Dear Saxe Gotha Church Family,

What are your memories of Summer growing up? Killing time around the neighborhood? Vacation? Camp? Well, next week, we are giving our middle school and high school students a chance to make some memories of their own as we head to Snowbird.

Snowbird is a fantastic camp in Andrews, NC, that caters to middle school and high school students. Our students will have opportunities for fun, fellowship and learning. There will be high adventure and time to goof around, as our students all grow closer to one another. With activities like paintball, zip lining, archery, tag, whitewater rafting, the ropes course, shotgun shooting, and the poopie pole (I don’t even know how to explain this one, so just take my word for it: IT’S AWESOME), there is no shortage of ways for students to have a good time at Snowbird. Although, my favorite part of Snowbird, and the reason we keep going back, is the teaching.

Snowbird has strong, Biblically sound, and at times challenging, teaching that doesn’t pull punches and prepares our students for a life of serving Jesus. In their own words: “Summer Camp at Snowbird is all about pointing students to the Gospel.” Who wouldn’t want to be a part of something like that? This year, our theme is “The Attributes of God,” and if I know Brody, we’re about to get some tough love as we take an honest look at God as He defines Himself, not as we like to make Him. I am so looking forward to our students hearing these messages, and wrestling with them for a week, surrounded by adults who are there to walk with them through it all.

Please be in prayer for our students that they would make the most of this opportunity to truly engage with our God on a deeper level. Pray that those who know Him would grow deeper in that relationship, and pray that those who don’t know Him would come to faith next week. God can work amazing things at camp, and we know that prayer for our students will prepare their hearts for that work. Please be in prayer for our adult leaders as well. Pray that God would use them to speak truth to our students, that they would remain rested and energized and that they would build relationships with students that will come back and serve those students well as they grow in their faith.

Thank you for your prayers, and I can’t wait for you to hear all about our trip when we get back!

Justin Hall

Director of Student Ministry

The Encounters with God Devotional Books (July-September) are now available for pick-up in the Narthex and in the Light House on the racks by the doors. Please email Pansy at pfloyd@saxegotha.org if you would like them mailed to you.

TONIGHT: July 21: Mandy Cheatham from Lighthouse for Life

July 28: Mission Lexington representative

6:00 pm - Dinner (picnic-style, bring your own dinner)

6:20 pm - Worship

6:35 pm - Short Message

6:40 pm - Missions Speaker

7:00 pm - Q&A Period, Discussion Groups and Activities

7:30 pm - End Fellowship

Contact Helen Harrison Ham with questions: hhham@saxegotha.org.

Give Online Through July 26 at the link below.

Our Change for South Sudan collection on July 18 will be dedicated to the purchase of Talking Bibles.

When Jesus gave us the Great Commission, he charged us with “teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Matt 28:20) Today, we might call that the task of discipling new believers. You and I can continue our spiritual growth by using a daily devotion guide such as “Encounter with God.” We really cannot complete that without a Bible. We are blessed to have both available to us.

What if you speak a different language from what can be found printed? What if you cannot read, as is the case for most of the people in South Sudan? How can we complete the task as Jesus directs us?

Fortunately, we have a tool called a Talking Bible. These devices have the Bible spoken in the local languages of the people whom we serve in South Sudan. You cannot imagine the power of these small devices when the people hear the gospel in their own language.

To make this more effective, we train key people to gather groups to listen together and then discuss what they have heard…this is Bible Study in a different way. We seek out women for this because they are more effective than men who don’t share so well. On our next mission trip, we want to continue that aspect of our ministry by distributing them to Presbyterians who have fled to Juba (South Sudan’s capitol) for protection. Thus, we will carry Talking Bibles in several languages. They cost $50 each; and we want to take 80, which will cost $4,000.

Please pray for the people of South Sudan and assist in this project as you can.

Goal for the Collection: To collect donations during the services to enable us to send 80 Solar powered TALKING BIBLES this summer.

Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one lay caring ministry that meets individually with those that are in need. If you would like to become a Stephen Minister, please email Renee Starnes at rstarnes@saxegotha.org or call 359-7770, ext. 37 to sign-up. Your experiences and compassion are gifts to be shared. We would like to start a training session soon, so we look forward to hearing from you!

We're looking for Teachers!

The Child Development Center is looking for teachers interested in teaching children ages 2-4 in the morning or kindergarten-fifth graders in the afternoon. For specific details please contact Hope Andrews at 803-359-2058 or handrews@saxegotha.org.

Free Exercise classes are held on Wednesdays and Fridays in the Fellowship Hall from 9:00 - 10:00 am. Contact Vicky Beatty with questions: vpbeatty@gmail.com.

Join us for the Parents of Young Children SS class at 9:45 am in Room 235, under the Fellowship Hall. We are studying “It Starts at Home: Learn How to Confidently Teach your kids about God” by Matt Chandler, Gary Thomas and Kurt and Olivia Bruner. Nursery and childcare is available! Contact Stefanie Cain with questions: cain.stefanieg@gmail.com.

Caring Connections Brotherhood:

Men - looking for a local band of brothers? 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, please contact: Mike Graves (703-481-8166) or at digger7006@yahoo.com.

We look forward to you joining us for the 2021 Summer Camps. We missed you last summer! All Summer Camps will follow CDC Safety Guidelines. All camps are for boys and girls, ages are noted. For complete details, please go to saxegotha.org/summer or contact Pansy Floyd: pfloyd@saxegotha.org.

To view the Saxe Gotha Services and other resources, please go to: youtube.com/user/SaxeGothaPres.

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.

The United Heroes Ministry here at SGPC sends cards and care packages to our military. We are in the process of updating our list of names and addresses. Please send the name and address of those that are active duty, serving overseas or stateside to Jody Sullivan at jodysully@hotmail.com or call 704-798-5444 to get your loved one added to the list.

From learning more of God's Word, to creating meaningful projects to completing creative Bible challenges, Sunday School is a way for kids to grow spiritually! We meet at 9:45 am in the gym. This week we will continue our study of the prophets while learning about Isaiah.

Just a Reminder: Sunday School ends at 10:30 am. Please pick-up your children promptly, so that Kids Sunday School leaders can get to Children's Worship.

Children ages 4-6 are invited to join us for a series focusing on worship and the sermon topic in an age-appropriate way. Kids will begin their worship time with their parents in the services and will join Children’s Ministry leaders in the specified rooms, where parents will pick them up when the service ends. Children's Worship is held during the 10:45 am AWE Service in Light House Room 130. Children's Worship during the 11:00 am Traditional Service is in the Fellowship Hall/Welcome Center. Children's Worship is not held during the 8:30 am Traditional Service.

Email Erin Stoudemire with any questions or to let her know that your children will be participating.

We need volunteers to love on young kids in our Children's Worship time for both the AWE service and the 11:00 am Traditional Service. Please email Erin to sign up to volunteer. 

Contact Melinda Boyle with questions: mboyle@saxegotha.org.

Seekers (K-3rd Grade), Club 45 (4-5th Grade) and Kids Choir for all ages.

Nursery is available for ALL services and Sunday School. Friends ages 3 and younger can join us in Room 215 during the worship services.

Preschool Sunday School for ages 2 through kindergarten will be meeting in rooms 214 and 224.

Please contact Sara McCarter at smccarter@saxegotha.org if you have any questions.

For the Summer, we will all meet together in room 146/145.

Contact Justin Hall with questions about the Youth Summer events: jhall@saxegotha.org.