Dear Saxe Gotha Church Family,

Our staff did an incredible job preparing and leading us through a meaningful and inspiring Holy Week. The countless hours of preparation and hard work blessed us with services that deepened relationship with the Lord as we focused on his death and resurrection. Our redemption is truly a work of God’s love and amazing grace!

One our charter members, Sheila Warner, wrote these kind words:

Friends, it was truly a blessing to worship with you during this past week. Jesus is alive! He is risen! Let’s live out our resurrection hope that we have in Christ by sharing this wonderful news in those places in which he has placed us!

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Jim

Our Missions Ministry packed 90 Goodie Bags for our friends who normally come to our Friendship Dinners. Due to Covid-19, we have been unable to host the dinners for the past year, but we are hoping to be able to start again this fall. We are looking forward to seeing our friends face to face again.

The recent peace agreements were celebrated on April 2 in Pibor featuring the return of kidnapped women and children from the Dinka, Nuer, and Murle communities to their rightful relatives.

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

We have positions open for college age interns to share Jesus with our kids. Please see below for the position description and contact Melinda Boyle at [email protected] if you are interested.

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. 

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.

Classes will not be held this evening due to Spring Break.

·  The Reason for God: Conversations on Faith and Life - This 6-week class will dig into the objections of the Christian faith to learn about both sides of the issues. Chuck Stoudemire will lead this class and teach some basics of apologetics. They will meet in room 154 MB. ([email protected]) Study guide $9.00.

·  The Ten Commandments: Are They Still Relevant? - Join this casual conversation facilitated by Jenni Gannon. They will meet in 155 MB. Each week a separate topic will be covered. Feel free to jump in at any point and if you miss a class, you can come back and pick up with the commandment being studied that week. ([email protected])

·  Holy Conversations: Talking About God in Everyday Life - This interactive class will help us learn to engage in comfortable conversation about the good news of Jesus with those around us. Taught by Helen Harrison Ham and Pete Eckert and will meet in the Library/152 MB. ([email protected]) Book $14.00.

For everyone’s safety, we will continue to wear masks inside the buildings and maintain the safe social distance of six feet. If you have any questions or would like more information about how to grow deeper in your faith in 2021 or the above classes, please contact [email protected] or 803-359-7770.

Next Generation Family Day is going to be a perfect time for families to draw closer together for fun and fellowship. On April 17, we'll kick off the morning at 10:00 am with the Next Gen Amazing Race! Each family will be a team in this scavenger hunt around Lexington. Starting at the church, you’ll follow the clues to lead you through town for a morning of family fun. Then, at 12:00, we’ll all meet back at the church for a boxed-lunch picnic and parking lot party. We’ll have music, food and much more to give your family an opportunity for some quality time together and with our church family.

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. For questions, to volunteer or to register by phone call Melinda Boyle at 359-7770, ext. 64 or email [email protected].

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 AWE Service and will join Children’s Ministry leaders in a designated room in the Light House, where parents will pick them up when the service ends.

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

Dawn Merck is offering a 9:45 am Sunday morning Bible study time on Zoom. We are coordinating SS efforts, so she will also be using God's Story Cards and following along with Pastor Jim's sermon series.

Our midweek mystery series continues in the Fellowship Hall on 4/14.

Though we will always meet at the same time (6:30 on Wednesdays) and the same place (Fellowship Hall), you'll never know what mystery activity we will do to learn more about all the wonderful surprises in the Bible and the life of Jesus! For the month of April, we will be engaging our creativity through art, music and games.

Join Melinda and Erin tomorrow, April 7 for a surprise park day for our kids! If you'll be in town, please join us as we play and fellowship together. We'll be at Virginia Hilton Park at 11:00 am. Bring your friends––we'd love to meet them, too!

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.

We are following CDC guidelines--temperature checks will be given at check-in. Please contact Sara McCarter at [email protected] if you have any questions.

No choir this week but Sunday, April 11 is recording day! 

Kid's Choir will meet in the Atrium at 1:00 pm. We will rehearse our song and then record kids in groups of two in front of the green screen. Wear your Sunday Best but DO NOT WEAR ANYTHING GREEN (not even a hint of green––this means no green hair bows or polka dots or stripes or shoelaces, etc. because anything green will not work in video production). Because we will not have choir this week, here is a link to the practice recording.

Preschoolers (those who normally meet on the playground) will record in the Sanctuary at 3:30 pm. Preschoolers need to wear their "Sunday Best" - they can wear green.

This bible study and fellowship time for kindergarten - 3rd graders is on Sundays from 4:00-5:30 pm. Drop off and pick up kids under the covered awning to keep everyone socially distanced. The kids will be in MB Room 224/225. Bring a mask and friend!! Contact Sara McCarter at [email protected].

We had a great time this week as we work through Armor of God. We made shields of faith. Reminder NO Seekers on 4/11. We will pick back up on 4/18. Thanks for sharing your kids!

We had a great time this week as we worked through the Armor of God. We discussed the Helmet of Salvation. Reminder NO CLUB 45 on 4/11. We will pick back up on 4/18.

Thanks for sharing your kids !

Each week on Wednesdays, Downpour starts at 6:30 pm in person in the Light House Auditorium or on the Saxe Gotha YouTube channel.

Students Sunday School Online: Click here to join a Zoom Sunday School Meeting for Students. Middle and High School students will meet together and then go into Zoom breakout rooms. Contact: Justin Hall at [email protected].

Meeting Wednesday Mornings from 7:15 - 8:00 am in the Light House Atrium. Breakfast will not be served, but you can purchase a Chick-Fil-A biscuit to go. Rides are available to school. Contact: Justin Hall at [email protected].

Youth Sunday will be on April 25 this year during the Traditional (8:30 am) and Contemporary (11:00 am) Services. If you have any questions, just email Justin.

We've Been Challenged To Some Tigerball!

After seeing the Saxe Gotha Tigerball Team put in some work at Modgnik, I wasn't afraid to answer the challenge that our Modgnik partners laid down, so I need everyone out at Gibson Soccer Fields on Friday afternoon at 1:30 pm. Bring your A-Game! If you're more of a spectator or cheerleader, though, that's alright! Feel free to come and just hang out. It'll just be nice to be outside fellowshipping in the fresh air!

Not Meeting April 11 due to Spring Break.

Oasis kids packing backpacks for kids in our community.

This group will be going through the book of 1 John. We will study what it means to love one another and the love of God. As we dig into the Word together, we will also have some time to deepen our friendships and fellowship with one another. We meet on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:30 pm at Stephanie McGee’s home. This group is led by Kalie Wehunt, Livvy McGee and Stephanie McGee. For more information, contact Kalie Wehunt. 

9th-11th Girls Bible Study

Meets on Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30 pm at Jennifer Gissendaner's house.: 248 Clubside Drive. For more information, contact Justin. 

This group is going through a semester of apologetics. We will learn how to defend our faith and how to handle the Word of Truth to do so. Meets on Mondays 6:00-7:00 pm. Meeting at Liz Carpenter's house: 84 Rocky Cove Road. For more information, contact Justin.

Join in for a Bible Study that's just for the guys. This group meets every other Tuesday from 6:00-7:00 pm in the Light House Cafe. For more information, contact Justin.  

We know that iron sharpens iron, so why not pump some iron, too? We're going to get together twice a week to study the word, work out, and get better. Barry and Justin are going to be leading this small group as we dig into the word and then hit the gym. We'll meet twice a week in the church gym. Monday afternoons at 5:00-6:00 pm and Thursday mornings at 6:00-7:00 am. You can join in for one or both meetings each week, but make sure you have rides worked out beforehand because we won't be doing school runs since we'll be done around 7:00 am on Thursdays. Wear clothes you can work out in and close-toed shoes. If you have any questions, you can contact Justin.

Meets virtually on Mondays at 8:30 am for a brief lesson and to pray for each other and for other people. Contact Scott Welborn at [email protected] for meeting information. This Bible study is open to men of all ages.