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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: Feeding the multitude, Daniel of Uranc, 1433
SERMON PREVIEW
Scripture: Matthew 15: 29 – 38
Sermon Title: Feeding the Hungry (Part 1)
Before we begin talking about how to ensure that everyone has the food they need, it’s important to ground ourselves in scripture. We will take a look at Matthew’s account of Jesus feeding a large crowd with a small amount of food (interestingly enough, the second time Jesus fed a crowd in Matthew’s gospel). We will take a look at the dialogues around the feeding miracle, and we will explore the parallels between this scripture and our upcoming Honest Conversation about ensuring that everyone has enough to eat. Over the next several weeks, we will explore the different versions of this story in a sermon series that parallels our conversation. We look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday, in person or online.
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STARTING MAY 24: “HONEST CONVERSATIONS” DISCUSSIONSOver the next several weeks, we will be engaging in a process called “Honest Conversations.”, where we will discuss how to respond to challenging issues in our world, through the lens of followers of Christ. We will begin our discussion of the issue during the Sunday school hour on May 24, and will continue for the next 5 Sundays (through June 28). We will address the question, “How should we ensure that people have the food they need?”
We need everyone’s voices as part of this discussion! We won’t always agree, and that’s ok. Our goal is to learn how to listen respectfully, share our different perspectives, and find core values we share as Christians. You are invited to participate, even if you don’t usually attend Sunday school. To help us plan, we would love to know who is planning to attend. Please sign up on the sheet in the gathering space to indicate what dates you will attend.
We will use an issue brief from the National Issues Forum Institute called “Land of Plenty” to help us discuss the issue. Print copies of the issue brief are available in the gathering space on Sunday. If you would like an electronic copy, you can find it at https://nifi.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/NIF-Land-of-Plenty.pdf. We look forward to sharing this important discussion with you.
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BOOK DRIVE FOR YMCA PROGRAMThis Sunday, May 17, we will wrap up our annual book drive for the YMCA Early Learning Readiness Program. The program provides a high-quality dual-language learning and play experience for young children and caregivers in predominantly Spanish-speaking families. Our church is a site for this metro area program, which is free to all participants.
Our book drive will provide 45 dual-language books that the YMCA teachers have selected. Each child graduating from the program at our church will receive a book. The remaining books will be used in the program next year.
The average cost is around $7.00 per book. Our target fundraising goal for the books is $315. You can donate by placing a check in the offering plate, donating on the church website, or putting cash in an envelope in the basket on the display table. Be sure to designate gifts to the YMCA book drive, and include your name so your gift can be added to your giving statement. Thanks for supporting our YMCA families!
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PENTECOST SPECIAL OFFERINGThe prophet Micah reminds us what God asks of us: “To do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Not just believe.
Not just gather.
But to live in ways that bring healing and hope.
Because faith without justice is empty — and justice, at its heart, is love in action.
Here in Georgia, that love is in action as new Disciples churches are being planted and existing churches are being revitalized and growing. A contagious Spirit of enthusiasm is spreading that will help transform our churches and the people in them!
That is the Spirit of the Pentecost Offering, which helps support the efforts of the Disciples New Church Ministry to train, equip, assist, and multiply emerging and affiliating congregations and their leaders. Half of this offering stays in our own Georgia Region, supporting churches in formation such as One Church Fellowship in Jonesboro, GA, and Disciples of the Way in Hephzibah, GA, and the renewal of existing congregations in Georgia.
You are invited to be part of the Spirit that is growing Disciples churches in Georgia and throughout the United States and Canada by giving to the Pentecost Offering. Your offering will help Georgia Disciples continue to start new worshipping communities and support existing congregations as they rediscover health and growth through discipleship development, technological updates, stewardship guidance, and innovative outreach ideas. Please give generously to the Pentecost Special Offering on May 17 or May 24.
The Georgia Disciples New Church Team has created a video that celebrates this ministry across the state. Click here to watch the video.
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DISCIPLES WOMEN SPRING LUNCHEONThe women of New Hope Christian Church have invited women from LFCC to their spring luncheon. It will be at New Hope CC on Saturday, May 16, at 11:00. If you would like to attend, please let Karen Jensen know.
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CAMP CHRISTIAN REGISTRATION: MAY 15 DEADLINERegistration is now open for 2026 Summer Camp at Camp Christian Conference Center. Students from kindergarten through high school are invited to participate in our Disciples summer camp program. Camp sessions for all ages — Genesis, Chrysalis, Junior, Chi Rho, and CYF — will explore the theme of “In the Wilderness,” guiding campers to discover the sacred in each person and all creation. To learn more and register, go to https://www.gadisciples.org/summer-camp-2026. The deadline for registration is May 15.
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FUN AT LET’S EAT!A group of LFCC members and friends gathered at Los Hermanos restaurant for Mexican food and conversation. Please plan to join us for the next Let’s Eat! on Tuesday, June 16 at BiBa’s Italian Restaurant on Sugarloaf.
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UPCOMING EVENTS IN MAY
Sunday, May 17
9 am: Choir
10 am: Sunday school
11 am: Worship – Honest Conversations sermon
6 pm: Board meeting
Monday, May 18
6:30 pm: Finance and Facilities team
Sunday, May 24
9 am: Choir
10 am: Sunday school – Honest Conversations
11 am: Worship
Sunday, May 31
9 am: Choir
10 am: Sunday school – Honest Conversations
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
Scripture: Julie Thompson
Communion Meditation: Connie Thompson
Elders: Brian Ballew and Libby Ballew
Deacons: Hoyt Huff 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.
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E-GRAM AND ANNOUNCEMENT GUIDELINES
We welcome e-gram article submissions up to four weeks in advance. Please send your e-gram 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.
If you have a time-sensitive update or urgent prayer request to share on Sunday morning, 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 MAY 17 AND MAY 24
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.
May 17, 2026 (Ascension Sunday)
- Acts 1:1-11
- Psalm 47
- Psalm 93
- Ephesians 1:15-23
- Luke 24:44-53
May 24, 2026 (Pentecost Sunday)
- Acts 2:1-21
- Numbers 11:24-30
- Psalm 104:24-34, 35b1 C
- orinthians 12:3b-13
- John 20:19-23
- John 7:37-39
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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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NEWS FROM 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 reports that food donations have been down about 25% over the last few months. When summer starts, more people rely on the co-op for food because children no longer have access to free breakfast and lunch at school. Please help the co-op feed our hungry neighbors! Over the past month, LFCC donated 222 pounds of food to the co-op.
Co-op’s Most Needed Food Items
- Cereal
- Snacks for summer lunch
- Pasta and pasta sauce
- Corn
- Peanut butter
- Rice
- Macaroni and cheese
- Canned tuna
Most Needed Personal Care Items
- Size 1, 2, and 5 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.
Matthew 10:31: “Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Celebrations
- Kayla Lee’s birthday is May 13
- Tony Ramirez’s birthday is May 15
- Debbie Huff’s birthday is May 18
- Ada Mullinax’s birthday is May 18
Weekly Prayers
- For our co-ministers, Rev. Diane Bales and Rev. Teresa Bensch
- For our Regional Minister, Rev. Dr. Adam Harmon
- For our upcoming Honest Conversations sermon and discussion series, that it may help us talk and listen to each other more fully
- For peace in the world, and for all of us to find ways to communicate safely and effectively
Immediate Needs (names in bold are newly added or updated)
- Hugh Cook (Lynn Lane’s brother, hospitalized; health declining)
- Friends and family of Jennifer Gonyea (Rev. Diane’s long-time UGA colleague; died Friday after an 18-year battle with cancer)
- Rev. Molly Goodrich (Rev. Diane’s friend and former church camper, recovering after complications from surgery)
- Rev. William Crowder (Disciples Regional Minister of the Living Waters region) and his family; son Sollomon Crowder died a week before he was scheduled to graduate from Howard University
- Will St. Fleur (Lawrenceville neighbor; asked for prayers for healing and health concerns)
Ongoing Needs
- Our country and our world
- Our members and friends at home, including 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
- Dorrie and Tom Toth and family (health and family issues)
- Neva Maffett (Eva Krahwinkel’s twin sister; health challenges)
- Ada Mullinax (health challenges)
- Nancy Welty (health challenges)
- Brenda Sizemore (health challenges)
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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