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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: The Incredulity of St. Thomas by Adraien van der Werff
SERMON PREVIEW: JESUS AND THOMASScripture: John 20: 19-31
Sermon Title: An Appearance, a Commission, and a Proclamation
On Sunday evening, just hours after the women discovered the empty tomb, Jesus himself came into a locked room and stood among his followers. In the interaction that followed, he proved that he was the same Jesus who was crucified. He sent his disciples to complete the work he started, and he gave them the power of the Spirit to support them. Thomas, who was not present on that day, did not believe until Jesus appeared again the next week. Easter is not over; this Sunday, we will continue celebrating the mystery and wonder of the resurrection as we take a look at the first appearance of the risen Jesus to the disciples in John’s gospel. See you Sunday, in person or online.
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BLESSING OF PETS THIS SUNDAY, APR. 27On Sunday afternoon, April 27 at 2 pm, we will gather in the church parking lot for our annual Blessing of Pets service. You are invited to bring your pets if they travel and interact with others well, or you can bring photos of your pets to be blessed. (The Bales-Gibson cats will definitely NOT be there in person!) Please invite your friends and neighbors (and their pets) to join us for this special blessing service.
As we prepare for the pet blessing, we are collecting (old) towels, pet toys, and pet treats to be donated to the local animal shelter. Collection boxes are in the gathering space for your donations. If you have questions about donations, talk to Andrew Jensen. Thanks for your support!
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SPECIAL SUNDAY SCHOOL SPEAKER THIS WEEKThis Sunday, the Outreach Team will host Josiah Vega, the Community Development Manager for Impact 46, during the Sunday School hour. Impact 46 is an initiative of the City of Lawrenceville that facilitates partnerships among community organizations.
One of the initiatives of Impact 46 is the Lawrenceville Response Center that offers services for Eviction Prevention, Utilities Assistance, and Temporary Housing Assistance. In 2025 they will be opening Gwinnett’s first housing center for unhoused men. Josiah will share more with us about the organization, what they do, and how we might be able to help. Please join us at 10 am in the sanctuary this Sunday for this special speaker!
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IMPACT 46 EVENT AT TRUCK & TAP ON THURSDAYTruck & Tap Lawrenceville is hosting a give-back event for Impact46, specifically for our FIRST Housing Center (the center for homeless men that will open later this year!). The event is this Thursday at Truck & Tap Lawrenceville from opening (3pm) to close (Midnight) – 15% of all sales (food and drink) will be donated to the Center to help support our work with homeless men and to raise awareness of the work they are doing.
You are invited to this event, whether you are passionate about working with the homeless or simply like good food and drink! It’s literally just show up and eat dinner/drink and watch the NBA Playoffs or the first round of the NFL draft – they are not asking for donations, but will have some marketing about the Center and Impact46 if people are interested and want to learn more.
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DONATE TO YMCA BOOK DRIVEOn Sundays, April 27 and May 4, LFCC will support the YMCA early learning program that meets at our church each week. The children in the program are between 3 and 5 years old and Spanish is their first language. The leaders of the Y program gave a presentation last year during our Sunday School information series about Outreach Projects for LFCC.
Our current project is to donate age-appropriate books to the children in the program. Our goal is to raise enough money to buy 30 books. There will be a display of the selected ten books in the gathering area. If we reach our goal, we will donate three copies of each book to the program. The books recommended by the teachers range in price from $5 to $15. We are averaging the price, so you may donate one book for $10, two books for $20, etc. The Outreach Team already has $90 toward a goal of $260. If you would like to donate, a basket will be available for your donation of cash or check. Make all checks payable to the church.
The graduation for this year’s group of students is on May 14, and we will be giving each of the students a book of their own to take home as a graduation gift. Any additional books will be used in the classroom.
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VOLUNTEER HOSTS NEEDED FOR COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS MEETINGSThe Gwinnett Chapter of The Compassionate Friends meets at our church on the third Thursday of each month. We need a volunteer host for the upcoming meetings on July 17, August 21, and September 18. The time commitment is 6:30 – 9:30 pm. Volunteers need to have a key and alarm code to the church. If you have a key and are willing to volunteer, please reach out to Rev. Diane (706-207-0252 or diane@lawrencevillechristianchurch.org) to sign up. If you would like to read more about the work of The Compassionate Friends, go to https://www.compassionatefriends.org.
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DISCIPLES WOMEN LUNCHEONWe are invited to the Women’s Luncheon at New Hope Christian Church on Saturday, May 17 from 11:00-1:00. New Hope Christian Church is at 1982 Old Norcross Road in Lawrenceville. There is no charge for this event. You are invited to fellowship with other women in the region. Please let Karen Jensen or Marilyn Parks know if you plan to attend.
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UPCOMING EVENTS IN APRIL AND MAY
Sunday, April 27
9 am: Choir practice
10 am: Special Sunday school presentation – Josiah Vega
11 am: Worship
2 pm: Blessing of Pets
Sunday, May 4
9 am: Choir practice
10 am: Sunday school
11 am: Worship
6 pm: Leadership Council on Zoom
Monday, May 5
6:30 pm: Congregational Care and Connect Team on Zoom
Tuesday, May 6
11:30 am: TONTO
Sunday, May 11
Mother’s Day
9 am: Choir practice
10 am: Sunday school
11 am: Worship
Monday, May 12
6:30 pm: Outreach Team on Zoom
Tuesday, May 13
1 pm: Disciples Women at the church
6:30 pm: Finance and Facilities Team on Zoom
Wednesday, May 15
9 am: YMCA Early Learning Program graduation
Sunday, May 18
9 am: Choir practice
10 am: Sunday school
11 am: Worship
6 pm: Board meeting on Zoom
Tuesday, May 20
6:30 pm: Let’s Eat! (location TBA)
Sunday, May 25
Celebration of Graduates
9 am: Choir practice
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: Libby Ballew
Scripture: Mabel Simmons
Communion Meditation: Jimmy Peeples
Elders: Lee Thompson and Connie Thompson
Deacons: Dennis Higdon and Jeanie Morgan
Communion Preparation: Hoyt Huff
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 DEADLINE
Thanks for all your contributions to the e-gram. Please email any information for next week’s e-gram to Rev. Diane (diane@lawrencevillechristianchurch.org) no later than Tuesday at 5 pm. Please send e-gram information by email rather than text; it may get lost in incoming text messages.
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LECTIONARY SCRIPTURES FOR APR. 27 AND MAY 4
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 27, 2025
- Acts 5:27-32
- Psalm 118:14-29
- Psalm 150
- Revelation 1:4-8
- John 20:19-31
May 4, 2025
- Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)
- Psalm 30
- Revelation 5:11-14
- John 21:1-19
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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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SUPPORT THE LAWRENCEVILLE CO-OP
Summer is coming and many students will be hungry without their school breakfast and lunch! Each summer the Lawrenceville co-op partners with Village of Hope to make sure those students in our area who are in need of food get the support they need. Last year, they served 11 neighborhoods and handed out almost 2,000 bags in the 8 weeks we distributed food. The co-op is starting to collect food for this program and could use your help.
Summer Lunch Program Needs
- Microwaveable rice or pasta packets
- Pop Tarts
- Individual Cereals
- Canned pasta
- Canned tuna, chicken, or vienna sausages
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Snack items
Co-op’s Most Needed Food Items
- Macaroni and cheese
- Instant potatoes
- Canned meat
- Canned fruit
Most Needed Personal Care Items
- Size 3 and up diapers
- Feminine pads
- Adult diapers size S-XL
- Laundry pods
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DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
REGIONAL AND GENERAL CHURCH NEWSKeep 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.
James 1:19: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Celebrations
- We had a wonderful celebration of the risen Christ on Easter Sunday!
- Lee Thompson’s birthday is April 24
- Alyna Lee’s birthday is April 24
- Amanda Baker’s birthday is April 25
- Beth Thompson’s birthday is April 27
- Libby Ballew’s birthday is April 30
- Al & Nancy Groves are celebrating their anniversary on April 27
- Lee & Connie Thompson are celebrating their anniversary on April 28
Weekly Prayers
- For our co-ministers, Rev. Teresa Bensch and Rev. Diane Bales
- For our continued celebration of the resurrection during this season of Eastertide, that our hearts may be touched and transformed by the good news of Jesus’ love
- For the Pet Blessing on Sunday, that it may bring joy to all who attend
- For the Regional Minister Search Committee and their prayerful work
Immediate Needs (names in bold are newly added or updated)
- Jeanie Morgan (recovering from surgery this past Monday)
- Connie Worrel (recovering from hip replacement surgery)
- Pam Van Dusen (camp co-director and friend of Marilyn Parks, health issues)
Ongoing Needs
- Our country and our world
- Our members and friends at home, including Mary Jo Alvord, Odessa Adams (hospice care), Gen Ashby, David Chamberlain, Bessie Kirby, Eva Krahwinkel, Neva Maffett, Ada Mullinax, Bill Phyfer, Bob Powell, and Jimmy and Patricia Saturday
- Our family and friends with ongoing health challenges
- Teresa Bensch (recovering from knee replacement surgery)
- Grace Aguwa (health issues)
- Bessie Kirby (moved to rehab)
- Eva Krahwinkel and Neva Maffett (facing transitions in living situation)
- Kerry Bensch (recovering from hip replacement surgery)
- Phillip Maffett (Neva Maffett’s son)
- Suzy Santoro (Anna Harrison’s daughter)
- Chris Klimshuk and her sister Veronica
- Carrie Toth (Dorrie Toth’s daughter)
- Connie Worrel’s sister Pat
- Rev. Peggy Edge (Anna Harrison’s sister)
- Sadie Severt (Harrison family friend)
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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