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Triumphant Lutheran Church
PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT GIVEAWAY!
We have several pieces of playground equipment that are not needed, and wanted to share them with others! They are first-come, first-serve, and anyone interested will need to transport them. If you are interested in any of these items, email Pastor Aaron.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020
Text Messaging and a Church App
We are exploring some new ways of communication this month: text messaging and a church app. If you have shared your mobile number with us, you will receive a text message today as a test. Information about our church app will come out very soon as well. Have a blessed day! (Please do not reply to the text message. Replies cannot be received. Questions or comments should be sent to newsletter@triumphantlutheran.org.)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020
August Communion Drive -Thru
Thursday, August 20 from 5pm - 7pm
Saturday, August 22 from 9am - noon
The next Communion Pick Up event is this Thursday and Saturday. Come by to get your 2 weeks worth of communion elements in preparation for this weekend's and next weekend's service. The communion wafer and wine come in a factory-sealed container. Simply drive up to the entrance to the Narthex during either one of the 2 time periods. Tell the masked and gloved attendant the number of people in your family, and you will be given your packet of communion elements.
DRIVE-THROUGH BLESSINGS! As you make your way through the drive-through for your communion elements, you may also receive a "BACK TO SCHOOL BLESSING." We want to bless all students and school staff for the new school year, no matter what format school is taking right now. We hope to see you then!
We will also have a Finance Team representative available if you wish to drop off your offering or Altar flower payment.
MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020
August Communion Drive -Thru
Thursday, August 6 from 5pm - 7pm
Saturday, August 8 from 9am - noon
It is time for our next Communion Pick Up event! We will again hand out 2 weeks worth of communion elements. The communion wafer and wine come in a factory-sealed container. Simply drive up to the entrance to the Narthex during one of the 2 time periods. Tell the masked and gloved attendant the number of people in your family, and you will be given your packet of communion elements.
We will also have a Finance Team representative available if you wish to drop off your offering or Altar flower payment as well.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020
Communion Drive -Thru
Thursday, July 23 from 5pm - 7pm
Saturday, July 25 from 9am - noon
We hope you can stop by the church to pick up 2 weeks worth of communion elements. The communion wafer and wine come in a factory-sealed container. Simply drive up to the entrance to the Narthex during one of the 2 time periods. Tell the masked and gloved attendant the number of people in your family, and you will be given your packet of communion elements.
We will also have a Finance Team representative available if you wish to drop off your offering as well. We will also be able to collect donations for this month's School Supply Drive. A donation of $10 will provide an elementary supply kit, and $5 will provide a junior high/high school kit. Any donation amount will help provide much-needed school supplies to needy children in our community, no matter what school ends up being like in the fall!
FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020
Podcasts
We have two new podcast series for different age groups:
"Jesus Calling" series for teens: This series focuses on what it would be like if God talked directly to you. Episodes come out bi-weekly.
"Home with You" series for adults: This series explores what faith looks like in the midst of our every day lives. Episodes are released bi-weekly.
MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020
Communion Drive -Thru
Thursday, July 9 from 5pm - 7pm
Saturday, July 11 from 9am - noon
To continue having communion during our online services, we will again hand out 2 weeks worth of communion elements. The communion wafer and wine come in a factory-sealed container. Simply drive up to the entrance to the Narthex during one of the 2 time periods. Tell the masked and gloved attendant the number of people in your family, and you will be given your packet of communion elements.
We will also have a Finance Team representative available if you wish to drop off your offering as well. We will also be able to collect donations for this month's School Supply Drive. A donation of $10 will provide an elementary supply kit, and $5 will provide a junior high/high school kit. Any donation amount will help provide much-needed school supplies to needy children in our community, no matter what school ends up being like in the fall!
THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020
Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University
Our next course was to begin on Sunday, June 21. It has been postponed a few weeks. Start date is still TBD. The class time will remain on Sundays from 4:30pm — 6pm in the Fellowship Hall, where there
is plenty of room for everyone to spread out.
Check back in the next few days for updates.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020
Communion Drive -Thru
Thursday, June 25 from 5pm - 7pm
Saturday, June 27 from 9am - noon
To continue having communion during our online services, we will again hand out 2 weeks worth of communion elements. The communion wafer and wine come in a factory-sealed container. Simply drive up to the entrance to the Narthex during one of the 2 time periods. Tell the masked and gloved attendant the number of people in your family, and you will be given your packet of communion elements.
If you haven't yet turned in your baby bottle for the fundraising drive for Resources for Women, please do so on one of these days. We will also have a Finance Team representative available if you wish to drop off your offering as well.
MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2020
In - Person Worship
At last night's Church Council meeting, plans were made for resuming
in-person worship on Sunday, July 12. For the health and safety of everyone attending, the CDC guidelines and instructions for gathering (face masks, sanitizing surfaces, 6-foot distancing, wellness checks, air purification systems, etc.) will be followed. Keep watching this page for continued updates.
Online worship will continue to be available.
MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020
Nada Mission Trip
The Senior High was planning a mission trip to the Blackfeet Nation in northern Montana. However, YouthWorks had to close this location due to COVID-19 concerns. The location was changed to Waco, Texas. Now, we are saddened that YouthWorks has had to cancel the mission trip this year completely.
But fear not! Deacon Chris has found an alternative! We will have "nada Mission Trip" from July 12 - 15 for our local community. Home base will the church, and service projects and activities will be either on church property or in the local area. We can still have a mission to help others in a variety of ways! Stay tuned for more details coming soon!
TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020
Communion Drive -Thru
Thursday, June 11 from 5pm - 7pm
Saturday, June 13 from 9am - noon
To continue having communion during our online services, we will again hand out 2 weeks worth of communion elements. The communion wafer and wine come in a factory-sealed container. Simply drive up to the entrance to the Narthex during one of the 2 time periods. Tell the masked and gloved attendant the number of people in your family, and you will be given your packet of communion elements.
If you haven't yet turned in your baby bottle for the fundraising drive for Resources for Women, please do so on one of these days. We will also have a Finance Team representative available if you wish to drop off your offering as well.
TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020
In - Person Worship
On Monday, the TLC Council met to assess the feasibility of resuming
in-person worship services. It was decided to prepare for in-person worship services to resume on Sunday, July 12. Details on location and safety procedures will be available soon. Online worship services will continue even after in-person worship has resumed. Watch this page for updates!
Click here to participate in online worship.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2020
Communion Drive-Thru
Thursday the 28th and Saturday the 29th
Thursday, May 28 from 5pm - 7pm
Saturday, May 30 from 9am - noon
In preparation for upcoming worship services, we will hand out 2 weeks worth of communion elements. The communion wafer and wine come in a factory-sealed container. Simply drive up to the entrance to the Narthex during one of the 2 time periods. Tell the masked and gloved attendant the number of people in your family, and you will be given your packet of communion elements.
Feel free to drop off your baby bottles from the fundraising drive for Resources for Women at this time. We will also have a Finance Team representative available if you wish to drop off your offering as well.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020
In - Person Worship
On Monday, the TLC Council decided to hold off on having in-person worship services. They will meet again on Monday, June 1, to assess the situation again. Online worship services will continue for the foreseeable future, even after in-person worship has resumed. Watch this page for updates!
Click here to participate in online worship.
MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020
Church Council Meeting Tonight
The TLC Council is meeting via Zoom tonight. A main discussion and decision to be made is whether to hold in-person worship this weekend or to wait a bit longer. Watch this page for updates!
TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020
Communion Drive-Thru on Saturday the 9th
Our worship service for Mother's Day weekend will include communion!
In preparation for the worship service and in support of Resources for Women’s Baby Bottle Campaign, we will hand out packets that contain:
communion elements
Mother’s Day carnation(s)
a baby bottle
You may also drop off your tithe at this time, if you wish. Thank you!
The communion wafer and wine come in a factory-sealed container, and the baby bottles will be pre-sanitized. You may fill the baby bottle with change (bills and checks are also appreciated) over the next few weeks. Funds raised will benefit Resources for Women, a Christ-centered ministry serving women and families facing unplanned pregnancy here in Garden Ridge.
Simply drive up to the entrance to the Narthex and tell a masked and gloved attendant the number of people in your family, and you will be handed your packet.
So we can have all the packets ready in advance, please let us know what size packet you will need by signing up below. Thank you!
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020
Resuming In-person Worship Services
We are preparing to possibly resume in-person worship services on
Sunday, May 24!
Of course, there remains the possibility this date will need to be pushed back. Council will be evaluating the issue over the coming weeks. We will publish procedures and practices for everyone to follow while we, as a church family, make this transition. Check back often for more information.
TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020
Preschool and Mother's Day Out News
The Triumphant Lutheran Preschool and Mother's Day Out programs will remain closed for the rest of the school year, remaining in compliance with the closure mandates issued by the State of Texas. We plan to reopen as soon as all restrictions have been lifted and we look forward to returning to serve our ECP families and our community.
THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020
Church Offices Temporarily Closed
Due to the recommended procedures to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19, we are temporarily closing the church offices. We will continue to check email and phone messages while the office staff works from home. All in-person worship and activities are cancelled through Friday, April 3.
Take care and stay healthy!
SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2020
Worship Services via YouTube
Due to the recommended procedures to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19, we are moving our weekend worship services online, along with our Wednesday Lenten Services. All in-person activities are cancelled until further notice.
Please take the opportunity to enjoy the worship experience in the comfort of your home through the links below.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020
Lenten Services via YouTube
Due to the recommended procedures to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19, we are cancelling in-person Lenten services. We are presenting Holden Evening Prayer along with Dwelling in the Word on how God uses fire in scripture.
Please take the opportunity to enjoy the Lenten worship experience in the comfort of your home through the links below.
MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2020
TLC Response to Coronavirus
Greetings, sisters and brothers in Christ!
We find ourselves in a time of great caution and uncertainty and deciding ways to keep everyone safe to curb the spread of the coronavirus. To that end, we are canceling all non-worship events and gatherings for this week (March 16-21). This includes Bible studies, choir, and other small groups, plus Wednesday Nite Live and the Lenten worship service. As we don't have a sense of the scope of the spread of this virus yet, it seems prudent to cancel these gatherings for one week, and reevaluate week-to-week.
This does give us the chance to try some new things using online resources. So our Lenten mid-week worship will be shared by video on Wednesday, so that we can worship God in our homes. There may be other resources, and I invite you to check our Facebook page and Youtube channels.
We are the church of God, and are called to care and love as God loves us. Please respond to this email and let us know how you and your family are doing, and if you have any needs.
I'd like to close with prayer:
O God of compassion, giver of life and health, we pray your healing mercies upon all who are in any way affected by the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Comfort and sustain those who have been stricken; relieve their pain, and restore to them your gifts of gladness and strength. Grant to all in authority the courage to make wise decisions that are essential for the good of all people, and strengthen them to lead institutions that care for those whom they serve. Watch over all first responders and those in the medical professions whose duty it is to care for the sick; guard them from all danger, and keep them safe in the knowledge that it is through their sacrifice and service that the health of the whole community is promoted. Mercifully accept these our prayers, O God of all comfort, and our only help in time of need. Amen.
Peace,
Pastor Aaron Richter
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020
TLC Response to Coronavirus
Greetings, TLC family!
In recent weeks, there has been lots of news, concern, and worry about the spread of the COVID-19 virus, or coronavirus. As we consider how to respond to this as people of faith, let us act out of love and compassion, and not out of fear and anxiety. At Triumphant, we want to continue to provide a safe and healthy worship and environment, and care for others, especially those who are most risk.
First and foremost, if you are feeling ill, it is perfectly fine to stay home and recover. If you are in a high risk demographic or have underlying health concerns, you may choose not to attend worship. If either of these happen to you, please contact the church office so we can provide any needed pastoral care to the best of our ability. We are exploring options for live streaming or recording services, but that will take a little bit of time to set up.
For worship practices, there are primarily two places during worship that we will change: the passing of the peace and communion. For the passing of the peace, instead of shaking hands, we are going to try some different ways of sharing the peace of Christ with one another, which I hope will give us a chance to be a little playful and prevent illness. For communion, we will use individual cups for each service. I regularly wash my hands before communion, and we will make sure that all worship leaders sanitize their hands properly.
Lastly, there are some good practices that can help you and others in our community. Washing your hands frequently for 20 seconds is a great practice to prevent the spread of illness. If you want to make it a moment to pray, saying the Lord’s prayer takes about 30 seconds, so your hands will be very clean! Using hand sanitizer is a good measure, and disinfecting doorknobs, light switches, and other oft-touched spots can help to reduce disease and infection.
Here are a couple of community resources that may be of help:
San Antonio COVID-19 Resources
As we move forward, let us keep in prayer all those who are affected by this illness, and all those who are tasked with caring for others and the most vulnerable, especially those in the medical field.
May God’s healing presence be with us all!
Peace,
Pastor Aaron