The Communicator | February 2021

THE COMMUNICATOR THE COMMUNICATOR

February 2021

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

Sardis Presbyterian Church’s 231st Anniversary!

How remarkable that Sardis Presbyterian Church will mark its 231st anniversary on February 24, 2021!

Our historical records tell us that back in the late 1700s, five families who lived in the area began to worship together. The families of Scottish immigrants John Black, James Boyes, William Irwin, John Kirkpatrick, and Matthew Wallace formed the nucleus of what is now Sardis Presbyterian Church. We don't know exactly when this small society began to hold Sunday meetings in each other's homes, but after a time, formal recognition of Sardis Church by the Presbytery of the Carolinas and Georgia occurred on February 24, 1790. How wonderful to be part of this "goodly heritage!"

Exploring Faith. Changing Lives. ● Praise ● Learn ● Love ● Serve ● Share ● Witness The Communicator ~ February 2021

Church Life

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

The Worship Plan: February Forward

At its stated January meeting, Session approved the plan below that was presented by the Worship Ministry. Step 1of our worship plan begins in February.

Step 1: Single blended recorded service posted twice. One blended recorded service posted on Facebook at YouTube at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. until at least Palm Sunday.

Step 2: Outdoor contemporary/recorded traditional. With a hope to resume outdoor worship on Palm Sunday and then Easter (weather/COVID permitting), step 2 includes one contemporary outdoor service at 11:00 a.m. in addition to the online traditional recorded service to be posted at both 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. The outdoor service will be more than just one musician and a preacher this time. Should conditions permit, plans are in the works for more than one outdoor Easter service, one being a sunrise service, plus a recorded Easter service.

Step 3: Both services live‐streamed indoors. Livestreamed services at 9:00 a.m. (contemporary in Fellowship Hall) and 11:00 a.m. (traditional in the Sanctuary) with worshipers in the room, per whatever safety guidelines allow at the time.

In 2020, we made monthly decisions about the way we would worship to be as flexible as possible. We learned a lot. All three steps of this plan are more sustainable and allow staff involved in worship to refocus efforts in other important directions. It is, of course, possible that conditions could move us backward through the steps at times.

Bayonnais Update

Please keep our brothers and sisters in Bayonnais in your prayers. 2020 was a very challenging year for them.

Actionnel has repeatedly expressed thanks and gratefulness for Sardis’ continued support of the ICB School and the Bethesda Clinic. COVID has not been a big problem in Haiti, but unsafe travel conditions on the roads, an unstable government, and an erratic fluctuation of the gourde (their unit of money) have left the people with many additional difficulties and struggles.

Please contact Brenda McKay if you have any questions or want to get more involved in this partnership.

For more information, and to register, contact:

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Church Life

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

Historical Committee Request

How did the pandemic of 1918 affect Sardis Church and its

Wedding Director Opportunity!

members? What could we have learned if we had some

hosting events? Do you like working with

record of their experiences? As we live through our own

people? Do you have the flexibility to commit

current COVID pandemic, what ought we to provide to

8‐12 hours a few times a year (as needed)? If you

future Sardis generations?

answered yes to all these questions, would you be

DO YOU LOVE WEDDINGS? Do you enjoy

The Historical Committee is in the early stages of an effort to collect official materials as well as the experiences of our

interested in being one of two Wedding Directors at Sardis?

members that will document how Sardis has responded to

The Wedding Director’s responsibilities include:

these unusual times. We hope that many of you will write

acting as church’s primary contact for the

your memories or create a video about your experiences.

wedding couple; consulting with the couple

More information will be forthcoming, so please stay

before the wedding; explaining the church’s

tuned! In the meantime, if you can help or have ideas to

facility‐use guidelines; being available to answer

share, please contact Vicki Jaus at 704.589.7488 or

questions at the rehearsal; supervising church

vpjaus@gmail.com.

support the day of the wedding. The position offers a modest stipend as payment for services.

If you think you might be interested or would like further information, please contact Alice Glefke, 407.721.1432 or a1engraver@yahoo.com.

How Do You Remember Things?

Tim Alba

Do you make a list, create “memory joggers,” use visual cues, send e‐mails to yourself, add calendar notes, or put stickies on the refrigerator door? I don’t know if it’s the challenges of the pandemic, the impact of endless Zoom sessions for work, news distractions, children, or maybe it is simply age. But I have a difficult time remembering things. If you have a fail‐proof technique, please let me know.

This past fall, I forgot about my stewardship pledge. I only remembered when sorting through the stack of mail set aside for “future processing” and saw that pledge card.

This pandemic has created a tough situation, things are different, and I miss being together with others. I am not sure what the “next normal” will look like. But I have confidence that our Sardis faith community will thrive. I know I can continue to serve and to share. So, I said a prayer, made some personal commitments, and then submitted my Sardis pledge for 2021.

If you have pledged for 2021, thank you!

If you have yet to pledge or forgot to renew your automatic withdrawal for 2021, please consider this reminder. You can make a pledge online at www.sardis.org/giving. Just look for “Make a Pledge” to complete an online pledge form. Thank you.

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Church Life

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

DARE TO JOURNEY

ARRANGING OUR LIVES FOR SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Dare to Journey Together in 2021 with Sacred Rhythms: Arranging our Lives for Spiritual Formation by Ruth Haley Barton. It is a journey for learning God’s will for our lives, for changing our lives into Christlikeness, and for exploring spiritual practices that place us where God’s transforming work can be done. To cooperate with God, we need to become intentional and be in community. This 10‐session interactive journey, hosted by Sardis Centering Prayer, will be on Zoom every other Sunday, 6:30 p.m.—8:00 p.m., February 14 through June 13. Each session will start with a short evening prayer service including practicing 10 minutes of prayer in silence (Matt 6:6), to create a deepening relationship with God and a discipline for that growth. Come dare explore your desire for more of God.

For further information and to register, please visit the Learning tab at www.sardis.org. Please purchase your own book. Contact persons: Anita Kirby at aakirby@bellsouth.net (704.365.2617) or Jerry Reed at reedlaw@reedlawcharlotte.com (704.365.2707).

Session Highlights can be found on the Publications page under the Connect tab at www.sardis.org.

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

December

December expected

This year so far

This year so far expected

Pledges, gi s, and other revenue

$132,047.78

$327,716.74

$1,893,571.67

$2,026,250.00

Expenses

$272,440.12

$232,067.95

$1,893,571.67

$2,026,250.00

Net Total

($140,392.34)

$95,648.79

$0.00

$0.00

Annual Budget: $2,026,250

Our Church Family Our Sympathy: to the family of Ruth Storey; to the family of Fred Culbreth; to the family of Dick Parris; to the family of George Stoddard; to the family of Roy Hester; to Lynn Porter on the death of her son, William Porter; to Sharon and Ken DeBoer on the death of their son, Tim DeBoer.

Congratulations: to Martha and John Surles on the birth of their granddaughter, Sutton Charlotte Surles.

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Missions Ministry

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

Loaves and Fishes Volunteer Opportunities

Loaves and Fishes has a need for volunteers to deliver and distribute food boxes at mobile pantries or food pharmacies, as well as help with food packing in the warehouse. There are warehouse food packing shifts Monday ‐ Friday afternoons, Thursday evenings, and some Saturdays. Food delivery drivers will be assigned 3‐5 deliveries for a total of 8‐15 boxes (larger personal vehicles are preferred). Deliveries are on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. You can use the Loaves & Fishes volunteer calendar found at loavesandfishes.org to register and sign‐up for a shift, or contact Lindsey Silliman with Loaves & Fishes at lindsey@loavesandfishes.org 704.343.5031.

Families Forward Charlotte Basket Drive

American Red Cross

Our Spring Cleaning Essential Baskets Drive for Families

Blood Drive

Forward Charlotte is now underway. Please drop off your collected items and/or financial donations/Walmart gift cards

Site: Sardis Presbyterian Church

to the Gathering Place doors on any Wednesdays in February,

Address: 6100 Sardis Road, Charlotte, NC

10:00 a.m.‐12:00 noon or 3:00‐5:00 p.m. Online donations can

Room Name: American Red Cross Bus

be made by going to the church website. Checks can be made

Date: Sunday, February 28, 2021

payable to Sardis Presbyterian Church with Essential Baskets

Time: 08:00 a.m. ‐ 12:30 p.m.

in the memo line and mailed to the church office or dropped off at the collection location. These families need our love and

Save the Date!

support.

Essential Basket cleaning supplies needed:

Crisis Assistance Clothing Drive

April 11‐25 we will be collecting items for the

Disinfectant Wipes Dawn Dishwashing Detergent Paper Towels Windex Bleach Rubber Cleaning Gloves Scrubbing Sponges Toilet Brush & Holder Toilet Cleaner Toilet Paper

Laundry Detergent Tabs Microfiber Towels Liquid Hand Soap Trash Bags Baking Soda Full Swiffer Kits Dryer Sheets Hand Sani zer Kleenex Wal‐Mart Gi Cards

upcoming season:



Menʹs clothing



Shoes and socks



New underwear



Towels



Sleeping bags



Bedding



School uniforms

Donations should be clean, in good condition, folded, and bagged with no hangers. Drop‐off information to be announced.

Questions?

Contact

Canon

Moore

at

canonwmoore@gmail.com.

The Communicator ~ February 2021 5

Youth ministry

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

Stay Up to Date!

Youth Sunday

As the situation with COVID‐19 continues to change,

Youth Sunday will be March 7. The youth will help plan

the Youth Ministry is working hard to continually

and lead two worship services, one at 9:00 and one at

change how and when we meet with youth. Stay up

11:00 a.m. These will be pre‐recorded services.

to date with the changes by subscribing to our weekly

Youth E‐letter and/or receiving our regular text via Remind. We want all youth to be involved in some aspect of our program, and we are trying hard to get the word out to everyone. The best way to do that is

All youth are invited to participate in these services.

Please let Adrian Martin know if you would like to be involved. You may reach him at 704.778.6432 or adrian.martin@sardis.org.

using our weekly E‐Letter and texts.

For more information or to sign up for either of these,

please

contact

Adrian

Martin

at

adrian.martin@sardis.org.

Lunches with Adrian

Montreat Summer Conferences

As you continue to spend time at home with virtual

Understanding that situations surrounding COVID‐19

learning, invite Adrian over for lunch! He will bring

may change rapidly, the Youth Ministry is currently

your favorite fast food with him and sit outside,

planning on attending the Montreat conferences this

sharing a meal with you. Adrian is available on

summer:

Tuesdays and Thursdays for lunches, so reach out to

him if you are interested.

Contact Adrian at adrian.martin@sardis.org or 704.366.1854 for more information or to schedule a lunch.

Worship and Music Conference at Montreat, June 20‐25

Middle School Montreat Youth Conference at Maryville College, July 14‐18

High School Montreat Youth Conference at Montreat, July 25‐31

More information on how to register will be available in the near future, but please hold these dates as we hope and pray we will have the opportunity to attend these conferences this coming summer.

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“Let the little children come unto me.”

Sardis Weekday School Update

Sardis Weekday School registration open for the 2021‐ 2022 school year. The registration information is located on our website, www.sardisweekdayschool.org. The Preschool with Heart is looking forward to another spectacular school year. Thank you for all your support in the Weekday School!

Keep checking our website: Summer camp 2021 information will be posted by mid‐February.

Virtual Chapel is now posted each week in our Sardis Childrenʹs Community Facebook group! Your family is invited to use these videos at any time that works for your preschoolers! Let Sarah Dianne know if youʹd ever like to set up a Zoom meeting to do chapel live!

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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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