2018 July Communicator

THE COMMUNICATOR THE COMMUNICATOR

July 2018

A Publication of Sardis Presbyterian Church April 2018 Building God’s Kingdom Through Worship ● Service ● Fellowship ● Evangelism ● Disciple‐

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

One 10:00 Worship Service July 1 - September 2 Worship in the Sanctuary:

Worship in the Fellowship Hall:

July 1

August 26

July 15

August 5

July 8

September 2

July 22

August 12

August 19

July 29

159 pledges were made

To raise $113,120

Congratulations! You have exceeded our Phase I goal of $84,000!

Work can now begin immediately on Middle School spaces, and Phase II of our campus signage project can proceed as soon as those designs are ready, without further fundraising!

Thank you for your support, Sardis!

The Communicator ~ July 2018 Building God’s Kingdom Through Worship ● Service ● Fellowship ● Evangelism ● Discipleship

Church Life

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

New Contemporary Worship Leader

We are happy to announce that we have welcomed Steven Pappas to our music ministry team as our new Contemporary Worship Leader. Our music team is committed to providing soul‐stirring and joyful music for all of our worship services at Sardis Presbyterian Church.

Faith and Film Wednesday Evenings July 11 ‐ August 1 6:00 ‐ 8:00 p.m.

Room 211/212

School Supplies Drive for Rama Road Elementary

July 15 ‐ August 14

(July 11 in Sardis House)

Potluck meal starts at 6:00 each week. Movie starts at 6:30.

Contact: Julius Torrence jtorrencejr@carolina.rr.com

Dry‐erase Markers

Hand Sanitizer

Pencils

Kleenex

Crayons

Clorox/Lysol Wipes

Glue Sticks

Wide Ruled Composition Books

Fill the pool in the Gathering Place!

Midweek Studies Are Planned for the 2018 – 2019 Program Year

Disciple Bible Study (Fast Track): Disciple Bible Study is a program that provides a walk through the Bible, Genesis through Revelation. The study of scripture is joined with reflection on how the words of the Bible inform and direct our growth as disciples of Jesus Christ.

The study will begin on September 13 and run for 12 weeks: Thursday mornings, led by Katie Harrington from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.; Thursday evenings, led by Jane Fobel from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

What Do We Believe as Presbyterians? This study will examine the central affirmations held by Presbyterians: What is predestination and what is it not? What is the meaning of infant baptism? How do we read the Bible? Along with many more questions around the Reformed Tradition will be explored.

The study will begin on September 13. Thursday mornings, led by Jane Fobel from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

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Church Life

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

Church Mouse Program: Ministering to Our College Students

The Church Mouse Project is designed to help college students continue to feel part of the Sardis family while they are away living on college campuses. Collegians interested in having a ʺmouseʺ apply, and members of the congregation volunteer to be ʺmice.ʺ The mice then anony‐ mouse‐ly send cards and inexpensive items to their collegian several times during the year. To become a church mouse, please contact Georgia Pressly at 704.364.9299 or presslyga@aol.com.

Keeping Up With Our Mission Co‐Workers

Dr. Larry Streshley and Inge Streshley are our Mission Co‐Workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A major part of their ministry involves designing and managing health programs. Through Project ASSP (a French acronym meaning Access to Primary Health Care) Larry, as Chief of Party of ASSP, and a staff of about 30 people work with the government to develop a resilient health care system for eight million people in five provinces of the country. This project addresses such issues as health infrastructure, primary health care, high impact interventions to reduce maternal and child mortality, vaccinations, nutrition, HIV, and gender violence.

Larry and Inge began what Larry calls “an amazing journey of mission service” more than two decades ago, and he says “Over the years I have moved from helping the church manage a handful of clinics in Kinshasa to creating one of the largest church‐run health programs in Africa.” Sardis is pleased to support Larry and Inge in these efforts.

Welcome, New Sardis Members!

Allison and Tim Koch William and Ansley

Jim Martin

Brooke and Wayne Vanderpool Charlie and Henry

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Church Life

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

Montreat Recap

On June 24 – 30, six elementary and middle school youth and four adult leaders attended Montreat Worship and Music Conference sponsored by the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. During the week, they explored the sacraments and seasons we celebrate in worship, that we read about in Luke’s narratives, through play, art, drumming, prayer, conversation, and music.

All of the attendees enjoyed the energetic worship, music‐ making opportunities, fun recreation events, and the time to be in community with one another.

Thank you to the four adult leaders who attended: Jared Daugherty, Kaitlyn Davros, Heather Eddy, and Phyllis Powell.

New Opportunity to Explore Music at Sardis

During the weeks of summer, our music team will host a time of music exploration on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for six weeks, beginning July 12. All who are interested in singing or listening are welcome to come and be a part of this new group. We will explore multiple popular choral works as well as some new pieces. For more information, contact Jared Daugherty.

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

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

May

May expected

This year so far

This year so far expected

Pledges, gifts, and other

$157,219.04

$165,502.57

$851,692.64

$809,530.16

Expenses

$144,900.53

$148,208.67

$765,424.89

$774,746.35

Net Total

$12,318.51

$17,293.90

$86,267.75

$34,783.81

Annual Budget: $1,983,000

Our Church Family Our Christian Sympathy: to the family of Dorothy ʺDotʺ Cosper; to the family of Shirley Haywood; to Mary Leonard upon the death of her brother, Robert Caskey; to the family of Clay Thomas; to staff member Jared Daugherty upon the death of his grandmother, and to Rev. Tom Daugherty upon the death of his step‐mother, Jennie Malone Daugherty; and to Jim Boyce upon the death of his brother‐in‐law, Thomas Creed Gilley.

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Lay Ministry

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

Sardis, You Outdid Yourself!

A Book Of My Own – Amazing Success

The blanket and bath towel collection for

Soon after the Planting Seeds of Hope Partnership between

Bayonnais was an overwhelming success! One

Sardis and Rama Road started, Judy Lickert proposed

hundred hooded towels were collected and paired

raising money to purchase books for students to read over

up with a coordinating blanket and washcloth. In

the summer. A Book of My Own started with hopes to raise

addition, another 75 blankets were received. These

enough money to buy a book for each pre‐k and

items will be received after coming to the clinic to

kindergarten student at Rama. Because of Sardis’ generous

see the doctor during pregnancy. They will be

response, we gave every child at Rama Road two books to

placed in a tote bag with the Bethesda Manman

take home that summer. A Book of My Own has continued

logo, along with a kit that includes supplies for a

for seven years providing two to five books each June for

clean birth.

Rama students to read over the summer.

Thank you for caring, and providing love and

This year, Sardis raised the most ever, providing seven to

support to so many mothers.

eight books for every student. Volunteers placed stickers in every book saying, “From your friends at Sardis Presbyterian Church.” Volunteers boxed and delivered books to Rama. Students were thrilled to choose from so many exciting titles.

One person had an idea to serve our community and the children at Rama Road. Like the mustard seed, Judy’s idea has grown into an amazing project. Thanks to everyone who contributed, volunteered, and cared!

Again Jesus said, “What can we say God’s kingdom is like? What story can we use to explain it? It is like a mustard seed, which is

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Sunday, July 22 8:00 a.m. ‐ 12:30 p.m.

Education Hall

the smallest of all seeds on earth. But when you plant the seed, it grows. It becomes the largest of all garden plants. Its branches are so big that birds can rest in its shade.” Mark 4:30‐32 (NIRV)

We need at least 40 donors to help meet our goal!

Schedule an appointment at www.sardis.org.

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Youth ministry

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

St. Louis Mission Trip

The Great Escape

On June 16‐24, the High School Youth Ministry sent 18

Nineteen youth and adults traveled to Lee College in

people to St. Louis on a mission trip. This mission trip

Tennessee

was part of the Hands and Feet Initiative of the

conference The Great Escape on June 10‐15. These

General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

adults and students participated in worship, heard

During the week, we worked with Mission: St. Louis to

speakers, and got messy with the annual Crud Day!

prepare for a massive community‐wide clean‐up and

The participants enjoyed their time together

then participated in the clean‐up effort in the local

discussing their faith deepening their relationship

neighborhood. We picked up over 20 bags of trash on a

with Jesus. Special thanks to Elizabeth Campbell,

several block walk. We also served at Grace Hill,

Harry Tatum, and Melinda Wilkinson for taking the

working around their offices helping clean out closets,

time to attend this conference.

for

the

week‐long

middle

school

picking up trash, and helping around their office organizing items. We served at the St. Louis food bank and worked at Kingdom House. We spent time at General Assembly in worship, celebration, and watching how our government works. We also had conversations on race and the racial tensions within the city of St. Louis and ended each night with devotions, led by the youth themselves.

The trip was wonderful and a great experience for everyone. A special thank you goes out to Karen Bohlen, Glenn Crossley, Karen Muldoon, Jeff Wilkinson, and Rhonda York for attending the mission

trip as adult leaders and cooks.

During the summer, the High School Youth Ministry will meet on Sunday evenings for Spontaneous Combustion!

Join us at 6:00 p.m. Sunday evenings and bring money for dinner. We have no idea what we will do or where we will end up, but it is always a great time of fellowship!

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“Let the little children come unto me.”

Summer Organist Assistant

Elementary Faith Exploration

Opportunity

After the 10:00 a.m. services this summer, all

If you are a rising 3rd grader or older, then you have the wonderful opportunity to become a Sardis Summer Organist Assistant. The SOA will need to sign‐up in advance for one of the following dates: July 1, July 8, August 19, or August 26.

elementary youth (rising kindergarten through rising 5th grade) are invited to join us for Faith Exploration! We will gather at the Lemonade Socials and spend time together exploring our faith in active ways that are different each week. We will explore our Sanctuary, go on a scavenger hunt, and

On your date, you will need to arrive by 9:45am, sit on the

play together. Join us!

organ bench and experience worship from the chancel.

Parents are also encouraged to join their SOA in the choir loft during the service. At the conclusion of worship, the SOA will have the chance to explore the organ and see the pipes up close.

For more information and to sign‐up, email Kaitlyn at kaitlyn.davros@sardis.org.

Sardis Weekday School Happenings Congratulations to the graduating class of 2018.

Best wishes to Ms. Lippi and Ms. Stephanie as they

We are so proud of our 4 year old class, as they

step into retirement. The preschool staff and families

transition to Kindergarten. We wish them all a

will miss their presence, but wish them all the best, as

bright future.

they begin their next chapter.

Sardis Weekday School is expanding with a

Transitional Kindergarten program. This program

will start with the 2018‐2019 school year. If you know

anyone looking for Transitional Kindergarten or would like to learn more about the program, please contact the Elizabeth Angerson at 704.366.9681.

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THE COMMUNICATOR

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