November 27 from 12:30 to 3:30 PM at the Church. 

The Membership Class reviews the theology and history of Holy Trinity and of Anglicanism in general. This is a comprehensive class on our collective and foundational beliefs, and it offers a look into what membership at HTAC is all about.

Whether you are seeking membership or not, this is an excellent class for learning more about HTAC and is highly recommended for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of our church.  It is also a required experience for those wanting to vote as members of the congregation at the annual meeting in January.

Prior reservations are not necessary for this class; however, it would be helpful to know if you intend to participate. Please email Deacon Mark in the Church Office if you plan to attend or if you have any questions.

Contemplative Service: 4 December @ 6:30 PM 

As we've done in years past, we will be hosting a special contemplative worship service on Sunday, December 4 in the evening, starting at 6:30 PM. This is a beautiful service, supported by the HTAC Choir and a number of local artists and musicians from the local area. It is a powerful way to enter into and reinforce your Advent mindset.­­­

A SPECIAL CALL FOR ADVENT / CHRISTMAS ART PIECES­­­­­­­

Holy Trinity is inviting artists to consider offering visual art pieces for display in the Church during the Advent and Christmas seasons. 

We are looking for art that communicates these themes:

• Advent: longing for our Messiah, we wait in hope, joy, peace, and love.

• Christmas: we rejoice in the mystery and beauty of Christ's Incarnation.

Art pieces will be placed in various spots inside the Church, based on subject matter, size of the piece, and flow of the overall content. 

If you have a work of art that you would like to offer for display, please send a photo and a little more information about the piece using the Google form at the link below: 

HOLY TRINITY ART PROJECT  

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to the Church Office or to Terri Moon.

Thursday Spotlight: 10 November 2022

Hanging of the Greens: Sunday, November 20

From Wikipedia: The hanging of the greens is a Western Christian ceremony in which congregations adorn their churches with Advent and Christmas decorations. This is done on or directly before the start of the Advent season, in preparation for Christmastide. The event involves the placement of evergreen vegetation, such as the evergreen wreath, which carries the symbolism of everlasting life.

Holy Trinity will hold its Hanging of the Greens event on Sunday, 20 November from 6 to 8 PM at the Church. 

Please join us, and invite your friends! This is a very special Church/community event that will include activities for the children, the decorating of our Christmas tree, special music and singing of carols, great food, and wonderful fellowship.

As we did last year, we will have a delicious cookie & sweet treat buffet, so bring your favorite holiday cookies or treats to share.

For those of you who might want a more substantial “supper”, we  also plan to thaw out and heat up the bar-b-que meat and buns that have been in our freezer for the past couple of months. 

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Second Sunday Stories - Amy Stroup

This Sunday, November 13, we will have one of our special Second Sunday Stories between services (from 9:50 to 10:40 AM) in the Sanctuary.

Our guest speaker will be Amy Stroup who is director of an amazing ministry in northern Thailand - Joy To The World Thailand. Amy will share some of her own spiritual journey and her passion for bringing education and opportunity to children from the hill tribes in northern Thailand through the programs stewarded by Joy To The World Thailand. 

Please join us for this inspiring and glorious story of God's work in one of the more disadvantaged regions of Southeast Asia.

Weekly Update: 8-13 November 2022

Operation Christmas Child

The 2022 edition of Operation Christmas Child is under way, and the gift shoeboxes are available in the Fellowship Hall at the Church.

The collection week is approaching quickly: November 14 to 21. 

Pick up a shoebox this Sunday and put together a special Christmas blessing for a child who needs to experience the love of Jesus.

You can find more information about the shoeboxes and how to prepare a gift package at the OCC website: 

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box/ 

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TriLakes Cares Giving Tree

We are participating again this year in the Tri Lakes Cares (TLC) Giving Tree program, which helps underprivileged children and seniors get through the holidays. This is a wonderful cause that Holy Trinity has supported for many years.

The "how do we do this" is pretty simple: Pick an “ornament” from the tree in the Church lobby and purchase the gift requested on the ornament. Return the gift UNWRAPPED (with the ornament taped on it) to the church no later than 9 December. 

The Giving Tree volunteers at TriLakes Cares will match up the gifts with the requesting families and will have them wrapped and delivered in time for Christmas.

If you have questions or needs help, Ryan Paradis is our point of contact for the Giving Tree program.

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IMPORTANT COMING DATES

Here are several important dates and events you'll want to mark on your calendars:

Second Sunday Stories: 13 November @ 9:50 AM

On Sunday, November 13, we will have one of our special Second Sunday Stories between services (from 9:50 to 10:40 AM) in the Sanctuary.

This month, our guest speaker will be Amy Stroup, director of an amazing ministry in northern Thailand - Joy To The World Thailand. Amy will share some of her own spiritual journey and her passion for bringing education and opportunity to children from the hill tribes in northern Thailand through the programs stewarded by Joy To The World Thailand.

Hanging of the Greens: 20 November @ 6 PM

Our annual fellowship gathering to decorate the Church for Advent and Christmas comes early this year, so get it on your calendar. We're doing it the Sunday BEFORE Thanksgiving, because we want all of the decorations in place for the first Sunday of Advent on November 27.

This is a wonderful gathering that you won't want to miss. We share snacks and treats, sing a few carols, entertain the kids with activities, and get all of our holiday decorations in place, including the Christmas tree.

The event begins between 5:30 and 6 PM on Sunday evening (November 20) and usually ends around 8 PM. Please join us!!!

Membership Class: 27 November @ 12:30 PM

We will have our final Membership Class of 2022 on November 27 from 12:30 to 3:30 PM at the Church. 

The Membership Class reviews the theology and history of Holy Trinity and of Anglicanism in general. This is a comprehensive class on our collective and foundational beliefs, and it offers a look into what membership at HTAC is all about.

Whether you are seeking membership or not, this is an excellent class for learning more about HTAC and is highly recommended for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of our church.  It is also a required experience for those wanting to become members of HTAC and qualify for voting in the annual meeting in January.

Prior reservations are not necessary for this class; however, it would be helpful to know if you intend to participate. Please email Deacon Mark in the Church Office if you plan to attend or if you have any questions.

Thursday Spotlight: 3 November 2022

Fall leaves. Shorter Days. Cool, crisp nights.

Remind you of anything?

Yes! It's time for us to “fall back” and reset our clocks on Saturday night.

Daylight Savings Time end this weekend. We will push our clocks back an hour when we go to bed, and the Sunday alarm will chime after an extra hour of sleep. 

Don't forget! If you fail to adjust your clock, you'll arrive at Church on Sunday an hour before the real start time.

Second Sunday Stories - Amy Stroup

Next Sunday, November 13, is our second Sunday of the month, and accordingly, we will have one of our special Second Sunday Stories between services (from 9:50 to 10:40 AM) in the Sanctuary.

This month, our guest speaker will be Amy Stroup. Among her various life roles as Mom to three, wife to Pastor Chris, daughter to Bill and Mary Lee, Amy is also director of an amazing ministry in northern Thailand - Joy To The World Thailand. On Sunday, Amy will share some of her own spiritual journey and her passion for bringing education and opportunity to children from the hill tribes in northern Thailand through the programs stewarded by Joy To The World Thailand. 

Please join us for this inspiring and glorious story of God's work in one of the more disadvantaged regions of Southeast Asia.

Weekly Update: 1-6 November 2022

FALL BACK!  Daylight Savings Time endS this weekend.

Please keep in mind that this weekend marks the end of Daylight Savings Time for 2022. Thus, we FALL BACK by one hour overnight on Saturday night into Sunday.

Our cellphones and computers will change automatically, but most of the other clocks in our homes and businesses will not change. 

Happily, we'll get an extra hour of sleep on Saturday night. But if you forget to change your clocks, you'll likely arrive at Church on Sunday an hour early!

We'll make a couple of additional reminders this week to help you not forget.  

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COMING DATES: Mark Your Calendars

Here are a couple of important dates and events you'll want to mark on your calendars:

Hanging of the Greens: 20 November @ 6 PM

Our annual fellowship gathering to decorate the Church for Advent and Christmas comes early this year, so get it on your calendar. We're doing it the Sunday BEFORE Thanksgiving, because we want all of the decorations in place for the first Sunday of Advent on November 27.

This is a wonderful gathering that you won't want to miss. We share snacks and treats, sing a few carols, entertain the kids with activities, and get all of our holiday decorations in place, including the Christmas tree.

The event begins between 5:30 and 6 PM on Sunday evening (November 20) and usually ends around 8 PM. Please join us!!!

Membership Class: 27 November @ 12:30 PM 

We will have our final Membership Class of 2022 on November 27 from 12:30 to 3:30 PM at the Church. 

The Membership Class reviews the theology and history of Holy Trinity and of Anglicanism in general. This is a comprehensive class on our collective and foundational beliefs, and it offers a look into what membership at HTAC is all about. 

Whether you are seeking membership or not, this is an excellent class for learning more about HTAC and is highly recommended for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of our church.  It is also a required experience for those wanting to become members of HTAC and qualify for voting in the annual meeting in January. 

Prior reservations are not necessary for this class; however, it would be helpful to know if you intend to participate. Please email Deacon Mark in the Church Office if you plan to attend or if you have any questions.

Thursday Spotlight: 27 October 2022

Operation Christmas Child 2022

The shoeboxes have arrived! Children around the world are beginning to think about Christmas. Samaritan's Purse is setting up collection stations and coordinating shipping containers and delivery vehicles.

It's time for the 2022 edition of Operation Christmas Child!

We are praying for an extravagant response this year from our Holy Trinity family for the children who will be blessed with gift shoeboxes at Christmas time. The collection week is approaching quickly: November 14 to 21. The OCC display is setup and waiting for you in the Holy Trinity Fellowship Hall with plenty of shoeboxes to be filled.

Each gift box will be tagged for a specific age group and gender, and suggested gifts for each child group are listed on the Operation Christmas Child website at THIS LINK.

Our OCC program is being coordinated again this year by Ashley Carlson. If you have questions, please reach out to Ashley or contact the Church Office.

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Sunday Brunch & Newcomers

We are going to take advantage of the gathering time and Potluck Brunch on Sunday to also have a short “Newcomers Lunch” in the Adult Classroom.

If you are a visitor, new attender, or anyone who wants a chance to visit with Pastor Matt and other clergy, staff, and leaders to learn about Holy Trinity, this will be a great way to have that visit.

The Newcomers conversation is relaxed and informal and Q&A-driven. We give you an opportunity to learn more about who we are and what we do here at Holy Trinity.

After everyone has gone through the food line at the Potluck, we will make a call for those interested in the Newcomers Conversation to peel off and join Pastor Matt in the Adult Classroom next to the Sanctuary.

Anyone interested is invited to attend.

Weekly Update: 25-30 October 2022

Single Service Sunday - October 30!

Please remember that this coming Sunday is the fifth Sunday of the month. Thus, we will have a SINGLE SERVICE at 9:30 on Sunday morning, followed by a congregation-wide potluck brunch and fellowship gathering.

Children's Catechesis WILL happen during the single service. And we are delighted to have the Concordia Ringers, our bell choir, supporting the worship service through their presence and playing on Sunday.

If you are able, please bring a food item to share with the congregation during the Potluck Brunch that follows the service. Our potluck events are always wonderful, eclectic and delicious. Please feel free to add your own favorite breakfast/lunch dish to the mix.

Newcomers Conversation - October 30!

We are going to take advantage of the gathering time on Sunday to also have a short “Newcomers Lunch” in the Adult Classroom on Sunday morning.

If you are a visitor, new attender, or anyone who wants a chance to visit with Pastor Matt and other clergy, staff, and leaders to learn about Holy Trinity, our Newcomers Lunch is a great way to have that visit.

The Newcomers conversation is relaxed and informal.  The conversation is Q&A-driven, and we talk and answer questions to give you an opportunity to learn more about who we are and what we do here at Holy Trinity.

After everyone has gone through the food line at the Potluck, we make a call for those interested in the Newcomers Conversation to peel off and join Pastor Matt in the Adult Classroom next to the Sanctuary.

Anyone interested is invited to attend.

Prayer Project!

Please also remember that we are in week 2 of a 6-week cycle of intentional and specific prayer for particular ministries at Holy Trinity. This week, we are called and encouraged to pray for the following HTAC ministries:

Little Women’s Society - Middle and High School Girls

(led by Lara Stata, Sara Haddox, Lesli McMillan)

Please pray

• to reach girls with encouragement in their faith and meet practical needs

• to cover the appropriate topics to help these girls grow strong in the Lord

• for God to bring the right women to the group and that we would effectively support their calling and mission

• to cultivate life-giving intergenerational connections and peer friendships at all ages, at monthly meetings and everyday life

• for Lara, Lesli and Sara: glorify God and follow the Spirit's leading in planning, preparing, teaching, and serving
  

High School Youth Group

(led by Pastor Matt Burnett and Kevin Brooks)

Please pray

• our High Schoolers have a strong sense of God's personal love for each one of them

• their time in the Bible and prayer draws them nearer to God and equips them to navigate a quickly changing world

• school goes well and is not a source of undue stress
  their families remain health and strong
  

Collect for our Youth Ministries: Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom so to train them, that they may love all that is true, and pure, and lovely, and of good report, following the example of their Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thursday Spotlight: 20 October 2022

Outreach Report - 3rd Quarter 2022

The Outreach Team is very excited to share the ministries and missionaries Holy Trinity has chosen to support with the Church's quarterly distributions of Outreach funds through the first three quarters of 2022.

40% of our distributions have gone to international missions. Holy Trinity is continuing to support Bob and Kathie Schwerdt, through Greater Europe Missions, in their care for missionaries in Europe and around the world. In addition, the Church has supported the following compelling missions recipients: 

• A Lebanese missionary who works among Syrian refugees;

• A Christian missionary from Nigeria who works in the anti-trafficking and domestic abuse arena;

• A Burmese missionary who is a convert from Buddhism and has a high-impact and authentic ministry among widows and orphans in Burma;

• Three different ministries in India focused, respectively, on church planting and discipleship in the rural areas of India, on providing skills training for poor and disadvantaged women, and on providing a home and care for abandoned babies and children;

• Scholarships for ministry workers, pastors and missionaries in the international arena to participate in soul care and replenishment retreats through SonScape Retreats;

• A Christian medical ministry in Nigeria that is establishing a rural health care clinic for villagers;

• A couple providing evangelism and discipleship to people in the northern villages in Thailand; and

• A newly deployed Anglican missionary couple in Rwanda that is working in the Kigali region supporting the education of pastors in training.

 40% of our distributions have gone to ministries in our local community. Because of existing relationships and because HTAC has a particular passion for the work they do, Holy Trinity is continuing to support these local organizations, which we have supported for many years:

• Tri Lakes Cares - www.tri-lakescares.org

• Life Network - www.elifenetwork.com

• Mercy’s Gate - www.mercysgatecs.org 

Finally, the Outreach Team has set aside 20% of our quarterly distributions for the new and emerging Refugee Ministry at Holy Trinity. These funds have enabled our Refugee Ministry Team to help a local Afghan family get their children into swimming lessons - a thing completely unheard-of in Afghanistan. 

The Refugee Team has also been working with Lutheran Family Services to identify areas of greatest need in the local refugee community, and they have pointed us to the Cuban community in particular, where many of the refugees are not receiving much support from government or social service agencies. Our Team is working with LFS to create a gift card program for these refugees to help them with basic food and household needs.

In total through the first three quarters of 2022, Holy Trinity will distribute a little over $31,000 across these three major outreach sectors. Praise God!! If you are aware of ministries, either local or international, that we should consider supporting in the 4th quarter of 2022 or into 2023, please reach out to Deacon Mark, and he will share the information with the Outreach Team.

Weekly Update: 18-23 October 2022

Prayer Project!

Please remember that our Long Range Prayer & Planning team has begun a 6-week cycle of intentional and specific prayer each week for particular ministries at Holy Trinity. This week, our first in the 6-week rotation, we are called and encouraged to pray for the following HTAC ministries:

OUR HTAC LIFE GROUPS:

• that Life Group members would grow in fellowship with one another and with the Lord

• that those who have not been involved in Life Groups would take the step to try it out

• that Life Group members would have grace for one another as new members join existing groups and as new groups form

• for Pastor Chris to have clarity in continuing to help HTAC members find a good Life Group fit

Here is a specific Collect from the Book of Common Prayer that you may want to include:

O God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd of your people: Grant that, when we hear his voice, we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE HTAC OUTREACH TEAM

• for God to use the ministries supported through Holy Trinity's outreach funds to effectively bless people and reveal Himself to them

• for wisdom and discernment within the Outreach Team in decisions on who to support and how much funding to provide

• for God to give the Outreach Team awareness of new ministries that HTAC should support

• that God would help the Outreach Team be effective in keeping our congregation informed about outreach ministries the church supports

• for the members of the Outreach Team to collaborate well in their conversations and deliberations

Here is a specific Collect you may want to use for these prayers:

O merciful Creator, your loving hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence, and give us grace to honor you with all that you have entrusted to us; that we, remembering the account we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Thursday Spotlight: 13 October 2022

Prayer Project

The Long Range Prayer & Planning team is beginning a 6-week cycle of encouraging our congregation to pray with intentionality and specificity each week for the Church and for the ministries at Holy Trinity. This week is our first in the 6-week rotation, and we are calling and encouraging everyone to pray for the following ministries:

Pray for our HTAC Life Groups:

• that Life Group members would grow in fellowship with one another and with the Lord

• that those who have not been involved in Life Groups would take the step to try it out

• that Life Group members would have grace with one another as new members join existing groups and as new groups form

• for Chris to have clarity in continuing to help HTAC members find a good Life Group fit

Here is a specific Collect from the Book of Common Prayer that you may want to include: 

O God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd of your people: Grant that, when we hear his voice, we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pray for the HTAC Outreach Team

• for God to use the ministries supported through Holy Trinity's outreach funds to effectively bless people and reveal Himself to them

• for wisdom and discernment within the Outreach Team in decisions on who to support and how much funding to provide

• for God to give the Outreach Team awareness of new ministries that HTAC should support

• that God would help the Outreach Team be effective in keeping our congregation informed about outreach ministries the church supports

• for the members of the Outreach Team to collaborate well in their conversations and deliberations

Here is a specific Collect you may want to use for these prayers: 

O merciful Creator, your loving hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence, and give us grace to honor you with all that you have entrusted to us; that we, remembering the account we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.