2017 August Communicator

A Publication of Sardis Presbyterian Church August 2017 Building God’s Kingdom Through Worship ● Service ● Fellowship ● Evangelism ● Discipleship

Summers at Sardis are Super!

While discovering their strength in God, the participants of VBS learned that God’s Heroes have HEART, COURAGE, WISDOM, HOPE and POWER.

The Communicator ~ August 2017 Sardis Presbyterian Church · 6100 Sardis Road · Charlotte, NC 28270 · 704‐366‐1854 · www.sardis.org

Church Life

Ministry is about life in Christ which

Blessing of the Backpacks and Briefcases Bring your backpack, briefcase, computer

Saturday, August 19 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

bag or purse and join us for a blessing on

on the Francis Property.

Sunday, August 27 at both the 9:00 and

Questions? Contact Jan Torrence at jan.torrence@yahoo.com.

11:00 worship services!

Calling All Womenʹs Retreat Alumni

If you have been on a womenʹs retreat, or are interested in attending a future

Sardis Fish & Chicken Fry!

retreat, you are invited to join us for a

Saturday, September 16 in the Fellowship Hall

covered dish dinner in the Sardis

Live music starts at 5:15 p.m.|Fish & Chicken Fry Dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Cost: $8 per adult | $5 per child (under 10) Registration: www.sardis.org or by calling 704.926.1590.

House!

Wednesday, August 30 at 6:30 p.m.

The main course will be provided.

Please bring a salad or side dish.

RSVP to Barbara Tanner at 704.910.9683 or btanner7039@gmail.com.

Volunteer to decorate your trunk for trunk or treat!

Contact Hasty Millen at mhmillen@gmail.com.

2 The Communicator ~ August 2017

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

Church Life

Adult Fall Bible Study Adult Sunday School 10 a.m.

Beginning September 10 Beginning September 14 Crossroads | Room 213/214 Fellowship Hall

Thursdays · 10:00 ‐ 11:30 a.m. · Sardis House

Contemporary Christian Issues | Sardis House

The study will be based on the book of Robert Pharr Menʹs Class | Room 215 Fellowship Hall Jeremiah. Jeremiah is the Old Testament Bible Study for Women | Parlor, Sanctuary Building prophet about whom we have the most biographical information within the book Discussing Bible Books & Topics | Room 111/112 Ed. Hall itself. Jeremiah is the prophet of hope and

Java | Room 216 Fellowship Hall

the prophet of the new covenant.

Reading for Reformed Reflection | Room 217 Fellowship Hall

Questions?

Contact

Jane

Fobel

at

jane.fobel@sardis.org or 704.366.1854.

Salty Fish | Room 211/212 Fellowship Hall Open Door is returning with a new name, ʺSalty Fish.ʺ Salty (SALT = Sharing And Learning Together) and Fish (FISH = Friends In Service 4 Him). The focus of this class is Bible study and service.

Save the Date for the Celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation October 4, 11, 18 · 6:00 p.m. · Sardis House Each night there will be a meal and a special guest speaker to lead us in a reflection of the continuing meaning and impact of the Reformation. More information and registration to come!

Is Your Commitment to Stewardship Pleasing to God?

John Hovis

Stewardship is a response or follow‐through of our love for God. As Christians, we have an understanding that all resources available to us are a gift from God. As such, our gifts are to be used to enrich life and glorify Him.

Do a quick self examination of your stewardship by answering a few questions. · What are you contributing to the life of Sardis? · What are you contributing to God’s kingdom away from Sardis? · Is our church and our world better because of something you do or give? · Are your answers a true reflection of your love for God?

Stewardship is a true expression of our commitment to Christ. God has entrusted His creation to us. He expects and needs us to be stewards over all He created. Think about it! God created the world and everything in it, along with us, and has left us as caretakers. What a large and important job!

So, how do you look in the self examination? Has it left you wanting to be a better steward? Here’s a plan to help you improve. Let go of whatever is keeping you from contributing at a higher level. Improve your relationship with God by making a change/by giving up some aspect of your life that is preventing you from doing more as a caretaker of His creation.

The Communicator ~ August 2017 3

Church Life

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

Andy Kort Graduates from Pittsburgh Seminary

with Doctor of Ministry Degree

Sardis’ son, Andrew Kort, has completed his Doctor of Ministry degree this June.

While at Sardis during the pastorate of Dr. Tom Kort, Andy’s seminary studies were supported by Sardis through the Mission Interpretation Ministry. We send our congratulations to Andy and his wife Mihee Kim‐Kort. In addition, we congratulate the proud parents, Tom and Corrine, along with Andy’s sister Sarah Kort.

Want to Make Sardis Your Church

Join Us for Music this Fall!

Sanctuary Choir: August 24, 7:30‐9 p.m.

Home? Attend our New Member

Children’s Choir: September 6, 6‐7 p.m.

Luncheon!

Youth Bells: September 10, 4:30‐5:15 p.m.

Youth Choir: September 10, 5:15‐6 p.m.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of Sardis

Alpha Ringers: September 20, 9:30‐10:30 a.m.

Presbyterian Church is invited to a New Member

Coventry Ringers: September 20, 7:30‐9 p.m.

Luncheon on Sunday, August 20 at noon. Come

hear from Dr. McKechnie and learn more about the

If you are interested in a musical opportunity, contact Jared Daugherty or Kaitlyn Davros

mission and ministry of Sardis. RSVP to Robin at robin.medlock@sardis.org by Monday, August 14.

jared.daugherty@sardis.org or kaitlyn.davros@sardis.org

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

June Financial Highlights

June Financial Highlights

June

June expected

This year so far

This year so far expected

Pledges, gifts, and other revenue

$134,755.12

$171,614.75

$1,066,368.54

$981,219.27

Expenses

$177,685.75

$197,860.85

$1,003,457.17

$1,036,750.01

Net Total

($42,930.63)

($26,246.10)

$62,911.37

($55,530.74)

Annual Budget: $2,076,000

Our Church Family Our Christian Sympathy: to the family of Mary McCoy; to the family of Bill Renfrow; to Lissa Archer upon the death of her father, Truman Hudson; to Jerry Cathey upon the death of his brother, Mike Cathey; to the family of Elliott White; and to Steve Camp upon the death of his mother, Ruby Dillingham Camp.

4 The Communicator ~ August 2017

Church Life

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

Rama Road Backpack Program

Needs Delivery Volunteers

The Backpack Program, through the Planting Seeds of Hope partnership with Rama Road Elementary School, provides nutritious, easy‐ to‐make foods for families with children at risk of hunger. Backpacks filled with food are sent home with children each Friday. Often, this is the only food for their weekend.

In order to provide those backpacks, we need help with the delivery process! Starting on September 14, volunteers are needed on Thursdays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Delivery volunteers will pick up the empty backpacks from the Student Services Office at Rama Road Elementary, take them to get filled at the Second Harvest Food Bank Warehouse, and deliver the filled bags back to Rama Road. Just two hours of your time and a little gas in your car can help feed a family for the weekend.

If you are available to volunteer, even if for just one Thursday, please contact Joyce Long at 704.517.8307.

The Church Mouse Program

Sardis college students interested in having a “church mouse” and members of the congregation interested in volunteering to be “mice” please contact Georgia Pressly at 704.364.9299 or presslyga@aol.com.

Porte Cochere Construction Update

The construction on the Porte Cochere has been progressing! The structural steel beams are in place and the concrete curbing around the drive and islands has been poured.

You will soon see the steel beams with brick around them, and the roof trusses and framing finished. We are excited to watch this vision become a reality.

If you would like to contribute a monetary gift to the project, contact Sylvia at sylvia.zwick@sardis.org. If you have any questions about the project, contact Mark at mark.slimer@sardis.org.

The Communicator ~ August 2017 5

Youth ministry

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

Friday Night Frenzy

High School Mission Trip to Peru

It’s back! Our next Friday Night

On June 20‐30, 26 missionaries from Sardis traveled to Peru to work

Frenzy will be Friday, August 11

alongside Sardis’ missionaries Rev. Sara Armstrong and Rusty

from 8:30 until 11:00 p.m. All youth

Edmondson. During our time, we were able to work side‐by‐side with

are invited to hang out with their

Peruvians as we laid the foundation for a multiple purpose building by

church friends as we have a time of

installing 25‐foot rebar support beams. These beams were laid in five‐feet

fellowship at the church. Friends are

long by four‐feet wide by five‐feet deep holes that were dug out by hand.

welcome! This is a free event for all

youth!

Our youth and adults worked hard and learned about the

Peruvian culture and how Sardis is helping to make a difference. We

If you have any questions, please call

also taught them a little about our American culture (especially

or text Adrian at 704.778.6432.

introducing them to the word “Eh” during the sermon at our multi‐lingual worship service).

Youth and VBS

Forty‐five youth volunteers served Vacation Bible School July 10‐14,

It was a wonderful experience that will not soon leave either the Peruvians nor the missionaries from Sardis Presbyterian Church.

assisting in classrooms, recreation,

music, and so much more! Our

You may read about our

young people love helping others

experiences at

and it showed when so many were

sardisyouthblog.wordpress.com.

willing to give up their time and energy during the week to help with this amazing program!

Middle School Charlotte Mission Adventure

Thirteen middle school youth served Charlotte at six different work sites during the July 17‐19 Charlotte Mission Adventure. Our young people have a passion for serving others and it was exciting to see how eager they were to help. We worked at Rama Road Elementary, painting various things including benches and the blue safety line by the bus pick up, cleaned our adopted stream, served in the medical section of Plantation Estates, cleared paths at the Carolina Raptor Center, sorted clothes for the free store at Crisis Assistance Ministry, and worked with Bright Blessings to make sure children have pillows and wrapping paper.

It was a wonderful experience for our young people to see that they can serve their community and that there were plenty of opportunities for them to do so.

A big thank you to the adults who came to support us at the Sardis House: Rob Brownlee, Steve Carpenter, Niki Koesel, Molly Tucker, Stacey Vanderwel, Carrie Waller, and John Waller. And a big thank you to David Abercrombie who hosted us for a slip and slide to cool us off after a long day of working!

6 The Communicator ~ August 2017

“Let the little children come unto me.”

SMASH Children to Lead Worship August 6

Sunday, August 6 the children who attended SMASH will lead the 11:00 a.m. worship service. This is a service you will not want to miss! The children will present the musical they have worked all week on, “Down By the Creek Bank.” Don’t miss the youth presenting just prior to this at 10 a.m.

SPARK Rotation Elementary Sunday School

Spark Rotation Sunday School is for our elementary (K‐5) disciples! Beginning on September 10, we will meet in room 205/206 for a gathering time together. We will then divide into class groups to rotate through different workshops. Our workshops will include music, service projects, art, cooking, drama and games. Join us as we explore God’s word and put it into action together! If you have any questions, you may contact Katie Harrington by emailing katie.harrington@sardis.org.

Confirmation Class

Confirmation Class begins September 10 and goes through May 20, 2018. We will

Youth Cooking Camp

Middle and High School Youth

meet in Room 107‐108 at 10 a.m. each

Tuesday, August 15 –

Sunday. There will be a required parent

Thursday, August 17

meeting is during our picnic on September

Cook up some fun with Chef Ron from the Community Culinary School

10 at 12:30 p.m. at Ruth and Brett Harrisʹ home. Details to follow.

of Charlotte!

Confirmation information has been mailed

9:30 a.m. ‐ 12:30 p.m.

and emailed to rising 8th graders. If you

$50 per person

were not on our list and your youth wants

Limited to 20 participants

to participate, please contact Georgia Pressly at 704.516.6276.

Register and pay online! www.sardis.org

Sardis Weekday School Happenings We are preparing to welcome our students back to school! Our school year kicks off on August 28. There are spots available for the 2017‐2018 school year! Please contact Louise Lippi for more information or to schedule a tour at 704.366.9681 or louise.lippi@sardis.org.

The Communicator ~ August 2017 7

The Communicator Published monthly by

Non‐Profit Org.

Sardis Presbyterian Church

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

6100 Sardis Road

Charlotte, NC

Charlotte, NC 28270

Permit #1059

www.sardis.org

You deserve some affirmation! Victor Hugo said, “Man does not live by bread alone but by affirmation.”

Thanks to you, our financial picture so far through the summer is positive. Your generosity is enabling us to: 

Send youth on a mission trip to Peru, Montreat Youth Conference, The Great Escape, and perform mission work in Charlotte.



Offer Summer Camps in our Education Building with focus around basketball, cooking, and music, as well as host Camp Holiday.



Provide an exciting Vacation Bible School on the theme of God’s Superheroes.



Offer enriching Sardis Weekday School summer camps.



Offer Contemporary and Traditional worship all through the summer.



Provide an Adult Sunday School Class that is stimulating.



Invest in healing human brokenness on a daily basis.



Continuing to reach out to the aching needs of this great city.

Your financial support makes this and more happen. Thank you for your generosity. Your tangible expression of Christian love makes a difference. God bless you for it.

The Rev. Dr. David G. McKechnie 8 The Communicator ~ August 2017