News

Nov. 27 from (3:30 - 9:00 pm) and Nov. 28 from (7:30 am - 2:00 pm). You can serve others by: donating money to purchase foods, cook/slice turkeys, help with food preparation and kitchen duties on Wed. afternoon or Thur. morning or by delivering meals to the needy on Thanksgiving morning. Email Mary McIlwain Fuller at scmcilwains@gmail.com to volunteer or click on the link below.

Click here to make an online donation.

Wednesday, November 13

Dinner: 5:00-5:45 pm in Gym / Packing: 6:00-7:30 pm in Light House

Help us reach our goal of packing 500 shoeboxes to be sent around the world! Drop off at the church office receptionist desk labeled Lori Lowman. If you would like to make a monetary donation to this ministry simply write your check to Saxe Gotha with OCC in the memo line.

Please click here to see the Amazon Wish List of items needed for the OCC Packing Party:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/114SL831MUF2M?ref_=wl_share

Updated Packing Party List Items Needed (as of 11/1):

60 pens

100 (24-pack) crayons

400 small toys

200 stickers

Collection Sunday: Bring shoes boxes to the church sanctuary on November 17 (during the Children's Moment) or drop-off packed shoe boxes at any display table.  

Please Remember: No candy or tooth paste in boxes due to new customs laws.  

To Register for Dinner:

https://saxegotha.churchcenter.com/people/forms/81581

To Volunteer:

https://signup.com/go/iEneLcS

  Spread Christmas love by purchasing gifts for a local person or family in need. The trees will be up in the Narthex and the Light House beginning November 17. The last day to bring the gifts to church is Sunday, December 8. 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. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Seymour at 920-7385 or 4kathys@gmail.com. 

Donate items for our loved ones who are deployed and for the local USO. 

Needed items: individually-wrapped snacks (not homemade), energy bars, beef jerky, microwavable popcorn, hard candy, travel-size toiletries (razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, sunscreen), individually-packaged disposable wipes, chapstick and gum. 

Also, homemade cards and Christmas surprises. If you would like to include items for the service dogs (balls, chew toys), that would also be appreciated .Place items in marked blue UNITED HEROES bins in the reception area. Thank you for your help in supporting our service men and women.Contact: Patty Holder at kirkholder@mindspring.com.

All items are due by November 24.

These poinsettias will be used to decorate our Sanctuary and the Light House Auditorium during the holidays. You may dedicate them in honor in memory of someone.

The Youth will be packing and sending exam care packages to our college students (and those in this age group in the military) again this year. Please email Mary Knobeloch: mknobeloch@saxegotha.orgwith your student's name, email and mailing address. We will need this information by Sunday, November 17.   We are collecting the following items for these boxes: Individually wrapped packages of microwave popcorn, hot chocolate, granola bars, crackers, hard candy and chap stick. If you are interested in donating, please drop them off in the church main office.

Thursday, November 21 at 11:30 am in Room 151. Entertainment will be provided by Susan Porth. Susan will be talking about the Sea Turtle project in South Carolina, specifically at Edisto Beach. Presentation will include daily duties, dangers, conservationand good news for this year’s nesting season. This will be an awesome presentation!!

Reservation required by Monday, November 18.

Please call Pansy at 359-7770, ext. 11 or pfloyd@saxegotha.org.

Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary. "Sing We Now of Christmas" A professional sting quartet and soloist, Katie Gatch will join the LCCS for this most wonderful concert of the year! Order tickets online at LexCoChoralSoc.org. 

Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 15 at 11:00 am in the Sanctuary, “A Baby Changes Everything.” Brimming with well-crafted dialogue, dynamic characters, thrilling songs and a timeless message, this dramatic musical tells the story of three individuals in the tiny village of Bethlehem. Initially turning away from the promised Messiah, the trio almost sleeps through the first Christmas night -- until they are awakened in time to experience the life-changing miracle in a manger.

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.

Would you like to be a part of Stephen Ministries? 

Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one lay caring ministry that talks 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.

To provide one dish once a month for the Sistercare shelter in West Columbia.  Please contact Stacey Rowlette, 803-312-5570, srowlette@sc.rr.com.

It hurts to lose a loved one. GriefShare is for people grieving the death of a family member or friend and offers a weekly support group led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. This group offers understanding and ideas to help you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Saxe Gotha will be holding our GriefShare group meetings Sundays, January 5, 2020 through March 29, 2020 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. You can register online, or contact Renee’ Starnes at Rstarnes@saxegotha.org for more information. There is a cost of $15 for the workbook. Please share this information with friends and neighbors that may be dealing with a loss.

“Do you or someone you know need help getting through the

Christmas season after the loss of a loved one?  

The weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas can be very difficult for those grieving a loved one’s death and the memories and changes one must face. 

Two churches in our area hosting a Surviving the Holidays GriefShare seminar: 
Mt. Horeb UMC: Tuesday, November 12 (6:30 - 8:30 pm)
First Baptist Church: Sunday, November 17 (4:00 - 6:00 pm)

Meets on the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month in Room 154, MB (10:00-11:30 am). If you like to knit, or would like to learn to knit, this group is for you. Questions? Call Polly Askew at 803-359-7263.

Did you know that when shopping Amazon they will make a donation to Saxe Gotha that will go towards Debt Free in Three, 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.

Lexington One Backpack Program:

Saxe Gotha partners with Lexington School District One to support the Backpack Program. Items Needed for Backpacks: juice boxes, cereal/granola bars, snack crackers, single serving cereal boxes/bowls, raisins, peanut butter, fruit cups/pouches (please no applesauce cups), pudding cups, oatmeal packets. If you or your small group is interested in donating food or packing bags to assist with this effort, please contact Holly Waldrip: waldrip@sc.rr.com. Also, you can place donations in the blue bin in the church main office.  

The Compassionate Care Meals Ministry provides meals to our families when they are going through the loss of a loved one. This ministry is in need of additional members. If this is an area you could help with, please call Renee’ Starnes at 359-7770 ext. 37 or send her an email.

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.