Gary leads us in worship with scripture coming from Colossians 2:6-15. We will discuss what it means to emulate Christ in our every day lives as we "Walk In Christ."

by Ann Danchak

On August 3, 10, and 17 we will host sweets, coffee, lemonade and water after worship until 11:30 am. Our Food & Fellowship Team is looking for volunteers to donate cookies/sweet bites, lemonade, and helpers to set up/clean-up. Please contact Nancy Trout at 910-599-0622 if you are able to help.

by Catheryn Thomas

This Sunday (7/27) there will be filming on The Block, specifically at White Front Restaurant, from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. The entire parking lot will be closed that day, and that side of 15th Street may have film trucks parked. Step-saver parking will still be available on the church side of 15th Street. Thank you for your patience as we continue to support our local film industry!

by Catheryn Thomas

Some of you have been around SACPC long enough to know the basic history of our church - and specifically the history of our Sanctuary. There are two significant dates for our Sanctuary: 1917, when that part of the building was completed; and 1958. What happened that year? The congregation had completed major renovations to the building - including turning the sanctuary pews and pulpit 180 degrees!

It’s a bit hard to imagine what it must have looked like. But now we can see it, due to a gracious gift of historic photos from Mrs. Ruth Sprunt Johnson, daughter of Rev. James Sprunt, granddaughter of Rev. Alexander Sprunt and great-niece of James and William Sprunt, instrumental in our church’s history. The two photos, taken in 1926, are now framed and displayed in the 15th Street entrance.

It's wonderful to see these historic images alongside the beautiful rendering of what our Sanctuary will look like after our upcoming renovation. What changes can you see from that time to now? Enjoy!

by Capital Campaign Team

This is the heating and air conditioning system (HVAC) we've used for the past 70 years. It is now failing and beyond repair. In 2024, the Session approved the need for a new HVAC system, and in July 2024, we began replacing the old HVAC system with a more energy-efficient unit to service the majority of our building. This means 90% of our church will have access to the new system by early 2026.

As we journey together through the Joyfully Present & Prayerfully Connected capital campaign, 85% of the funds raised will be used for debt reduction on the new HVAC system. To learn more about this campaign, click the link below.

by Sue McCaffray

POPS planners are lining up educational and inspirational programs to Prepare Our People for Service after dinner on Wednesday nights (6:30 pm - 7:30 pm). Mark your calendar for our September events:

SEP 10: Back-to-school fun with the Ukuholics Ukulele band
SEP 17: Let's Talk About Social Righteousness and Justice
SEP 24: This year's Malawi team reports on their recent visit and the state of our partnership

All are invited to join us for dinner in Brown Hall from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm.

by Susan Dykes

Click the button below to see our Finance Committee's most current updates.

by Julian March

Rev. Parker Lucas called the meeting to order and called on Ryan Johnson, who offered a devotion based, in part, on Psalm 46, and opened the meeting with prayer. 

Rene Sasser reviewed the role of SACPC’s preschool in the life of the church, which helps connect families with our church. Our faith-based preschool offers a five-day per week, four-hour program (8:30 am - 12:30 pm) for 9 months out of the year. Last year, the preschool served 48 children from 37 families, and there is capacity for the upcoming year. Each class goes to the chapel weekly, providing a regular connection between the church and the preschool. The playground is also used by families within the surrounding neighborhood. Rene shared that the preschool is important because it connects with SACPC’s mission: Inspiring one another to love Jesus by staying faithfully present in our community. Rene expressed thanks for the church’s support of the preschool.

Installation service: Associate Pastor Lucas’ installation service will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 17, 2025, in the SACPC Sanctuary.

Katie Harrington delivered a written report due to travel to Malawi as part of our Mission Trip Team. Highlights include:  

• Expressed thanks to staff, volunteers, youth, and children who participated in Camp Fusion, which included 66 preschool and elementary-aged children, 12 youth volunteers, and 47 adult volunteers, led by staff members Lynn Warner and Cindy Litzinger. It was a wonderful, faith-filled week that encouraged and challenged many to grow in faith.
• The HUB and Sisson House Update: We are beginning to move everything from the HUB to the lower level rooms in SACPC. The lower level rooms are being transformed with new paint, drywall and baseboards. Jen Phelps met with a youth design team to create and personalize the new youth space in the lower level. We are hosting our last scheduled guests in the Sisson House, and by the end of June, we will begin to move forward with plans for renting that space. 
• Contemporary Worship Director Position: We continue to search for a candidate for this position. 
• Worship Schedule: As a reminder: in July and August, we will have one 10 a.m. service in the sanctuary, which will close for renovations beginning Sept. 7.
• Capital Campaign information sessions will be held following worship on July 13 & 20.
• Please be in prayer for our partners in Malawi and our Mission Trip team: Lynn Atkinson, Jim Brumit, Catheryn Thomas, Lily Skipper, Margo Davy, Meredith Mack, John Pasquariello, Max Harrington, and I, returning July 3. 

Rev. Lucas adjourned the meeting with prayer. The Session has no scheduled meeting in July. 

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 as we read this book by Mariann Edgar Budde, one chapter at a time, and meet for informal discussion on Wednesdays, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in Room 214 (Living Faith). 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. 

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

Join us for one joyful worship service at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary, followed by a celebration luncheon in Brown Hall. Together, we’ll affirm our faith and shared calling to be Joyfully Present & Prayerfully Connected by turning in our 3-year commitment cards during the meal. 

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:
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!

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

The family of Betts Appleton, who passed away July 8th.

David Massey and family in the passing of his father, Henry.

The family of Marilyn Kimbro who passed away July 8th.

The 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.

Tony and Venessa Colmenares’ mother, Maria Colmenares, who has Parkinson's.

Barbara Berberich’s sister, Pat, who is hospitalized with a severe bone infection in her hand that is not responding to antibiotics. She will likely need surgery. Please pray for her, her care team, and her family.

Participants in the CROSS Mission Trip to Charlotte, NC July 27 - August 1st: Brooklyn Johnson, Elle Lathan, Finn Donovan, Josie Harrington, Max Harrington, Mirabelle Donovan, Silas Lockamy, Jeff Denlinger and Jen Phelps.

Phyllis Smith, who is recovering at home from a ruptured appendix.

Angela Burns, who is recovering from hip surgery.

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), 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 23: Patsy Thurston
July 24: Dax Hawkins
July 25: Roxie Peterson
July 26: Katie Herring, Chris Roehner
July 27: Linda McMurry, Austyn Rouse
July 28: Keith Elmore, Zach Gray, Rebecca Jernigan

View our most recent Session Reports.