Katie leads us in worship with scripture coming from Acts 9:1-20. It's also Communion Sunday and we will be commissioning the participants of the Western NC Mission trip during the 11:00 am service.

by Jen Phelps

Eleven of our middle and high school students gathered on Monday, April 14th to use one day of Spring Break for serving our church and our Community.

We spent time cleaning up at The HUB, then made lunch for our staff and casseroles for the Domestic Violence Shelter. After lunch we traveled to The Diaper Bank to spend time learning about their mission and packaging diapers and orders. Then - some grocery shopping and to Eden Village to prepare and serve their Community Dinner.  We also had the opportunity to visit their newer sites.

It was a long day, but a great way to use our time together. Shoutout Lora Padula, Lynn Atkinson, John Pasquariello, Beth Cherry, Bill Landen and Kathryn Ciarrocca for spending time with us!

To the congregation of St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church,

Grace and peace to you, dear friends.

With a full heart and deep gratitude, I write to share that I will be stepping down from my position as the Contemporary Worship Leader at St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church. This has not been an easy decision, as this church family has shaped my faith and ministry in profound ways. You have walked with me, prayed with me, and shared in the beautiful work of worship and community that has been such a gift for my family and I to be a part of.

Over these past years, I have been continually inspired by your love for God, your commitment to one another, and your desire to grow in faith. Whether through Sunday services, conversations over pops meals, or shared moments of music and ministry, I have witnessed the Spirit of God move in powerful, tender, and transformative ways.

Serving alongside the staff, elders, volunteers, and each of you has truly been one of the great honors of my life. Together, we have lifted songs of praise, sat in seasons of sorrow, and celebrated the goodness of our Savior with joy. I carry those memories with me—and always will—as sacred reminders of God’s faithfulness.

As I now step into a new chapter, I do so with prayerful hope and a continued passion for helping others draw near to Christ through the powerful discipline of meditation (stay tuned for more!) While my role here is coming to a close, the love I have for this congregation and the gratitude I hold will remain.

Thank you for trusting me, encouraging me, and allowing me to serve among you. Thank you for every kind word, every prayer, and every note of encouragement. Your faith has strengthened mine.

My final Sunday will be May 25th, and I hope to see as many of you as possible between now and then. Please know that my family and I intend to remain a regular fixture at SACPC, that we will be praying for the Spirit to lead you, and giving thanks for this church that has meant so much to us.

Peace be with you,
Matthew McDonald

by Shelley Hobson

When life offers, sometimes unexpectedly, a chance to make a pivotal decision, how do we summon the faith and courage to act (or not)?  Author Mariann Budde writes about how to respond with clarity and grace to summons to go, the decision to stay or to start and to accept that which we did not choose in her book "How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith."  Reverend Budde is the bishop and spiritual leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and the Washington National Cathedral.

Stillpoint is a group of women who meet via Zoom each Monday from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm.  We invite you to join us as we begin this book discussion next Monday, May 5th.  To receive the link or if you have questions, contact Shelley Hobson or Lynn Kozik.

by Shelley Hobson

Zikomo kwambiri! Thank you very much!  Our education campaign has collected $21,025 for the 2025-26 school year.  We thank donors to the campaign and also our friends at Little Chapel on the Boardwalk who contributed over $3,000 toward our total.  If you feel led to give to this ministry, you may send a check or give online and designate the gift to Malawi education.

We are excited to welcome Abusa Joseph Maganga from our sister church Chuluchosema CCAP, his wife Rose, and Peter Mtokale, a colleague of Joseph's from Blantyre.  They are currently visiting Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburg and will come to Wilmington for a visit May 6-11 before going back to Malawi.  Our friends will join us for worship on May 11th.  If you are interested in visiting with Joseph, Rose and Peter while they are in Wilmington, contact Ed Hobson.

by Sheila Woods

We are delighted to welcome George and Meryl Frank, who joined us on March 16, 2025. They have been attending for some time now and are already well-integrated into our community. George is an active participant in our Venture Sunday school class and has led the lesson numerous times. He also attends the men’s Wednesday morning Bible study. Meryl has also become deeply involved, joining both the choir and handbells.

George is an amateur woodworker who recently crafted a beautiful rocking chair for his daughter and new grandson. He has a deep love for “people who love Jesus.” Both George and Meryl have a passion for choir music and handbells, which drew them to SACPC.

Please take a moment to welcome them when you see them and let them know how glad we are to have them here.

We are delighted to announce the arrival of Becky Klouse, who joined us on March 16, 2025, invited by John and Lisa Bohbrink. Becky is eager to jump right in and will be participating in the mission trip to western North Carolina this May.

As a retired teacher, Becky will be offering her expertise to help with Vacation Bible School. Becky has expressed her love for the small community and enjoys playing pickleball in her free time. She also holds a special fondness for Katie’s sermons.

Please extend a warm welcome to Becky when you see her!

by Jen Phelps

Our high school seniors will be leading worship at both services on Sunday, June 1st. Please join us to celebrate them.

by Lynn Warner

We are gearing up for a wonderful week of Camp Fusion - June 16 - 20! The theme this year is: "Camp Fusion: Putting our Trust in God!"

It's going to be a wonderful week, but we can't do this successfully without YOU!!! We are in need of volunteers in the following areas:

Preschool Leaders - shepherding and leading our preschoolers to their various activities - morning only

Leaders for our K-1, 2nd-3rd and 4th-5th grade classes - actually shepherding children

Storytellers - sharing the story of the day with four different age groups during the morning

Craft helpers - helping with crafts that have already been planned with various age groups in the morning

Afternoon help with our various age groups as they travel to different activities - afternoon only

Kitchen help - helping to prepare and serve lunches to our elementary children and staff - a couple of people each day would be great! Evelyn Estep is organizing the kitchen and will be there each day.

General help - volunteer to do little things that need to be done to fill in or be an extra set of hands! Any and all help is truly appreciated!  Please contact Lynn Warner to volunteer, ask questions or for further information!

by Gary Smith

Please read this announcement from Church World Service:

On February 3rd, CWS Wilmington had to furlough 80% of staff. While we had hoped to bring them all back, as of last week, CWS Wilmington has had to lay off almost half of our staff.

This painful decision comes following the new administration’s policy and funding changes that have severely impacted our organization over the past two months.

The impact of this loss in federal funds is devastating for the over 500 refugees and immigrants whom CWS Wilmington serves right here in the Cape Fear Area. Without CWS Wilmington’s programming, these individuals are at risk of falling through the cracks: losing their housing, health care, benefits, employment, and educational services.

Now more than ever, we need you to stand with us and with the communities we serve.

CWS Wilmington needs $350,000 in emergency funding over the next 6 months to stabilize our most vulnerable clients. Your gift will go immediately to supporting the most vulnerable groups, in particular our newest arrivals who have not yet secured work.

by René Sasser

Registration for preschool is going well. Some classes are full and others are filling up quickly. We do have some spots available and would love to have your child, grandchild, or friend join us. We offer 2, 3 and 5 day options. Please email René for more information or to schedule a tour. We would love to meet you and share more information about our school!

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 4th.

Do you live in Leland and drive ‘over the bridge’ to worship at SACPC? You’re not alone! Mark your calendar to attend the first SACPC OVER THE BRIDGE SOCIAL MEET-UP!

We’ll be gathering:

Thursday, May 1st at 6:30 p.m.
Leland Brewing Company (Outdoor Patio)
2115 Ale Ave.
Leland, NC 28451

All ages are invited and there’s space for kids to run around.
Adult and non-adult beverages are available for purchase.

Feel free to bring an easy snack/app to share.

Questions? Contact Kathy Denlinger

May's Let Justice Roll Down Bible study will be led by Beth Cherry. The theme is Sustaining Creation's Health for All. Scripture and modern science help us see nature’s wisdom more clearly and lead us to seek just ways to care for the earth and one another. We will explore scripture from Genesis 1:29-30; Psalm 104; Isaiah 2:1-5; Micah 4:1-4; Matthew 13:31-32.

All are invited to attend. The same lesson will be given on May 8th, 13th and 14th at 10:00 am in Dining Room. See Katherine Brandi for details.

Students and teachers in all adult Sunday school and mid-week classes are invited to celebrate our "school year" and thank our teachers on Sunday, May 25th during the Sunday school hour (10:00 am - 11:00 am) in the Dining Room. We will also recognize the service of the Connette-Covenant class as its mission comes to a close. Light refreshments and a time to socialize. Join us!

Our K-5th grade  M&M  students (Music and More) celebrated the end of our "year" with an evening of fun filled with board games and plenty of snacks. We're excited to welcome everyone back in September, so stay tuned for more details coming soon!

Music on Market ended its 2024-25 Season with a fantastic concert by the Raleigh Ringers.  With a full house and exceptional entertainment, it was a memorable experience.  Keep an eye out for announcements regarding our 2025-26 season, coming this August!

We are collecting various items in May for Family Promise, a ministry we have supported for many years. Locally, Family Promise "supports families experiencing housing instability, including domestic violence survivors, to achieve sustainable independence." With the help of local churches, they provide temporary housing, meals, and fellowship. SACPC provides dinners and mealtime fellowship four weeks a year. It's always a privilege to share that time with these families.

This month we'll also be providing the following items:

• Dishwashing liquid
• Toothpaste
• Kleenex
• Hand soap
• Clorox wipes
• All purpose spray cleaner
• Toilet/Bath spray cleaner
• Ziploc bags (all sizes)

Jan McGowan can direct any questions you might have, including how to volunteer with Family Promise.

Don't hesitate, don't wait! Sign up your children, encourage your friends and neighbors, sign your grandchildren up for a fantastic week of fun, learning, singing, crafting and growing in God's love! Camp Fusion is June 16-20th. Preschool children come from 9:00 am - Noon and elementary children from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm - lunch and snacks provided! We are working hard to get ready for a fantastic week!

Friendly Reminder: We believe money should never be a reason why a youth is unable to attend our trips. We also don't want families to feel like they have to choose financially between attending a youth trip or doing a different activity. We have partial scholarships available to offset the cost of any youth trip. Please contact Jen for more information.

Montreat Youth Conference
June 8 - 14, 2025
Cost: $700/student

This trip is open to current 9th - 12th graders. Spots are limited and will be open to members of our Youth Group initially; and then open to friends, if space allows.

Massanetta Middle School Conference
July 10 - 13, 2025
Cost: $400/student

This trip is open to current 6th - 8th graders. Spots are limited and will be open to members of our Youth Group initially; and then open to friends, if space allows.

CROSS Mission Trip
July 27 - August 1, 2025
Cost: $400/student

This trip is open to current 6th - 12th graders. We will travel to Charlotte, NC to participate in the CROSS Mission Program. This has been a favorite of students in years past and this summer's trip should live up to the hype! Spots are limited and will be open to members of our Youth Group initially; and then open to friends, if space allows.

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

Quinton Cooke, whose memorial service will be held in the SACPC Chapel on Saturday, May 3rd at 1:00pm.

The mission team to Western North Carolina

Billy Purdom (USS Stout DDG ), Smith Beacham (Fort Richardson, Anchorage, AK), Jack Looney (USS Carl Vinson, San Diego, CA) , Samuel Makepeace (Fort Moore, Georgia), Brennan Litzinger (Fort Bliss, Texas-deployed to Poland 11-24), Mikayla Reifert (Kadena, Japan), 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.

April 22: Jeff Denlinger, William Hobbs, Amy Smith
April 23: Margo Hurd
April 24: Zina Burney, Martha Futch, Kate Smith
April 25: Brian Lanier, Anita Lowry
April 26: Bill Rudisill
April 27: Elizabeth Galloway, Sarah Parks
April 28: Catheryn Thomas, Anna Williams
April 29: Louise Gorham, Michael Kraus, Ana Player Murray, Collin Parks
April 30: Palmer Sineath
May 1: Margo Davy, Carolyn Wilson
May 3: Ashley Garrett, Tom Glatt, Berkley McEwen, Cathy McLaughlin
May 4: Tex Peterson
May 6: Clay Harris, David Lensch, Deborah Swart

View our most recent Session Reports.