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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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CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE TONIGHTWe will gather in the sanctuary at 5 pm this evening (Wednesday, Dec. 24) for our annual Christmas Eve service. We will light the Christ candle, hear the story of our Messiah’s birth, share communion, and light candles. Please make time in your holiday celebration to join us for this special service!
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Image: Song of the Angels by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
SUNDAY PREVIEW: “With the Angels Let Us Sing”
Come and “Sing With The Angels” during morning worship this coming Sunday, December 28th. Many of our favorite Christmas Carols picture the biblical scene of angels appearing to the shepherds in the field. Join us and learn a bit more about these hymns and join in the Angel Choir. See you Sunday morning, in person or online.
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LIVE NATIVITY THANKSThanks to everyone for a successful Live Nativity on Sunday night. It takes a lot of volunteers including cast members, technical crew, stage crew, costume designers and assistants, set up crew, hospitality crew, greeters and parking lot crew. We appreciate every single one of you and all you did to make this event a success.
A very special thank you to the Care and Connect team for providing our dinner on Sunday evening. By our count, we had approximately 40 volunteers working Sunday night, not including those who made and provided cookies and sandwiches. This is a whole church project, and you are so appreciated!
Cast:
- Mary: Elizabeth Anders
- Joseph: J. T. Clements
- Angels: Molly Ballew, Sophia Baker, Mary Kate Westbrook, Martha Westbrook, and Maggie Westbrook
- Shepherds: Frank Hawkins. Micah Baker, Al Groves, Andrew Jensen, Cam Gibson, Ben Gibson, and Cooper Gibson
- Wise Men: Rod Baker, Nancy Groves, Tadd Huff,, and Perry Westbrook
Crew:
- Co-Directors: Beth Thompson and Kim Peeples
- Music and Narration: Kim Peeples
- Lighting and Sound: Jimmy Peeples
- Stable design and set up: Sanford Thompson
- Stage Managers: Kim Peeples and Candace Richardson
- Costumers: Chris Klimshuk, Sharon Carter, and Maddie Carter
- Dressers: Chris Klimshuk, Sharon Carter, Lynn Lane, Connie Thompson, and Marilyn Parks
- Promotion/Social Media: J.T. Clements, Teresa Bensch, and Diane Bales
- Pick up hay: Sanford Thompson
- Banner set-up Sanford Thompson
- Parking Lot Team: Lee Thompson and Brian Ballew
- Hospitality Team: Libby Ballew, Karen Jensen, Anna Harrison (and all who donated cookies!)
- Photos/Video: James Gibson
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NOTE OF THANKS
Dear Church Family,
Thank you for the generous Christmas bonus and for the countless ways you bless and support us throughout the year. We are deeply grateful for your kindness, your partnership in ministry, and the joy of serving Christ alongside you.
With heartfelt thanks,
Diane and Teresa
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IN SYMPATHYSome of you may remember David and Hilda Morgan and their two sons, who were active in our congregation before a work transfer took them to the Valdosta area. Hilda passed away recently. Visitation (11am-1pm) and service (1 pm) for her will be on Saturday, December 27 in Morrow, GA.
Our love, compassion, and prayers go out to David and family in this difficult time. David’s address is 5454 Griffin Drive, Hahira, GA 31632.
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UPCOMING EVENTS IN DECEMBER
Wednesday, Dec. 24
5 pm: Christmas Eve service
Sunday, Dec. 28
No choir practice; choir be in loft by 10:45 am
No Sunday school
11 am: Worship – Christmas Carol Sing
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: Julie Thompson
Communion Meditation: Hoyt Huff
Elders: Julie Thompson and Sanford Thompson
Deacons: Dorrie Toth and Riley Ballew
Communion Preparation: Julie Thompson
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
Each week, our e-gram newsletter helps us stay connected, informed, and inspired. We welcome e-gram article submissions up to four weeks in advance. Please send your 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.
Announcements shared during worship are drawn primarily from the e-gram. If you have a time-sensitive update or urgent prayer request to share, 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 DECEMBER 28 AND JANUARY 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.
December 28, 2025
- Isaiah 63:7-9
- Psalm 148
- Hebrews 2:10-18
- Matthew 2:13-23
January 4, 2026
- Jeremiah 31:7-14
- Sirach 24:1-12
- Psalm 147:12-20
- Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21
- Ephesians 1:3-14
- John 1:(1-9), 10-18
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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-OPThank you for your support of the Lawrenceville Co-op as they feed our neighbors in Lawrenceville and Dacula. The co-op is taking a well-deserved break through January 4, but will resume food distribution on Monday, January 5. Food donations are still needed!
Co-op’s Most Needed Food Items
- Cereal
- Applesauce
- Shelf stable milk
- Canned tuna/chicken
- 12 count or 18 count egg cartons
Most Needed Personal Care Items
- Size 4 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.
Proverbs 27:1: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”
Celebrations
- Sophia Coker’s birthday was December 23
- Connie Worrel’s birthday is January 1
- Betty Higdon’s birthday is January 3
- Micah Baker’s birthday is January 6
Weekly Prayers
- For our co-ministers, Rev. Diane Bales and Rev. Teresa Bensch
- For our general and regional church, and for our new Regional Minister, Rev. Dr. Adam Harmon (who will visit our church in January)
- For our joyous celebration of the birth of the Christ child, beginning on Christmas Eve and continuing through Epiphany Sunday
Immediate Needs (names in bold are newly added or updated)
- Mary Jo Alvord (moved to rehab)
- Family and friends of Hilda Morgan
- Ada Mullinax and her sister Linda (health challenges)
- Howard and Joanne White (Bob Hanson’s neighbors)
- Family of Doyle King (Candace Richardson’s uncle)
- The faculty, staff and students of Brown University
- The people of Sydney, Australia
- Nancy Welty (health challenges)
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 Saturday
- Our family and friends with ongoing health challenges
- Bill Carter (recent medical procedure)
- Brenda Sizemore (health challenges)
- The Lee family (John, Julie, Kayla and Jana), who are grieving the recent death of John’s mother
- Eva Krahwinkel and Neva Maffett (transitions and health concerns)
- McKenzie Harper (Elizabeth Sloan’s daughter; recovering from surgery)
- Nancy Moss (cancer; requests prayers)
- Suzy Santoro (Anna Harrison’s daughter)
- Peggy Edge (Anna Harrison’s sister, recovering from recent car accident)
- Maggie Harrison Copeland (Anna Harrison’s sister-in-law)
- Toby Severt (Anna Harrison’s daughter’s boyfriend)
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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