2014 November Communicator

THE COMMUNICATOR A Publication of Sardis Presbyterian Church

November 2014

Sardis Presbyterian Church | 6100 Sardis Road | Charlotte, NC | 28270 | 704.366.1854 | www.sardis.org

We are committed to Jesus and to Sardis. We love Sardis and it is such An important part of our family. This church supports me and I want to support it. I love God! I pledged financially and of our time. I believe in the good Sardis can do through Christ. I will give as I am able. I find peace here. Youth Ministry! I want to see youth ministry grow. This is my home. I recommit myself to Jesus. I like to come to Sunday School. I believe in the church and its good works. I feel the Holy Ghost at work in Sardis. I love Sardis! I am committed to my family. Music. Youth. Mission.

Worship. We are thankful. Sardis has provided a spiritual home for our family. Sardis provides a strong foundation for our children, the future of the Presbyterian Church and our nation. I want to strengthen my children’s faith in God and family. I am committed to God and working through him to make this world a better place. I want to show God that I am thankful for my many blessings. Sardis has been my strength and inspiration. Sardis has become my second family, my children know that Sardis is a safe place and that everyone here is part of our family. I’m thankful for a caring and loving community, where my daughter loves to come each Sunday. We are committed to Jesus and to Sardis. We love Sardis and it is such An important part of our family. This church supports me and I want to support it. I love God! I pledged financially and of our time. I believe in the good Sardis can do through Christ. I will give as I am able. I find peace here. Youth Ministry! I want to see youth ministry grow. This is my home. I recommit myself to Jesus. I like to come to Sunday School. I believe in the church and its good works. I feel the Holy Ghost at work in Sardis. I love Sardis! I am committed to my family. Music. Youth. Mission. Worship. We are thankful. Sardis has provided a spiritual home for our family. Sardis provides a strong foundation for our children, the future of the Presbyterian Church and our nation. I want to strengthen my children’s faith in God and family. I am committed to God and working through him to make this world a better place. I want to show God that I am thankful for my many The Communicator ~ November 2014 blessings.

Sardis has been my strength and inspiration. Sardis has become my second family, my children know that Sardis is a safe place and that everyone here is

For 2015

Stewardship Weekend- November 8-9 You are Invited

Church Life

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

Update on Anderson Sloan

Our Church Family

Our Christian Sympathy: to the family of Lawrence

Anderson Sloan graduated this year

ʺLarryʺ Hazeltine, to Vick Phillips upon the death of his

from college and wanted to give back

mother, Elizabeth V. Phillips, to Norma Monroe upon the

for all the blessings he has had in his

death of her mother, Marion Craig, and to Ed and

life. He chose to give two years with Teach for

Stephanie Carlson upon the death of their son, Daniel

America in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Anderson is

Carlson.

currently teaching high school geometry and

Congratulations: to David & Amanda Willis upon the

algebra II at Holly Springs High School.

birth of their son, Elias ʺEliʺ Smith Willis, and to John &

We see so many of our youth at Sardis continue to

Alex Wadsworth upon the birth of their son and

give back after they graduate from high school and

daughter, John Kafer & Elizabeth Miller Wadsworth

college.

(grandparents are Rick & Tut Farrell).

November Friendship Connection

The Friendship Connection, a fellowship group for retirees, will meet at 11 a.m. on November 18 in the Sardis House for a program titled “Never a Dull Moment.” This program will share memories from a sailor in the Pacific during World War II. This poignant program of service to our country will be presented by Linda Mital McConnell and is taken from the diary of her father and other historical data and memorabilia. It is sure to be a very unique and meaningful program.

Reservations are required for lunch ($8/person) and to need to be made by Friday, November 14. To make your reservation, register online at www.sardis.org or call 704.926.1590.

Sardis Supper and Speakers Series ‐ S4

The November 5 program will welcome the Rev. Kate Tabor, one of the PCUSA missionaries supported by Sardis. Kate is a mission worker in Israel Palestine, and she will speak about the Presbyterian Church’s witness in the Holy Land, the Israeli‐Palestinian conflict, and share what our Palestinian and Israeli partners say about the PC(USA) divesting.

Kate’s work involves serving on the ministry team of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. She assists U.S. Presbyterians visiting the Holy Land and facilitates Presbyterian involvement in volunteer opportunities. In addition, Kate helps build relationships between U.S. Presbyterians and church partners in Israel and Palestine.

Building relationships with other Christians, she emphasizes, is a heartfelt need of Christians living in the Holy Land.

Reservations are needed for the dinner ($8/person) that will be served from 5:30 p.m.—6:15 p.m. The program will run from 6:30 p.m—7:15 p.m. To make a reservation call 704.926.1590 or pay online at www.sardis.org.

2 The Communicator ~ November 2014

Church Life

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

Welcome New Members!

Ushers and Greeters

The Worship Ministry needs you! Are you willing to serve periodically as a greeter or an usher? The only requirements are a smiling face and a willingness to serve!

Ushers and greeters play a vital role in helping all wor‐ shippers feel warmly welcomed at Sardis.

Del and Lynn Barnhill

David and Angela Harris

Lynn Henderson

If you’d like to be added to the list of ushers and/or greeters,

please

contact

Jenny

Kaeppler

at

jftkaeppler@yahoo.com or 704.321.1328.

Handbell Festival

On November 15, Sardis Presbyterian Church will once Sandra Lambeth

Patti McManus

Noel and Leah Simons

again host the 19th Annual Mid‐Carolinas Handbell Festival, endorsed by the Handbell Musicians of America, with guest composer/conductor/clinician Anna Laura Page.

The concert for the event will be at 4 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. All are invited to hear hymns and carols rung by multiple handbell choirs from various churches Jessi and Michael Stout

Steve and Kirsta Yount

and schools around our area.

Mom and Dad Taught Me to Share

‐Dave Archer

Robert Fulghum in his best‐selling book says he, “learned all he really needed to know in kindergarten.” In fact, at the top of his list is to “Share everything.” I don’t know how old I was when my parents taught me to share. I didn’t go to kindergarten, but by the time I was in first grade, I knew it was a good thing to share. Even now, I try to do that in my everyday living. Sometimes I do it pretty well, sometimes not so well.

Studies have shown that people give to organizations – colleges/churches/charities – for two reasons: 1) they were taught to share and 2) they feel connected to the organization they give to. Who taught you to share? Mom? Dad? A grandparent? Your child? Your kindergarten teacher? What organizations do you feel connected with and, there‐ fore, prioritize as a good place to share your hard‐earned money?

The US economy has struggled since 2008, and we have all had to prioritize our giving. God’s church at Sardis has withstood the Great Depression, the Great Recession, and many other economic downturns in its 224 years. Sardis Church is still doing God’s work, is still making good things happen, and is still changing lives.

Won’t you decide to share in the good work going on at Sardis? Won’t you rededicate yourself to our Lord and to the work at Sardis this Stewardship Season? Join us for Stewardship Weekend, November 8‐9.

The Communicator ~ November 2014 3

Church Life

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

October Session Highlights • Approved minutes of September 27 meeting to receive

daughter of Brett and Shelby Moyer ‐ December 7, 2014,

new members.

Silas Andrew Martin, son of Ben and Laura Martin ‐

• Approved minutes of September 28 Session meeting.

December 21, 2014.

• Approved the following transfers of membership: Alan • Approved the recommendations from Sardis Gift Trust

Commission concerning the Sardis World Wide

and Susan Wall to First Presbyterian Church, Belmont, NC, Cara Pearsall to Myers Park Presbyterian Church,

Mission Fund and the Lowrance Sanctuary Fund.

Charlotte, NC, Helen Harmon to Community United • Youth Ministry: Approved Jenny Porter and Rhonda Methodist Church, Fruitland Park, FL, Herman and

York to help lead the Tuesday night High School Bible

Barbara Stutts to Matthews United Methodist Church,

Study.

Matthews NC, Bill and Paula Owen to Matthews • Women of Sardis: Approved for communion to be United Methodist Church, Matthews, NC, Approved served during the women’s retreat on February 8, 2015.

Mr. Edward Donaldson’s request for removal from Reverend Lisa Nichols Hickman will lead our worship church membership.

service that Sunday and has asked if she, with the

• Approved the following baptisms: Caroline Hayes

assistance of elders on the retreat, could administer the

Barnhill, daughter of Del and Lynn Barnhill ‐ October

sacrament of Holy Communion as part of that service.

12, 2014, Hayden Buckner Stout, son of Michael and • The Session discussed the Task Jessica Stout ‐ November 2, 2014, Mia Jane Moyer, recommendations submitted in early 2013.

Group

October Financial Highlights

Summer is officially over and the busyness of fall is upon us. Last month our finances, specifically the cash position, improved significantly due to your diligence in bringing pledges up to date. While the enclosed results were not quite as good in September, our cash position remains well ahead of where we were last year at this time.

Year to date expenses remain well controlled with revenues some $46,387 below expectations. Typically we receive 29% of pledge receipts during the last three months of the year and we are confident you will exceed that number in 2014. Thank you in advance for your faithfulness. God continues to bless Sardis and our church family!

September

September Expected

This year so far

This year so far expected

Pledges, gifts, and other revenue

$140,857.17

$175,066.33

$1,416,245.58

$1,462,632.97

Expenses

$165,283.82

$176,822.33

$1,472,729.97

$1,601,125.97

Net Total

($24,426.65)

($1,756.00)

($56,484.39)

($138,493.00)

Annual Budget: $2,129,993

October Diaconate Highlights • The blood drive will be hosted on October 26.

• Pumpkinpalooza is October 25 and we still need for

• We are partnering with St. Stephen to start a new

volunteers to help out.

Habitat for Humanity House that will hopefully be • The Stewardship lunch is set for November 9.

• The Christmas cookie and Poinsettia deliveries are completed in January/February. being organized for delivery on December 5.

4 The Communicator ~ November 2014

Church Life

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

Sardis Weekday School Updates

Please mark your calendars‐‐enrollment for the 2015‐2016 school year begins in January! Also in January, SWS is interested in adding a Monday crib room class to include children ages 6‐11 months. If you are interested, please contact Louise Lippi at 704.366.9681 or louise.lippi@sardis.org.

Parents will be invited to attend Thanksgiving programs Nov 19‐21 in their childʹs classroom.

Please stay to shop our Scholastic Book Fair on one of those days in the Library. Coffee and donuts will be served, and itʹs a great time to start Christmas shopping for the children on your list!

We are learning about Thanksgiving and why we celebrate this special holiday. Each class will have a feast and attend representing the Pilgrims and Native Americans! Happy Thanksgiving to all from our little blessings!

SWS is also excited to add a special in‐house program with Renda Brinson and Amie Davidson entitled, Musikgarten. It is a national program of music, poetry, storytelling, and movement. All our two, three and four year olds will be experience this wonderful medley!

Relink your Harris Teeter VIC Card with Sardis Weekday School #3452

www.facebook.com/ SardisWeekdaySchool

Rama Road Angel Tree

Salvation Army Stockings

Rama Road Elementary has children and families who

Can you imagine not being able to provide toys for

need our help for Christmas! The Angel Tree, serving

your kids on Christmas day? Can you imagine being a

the neediest children at Rama Road, will be set up in

child and not receiving anything on Christmas?

the Gathering Place on Sunday, November 16.

The Salvation Army Stocking Program provides filled

You can help by either taking an angel and providing

stockings for children and families in need. Stockings

gifts for a child that include at least one article of

will be available in the Gathering Place on November

clothing and a toy or adopting an entire family and

9 and should be returned to the marked collection bins

providing a gift card and presents for the children.

in the hallway across from the library by December 14.

Please choose an angel and return your gifts to the

Please consider picking up one or more stockings and

church by December 7. Gifts will be delivered the

filling them with simple items to brighten a child’s

following Saturday.

Christmas. Our goal is to fill 250 stockings.

For more information on adopting Angels or helping

Use this opportunity to celebrate the true spirit of

with gift delivery, please contact Jan Torrence at

Christmas

704.366.2116 or jan.torrence@yahoo.com. Thank you!

Contact

We are truly blessed to be a blessing to others this

sue24shaw@gmail.com. Thank you in advance.

and Susan

teach

the

Hudson

at

value

of

giving.

704.366.4825

or

holiday season.

The Communicator ~ November 2014 5

Lay Ministry

The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.

“Are You ‘In’ for Habitat?”

The groundbreaking for the latest Sardis‐sponsored Habitat house is set for Saturday, November 1. Sardis is join‐ ing forces with St. Stephen United Methodist Church as the major sponsors for this house, which is to be owned by Brigitte and Jonas Kuete. The Kuetes have two young adult children and three teenage children.

If you have worked on previous Habitat houses, you already know what a blessing it is to invest time and sweat equity into this worthy endeavor. If you haven’t been involved previously, this is your chance! Sardis encourages individuals and groups to consider signing up for a work day.

Opportunities to work or serve lunch will exist for Saturdays between now and January 31, excluding the Saturdays which follow Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Please prayerfully consider your ability and willingness to participate in this year’s Habitat construction. You may sign up at www.sardis.org, or email Dan Norman at dannorman@northstarvillages.com. For help with lunches, please contact Susan Hudson at 704.366.4825. Remaining available lunch dates include Nov. 15 and 22, Dec. 6, 13 and 20, and Jan. 10.

Follow the “action” as the house undergoes construction by viewing photos of our progress at www.sardis.org.

Room In The Inn needs DVDs

Spaghetti Sauce Sundays!

Our Room In the Inn program needs new or used

Thank you Sardis for 55 pounds of sauce

G‐rated DVDs (no Blu‐ray) to have available for our

collected in September and delivered to

neighbors to enjoy on Sunday and Wednesday nights

Loaves and Fishes! Drop off your extra

December 3 – March 29. There will be a collection box

spaghetti sauce any Sunday in the

at our display table in the Gathering Place on

gathering place or narthex. Your donation

November 9, so start saving now!

will help feed a family in need.

Room In The Inn Roosters:

Loaves and Fishes Food Drive

Something to crow about!

The third Sardis Food Drive for Loaves and Fishes of

2014 will start on November 2 when bags labeled with

A Rooster arrives at Sardis House at 4:45 in the

priority needs will be available for pick‐up in the

morning, grabs a cup of coffee (already prepared by the

Narthex, the Gathering Place, and the Education

Owls), sets out breakfast, wakes the neighbors, cleans

Building. Filled bags of non‐perishable food can then

up breakfast and bedding, and sends our 13 neighbors

be returned to the bins in the hallway by the big

off on the bus with a healthy lunch and best wishes for a good day. You receive thanks from the neighbors, and

Loaves and Fishes provides a weekʹs worth of

you are home by 6:30 a.m.

nutritious groceries to individuals and families in a

Contact

kitchen by the Fellowship Hall, November 2‐16.

Marilyn

Taylor

mtaylor6604@gmail.com

to

at

704.362.2039

volunteer

to

be

or

short‐term crisis. Please do your part by giving “the

a

gift of hope” to those who are struggling to provide

Rooster...Once would be great, twice would be terrific!

food for their families.

6 The Communicator ~ November 2014

“Let the little children come unto me.”

The youngest of our worship leaders are our acolytes, who are

Sardis Weekday School Book Fair!

in elementary school. The children attend training and learn

Come one, come all to the Sardis Weekday

that they are carrying our representation of the Light of Christ.

School Scholastic Book Fair on November 19‐

Many of the children begin the year with nervousness and

21. This is a great opportunity to get a couple

concern about doing everything correctly. As adults, we know

kids checked off your Christmas list, while

that God sometimes calls us to serve in ways that enable us to

supported SWS.

grow. When you see these young people, thank them for their

Our Children Serving Their Church

The Book Fair will be held in the library, and

dedicated service and their presence in worship.

coffee and donuts will be served. Hope to see

Our 2014‐2015 acolytes are: Campbell Barnhill Sarah Grace Beauchemin Hayley Brownlee Sarah Carpenter

Mary Denny Mallory Koesel Micah Martin Leah Powell Olivia Powell

you there!

Caroline Smith Richard Waller Cecilia Zoutewelle Cole Zoutewelle

LOGOS Second Semester Begins on January 14, 2015

The LOGOS Program is a midweek faith and fellowship program for ministry with children and their families in our church. It is a structured “retreat every week,” or a weekly Vacation Bible School type experience! Children and adults make bonds of friendship that can last through a child’s experience at our church. You may register online at www.sardis.org.

Be a Part of the Sardis Christmas Pageant!

All children are invited to be part of this Sardis tradition!

Rehearsals begin soon: Elementary Students

Preschool Students

5:00‐6:15 P.M.

5:00‐6:15 p.m.

November 6, 13, 20

December 4 & 11

December 4 & 11

For questions or to sign up for any part (speaking or non‐speaking) by November 3, contact Renda Brinson at renda.brinson@sardis.org or 704.458.0366.

We hope to see you there!

Youth Music Party!

Attention all Youth and Youth Parents!!

Grab your leftover Halloween candy and join us for a Music Party on Sunday, November 2 from 5—6 p.m. in the Administration Building.

Come on over for activities and games and a time of fellowship with Adrian, Jared, Jacob, and Kaitlyn.

The Communicator ~ November 2014 7

The Communicator

Non‐Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Charlotte, NC Permit #1059

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

Stewardship WEEKEND - November 8 & 9 Commitment Sunday- November 16 Join us for our 2nd Saturday service, November 8 5:30 p.m. in the Sardis House

Sunday, November 9 Please Join us!

Sunday School at 9:00 a.m.

Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary Bring a covered dish | Participate in the cake auction | Enjoy live music

Sunday, November 16- Bring Your Pledge Card to Worship

8 The Communicator ~ November 2014