Parker leads us in worship with scripture coming from Matthew 24:36-44 and Isaiah 2:1-5. As we enter this Advent season, we are guided by Isaiah's poetic imagery that weaves an aspiration of the "days to come." A time that is nearer to us than we realize, because we can dare to believe in the hope of God's will being done on Earth as it is in heaven. Join us as we explore how hope enables us to dare to lean in and focus on God's past, present, and future activity to redeem all of creation.

Each year we purchase digital copies of the Presbyterian Outlook advent devotional for our congregation. This year's devotional is titled “Draw Near: Lighting the Advent Faith with Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.”  Click the button below to download a copy.

Our children's ministry will count the days to Christmas with a devotional based on the Jesse Tree. Printed copies will be available at this Sunday's Advent Craft Night. The devotional includes a printed tree with 25 ornaments to mark each day through Advent. It is rooted in Isaiah’s prophecy that:

"A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”  (Isa. 11:1)

That branch would lead to Jesus' family tree. The Jesse Tree remembers key people and events of the Bible that lead us to Jesus’ birth. More importantly, it reminds us of the people who waited for God in troubled times. Their stories are our story too.

The Jesse Tree devotional is a great companion to this year's Advent liturgy for worship. It is not just for children and families--handouts are available for anyone interested!

by Shelley Hobson

For fifteen years, we have been committed to a partnership of prayer and friendship with Chuluchosema Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP). Our sisters and brothers live in a small village in Malawi, one of the poorest countries on Earth.

Our partnership's primary focus is to educate young people who need help going to school. Hundreds of students have benefitted from your generosity over the years! Gifts from our church have provided funds for the church preschool, secondary school fees, supplies, book bags, shoes, meals and teaching materials.

Again this year, we are asking for your support to help brighten the futures of these students who live in extreme poverty.

Your contributions also support weekend vocational training to provide marketable skills such as tailoring, woodworking and bricklaying. These Saturday students and also children in the preschool receive a much-needed meal.

Please consider making your donation a meaningful holiday gift in honor of family members and friends. You may send a check to the church office with "Malawi Education" noted on the memo line. Online giving is also available through the SACPC website or the church app. Choose Malawi Education on the pulldown menu. Gift cards for wrapping or stocking stuffing are available.

We pray that our church family and friends will continue giving these children the precious gift of education and promising futures. You have the awesome ability to help change a child's future!

Zikomo! (Thank You!)
The Malawi Partnership Team

by Parker Lucas

We will be in contact with those who have already paid and signed up to receive an angel and/or cross.

by Bill Landen

All are invited to sing Christmas carols at the New Hanover County Corrections Facility on December 16th. The annual Christmas party given by the Community Resource Council will be at 3:00 pm. Our congregation has done this in the past. We gather outside the fence and sing. This is a deeply meaningful way to contribute to our prison ministry.

by Gwen Behen

The original idea behind today’s Unseen Guests program in our church was to share a little of any leftovers from family meals. This year, during the November and December seasons of celebrating and having extra food, don’t overlook another possibility for your leftovers. There are those whom you probably don’t know who would be delighted in having a bit of them.

If you do decide to share your food in this way, Unseen Guests containers will be in the Officers’ Mailroom sitting on the metal cabinet next to the freezer. Feel free to grab one, fill it, and after writing the contents on the white side of the lid, return it to the freezer. An unknown person will be grateful.

by Lynn Warner

We encourage you to get your picture taken as the "I" in KIND! The photo opportunity is located in the area between Brown Hall and the Gathering Area. Many thanks to our 2, 3 and 4 year old preschool classes for their beautiful handprints on the K, N & D. We hope you enjoy being the "I" in KIND not only in the photo, but in your everyday life! What a great way to show and share our love for God!

by Catheryn Thomas

The office will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday, starting at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, November 26, through Friday, November 28. The office will reopen on Monday, December 1. We pray everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving with your loved ones.

by Parker Lucas

Are you somewhere south of 60 and looking for ways to connect with other like-minded individuals at church? Join this adult social group for individuals aged 25-60 years old. We host monthly gatherings that range from mission-related events to kayaking and fellowship activities. To be added to the emailing list, please get in touch with Pat Litzinger.

by Rene Sasser

Mark your calendars for Thursday, December 4, and join us for a delicious way to support our preschool! From 4:00 - 8:00 PM, Panera on 3506 Oleander Dr will generously donate 30% of net sales to our preschool when you dine in person. You only need to show them a copy of this flyer or order at the kiosk and use the code FUND4U before paying.  

Prefer to eat breakfast or lunch, want to order online or on the app, want to pick-up a to go order? Great news — online and app orders count all day long! Just be sure to enter the code, FUND4U, before paying.

Your participation helps us fund programs, supplies, and experiences that make our preschool such a special place for our children. So grab your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and eat at Panera on December 4!

Thank you for supporting our school community — one bite at a time.

by Phyllis Smith

It’s time to get your ducks in a row and organize everything your loved ones will need when dealing with end of life issues. Ducks in a Row is a six session program to help you do just that. The class will meet every two weeks beginning January 6. The other dates are: January 20, February 3, February 17, March 3, and March 10.

There will be speakers for four of the classes covering advanced directives, financial planning, estate planning, and funeral planning. There is no cost for the course but there is a $40.00 charge for the notebook that you will use to record all of your information. For couples there is an extra $5.00 for a partner package.

It is a valuable gift for your loved ones and we have lots of fun, too!

by Sue McCaffray

The Let's Talk About It program wrapped up its series on the six Great Ends of the Church at POPS on Nov. 12. Katie and Parker led us on a fun art project to depict the Kingdom of Heaven through group effort. We considered the many images of the Kingdom Jesus gives in Matthew 13 and what the Kingdom asks of us.

by Gary Smith

We will return to western North Carolina to continue rehabbing homes damaged by Helene. The trip is scheduled for May 3-9, 2026. We will be staying at First Presbyterian Church in Spruce Pine. We will be partnering with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The cost is $160 for lodging and food, and Go and Serve will reimburse half of this amount if you desire. Please direct questions to Gary Smith or Parker Lucas.  If you want to sign up for the trip, please email Gary. The trip is limited to 20 participants.

by Lynn Warner

Our children are working on making Christmas cards and tying blankets for the homeless during M&M and on Sunday morning. We will deliver the cards and blankets to First Fruits Ministry throughout the month of December and beyond as the need for blankets may very well continue. If you are interested in helping us prepare the blankets for the children to tie or take one home to work on yourself we would appreciate the help for this important ministry. Please email Lynn Warner or call 614-746-5797. Thank you in advance!

Poinsettias and other greenery will add beauty to our Brown Hall worship space this Advent season. You have the opportunity to contribute to the cost of the decorations in memory or in honor of a special person. Any donation amount is greatly appreciated and those interested may use the white ‘Special Flowers’ envelopes located throughout the church, through our website, or contact Susan Dykes in the church office at 762-9693 ext. 207.
The due date for donations is Sunday, December 14th.

Help us celebrate Parker's official installation. Join us at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 7th, in Brown Hall. A reception will follow after the service.

December’s Presbyterian Women’s Bible study will be led by Rev. Parker Lucas. The theme is "The Prodigal Child, The Eldest Child, and the Devoted Parent." God offers grace and love, not because of what we do, but because of who we are—beloved children of God. Main scripture passage is from Luke 15:11 – 32, plus other references in Luke.

Experience the beauty of Advent through meaningful music, powerful readings, and a spirit of joyful anticipation as we prepare our hearts for Christmas. This year's theme is “Celebrating the coming of Christ — the Light of the World — through Scripture, reflection, and song.”

The 9:00 a.m. service will feature our Contemporary Worship musicians along with the children of the church. The 11:00 am service will feature the Adult Choir and instrumental soloists.

Between the joy and gratitude of Christmas and Thanksgiving, a space of darkness lingers as nights get longer. Join us for a service that acknowledges the dark and light aspects of our lives through meditation, reflection, and renewal during this Advent season.

We are changing the date of annual Living Nativity. Our youth ministry will present their annual Living Nativity on Saturday, December 20 before the Music on Market concert. Both events are free and open to the public.

Music on Market  is thrilled to welcome back Wilmington Voices to our concert series for an evening of choral music celebrating the season! The spirit of the holidays comes alive through the magic of choral music. This captivating concert celebrates the warmth, joy, and beauty of the holiday season, inviting audiences of all ages to gather and share in the festive cheer. Experience the power of live performance as Wilmington Voices takes you on a journey through beloved holiday classics.

Committed to fostering community and connection, Wilmington Voices brings together diverse groups across New Hanover County and beyond. Join us for a delightful concert filled with melodies that uplift the spirit and showcase the incredible talent of these dedicated musicians.

This year, all Christmas Eve worship services will be in Brown Hall while our Sanctuary undergoes much needed renovations. Each service will feature traditional music of the season, candlelight and communion. A nursery will be provided during our 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm services.

Our Adult Handbell Choir recently spent the day at the Capital Area Handbell Festival, hosted by the Raleigh Ringers. Joined by several hundred other ringers from across the region, our group rang through hours of rehearsals and finished the day performing in a public concert. It was “chime” well spent—lots of music, laughter, and maybe just a few sore wrists by the end of the day. Be sure to check out the photo of our ringers proudly representing St. Andrews-Covenant!

Have you ever wanted to sing Handel’s Messiah but didn’t know where to start? Here’s your chance! This February, SACPC will present “The Living Last Supper,” a moving blend of music and drama that brings to life the story of Jesus’ final meal with His disciples. The choir will perform selections from Messiah as part of this powerful worship experience — and we’d love for YOU to join us!

Rehearsal Schedule (in the Choir Room):
 
Jan 7 – 7:00–8:00 pm
Jan 14 – 7:00–8:00 pm
Jan 21 – 7:00–8:00 pm
Jan 28 – 7:00–8:00 pm
Feb 4 – 7:00–8:00 pm
Feb 11 – 7:00–8:00 pm

Tech Week in Brown Hall:
 
Feb 17–19 (times TBD)
Feb 20 – Dress Rehearsal
Feb 21 – Performance | 7:30 pm
Feb 22 – Performance | 3:00 pm

FAQs:
Do I need to attend every rehearsal?
No — come when you can! We’d love to see you at as many as possible.

Do I need to read music?
Not at all! All are welcome — enthusiasm counts more than experience.

Can I invite a friend?
Absolutely! The more voices, the better.

Add your voice to this inspiring musical journey and help us share the story of Christ through the timeless beauty of Handel’s Messiah.

The Go and Serve team will be collecting donations for the Salvation Army Angel Tree during the month of November. This is our opportunity to provide a joyful Christmas for children who otherwise would go without. The tree with "Angels" will be in the Gathering Area beginning November 9. Please choose one or more "Angels," purchase some or all of the items on the list, and return them unwrapped with the child's tag attached to the gathering area before November 30.

Our PrayGround in Brown Hall is provided for families with young children. Children can be involved in quiet activities as they and their families worship at our morning services. The children are encouraged to be involved in the service and play quietly or dance as they worship!

In the "More" portion of M&M we are talking about being Peacemakers and one way we can show this is by caring for others. We had a small but mighty group last week who really took seriously talking about the problem of homelessness and enthusiastially putting together Mercy Pouches for those in need. They were all excited to take one with them to pass out to people they see on the side of the road!

Last Sunday in our Dive Deep Into God's Word Bible class we explored what it was like for the early Christians called the "People of the Way." They had to meet in secret for fear of being arrested. They didn't have Bibles - printing presses weren't around yet, and it was dangerous for them to meet.

We tried to imagine what this would have been like by acting out the situation. The Youth class helped us by being Roman soldiers asking us where we were going. We casually drew with our foot half of a fish - if the person stopping us drew the other half we knew they were safe and would let us continue on our way. The sign of the fish, ICTHUS, letters of the Greek alphabet standing for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior was an early symbol that helped the Christians as they met in secret.

We talked about how thankful we are that they continued to spread the Good News!

We are taking our annual Christmas party - The Pajama Jam - on the road for a night of Putt Putt in Carolina Beach. Open to all middle and high school students. Friends are welcome, but ALL must register online by Friday 12/12.

Let us know if you are meeting us there or want a ride to a from the church. Meet at SACPC at 6pm to carpool or meet at Surf's Up at 6:45pm.

This event is FREE!!!

Early registration opens NOV 19 for JUNIORS & SENIORS ONLY!! Registration for all high school students opens Sunday, Dec 7 @ 8 PM.

High school students are invited to ski Wintergreen this February! We will leave midday on Friday and return Monday evening (Monday is a teacher workday for New Hanover County Schools).

Juniors and Seniors get priority! (this is their last ski trip...).

The cost starts at $275/person. HOW IS THE TRIP SO CHEAP?!? Because it covers transportation, food and lodging - but NOT ski rentals or lift tickets. Students will need to make those arrangements separately directly through Wintergreen's website.

How to wrap all those Christmas gifts and care for our planet?  Members of the Earth Care Team will be on hand at the Advent Pancake Supper and Craft Night on Sunday to show you how.  Who needs glossy, plastic-coated and expensive commercial gift wrap when you can be creative and unique? Wrap gifts in decorated craft paper, scarves, newspaper and magazine pages, fabric remnants--all things that can be recycled or reused.  Visit our table and let our Earth Care elves demonstrate how to turn those mountains of wrapping rubbish into something more Earth-friendly.   We hope to see you there!

If you’re looking to add more life and beauty to your yard, the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees is hosting a tree giveaway. On Friday, December 5, from noon to 5:00pm, at Legion Stadium, each person may choose two trees from a variety of native trees.  Arborists and Tree Stewards will be available to offer guidance if needed.  Happy Planting.

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.

Click here to access the complete CareLine.

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 Mary Singleton who passed away last weekend.

Kent Anderson who fell from a high ladder and has a badly fractured heel bone.  Surgery was two weeks ago and he remains non weight bearing with orders to keep the leg elevated.

Lynn Atkinson who had surgery on November 21st.

Nathan Strickler who has had a return of cancer requiring chemotherapy.  

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.

November 25: David Lanier, Laurie Link
November 26: Cleve Nordeen
November 28: Sheila Moore
November 30: Pate Southerland, Jim Swart, Rick Wheeler
December 1: Cora Lee Lockamy
December 2: Melissa Hinds

View our most recent Session Reports.