News

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.

You are invited to join us...  

Advent Sermon Series: "Standing on the Promises: Moses, David and Jesus” 

SUNDAY: DECEMBER 8, 22 and 29
Normal Worship: 8:30 and 11:00 AM Traditional Services in Sanctuary, 10:45 AM AWE Contemporary Service in Light House.

SATURDAY: December 14 at 7:30 PM and 
SUNDAY: DECEMBER 15 at 11:00 AM - 
CHRISTMAS CANTATA IN THE SANCTUARY
"A Baby Changes Everything" - A full scale musical, complete with Sanctuary, Youth and Children's choirs, drama cast and orchestra.
11:00 AM Traditional Service in Sanctuary (One Service Sunday)

TUESDAY: DECEMBER 24 - CHRISTMAS EVE 
CANDLELIGHT COMMUNION SERVICES
4:00 PM Children's Service for Families in Sanctuary 
5:30 PM Contemporary Service in Light House Auditorium
7:00 PM Traditional Family Service in Sanctuary
* Childcare provided at the 4:00 & 5:30 PM services only. 

Please join us on Sunday, December 8 from 9:45 am-10:30 am in the gym for the annual Children's Christmas Celebration (Nursery age and up). Our preschool choirs will be performing their Christmas songs, we'll do a craft and share breakfast together! Last name: A-L bring savory breakfast item, M-Z bring a sweet breakfast item to share.Drinks will be provided. There will be no children's SS or nursery this morning so that all families can share the morning together. 

Also, on December 8 the Next Generation Ministries will be walking in the Town of Lexington Christmas Parade. Please click here to sign-up online. to walk in the parade, so we know you'll be joining us. This is for all ages and is a great way to be a warm and welcoming congregation to our Lexington neighbors.

Immediately following the parade, please join us in the Lighthouse for a Chili Dinner with all the fixings! 

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

(Friday, Dec. 6). VOLUNTEERS NEEDED.  Our next big Christmas Party dinner is coming up, and we hope you will be able to come join in the fun. We will have great gifts for our friends this year, as the Missions Ministry has raised our budget for Christmas gifts, we’ll have dancers and singing, beautiful table decorations, delicious food and of course Santa and Mrs. Claus will be here, too. We will start decorating at 4:00, so come whenever you can. Please contact Kathy Seymour with questions: 4kathys@gmail.com.

Friday, December 6 at 5:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall (note change of location). Followed by the LCCS Concert at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary. Dinner: $8/ Concert: $12 to be paid separately at the door. Reservations are required by Tuesday, December 3. Contact Pansy Floyd at 359-7770, ext. 11 or pfloyd@saxegotha.org.

  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. 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. 

Mail - the envelope must be postmarked no later than Dec. 31, 2019. 

Offering - any offering submitted either in cash or check by year end.

In Person - Check/Cash can be hand delivered to the business office by Dec. 31, 2019 no later than 1:00 pm.

Online - must be in by midnight on Dec. 31, 2019.

The Church Office will be closed on December 24, 25 and January 1. Also, the office will close on December 31 at 1:00 pm.

World Food Program (WFP) aircraft dropped food in Pibor, South Sudan in early December. The picture shows the aircraft the sorghum on the ground after it has been dropped by airplane. WFP will do the same for Lekwangole, Vertet and Gummuruk. These are the areas where our ministry is focused and the most flood ravaged areas in Boma State, South Sudan. In Pibor, WFP has staff on the ground to distribute the food. The Presbyterian Church of South Sudan's Relief and Development Staff arrived in Juba from Nairobi on December 2. Supported by PCUSA's Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), they intend to buy plastic sheets, mosquito nets and blankets for distribution with the funds that they received from PDA.  

While these are perhaps the most needy areas in South Sudan due to the massive floods, almost a million people are impacted. Most of them need humanitarian relief as well. Furthermore, most of those affected are in areas where the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan (PCOSS) is the primary denomination. Trinity Presbytery's South Sudan Ministry has cancelled its 2020 mission trip to South Sudan and will use funds designated for that to assist with flood recovery. The Boma Assistance Group for South Sudan will provide financial assistance as well. Assistance will be provided to both PCOSS and our partners in Boma State in an effort to do as much as possible.

Jesus said, "... Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt 25:40 KJV

Let us, "Praise the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever".  Thank you and please continue praying for people of South Sudan who suffer from corrupt and abusive leadership, 6 years of conflict and this flooding disaster. 

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.

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.

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.

Will resume January 16.

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.