Katie leads us in worship as we continue to study the Lord's Prayer. We focus on what Jesus meant by: "Our Daily Bread" with scripture coming from Exodus 16:1-12 and John 6:35, 41-51. It's world communion Sunday!

by Parker Lucas

Are you interested in learning more about SACPC and/or becoming a member? Join us for our membership exploration class on October 12th & 19th at 10:00 am in the Dining Room. Our Pastors will lead this class with a general overview of St. Andrews-Covenant and our ministries, as well as what it means to be part of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

by Session

There will be a congregational meeting for the purpose of electing new officers at 10:50 am on October 12 in Brown Hall.

by Catheryn Thomas

We have recently hired a new Facilities Assistant, Collin Berry. He is part of our Facilities Team, along with Tony and Tom, assisting with set-ups and security and other building needs that come along. You will see him in the church Sunday mornings and Monday through Thursday evenings. If you haven't met him yet, give him a warm SACPC welcome when you see him!

by Ann Danchak

Snacks and Coffee will be available in the Gathering Area following the 9 o'clock service! Please grab a treat on your way to your Sunday School class, or sit down and enjoy a moment of fellowship with those relaxing in the gathering area between Brown Hall and the Dining Room.

If you would like to volunteer to donate cookies or lemonade, set up the Fellowship hour, or clean up afterward contact Ann Danchak.

by Catheryn Thomas

If you have driven or walked by the Sanctuary end of the building recently, you may be wondering why there is a large mound of dirt and a long trench on the Market Street side. Our contractors recently discovered that the very old main cast iron pipe underneath the Sanctuary, is highly corroded and in need of immediate repair. So they are installing a new CPVC pipe, running it outside the Sanctuary and then connecting through a vent to the good copper piping inside. There will be a few hours at some point in the week when water will be shut off to make the final connection. But we are trying to plan for minimal disruption. Thank you for your patience as we continue to improve our building!

by SACPC Youth

The Earth Care Team partnered with our youth ministry to come up with a list of ways to enjoy this Halloween season more sustainably. Below are some great ideas you can share with your family:

1. Reuse costumes.
2. Costume exchange.
3. Create costumes from what you have around your home.
4. Use pillowcases or canvas bags (could decorate), but no plastic pumpkins.
5. Use flashlights, not glow sticks.
6. Walk instead of driving from house to house.
7. Use sustainably obtained chocolate.
8. Buy candy in foil wrappers, not plastic.
9. Don’t use spider webs, they may catch birds.
10. Use the whole pumpkin: pulp for pie, roast the seeds, compost after it’s used.

**In Malawi they even eat the greens from the pumpkin vines, wasting nothing.

by René Sasser

Thank you church for all you do to support the preschool! *We are so blessed to have Lynn leading chapel for our children each week. *Cindy started Kindermusik with our 2-year-old class. *Gail Richardson is the first of several church volunteers coming to read with our children. The preschool is such a joyful place to be. Your encouragement, support and prayers are felt and appreciated. Thank you all!

by Lynn Warner

Our Children's Sunday School classes are off to a great start! Here is what's happening in each age group:

- Our preschoolers are learning Bible stories from the Spark/Activate Faith curriculum

- Our Kindergarten - Second graders are involved in a Wonders of Worship (WOW) class that is interactive and helping them learn about worship.

- Our Third - Fifth Graders are getting into their new Bibles as they Dive Deep Into God's Word helping them to become comfortable finding their way in their Bibles.

We are off to a great start and are so happy to be learning and growing in our faith together!

by Lynn Warner

Our new season of M&M (Music & More) began on Wednesday, September 10th.  In the Music portion of the program the children have been working on Christmas music already, playing hand chimes and learning percussion instruments!

In the More portion we are learning the Kids Can Make Peace, but talking about what peace is both in a calming way and actively - how can we actively work to be peaceful? We are learning through various activities. It's not easy to live in peace!

We welcome more Kindergarten - Fifth Grade children to join us on Wednesday afternoons from 4:30 pm -6:00 pm!

by Shelley Hobson

SACPC’s Let’s Talk About It Team has been offering a series of programs about the "Six Great Ends of the Church,” which are a set of guiding principles for the life and mission of the PC(USA). These are:

1. The proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind.
2. The shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God.
3. The maintenance of divine worship.
4. The preservation of the truth.
5. The promotion of social righteousness.
6. The exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. 

At POPS on September 17, Rev. Dr. Gary Smith helped us understand the Biblical mandate to promote social righteousness, the fifth Great End. We began the program with a video from the Bible Project:

According to Gary, the Bible indicates that God is deeply concerned about social righteousness. The major Hebrew and Greek words for justice are mentioned in Scripture over 1,000 times. The Hebrew word for justice (mishpat) is used over 400 times. Many times, the Hebrew word for justice is paired with the word for righteousness, indicating that “righteousness” is about more than personal piety; it’s a sense that things are right for the community as a whole.

Gary went on to say that Biblical justice is a key responsibility of God’s people, and that we fulfill this responsibility through direct relief to meet people’s material needs (Luke 10:30-35); through empowering a person, family or community to gain self-sufficiency (Deut. 15:13-14); and through dismantling the social structures that disadvantage certain groups (Job 29:17).

At our discussion tables, we asked ourselves a series of questions that we (and you!) will hopefully continue to think about as we discern how we will live and what we will prioritize as individuals and as a church family:

1. What social circumstances or problems in our neighborhood, nation and world tug at your heart?  Have you found a way to address any of these? 
2. Where do you think it is appropriate for our church to be part of the solution to social circumstances, or problems in our world or community?
3. How can SACPC address the matters it should be addressing? 

We hope these questions will remain in all our hearts as we continue to work together through our diversity to share God’s heart for justice and social righteousness.

by Katie Harrington

When we kicked off our Joyfully Present and Prayerfully Connected capital campaign in August, our goal was to raise funds to reduce the debt from our HVAC loan and pay for a renovation of our sanctuary.

The capital campaign team led by co-chairs Russell Herring and Kathy Denlinger, along with George Chadwick, Beth Cherry, Emily Donovan, Susan Dykes, Kelly Hawkins, Parker Lucas, Julian March, David Massey, Linda McMurry, Jen Phelps, and Lynn Warner set out to not only raise these funds, but also to invigorate this congregation in who we are and what God is calling us to do. It has been a time of prayer, connection, faith and generosity. I do believe we have become even more Joyfully Present and Prayerfully Connected with God and one another during this time!

When introducing the campaign in the brochure, Russell and Kathy shared that this lofty capital campaign goal of securing enough pledges to be free of debt or close to it upon completion of the campaign would be a miracle. And every miracle starts with a problem. Our problem was raising the funds. Including 10-year interest on our loan, the goal to completely eliminate debt for our loan and renovation was $3,692,000.

Our capital campaign consultant told us we could realistically reach a campaign goal of $1.5 million dollars. Our Session and capital campaign team believed a better goal would be $2 million.

Well, we believe in God’s ability to turn our problem into a miracle, and through our collective generosity, we have received commitments that total: $3,128,374

Wow!!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Because of you, we will save an estimated $750,000 in interest payments on our loan.
These gifts for this three-year campaign range from big gifts to small ones, and each one makes a powerful difference in funding these projects, which are already under way.

Thanks be to God!

It is now time to turn all these commitments into gifts. If you haven't done so already, please begin fulfilling your 3-year commitments using one of the methods below:

Give Online: Make a one time donation or set up recurring donations through our website or mobile app.
Give in Person: You can make your gift through cash, check, or through our mobile app. Please clearly label your gifts as "Joyfully Present" fund.
Mail a Check: You can make your offering by mailing a check (note in the memo: "Joyfully Present") to our front office if you won't be there in person.

If you have questions or would like to explore other ways of giving, please contact Susan Dykes, our Financial Administrator.

by Sue McCaffray

There are four new books on the New Book shelf in our library. If you haven't been there in a while it's time for a visit - the library is open everyday, even on Sunday mornings. We have Bishop Michael Curry's Love is the Way: Holding onto Hope in Troubling Times; Brene Brown's Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way we Live, Love, Parent, and Lead; Brian McLaren's Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices; and A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

by Shelley Hobson

Two more months to go in this year's hurricane season. SACPC's Earth Care Team is sharing this preparedness checklist from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for you to print and use to help you be ready:

Disaster Checklist for the Family

_____ Become aware of household hazards and secure dangerous substances.
_____ Consult local Fire & Rescue as to the proper placement of fire extinguishers and CO monitors.
 _____ Train for CPR/AED and First Aid. Renew certification as mandated.
_____ Purchase or prepare a First Aid Kit, keeping special needs in mind. Inspect every six months.
_____ Develop an exit plan from the house and familiarize everyone with it.
_____ Establish rally points outside of the house. (At least 2.)
_____ Post emergency numbers in a conspicuous location. Include out of town contacts. _____ Keep medical records (including prescription information) in a convenient, marked place for First Responders.
_____ Prepare an Evacuation Kit (See handout.)
_____ Initiate or participate in a Neighborhood Watch program.
_____ Know of local shelters in the area and how to get to them.
_____ Maintain at least 72 hours’ worth of non-perishable food and water.
_____ Purchase an all-hazards radio and test monthly. Replace batteries every six months or as needed.
_____ Keep multiple copies of birth certificates, social security records, insurance policies. Scan electronically and save in multiple, secure locations. Keep one copy in Evacuation Kit. _____ Keep at least $200 per person in a secure location. (i.e. Evacuation Kit, etc.)
_____ Purchase power failure lights for home. Can be used as flashlights in an emergency. _____ Maintain auxiliary lighting in home and car. Replace batteries every six months. _____ If you purchase a generator, be sure to operate it only outside and test monthly. _____ Encourage all of the above to the local congregation and assist in the development of a Disaster Response Ministry.

The menu for this week is: Breakfast Casserole, Pancakes, Fruit, and Grits. Cost: $25/family $7/adult $5/under 12.

We'll enjoy a presentation from the mission team that traveled this past June to visit our partners in Malawi.

Join our spirited Zoom group of Thursday Night Disciples as we ponder Philip Yancey's classic book. We meet on Thursdays, October. 2 - Nov. 6, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm.  Each week we read a couple chapters from the participant's guide and view a video together as we discuss. Reading Yancey's original book is optional. Contact Dave Hoff to sign up and for more information. We'd love to have you!

by Katherine Brandi

October's Presbyterian Women's Bible study will be led by Beth Cherry. The theme is Mary “of a Certain Village”. Mary's story teaches us that spending time listening to and learning from Jesus is the better part. We will explore scripture from Luke 10:38–42.

All are invited to attend. The same lesson will be given on October 8, 9 and 14 at 10:00 am in Dining Room. See Katherine Brandi for details.

Join us for a lively POPS discussion on Oct. 8 at 6:30 pm in Room 224 as two of our favorite pastors share thoughts from their own ministries about Great End of the Church # 2: the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God. Just who are these "children of God?" Join us!

Laura Bullock of Vigilant Hope will lead a discussion on the problems and recommended solutions to Wilmington's affordable housing crisis.

Each one of us is created in the image of God. This means that there is a divine spark of the Holy Spirit within every one of us. The purpose of this retreat is to open our hearts to that spark, letting it shine and glow.

Mark your calendars for our one-day fall Spiritual Life retreat on Saturday, October 25 from 9:30 am - 3:00 pm at the beautiful Southport Presbyterian Church, led by our old friend Rev. Ann Jahnes. The cost will be $20, including lunch.

Registration is open now and closes October 15. Your payment will secure your spot. Hope to see you there! Click the button to register now.

Experience an afternoon of musical brilliance with the Gentlemen’s Quartet (GQ), as they present a modern, elegant take on timeless classics and popular hits, from Beethoven to John Legend. Their unique arrangements fuse multiple genres together in a perfect symphony of sophistication, virtuosity and humor. With impressive musical credits that include Broadway, The West End, and performances with artists such as Vanessa WIlliams, Dee Snyder, Tony Bennett, The Manhattan Transfer, Audra McDonald, James Taylor, etc., these versatile musicians promise an unforgettable afternoon of entertainment. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind concert!

M&M is a joint ministry between Music and Christian Education. Children experience music by singing, playing pitch and rhythm games, ringing handbells, and playing Orff instruments; while also developing a strong foundation for faith formation. They support our worship services with their musical talents on a scheduled basis. Contact Cindy Litzinger for more details.

In October, we will be collecting items for our Mercy Pouch Ministry. The bulletin board near the gathering area has tickets for the needed items.  Please take one or more tickets, as you can, and help purchase these items. Last year approximately 1,100 Mercy Pouches were distributed to our neighbors in need.  Thank you for your participation in this Ministry.

This is a 6-week interactive class designed to explore the Who, What, Where, When's and How's of worship! Beginning September 14, Children in Grades K - 2 will be involved in a special study called WONDERS OF WORSHIP where we will explore what worship is all about and why it is central to our lives as Christians. This class is designed to prepare children to understand why we worship and what it all means as an important Spiritual Rite of Passage.

This is a 6-week interactive class designed to help new readers discover what an amazing gift the Word of God can be in their lives! This class guides 3rd - 5th grade students on how to use The Adventure Bible each child will receive during the 9:00 am worship service on Sunday, September 14.

Reach out to Lynn Warner if you have a child interested in receiving a new Bible and participating in this fun and formative study.

We will gather with other youth groups in support of the work of The Harrelson Center. Meet up at The W.O.O. (Wrightsville United Methodist Church's location at 5810 Oleander Drive) for fellowship, food (dinner provided) fun and friends!

Middle and high school students gather for fellowship, Bible study and our small group ministry every other Wednesday night. Fall dates: 9/24, 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, and 11/19.

**Note our new location back in the church beginning this fall.**

Lower Level opens at 6:30 pm. Programming begins at 7:00 pm. See Jen Phelps for more details.

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

Mitzi Lesher-Thomas, daughter of Jeanne Owens, who died on Sunday, September 28. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Durham NC on Sunday, October 5 at 2:00PM.

Catherine Rebecca "Kit",  who is the great niece of Catherine Beaman was born this week.

Adelyn, daughter of David and Meg, will be married Saturday.

Lil Conley remains at Duke. Cards can be sent to Lil Conley, 3223 Old Chapel Hill Road, Unit B, Durham, NC 27707  Please use this link to her CaringBridge site.

Shelly and Ed Hobson’s grandson, Cooper, who had successful repair of his heart  September 23rd at UNC children’s hospital. He went home September 24th!  His parents are Anna Zimmerman and Jack Hobson.  

Mark Smith, Gary’s brother, has surgery planned for October 2nd.

Kent Anderson, who fell from a high ladder and has a badly fractured heel bone. Surgery will be on October 3rd.

All who have been affected by the mass shooting in Southport.

The congregation and families affected by the shooting and violence in the church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.

Peggy Hayes who is to have knee surgery October 2nd.

Billy Purdom (USS Stout DDG ), Smith Beacham (Poland/Germany), Jack Looney (USS Carl Vinson, San Diego, CA), Samuel Makepeace (Fort Benning, 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.

October 2: Jeanne Owens
October 3: Valeri Froneberger
October 4: Murray Degnan, Jacob Diab, Cleve Nordeen
October 5: Hobbs Bissette

View our most recent Session Reports.