C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity that, "Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive." Come explore the complexity of forgiveness (and why it's hard to forgive) through our discussion of the couplet 'forgiving our debts and debtors' from the Lord's Prayer. Parker leads us in worship with scripture readings from Psalm 103:8-13 and Matthew 18:21-33. 

by Sue McCaffray

Due to scheduling conflicts Dr. Rev. Gary Smith's discussion on the importance of the Reformation previously scheduled for Wednesday, October 22 has been postponed. Instead, Matthew McDonald will lead a guided meditation on the Lord's Prayer. 

by Shelley Hobson

Beginning Monday, October 20th, the Stillpoint class will begin a weekly study of The Book of Forgiving.  Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Chair of The Elders, and Chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, along with his daughter, the Reverend Mpho Tutu, offer a manual on the art of forgiveness—helping us to realize that we are all capable of healing and transformation.

Tutu's role as the Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission taught him much about forgiveness. If you asked anyone what they thought was going to happen to South Africa after apartheid, almost universally it was predicted that the country would be devastated by a comprehensive bloodbath. Yet, instead of revenge and retribution, this new nation chose to tread the difficult path of confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

The Book of Forgiving is both a touchstone and a tool, offering Tutu's wise advice and showing the way to experience forgiveness. Ultimately, forgiving is the only means we have to heal ourselves and our aching world.

Stillpoint is a group of women who meet Mondays from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm via Zoom.  If you are interested in joining us, please contact Shelley Hobson or Lynn Kozik for the Zoom link.

by Shelley Hobson

September 28th was a momentous day at our partner church in Malawi.  Beloved Abusa Silas Ncozana officially retired, and Abusa Joseph Maganga stepped into his very big shoes!  Part of the ceremony was the reading of a letter of celebration and support from SACPC's Malawi Partnership team:

Commendation on Service of Very Reverend Professor Silas Ncozana 

September 28, 2025

On this very solemn and important occasion as Silas transitions out of the leadership position as moderator and senior pastor of the Chuluchosema CCAP church we, your Partners at Saint Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church, wish to celebrate and thank him for his outstanding contributions to the lives of so many people in Malawi and all over the world whom he has touched throughout his life of service.

Silas has served in many roles during his career as a minister of the Word, but we would like to focus on his work in establishing partnerships with congregations in the United States and in Scotland. These partnerships have resulted in many people coming to Malawi and developing relationships with the people of Chuluchosema as well as other parts of the country. We are especially thankful for his efforts and collaboration with the pastors and people of Saint Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church of Wilmington, North Carolina, USA.

Silas is a man of great integrity who has immense love for his fellow human beings. He has been blessed with a great ability to communicate the love of God for all people. His vision is amazing. He sees vacant land and imagines a house of worship, a school, and a clinic and then has the perseverance to implement that vision. Very few people have that ability. His success can be attributed to many things, but partnerships have been very important to that success. We are thankful that he found us and that we found him so that we could join him in fulfilling his vision.

Silas has decided it is time to step down from his duties at Chuluchosema. But before he did, he searched for the right person who shares his integrity, vision, and love of his fellow human. It was not an easy problem to solve. Many excellent people could have been chosen. In the end he chose Rev. Joseph Maganga. Joseph has shown through his life work that, like Silas, he has vision, integrity and love for his fellow Malawians.

Many believe great things have been accomplished at Chuluchosema during Silas’s time here; we believe that there is much greatness ahead under Joseph’s leadership and we fully embrace and support his ministry. We ask God to bless Silas and his family as he leaves full-time ministry for other projects and also to be with Joseph and the Chuluchosema CCAP, a beautiful church in the Warm Heart of Africa as a new chapter begins in its life.

Godspeed,

Rev. Katie Harrington, Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. Gary Smith, Parish Associate
Ed Hobson, Chairman, Malawi Partnership Committee

by Julian March

Rev. Harrington called the meeting to order and called on Dave Hoff, who offered a devotion and opened the meeting with prayer.  

September’s Session meeting was abbreviated as it was held during the annual retreat. 

December/January worship update: Session approved the following worship updates: 

• December 24, 2025: Services with Communion will be held at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• December 28, 2025: One service will be held at 10 a.m. 
• January 4, 2026: One service will be held at 10 a.m. 

Installation Service: Associate Pastor Lucas’ installation service has been rescheduled and will be held at 2 p.m. on Dec. 7, 2025.

Called Session Meeting: A meeting is called for Oct. 19, 2025, to receive new members. 

Reminder: Called Congregational Meeting: Scheduled at 10:50 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2025, to elect new church officers.

Katie Harrington reported:

• Capital Campaign update: SACPC has received $3.1 million in total pledges toward “Joyfully Present, Prayerfully Connected,” and $500,000 in gifts have been received to date. 
• Staff updates: The contemporary worship leader position remains vacant but candidates are under review. Collin Berry has joined the staff to support facilities and security. 

Rev. Harrington adjourned the business portion of the meeting to focus on the retreat discussions and later concluded the meeting with prayer. 

by Gary Smith

Shelter Care members built a storage shed for the church playground. Because of the tight space into which it was to be placed, the shed had to be built off-site and moved by trailer to the playground. As you can see, it took a large group of men to move the shed from the trailer to its site at the playground. David Smith designed the shed and oversaw the project and the move. Thanks to him and all the men who participated.

by Pat Litzinger

Join fellow members of SACPC as we work together to support the military veterans living at the Good Shepherd’s Sgt. Eugene Ashey Center.  We’ll be tackling various facility maintenance jobs (i.e. grounds beatification and kitchen cleaning). The center provides short-term, transitional bridge housing to veterans who are in the process of securing permanent housing. If interested, please sign up using the QR Code provided below.  For questions contact Pat Litzinger.

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.

The menu for this week is: Enchiladas, Tacos, Quesadillas, Rice & Beans, Chips & Salsa, and Toppings. Cost: $25/family $7/adult $5/under 12.

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!

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).

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

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

Join Matthew McDonald, former Contemporary Worship Leader at SACPC and Founder of the Peace App, for a special 30-minute guided meditation on the Lord’s Prayer. Many in our church family are currently beta testing the Peace App, and this meditation will offer a preview of how scripture, stillness, and prayer can draw us closer to God.

Rooted in the words Jesus taught us to pray, this time of rest and reflection will provide a space to slow down, breathe deeply, and experience the depth and meaning of the Lord’s Prayer in a fresh and powerful way.

All are welcome to participate—come as you are, bring your heart, and rest in God’s presence. Matthew encourages Yoga mats, blankets, pillows, eye covers, journals, water, tissues, and anything else you need to ensure complete comfort.

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: 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 was 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 last week.

Mark Smith’s successful surgery on October 2nd with some return to solid food consumption.

Peggy Hayes who had successful knee surgery on October 2nd.

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.

Polly Sheats who has entered rehabilitation for strengthening.

Kent Anderson who fell from a high ladder and has a badly fractured heel bone.  Surgery will occur once the swelling has subsided, possibly October 13th.

John Donovan, father of David Donovan, was admitted to the hospital October 2nd and remains hospitalized.

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 Air Force 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 8: Wade Brownfield, David Swain
October 9: David Donovan
October 10: John Frye, Diane Swain
October 11: Ted Froneberger, Roberta Smith, Sebastian Thompson
October 12: Emily Donovan, Gary Smith
October 14: Jim Brumit, Shayla Durst, Debbie Szwarc

View our most recent Session Reports.