January 2014 communicator

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

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A Publication of Sardis Presbyterian Church

January 2014

Building God’s Kingdom Through Worship ● Service ● Fellowship ● Evangelism ● Discipleship

The Church Office will be closed Wednesday, January 1 for the New Years holiday, and Monday, January 20 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

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

Lay Ministry

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

The mission of Charlotte Family Housing is to empower homeless families to achieve long-term self-sufficiency through shelter, housing, support services and advocacy.

Room in the Inn and Simple Pleasures Room in the Inn is about hospitality and turning things we often take for granted into something special. The 2013-14 Room in the Inn season is in full swing. We’ve had a full house each night and our volunteers (many of them first timers) have been great! We still have some ‘Rooster’ slots to fill: you will arrive a few minutes before 5:00 a.m., feed the neighbors breakfast, give them their bag lunch, and take them back into the city, then strip the bed linens and clean up the kitchen, finishing around 7:00 a.m. Please call Beth Kazer, 704-654-5194, if you would like to help. More information is also available at www.sardis.org. Thank you for supporting this extremely important ministry!

Salvation Army Christmas Stockings Thank you to all the Sardis congregation for filling Salvation Army Christmas Stockings this year! Susan Hudson and Liz Alba delivered 250 stockings to the Salvation Army Warehouse where they were received with great gratitude!

Thanks to your help, Sardis was able to donate 623 pounds of food through the Loaves & Fishes Food Drive!

A TREMENDOUS THANK YOU to everyone

involved in making this year’s Angel Tree For Rama Road a huge success. On December 9, gifts donated by

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The Communicator ~ January 2014

will return in the New Year with a new time. When the program resumes on Wednesday, January 15, the time will be 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The winter study will begin with a 4 week study focused on “The Intersection of Culture and Religion,” led by Assistant Director of Christian Education, Heather Eddy, followed by a 2 week study on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, led by Director of Christian Education, Renda Brinson. The beginning study, “The Intersection of Culture and Religion,” will lead us in an examination of what it means to be a Christian in the world today. Heather writes, “Everyone has an iPod in – we are rarely without noise and if it’s not talking, it’s music. On the weekends, sports coverage takes up many channels. We have news channels that are devoted to politics 24 hours a day. And we all want to know what the latest invention is… what will help me feel better or do something better. Unfortunately, with change and technology, pop culture has also changed how we as Christians have to relate to this ambiance that we’re surrounded with. How do we do that? Can the two be separate? Should they be? How do we reconcile the unfortunate fact that on the surface, religion CAN be hard to reconcile with pop-culture, science and politics and secondly, those things and the players in them are rarely friendly towards religion. When we’re told that we are not to love the world or the things of the world… yet we can’t escape it, nor can we isolate ourselves or our families from it, and in doing so does that not impair us from engaging in the Great Commission? How then do we live?”

The schedule includes Jan. 15: Religious Culture and Sports; Jan. 22: Religious Culture and Music; Jan. 29: Religious Culture and Science; Feb. 5: Religious Culture and Politics

The 2014 schedule offers a thematic pattern that will lead us between the Old and New Testaments: the Epistles on Sundays, the Law on Mondays, History on Tuesdays, Psalms on Wednesdays, Poetry on Thursdays, Prophecy on Fridays, and the Gospels on Saturdays.

Spaghetti Sauce Sunday

Sardis to the 71 families on the Angel tree were sorted and organized by nine volunteers. On December 14, a rainy Saturday, volunteers of all ages were at the church bright and early and ready to deliver the gifts to the homes of the Rama Elementary School families.

They were greeted with hugs, tears and many thanks by the parents of over 200 Rama students.

One mother said “Oh, thank you so much! I can’t believe this is all for my kids.” Thank you, Sardis.

You have planted seeds of HOPE in their lives this Christmas.

Connect@Sardis, a midweek educational opportunity for adults,

Adult Church School News Looking to join a church school class in the New Year? There is a place for you in the Crossroads class, room 213/214 (Fellowship Hall) which will begin a study of the Gospel of Matthew, or the Open Door Class, room 211/212 (Fellowship Hall) which will begin a study of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of James. The Open Door class will use the Present Word Curriculum as its guide through Luke and James.

Bible Reading Thursday Morning Bible Study with Renda Brinson Schedule Enclosed: 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m. in Sardis House. “Life principles from the Old Testament “-

Community Service Reminder January 5: 10-Cents A Meal Offering

“Let the little children come unto me.”

Thank you, Sardis, for supporting the shoe drive organized by Sardis youth, Meredith Banks and Caroline Bowen.

The shoes were shipped to the orphans of Salvation Army Hanbury Home in Jamaica. Some of the children did not own any shoes. Because of your generosity, each child has now received four pairs of shoes.

A look at the lives of key characters found in the Bible. The theme "Following God" is one that emphasizes the importance of building a relationship with God, living a life totally surrounded to His leading. Examples are given of those who did not follow His direction. We will study well known men in the Old Testament, as well as a historical perspective about the time when they lived.

Mid-Week Adult Study Opportunities The Alpha and Omega Study will resume the week of Jan. 5. The winter/spring study will explore the book of Revelation and will be offered three times each week:  Sundays 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Ed. Building Room 216; led by Jane Fobel  Tuesdays 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Ed. Building Room 211/212; led by Renda Brinson  Thursdays 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Ed. Building Room 211/212, led by Jane Fobel

The study will use the Kerygma Bible Study for Revelation, The Book of Revelation: Visions for the Church in Crisis, New Testament Studies by James A. Walther, Sr. This author A mid-week faith and brings deep insight to a very challenging book. Participants will find that studying fellowship program Revelation in context clarifies its message to an early church facing severe crisis. We will for kids K-5th grade. discover that the relevance of Revelation for today is not in prophetic visions, but in its affirmation of victory and hope. All participants will need a copy of the study book, $15.

Begins January 15 To register for the class and order a book, contact Jane Fobel, jane.fobel@sardis.org/ Ends April 2 704-366-1854 or Renda Brinson, renda.brinson@sardis.org/704-366-1854. Please specify Sign up: which class time you will ordinarily attend. (Participants may attend one of the other www.sardis.org weekly classes to make up missed classed as needed.

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CHURCH LIFE

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

Currently enrolled children and their siblings Church members not currently enrolled Community

New registrations will be accepted in the Director’s office beginning at 9:30 a.m. on the dates above.

Questions? Contact Louise Lippi, Director: louise.lippi@sardis.org or 704-366-9681.

Three-Year-olds - must be three by August 31 3 day (Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday) 4 day (Monday-Thursday)

Toddlers - must be one by August 31 2 day (Monday/Wednesday) 2 day (Tuesday/Thursday)

Four-Year-olds – must be four by August 31 4 day (Monday-Thursday) 5 day (Monday-Friday)

Two-year-olds - must be two by August 31 2 day (Tuesday/Thursday) 3 day (Monday/Wednesday/Friday)

FRIENDSHIP CONNECTION The Friendship Connection is a fellowship group for retirees that meets the third Tuesday of the month for a program and lunch. On Tuesday, January 21, the program will be “Starting Out the New Year Healthy, Part II,” in the Sardis Mission

Upcoming Taizé Worship Schedule January 12: Sardis Presbyterian Chapel February 9: St. Stephen United Methodist March 9: Sardis Baptist Church

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The Taizé Community was founded as an ecumenical monastery where worshippers gather in silence, followed by a time of singing uncomplicated songs, “allowing the mystery of God to become tangible through the beauty of simplicity.” Sardis Presbyterian Church joins with Sardis Baptist Church and St. Stephen United Methodist Church to offer Taizé Worship services on the second Sunday of each month. The services last approximately 40 minutes.

Questions? Contact Rev. Alice Johnson at 704-366-1854.

House. The program begins at 11:00 a.m. with guest speaker Toni Branner. Lunch will follow at noon for $8 per person. Reservations are required for lunch by Friday, January 17 and can be made at www.sardis.org, or by calling 704-926-1590.

Questions? Contact Rev. Alice A. Johnson at alice.johnson@sardis.org or 704.366.1854.

9:00 a.m. Worship Has Moved to the Fellowship Hall The Session has approved a recommendation from the Music Selection Committee and Worship Committee that our 9:00 a.m. worship service be moved from the Sanctuary to the Fellowship Hall beginning January 5, 2014. We believe this change will enable us to better incorporate technology and the use of screens, allow for greater flexibility in worship space, and help us engage current and new worshipers in God’s kingdom here at Sardis.

Of course, we continue to be invested in offering excellent traditional worship in our beautiful Sanctuary with our impressive pipe organ, which is one of the best in the nation. At Sardis, we value all types of worship that inspire us to glorify God.

The Communicator ~ January 2014

2014 Communion Schedule

We extend our deep appreciation to the following Elders and Deacons who have faithfully served Sardis for the past three years. Our congregation is blessed with outstanding leadership. Thank you, and God bless you.

Registration for the 2014-2015 school year begins in January!

We enroll children from 6 months–6 years.

Crib (6 – 12 months) 1 day (Monday) 2 day (Monday/Tuesday)

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

Thank You for Your Leadership

Weekday School Registration 2014-2015

Monday, January 6 Monday, January 27 Tuesday, January 28

Church Life

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Elders

Deacons

Janice Abluton

Missy Banks

Carol Apel

Vicka Conder

Dean Calhoun William Sloan

Sallie Crossley Penny Frazier

Michael Smith

Bradford Hood

James Thomasson

Mark Howell

Matthew Tucker

Susan Hudson

Suzanne Weston

William Norris

Curtis Williams

Kristen Taylor

Rhonda York

Jeffrey Wilkinson

January 26 March 5 (Ash Wednesday) March 30 April 17 (Maundy Thursday) June 8 August 10 October 5 December 7 December 24

Laity Sunday: January 19 Members of the congregation will lead our worship at both 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on January 19. Both services will follow the same order of worship. This year’s theme is “My Cup Runneth Over – the Blessings of the Christian Life.” Members speaking during the service are Brad Helms and Mary Carolyn Titus.

New Officer Installation The following members will be ordained/installed January 5 as Elders and Deacons of the class of 2016. We are grateful for their willingness to serve at Sardis!

Elders

Deacons

Steve Benton

Simone Acqué

Rob Brownlee

Michael Champion

Sue Chowning George Galleher

Marilyn Dougherty

Pressly Gilbert Jenny Kaeppler

Brady Koesel Catherine Newman

Pam McLean

Michael A.D. Oelz

Lucinda Myers Bruce Simpson

Netta Turnbull

Amanda Willis

Lora Zalaquett

Beginning January 5

704.366.1854 Contact Rev. Alice Johnson / alice.johnson@sardis.org

The Sardis Music Ministry Wants You

Tom Kirby

John Waller

Our new Minister of Music, Jared Daugherty, wants to grow the music ministry. No experience singing? Can’t read music? That is ok; if you enjoy music, Jared has a place for your gifts! Come enjoy a time of learning, fellowship, and praise. If you would like to know more about the music opportunities at Sardis, contact Jared at 704.366.1854 or jared.daugherty@sardis.org.

The Communicator ~ January 2014

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

Church Life

Session Highlights, December 2013 

Information regarding the preliminary proposed 2014 budget was reviewed.  Appreciation was expressed to the outgoing Elders, Class of 2013: Janice Abluton, Carol Apel, Dean Calhoun, William Sloan, Mike Smith, Jim Thomasson, Matt Tucker, Suzanne Weston, Curtis Williams and Rhonda York.

The following motions were approved:  Baptism of Robert Jeb (RJ) Frazer, son of Bob and April Frazer, December 15, 2013.  Randy Long as chair and Lissa Archer as vice chair of the 2014 Officer Nominating Committee, and the following as committee members: Dean Sellers, Paul Rosser, Beth Parrish, Ann Wenzl, and one more to be named.

From Clerks Ministry:  Approved new members of Sardis Commissions (Property, Capital Repair and Replacement, Cemetery/Columbarium, Gift Trust and Communications) for 2014.  Approved additions to 2014 Ministry Teams.

From Worship Ministry:  Approved Communion dates for 2014.  Approved several ideas in areas of hospitality implementation to increase the welcoming aspects of the church, to be put into place as the new year begins, including elders being “ambassadors” so visitors and others will know whom to ask when they have questions, better mapping and signage for Christian Education classes, and creating more visible visitor parking areas.

Session Highlights, November 2013 The following motions were approved:  Transfer of Jamie Elizabeth Craig to Edenton Street UMC, Raleigh, NC.  Membership of Marie Jewell Cutlip by letter of transfer and Steven Gregory Marguis by reaffirmation of faith.  Acceptance from an anonymous donor of the cost to replace the three windows in the church parlor; designation of Mary Lou Mason, Dr. Kort and the donors to work with Willet Houser Architectural Glass on the window design; Jessica Otto, Director of Administration, to execute the contract with the firm.  Per the Book of Order, G-2.0402, the Session examined and approved the officers elected to the Session and Diaconate Class of 2016.

From Worship Ministry:  Tom Winstead as guest preacher on December 29  A combined Youth and Scout Sunday worship service to be held in the Sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 2.  Brad Helms and Mary Carolyn Titus to serve as speakers for Laity Sunday, 2014.

From Youth Ministry:  Sunday School be moved to 9:00 a.m. on February 2 to accommodate the combined worship service and that the service be followed by a reception in Fellowship Hall.

Church Life

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

Diaconate Highlights, December 2013 

The Food Service Ministry, assisted by Mark Slimer, is researching a company to professionally clean the kitchen.

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The Property Commission is moving forward with the engineering survey for the HVAC to see how best to move forward.

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The backpack program, provided by Senior Link, was expanded this year to help out 20 families.

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RITI has resumed and the Diaconate will be covering some volunteer dates in March.

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Church directories should be ready early in the New Year after the latest edits have been completed.

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 Church, please tune into WSOC-TV.

Our Church Family

Sanctuary Flowers

Congratulations:

Do You Enjoy Arranging Flowers?

To parents Abbey and Allen Cooke and grandparents Cindy and Kurt Rawald on the birth of Sally Virginia Cooke; to parents Megan and Ben Hovis and grandparents John and Vicky Hovis on the birth of Chase Benjamin Hovis; and to parents Mark and Kristin Brinson and grandparents Renda and Earl Brinson on the birth of Gabriel Aaron Brinson.

The Flower Ministry brightens lives every week by breaking the sanctuary flowers down into smaller arrangements and delivering them to homebound members. If you enjoy working with flowers, please consider volunteering with the Flower Ministry. For more information, please contact Karen Carpenter at 704-366-2218 or karencarpenter@carolina.rr.com.

If you’d like to place flowers in our sanctuary, we have a Our Christian Sympathy: number of openings on our To family and friends upon the death of Janet Menkel; 2014 calendar. Roseland to Bobby Smith upon the death of his mother, Clara Floral Company provides Smith; to David Scholz upon the death of his mother, two arrangements each Georgia Fay Scholz; to family and friends upon the Sunday at a cost to the death of Maida Frye; to Janet Hughes upon the death donor of $130. Donated of her father, Arthur Dadirrian; to Cindy K. Smith flowers may be designated in upon the death of her sister, Carol Meyer; to Annette honor or in memory of loved Old upon the death of her mother, Leah Harrell; to ones or to mark a special family and friends upon the death of Leanna Parker; occasion. If interested, please contact Karen and to Sue Docherty upon the death of her mother, Carpenter at 704-366-2218 or Phyllis Morese. karencarpenter@carolina.rr.com.

Complete minutes for recent meetings are at www.sardis.org, and also available along with archived minutes in the library.

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The Communicator ~ January 2014

The Communicator ~ January 2014

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