PRAYER LIST
-
Bob Hinson
-
Carol Landreth's granddaughter
- Dawn Merck
- Deck Hudson's mother
- Don Pike
- Joe and Judy Durham's daughter and granddaughter
- Kathy Medlen
- Louise Viveros
- Meredith Inman Shirk
- Nancy Wood
- Nickie Brierley
- Nidsa Stokes
- Nita Bailey's daughter
- Parris McBride
- Walt Werner
ONGOING PRAYER CONCERNS
- Alice Peck
- Ann Austin
- Anna Kirby's father
- Anne Burdette
- Bea Amsler
- Beth Klaes
- Bobby Zeigler
- Dawn Barber's mother
- Eloise Faircloth
- Emily Fraser
- Greg Avedisian
- Herby Hucks' sister
- Jody Sullivan's husband
- Joyce Murphy's mother
- Kay Luthren's mother
- Lois Ann Tuell's granddaughter
- Melinda Martin's mother
- Merritt Wham
- Regan Kolwyck
- Robby Kerr's mother
- Sarah Raines' mother
- Scott and Marilyn Welborn
- Steve Robert's brother
- Sunny Jewell's father
- Tillman Kyzer
- Trudi Greene
- Wanda McCarthy
DEPLOYED
- Daniel Warren
- Josh Lance
- Michael Smoak
- Ray Hammond's nephew
- Aaron Thies
- Adam Gilmore
- B. J. Manis
- Bob Rabon
- Brian Bishop
- Greg Adams
- Jamie Glatz
- John"Tripp" Bartlett
- Ken Culbertson
- Kyle Peck
- Ram Matthews
- Robert Holder
- Ron Culbertson
- Sean Spence
- Steven Shealy
- Sumner Thomas
- William Moore
- Wyatt Hughes
Please call the church office to make updates to our prayer list: 803-359-7770.
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Dear Fellow Servants of Jesus Christ, 
Please remember that this weekend our Music and Worship Arts Ministry will treat us to our annual Christmas cantata entitled, A Baby Changes Everything. Performances will be this Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 11:00 am in the Sanctuary. This is a One Service Sunday. There will not be an 8:30 am Traditional Service or an 10:45 am AWE Contemporary Service. We hope that you will use these services to introduce your family and friends to the true meaning of Christmas! Please be sure to invite them to join us.
A Baby Changes Everything
uses music and drama to tell
the story of three individuals in the tiny village of Bethlehem. The story focuses on the reality that the birth of Jesus not only changed the events in Bethlehem, but also the course of human history - including our own. As Christian theologian and historian Philip Schaff observed:
Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander the Great, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science and learning, he shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of school, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.
So, come and see how the birth of Jesus changed the lives of a Roman census taker, a servant girl and a shepherd.
In Christ's love,
Pastor Jim
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Prayer Focus for December:
Those with heavy hearts.
Christian Love & Sympathy is extended to Judy McDonagh on the death of her sister and Ransom Cooper on the death of his mother.
The flowers that grace our sanctuary this coming Sunday are given to the Glory of God and in honor of John and Mary Fitts' 60 Years of Marriage by their Children and Grandchildren.
No Children's Worship on Sunday: There will be no Children's Worship today so that all children can enjoy the cantata. There will also not be Children's Worship on Christmas Eve so that families can worship together.
Babysitter List: If you have a need for a Babysitter, one that is Red Cross certified, please email Renee' Starnes in the church's office at [email protected] for the names of babysitters that are part of the SGPC family.
Weekly Sermon and Scripture Schedule: To find the upcoming sermon topics and scriptures, please click here.
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You are invited to join us...
Advent Sermon Series:
"Standing on the Promises: David and Jesus"
SUNDAY: DECEMBER 22 and 29
Normal Worship: 8:30 and 11:00 AM Traditional Services in Sanctuary, 10:45 AM AWE Contemporary Service in Light House.
SATURDAY: DECEMBER 14 at 7:30 PM and
SUNDAY: DECEMBER 15 at 11:00 AM -
CHRISTMAS CANTATA IN THE SANCTUARY
"A Baby Changes Everything" - A full scale musical, complete with
Sanctuary, Youth and Children's choirs, drama cast and orchestra.
11:00 AM Traditional Service (One Service Sunday in Sanctuary - No Children's Worship)
TUESDAY: DECEMBER 24 - CHRISTMAS EVE
CANDLELIGHT COMMUNION SERVICES
4:00 PM Children's Service for Families in Sanctuary
5:30 PM Contemporary Service in Light House Auditorium
7:00 PM Traditional Family Service in Sanctuary
* Childcare provided at the 4:00 & 5:30 PM services only.
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Christmas Cantata
: 
Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 15 at 11:00 am in the Sanctuary, "A Baby Changes Everything." Brimming with well-crafted dialogue, dynamic characters, thrilling songs and a timeless message, this dramatic musical tells the story of three individuals in the tiny village of Bethlehem. Initially turning away from the promised Messiah, the trio almost sleeps through the first Christmas night -- until they are awakened in time to experience the life-changing miracle in a manger.
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Children's
Christmas 
Celebration:
Thank you to all who attended the celebration and parade. Lots of fun and fellowship were had by all!
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Year End Giving Options: 
Mail
- the envelope must be postmarked no later than
Dec. 31, 2019
.
Offering
- any offering submitted either in cash or check by year end.
In Person
- Check/Cash can be hand delivered to the business office by
Dec. 31, 2019 no later than 1:00 pm
.
Online
- must be in before midnight on
Dec. 31, 2019
.
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 The Church Office will be closed on December 24, 25 and January 1. Also, the office will close on December 31 at 1:00 pm.
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Staff Love Offering:
We will collect a Christmas Love Offering for the SGPC staff members online through Sunday, December 15 at saxegotha.org/give. Please also turn-in any Staff Love Offering envelopes by this Sunday, December 15. Thank you!
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Drive Thru Prayer:
(December 17, 3rd Tuesday of the month) 7
:15-8:15 am, SGPC
Parking Lot.
Join together as we love and support community members in need of prayer. We will need prayer warriors, enthusiastic sign holders and traffic directors. In November, we had 12 volunteers and 14 cars stopped for prayer.
To Volunteer, contact Loretta Gobbel at 319-4608 or Pete Eckert at 608-9835 or email
[email protected]
.
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Friendship Dinner:
Thank you to all who volunteered! Over 75 of our friends were served and entertained for the evening.
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South Sudan Flooding Disaster Response: 
World Food Program (WFP)
aircraft dropped food in Pibor, South Sudan in early December. The pictures show the aircraft dropping on the third day and the sorghum on the ground. WFP will do the same for Lekwangole, Vertet and Gummuruk. These are the areas where our ministry is focused and the most flood ravaged areas in Boma State, South Sudan. In Pibor, WFP has staff on the ground to distribute the food. The Presbyterian Church of South Sudan's Relief and Development Staff arrived in Juba from Nairobi on December 2. Supported by PCUSA's Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), they intend to buy plastic sheets, mosquito nets and blankets for distribution with the funds that they received from PDA.
While these are perhaps the most needy areas in South Sudan due to the massive floods, almost a million people are impacted. Most of them need humanitarian relief as well. Furthermore, most of those affected are in areas where the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan (PCOSS) is the primary denomination. Trinity Presbytery's South Sudan Ministry has cancelled its 2020 mission trip to South Sudan and will use funds designated for that to assist with flood recovery. The Boma Assistance Group for South Sudan will provide financial assistance as well. Assistance will be provided to both PCOSS and our partners in Boma State in an effort to do as much as possible.
Jesus said, "... Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt 25:40 KJV
Let us, "Praise the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever". Thank you and please continue praying for people of South Sudan who suffer from corrupt and abusive leadership, 6 years of conflict and this flooding disaster.
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The
Compassionate Care Meals Ministry
provides meals to our families when they are going  through the loss of a loved one. This ministry is in need of additional members. If this is an area you could help with, please call Renee' Starnes at 359-7770 ext. 37 or email
[email protected]
.
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GriefShare: 
It hurts to lose a loved one. GriefShare is for people grieving the death of a family member or friend and offers a weekly support group led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. This group offers understanding and ideas to help you through one of life's most difficult experiences. Saxe Gotha will be holding our GriefShare group meetings Sundays, January 5, 2020 through March 29, 2020 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. You can register online, or contact Renee' Starnes at
[email protected]
for more information. There is a cost of $15 for the workbook. Please share this information with friends and neighbors that may be dealing with a loss.
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Covered with God's Love Blankets
: 
As part of Congregational Care, free soft blankets are available for any seriously ill child or a child who has lost a parent or sibling. Call Patti Schmitz at 467-6379 or Renee Starnes at 359-7770 ext. 37 or
[email protected]
.
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Prayer Shawl Ministry: 
Will resume January 16. Meets on the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month in Room 154, MB (10:00- 11:30 am). If you like to knit, or would like to learn to knit, this group is for you. Questions? Call Polly Askew at 803-359-7263.
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Caring Connections Brotherhood: Men - looking for a local band  of brothers? Then check out the Caring Connections Brotherhood. This group of gentlemen meets weekly to provide fellowship and support for men in our church family and in the greater community. Join them each Tuesday at 12:00 noon at the Flight Deck Restaurant here in Lexington (109-A Old Chapin Rd.) The Brotherhood does more than just meet for lunch and laughter - on occasion they also have special speakers, take day excursions and visit other men who are homebound. To get involved in the Caring Connections Brotherhood, please contact: Mike Graves (703-481-8166) or at
[email protected].
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Flower Ministry:
The presence of flowers in the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings brings added beauty and Glory to God during worship. There is a notebook available on the podium in the Narthex to sign-up to provide flowers or you can contact Robin Wilkes at: 803-530-7603. Also, Robin will deliver the flowers to the nursing home of your choice if you do not have plans for them after the service.
We would like to encourage members to donate flowers in memory or celebration of family milestones.
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Amazon Smile
: During the fourth quarter of 2019, we received $89.93  towards DF3 from Amazon! Did you know that when shopping Amazon they will make a donation to Saxe Gotha that will go towards Debt Free in Three, with no additional cost to you? The only requirement is to go to https://smile.amazon.com instead of Amazon.com and choose Saxe Gotha as your charity of choice. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service, but with each purchase you help reduce the debt.
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Lexington One Backpack Program: 
Saxe Gotha partners with Lexington School District One to support the Backpack Program. Items Needed for Backpacks: juice boxes, cereal/granola bars, snack crackers, single serving cereal boxes/bowls, raisins, peanut butter, fruit cups/pouches (please no applesauce cups), pudding cups, oatmeal packets. If you or your small group is interested in donating food or packing bags to assist with this effort, please contact Holly Waldrip:
[email protected]
. You can place donations in the blue bin in the church main office.
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Calling All Acolytes...
We are looking for new acolytes this fall. Any child that will be in 3rd grade or above can be an acolyte. It is a great opportunity for your child to serve during the 11:00 am traditional worship service. If you are interested, contact Meredith Cully at
[email protected] or sign up online:
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Nailbenders
: 
Meet at 8:00 am (December 14, 2nd Saturday of the month) at the Chick-fil-A at 5560 Sunset Blvd, then leave from there to assist individuals in need. Everyone is welcome to help! Contact Keith Hall with questions:
[email protected]
.
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F.I.S.H Teams:
12/15: Team 5, 12/22: Team 6, 12/29: Team 1.
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Tips for Giving By Text: 
Saxe Gotha's Text Giving #: 803-302-3499
- If you text a monetary value, the funds are attributed to the church's default fund.
- If you text a monetary value + a fund name, the funds will be attributed to that fund name.
- You can also text the following: "Funds" (will give you a list of fund names), "Help" (to get assistance with gifting via text), or "Reset" (will remove saved credit card information).
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Year 2 - Ended
July 31, 2018: $371,954
Year 3 - Ending July 31, 2019
(Raised as of December 1, 2019 - including monthly mortgage payments): $766,938
Only $215,643.91 Remaining to Satisfy this Debt By Year End!
To give to the Debt Free in Three Campaign or General Budget,
click here.
Hebrews 12:1 "Let us strip off every weight that slows us down ... and run with endurance the race."
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