The Communicator | October 2020

THE COMMUNICATOR THE COMMUNICATOR

October 2020

A monthly publication of Sardis Presbyterian Church · Charlotte, North Carolina

and

With y-ou That I Am

Psalm 46:10

Exploring Faith. Changing Lives. ● Praise ● Learn ● Love ● Serve ● Share ● Witness The Communicator ~ October 2020

IMPACT THROUGH VOTING

FOUR WAYS YOU CAN VOTE IN THE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2020 GENERAL ELECTION: VOTE BY MAIL. You do not need an excuse to request an absentee ballot. You can vote by mail for any reason. If you want to vote by mail, you must apply by 5 p.m. on October 27. To make the mandated postmark date, put the ballot into your home mailbox for collection AT LEAST ONE DAY PRIOR to ensure it is picked up and processed. You can also drop the ballot off at the post office before the last posted collection time for the postmark deadline or return your ballot via a delivery service like FedEx or UPS. Don’t forget postage, and be sure to sign your ballot in the presence of an adult.

VOTE EARLY. In 2020, the in‐person early voting period begins Thursday, October 15 and ends Saturday, October 31. Early voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. This is different from Election Day when registered voters must vote at their assigned precinct.

CURBSIDE VOTING. In 2020, every voting site in North Carolina offers curbside voting for voters who are unable to enter the voting place without physical assistance due to age or disability. The term ʺdisabilityʺ means you:

   

Are unable to enter the polling place due to age or physical or mental disability, such as agoraphobia Have a medical condition that puts you at increased risk of COVID‐19 Should not wear a mask due to a medical or behavioral condition or disability Are experiencing symptoms of COVID‐19

Through curbside voting, a voter can cast a ballot while in a vehicle outside the polling location. Some sites also provide a walk‐up area for curbside voting in addition to the drive‐up area. Curbside voting is offered at each Election Day polling place and one‐stop early voting site. Signs should be in place to direct voters to the curbside voting location.

VOTE IN PERSON ON ELECTION DAY. Polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Any voter in line at 7:30 p.m. will be able to vote. The busiest times tend to be early in the morning and just before the polls close. Avoid longer lines by

voting at off‐peak times.

You can get more detailed information on any of these options at www.ncsbe.gov/voting

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Church Life

Ministry is about life in Christ which affects everything we do.

Sanctuary Flowers

One of the many things missed during the COVID‐19 pandemic has been the beautiful, live flower arrangements that adorn the Sanctuary during the 11:00 service. Fortunately, we have been able to resume the purchase of flowers in memory, honor, or in celebration of a loved one. The cost for two arrangements is $150. We have two Sundays available in October: October 18 and 25. If you would like to secure one of those dates, or get more information about providing flowers for worship, please contact Sheila Duyck at sheiladuyck@gmail.com.

The Life You Change May Be Your Own!

Dave Templeman

The March Communicator discussed Sardis’ Stewardship Statement of Purpose: “To encourage and enable the sharing of gifts with which we have been blessed, and to show gratitude so that sharing can sustain the exploration of faith and the changing of lives.”

Every Stewardship piece will hit at least one of the Triple T’s: Time, Talent, Treasure. The March article focused on the gift of your time. If you want to see where your treasure goes, consider spending some of your time. When you participate in the work of the church, you can see a tangible impact of your pledge – it becomes more than a line item in the church budget. When you invest your time, the impact of your financial contribution is stretched and may grow in unexpected ways.

I am reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 9:37‐38 “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

When you volunteer, you make connections. Those connections may be with our neighbors in the community, whose lives are enriched by your gifts. Equally important, you will make connections with your Sardis brothers and sisters. Those interactions will change you and strengthen your bond with your fellow members of the Body of Christ. So, watch out while doing God’s work – the life you change may be your own.

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Ministry is about life in Christ which affects everything we do.

Church Life

Sardis Staff Spotlight—Jared Daugherty & Adrian Martin

Hi Friends! Iʹm Jared, Minister of Music here at Sardis Presbyterian Church. For nearly seven years now, I have enjoyed finding ways to connect people with God through music here at Sardis. I enjoy helping people to find their voice and explore their faith through musical study, practice, and expression. I oversee music for worship, and manage the administration of the music ministry, including making sure we have what we need as resources, maintaining equipment and instruments, serving as a liaison to the Worship Ministry, and attending meetings of the Session. Lately, the demands of the time have caused me to learn a great deal about technology. I have been connecting nationwide with musicians as we all support each other in sharing ideas and possibilities in safe music‐making, including the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, Chorus America, American Choral Directors Association, the Virtual Choir Consortium, Handbell Musicians of America, and National Association of Teachers of Singing. I have remained as informed as possible as we chart new territory so that I can act as a resource for the latest research that has been conducted about safe singing.

Before coming to Sardis, I taught middle school chorus, was ordained into the ministry, and have served churches in Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia, and Michigan, while continuing to study music, singing, and conducting all along the way, until earning my Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Georgia. My family is from the southern suburbs of Atlanta, but I was born in New Orleans. Katie and I have been married for 21 years, and we have two sweet girls, Lauren (13), and Lydia (8). Beyond making music, you might find me in the kitchen, on a lake, or traveling.

I am Adrian Martin, the Director of Youth Ministry. I have been in this role at Sardis Presbyterian Church for more than six years now and have been in professional Youth Ministry for more than 20 years. I have the privilege of working and walking side by side in faith with our awesome middle school and high school students and their families. I work with a team of more than 30 volunteers who help make our ministry happen.

I am married to my wonderful wife of 22 years, Sara, and together we have two boys, Micah (16) and Eli (12). Our cat, Miss Calli, usually does not claim me at all and instead hangs around the smaller people in the house (namely Eli and Sara).

In a former life (13 years ago), I was a professional karate instructor for two years, having earned black belts in three different martial arts. In my spare time, I love playing video games (Madden 21 anyone? As long as I get to play as my Panthers, I’m in!) and pickleball with friends. When not doing either of those, I can usually be found with anything Star Wars related around me, from novels to movies to TV shows.

4 The Communicator ~ October 2020

Church Life

Ministry is about life in Christ which affects everything we do.

Administration Building Renovation

The Administration Building is now under renovation. The HVAC system is being entirely replaced with a ducted‐ type system that will bring in outside air, which will greatly improve the indoor air quality of the building.

Asbestos was found on the bottom side of the original hallway ceiling and is being abated per the stateʹs requirements. This project should be completed by mid‐November. The office will remain closed during this time, but you can still contact us anytime!

Ways to Contact the Church: Electronically: You can find the email addresses for our pastors at sardis.org/about/pastors and the rest of the staff at sardis.org/contact/staff. You can make a contribution electronically from the ChurchLife app or at sardis.org.

Don’t have the ChurchLife app? Email jennifer.childers@sardis.org to get set up!

By Phone: Call 704.366.1854 and leave a voicemail for the appropriate staff member. The staff is notified within 15 minutes that they have a message and will return your call.

By Mail: The church’s mail is held securely at the U.S. Post Office and picked up weekly. If you have something you need to mail in, this is a great way to do it. If you need something to reach us in a more timely fashion, electronically is the quicker way to go. Need assistance sending something in electronically? Let us know, and we’ll be happy to assist you!

Session Highlights can be found at www.sardis.org under the News & Events tab.

August Financial Highlights Thank you for contributing to Christ’s work through Sardis Presbyterian Church.

August

August expected

This year so far

This year so far expected

Pledges, gi s, and other revenue

$136,983.61

$131,716.66

$1,398,150.52

$1,288,783.28

Expenses

$123,148.69

$144,764.69

$1,159,798.47

$1,278,350.03

Net Total

$13,834.92

($13,048.03)

$238,352.05

$10,433.25

Annual Budget: $2,026,250

Our Church Family Our Sympathy: to the family of Robert Reeves; to Jean Wood on the death of her father, Chester Malarz; to Stuart Williams on the death of his mother, Patsy Ruth McBride Williams; to Tom Kirby on the death of his mother, Charlotte Kirby; to the family of Jack Umberger; and to the family of Bruce Morrison.

Congratulations: to Lauren & Joe Barach on the birth of their daughter, Eva Josephine Barach. Grandmother is Margaret Barach.

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Missions Ministry

Mission Coworker in Israel and Palestine

Doug Dicks is one of four Mission Coworkers that Sardis sponsors through Presbyterian Mission Agency. Doug wrote a letter titled ʺInjustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere,ʺ in which he refers to the deaths of George Floyd in the United States and Iyad al‐ Hallaq, a 32‐year‐old autistic Palestinian man, saying, ʺThe brutal deaths of these two men, only days apart, have raised a new awareness

among

people

of

conscience

everywhere. Each stands separate and apart from one another, and yet, in the larger scheme of things, speaks to a world that has become, all too often, out of touch with its own humanity.

American Red Cross Blood Drive

The power of privilege continues to silence— and often—kill those that beg for air to breathe,

Sunday, October 25 8:00 a.m. ‐ 12:30 p.m. at Sardis

and the right to breathe—both free and freely.ʺ

You can read Dougʹs full letter by visiting www.sardis.org/serve/reaching‐out and clicking on his name at the bottom of the page. Please

Make your appointment at www.sardis.org

keep Doug and all of our mission coworkers in your prayers.

Room In The Inn Update Roof Above has made the decision that our Room In The Inn neighbors will be housed in central locations uptown this year. Therefore, we will not be hosting RITI this season. You can visit www.roofabove.org for more information on how you can support their mission during these times.

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Youth ministry

“…set an example for the believers…” 1 Timothy 4:12.

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“Let the little children come unto me.”

Family Announcements Weekly Email

We know that things are

constantly in flux these days, so please make sure that youʹre receiving Sarah Dianneʹs weekly emails that go out every Thursday! This is the best way to make sure that

the

information

youʹre receiving about childrenʹs programming is up to date!

Sardis Weekday School Updates

The Sardis Weekday School welcomes you back! We will be open for the 2020‐2021 school year on Thursday, October 1 for 2s, 3s, 4s, and TK classes. Thank you for your support and faith in our Weekday School program and for being patient during this pandemic. This time has not been easy, but we are rejoicing in knowing that we will be together again!

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THE COMMUNICATOR Published monthly by

Sardis Presbyterian Church 6100 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC 28270 www.sardis.org

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