News

As we all continue to The Session has called a meeting of the Congregation of Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church for Sunday December 13, 2020 at 11:00 am. prior to the traditional service, for the purpose of:

1.  Receive the report of the nominating committee and to elect deacons and elders; 

2.  Receive and act on the recommendation by the Facilities Committee and Session regarding the right-of-way acquisition by Dominion Energy Carolina Gas Transmission, LLC and Dominion Energy SC, Inc.

3.  Receive and act on the recommendations by Session pertaining to changes to the Terms of Call of the ordained staff.

Join us as we enjoy music to prepare our hearts for Christmas! There will be a short Congregational Meeting before the Lessons & Carols Service. We look forward to seeing you there!

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. 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. 

* Nursery has resumed. Temperatures will be taken for each child.

We plan to livestream 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 or any other time.

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

As we all continue to adjust to 2020's challenges, we would like to continue the tradition of helping those in our community with a modified Operation Turkey. This year we will prepare meal baskets for families to pick up at the church. Each basket costs between $20 - $30 depending on family size.  Prayerfully consider adopting a family through a donation either through the offering (please specify Operation Turkey in the memo line) or online at saxegotha.org/give. Donations must be received by the end of the day on Sunday, November 22.

The Communion Table has been beautifully decorated for the fall/harvest again this year by the Abigail Circle.

The Poinsettia Dedications will be on the screens during the announcements each week of December, as a link in TWASG and available as an online bulletin in the bulletins section of the Saxe Gotha website. We want to make sure you know where to find these dedications that provide the poinsettias to beautify the Sanctuary during the Christmas season.

Thank you to all who participated in this year's Operation Christmas Child - 875 boxes are packed and ready to deliver to Charlotte.

Spread Christmas love by purchasing gifts for a local person or family in need. The trees are up in the Narthex and the Light House. The last day to bring the gifts to church is Sunday, December 6. Gifts should be wrapped with the back copy (green flower) securely attached. Please fill out your contact info on the top copy (red flower) and leave that in the small bag near the tree. You can leave the gifts under the tree or in the reception area of the office.

Please let Kathy know as soon as possible if your small group would like to adopt at whole family of between 2 and 8 people or if you know of a person or family who could use some help with gifts for Christmas. Please contact Kathy Seymour at 920-7385 or 4kathys@gmail.com with this information or with questions.

The Advent Box order has been placed.

However, you can reserve your devotional booklet below.

We will be collecting donations to send to our church members who are currently serving in the military. Items needed: individually-wrapped snacks (No homemade), energy bars, beef jerky, microwaveable popcorn, hard candy, toiletries (razor, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo - NO shaving cream), individually wrapped disposable wipes, Chapstick, gum, homemade cards, Christmas surprises and monetary donations for postage (Checks written to SGPC with "United Heroes" in the memo line). Place in marked boxes in the Narthex, LH Atrium and outside the Church Office. Thank you for your help.

Please send updated addresses to Patty Holder at kpholder60@gmail.com. November 25 is the deadline for names and donations.

We will collect a Christmas Love Offering for the SGPC staff members online and in person during the worship services through December 13. To donate online, please go to:  saxegotha.org/give. The ushers will have the Staff Love Offering envelopes during the services.  Thank you!

Do you or someone you know need to talk to someone?

Have you heard about Stephen Ministers?

If you would like to talk to someone, contact Carol Perrin at 803-917-6690 or by email tictic8000@yahoo.com.

Stephen Ministers are lay congregation members trained to provide one-to-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or relocation.

Stephen Ministers come from all walks of life, but they all share a passion for bringing Christ's love and care to people during a time of need.

Since 1975, more than 600,000 people from more than 13,000 congregations and other organizations have been trained as Stephen Ministers.

(Girls and Boys: 5K - 6th Grade) Cost: $80

Evaluations will be 11/30, 12/1 and 12/3 from 6:00-8:00 pm and Sat., 12/5 from 9:00-11:00 am.

Practice will start on 12/14 and be the same nights as games: Mon., Tues. and Thurs. from 6:00-8:00 pm. Also, Sat. 9:00 am-1:00 pm.

Games will be Jan. 4 - Feb. 11 from 6:00-8:30 pm. Sat. practices during the season from 9:00 am -1:00 pm.

Contact: Terry Cagle at 803-331-1622 or Pete Eckert at 803-608-9835. All players must be evaluated. Registration began Nov. 1: https://registration.upward.org/UPW70795.

Please note:

-You should register as soon as possible. There are limited spots on each team and some of the other area Upward locations are not having basketball this season.

-During games, there is only 1 person that can attend per child playing.

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.

Grace and peace, HH Ham

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.

Saxe Gotha has a new group just for Moms...we will connect you with other moms (with kids under the age of 21) who are going through the same challenges you face. This is a place to share your concerns, be encouraged by God's Word, and enjoy fellowship with moms.

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

Club 45 is held on Sunday evenings from 4:00 - 5:30 pm outside the Light House (weather permitting). We will have a great time of fellowship and fun. Bring your Bible, a mask and most importantly a friend! Contact Patricia Zeigler with questions: pdmz@rocketmail.com.

No meeting this week - Happy Thanksgiving!

Calling all 6th-8th graders!!!

The Oasis is a place of refreshment for Middle School students. We'll be in the Light House Atrium every Sunday afternoon from 4:00-5:30 pm, so come out and join in!

No meeting this week - Happy Thanksgiving!

Sundays, 4:00-5:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Refuge is a place for High Schoolers to relax and fellowship together. And in the midst of that fellowship, we are going to take time for conversation. You don't have to wrestle with the hard questions alone.

No meeting this week - Happy Thanksgiving!

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.

Save-the-Date: January 3, 2021 (2:00-4:00 pm) every Sunday for 13 weeks, in the Fellowship Hall. Cost: $15 for the workbook. Contact Renee Starnes at rstarnes@saxegotha.org to register.

It can be very hard to deal with the loss of a loved one. Daily life, responsibilities, and the many feelings that are associated with a death can be difficult to manage. You are not alone. Come and join us as we look at ways to manage the many aspects of life that have changed. Being with others that have lived through the passing of a loved one, along with being around others that understand how you feel, can be very beneficial. We are here for you.

Dawn Merck is offering a Sunday morning Bible study time on Zoom for any kids who cannot attend our in-person Sunday School, for any reason, at any time. We are coordinating SS efforts, so she will also be using God's Story Cards and following along with Pastor Jim's sermon series. Please stay tuned for details in Melinda's weekly kids newsletter.

6th-8th Girls Bible Study: This group will be going through the book of 1 John. We will study what it means to love one another and the love of God. As we dig into the Word together, we will also have some time to deepen our friendships and fellowship with one another. We will meet on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at Stephanie McGee’s home. This group is led by Kalie Wehunt, Livvy McGee and Stephanie McGee. For more information contact Kalie Wehunt.

9th-11th Girls Bible Study: This group will go through the timeline of the Bible, exploring how God is not in a hurry, but He grows things. We will study how the Old Testament points toward Jesus and how the Lord used His people to bring redemption to all mankind. We will also learn how to grow deeper fellowship with one another as we study the Word together. We will meet on Tuesdays from 6:15 to 7:15 pm. This group is on a short break until a new leader is confirmed.

12th Grade Girls Small Group: This group will be going through a semester of apologetics. We will learn how to defend our faith and how to handle the Word of Truth to do so. We will meet on Mondays 6:00-7:00 pm. This group is on a short break until a new leader is confirmed.

High School Boys Small Group: We know that iron sharpens iron, so why not pump some iron, too? We're going to get together twice a week to study the Word, work out and get better. Barry Morgan and Justin Hall are going to be leading this small group as we dig into the Word and then hit the gym. We'll meet twice a week in the church gym. Monday afternoons at 5:00-6:00 pm and Thursday mornings at 6:00-7:00 am. You can join in for one or both meetings each week, but make sure you have rides worked out beforehand because we won't be doing school runs since we'll be done around 7:00 am on Thursdays. Wear clothes you can work out in and close-toed shoes. And bring a Bible!

Middle School Boys Bible Study: Join Mr. Nick and Mr. Cliff for a Bible Study that's just for the guys. This group will meet every other Tuesday from 6:00-7:00 pm in the Light House Cafe.

Please contact Justin with questions: jhall@saxegotha.org.

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.

Saxe Gotha will be partnering with Lexington School District One to support the Backpack Program. As a partner, we will help fill backpacks and send them to schools for weekly distribution to children who have great need.

Each child identified as having need will receive a backpack filled with child-friendly, nutritious, easy-to-open food to last over the weekend. 

Items Needed for Backpacks:

 juice boxes

cereal/granola bars

snack crackers

single serving cereal boxes / bowls

mac and cheese / Chef Boyardee

peanut butter

fruit cups/pouches, raisins (please no applesauce cups)

pudding cups

oatmeal packets

Please contact Holly Waldrip if you can't come to the food drive, please call or email her for a pick-up: 803-931-6218 or waldrip@sc.rr.com.

Food items should be left in the Narthex, Atrium or outside of the main office in the box labeled "backpack ministry." Monetary donations can be made to SGPC with “backpack ministry” in the memo line.

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.

(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. 

To Volunteer, contact Loretta Gobbel at 319-4608 or Pete Eckert at 608-9835 or email missions@saxegotha.org.  

On November 17, DTP started off with at a chilly 39 degrees and windy, but that did not stop our prayer warriors! What a blessing it was! We only had three cars stop today, but each one was important. 

-A Health Care Worker on her way across town to care for her clients. 

-A Law Enforcement Officer that requested prayer for our country to come together and to stop the hate that she sees.

-A young mother with a praise! She visited us last month because of a child with a serious health condition. She was due to see the specialist that week. We prayed together and put it all in God's hands. She said she has waited for us all month so she could come back and tell us that the doctor said the child is healthy! She said that he told her that the only way her child was healthy was a work of God.

Friends, God is at work right in front of our church. We have people stop in on a regular basis to share how prayers have been answered! Please feel free to join us sometime to hold a sign, wave or just to pray for our team. You don't have to go far to find your mission field; please join us.

Devotionals: If 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.

If you are interested in participating in one of our classes online, 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:

Caring Connections Brotherhood Virtual Lunch: 
Tuesdays at noon

Debbie Knight’s Monday morning study has resumed.

The Young Mother's Bible Study has resumed. Meet on the Light House patio at 10:00 am on Mondays.

Meets virtually on Mondays at 8:30 am 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.

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.

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. 

Here is the specific link to it if you already have your account set up: https://www.rightnowmedia.org/CustomLibrary/8737. RightNow 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:

HH Ham: hhham@saxegotha.org

Patrick Cherry: pcherry@saxegotha.org

Justin Hall: jhall@saxegotha.org

Melinda Boyle: mboyle@saxegotha.org

Hal McIntosh: hmcintosh@saxegotha.org

The studies and videos inside Saxe Gotha’s library on RightNow 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!

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.

Covered with God’s Love blankets are continuing to be made through the COVID-19 pandemic.
6 blankets delivered in South Carolina.
2 blankets delivered up north.
7 blankets delivered to the Hopi Tribe in Arizona (the Tribe was devastated by COVID-19).

Did you know that when shopping Amazon, they will make a donation to Saxe Gotha with no additional cost to you? The only requirement is to go through 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.

We are looking for new acolytes this fall. Any child that will be in 3rd grade

or above can by an acolyte. It is a great opportunity for your child to serve during worship. If you are interested, please contact Meredith Cully at mcully@saxegotha.org or sign up online via the link below.