This year, Samaritan’s Purse has requested that we hold off on holding packing parties, but that doesn’t mean that OCC will be forgotten! This year, we are approaching things a little differently, but with the same excitement and enthusiasm. We are asking that you begin putting together your OCC Shoe Boxes now. You and your family can go ahead and start gathering supplies for your boxes. If you need help figuring out what to purchase, just visit https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-shoebox-suggestions/ and select the gender and age range you prefer. We will begin collecting boxes on October 18. Stay tuned during the coming month for shoe box displays around the church. 

BUT...here is where the fun comes in. We would like to make this a friendly little competition. The Next Generation Ministry is going to match every box collected up until November 11. You heard that correctly. If you donate two boxes, then that just became four. If you bring eight, then that just became sixteen. Think of all the boxes we can load into that truck! 

Since we will not be able to have our packing party, we would like to have a Drive Thru - Drop Off Parking Lot celebration in its place, on November 11. It is going to be fun for the whole family! 

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. 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. Congregational singing is a part of our worship service again. Outdoors social distancing is required, but masks are optional.  Nursery is available for infants through 3 year olds. Temperatures will be taken for each child.

Please know that the chairs in your classroom will be spread 6 feet apart and everyone will be required to wear a mask indoors. Outdoors social distancing is required, but masks are optional.  Please also remember that the coffee machines and the water fountains will not be available. Finally, because we are still livestreaming both the 8:30 am and 11:00 am services, Lonnie and his AV team are unavailable to help any Sunday school classes with technical issues. Again, I appreciate your patience and flexibility with this new configuration of our Sunday school classes. I am sure it will continue to change as the fall progresses. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me directly at hhham@saxegotha.org.

(Also available via livestream at the Saxe Gotha YouTube page - there are two videos streaming, one for adults and one for students.)

We gather in the gym from 5:30 – 6:30 pm to eat a picnic-style supper that attendees bring their own meals, drinks, utensils, etc.). Adults move to the Sanctuary for their study, which is live-streamed on our YouTube channel for those who cannot join us.  The Students are in the Light House Auditorium for the Worship Service/Lesson at 6:30 pm followed by small group break out time. The Kids will meet in the gym.

WorshipLife: This 6-week campaign is designed to lead you on an exciting journey of discovering how to honor God in the everyday!

Please let us know that you plan to attend by emailing Helen Harrison Ham at hhham@saxegotha.org.

 You may choose to donate online at saxegotha.org/give. (TODAY is the last day for online giving).

South Sudan, and especially our mission area, has been hit with flooding, tribal conflict, COVID-19, insects and serious economic problems.

Tribal fighting was accompanied by a COVID-19 outbreak, an invasion of desert locusts which ate everything in their path, horrible inflation which has caused most people to be unable to purchase food and a second flooding which is in progress now. It’s easy to understand that their needs list is “Food and Non-Food Relief” i.e. EVERYTHING.

We provided $20,000 to help the people in Eastern Jonglei Presbytery recover. Thankfully, our church partner there has been able to purchase and distribute things like: tarpaulins for temporary shelter, cooking utensils, blankets and clothing to replace things that were lost in the floods and conflict.

Take a moment to consider a South Sudanese woman's situation. She said, “I was born in war, grew in war, was married in war, gave birth in war, raised my children in war and probably will die in war.” God’s ministry in South Sudan is not getting easier, but it is becoming more vital.

Thank you for your prayers and financial support. With both we can continue to carry out our part of God’s mission to the people of South Sudan.

The First Impressions Team is in need of Ushers and CREW members. Please call or email Carl Hammond at 803-767-0864 or hammondcb@yahoo.com if you are interested. All volunteers assist once every 6 weeks.

Characters gives us a glimpse into the lives of people of faith. During the next year, we will be challenged as we dig deeper into the context and setting of each person’s life – gaining new insights into the world in which they lived and connecting their world with ours. Along the way, truths that impact our lives today will be discovered as we see the challenges, struggles and opportunities faced by people seeking to follow God. In many of these stories, we will find ourselves and our need for a Savior. We pray that through these studies, we will be transformed and better equipped to fulfill God’s purposes in our world today.

Please like and follow this group on Facebook at SG Moms in Ministry or on Instagram.

A delicious meal will be served in the parking lot followed by showing of Free Burma Rangers, the true extraordinary story of the 20-year journey of missionaries Dave and Karen Eubank. The film follows Dave, Karen, and their three young children, as they venture into war zones where they are fighting to bring hope. Dave Eubank is a rare hero of the faith. He is a former U.S. Special Forces soldier turned missionary to conflict zones. The film is a real life adventure movie. Viewers will follow the family into firefights, heroic rescues, and experience life-changing ministry.

Are you or someone you know dealing with the loss of a loved one? If so, GriefShare is available both online and in person. If you are looking for a group, you can go to their website at www.GriefShare.org and search for a current meeting list. Below are some nearby places that are offering the group weekly meetings to help deal with a loss.

Debbie Knight’s Monday morning study has resumed. They will finish Chasing Vines by Beth Moore for 3 more weeks and then begin a new study Take Courage: A Study of Haggai by Jennifer Rothschild. They’ll be located in Light House Room 112/113. To contact Debbie Knight: lexdeb73@gmail.com. 

The Young Mother's Bible Study will resume after the trial period of school. More details will be provided at a later date. They will be studying Its Not Supposed To Be This Way by Lysa TerkHeurst. Please contact Meredith Cully with questions: mcully@saxegotha.org.

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.