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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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SUNDAY PREVIEW: CHRISMONS, PART 2Sermon Title: Exalting the Life of Christ through Symbols and Monograms
This Sunday we continue in the season of Advent, the time when we wait in hope for the coming of the Christ child at Christmas. The sanctuary is decorated for the season and the Advent wreath is ready for candle lighting. This week, we will continue our shared sermon focus on the Chrismons on our tree. We’ll talk about the history of Chrismons and take a look at the meaning behind the different symbols, especially the ones that depict the names of Christ and symbols of Christianity. See you Sunday, in person or online.
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ADVENT EVENTSSunday, December 1 begins the new liturgical year and the season of Advent, when we prepare for the arrival of the Christ child. Plan to join us for some special activities during this season:
- Advent Devotional: Copies of the 2024 Advent devotional, Daring to Connect, will also be available to pick up in the gathering space starting this Sunday. Please take a copy to use in your personal devotions during this Advent season.
- Adult Sunday school Advent study: This Advent, the adult Sunday school class is exploring some extraordinary people of the Christmas story that are often left out. The series includes a copy of the book An Unlikely Advent by Rachel Billsups, and we will utilize weekly DVD sessions with the author. Books are available for $12. Please see Rev. Teresa if you need a copy of the book.
- Advent Bible Study continues TONIGHT: The 4-week Advent Bible study on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm, continuing this evening and ending December 18. All sessions will take place on Zoom. You are welcome to attend as many sessions as you choose. The curriculum is “Peace, Justice, Joy, and Salvation.” There are packets of Advent Bible study readings to pick up in the gathering space.
- Christmas Cantata: Join us on Sunday, December 15 as the Chancel Choir present the cantata “Emmanuel: Celebrating Heaven’s Child”. Created by Joel Lindsey and Arranged by Russell Mauldin, this cantata explores the many names of Jesus incorporating both familiar and new Christmas songs.
- Christmas Eve Service: Our annual Christmas Eve service will be Tuesday, December 24 at 5 pm. We will celebrate the birth of the Christ child once again!
Also, thank you to Donna Nielsen for adding the bows and ribbons to the Chrismon tree in the sanctuary!
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ANGEL TREE GIFT CARD DONATIONSOnce again LFCC will be supporting Cedar Hill Elementary School’s Angel Tree this holiday season. We will be collecting $25 Target or Walmart gift cards. CHES likes these two stores because it gives the families the option of buying groceries, clothes or toys. In 2022, LFCC was recognized as providing the largest one-time donation from a community organization to CHES. We had similar numbers in 2023. Let’s do it again in 2024! The deadline to bring your gift cards is this Sunday. Dec. 8. Cards will be delivered to CHES the week of Dec 9th. Cards can be given to Rod B, Beth T, Diane B, or Teresa B.
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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL OFFERINGThe Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia knows the power of connections in our ministries and programs, for these are the connections that make God’s love visible among us. When middle and high school youth gather at Epworth, when children and youth go to summer camp, when women and men gather for retreats, and when Georgia Disciples sit across tables and share stories – God’s love is made visible. When Disciples college students gather with peers at ecumenical tables, when ministers and seminarians are guided and nurtured, when congregations are resourced after conflicts or disaster – God’s love is made visible. When congregations are guided in search and call, when new churches are cultivated, and when existing churches are nourished – God’s love is made visible.
To thrive and to grow, and to continue to make God’s love visible among Georgia Disciples, all of these regional ministries and many more depend on your support. The Christmas Special Offering is a critical part of that support because 100 percent of your gift remains in the Georgia Region, supporting regional camps, conferences, retreats, and programs, and nurturing ministers and congregations.
This year’s Christmas Offering invites you to consider the many ways “God’s Love is Made Visible” in our regional ministries. As you do, we invite you to support the 2024 Christmas Special Offering today or during the month of December. You can place your Christmas Offering in the plate on Sunday, mail a check to the church, or give on the Disciples Mission Fund website.
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CWF/DISCIPLES WOMEN CHRISTMAS LUNCHEONThe Disciples Women met at the Bensch/Worrel home for a Christmas luncheon on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Rev. Hoyt Huff shared a devotion with the group. The group enjoyed delicious food and good conversation.
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LIVE NATIVITY CANCELLED THIS YEAR
Because of a lack of volunteers to play roles in the Live Nativity, we are cancelling the Nativity this year. We will reevaluate interest in holding the Live Nativity next year.
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HELP MAINTAIN THE PRAYER GARDENThanks to those who have continued their hard work in the prayer garden, and especially to Jeanie Morgan and Dennis Higdon for showing up and removing ivy so regularly. As long as the weather remains nice, work on the prayer garden continues. If you have even an hour to spare, on any day of the week, the prayer garden can use you. Reach out to Jeanie for more information on what needs to be done, or just show up and pull ivy when you have time. We appreciate the hard work of all those helping to keep the prayer garden beautiful.
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UPCOMING EVENTS IN DECEMBER
Wednesday, December 4
6:30 pm: Advent Bible study on Zoom
Sunday, December 8 – Second Sunday in Advent
8:45 am: Choir practice
10 am: Sunday school
11 am: Worship
12 pm: Congregational meeting
Monday, December 9
6:30 pm: Outreach team meeting
Tuesday, December 10
11:30 am: TONTO Christmas lunch
6:30 pm: Finance and Facilities team meeting
Wednesday, December 11
6:30 pm: Advent Bible study on Zoom
Sunday, December 15 – Third Sunday in Advent
8:45 am: Choir practice
10 am: Sunday school
11 am: Worship (Christmas Cantata)
Tuesday, December 17
6:30 pm: Let’s Eat! at the Diner at Webb Gin
Wednesday, December 18
6:30 pm: Advent Bible study on Zoom
Sunday, December 22 – Fourth Sunday in Advent
8:45 am: Choir practice
10 am: Sunday school
11 am: Worship
Wednesday, December 24
5 pm: Christmas Eve service
Sunday, December 29
No Choir practice
10 am: Sunday school
11 am: Worship (Fifth Sunday)
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
Advent Wreath: CWF/Disciples Women (Betty Higdon and Karen Jensen)
Communion Meditation: Elizabeth McElhanon
Elders: Sanford Thompson and Julie Thompson
Deacons: Riley Ballew and Libby 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 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. If at all possible, 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 DEC. 8 AND DEC. 15
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.
Sunday, December 8
- Baruch 5:1-9
- Malachi 3:1-4
- Luke 1:68-79
- Philippians 1:3-11
- Luke 3:1-6
December 15, 2024
- Zephaniah 3:14-20
- Isaiah 12:2-6
- Philippians 4:4-7
- Luke 3:7-18
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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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THE LAWRENCEVILLE CO-OP NEEDS GREEN BEANS!As always, the Lawrenceville Co-op needs our donations of money, food items, and personal care items to help those in need in Dacula and Lawrenceville. In an effort to fill their empty shelves, they have asked supporting churches to collect a specific item. Thank you for your generous donations that help keep this vital ministry running. During November, we collected 187 pounds of food, mainly green beans! We will continue collecting green beans in December.
Most Needed Food Items
- Snacks – Protein bars, granola bars, Cheese and crackers, Peanut butter and crackers
- Canned beans
- Rice
- Mac & cheese
- Pasta and pasta sauce
- Peanut butter & jelly
- Canned tuna and chicken
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Canned soup
- Cereal
Most Needed Personal Care Items
- Size 3 and up diapers
- Feminine pads
- Adult diapers size S-XL
- Laundry pods
- Toiletry items
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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.
Psalm 78: 14: “God guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night.”
Celebrations
- Congratulations to Perry Westbrook, who set a Piedmont University Swimming record for the 200 Yard freestyle at his last meet
- Julie Thompson’s birthday is December 9
- Stephen Westbrook’s birthday is December 12
- Elizabeth Anders has a birthday on December 14
- Scott & Leigh Britt’s anniversary is December 7
Weekly Prayers
- For our co-ministers, Rev. Teresa Bensch and Rev. Diane Bales
- For our Wednesday evening Bible study during the Advent season
- For the choir, as they prepare for the cantata later this month
- For the Regional Minister Search Committee and their prayerful work
Immediate Needs (names in bold are newly added or updated)
- Family and friends of Barbara Bagwell, as they grieve
- Suzy Santoro (Anna Harrison’s daughter, healing at home)
Ongoing Needs
- Our country and our world
- Our members and friends at home, including Odessa Adams, Gen Ashby, David Chamberlain, Bessie Kirby, Bill Phyfer, Bob Powell, and Patricia Saturday
- Our family and friends with ongoing health challenges
- Students/teachers/administration of Gwinnett County Public Schools
- Faculty, staff, and students at Apalachee High School
- Dorrie Toth and Tom Toth (recovering from surgery)
- Ada Mullinax (dealing with health challenges and upcoming medical tests)
- Eva Krahwinkel and Neva Maffett
- Larry Roberts (brother-in-law of Kim Peeples, Sanford Thompson, and Marilyn Parks)
- Linda Kellman and Ann Kellman (Ada Mullinax’s sister and sister-in-law)
- Chris Klimshuk and her sister Veronica (Veronica is recovering from heart surgery)
- Grace Aguwa
- Peg Morgan
- Carrie Toth (Dorrie Toth’s daughter)
- Sue Ragsdale (Jeanie Morgan’s friend)
- Connie Worrel’s sister Pat
- Jeanie Morgan’s sister, Judy
- 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 be in prayer for the church and everyone in it, that we continue to do what the Lord has called us to do. God bless you all!
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