This Week's Newsletter
June 24, 2020
Dear Saxe Gotha Family,

Whose side is God on in our current civil unrest? A human tendency is to claim that God is on our side of a conflict. However, we need to remember that God judges all sides. The book of Joshua makes this abundantly clear. We read in Joshua 5:13-15:

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" The commander of the Lord's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

In response to Joshua’s question, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” we would have expected God to answer, “I’m for you!” Instead, our Lord responded, “Neither!” and proceeded to convey His holiness to Joshua. God doesn’t take sides, rather He judges all sides of a conflict. 

This truth can be troubling to us when we are so passionate about our cause and are convinced that our perspective is the same one God possesses. It is precisely at this point that we need to remember the corrupting power of sin. Sin, as Luther insisted, corrupts not only our worst deeds, but also our best deeds. Likewise, the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr wisely pointed out that our causes are never as just as we think they are, nor never as righteous as we deem them to be. 

The 16 th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, seemed to be aware of this truth in a way few ever have. His last Inaugural Address delivered when the Union armies were within plain sight of final victory reflects a deep conviction that both sides of the conflict stand under the judgment of God. Speaking to a terribly divided nation, Lincoln said:

…Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained….

Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any man should dare ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces, but let us judge not, that we not be judged. 

The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. “Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs to be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.” 

If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? 

Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God will that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsmen’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” 

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. 

On this Independence Day weekend when we celebrate the founding of this great country, let us spend time in self-examination, repentance and prayer. “With malice toward none, with charity for all” let us resolve to work toward the healing of our land by acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). 
In Christ’s love,
Pastor Jim
Church Safety Plans for In-Person Worship:
There are 2 services: 8:30 am Traditional in the Sanctuary and 11:00 am AWE (Contemporary) in the Light House. This arrangement allows us to use the facility once a week, since it would be impossible to sanitize the Sanctuary and AWE Auditorium for a subsequent service.

To keep participants safe, social distancing, masks, and use of hand sanitizer are required. The pews and chairs are staggered and set-up for social distancing, and family units are asked to sit together. To keep everyone safe, we will not be doing any congregational singing at any of the services. Also, we are not offering nursery or children’s church. In addition, please note that during services to help make sure that the speakers can be heard, masks will not be worn by those speaking or singing on stage, but 3 times the recommended spacing is utilized as a precaution. 
Current Sermon Series - Stories that Matter
Everybody loves a good story and Jesus was a fantastic storyteller! This summer we will be studying the parables of Jesus. We, of course, will not be covering all of the 40+ parables that Jesus told, but we will be studying 12 of them. A simple definition of a parable is that it is an earthly story about spiritual things. Consequentially, these stories matter -- they have eternal significance! So, please plan to join us as we listen to our Master Storyteller tell us stories that can transform our lives.  
God at Work T-Shirts - Support Saxe Gotha Missions
Order Deadline Extended
God is at work in our church, in our community and in each one of us! Join us as we are God's hands and feet! Contact Meredith Cully if you are interested in getting involved!

If you would like to purchase a God at Work t-shirt, please click below. The proceeds will benefit Saxe Gotha Missions.

The goal of these shirts is to show us together as a united front when working on our campus and out in the community. We would love to see service groups at Saxe Gotha purchase these shirts and wear them for events, especially visible events (both in-person and on social media) like Mission Lexington Food Drives, VBS, Drive Thru Prayer, Nailbenders and more. 

We would also love to hear stories of how God is at Work on your frontlines. Please send those to: GodatWork@saxegotha.org .
Upcoming Events:
Rising 6th Grade - 12th Grade

July 3 - The world needs more happy little trees, so let's do our part! We're going to host a Bob Ross painting night from 7:30-8:30 pm in the back parking lot of the Light House. 

July 8 - We're going to split up and have a Guys Night and Girls Night hosted by the interns. We'll have more details to come on these closer to time, but we wanted to get on your calendars early.

Please contact Justin Hall with questions: jhall@saxegotha.org .
Upcoming Events:
Rising 1st - 5th Grade (family friendly)

Cowboy Water Day - planned for July 1st has been postponed. We will let you know when it is rescheduled.

July 9 - Kids Project Day (10:00 am - 12:00 noon, this time may change)

All of these events:
  • take place in the parking lot
  • follow church-approved and mom-approved safe/sanitized/distanced requirements
  • are organized and hosted by our interns
  • are geared towards 1st-5th grade, but include the whole family (so that we include all siblings (even preschoolers) and have extra eyes/hands on the correct distances and precaution measures)

Please contact Melinda with questions: mboyle@saxegotha.org .
Prayer Focus for June:
Muslims around the world.
Rescheduled Upcoming New Members:
Danny & Debbie Raines will be joining on Sunday, August 9 at the 11:00 am AWE Service.

Funeral Arrangements:
Ron Farrar, Saturday, July 25 th 11:00 am in the Sanctuary (Ron died 5/18/2020)
Mary Claire Fitts, Wednesday, August 5 th at 4:00 pm in the Sanctuary (Mary Claire died 4/23/20)

The offices (and virtual offices) will be closed on Monday, July 6 th in observance of the July 4 th Holiday. 

Encounters with God Books Available: We have the current booklets available. Please email Pansy to let her know that you would like to receive one via the mail: pfloyd@saxegotha.org.
Indoor Garage Sale Update: Session has turned over the management of our annual Church Garage Sale to the Missions Ministry starting this year. All proceeds will benefit Local, National and International Missions. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the sale was scheduled for July 25, 2020. Consequently, we will postpone the sale until sometime in the fall. We expect to announce the new date in about 30 days. Please save your donations until we can start collecting them. For more information contact: Kathy Seymour 803-920-7385 or 4kathys@gmail.com .
Sermons Available Online:  To listen to past sermons, please go to  saxegotha.org/media . To watch past sermons, please go to our Saxe Gotha YouTube Channel and make sure to subscribe.
Virtual VBS 2020 is Available for the
Rest of the Summer!

Our scheduled week of VBS might be over, but the materials will be available all summer. Please invite friends and family members to participate online.
For those of you who would like still to participate, we have uploaded downloadable files at  SaxeGotha.org/GodatWork  to follow along with our daily episodes from this week on our YouTube channel. The files take the place of what was in the tool kit, so this VBS can last all summer no matter where you are or where you go. So if you find yourself surrounded by kids at any point—we’ve got you covered!
To Keep You Connected:
In addition, we have a vibrant Men's Bible Study meeting on Monday morning at 8:30 am taught by Scott Welborn.

If you are interested in participating in one of these classes, please contact our Associate Pastor Helen Harrison Ham at  hhham@saxegotha.org , and she will provide you the information needed to sign-in to the class of your choice.

Senior Adults:
Tuesdays at noon
Contact Mike Graves for login info:  digger7006@yahoo.com .

Youth:
Contact Justin Hall to get connected:  jhall@saxegotha.org .
Mother's Morning Out Registration:
A time of rest for parents and grandparents, and a time of learning and fun for little ones! Mother's Morning Out is for children ages 3-24 months. We offer flexible one, two and three day options (Tuesday through Thursday) in both fall, winter, and spring. Your child will have the opportunity to grow in a loving Christian environment through art, music and play. 

Dates: September 8, 2020 - May 6, 2021


We would love to hear from you! Please contact Sara McCarter with questions: smccarter@saxegotha.org .
Remember All in Your Prayers!
PRAYER LIST
  • Bob and Eve Wall's grandson 
  • Jan Harrison
  • Jimmie Rooks' niece 
  • Joe Durham's brother and sister-in-law 
  • Judy Fisher's brother
  • Julie Washburn's mother 
  • Melissa Kyzer
  • Susanne Smith's cousin
  • Tillman Kyzer
  • Tripp Hunter

Those battling COVID-19, Healthcare Workers, First Responders.
ONGOING PRAYER CONCERNS
  • Alice Peck
  • Anne Burdette
  • Bea Amsler
  • Beth Klaes
  • Bobby Zeigler
  • Charlie Brooks
  • Dawn Barber's mother
  • Dawn Merck
  • Edie Athey's son
  • Fran Griffith
  • Herby Hucks' sister
  • Jody Sullivan's husband
  • Julian Mims
  • Kay Luthren's mother
  • Lois Ann Tuell's granddaughter 
  • Melinda Martin's mother
  • Meredith Inman Shirk
  • Mike Mallison
  • Nita Bailey's daughter
  • Parris McBride
  • Regan Kolwyck
  • Robby Kerr's mother
  • Robin Foy
  • Sarah Raines' mother
  • Scott and Marilyn Welborn
  • Steve Robert's brother
  • Sunny Jewell's father
  • Trudi Greene
  • Wanda McCarthy
DEPLOYED
  • Daniel Warren
  • Jamie Glatz
  • Ray Hammond's nephew
SERVING WITHIN THE USA
  • Aaron Thies
  • Adam Gilmore
  • B. J. Manis
  • Bob Rabon
  • Brian Bishop
  • Greg Adams
  • John "Tripp" Bartlett
  • Josh Lance
  • Ken Culbertson 
  • Kyle Peck
  • Michael Smoak
  • 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.
We invite you to join us for Online Worship Services:
We live stream our 8:30 am Traditional Service and our 11:00 am AWE Contemporary Service. If you prefer to view the Traditional Service at 11:00, you can re-play the 8:30 service at that time.

To view the Saxe Gotha Services and other resources, please go to:   https://www.youtube.com/user/SaxeGothaPres .
Prayerwalking in your Community
During our Friday devotion, HH will be discussing the practice of prayerwalking.  Prayerwalking involves taking our prayers out into our community where we desire to see God’s presence manifested and our prayers answered. We welcome you and your family to join us in praying for our community during this difficult time. Download the brochure below to get ready for this exciting message and to join with us across the midlands. To get your own copy of the Prayerwalking guide, please visit: saxegotha.org/ministries/adult-ministries.
Are COVID-19 and Quarantine Affecting Your Marriage?
Are money worries, conflicts over chores or children, boredom or a lack of exercise and personal time causing understandable stress? Could your marriage use prayer and an encouraging focus? If so, request a copy of “30 Days of Marriage Prayers” by Dr. Tony Evans by sending an email to Renee Starnes at Rstarnes@saxegotha.org. This booklet can bring God’s presence back into your relationship and offer you strength.
Reconnecting as a Couple during Coronavirus
Would you like more grace in your family life as you are dealing with the many changes brought on during the Coronavirus? Focus on the Family has an excellent video that gives a Christian perspective on choosing grace with not only a spouse, but with one’s entire family. The video involves Jim Daly and Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley.
Need some encouragement? 
Seeking interaction with other adults?
Then join this Zoom small group on Wednesday nights at 7:00 pm.

Please contact Tim Kehoe at
408-504-8800 for information on how to log on. 
Being the Hands and Feet of Christ:
Our Missions Ministry has people standing by to help our congregation by running errands, picking up groceries or any essential items you may need.

Please contact Kathy Seymour at  4kathys@gmail.com  or 803-920-7385 if you need this service.
The Monday morning Men's Bible study is online!
They will be connecting at 8:30 am next Monday for a brief lesson and to pray for each other and for other people. Contact Scott Welborn at   bleedbabyblu@gmail.com  for meeting information. This Bible study is open to men of all ages.
Mission Lexington Back to School Supplies Drive
Save the Date - Tuesday, July 28 (9:00 am - 1:00 pm) in the Saxe Gotha Parking Lot in front of the bell tower. Stay tuned for the specific school supplies that are most in demand.
Daily Devotionals:
Welcome to our daily devotionals that your church staff will be offering. Our prayer is that you and your family will use these devotionals to enrich your family's spiritual life.  Perhaps these devotionals can be used as a conversation starter for your mealtimes together.
 
Our prayer is that you will look back on this crisis years from now and see that it was a turning point in your being the family God intended you to be - a family built on the foundation of Jesus Christ to love each other as Christ loves you.  
 
In case you have missed one of our daily devotionals, you can go to the Saxe Gotha Devotional Playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLea6ndHzArf_GGgSnTna8lW6cUZHQlCew .
Saxe Gotha Church Office Closed:
Continuing to be mindful of the well-being of our members and staff, the Personnel Team and SGPC leadership have determined that the SGPC offices will continue to be closed to outside visitors until further notice. The Church Staff will be working remotely during this time.
Passing of the Peace Videos:

Would you like to send out a Welcome Message to your Saxe Gotha family? If so, we would like you to record a 10-second video of you or your family saying "Hello" to fellow Saxe Gotha members. Please record in landscape orientation and send to mandrews@saxegotha.org. We think this will really help people feel more connected while we are all worshiping at home.
Drive Thru Prayer: 
Tuesday, July 21
(the 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.  
On June 16, we had 8 volunteers and 2 cars stopped by. So excited to have this ministry up and running even during times of social distancing.
To Volunteer, contact Loretta Gobbel at 319-4608 or Pete Eckert at 608-9835 or email missions@saxegotha.org .
Did you know that Saxe Gotha has its own customized library on Right Now Media?
Here is the specific link to it if you already have your account set up:
https://www.rightnowmedia.org/CustomLibrary/8737 . Right Now is like the Netflix of Christian media and Bible studies. And if you're already tired of watching TV and scrolling the internet, then feed your mind and heart with good stuff! We have several different channels within Saxe Gotha's custom library: Adults, Youth, Children, Worship and the Arts, Missions and Outreach, Marriage, and Parenting. 

If you need help setting up your Right Now account, you can contact one of the following:
Patrick Cherry:
Justin Hall:  jhall@saxegotha.org
Melinda Boyle: 
Hal McIntosh: 

The studies and videos inside Saxe Gotha's library on Right Now are just suggestions from our staff. Please feel free to explore and enjoy the many wonderful videos on Right Now while you are at home!
The Saxe Gotha CDC is now open with important safety protocols in place.

Registration (2020-2021): 
Preschool (2 - 4 year old), Afterschool and Summer Questions? handrews@saxegotha.org .
Nailbenders: Saturday, July 11
Meet at 8:00 am (the 2nd Saturday of the month) at the church outdoor patio in front of the Light House and bring a sack breakfast to eat, then leave from there to assist individuals in need. Contact Keith Hall with questions: Nailbenders.sg@gmail.com .
Caring Connections Brotherhood: VIRTUAL Until Further Notice
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  digger7006@yahoo.com .
Amazon Smile: $60.09 was received from Amazon for the 2nd Quarter of 2020!
Did you know that when shopping Amazon, they will make a donation to Saxe Gotha with no additional cost to you. Please go to: http://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.

NEW: AmazonSmile customers can now support Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations.
  1. Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
  2. Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings'
  3. Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process 
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  rstarnes@saxegotha.org .
F.I.S.H./First Impressions Teams:   
7/5: Team 4, 7/12: Team 5, 7/19: Team 6, 7/26: Team 1.
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).
Online Giving:
Your tithes and gifts are vitally important to the ministry of our church! We ask that you prayerfully consider how God is leading you to give. "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."
- I Corinthians 12:27
Giving Update:
5503 Sunset Boulevard
Lexington, SC 29072
803.359.7770
Office Hours
M – Th  8:30 – 5:00pm
Sunday Worship
Traditional       8:30am
Contemporary 11:00am