2016 January Communicator

THE COMMUNICATOR A Publication of Sardis Presbyterian Church

Building God’s Kingdom Through Worship Service

Angel Tree...Page 5

January 2016

Fellowship

Evangelism

Discipleship

Sardis Youth...Page 6

The Communicator ~ May 2015

Church Life

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

Until He Comes—2016 Sardis Women’s Retreat Friday, February 26‐Sunday, February 28, 2016

Make your plans for the 2016 Women’s Retreat. We will get away for two nights at the Dogwood Retreat Center in beautiful Lake Norman, NC Friday, February 26 through Sunday, February 28. Allison Barnhill will lead a study of I Thessalonians. Leading us in music and worship will be Richard Ramsey. The cost is $140 for a double occupancy room or $200 for a single room (space is limited). You may download the registration form at www.sardis.org or pick a registration form up from the church office. Payment may be made to Sardis Presbyterian Church and mailed to 6100 Sardis Rd., Charlotte, NC 28270, or you may register and pay online.

Questions? Contact Canon Moore at canonmoore@carolina.rr.com.

Preschool Meetup—January 24, 12‐1:30 p.m.

Are you a family with children aged infant through TK (Transitional Kindergarten)? If so, we want to meet up with you! Join us for an afternoon of lunch and play as we get to know each other. We can share with each other the joys of children learning to crawl, walk, talk and read and the fun that comes with that, and we can commiserate in the sleepless nights, the terrific twos, and food stuck in hair, on faces, and myriad other locations.

We will enjoy together pizza, fruit and dessert, and play games, listen to stories, and make crafts in the Fellowship Hall. This event is free! It is sure to be an afternoon of new friendships, both for old and young alike! Watch your email for more information, or contact Katie Harrington at 704.366.1854. Hope to see you there!

A Change Is Coming…Glory to God!

The session has approved the purchase of the new Presbyterian Hymnal, Glory to God, which was released in 2013. This new hymnal has over 850 hymns and songs where we will find the beloved and familiar, as well as some new and challenging hymns.

Please, stay alert for more information on Glory to God. If you have any questions on this exciting adventure please contact Kaitlyn Davros at kaitlyn.davros@sardis.org. To make a donation for a hymnal, in memory/honor of those most special to us, please fill out the form below and mail to the church office.

NEW HYMNAL ORDER FORM

1. Please fill out one order form for each memorial/honorarium hymnal ordered.

2. Please PRINT clearly 3. Make check payable to Sardis Presbyterian Church. Cost: $25 each

Given to the Glory of God and in honor of:_____________________________________________________________

Given to the Glory of God and in memory of:___________________________________________________________

Purchased by: ______________________________________________________________________________________

2 The Communicator ~ May 2015

Church Life

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

January Friendship Connection

Taize Community Worship

The Friendship Connection is a fellowship

Sardis Presbyterian Church is partnered with

group for retirees and meets the third Tuesday

our neighbors, Sardis Baptist Church and St.

of the month for a program and lunch.

Stephen United Methodist Church, to offer

Taize Worship Services monthly on a rotating

The January 19 program will be Pat Battaglia, aka Dr. Fun. He is a former rocket scientist turned author of lighthearted brain games. The games are definitely not rocket science; they are fun! His books are sold nationwide and have been endorsed

basis. The services are held on the second Sunday of each month at 6 p.m. Sardis Presbyterian Church will offer this service in our Chapel on January 10.

by Betty White, Jeff Foxworthy and others. He comes dressed

in his Dr. Fun costume, and his presentation is one that will

**After this particular service on the 10th, there

make you think, smile and laugh out loud.

will be a community meeting for those who

wish to share their desire for these services to

The program begins at 11 a.m. in the Sardis House and is followed by lunch. Reservations are necessary for lunch ($8/ person) and need to be made by noon on Friday, January 15.

continue.**

To make your reservation, register online at www.sardis.org

Holy Communion

or call 704.926.1590.

January 24 at both services

Laity Sunday – January 17

Members of the congregation will lead our worship at both 9 and 11 a.m. on January 17. Our two speakers are Nancy Finlayson and Niki Koesel. This is always one of the most meaningful and special services offered by the lay women and men of our congregation.

Inclement Weather Is Just Around the Corner

If bad weather threatens (or has arrived), please check the home page at www.sardis.org for specific updates. For general schedule changes or cancellations at Sardis Presbyterian Church, please tune into the following TV stations or view their websites: WBTV, WSOC, and WCNC.

Help Provided by Sardis for South Carolina Flood Victims

In October and November, the Mission Interpretation Ministry gave $3,500 to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, collected 28 buckets of cleaning supplies, and sent $5,100 to Northminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC to help with repairs to their church. The following is a message from their pastor:

We received the check from Sardis Presbyterian to help with our storm damage. For your thoughtfulness and generosity I say, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Your gift is truly in the spirit in which Paul calls us to, ʺBear one anotherʹs burdens, and…Fulfill the law of Christ.” Peace and blessings, Kimani Wright, Teaching Elder

The Communicator ~ May 2015 3

Church Life

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

Sardis Gift Trust: It’s Easy to Leave a Legacy

The Sardis Gift Trust holds endowment funds for future needs of Sardis that are beyond the ability of the annual budget to cover. We have prepared a new brochure that explains the Gift Trust and shows the various funds that currently exist to support Sardis. Look for the new brochure in the Narthex, Gathering Place, or in the Friendship Pads in the Sanctuary. Anyone may add any amount to these funds at any time by lifetime gifts, memorials, or bequests. For questions about how you may join in this permanent support of Sardis, please feel free to contact Ed Shoaf, current chair of the Gift Trust Commission, or Jennifer Childers, Director of Administration.

The church office will be closed on Friday, January 1 for New Year’s Day and on Monday, January 18 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Session Highlights can be found online at www.sardis.org.

Financial Update

As we head into the holidays, we wanted to give you a financial update. The results for November were very positive, but December still holds opportunities for the church as we seek to end the calendar year in a healthy financial position. While we have certain expenses all year long, we are especially mindful of our missions giving during December.

This is a wonderful time to catch up on your pledge or to make an additional gift to the church. Your giving helps us continue the work and mission of Sardis. Thank you so much, and we wish you and yours the merriest of Christmases.

November Financial Highlights

Pledges, gifts, and

November

November Expected This year so far This year so far expected

$198,400.27

$182,644.88

$1,830,061.41

$1,907,247.51

Expenses

$180,959.32

$182,727.83

$1,973,200.43

$2,035,572.50

Net Total

$17,440.95

($82.95)

($143,139.02)

($128,324.99)

other revenue

Annual Budget: $2,266,000

Our Church Family Our Christian Sympathy: to Beth Parrish upon the death of her brother‐in‐law, Al Cain, to Molly Tucker upon the death of her aunt, Delphine Barrett, to Lora Zalaquett upon the death of her grandfather, Leroy Trawick, and to Petrina Dekoster upon the death of her husband, Paul Dekoster.

Congratulations: to Wendy and Tom Reeder upon the birth of their grandson, William Miller Magee.

4 The Communicator ~ May 2015

Lay Ministry

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

January Red Cross Blood Drive

Stocking Stuffers

Our next American Red Cross Blood Drive is January 31 from

Last month your generous donations helped

8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sign up on sardis.org, redcrossblood.org

to fill over 200 stockings for the Salvation

or to make an appointment or for more info, email Suzanne

Army. The stockings went to local families in

Fernandez at Suzanne@HomesSoldBySuzanne.com.

need.

So Much Sauce!

Last month Sardis collected over 102 POUNDS of spaghetti sauce to donate to our neighbors at Loaves and Fishes. Drop off

Room In The Inn:

your donation any Sunday this month in the Narthex or

The Joy of Giving

Gathering Place.

In this season, the joy of giving is abundant!

RITI is thankful for your donations of food,

Thank you, Sardis!

cards, and clothing (which is given to Crisis

This year, Sardis has made Christmas special for

Assistance Ministry). While our wallets are

250 angels from Rama Road Elementary School.

emptying, our hearts remain full of

Thanks to everyone involved for making the

compassion for the homeless who will not

Angel Tree another tremendous success! On

have a warm cozy fire and gleaming tree on

December 12, volunteers from Sardis and the

Christmas day and very little hope for a

Rama Road staff met at the church and delivered the gifts to

change in their lives in 2016.

Rama Road families.

So, after the packages are all wrapped,

Your continuing participation helped us make Christmas

there is one last gift that you can give that

brighter for 89 Rama Road families. Thank you, Sardis, for

costs you only six hours of your time…Won’t

PLANTING SEEDS OF HOPE through our Angel Tree project!

you be an Owl for us just one time in 2016?

I wanted to reach out to you and thank you for another extraordinary holiday support year for Rama Road families. It makes me smile to think of the joy our students will experience on Christmas morning thanks to the generosity of so many at Sardis

We especially need gents in this role. It is critical to the continued success of this ministry. Our nights are Sunday and Wednesday until the end of March. Please check your calendars for available dates, and we will match you with one of ours: mtaylor6604@gmail.com. What a great time to make RITI part of your giving!

Presbyterian.

With deep appreciation, The family of Sarah and Jimmy Greene helped share the joy of Christmas through the Angel Tree.

Patti Denny, Principal Rama Road Elementary

The

Sardis November Food Drive

was a great success! Together, we raised a whopping 793 pounds of food for Loaves and Fishes.

The Communicator ~ May 2015 5

Youth ministry

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

Middle School Youth Helped 12 Rama Road Angels

On Sunday, November 29, 20 middle school youth took to Target to shop for Angel Tree gifts. Gifts were purchased for 12 Rama Road Angels. This was made possible by generous donations from the Crossroads and SNL Sunday School classes. The youth were so humbled by the generosity of Sardis and honored that they would be able to be a part of Rama Road children having a wonderful Christmas. The youth program appreciates all of the support from the Sunday School classes and the whole congregation.

High School Youth to Plantation Estates

The High School Youth Ministry took their annual trip to Plantation Estates to play Bingo with the residents the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Twenty‐eight high school youth were on hand for a fun night of conversations, laughs, story‐telling, and of course, Bingo. The connections gained from our night at Plantation Estates strengthen both the residents and the youth.

High School Youth Super Bowl Party Host Needed

Upcoming Dates:

Here’s what to look forward to…

The High School Youth Ministry is looking for a host

Sunday, January 3—Middle School to Sky High

for a Super Bowl party on Sunday, February 7. The

Sports (4‐7:30 p.m.)

party would be from 6 p.m. until halftime (usually

Sunday, January 3—High School Regift Gift Party

around 8:00 p.m. or so). The host home would only be responsible for providing a place for us to watch the game (and the commercials!), with food provided by other people. Do you have a space that we can use? We are expecting 30 or so people. Please either e‐mail Adrian (adrian.martin@sardis.org) or call him in the

(6‐7:30 p.m.)

Sunday, January 17—Combined Bowling Party (5‐7:30 p.m.)

Friday, January 22—High School Ski Retreat

Saturday, February 6—Middle School Snow Tubing

church office at 704.366.1854. Thank you in advance!

Sunday, February 7—Souper Bowl of Caring Offering

In addition to these special events, we will continue to have our regular Sunday Night Fellowship and mid‐ week programs that will study God’s word and how it impacts us today.

6 The Communicator ~ May 2015

“Let the little children come unto me.”

Acolytes Needed at 11 a.m.

The Year of the Bible

Acolytes are still needed for the 11 a.m.

Many have reserved a copy of James Davison’s The Year of the

service. If your child is in 2nd through 5th

Bible: An Enhanced Guide to Reading Scripture Together and have

grade and would like to be a part of leading

resolved to read the Bible in 2016. If you did not, contact Rev.

worship, please schedule a time to be trained

Dr. Jane Fobel and you will be included in a second order.

with Renda Brinson. She can be contacted at

renda.brinson@sardis.org.

You can certainly use this resource by yourself or just begin reading the Bible by yourself with your own reading schedule, but clarity and deeper understanding occur when we share our

Adult Sunday School News

The Reading for Reformed Reflection is a Sunday School class that is organized as a Book Club with lots of discussion and group interaction. The new book selection for January 2016 is Rabbi Harold Kushner’s book, The Lord Is My Shepherd: Healing Wisdom of the 23rd Psalm, ($10). The class meets at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings in room 217.

questions and our discoveries with others. If you want to be part of a group that reflects on the Bible readings in The Year of the Bible, there will be two opportunities each month. One opportunity will be on the 2nd and 4th Thursday mornings, 10–11 a.m., in room 211/212 – beginning January 14. The second opportunity will be 3rd Tuesday evenings at 7–8 p.m., in room 211/212 – beginning January 19. There will be a group meeting at Plantation Estates on the 2nd Tuesdays, beginning January 12, at 7 p.m. If you wish to be a part of one of these

discussion groups or would like to suggest alternate meeting

Contact Rev. Dr. Jane Fobel at (704.366.1854

times, contact Rev. Dr. Jane Fobel at 704.366.1854 or

or jane.fobel@sardis.org) or Dale LeCount

jane.fobel@sardis.org.

(704.844.9406 or pegndale@gmail.com) with questions.

Come Join Us at LOGOS!

The LOGOS Program is a midweek design for ministry with

SWS Updates

children and their families in the local church. It is a structured

Registration for the upcoming 2016‐2017 school year will take place in January.

“retreat every week,” in the middle of the week, that provides all the dynamics of a good camp/conference program, but is experienced in the context of the life of the congregation. It

In‐house registration will occur Monday,

guarantees the growth of the intergenerational relationships

January 4—Monday, January 25. Church

that bond the entire congregation into an authentic community

members not currently enrolled may

of faith. It quickly becomes the cornerstone of a church’s

register

beginning

Tuesday,

January

26. Public registration starts on Thursday, January 28.

Please call Louise Lippi for additional information at louise.lippi@sardis.org or 704.366.9681. Happy New Year! Thank you for your support in 2015!

effective and contagious youth and family ministry.

SECOND SEMESTER begins Wednesday, January 13 Time: 5‐7 p.m. each Wednesday (semester ends April 6) Cost: $115.00 (largely applied to cover the cost of dinners for each student) For registration or more information, please visit sardis.org!

The Communicator ~ May 2015 77

The Communicator Published monthly by

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Sardis Presbyterian Church

Charlotte, NC

6100 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC 28270

Sardis Women’s Retreat Until He Comes A study of I Thessalonians Study Leader:

Allison Barnhill

Music and Worship Leader:

Richard Ramsey February 26-28, 2016 Camp Dogwood

8 The Communicator ~ May 2015

More information on page 2.