Author Archive: Leesa Bell

Zoom Church 01/25/2026

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Greetings friends!

We hope your storm preparations are going well and that you have a plan for staying safe during this weather event.
*No In person worship on Sunday January 25 
*Link for Zoom worship available from Pastor
May you stay safe and warm during this winter weather event, and we hope to see you next week at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church!
This Week’s Announcements:

Financial Check In (Monthly Budget = $36,000)

Offerings received to date for January:  $25,098

Additional funds needed to make monthly budget: $10,902

Snow Day Request:  Please consider sending your offering a different way – with our online worship and snow removal costs, we will need offerings to help with our remaining monthly expenses.  Please either mail (check only) offerings to HTLC, 605 W. Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176  OR use our online VANCO payment Portal:  https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZP7Y/home Our Vanco portal accepts both one time and scheduled giving.

Raise the Roof Progress – Thank you for your generosity!

As of January 15, 2026 we have 15 Pledges for $143,890, and have collected $97,017.84 in donations! Once we have collected $125,000, the Raise the Roof & Property Committees will work on getting updated estimates for Phase I. Learn more:  https://holytrinityleesburg.org/raise-the-roof/ 

Light at the Laundromat

CANCELLED FOR JANUARY DUE TO SNOW.  Watch for information about our February event!

Handbell Huddles for Epiphany/Lent and Easter

PRACTICE CANCELLED FOR JAN 25.  Interested in Handbell Ringing? Join a “Handbell Huddle” for a specific time period rather than an entire year. 2026 sign-up is ready to go! https://holytrinityleesburg.org/handbell-huddles/ 

Support Little Blessings Preschool

Take a night off of cooking and help raise funds for painting the preschool. Dine at Paisano’s in Leesburg: Thursday, January 29, beginning at 5pm. Are you a Thrivent Member? Sponsor a preschool activity! Learn more: https://holytrinityleesburg.org/support-our-preschool/

Wednesday Night, LIVE!  

In case of inclement weather or school closings, watch your email for a message from Ms. Fox regarding our schedule! Regular schedule: 4:30pm- Confirmation Class, 5:30pm- Dinner, 6:00pm- Joyful Noise Choir.  Learn More: https://holytrinityleesburg.org/joyful-noise-sing-ring/ 

Women of the ELCA (WELCA)

Help us refill the pantries of the homeless and host families at Frederick Douglass Elementary. DATE EXTENDED:  Please return your Giant gift cards by Sunday February 1.  Coming soon on 2/22:  $10 for 10 Chicks Lenten Fundraiser for ELCA overseas appeal.  Learn More:  https://holytrinityleesburg.org/welca/

Women of the ELCA (WELCA) NEW Evening Group!

Are you interested in getting involved with WELCA, but can’t do daytime meetings?  We’re starting a WELCA “offshoot” group that will meet on Wednesday Evenings.  Join us for our Organizational Meeting:  Wednesday, January 28th, 6 pm in the Commons.

Mowing Team

Help continue the cost savings our volunteer mowers provide. Volunteer for the 2026 season. Learn more: https://holytrinityleesburg.org/mowing-season/

Volunteer to help in Worship

Can you help with reading, counting or greeting? Sign up or learn more: https://holytrinityleesburg.org/worship-volunteers/

The Classics

If you are retired, you qualify to be a Classic! Learn more: https://holytrinityleesburg.org/classics-group/

Church Council

Council Retreat Saturday, January 31, 9am-3pm

Coming In February… The Annual Chili Cook Off!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 8, and watch for more details to come soon!

Men’s Breakfast

Meet us for the most important meal of the day… Breakfast! Meet at Leesburg IHOP the second Tuesday of each month! Next breakfast:  Tuesday, February 10, 9:00 am!

Wednesday, February 18  is Ash Wednesday Join us for Worship:

12:00 NOON Worship (followed by soup & salad lunch)

5:30 pm Soup & Salad dinner                       6:30 pm Worship

Office Note

Our office administrator, Andrea, had an accident and will be working from both home and the church office. If you need assistance, please communicate via email: Office@HolyTrinityLeesburg.org.  Please join us in praying for a speedy recovery for Andrea.

Inclement Weather Policy

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Holy Trinity Lutheran Church follows the policy below regarding closing due to inclement weather:

  • INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
    Holy Trinity Lutheran Church will follow the lead of Loudoun County Public Schools regarding closures due to inclement weather. If the schools are closed, all church activities will be cancelled: Wednesday Night, LIVE!, Choir Rehearsals, Confirmation activities, Little Blessings Preschool, Team/Committee meetings, and outside group meetings will all be cancelled. The church office will also follow the Loudoun County school closures.

On Sundays, if it snows and it is dangerous — stay home!  Watch for news of Worship via Zoom.
Please remember that our first concern is everyone’s safety.

Light at the Laundromat

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Back in September, our youth dreamt up a beautiful outreach idea: Light at the Laundromat. We are thrilled to announce that the program is officially ready to launch, and we need you to help us make it a reality! This is a wonderful opportunity to serve alongside our youth and spread some literal and figurative light in our community.

The Game Plan

  • Where: Mama’s Laundromat
  • When: The 4th Sunday of every month | 12 PM – 2 PM
  • Who: 2 Adult volunteers and 4 Youth volunteers per shift.

How We’re Serving

Through generous grants and donations from our God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday, the Metro D.C. Synod of the ELCA, and the Community Carol Sing, our youth will be:

  • Providing Meals Handing out “grab and go” food bags.
  • Paying it Forward Swiping laundry cards to cover costs for patrons.
  • Sharing Joy Gifting free books to children and providing laundry detergent.

Get Involved

For each “Light at the Laundromat” Sunday, we have two distinct ways for you to get involved

  1. Fuel the Mission (Lunch Hosts): Provide a simple, quick lunch at the church for our volunteers before they head out. This ensures our team is energized and ready to serve!
  2. Be the Light (Laundromat Team): Join us at Mama’s Laundromat from Noon to 2:00 PM to assist patrons, hand out supplies, and cover laundry costs.

Sign Up → click this link to go to our sign up genius!

Whether you’re a great cook or a great conversationalist, there is a spot for you! Our youth are amazing, and we can’t wait to see this program in action. Please take a look at the schedule and see where you can help

Support our Preschool

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FUNDRAISER opportunities to support our ministry!

Take a night off of cooking on Thursday, January, 29! Dine at Paisano’s in Leesburg, beginning 5 pm and your dinner will help raise the funds needed to complete the downstairs painting.

SPONSORSHIPS

  • Are you a Thrivent member?
  • Did you know you apply for small grants?

There are special, upcoming preschool events in need of sponsorships, such as their “Valentine Town” and the “Mother’s Day Tea”. If you can help, please contact Debbie Harned, preschooldirector@holytrinityleesburg.org.org

Handbell Huddles

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Handbell Huddles!

To allow more people to participate in the JOY of Handbell Ringing, we are once again offering “Handbell Huddles”! With this model, a commitment is made for a specific time period, rather than an entire year.  Throughout the 2025-26 program year, we will have five “Huddles,” allowing you to pick the rehearsal and performance time period that works for you. Beginners are welcome; however, we must limit participation to ringers in  middle school and above!  Thank you in advance, since our handbells really enhance our worship!

2026 Handbell “Huddle” sign-up is ready to go –  We cannot wait to hear the bells ringing again!!

Click the link to sign up:  Handbell Huddles Epiphany/Lent/Easter 2026

If you have any questions, please let Nancy Fox know!

Help Serve in Worship

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Help Serve in Worship!  There are many roles where you can assist:

  • Be a Lector (reader)
  • Teller (Count offering, complete computer spreadsheet)
  • Coffee Host (Set up coffee and goodies, clean up after)
  • Usher (collect offering, help with communion seating)
  • For our youth – be an acolyte or crucifer (Light candles, carry our cross at entrance and exit)

Sign up at https://tr.ee/tGtGg2

If you need help signing up, e-mail the church office at office@holytrinityleesburg.org.

To see who has already signed up, please go to: https://tr.ee/zsigxr

 * If the date is X’d out or not optionable on the calendar, it has been filled. If you are unsure, do not hesitate to email office@holytrinityleesburg.org for help!

New to being a worship volunteer? Training and Experienced Mentors provided.

Thank you Angels

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Christmas Eve Volunteers needed

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Help Serve in Christmas Eve Worship!  With 3 services, we need lots of volunteers to help the evening run smoothly.  There are many roles where you can assist:

  • Usher
  • Communion Assistant
  • Acolyte / Crucifer (a great job for our youth – Light candles, carry our cross at entrance and exit)
  • Lector (reader)

Sign up at https://tr.ee/tGtGg2   Scroll to the correct Christmas eve service time and preferred role.

If you need help signing up, e-mail the church office at office@holytrinityleesburg.org.

To see who has already signed up, please go to: https://tr.ee/zsigxr

*If a role is not on the page, it has been filled. Or if the December 24th date is X out on the calendar, it has been filled.

Bake to Raise the Roof

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Bake the Roof — Raise the Roof!

What: 2025 Inaugural Christmas Cookie Bake Off/Sale
When: Sunday, December 7 @ 11:00-ish
How: Cookie sale with $5.00 bags, $10.00 bags, or the $20.00 unlimited box!
Baker Guidelines:
* Please bake 3 dozen cookies.
* Please deliver cookies by 9:30 am Sunday, December 7 to the check-in table.
* Please mark cookies with name of cookie.
* Please MAKE SURE to indicate if your cookies contain any nuts!
Tea/Cocoa Bar:
Enjoy a hot cup of tea or coco with your cookies.
Silent Auction:
Stroll through the silent auction and bid on amazing gift baskets, wreathes, and ornaments (further details/examples coming soon).
This event is co-sponsored by the Congregational Life Committee and the 2026 Confirmation Class.
Questions? Bill Bishop @ 240-291-8128 or billbitc@aol.com.
We hope to see you there to help RAISE THE ROOF!

Christmas Eve Schedule

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 Worship together on Christmas Eve!

2:00 pm – Festival Service

Traditional service with singing, Holy Communion and a candlelight sharing.

4:00pm – Family Style Worship

This service will be a Christmas Eve Service designed to engage the children with costumed solos, children responses, paraphrased Gospel, children’s sermon, and singing.  We will have Holy Communion.  Whether you’re coming solo, with friends, or with family, this service is perfect for all.

7:30 pm – Candlelight Festival Service

This service will be our Traditional Candlelight Christmas Eve Vigil.  There will be singing, handbells, Holy Communion and a candlelight sharing.

9:30pm – Carols around the fire pit

Dress for the weather!  There will be scripture and prayer and a lot of singing of carols!