2016 March Communicator

THE COMMUNICATOR A Publication of Sardis Presbyterian Church

March 2016

Building God’s Kingdom Through Worship Service Fellowship Evangelism Discipleship

LENTEN

BREAKFAST

A Lenten discipline, join us on Wednesday morning at 6:45 a.m. in the Sardis House for breakfast, fellowship, song, and devotion. The cost is $7 each week. Register and pay online at www.sardis.org or call 704.926.1590.

DEVOTIONAL LEADERS March 2 March 9 March 16 March 23

Jeff Wilkinson Kristen Taylor Pressly Gilbert Vernon Sumwalt

HOLY

WEEK @ SARDIS

Join us as we journey through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ this Holy Week.

Palm Sunday | March 20 Worship Services: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.

Pancake Breakfast: 8:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Gently Paced Service: 3:00 p.m. in the Chapel

Maundy Thursday | March 24 Holy Communion: 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Good Friday | March 25 Community Worship Service: 12:00 p.m. at Sardis Baptist The Rev. Dr. Jane B. Fobel will be preaching

Sunday, March 27 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. services Bagels

(No Sunday School) & Berries | 9:45 –10:45

a.m.

Sardis Presbyterian Church 6100 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC 28270 704.366.1854 www.sardis.org The Communicator ~ March 2016

Church Life

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

Officer Nominations—Serving the Church in the offices of Elder & Deacon

As Presbyterians, we have the opportunity to nominate our peers for leadership roles in our congregations. Please use the form below to make a nomination. Turn the form into the church office. For more details, or to make an online submission, please visit the Latest News tab at www.sardis.org. Names will be accepted until March 15.

For Elder: __________________________________________ For Deacon: ______________________________________

Comments regarding the nominee which may be helpful to the committee: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Submitted by: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Adult’s Night Out/Kid’s Night In a Success!

On Friday, February 12, the Fellowship Committee sponsored an “Adults Night Out/Kid’s Night In”. Parents dropped their children off at the Sardis house for a dinner of pizza, salad and cookies. Youth served as helpers, playing games, basketball and corn hole, as well as coloring and watching movies with the children. Adults either met as a group at Leroy Fox restaurant or struck out on their own for a relaxing evening. Another such event will be planned for later in the year. Be on the lookout for it!

Change in Office Hours

LOGOS Celebrates at Chuck E Cheese!

Beginning Monday, March 7, the church

On February 17, the LOGOS children enjoyed an evening out at

office will be closed from noon to 1:00

Chuck E Cheese to celebrate their collective birthdays. Adults and

p.m. The office will also be closed on

kids alike played games and had a great time! LOGOS has five

March 28 to celebrate Easter.

more weeks before it’s closing banquet on April 6.

2 The Communicator ~ March 2016

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

Church Life

March 15 ‐ Friendship Connection

Join this fellowship group for retirees on Tuesday, March 15 for guest speaker, Carol Anne Lawler, M.Div. from Faith Community Educational Presentations. Her topic with us is: “Best Practices for Healthy Aging: Mind, Body and Spirit”. In this hands‐on seminar, we will explore how to deal with our stressors, and how to develop practices that address eating well and nourishing our spirit.

Reservations are necessary for lunch ($8/person) and need to be made by noon, Friday, March 11. To register, go online to www.sardis.org or call the reservation line at 704.926.1590. Questions? Contact Alice Johnson at alice.johnson@sardis.org or 704.366.1854.

Welcome, Dennis!

Introducing Young Adult Ministry at Sardis

Calling all 20‐30 somethings, married or single, with no children! There is a place

Please welcome Dennis G.

for you at Sardis! We invite you to join Kaitlyn Davros, Katie Harrington, and

Easter to Sardis. Dennis will

other young adults of Sardis. We will have our first meeting on Sunday, March

be working most evenings

13 at 12:30 p.m. at Pizza Peel near Cotswold. We will have a great time of

and some Sundays. He is a

Fellowship over a pizza lunch. Grab a friend and help us

welcome

celebrate this new program at Sardis! We know you will have

addition

such a great time, that you’ll want to put our next meeting on

to

your calendar‐ join us at Pizza Peel again on April 10 at 12:30

Facilities

p.m. Questions? Contact Kaitlyn Davros at 704.366.1854 or

team!

the

kaitlyn.davros@sardis.org.

Giving at Sardis

George Galleher, Stewardship Chair

Margaret Elizabeth Sangster wrote a wonderful poem which I am going to share a portion of it with you.

Itʹs the thing you leave undone

The letter you did not write,

That gives you a bit of a heartache

The flowers you did not send, dear,

At setting of the sun.

Are your haunting ghosts at night.

The tender work forgotten

First, I should have written each of you that pledged a thank you note. We are well on our way, but we need everyone to pledge. If you haven’t pledged, it is not too late. Frankly as Chair of Stewardship it is never too late to pledge or raise your pledge for that matter. All of us have our reasons for supporting Sardis. Wendy and I feel that it is an obligation, and a privilege that we are able to support something that has meant so much to us. ʺIt is more blessed to give than to receive.ʺ Giving is one dimension of our Stewardship, it is part of our worship, it is an investment in building God’s Kingdom. We don’t give under pressure, but cheerfully, with gratitude for Godʹs grace to us. Not always easy, worrisome at times but we do it. Wendy and I give because it is an expression of love as we here at Sardis work on and support missions. God Bless and thank you all.

The Communicator ~ March 2016 3

EASTER BAGELS & BERRIES

Come Celebrate Easter Sunday! This is a new Easter morning event to bring all ages of the Sardis congregation together to celebrate Easter Sunday on March 27. Join us between worship services (9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.) on the lawn in front of the Fellowship Hall (if the weather is bad, we will be in the Education Hall).

This new event gives all members an additional opportunity to invite your neighbors, friends and family to Sardis for a few breakfast bites. We’ll have a craft activity for children to help decorate the Easter cross. The continental breakfast will include bagels, muffins, berries, yogurt, juice and coffee. There is no reservation or payment required. Donations are welcome. Come celebrate Easter and the Risen Christ on March 27!

Be Part of our Holy Week

and Easter Celebration

This spring we have exciting new opportunities taking place in our

On Palm Sunday, March 20, all children are invited to be part of the annual carrying of the palm branches into worship. At 9 a.m., everyone will be given palms. At 11 a.m., children will meet in the narthex at 10:50 a.m. to receive

their

palm

branches

Special Easter and Spring Music

and

Music Ministry here at Sardis. If anyone is interested in joining for one of these events, please contact Jared Daugherty.

Palm Sunday we will welcome back the Jericho Brass as we triumphantly commemorate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.

Easter we will welcome a trumpet ensemble and hear a new arrangement on Awake the Trumpets Lofty Sound from Samson, Handel’s Oratorio.

instructions.

May 1, the Adult Choir will sing Elijah by Mendelssohn with

Easter Sunday is March 27. Each year

Myers Park Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. If you would like to join

members of Sardis remove the Chrismon

the choir in singing this beautiful work please contact Jared.

Tree from the sanctuary following Advent and remove the branches in preparation for our tradition of a cross for

flowers

to

celebrate

Resurrection. Remember to

Christ’s

The youth will lead in worship on Youth Sunday, March 6 at both services. Come and hear the Youth Praise Band, Youth Choir, Youth Bells, and our own Stigall Organ Scholarship recipient Camden Nelson.

bring fresh flowers to add to

The children’s choir will be exclaiming the gospel through music on

our wooden cross on Easter

April 24 during the 11:00 worship service. Mark your calendars for a

Sunday, be part of the

wonderful interpretation on stories from the Bible on how God used

tradition. ordinary people, like you and me, to do extra‐ordinary things.

4 The Communicator ~ March 2016

Easter Lily Orders

Readings for the Lenten Season

Due March 21

If you are looking for a personal discipline to use during the

Lenten Season, you might use the Lectionary readings for the

To order, please complete the form

Sundays of Lent, and Holy Week o Fourth Sunday in Lent (3/6): Joshua 5:9‐12; Psalm 32; 2

below, place it in the offering plate or return it to the church office.

Cor. 5:16‐21; Luke 15:1‐3, 11b‐32

Attach a check for $10.75 per lily, payable to

o Fifth Sunday in Lent (3/13): Isaiah 43:16‐21; Psalm 126;

Sardis Presbyterian Church. Note “Easter Lily”

Philippians 3:4b‐14; John 12:1‐8

in the memo line of your check. Payments much

o Palm Sunday (3/20): Luke 19:28‐40; Psalm 118:1‐2, 19‐29

be

o Monday of Holy Week (3/21): Isa. 42:1‐9; Psalm 36:5‐11; Hebrews 9:11‐15; John 12:1‐11 o Tuesday of Holy Week (3/22): Isa. 49:1‐7; Psalm 71:1‐14; 1 Cor. 1:18‐31; John 12:20‐36 o Wednesday of Holy Week (3/23): Isa. 50:4‐9a; Ps. 70; Hebrews 12:1‐3; John 13:21‐32 o Maundy Thursday (3/24): Exodus 12:1‐4, 11‐14; Psalm 116:1‐2, 12‐19; 1 Cor. 11:23‐26; John 13:1‐17, 31b‐35 o Good Friday (3/25): Isa. 52:13‐53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16‐25; John 18:1‐19:42 o Great Vigil of Easter (3/26) – selections to be read throughout the day:  Genesis 1:1‐2:4a; Psalm 136:1‐9, 23‐26

received by Monday, March 21.

You may take the lilies home after worship on Easter Sunday.

Order Deadline: March 21 This form can also be downloaded at www.sardis.org Your Name (as you’d like it to appear in the bulle‐ tin): ___________________________________________

Phone: ___________________________________________

Email: ___________________________________________

Number of lilies you are ordering: ______

I have made arrangements for my lilies to be

 Genesis 7:1‐5, 11‐18; 8:6‐18; 9:8‐13; Psalm 46

picked up immediately following the 9 a.m.

 Genesis 22:1‐18; Psalm 16; Exodus 14:10‐31, 15:20‐31

worship.

 Exodus 15:1b‐13, 17‐18; Isaiah 55:1‐11

 Isaiah 12:2‐6; Proverbs 8:1‐8, 19‐21; Proverbs 9:4b‐6,

I have made arrangements for my lilies to be picked up immediately following the 11 a.m. worship.

Psalm 19  Ezekiel 36:24‐28; Psalms 42 &43

 Ezekiel 37:1‐14; Psalm 143

Please indicate below how you would like

 Zephaniah 3:14‐20; Psalm 98

names to appear in the bulletin:

 Romans 6:3‐11; Psalm 114  Luke 24:1‐12

I will not be picking up my lilies.

In honor of: ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ____________ In memory of: ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ _______________

The Communicator ~ March 2016 5

Church Life

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

Sardis Gift Trust: Schul Transportation Endowment

Marianne and Norm Schul have made a generous gift to Sardis to establish a new endowment fund within the Sardis Gift Trust. This new fund will support transportation needs for Sardis programs in general, including transportation needs for senior citizens to attend Sardis activities. We are thankful to the Schul’s for their generosity and see it as an example and inspiration for all of us to contribute to the future of Sardis by donating to the Sardis Gift Trust endowed funds. A current list of the funds is found in the Gift Trust brochure located in the Friendship Pads, Narthex, or Gathering Place. If you would like to contribute to any of these funds please contact Ed Shoaf, current Chair of the Gift Trust Commission, or email gifttrust@sardis.org.

The Year of the Bible

Girlsʹ Softball Sign‐Ups

If you have been following the Bible reading guide, The

Registration for spring softball is now open for girls

Year of the Bible, by James Davison, and want to meet

in 8th‐12th grade. Practice will start in March and

with others to discuss your reading, there are three

games will start in April.

opportunities for group discussion:

The cost is $50 (or $35 if you have last yearʹs

· The 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, room

uniform). Register and pay at www.sardis.org or

211/212, from 10‐11 a.m.

pick up registration forms in the Gathering Place or

· The 2nd Tuesdays, Plantation Estates (Ivy Room),

Narthex. Deadline is March 15. For more info,

from 7‐8 p.m.

contact Tim Little at: timlittle3@gmail.com or

· The 3rd Tuesdays, room 211/212, from 7‐8 p.m.

704.365.0353.

Contact Dr. Jane Fobel for details, jane.fobel@sardis.org

January Financial Highlights

January

January Expected

This year so far

This year so far expected

Pledges, gi s, and other revenue

$232,524.85

$242,319.57

$232,524.85

$242,319.57

Expenses

$161,298.82

$169,200.78

$161,298.82

$169,200.78

Net Total

$71,226.03

$73,118.79

$71,226.03

$73,118.79

Annual Budget: $2,241,000

Our Church Family Our Christian Sympathy: to Tom Morgan upon the death of his father, Virgil ʺSamʺ Morgan, to John Carriker Jr. and John Carriker III upon the death of their brother‐in‐law and uncle, Ed Clark, to Sallye Brown upon the death of her brother‐in‐law, Benjamin McCoy Pearce, and to David Templeman upon the death of his mother, Rita Barbara Templeman.

Congratulations: to Sarah and John Long upon the birth of their twins, Nate & Lily Long.

6 The Communicator ~ March 2016

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

Lay Ministry

BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS! A BOOK OF MY OWN for Rama Children

Help Sardis send books home with each Rama Road Elementary student this summer. Your gift of $5 will buy a book for one child and a gift of $100 will purchase books for an entire class. With 675 students at Rama, your gift is important and will help these young readers keep their skills sharp and enjoy reading over the summer.

Last year, the students were very excited as they picked out their very own books to keep and take home. Let’s provide the same excitement this year – your support in any amount will be appreciated!

The Book of My Own collection will run through March 27. Donations can be made online at www.sardis.org/give/ donations. Please designate “other” under Donation Type and type Rama Road Books as the description.

Scan the QR code with your smart phone to go directly to the donation page

Give the Gift of Hope

The first Sardis Food Drive for Loaves and Fishes of 2016 will occur March 6‐20. Participants in our Sardis Youth Ministry will hand out flyers, which include priority needs, after both morning Sunday worship services March 6 and 13; also empty labeled bags will be available for pick‐up in the Gathering Place. Filled bags of non‐perishable food can then be returned to the collection bins near the Library in the Education Building March 6‐20. Giving to those facing hardships is one of the many ways the congregation can reach out to our neighbors in need.

Please do your part by giving “the gift of hope” to those who are struggling to provide food for their families.

Warm Snuggles on a Cold Night

This is one of the faces of homelessness at Sardis RITI. We have had faces from 6 months to over 60 years so far this year, all welcomed with a hot meal, a warm bed, and the hospitality that Sardis is known for. One Sardis member met one of our neighbors at another location, and he said, ʺOh, youʹre from Sardis Pres… They have the best Room in the Inn.ʺ The weather is colder now, and we would love to have you join us just one night to share the warmth of our RITI ministry. We still have some spaces to fill, and there is Room in the Inn for you. Contact Marilyn Taylor at mtaylor6604@gmail.com.

The Communicator ~ March 2016 7

Youth ministry

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

Middle School Snow Tubing

On Saturday, February 6, 24 middle school students and adult leaders traveled to Hawksnest in Seven Devils, NC (right outside of Boone) for a day of snow tubing. We stopped in Boone for pizza from a local shop before hurling down the lanes on our tubes. Everyone had a great time laughing and racing. While it is a long day of driving to and from Hawksnest, the youth did not mind as they were able to have a good time in the church buses talking and laughing with each other. This is the second year of what looks to be a wonderful annual tradition of middle school snow tubing!

Youth Sunday

Pancake Breakfast

Upcoming Dates

On Sunday, March 6 the youth will

On Sunday, March 20, the Middle

Sunday, March 6—

lead the congregation in worship at

School Ministry will have a pancake

Youth Sunday

the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship

fundraiser. Breakfast will be served

Sunday, March 20—Middle

services. Our theme this year is “The

from 8:00 ‐11:00 a.m. and everyone is

School Pancake Breakfast

Body of Christ” and we will explore

encouraged to drop in when they

this in music, liturgy, prayers, Bible

can. We will be serving in the Small

readings, and through three Senior

Dining Room in the Fellowship Hall

speakers: Maddie DeCramer, Maddie

building. There is no charge for

Muldoon, and Clay Sellers. These

breakfast, but donations are gladly

three youth will be speaking at both of

accepted to help pay for upcoming

the services.

middle school retreats, conferences,

Come and support the youth leading worship on Sunday, March 6!

and mission trips.

Fundraiser

April 8‐10—Middle School Beach Retreat

In addition to these special dates, we will continue to offer our regular Sunday Night Fellowship and mid‐

week programs that offer us a

Plan on having breakfast with us on

time to study the Bible and

Sunday, March 20!

how it impacts us today.

High School to Plantation Estates

On Valentine’s Day, the High School Youth Ministry traveled to Plantation Estates to play games and enjoy ice cream with the residents. We played Minute to Win It games with both youth and P.E. residents competing to keep balloons in the air for a minute, go through a stack of cups, and catch as many balls as possible in paper bags. We also played the Un‐Newlywed game, with two couples from Plantation Estates and our own Youth Advisors, Kyle and Sheri Bartel. After the games, ice cream was shared as we talked and fellowshipped with people from another generation.

The residents are looking forward to our return trip in March when the High School Ministry hosts a bingo night!

8 The Communicator ~ March 2016

“Let the little children come unto me.”

Come Children’s Ministry News

Hang Out With Us at Cave Quest VBS!

July 11‐15

On March 13, we will be combining some of our Elementary Sunday School classes for the spring quarter.

Room changes will be posted in the Family News. We will be using special units of study during this season of hope and resurrection.

For 5th and 6th Graders – Plan to attend God, Me, Faith and Sexuality on Friday and Saturday, April 22–23. This class is

Mark your calendar for our annual week of fun, fellowship and learning! Join us as we

for students and parents as we explore what God has to tell us about honoring our bodies, ourselves and others. Contact Renda Brinson for more information.

learn to follow the Light of the World!

Coming Soon—A

new monthly newsletter for

parents of children from birth to youth. It will be emailed to all families on our current family news list. It will include helpful articles about current issues and special Sardis news for parents.

Sardis Weekday School Updates Registration for our SWS Summer Camps are now open for current students! We are so excited for all of the programs being offered this summer. Dates and themes are as follows:

June 14‐16:

Soccer Shots

July 19‐21:

Musikgarten

June 21‐23: June 28‐30:

Art Camp Play Spanish

July 26‐28: August 2‐4:

Atomz Lab Amazing Athletes

July 5‐7:

Storytelling/Dramatics

The camps run Tuesday‐Thursday, 9:30 a.m.‐ 1:00 p.m. There is a non‐refundable registration fee of $35 per child for the summer due by March 24. Each session is $85 per student, and balances must be paid in full by May 2.

Registration opens for the public on April 11. For more information, please contact Louise Lippi at 704.366.9681 or louise.lippi@sardis.org.

We are looking forward to a

Please join us for our Book Fair, which will

Don’t forget to sign up

performance by the Taradiddle

be held March 16‐18. Parents, you will be

for

Players on Wednesday, March 9.

invited to your child’s classroom to

which will begin on

Join us 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship

participate in an Easter craft on one of these

Thursday, March 17.

Hall. All are welcome!

days. This is also a great time to purchase

You may sign up at

Easter gifts! More information to follow!

charlotte.ssreg.org.

Soccer

Shots,

The Communicator ~ March 2016 97

The Communicator

Non‐Profit Org.

Published monthly by

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Sardis Presbyterian Church

Charlotte, NC

6100 Sardis Road Charlotte,

NC

28270

www.sardis.org

10 The Communicator ~ March 2016

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