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Welcome to our weekly e-gram! Read on to discover what’s happening in our church family this week and beyond.
Church News
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CHANGE IN WORSHIP TIME STARTING THIS SUNDAY!Beginning this Sunday, May 7, our worship will start at 11 am. The new start time will allow more time for choir rehearsal and Sunday school, and will make it easier for visitors to remember what time worship starts.
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SERMON PREVIEW: A PLACE PREPAREDThis Sunday, we will continue our celebration of the six Sundays of Easter and the joy of the resurrection. Our guest preacher this Sunday is Teresa Bensch. Teresa is a pastoral intern at Sandy Springs Christian Church and is finishing her Master of Divinity at Lexington Theological Seminary. (She’s also Connie Worrel’s daughter.) Please read John 14: 1-14 in preparation for Teresa’s message. Sunday, in person or online.
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MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
May is an important time to raise awareness of mental health challenges and work to reduce the stigma that sometimes surrounds them. Many people in our country, our community, and even our church family sometimes struggle with depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. Please remember that each and every one of us is a beloved child of God, and you are worthy of love, acceptance, and fulfillment. Showing up, just as you are, for yourself and the people around you is more than enough.
How can you support those who are struggling with mental health challenges? One of the best ways is simply to be there for them. Check in regularly. Listen with your full attention, and reassure them that they are not alone. Help connect them to professionals who can support them, and continue to be with them as they journey through these challenges. Learn more about mental health challenges, treatment, and support resources at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website.
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” ~I John 4: 7
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WEEKLY CALL TO PRAYER FOR OUR CHURCHDuring this time of transition for LFCC, the Pulpit Committee invites all of us to a time of intentional prayer for our congregation. Each Wednesday at 7 pm, you are encouraged to pause for a few minutes to pray for God’s guidance as we search for an interim minister and continue the work of discerning God’s path for our church. You can pray wherever you are, in whatever way feels most comfortable for you. If you are not able to pause and pray Wednesdays at 7 pm, please choose a different time to set aside for intentional prayer for LFCC. We need all of our prayers to guide our church forward.
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PULPIT COMMITTEE UPDATE
The Pulpit Committee has been interviewing candidate for interim minister over the past several weeks, and will have a report for the Leadership Council and Board soon. Once we get an interim in place, the committee will begin the process of finding a settled minister. If you have questions or ideas about the search process, please talk to Committee Chair Frank Hawkins, or any of the committee members (Andrew Jensen, Marilyn Parks, Candace Richardson, and Lee Thompson as ex officio member). Please be in prayer for the Pulpit Committee as they do this important work for the congregation.
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RECOGNITION OF GRADUATESWe have several high school and college graduates to celebrate this spring. We will hold a graduate recognition as part of our morning worship service on Sunday, May 14. Please join us for this special service of recognition, as we celebrate the accomplishments of these young adults. Please reach out to Rev. Diane if you know of graduates who should be recognized on that Sunday.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR: ELDER AND DEACON MEETING
The Elders and Deacons will meet immediately after worship on Sunday, May 21 to follow up on our February planning meeting and March training with Rev. Denise Bell, to look forward into the summer and fall, and to choose a chair for each group. If you are a deacon or elder, please plan to stay after worship for this important meeting. We will conclude no later than 1:15 pm. This meeting will replace the Board meeting scheduled for May 21 at 6 pm; we will conduct any needed Board business at this meeting.
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BIRTHDAY GREETINGS!Barbara Bagwell will celebrate her 95th birthday on May 10. You can help her celebrate by sending her a birthday card. Here’s her address:
Barbara Bagwell
Manor Lake Assisted Living
3769 Kallie Circle #418
Dawsonville, GA 30534
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SAVE THE DATE: ALL-CHURCH MOVIE NIGHT!
The youth are planning an all-church movie night on Saturday, May 20. The movie will be “Grease.” Refreshments will be available to purchase as a youth fundraiser. More details to come — please mark your calendar!
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SPRING CONFERENCES FOR WOMENDisciples Women in Georgia are invited to attend one of two Spring Conferences with the theme “Celebrating Women: Honoring Our HERstory Then and Now.” The one closest to us is on May 20 at New Hope Christian Church on Old Norcross Road from 11 am to 2 pm. The registration cost is $25. Several of our women are interested in attending. The featured keynoter is Rev. Nancy Oliver and the musician is Rev. Ann Haines. Please register at https://www.gadisciples.org/disciples-women.
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 CHURCH CAMP REGISTRATIONCamp registration for counselors and applications for camp counselors are now available online at https://www.gadisciples.org/summer-camp-2023. If you are registering a camper, remember the church will pay half of the registration cost for members and children of members. Please talk with Rev. Diane or Marilyn Parks before you register a child who qualifies for this discount. The camp registration deadline is May 15!
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CAMP WISH LISTS
Thank you for your generous gifts to support Camp Christian in so many ways. We want to make you aware of some other ways to support camp if you choose to. Please consider these an opportunity for those who wish to support camp, but don’t feel like you have to.
An Amazon Wish list with items summer camp can use has been created. If you buy an item from this wish list, choose the registry address to have it shipped directly to camp. In addition, the camp needs unscented Clorox or equivalent: Pine sol or equivalent; packages of 6-12 rolls of toilet paper (for septic systems); packages of 2-8 rolls of paper towel (storage is limited at camp so both toilet paper and paper towels are easier if they are packaged in smaller quantities); Amdro ant killer bait granules-shaker type container (does not require water) or equivalent; wasp and hornet spray; and heavy duty 33 gallon trash bags. If you purchase any items from this wish list, please bring them to church and give to Marilyn Parks. She will transport all items to camp on May 18.
Thanks for your support of Camp Christian and the young people whose lives are changed at camp!
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CAMP WORK DAYS
Help get Camp Christian ready for the Summer 2023 camping season. Specific tasks include painting (bathhouse, pool house, shutters on cabins, possibly other places); painting picnic tables and 2-3 seater benches with arms; repairing cabin roofs; cleaning and repairing steps to Peachtree suites and steps to office; cleaning windows on front of Woodland; washing the cabin trashcans, brooms and dust pans; cleaning the lake storage shed; and cleaning the cabins and director’s bungalow.
Tentative dates for camp work days are during the week beginning May 30 or the week beginning June 4. Definite dates will be announced soon.
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E-GRAM DEADLINE
Thanks for all your contributions to the e-gram. Please send any information for next week’s e-gram to Rev. Diane (diane@lawrencevillechristianchurch.org) no later than Tuesday at 5 pm.
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UPCOMING EVENTS IN MAY
Wednesday, May 3
6 pm: Medicare Workshop
Sunday, May 7
First Sunday Food
9 am: Choir Rehearsal
10 am: Sunday School
11:00 am: Worship (Teresa Bensch preaching) – note changed worship time!
6 pm: Leadership Council meeting on Zoom
Tuesday, May 9
1 pm: CWF/DWF Meeting in church conference room
Sunday, May 14
Mother’s Day
9 am: Choir Rehearsal
10 am: Sunday School
11:00 am: Worship and Graduate Recognition (Rev. Jabari Butler preaching)
Tuesday, May 16
11 am: Medicare Workshop at church
6 pm: Let’s Eat (tentative location: Ted’s Montana Grill)
Saturday, May 20
Time TBD: All-church Movie Night (“Grease”)
Sunday, May 21
Pentecost Special Offering
9 am: Choir Rehearsal
10 am: Sunday School
11:00 am: Worship (Rev. Dr. Diane Bales preaching)
12 pm: Elder and Deacon Meeting
Thursday, May 25
1 pm: Medicare Workshop at church
Sunday, May 28 – Pentecost
Pentecost Special Offering
9 am: Choir Rehearsal
10 am: Sunday School
11:00 am: Worship (Rev. Dr. Diane Bales preaching)
Check the calendar of events on our church website at https://lawrencevillechristianchurch.org/calendar/ to stay updated on what’s happening in our church community. If you have events to add, go to https://lawrencevillechristianchurch.org/event-form/ and complete the form. The password is LFCC2023Event. If you have problems with the form, please contact JT Clements or Rev. Diane.
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THIS SUNDAY’S WORSHIP LEADERS
Greeter: Jeanie Morgan
Communion Meditation: Gerald Kersey
Elders: Anna Harrison and Karen Jensen
Deacons: Nancy Groves and Andrew Jensen
Scripture (John 14: 1-14): Mabel Simmons
*If you are interested in serving as a worship leader or greeter, please contact Marilyn Parks
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ZOOM LINK FOR WORSHIP AND CHURCH MEETINGS
For Sunday worship and other online meetings, use this link:
https://zoom.us/j/6284633067?pwd=YzVMN0EwQUVrb0FRM1phVkZEUjZFQT09
Zoom Meeting ID: 628 463 3067 Password: 1234
For those who DIAL IN, Call (646) 558-8656
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LAWRENCEVILLE CO-OP UPDATE
This Sunday, May 7 is First Sunday Food, a time when we celebrate and bless all of our food offerings to the Lawrenceville Co-op. As summer approaches, the co-op is focusing on feeding children who will not have access to school breakfast and lunch once school is out. This week’s most-needed items include
- Canned vegetables
- Canned fruit
- Canned meat
- Canned pasta
- Canned soup
- Peanut butter
- Jelly
- Oatmeal
- Cereal
- Snacks
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DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
REGIONAL AND GENERAL CHURCH NEWS
Keep up with the latest news going on in our region and our general church. Click the links below to find the latest news within the Disciples!
Region: https://www.gadisciples.org/news
General Church: https://disciples.org/
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Celebrations
Lynn Lane’s birthday (May 5)
Barbara Bagwell’s birthday (May 10)
Kayla Lee’s birthday (May 13)
Immediate Needs (names in bold are newly added)
Our world
Our church family and friends
Our pulpit committee, as they interview interim minister candidates
Flo Carroll
Ongoing Needs
Our members and friends at home, including Odessa Adams and Barbara Bagwell
Our family and friends with ongoing health challenges
Students/teachers/administration of Gwinnett County Public Schools
Those affected by COVID-19
Patricia Saturday
Ada Mullinax
Martha Ann Wages
The Yoon Family
Peg and Wes Morgan
Chris Klimshuk and family
Kali Parks (Marilyn Parks’s granddaughter in Florida)
Rev. John Lambert (former minister of LFCC)
Rev. Peggy Edge (Anna Harrison)
Sadie Severt (Harrison family friend)
Mardell Brown (Mabel Simmons)
The Carroll Family
Connie Worrel’s sister, Pat
Regina Halvorson (Chris Klimshuk)
If you have an update to the prayers and concerns, please let Rev. Diane know (diane@lawrencevillechristianchurch.org).
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That’s all we have for this week! Please be in prayer for the church and all its members, that we continue to do what the Lord has called us all to do. God bless you all!
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