Holy Trinity’s Audio-Visual and Communications committee is a service ministry that supports the work of the staff and other committees.  They maintain the Communication Center mailboxes, provide member and visitor name badges, provide sound and visual support for services and special events and assist with the up keep of the church office equipment, computers and software.

A big part of this ministry team’s service is the taping of both Sunday worship services, as well as other special services.  They are pleased to supply tapes for any member for personal use or to share with family or friend.  These tapes are one way to reach people not inside our red doors on Sunday morning, and as such a request for a tape is never a bother or an inconvenience.  A copy can be picked up in the office area workroom after service.  A copy can also be mailed to members away at school, shut-ins, or those in nursing homes. 

This committee maintains the church’s TVs, VCRs, and DVDs, as well as the sound system.  Please involve AVC early in the planning for a service or special event at church so they can get the right equipment and the right people ready to help you. Every time you speak in the service, please use a microphone, which is provided to ensure that everyone can hear you and help provide good taping.  

Member name badges help all of us get to know each other better and assist pastor in calling everyone by name during communion. To obtain a badge, please leave your name and the type of badge needed on the clipboard by the Communication Center.  Also, much of our communication is handled through the mailboxes, so be sure to check your box weekly.

This ministry plans, prepares and decorates for many of the activities of the church involving food.  Included are receptions for New Members, Rally Sunday, Sunday school Teacher Appreciation, Confirmation and meals for Wednesday Family Nights, the Christmas Dinner, Easter Breakfast, Annual Meeting Lunch, Senior Banquet, Lenten Soup Suppers, VBS Dinners, and the Annual Picnic. Any special events such as mystery dinner theaters, sweetheart dinners, mission trip dinners, can be scheduled through this ministry. 

The Mutual Ministry team is composed of six members appointed by the Congregational Council to serve alternating three-year terms. Council chooses two new appointees each year in consultation with the staff personnel.  An appropriate balance between male and female members is maintained.  They work to maintain a good relationship between church staff and the congregation through the following responsibilities: 

Job description and review of all employees.

Recommendations for salaries, formulation of policy concerning benefits,  pension plans and special arrangements for employees of the church.

Encourage staff participation in continuing education programs.

Provide emotional and spiritual support to staff members.

 Contribute to the health and well being of the church by developing and maintaining harmonious working relationships.

Interview employees leaving the congregation.

This ministry identifies needs outside the congregation and provides resources to meet those needs.

The Sunday Meals Program provides on-site preparation and delivery of meals by congregational members to the regular weekday Meals On Wheels recipients who have no one to care for them on the weekends.

Through the Interfaith Hospitality Network the congregation hosts homeless families by providing housing, meals, and acting as evening and overnight hosts for a week.

 This ministry regularly provides funds and quarterly provides volunteers to Kingsport Community Ministry Center to serve as interviewers and receptionists to assist qualified community members in obtaining help with utility bills and rent.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church has helped complete 3 Habitat for Humanity houses and maintains an on-going construction projects group.

The Salvation Army Weekend meals program is supported with funds and with volunteers to serve the meals.

Members of our church donate food for Second Harvest Food Bank to supply to food pantries in our region.

 Our church supplies backpacks for homeless children in our local public school system and to needy children in Dickenson County, VA. We also supply clothing items each Christmas to children in Dickenson County.

 Funds are provided to Help House, Friends in Need, John R. Hay House, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), World Hunger through Lutheran World Relief and Meals On Wheels of Kingsport.

The Stewardship Ministry & the Finance Team work closely with council and the other ministry teams to formulate the goals of Holy Trinity.  Finance prepares the annual budget for council, which is presented for adoption at the annual Congregational Meeting in January.  During November and December a stewardship drive is conducted during which time pledges are received for the annual budget. Weekly giving envelopes are available, as well as special offering envelopes such as for the mortgage pay down.  Holy Trinity offers various ways of giving such as memorials, honorariums and special mission projects. 

Prayer Ministry 

The Prayer Ministry Committee functions to encourage our prayer life at HTLC – both as individual children of God and as a church, the body of Christ.  I John 5:14-15 tells us “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we ask of him.”  James 5:16 reminds us to “pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

Members of the Prayer Ministry team regularly pray for the church, its people and prayer concerns shared with the team. Growth in an active prayer life is enhanced by prayer vigils, sharing of prayer concerns with one another and support of The National Day of Prayer. Devotional booklets written by the people of HTLC have been helpful during both Advent and Lent.

Mission Statement:

The Property Committee performs, looks after, plans, meets, prevents, inspects as needed, authorizes, spends money as budgeted, prays for guidance, receives recommendations, recommends a yearly budget, prioritizes needs and keeps council & congregation informed while assuring the safety and comfort of everyone that visits or enters the building or grounds will feel at home and will want to return again and again. 

The Membership:

The property committee welcomes anyone to join us on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 PM or at any function as we continue to enhance our property for future use and gatherings. Please feel free to let us know of any suggestions for improvements, any funds for improvements, or of any free labor hours available. Our work gatherings are usually scheduled ahead of time but our work gatherings generally take place on Thursday mornings.

Mission Statement: Working to build up the Body of Christ, helping to bring newcomers into the church while proclaiming the gospel to those who cross our path in life. All saints and sinners are welcome.

Promotion of the church’s life and activities through publicity, news stories, flyers and simply talking about the Lord’s work with others.

Reaching out to prospective new members in an effort to reach those who do not have a church home.

 Recruitment of sponsors  – people who enjoy visiting new members.

Key goal of our team is to welcome you with fellowship! Each week we sponsor “coffee hour” between services and Sunday School. This gives a chance to visit and get acquainted. We invite you to join in the “coffee hour”.

We encourage and invite all to join a Small Group – this emphasis is getting to know each other more intimately and sharing some Bible study and praying for one another.

 Publication and updating of the pictorial directory

 We hope each member will feel the call to discipleship and be willing to reach out to those around us!

Christian Education Ministry

 The Christian Education ministry of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church provides opportunities to the congregation and community for spiritual growth through classes, programs, and fellowship by:

Coordinating with other committees to present educational programs, courses and seminars for training lay leaders.

Organizing men's/women's retreats

Arranging programs for the monthly Wednesday Family Night Dinners.

Recognizing/ honoring teachers and confirmands.

Conducting Vacation Bible School.

Arranging Sunday school year round for all ages beginning with a Rally Sunday Celebration.

 Planning for the Christmas program.

Conducting weekday Bible studies.

 Providing educational and spiritual materials.

Providing for Confirmation instruction during 1 year of study including 1 week of concentrated study at Confirmation Camp.

Supplying & maintaining the Shuey Memorial Library.

The Worship and Music Ministry team coordinates needs and supplies for the worship services.  They schedule the weekly worship assistants and maintain the sanctuary, banners, paraments, seasonal furnishings and musical instruments.  This ministry team helps plan and facilitate special musical programs, arranging for guest musicians and vocal groups from the area musical community.

Variety may be the spice of life, but it’s the meat and potatoes of our worship at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.  Whether you prefer the snap and sparkle of a lively contemporary service or the rich majesty of the traditional Lutheran liturgies, we offer weekly services that will enrich and inspire you. 

In addition to these, the Christian calendar offers us many unique opportunities to experience a broad range of worship and music offerings.  From recitals on the finest pipe organ in town to delicate Even Prayer during Advent: from the sweet songs of the Children’s Choir to exuberant holiday cantatas by their parents and grandparents, our dedicated musicians are telling the Greatest Story Ever Told and we want to share it with you. 

Membership is always open in all of our musical organizations.  We currently have two on going adult vocal ensembles: the Parish Choir, which sings for our traditional service; and the Contemporary Praise Ensemble, who lead the music in our contemporary service.  Both groups rehearse on Wednesday evenings, occasionally joining forces for church festivals and special concerts.

 The children’s choir for kids K-5 meets Wednesdays at 5:30 pm during the school year. We focus on simple literature, singable by all children – even those who have not yet learned to read.  This group is spotlighted in the annual Christmas pageant in December

 As needs change and different opportunities arise, we often form other groups for shorter- term musical projects, for example: a youth praise band, instrumental ensembles and handbell groups for various occasions.  We try to remain flexible and NEVER let the music get boring.