Katie leads us in worship with scripture coming from Colossians 1:1-14. After worship, join us for a special Meet & Greet with the Capital Campaign Team.

It's also 5-Cents A Meal Sunday. Bring your offerings to the collection bins on either side of the communion table during the first hymn.

Our preschool hallway is full of laughter and learning this summer as we welcome back Soaring As Eagle's PreK Jumpstart program. This is a free program helping children aged 3 to 5 years old prepare to attend Title 1 schools in the Fall. The program is in its third week and runs through August 1, Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to noon.

We have a few volunteer slots remaining to assist with check-in, serving breakfast, assisting on the playground, pick-up and in other “as needed” ways. Please prayerfully consider blessing these needs by clicking the link below.

by Capital Campaign Communications Team

Capital campaign packets were mailed last week. Please contact the church office if you have not received one, or visit our website to view the packet information online. If you have any questions about the campaign, or would like to learn more, the team is hosting two Meet & Greets directly following worship this Sunday (7/13) and next Sunday (7/20). Scroll to the Holy Happenings section of Saints Alive to learn more about the Meet & Greets.

by Katie Harrington

Our group travelled to Malawi recently and had the privilege of meeting some of the children attending the CCAP school in Zomba, Malawi. Your generous donations provide critical nutrition to these students, and for some this is their only meal all day. Please consider giving to our 5-Cents-A-Meal offering this Sunday during worship, or you can make an online donation using the button below. Select "5-Cents-A-Meal Offering" as the designated fund.

by Katie Harrington

Our group safely returned home after two weeks of strengthening existing relationships and building new friendships with our partner church, Chuluchosema CCAP, in Malawi. We look forward to sharing our experiences with the congregation in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, here's a group photo of our team before dinner one night.

by Earth Care Team

People ask: What really happens to recyclables?  One answer is: It depends.

Unfortunately, the estimate is that only 32% of municipal solid waste is recycled or composted by the general public in the U.S. In New Hanover County it is about 11%.

Looking at what is recycled, it is estimated that most of the plastic we throw out ends up in the landfill or the ocean. But for those items that are recycled, some are more valuable and usable than others. For example, metal is the top recyclable money maker. Even recycled aluminum is much cheaper for businesses to use than making it from raw materials. The same goes for glass, which some localities don't accept, but New Hanover County does. Paper and cardboard are also valuable items to recycle, because there are substantial energy savings compared to using raw materials.

However, critics accuse the plastic industry of fraud for the false impression that they have created in the public mind that recycling plastic is beneficial. In truth, only 5% to 7% of plastics are recyclable. They are numbers 1 and 2.  Numbers 3-7 usually end up in the landfill. Of the numbers 1 and 2 types, only one round of being recycled is viable, and that one round is energy intensive and can lead to the creation of microplastics. Plus the price of virgin plastic is much cheaper than recycled plastic. The newest tactic of the plastic and oil industry is advanced recycling. This is a "new" way of recycling plastics by burning it without using oxygen. One of the main concerns in using this process is the likely polluting of the air and ground water from the water used in the process, and the process uses lots of energy. It seems that the best way to deal with plastic is to buy as little as possible.

Finally, as a reminder, there are a few recyclable rules to remember. First is to keep plastic bags out of the blue can. Also, don't crush aluminum cans, because that can cause the sorting sensors to make errors. Also, if you question whether an item should be recycled, either call Wilmington Recycling and Trash at 910-341-7875 and ask, or throw it in the trash.

New Hanover has a recycling Materials Recovery Facility on U.S. 421 and ships recycled materials to various companies which buy them. Furthermore, the more we recycle, the more time is bought for our quickly filling landfill. If you are feeling especially civic minded, you can volunteer at the County landfill and pick up fly-away trash to keep it out of the surrounding wetlands.

There is no denying that recycling, other than plastics, is one way to help our Good Earth.  So, may we "rest in fields of green grass" and be led to "pools of fresh, still water."

by Jen Phelps

We will be holding a Confirmation class during the upcoming school year. If you are, or have, a rising 8th or 9th Grader (or older that would like to participate) please contact Jen Phelps. Even if you are unsure about what Confirmation is or if it is for you - let Jen know!  

We will be having a Confirmation Contemplation meeting soon for any who are interested.

by Jen Phelps

Families of Rising 6th Graders: NOW is the time to contact Jen Phelps about getting your child involved in our youth ministry. Email Jen ASAP.

Join us reading this book by Mariann Edgar Budde, one chapter at a time, and meeting for informal discussion on Wednesdays, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in Room 214 (Living Faith). You will need to acquire the book on your own and try to read Chapter 1 before our first meeting: July 2 - Aug. 6. If you would like to meet via Zoom please contact Sue McCaffray.

The Walking in the Word Sunday School class invites you to join us during the Sundays in July  and August as we meet from 9:00 - 10:00 am and continue our study of Acts. 

Come meet the Capital Campaign Team, learn more about our renovation projects and get answers to any questions you may have. We will host two Meet & Greets directly following the 10:00 am worship service. plan to attend July 13 or July 20. Light refreshments will be served in the Chapel.

For August, our Fellowship Team invites everyone to join us in the Chapel after worship for sweet treats, coffee, water, and lemonade. 

We are truly blessed by the wonderful interest in our handbell ministry. We've had folks express a desire to join our group and in order to make a space for all to continue to enjoy the job of making music together, we're forming a second bell choir!

Whether you're a seasoned ringer or new to handbells, we invite you to join us.  

Here are the details:
 
When: Thursdays, 10:00 am - 11:00 am beginning Sept. 18th
Where: Handbell Room
Questions?  Cindy Litzinger

Thank you for your support as we continue to expand our music ministry together.

St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church is looking to hire a Contemporary Music Director to join our team. This position offers the unique opportunity to lead an already established group of dedicated volunteers and skilled paid musicians who share a common goal of enhancing our worship experience through music. If you're passionate about music and ministry, we'd love to hear from you! For more information, please our full job description.

by Carol Query

With the summer months upon us, our friends at the Domestic Violence Shelter continue to need the casseroles we have prepared for them so far in 2025. Those enjoying the casseroles are often mothers with young children. Therefore, the casseroles need to be child-friendly, not a dish that Emeril might have prepared with lots of ingredients and spices.        
If you would like to prepare a casserole, please go to the mail room near the dining room to get a 13 x 9 aluminum pan and lid from the cabinet next to the freezer. Take it home, prepare a casserole in it with directions for heating on the outside, and then on Sunday place the casserole in the freezer where I will get it and take it to DVSS.          

For additional information, call or text Carol Query at 910-470-3127 or click the link below to send an email.

Current available dates:
JULY 6, 13, 20, & 27.
AUGUST 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31.  
SEPTEMBER 7, 14, 21, & 28.
 
THANK-YOU so much for considering my invitation for your participation in a most beneficial Go and Serve project.

In July we will once again have one of our favorite collections--providing backpacks and school supplies for children in need in our community. We are accepting backpacks for children from kindergarten through high school.

Supplies we'll collect include:

• pens and markers
• pencils and colored pencils
• crayons
• 3-ring binders and notebook paper
• composition books
• folders
• construction paper
• scissors
• erasers
• glue sticks
• rulers
• index cards
• -and, of course, backpacks 

The items we collect will be divided among WRAAP, the Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, and Family Promise. This is a tangible--and fun--way to stay faithfully present in our community.

Join us at Fort Fisher State Park (Kure Beach) for a SACPC Family Beach Night! Bring a picnic dinner for your family. We will provide ice cream treats. Come fellowship and enjoy God's beautiful creation together!

Middle and high school students are invited to come help get our new Youth space moved in and ready! Bring your friends and meet your friends at the church between 10:00 am - 3:00 pm (lunch provided!).

Sign up using the link below.

Middle and High School students are invited to come hang out in Brown Hall for pickleball and other air conditioned shenanigans! Friends are welcome - snacks will be provided. If you have Pickleball equipment to share - please bring it with you!

By popular demand - we are spending more time at Bill's! We will gather Sunday night, August 10th from 6:30 - 8pm. There will be walking tacos and water fun. Friends are welcome!

Our annual lock-in event for middle and high school students! This year, we will be in the main church building. Friends are welcome - just warn Jen how many you are bringing so we can plan accordingly!

Thank you for contributing to the work and love of Jesus through St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church. Your gifts enable us to stay Faithfully Present in Our Community by providing beneficial programs and spiritual events that lift up, motivate, and provide joy!

Financial updates will be provided each month.  If you have any questions, please contact Susan Dykes, Financial Administrator, 910-762-9693x207, sdykes@sacpc.org; or our Church Treasurer, Ed Hobson, treasurer@sacpc.org.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:4-6

Robin Harper’s dad, Bill Tate, who passed away July 2 at Trinity Grove.

The family of Barbara Liles, who is holding a celebration of life service at Oleander Memorial Garden’s chapel at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 12.

Soaring As Eagles Pre-K Jumpstart program which runs at our church from June 23rd until August 1st — prayers for the children and their families, for the teachers, Kim Ceasar, staff and volunteers.

Matthew McDonald and his family.  Matthew shared that his dad's older brother (grandmother's last remaining child of 4) passed away recently.  

The group traveling to the Massanetta Middle School Conference July 10 - 13:  Ari Aramato, Brooklyn Johnson, Elle Lathan, Josie Harrington, Lyda Williams, Tory Hilliard, Rita Pasquariello and Jen Phelps.

Martha Futch who is scheduled for pacemaker surgery on July 15th and ablation the next day. 

The safe return of the Malawi partnership team: John Pasquariello,  Lynn Atkinson, Katie Harrington, Max Harrington, James Brumit, Lily Skipper, Margo Davy, Meredith Mack, and Catheryn Thomas.

Jackie Samgour, a friend of Sue Messina’s, who had many UTIs and kidney stones requiring stents. Her kidneys are functioning normally now.

Billy Purdom (USS Stout DDG ), Smith Beacham (Poland/Germany), Jack Looney (USS Carl Vinson, San Diego, CA) , Samuel Makepeace (Fort Moore, Georgia), Brennan Litzinger (Fort Bliss, Texas-deployed to Poland 11-24), Mikayla Reifert (Tinker AForce base in Oklahoma), Bradley Garrett (Coast Guard, Elizabeth City)

Prayer requests: Click here to tell us about your need.

Hospitalizations: Please click here to email Katie Harrington or call the church office at 910.762.9693 to leave a message.

July 8: Doug Dean, Matt Hilliard, Connor Padula
July 9: Karen Frye, Ginny Hager, Wilbur Jones, Phyllis Smith
July 10: Max Harrington, Wyatt Whitley
July 11: Sam Anderson, Ella Nordeen
July 13: Sally Buell, Fatima Charlton
July 14: Margaret Freeman, Cal Lewis, Scott Murray
July 15: Susan Dykes

View our most recent Session Reports.