On this Pentecost Sunday, Katie will be preaching from John 20:19-23. Come and worship, as we feel and are moved by the Holy Spirit!

This past Sunday, Katie reminded us Mark 5:21-43 changes the way we view interruptions. Jesus showed us through Jairus' dying daughter and the woman who touched Jesus' cloak, interruptions are often opportunities for God's work to enter our lives. Katie challenged us to meet each day with the unexpected possibility that our ordinary plans are constantly intersecting with divine invitations. This is what faith looks like outside of scripture.

As we meditate on Mark 5:21-43 try one of these practices this week:

1. Keep an Interruption Journal: Keep a small notebook or phone note throughout the week. Each time you're interrupted, pause and ask "God, what are you inviting me to see or do in this moment?"
2. Practice Presence: Next time you are interrupted, instead of immediately trying to get back on task, stop completely. Give the person or situation your full attention for at least 5 minutes. Ask yourself "How is God present in this moment?"
3. Be the Interruption: Identify someone in your life who needs healing, or support, and like the woman or Jairus, take a bold step to interrupt a pastor, community leader, friend, or even Jesus in prayer on this person's behalf.

From now until after Labor Day weekend, our Sunday morning schedule moves to one combined worship service at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary. Text or call five friends to remind them of our worship schedule changing! Sharing is caring. 

by Gary Smith

Our Go & Serve April drive to support the building of the boat to be used by the Petropolis Presbyterian Church in Manaus, our partner congregation in Brazil, raised $8,100. Combined with previously donated funds in an 800 account, we were able to send the church $30,000 to enhance its ministry to remote villages along the Paraguay River, a tributary of the Amazon. Thank you members of SACPC for your great generosity and helping to complete the boat!

After receiving an email on Sunday, May 3 about the forthcoming gift, pastor Nonato sent the following email:

Pastor Gary, Pastor Katie, and brothers [and sisters],
Today here at the Petropolis Church has been unforgettable!

I came this morning prepared to preach and celebrate Communion, but when I saw your email at the beginning of the service, my heart overflowed with joy and gratitude to see our God, once again, using you to answer our prayers!

You know how emotional I am. I couldn't hold back: I cried a lot, and the whole church cried along with me, thanking God for your lives. We ended by singing a special song with these words:

"I have no words
To thank you for your kindness
Day after day you surround me
With faithfulness
Never let me forget
That everything I have
Everything I am, everything I will become
Comes from you, Lord
I depend on you, I need you
Alone I can do nothing
I rest in you, I hope in you
Alone I can do nothing
Never let me forget
That everything I have
Everything I am, everything I will become
Comes from you, Lord."

The amount will help in the completion of the boat's construction. Our goal is to finish by June 26th, on the anniversary of the Maues for Christ Project. We will keep you informed with photos and reports!

Thank you Pastor Katie, Pastor Gary, and others for being with us on this mission in the Amazon and for mobilizing the brothers and sisters of SACPC to contribute with their offerings dedicated with so much love. Without everyone's unity, none of this would be possible.
 
All glory to God!

Nonato

by Gary Smith

Our mission trip to western North Carolina was a tremendous success. We worked on a Methodist church in Banner Elk and a house and a mobile home near Newland.

The flood Helene produced filled the church with several feet of water. It has been raised four feet and is being thoroughly renovated. Eight of our men worked there, painting, staining, and doing finish carpentry. The church hopes to reopen in September.

Three of these eight men spent two days fixing a mobile home damaged by the storm. Six other men worked to rehab a house that had been flooded by Helene. We replaced drywall and electrical fixtures. Two area churches provided dinners for us. We had a devotional every morning and a rich time of fellowship and friendship building.

Thanks to Parker for helping arrange the trip and to Kurt Kronenfeld and Gayle Bell for purchasing and preparing the food. Thanks to all of you who prayed for us.

by Emily Donovan

Starting Thursday, May 28th, we will publish Saints Alive every Thursday afternoon instead of on Tuesdays. This means all non-event related news items received by the end of day on Mondays will be published later in the week. Events may take longer to process. Please contact Emily Donovan if you have any questions.

Also, as a reminder, all congregation-wide news and events must be sent through our Submit News form. This ensures your items get processed in a timely manner and communicated across all our platforms, as space allows.

Click the link below to submit your news or events for publishing.

by Parker Lucas

On May 30th at Topsail Presbyterian Church in Hampstead, NC, the East Community of our Presbytery will hold its annual gathering, starting at 9:30 am. This year, the focus is on the intersection of mental health, addiction, and faith, with a keynote address by Elder Jen Phelps; followed by breakout rooms focused on Narcan training, grief groups, support groups, and youth and families taught by Michelle Lucas. Our associate pastor, Rev. Parker Lucas, will lead worship following lunch.

If you are interested in learning more about this topic, please register via the link at the top of the Presbytery of Coastal Carolinas website and sign up for a breakout room. We’d love to have you attend to support Jen, Michelle, and Parker.

by Sue McCaffray

Confused about our schedule? Here's the rundown for May and beyond:

MAY 17: Sunday School at 10:00 am.
MAY 24: Walking in the Word & Living Faith at 9:00 am.
MAY 31: Breakfast Sunday at 11:00 am in Brown Hall (no Sunday School).

In June, we have a combined Sunday school class taught by staff for all adults in Rm 214 at 9:00 am (see below). Walking in the Word meets all summer at 9:00 am in Rm 236, studying the book of Acts. Everyone is welcome.

Venture, Evans-Feezor, and Living Faith join the combined class in June and then break until Labor Day weekend.

Stillpoint continues to meet Mondays at 5 via Zoom.

Questions? Please contact Sue McCaffray.

by Lynn Warner

Come and have a fun and meaningful week with awesome children! Our theme this year is "ROAD TRIP - ON THE GO WITH GOD." We'll be traveling to various locations learning about all the ways that God is always with us and we need your help!

Volunteers are needed to shepherd children, help with crafts, food, recreation, storytelling, music and afternoon activities as well.

Preschool meets from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm and the elementary age children meet from 9:00 am -3:00 p m each day the week of June 22-26.

Volunteers are needed to help only in the mornings, only in the afternoons or all day! You will be blessed as you are a blessing to those with whom you share your faith!

Please contact Lynn Warner at 614-746-5797 or click the button below to email Lynn if you have questions or are ready to jump in! I promise we will have fun!

by Kent Anderson

Nominations for next year's church officers are NOW OPEN. Nominations can be made online or via a Nomination form found on the back of our pews, as well as various locations in the church. Forms can be placed in the offering plates or turned into the church office. Please submit nominations by May 26.

Our high school seniors will be leading worship on Sunday, May 31st.  Please join us to celebrate them. Then stay for Breakfast Sunday in Brown Hall. Details below.

Join your church family for our Fifth Sunday Breakfast on May 31 in Brown Hall after worship. It's been a long time! We will recognize all of our Christian Education teachers and enjoy our time together as we wrap up our spring programs and prepare for summer.

Join us whenever you can for four great parables of Jesus, seen through the lens of Amy-Jill Levine's book, "Short Stories by Jesus." We meet at 9:00 am before worship in Rm 214 (Living Faith). Each week will be led by a different staff member.

June 7: The Rich Man and Lazarus (Parker)
June 14: The Widow and the Judge (Sue)
June 21: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Jen)
June 28: The Laborers in the Vineyard (Katie)

All interested youth are also welcome. Bring a friend!

Our May collection of items for local ministries will be for our neighbor, The Carousel Center. The Center provides a "one-stop shop" of services for children who have suffered abuse. Everything from intakes, interviews with law enforcement, medical examinations, and counseling is available under one roof, thus limiting the trauma retelling their story causes. We'll be collecting the following items to provide snacks for the children:

Single serving pre-packaged snacks (no peanut ingredients please): 

• popcorn
• chips
• pretzels
• animal crackers
• granola bars
• dried fruit packs
• Juicy-Juice boxes

Microwaveable single serve lunches such as:

• mac-n-cheese
• chicken noodle soup
• oodles of noodles

Thank you for helping to feed these precious children.

SACPC members and friends are invited to participate in the preparation of casseroles for the clients of the Domestic Violence Shelter during the months of April, May, and June. Aluminum casserole pans and tops are available in the mailroom under the white cabinet beside the freezer. Instructions for making the casseroles at home and then delivering them back to the church on Sundays can be found in the DVSS notebook.  For additional information, please contact Carol Query at 910-470-3127 or at caroldq63@gmail.com.

Get ready for CAMP FUSION 2026: Road Trip: On the Go with God. Registration is now open! This one-of-a-kind experience combines the elements of VBS, music, creative arts, and mission work! Space is limited so register early. Needs based scholarships available.

Grades K - 5th Full Day
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Completed Grades K - 5th
Registration: $120/per child
(includes camp T-Shirt, snack & lunch)

Preschool Half Day
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages 3 years old (potty trained) - Have not completed kindergarten
Registration: $50/per child
(includes camp T-Shirt & snack)

If you have any questions please contact Lynn Warner.

We are opening up Brown Hall for whatever y'all are open for! Middle AND High School AND College Kids home for the summer are welcome!

Registration for our Youth Summer Trips is closed. Remaining balances for these trips are now past due - so please pay these promptly. If you have any questions or concerns - contact Jen Phelps

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.

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

Hospitalizations: Please here to email Rev. Harrington and Rev. Lucas or call the church office at 910.762.9693 to leave a message.

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 passing of a longtime member, Louise Gorham, who passed away on May 10, 2026.  Please pray for her husband, Dumay, sons, Dumay and Patrick, and their family. A service will be held Thursday the 21st at 11:00 am in the sanctuary with reception to follow in Brown Hall.

Meryl Franck, who is recovering at home from surgery she had on Monday, May 4th.

Maria Smith’s husband, David, will have surgery in the near future. Maria is a preschool teacher here.  

Joyce Whittaker who had another fall with injuries.  

Parker Lucas as he recovers at home from an infection in his digestive system. 

Billy Purdom (Navy War College, Newport, Rhode Island ), Brennan Litzinger (Fort Bragg, NC), Bradley Garrett (Coast Guard, Elizabeth City), Smith Beacham (Army at Fort Stewart, GA)

May 19: Charlotte Cherry, Erin Thompson
May 20: Bob Cherry III, Scott Flynn
May 22: Timothy Mihle, Hank Montgomery, Cole Mortenson, Jeneane Tadlock, Rick Wells
May 23: Abigale Hawkins, Jonah March, John McCorkle, Keira McWilliams, Stephanie Williams
May 24: Ruth Thompson
May 25: Dustan Byrd, Jim Fox, Abraham Huss
May 26: Jerry Shelton

View our most recent Session Reports.