January 15, 2024

LFCC E-Gram (1.15.25)
Welcome to our weekly e-gram! Read on to discover what’s happening in our church family this week and beyond.

Church News

SUNDAY PREVIEW: GOD’S LOVE
Sermon Title:  Human Expression of God’s Love
Scripture: Psalm 36: 5 – 10

We continue to manifest Jesus as our Lord and Savior as we enter the second week of the season of Epiphany. We will hear from the Psalmist about the unconditional love that God provides and the sometimes hard-to-swallow fact that even those we may think do not deserve this love are on the list as well. This love is so encompassing that it saves humans and animals alike. See you Sunday, in person or online.

SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY
On Sunday, February 9. we will celebrate Souper Bowl Sunday, in preparation for the big football game later that afternoon. The Outreach Team encourages everyone to bring cans of soup to give to our neighbors through the Lawrenceville Co-op. Afer worship, the Congregational Care and Connect Team invites you to stay for a soup lunch, featuring several kinds of soups, crackers, corn bread, veggie trays, and desserts. We need more volunteers to bring food for the meal. You can sign up in the Gathering Space on Sunday, or reach out to Rev. Diane and let her know what you would like to bring. We will also celebrate Scout Sunday on Feb. 9, so we are hoping to have several scouts and families join us for lunch. 
SWITCHING MINISTRY TEAMS
We have completed a little more than a year with our current ministry teams. If you would like to step back from your current team and/or join a new team, we want to hear from you. We will have a basket with cards in the Gathering Space on Sunday. Just let us know your name and what team you want to join. You’re also welcome to send a message to Rev. Diane or Rev. Teresa with that information. We appreciate everyone’s hard work to make the ministry teams successful, and we want to be sure you’re on a team that matches your interests and abilities.

(Not an image of the actual tea set!)

SILVER TEA SET AVAILABLE
Several years ago, a family gave a silver tea set to the church. We don’t have a use for this tea set at the church. The tea set will be displayed on a table in the gathering space this coming Sunday. If you would like to have it, you are welcome to make a donation to LFCC and take it home! 

DISCIPLES WOMEN UPDATE
The Georgia Disciples Retreat has been rescheduled for February 21-23 at Little Ocmulgee State Park and Lodge. This was rescheduled due to Hurricane Helene. The theme is: “Crazy Love: Sharing Stories of Jesus.” Rev. Daniel Claire Brower is the keynoter. Rev. Nancy Oliver is the musician. Join us to share stories of Jesus’ love, worship, relax or take a walk in a beautiful outdoor setting, and join in the fun and s’mores!  The State Park is spectacular and the Lodge is delightful. Register online at www.gadisciples.org/gadisciples-women-retreat-2025. The deadline to register is February 5.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN JANUARY

Thursday, January 16
6:30 pm: Worship Team meeting

Sunday, January 19
9 am: Choir practice
10 am: Sunday school
11 am: Worship
12 pm: Capital Campaign Committee meeting

Tuesday, January 21

6:30 pm: Let’s Eat! at Lolita’s Bar and Grill, 472 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville

Sunday, January 26
9 am: Choir practice
10 am: Sunday school
11 am: Worship
12 pm: Leadership Council planning meeting


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. 
THIS SUNDAY’S WORSHIP LEADERS
Greeter: Jeanie Morgan
Scripture: Mabel Simmons
Communion Meditation: Connie Thompson

Elders: Libby Ballew and Brian Ballew
Deacons: Molly Ballew and Candace Richardson

Communion Preparation: Libby Ballew
If you are interested in serving as a worship leader or greeter, please contact Rev. Diane or Rev. Teresa.
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. 
LECTIONARY SCRIPTURES FOR JAN. 19 AND JAN. 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.
 
January 19, 2025
  • Isaiah 62:1-5
  • Psalm 36:5-10
  • 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
  • John 2:1-11
January 26, 2025
  • Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
  • Psalm 19
  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
  • Luke 4:14-21
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
Community News

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
  • Jelly
  • Canned tuna and chicken
  • Canned fruit
  • Canned soup
  • Cereal
Most Needed Personal Care Items
  • Size 3 and up diapers
  • Feminine pads
  • Adult diapers size S-XL
  • Laundry pods
Learn more about the work of the co-op at https://lawrencevilleco-op.org/.

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
REGIONAL AND GENERAL CHURCH NEWS
Keep 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!
 
Prayers and Concerns
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. 
 
Exodus 18:17-18: “Moses’s father-in-law said: ‘What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.”

Celebrations
  • Nicholas Anders has a birthday TODAY (Wednesday, January 15)
  • Michael Williams turns 13 on Sunday, January 19
Weekly Prayers
  • For our co-ministers, Rev. Teresa Bensch and Rev. Diane Bales
  • For the Worship Team, as they begin planning for Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Easter
  • For the Regional Minister Search Committee and their prayerful work
Immediate Needs (names in bold are newly added or updated)
  • Family and friends of Jim Larkin (Jeanie Morgan’s brother)
  • Dorrie Toth (eye surgery)
  • Odessa Adams (Anna Harrison’s mother, hospitalized with flu)
  • Ada Mullinax (hospitalized)
  • Kevin Hopkins (health issues)
  • Mary Ann Pusen (Connie Thompson’s mother, fractured wrist)
  • Dennis and Betty Higdon (family member in hospice)
  • Jeanie Morgan (health challenges)
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
  • 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). 
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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First Christian Church of Lawrenceville (Disciples of Christ)
3495 Sugarloaf Parkway
Lawrenceville, GA 30044
(770) 963-9922
Rev. Dr. Diane Bales, Co-Minister (diane@lawrencevillechristianchurch.org)
Rev. Teresa Bensch, Co-Minister (teresa@lawrencevillechristianchurch.org)
Kim Peeples, Music Director
J.T. Clements, Communications Coordinator