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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: Christ with His Disciples, Andrey Mironov
SUNDAY PREVIEW: DISCIPLESHIP
Sermon Title: The Cost of Discipleship
Scripture: Luke 6: 17-26
This week, we answer the call that Jesus asked of the twelve last week. It’s Luke’s version of Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, except that with Luke, it’s the Sermon on the Plain, and Luke provides greater expectations of the disciples and us. Join us Sunday as we take a Lukean view of the blessings or “beatitudes” with corresponding curses or “woes”. It is difficult and demanding to be Jesus’ disciple – learn about the work of the gift of Grace and the gift of the Spirit. See you Sunday, in person or online.
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VALENTINE’S DAY BRUNCH AND LET’S EAT!
Come one, come all, and join the eight who have signed up so far to celebrate God’s love by branching together on Valentine’s Day this Friday the 14th at 11AM at the Diner at Webb Gin. Special menu options like red velvet waffles, and special prize categories too!
Next Tuesday, February 18, Let’s Eat! will gather at Los Hermanos (4955 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Suite 122, Lawrenceville) at 6:30 pm for dinner and fellowship.
RSVP to Anna Harrison by text or call to 404-441-4844 for either or both gatherings. Hope to see you there.
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SPECIAL SUNDAY SCHOOL SPEAKER THIS WEEK
This 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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WEEK OF COMPASSION SPECIAL OFFERINGWeek of Compassion is the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Week of Compassion works with partners to alleviate suffering across the United States and around the world, often as some of the first responders on the ground when disasters hit.
As we know, massive wildfires have been burning in Southern California, scarring thousands of acres, destroying thousands of homes and structures, and displacing hundreds of thousands of people under evacuation orders. Week of Compassion remains in frequent contact with pastors and regional leaders, responding as needs emerge and joining partners in conversation about the long-term recovery ahead. This disaster is just one of many – including hurricanes, war, and famine – to which Week of Compassion is still responding. Increasingly severe and frequent weather-related and human-caused disasters continue to fragment communities around the world.
The Week of Compassion special offering helps support these important relief efforts. We will collect our 2025 Week of Compassion offering on February 16 and 23. Be sure to designate “Week of Compassion” on your check, envelope, or online gift. The church and the world thank you for your generous gifts to help those in great need.
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NEW GIVING PLATFORM FOR LFCC
We are launching a new giving platform on our website. Why, you ask? We are paying an average of $40 a month in fees deducted from the donations we receive. Our new giving platform, Zeffy, is for non-profits and does not include a mandatory fee or charge. Please note: When you make your donation using this platform, you will be asked if you want to donate to offset fees. You can just enter any amount, including $0.
The new platform will be linked to the Donate button on the home page of the website by this Sunday. Thank you for your donations online, in-person, and through the mail. We hope this platform will make things easier for donors and eliminate fees so we can do more work in the church with your entire contribution.
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RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE ON FEB. 17
Our next Red Cross Blood Drive will be held at the church on Monday, February 17. See the flyer below to make an appointment to give blood. We need volunteers to help with the canteen. If you’re available to help out, please reach out to Rod Baker (404-273-1444 or Rbaker1023@gmail.com).
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR: MORTGAGE BURNING AND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF ON SUNDAY, MARCH 9On Sunday, March 9, wehave a big celebration planned. We will celebrate paying off our building mortgage with a special mortgage burning during morning worship. We will look back at all we have accomplished as a congregation and forward to our next steps in ministry now that our mortgage is paid in full. All of the former ministers of the church have been invited to attend or send thoughts to the church. We will also kick off our next Capital Campaign, to improve our outdoor space. After worship, we will continue our celebration with a covered-dish dinner. Please sign up in the gathering space to let us know what you plan to bring. Mark your calendar now for this special celebration!
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SUCCESSFUL SCOUT SUNDAY
Representatives of our Cub Scouts joined us for worship on Sunday, Feb. 9. We are grateful for their presence and all they are learning!
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UPCOMING EVENTS IN FEBRUARY
Sunday, February 16
9 am: Choir practice
10 am: Special Sunday school presention: Josiah Vega
11 am: Worship
12 pm: Arts Team meeting
12 pm; Capital Campaign committee meeting
Monday, February 17
2:30 pm:n Red Cross Blood Drive at the church
Tuesday, February 18
6:30 pm: Let’s Eat! at Los Hermanos (4955 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Suite 122, Lawrenceville)
Friday, February 21 – Sunday, February 23
Disciples Women retreat at Little Ocmulgee State Park and Lodge
Sunday, February 23
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: Karen Jensen
Scripture: Jeanie Morgan
Communion Meditation: Elizabeth McElhanon
Elders: Beth Thompson and Rod Baker
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 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 FEB. 16 AND FEB. 23
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.
February 16, 2025
- Jeremiah 17:5-10
- Psalm 1
- 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
- Luke 6:17-26
February 23, 2025
- Genesis 45:3-11, 15
- Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40
- 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50
- Luke 6:27-38
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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 SOUP!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. For the first quarter of 2025, the co-op has requested that we collect soup.
Most Needed Food Items
- Applesauce
- Instant potatoes
- Canned tuna and chicken
- Canned fruit
- Canned soup/stew
- Cereal
*Village of Hope needs mac and cheese cups, ramen cups, boxed milk, and rice cups
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.
I Thessalonians 5:11: “Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Celebrations
- Rebecca Thompson’s birthday is February 15
- Eleanor McElhanon’s birthday is February 17
- We celebrate with those who have receivd good news reated to health concerns, including Kevin Hopkins
Weekly Prayers
- For our co-ministers, Rev. Teresa Bensch and Rev. Diane Bales
- For the Capital Campaign committee and committee chair Rod Baker, as they prepare for our next campaign to fund improvements to the church grounds
- For the upcoming mortgage-burning celebration
- For the Regional Minister Search Committee and their prayerful work
Immediate Needs (names in bold are newly added or updated)
- Kerry Bensch (recovering from surgery)
- Connie Worrel (health issues)
- Family of Steve Ehly (Sharon Carter’s brother)
- Odessa Adams (Anna Harrison’s mother, at home with hospice care)
Ongoing Needs
- Our country and our world
- Our members and friends at home, including Mary Jo Alvord, Odessa Adams, Gen Ashby, David Chamberlain, Bessie Kirby, Ada Mullinax, Bill Phyfer, Bob Powell, and Patricia Saturday
- Our family and friends with ongoing health challenges
- Eva Krahwinkel and Neva Maffett
- Ada Mullinax and her sister Linda (recovering at home)
- Dorrie Toth (recovering from eye surgery)
- Mary Ann Pusen (Connie Thompson’s mother, fractured wrist)
- Eric McDonald (husband of former interim minister Melinda McDonald; recovering from open heart surgery)
- Suzy Santoro (Anna Harrison’s daughter)
- Chris Klimshuk and her sister Veronica
- Grace Aguwa
- 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 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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