This Week's Newsletter
July 8, 2020
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Saints,
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. -
Hebrews 13:8 NIV
If 2020 were a movie scene, it would be the Boat & Tunnel Scene from the 1971 adaptation of
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
. I recently saw someone make this correlation and found it amusing. If you have seen this movie, you likely remember this scene. Gene Wilder is at his prime and is terrifying in this scene as the calm chocolate factory fades away and the tourists find themselves in a dark tunnel that begins to spin in chaotic color with disturbing images, while Willy Wonka recites odd poetry in an ever-increasing cadence. The scene ends with an abrupt stop as if nothing has happened, but the occupants of the boat will not soon forget that memorable ride…and neither have I.
Does 2020 feel like a psychedelic Willy Wonka boat ride to you? As we cling to Scripture, we are reminded that our God is present in every story throughout the Bible. God is present in the chaos. God is present in the silence. God is present in every change and upheaval. Do you see God at work now? Are you clinging to his promises?
In the midst of the chaotic ride of 2020, I see God at work among our Next Generation Ministry. I am so excited to see how well our first ever Virtual VBS found its way into homes all over Lexington and even invaded some other states! We have an absolute dream team of NextGen Interns this summer who have brought with them a breath of energy and creativity. They continue to help us think outside the box as we plan events that are safe, sanitized and properly distanced. Even if you are not able to come to our campus, we have ways to engage. Our Student Ministry has a virtual Sunday School gathering every Sunday with our interns at the helm. This is open to all middle and high school students. Our Children’s Ministry has a prerecorded lesson with our Interns. These lessons are meant for children of all ages and are meant to be a way for families to engage these valuable scripture lessons together.
While we had to take a step back from our in-person parking lot gatherings due to the rising number of infections and following suit with the Lexington One School District, we are still seeking to provide opportunities for all ages to engage together as a church. This week, our middle and high school students will participate in a Virtual Bob Ross Painting Night where they have been provided painting materials and will join together through the use of technology to paint "Happy Little Trees" together. Our Kids are invited to join in our Spectacular Animal Extravaganza taking place on Zoom this week. All information about upcoming events can be found on our website at
https://saxegotha.org/godatwork/summer-family-events
. Want stay informed or have questions? Send an email to our Youth Director Justin Hall at
jhall@saxegotha.org
or our Children’s Director Melinda Boyle at
mboyle@saxegotha.org
to be added to their emailing list!
Please know that our team is hard at work dreaming and planning for new, creative and innovative ways that we can help the Next Generation find, follow and flourish in a life with Jesus in all their places as we head into the Fall. We may not know where this boat ride is taking us, but we can be assured that our God is with us. Everything may change, but our Savior, Jesus remains the same!
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Grace & Peace,
Pastor Patrick
Associate Pastor of Next Generation Ministries
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Prayer Focus for July:
Missions and Missionaries.
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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
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11:00 am in the Sanctuary (Ron died 5/18/2020)
Mary Claire Fitts, Wednesday, August 5
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at 4:00 pm in the Sanctuary (Mary Claire died 4/23/20)
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.
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Church Safety Plans for In-Person Worship:
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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.
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Mission Lexington Back to School Supplies Drive
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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.
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Saxe Gotha Recognized as an Outstanding Member Church by Mission Lexington
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Mission Lexington recently gave Saxe Gotha the Impact Partner Award - 5th Place (out of approx. 60 churches in the area) for our generous donations and service to their missions. Thank you to all who have served and donated so faithfully.
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American Red Cross Blood Drive
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Monday, July 27 at 11:00 am to 4:00 pm in the Light House Atrium. Please click on the link below to find out additional details and for directions to register.
All donations will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies.
ONLY STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND DONORS ARE ALLOWED. NO VISITORS, INCLUDING CHILDREN.
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Current Sermon Series - Stories that Matter
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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.
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God at Work T-Shirts - Support Saxe Gotha Missions
Order Deadline
Extended
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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
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Upcoming Events:
Rising 6th Grade - 12th Grade
July 8
- The world needs more happy little trees, so let's do our part! We're going to host a Bob Ross painting night that will live stream from 6:00-7:00 pm in the back parking lot of the Light House.
Date TBD
- 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.
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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.
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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!
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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
Youth:
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Mother's Morning Out Registration:
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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
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Saxe Gotha Child Development Center Registration (2020-2021):
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Remember All in Your Prayers!
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- Jan Harrison
- Jimmie Rooks' niece
- Judy Fisher's brother
- Keith Walker's father
- Susanne Smith's cousin
- Tara Vitollo’s father
- Tillman Kyzer
- Tripp Hunter
Those battling COVID-19, Healthcare Workers, First Responders.
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- 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
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- Daniel Warren
- Jamie Glatz
- Ray Hammond's nephew
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- 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.
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We invite you to join us for Online Worship Services:
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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.
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Prayerwalking in your Community
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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.
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Are COVID-19 and Quarantine Affecting Your Marriage?
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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.
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Reconnecting as a Couple during Coronavirus
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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.
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Need some encouragement?
Seeking interaction with other adults?
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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.
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Being the Hands and Feet of Christ:
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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.
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The Monday morning Men's Bible study is online!
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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.
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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.
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Saxe Gotha Church Office Closed:
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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.
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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.
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Drive Thru Prayer:
Tuesday, July 21
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(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.
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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.
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Did you know that Saxe Gotha has its own customized library on Right Now Media?
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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:
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!
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Nailbenders: Saturday, July 11
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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
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Caring Connections Brotherhood: VIRTUAL Until Further Notice
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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
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Amazon Smile: $60.09 was received from Amazon for the 2nd Quarter of 2020!
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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.
- Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
- Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings'
- Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process
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Covered with God's Love Blankets:
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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
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F.I.S.H./First Impressions Teams:
7/12: Team 5, 7/19: Team 6, 7/26: Team 1.
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Tips for Giving By Text:
Saxe Gotha's Text Giving #:
803-302-3499
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- 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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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
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5503 Sunset Boulevard
Lexington, SC 29072
803.359.7770
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Office Hours
M – Th 8:30 – 5:00pm
Sunday Worship
Traditional 8:30am
Contemporary 11:00am
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