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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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Image: St. Peter preaching at Pentecost, Benjamin West
SERMON PREVIEW
Scripture: Acts 2: 14a, 36-41
Sermon Title: An Invitation to a New Identity
In the risen Christ, God invites us into a new Spirit‑shaped identity, one that turns us toward hope, transformation, and participation in God’s mission for the world.
This Sunday, we continue listening to Peter’s Pentecost sermon in Acts 2, where the risen Jesus is proclaimed as the Messiah who not only fulfills God’s promises but also gives the Holy Spirit to shape a new kind of people. Last week, we heard how Spirit’s arrival opened hearts through understanding; this week, we explore what happens next. Peter’s message is not a word of condemnation but an invitation, an invitation into repentance, baptism, and a Spirit‑formed identity that sends us into the world with purpose.
Join us as we reflect on what it means to belong to Christ and to participate in His mission of forgiveness, renewal, and hope. See you Sunday morning, in person or online.
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HELP WITH REGIONAL ASSEMBLY SERVICE PROJECTThe Christian Church in Georgia is very close to meeting our goal of having all the supplies needed to pack 300 Blessing Bags as part of our All Assembly Service Project for the 172nd Regional Assembly, to be held April 23-25, 2026, at Ray of Hope Christian Church.
We are only 80 bags short of our goal — but you can help get us over the finish line! Simply go to the Amazon Wish List Link and purchase some of the remaining items. The deadline to order is TODAY (Wednesday, April 15.)
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GRADUATE RECOGNITION 2026We will honor our graduate, Hugh Yoon, on Sunday May 3rd during morning worship. Hugh is graduating from GA Tech. Please plan to stay for cupcakes afterwards.
During the worship service, we will also pray for any other graduates connected to our congregation. If you have someone receiving a High School, College, or Graduate/Professional Degree, please email the name and school affiliation to Diane and Teresa by Thursday, April 30.
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DISCIPLES WOMEN NEWSThank you to all who contributed delicious foods for the Alvord Bereavement Meal and helped set up, serve and clean up. It was appreciated very much by the family!
The women of New Hope Christian Church have invited women from LFCC to their spring luncheon. It will be at New Hope CC on Saturday, May 16, at 11:00. If you would like to attend, please let Karen Jensen know.
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COMING SOON: HONEST CONVERSATIONSNext month at LFCC, we will begin a process we are calling “Honest Conversations”, where we have the opportunity to discuss how to respond to challenging issues in our world, through the lens of followers of Christ. We will begin with a sermon framing the issue, followed by 3 weeks of discussion during the Sunday school hour, followed by another sermon to wrap up the discuss and lead into future action. Our opening sermon will take place during worship on Sunday, May 17. Discussion will begin the following week. You are encouraged to participate, even if you don’t usually attend Sunday school.
We will begin by addressing the question, “How should we ensure that people have the food they need?” One of our resources will be an issue brief from the National Issues Forum Institute called “Land of Plenty.” If you would like to take a look at it in advance, you can find it at https://nifi.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/NIF-Land-of-Plenty.pdf.
This will be learning process for all of us together. We know we won’t always agree on everything, and that’s ok. Our goal in this process is to learn how to work through challenging issues with respectful dialogue, to really listen to each other, and to find core values we share as Christians. You will be hearing more about this process in the weeks to come; it’s one way we will be practicing resurrection as followers of the risen Christ.
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CAMP CHRISTIAN REGISTRATION NOW OPENRegistration is now open for 2026 Summer Camp at Camp Christian Conference Center. Students from kindergarten through high school are invited to participate in our Disciples summer camp program. Camp sessions for all ages — Genesis, Chrysalis, Junior, Chi Rho, and CYF — will explore the theme of “In the Wilderness,” guiding campers to discover the sacred in each person and all creation. To learn more and register, go to https://www.gadisciples.org/summer-camp-2026.
If you are interested in working as a Counselor or Counselor in Training at one of our camps this summer, please contact Libby Ballew (campdirectors@gadisciples.org).
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UPCOMING EVENTS IN APRIL
Thursday, Apr. 16
6:30 pm: Outreach Team on Zoom
Friday, Apr. 17
LFCC dinner for Family Promise
Sunday, Apr. 19
9 am: Choir
10 am: Sunday school
11 am: Worship
6 pm: Leadership Council on Zoom
Monday, Apr. 20
6:30 pm: Finance and Facilities Team on Zoom
Tuesday, April 21
6:30 pm: Let’s Eat! at Oyster Bay Seafood Cafe
Sunday, Apr. 26
9 am: Choir
10 am: Sunday school
11 am: Worship
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.
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THIS SUNDAY’S WORSHIP LEADERS
Greeter: Candace Richardson
Scripture: Marilyn Parks
Communion Meditation: Rev. Dr. Diane Bales
Elders: Connie Thompson and Lee Thompson
Deacons: Lynn Lane and Andrew Jensen
Communion Preparation: Lynn Lane
If you are interested in serving as a worship leader or greeter, please contact Rev. Diane or Rev. Teresa.
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E-GRAM AND ANNOUNCEMENT GUIDELINES
We welcome e-gram article submissions up to four weeks in advance. Please send your e-gram content by Tuesday at 5:00 PM via email to both Diane@lawrencevillechristianchurch.org and Teresa@lawrencevillechristianchurch.org. E-gram submissions can include ministry updates, event announcements, community celebrations or milestones, and prayer requests.
If you have a time-sensitive update or urgent prayer request to share on Sunday morning, please email it by Friday at 5:00 PM to the same email addresses as above. Thank you for helping us build a vibrant, informed, and spiritually grounded community.
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LECTIONARY SCRIPTURES FOR APRIL 19 AND APRIL 26
The Revised Common Lectionary is a three-year cycle of weekly readings used by many mainline Protestant churches in Canada and the United States. The lectionary readings will shape much of our preaching, and may be helpful in your own Bible study and devotional life.
April 19, 2026 (Third Sunday of Easter)
- Acts 2:14a, 36-41
- Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
- 1 Peter 1:17-23
- Luke 24:13-35
April 26, 2026 (Fourth Sunday of Easter)
- Acts 2:42-47
- Psalm 23
- 1 Peter 2:19-25
- John 10:1-10
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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
For those who DIAL IN, Call (646) 558-8656
Zoom Meeting ID: 628 463 3067
Password: 1234
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NEWS FROM THE LAWRENCEVILLE CO-OPThank you for your support of the Lawrenceville Co-op as they feed our neighbors in Lawrenceville and Dacula. As we move into April, it’s time to start planting those summer gardens! Will you consider growing a row for the Co-Op? Fresh produce is a luxury for many of our clients and is so important for their nutrition.
Co-op’s Most Needed Food Items
- Pasta and pasta sauce
- Corn
- Snacks (including granola bars, peanut butter crackers, individual chips, etc.)
- Ramen noodles
- Shelf stable milk
- Canned tuna
Most Needed Personal Care Items
- Size 1, 2, and 5 and up diapers
- Feminine pads
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WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH DISCIPLES AT THE REGIONAL AND GENERAL LEVELSKeep 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.
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Each Monday at 6 pm, wherever you are and whatever way is comfortable for you, we pause and pray for our church. If you have conflicts with this time, whatever time is comfortable for you, pause and pray for your church. Below is the church’s prayer list you can use. You are welcome to make up your own prayer list as you pray.
Psalm 20:1-2: “May the Lord answer you when you are in distress, may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May the Lord send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.”
Celebrations
- Bessie Kirby’s birthday is TODAY (April 15)
- Chris Klimshuk’s birthday is TODAY (April 15)
- Don Bell’s birthday is April 18
- Leigh Britt’s birthday is April 18
- Al & Patricia Taylor have an anniversary on April 18
Weekly Prayers
- For our co-ministers, Rev. Teresa Bensch and Rev. Diane Bales
- For all of us during Eastertide, as we seek to practice resurrection by spreading hope
- For peace in the world, and for those who find themselves in a place of fear because of armed conflict and political upheaval
- For our general and regional church, for our Regional Minister Rev. Dr. Adam Harmon, and for the success of this month’s Regional Assembly
- For all of us in the U. S., as we seek ways to communicate safely and effectively as we work through the issues that divide us as a country
Immediate Needs (names in bold are newly added or updated)
- Frances Shumake (long-time Georgia Disciple, having surgery on Monday)
- Forrest Castillo (Tadd and Debbie Huff’s great-nephew, home from hospital)
- Hugh Cook (Lynn Lane’s brother, diagnosed with cancer)
- Family and friends of Mary Jo Alvord
- Family and friends of Rev. Troy Tatum
Ongoing Needs
- Our country and our world
- Our members and friends at home, including Odessa Adams (hospice care), Gen Ashby, David Chamberlain, Bessie Kirby, Eva Krahwinkel, Neva Maffett, Ada Mullinax, Bill Phyfer, Bob Powell, and Jimmy Saturday
- Our family and friends with ongoing health challenges
- Dorrie and Tom Toth and family (health and family issues)
- Neva Maffett (Eva Krahwinkel’s twin sister; ongoing health problems)
- Ada Mullinax (health challenges)
- Nancy Welty (health challenges)
- Brenda Sizemore (health challenges)
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 pray for the church and everyone in it, that we continue to follow God’s plan as we share the Good News. God bless you all!
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