Church Family,

Parents are the #1 influence in their child’s life. I know it may not always feel that way when our child is ignoring us for the umpteenth time, but IT’S TRUE! One article I read recently surveyed a group of parents who overwhelmingly placed themselves last on a list of influences, after friends, teachers and media. While we cannot deny the power of those influences, it’s striking that the children of those same parents listed their parents at the top of the list, when they were polled. We hear this wisdom echo in the Old Testament Proverb 22:6 ESV, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

This has been on our team’s minds as we began planning for this summer, so we decided to take a slightly different approach to Vacation Bible School this year. We were forced to pivot last year, and I could not be prouder of our entire team as we launched our first ever Virtual VBS. While we all longed for a return to in-person activity on campus, we learned a great deal. The biggest feedback that we received last year was that parents really enjoyed the opportunity to have more focused faith discussions with their own kids and family. I noted the impact in my own home as we participated in our Concrete & Cranes Virtual VBS 2020 in our own living room!

This year, we want to welcome children and families back in-person to our campus and hope to capture some of that same impact. Will there be fun songs and dancing? Absolutely! Will there be creative crafts and energetic games? You bet! Will there be tasty goodies and engaging teaching? Always! The biggest difference is that we will be hosting our VBS in the evening and encouraging families to come together as a family unit. Our hope in prayer is that this will help give families a leg up on those all-important faith conversations that create a lasting impact.

At the root of our NextGen Ministry is the large vision, to help the next generation find, follow and flourish in their life with Jesus in all their places. I hope you will bring your family, invite your neighbors and accompany your grandkids to this year’s exciting VBS Wilderness Escape (June 28 - July 1, Evenings, Monday – Thursday, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm). Don’t forget to register online, order your t-shirt and order food for your family. We are also looking for volunteers! Everything can be found at saxegotha.org/summer.

I can’t wait to see you there!

Grace & Peace,

Patrick Cherry

Associate Pastor of Next Generation Ministries

Memorial Service for Alice Peck: We will be having a memorial service for SGPC member Alice Peck on Sunday, June 13 at 2:00 pm in the Sanctuary.

Memorial Service for Rev. Bill Anderson: A Memorial Service for Rev. Bill Anderson will be held on Saturday, June 19 at 2:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Clinton, SC. A reception will follow at the Fellowship Hall at the church. The service will be live streamed and can be followed on 2 sites: Facebook - First Presbyterian Church, Clinton, SC  or  www.FPCclinton.org - click on Worship service. Rev. Bill Anderson and his wife Lois were Presbyterian missionaries in Sudan and South Sudan for 37 years and in Africa for 49 years. They answered His call to Go, Baptize, and Teach and are now in the company of Jesus and the Saints.

New Members: Please join us in welcoming new members Mike and Wendy Gaillard, as well as Albert (Danny) and Debbie Raines, this Sunday, June 13, 2021 during the 8:30 am Traditional Service. Mario and Christi Butel, as well as Susan Jenkins will join this Sunday during the 10:45 am AWE Contemporary Service.

Baptism: Kayla Butel will be baptized this Sunday, June 13 during the AWE Service.

New Baby: Hunter Dunovant and Izzy Jeffcoat welcomed a baby girl, Estella Mae Dunovant, on May 12, 2021.  Proud grandparents are James and Sandy Dunovant. Please keep this family in your prayers.

Flowers: The flowers that grace our Sanctuary this Sunday are given to the Glory of God and in honor of Bob and Beth Speaks' 50th Wedding Anniversary.

The Encounters with God Devotional Books (July-September) are now available for pick-up in the Narthex and in the Light House on the racks by the doors. Please email Pansy at [email protected] if you would like them mailed to you.

The Church Office is now open to the public.

Safety Protocols: For the 8:30 am Traditional Service in the Sanctuary, attendees should sit in the pews with white signs. For the 11:00 am Traditional Service in the Sanctuary, attendees should sit in the pews with the blue signs.

Children's Worship: Children ages 4-6 are invited to join us for a series focusing on worship and the sermon topic in an age-appropriate way. Kids will begin their worship time with their parents in the services and will join Children’s Ministry leaders in the specified rooms, where parents will pick them up when the service ends. Children's Worship is held during the 10:45 am AWE Service in Light House Room 130. Children's Worship will begin on June 6 during the 11:00 am Traditional Service in the Fellowship Hall/Welcome Center. Children's Worship is not held during the 8:30 am Traditional Service.

Sunday School Classes: All Sunday School Classes are now In Person.

The Adult Choir is back in person during the 11:00 am Traditional Service.

Help us welcome our two NextGen Summer Interns to Saxe Gotha. Cayli Boyle interned with us last summer and is excited to be back to work with our Children’s Ministry. Seth Jackson is a familiar face over in our CDC and will be working with our Student Ministry. It’s going to be a GREAT SUMMER!!!

Join us in welcoming Cindy Threatt as the new Music and Worship Arts Administrative Assistant. Cindy comes out of retirement and looks forward to helping organize our music library and database.

As recommended by our Safety Team and passed by Session, face masks are now optional indoors on the Saxe Gotha campus. Social distancing is now 3 feet in the classrooms. Thank you for all each of you has done to keep everyone well!

Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one lay caring ministry that meets individually with those that are in need. If you would like to become a Stephen Minister, please email Renee Starnes at [email protected] or call 359-7770, ext. 37 to sign-up. Your experiences and compassion are gifts to be shared. We would like to start a training session soon, so we look forward to hearing from you!

AV Technician!

We are looking for an AV Tech to assist the AV Staff in providing quality sound, video, lighting and graphics support for all church services and special events, including attendance at most of those events.  Please contact Alisha Hudson at [email protected] if you are interested.

Free Exercise classes are held on Wednesdays and Fridays in the Fellowship Hall from 9:00 - 10:00 am. Contact Vicky Beatty with questions: [email protected].

Join us for the Parents of Young Children SS class at 9:45 am in Room 235, under the Fellowship Hall. We are studying “It Starts at Home: Learn How to Confidently Teach your kids about God” by Matt Chandler, Gary Thomas and Kurt and Olivia Bruner. Nursery and childcare is available! Contact Stefanie Cain with questions: [email protected].

It's not too late to join! We meet on Tuesday evenings at 7 pm for 6 weeks and study "Women of the Word" by Jen Wilkin. "Women of the Word" provides women tools to aid in knowing and studying the Bible. This is a study that will really equip women to dig deeper into the word. Please join us as we grow together! Contact Meredith Jenkins with questions at [email protected].

Caring Connections Brotherhood Meeting In Person:

Caring Connections Brotherhood has resumed gathering in person at The Flight Deck every Tuesday at 12:00 noon.

We look forward to you joining us for the 2021 Summer Camps. We missed you last summer! All Summer Camps will follow CDC Safety Guidelines. All camps are for boys and girls, ages are noted. For complete details, please go to saxegotha.org/summer or contact Pansy Floyd: [email protected].

Family Vacation Bible School:

June 28 - July 1, Evenings, Monday – Thursday, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. (Families with Rising 3’s – Rising 6^th Graders) COST: FREE. 

Art Camp: Camp is Full - Registration is Closed.

July 19 - 22, from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, Room 145-146 in the SGPC Light House. (Ages 4 - 9) Cost: $94. 

To view the Saxe Gotha Services and other resources, please go to: youtube.com/user/SaxeGothaPres.

The presence of flowers in the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings brings added beauty and Glory to God during worship. There is a notebook available on the podium in the Narthex to sign-up to provide flowers or you can contact Robin Wilkes at: 803-530-7603. Also, Robin will deliver the flowers to the nursing home of your choice if you do not have plans for them after the service.

The United Heroes Ministry here at SGPC sends cards and care packages to our military. We are in the process of updating our list of names and addresses. Please send the name and address of those that are active duty, serving overseas or stateside to Jody Sullivan at [email protected] or call 704-798-5444 to get your loved one added to the list.

From learning more of God's Word, to creating meaningful projects to completing creative Bible challenges, Sunday School is a way for kids to grow spiritually! We meet at 9:45 am in the gym. This week we will continue our study of the prophets while learning about Isaiah.

Promotion Sunday: This Sunday, June 13 is our Official Promotion Sunday. Starting on that Sunday, your child will age-up and transition (if necessary) to their new Sunday School class. Kindergarteners moving into first grade will now be with the older kids in the gymnasium. Your rising 6^th grader is now a bona fide Middle Schooler and will be joining us in the Light House for Sunday School. So, let’s celebrate this “coming of age” by gathering together in the gym at 9:45 am on Sunday, June 13th before heading off to our separate classes. Justin will meet up there with our rising Middle Schoolers to walk them over.

Just a Reminder: Sunday School ends at 10:30 am. Please pick-up your children promptly, so that Kids Sunday School leaders can get to Children's Worship.

June 28 - July 1, Evenings, Monday – Thursday, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. (Families with Rising 3’s – Rising 6th Graders) COST: FREE. Welcome to Wilderness Escape—an exciting journey with God’s people, the Israelites, that brings God’s Word to life for kids! Our SGPC Vacation Bible School is always a great time for children to learn about God’s word through terrific music; fun, hands-on activities; creative, multi-sensory experiences; and energetic large group ensemble led by our youth praise band and adult “characters” who dramatically tell about the VBS Biblical theme to Trust God. VBS is a free experience that’s open to the community. (T-shirts are available for purchase.) For questions or to volunteer, please contact Melinda Boyle at 359-7770, ext. 64 or email [email protected].

This year's VBS shirt features the theme "Trust God, " which will be highlighted throughout the week. Purchase your t-shirt below.

To guarantee your t-shirt will be here before VBS, please order by Friday, June 11. All orders should be placed online, we will not have shirts available on site.

Children ages 4-6 are invited to join us for a series focusing on worship and the sermon topic in an age-appropriate way. Kids will begin their worship time with their parents in the services and will join Children’s Ministry leaders in the specified rooms, where parents will pick them up when the service ends. Children's Worship is held during the 10:45 am AWE Service in Light House Room 130. Children's Worship will begin on June 6 during the 11:00 am Traditional Service in the Fellowship Hall/Welcome Center. Children's Worship is not held during the 8:30 am Traditional Service.

Email Erin Stoudemire with any questions or to let her know that your children will be participating.

We need volunteers to love on young kids in our Children's Worship time for both the AWE service and the 11:00 am Traditional Service. Please email Erin to sign up to volunteer. 

June 15: Elementary Kids Activity (for rising 1st-rising 6th grade)

June 17: Preschool Kids Activity (for rising 3's-rising K5)

Contact Melinda Boyle with questions: [email protected].

Seekers (K-3rd Grade), Club 45 (4-5th Grade) and Kids Choir for all ages.

Nursery is available for ALL services and Sunday School. Friends ages 3 and younger can join us in Room 215 during the worship services.

Preschool Sunday School for ages 2 through kindergarten will be meeting in rooms 214 and 224 until spring/warmer weather.

Please contact Sara McCarter at [email protected] if you have any questions.