The Communicator ~ March 2020
Church Life
Ministry is about life in Christ which affects everything we do.
It’s time to order the Easter lilies that beautify our sanctuary on Easter Sunday.
Officer Nominations
This Sardis tradition is a wonderful way to
Sardis and your help is needed in identifying
honor or remember a loved one. Each lily is
them. The Officer Nominating Committee is
$12.00 and they may be picked up after the
seeking suggestions from the congregation for
9:00 or 11:00 a.m. worship service on Easter Sunday.
nominees to serve as Elders or Deacons. Please
Pick up an order form in the Gathering Place or Narthex and
prayerfully consider submitting a name for
turn it in to the church office with your check payable to
consideration for a particular ministry. You
Sardis Presbyterian Church. Note “Easter Lily” on the memo
may submit nominations at worship services on
line of your check. Or order and pay online at
Sundays or online at www.sardis.org. The
www.sardis.org. The deadline for ordering is Friday, April 3.
nomination deadline is March 23.
There are many talented, qualified people at
Welcome, New Sardis Members!
Joshua Cooke Wife, Tara, and daughter, Danica, not pictured
Terry and Doug Dawson
June and Dave Jebram Dave and daughters, Lillian and Eve, not pictured
Sally and Rick Johnson
Sarah Dianne Jones
Meghan and Bryan Manges, Jake & Stella
Katie and Greg Volk, Charlie & Olivia
Stuart Williams and John Hopkins, son Ramsay
March Friendship Connection Friendship Connection is a fellowship group for retirees. The March 17 program will be led by Sardis member, Michael Champion, retired CMPD officer, who will lead a discussion on issues of personal safety. He will present some important information and then he wants to respond to specific questions asked by those in attendance. Michael has asked that people write down their questions and bring them when they attend. The 11:00 a.m. program will meet in the Sardis House. Lunch, $10 per person, will follow at 12 noon. Reservations are needed for lunch by noon on Friday, March 13. To make a reservation, go online at www.sardis.org, or call the reservation line, 704.926.1590. 2 The Communicator ~ March 2020
Church Life
Ministry is about life in Christ which affects everything we do.
Staff Spotlight ‐ Danelle (dan‐yel) Kime!
My position: Assistant for Administration & Membership
How long have I been at Sardis: Part‐time from 2010‐2013 & full‐time from 2014‐present
Stephen Ministry
March is the one‐year anniversary of the resumption
of
Stephen
Ministry
at
Sardis. This is a ministry that trains members
to
provide,
one‐to‐one,
confidential, caring listening to someone going through a stressful time. Last year, nine previously trained Stephen Ministers
My key duties: Manage church calendar · Manage church
and
database/directory · Front desk receptionist · Coordinates with
recommissioned and this past fall, a class of
Membership Ministry to connect first‐time and returning guests to
six new Stephen Ministers (below) were
Sardis.
trained and commissioned. The ministry
two
Stephen
Leaders
were
I’m originally from Erie, PA and attended Edinboro University.
looks forward to training another new class
After college I worked for the FOX TV affiliate in Erie. I then
in the fall of 2020. More information will be
relocated to Charlotte in 1996. My first position in Charlotte was
available in the April Communicator.
working for my home church, MUMC, where I’ve been a member
since 1997. My husband Mark and I have two children, Sam (19) and Sophie (15). We also have a huge puppy, Charlie, who is half St. Bernard and half American bulldog. When my family is not working or in school we can be found spending our time at the Whitewater Center here in Charlotte. We love to hike, raft, kayak, and take advantage of the outdoors. I absolutely love football! My two favorite teams are Virginia Tech and the Chicago Bears.
Well, It’s About Time!
Your Stewardship Ministry hopes that by now, everyone has read Sardis’ Stewardship Statement of Purpose. If you haven’t or need a refresher, your Stewardship Statement of Purpose is as follows:
“To encourage and enable the sharing of gifts with which we have been blessed, and to show gratitude so that sharing can sustain the exploration of faith and the changing of lives.”
It is very important to emphasize that this is Sardis’ (meaning all of us) Stewardship Statement of Purpose and not just the Stewardship Ministry’s. Further, since we just finished our annual “Stewardship Campaign” it is very easy to think of “sharing of gifts with which we have been blessed” in terms of financial support for Sardis.
However, one of the most important gifts we are blessed with is time and some of the most important decisions we all have to make is how we use this particular gift. There are so many opportunities at Sardis to share this gift including helping with Room In The Inn, teaching Sunday School, ushering, visiting with members who are home bound, helping to clean up after church events, and praying for our church and its work. The list is almost endless! On behalf of your Stewardship Ministry, we hope you will prayerfully consider giving of your time as you pursue your exploration of faith and changing of lives.
The Communicator ~ March 2020 3
Church Life
Ministry is about life in Christ which affects everything we do.
Help Us Bring Joy to Our Homebound Members
Do you ever wonder what happens to the beautiful flowers that grace the front of our sanctuary each Sunday? Are they simply discarded or do they live on?
Thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers, the flowers live on. Immediately after the church service the arrangements are broken down into four bouquet vases and delivered by another team of volunteers to our homebound members. We are seeking volunteers to spend 15 minutes or so after the church service to break down the arrangements one Sunday a month. This is an opportunity to bring joy and smiles to the faces of Sardis members who are homebound or have ill health and are unable to attend church. If interested, please email Sheila Duyck at sheiladuyck@gmail.com.
Youth Auction—April 5
Do you have a VACATION HOME that you’d be willing to donate a stay in to help raise much needed funds to send our YOUTH to Costa Rica, Montreat, and local mission work this summer? The Youth Auction committee is looking for vacation home stays (long weekends or the like) to list in the Youth Auction on April 5. If you can donate a stay, please contact Jenny Kaeppler at jftkaeppler@yahoo.com or Ashley Meeks at ashleymeeks@carolina.rr.com.
The auction will include lunch and activities for children (grades 5 and under). An Easter Egg hunt will also happen after lunch!
During the auction, you may bid on items for Around the House, At Your Service, For the Palate, In Style, Out and About, and On Vacation. You may also purchase raffle tickets to try to win either Apple Air Pods with a re‐charging station or an Apple Watch Series 4. Tickets are only $5 each.
If you would like to donate to the Youth Ministry Silent Auction, please contact Adrian Martin at 704‐366‐1854.
Session Highlights can be found at www.sardis.org under the News & Events tab.
January Financial Highlights Thank you for contributing to Christ’s work through Sardis Presbyterian Church Pledges, gi s, and other revenue
January
January expected
This year so far
This year so far expected
$307,681.52
$292,666.66
$307,681.52
$292,666.66
Expenses
$136,170.00
$155,097.13
$136,170.00
$155,097.13
Net Total
$171,511.52
$137,569.53
$171,511.52
$137,569.53
Annual Budget: $1,983,000
Our Church Family Congratulations: to Katie & Greg Volk on the birth of their daughter, Oliva June Volk; to Janet & Frank Coleman on the birth of their granddaughter Morgan Elena Wright, parents are Laura & Andrew Wright; and to Brenda and John Woodcock on the birth of their grandson, Bennett Owen Moore, parents are Alexandra and Jason Moore.
Our Christian sympathy: to Bo Boylan upon the death of his mother, Anne Boylan; the family of Alice Sangster; Max McLeod upon the death of his uncle, James “Duck” McLeod; the family of Lois Pierce; Lora Zalaquett upon the death of her father, Bill Traywick; the family of Eveyln Pharr; Karen Carpenter upon the death of her father, Calvin Price; staff member Nikki Bolton upon the death of her grandmother, Helga Hartle; Janet Haines upon the death of her brother‐in‐law, Randy Pitzer; Annette Old upon the death of her husband, Ray Old; Jim Boyce upon the death of his sister‐in‐law, Alice Boyce; Libby Reed upon the death of her grandson, Daniel Meggs; Robert Bell upon the death of his mother, Anne Bell; the family of Betty Long; and the family of John Carriker, Jr. 4 The Communicator ~ March 2020
The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.
Missions Ministry
Missions Ministry Update—Doug Dicks
Doug Dicks, whom Sardis supports through our Missions Ministry, continues to serve in Israel and Palestine. Among other activities he is an Ecumenical Associate at St. Andrew’s Memorial Church in Jerusalem. He is deeply involved in caring for Palestinian Christians in the occupied areas of East Jerusalem and the West Bank. He sent this message from Bishop Sani Ibrahim Azar, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, imploring Christians from around the world to “come closer to us.” His message went on to say:
“Come closer to us, to the ‘living stones’ of the Holy Land, who, despite the struggle of a precarious life, still carry the message of love, liberation, justice, and peace. Come and be in solidarity with your Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land and to spread the news that Palestinian Christians exist, that we carry the message of the Baby of the Manger, and that we strive to achieve a just peace for all the people of this land. We may be small in number, but God is with us, and because God is with us, the Holy Spirit is doing powerful things through this church today.”
Spring/Summer Clothing Drive
March 8 - 22
Items needed: gently used, clean, warm weather clothing, coats, shoes
Fold and place all items in securely‐tied medium size bags. NO HANGERS! Place bags into the bins located in the Education Building hallway.
The Communicator ~ March 2020 5
Youth ministry
“…set an example for the believers…” 1 Timothy 4:12.
Youth Sunday
Sunday Night Fellowship
On Sunday, March 1, the youth will lead both the 9:00 and the
Join us for Sunday Night Fellowship as we
11:00 worship services. The liturgy and prayers have all been
continue to grow closer to God and to each
written by the youth. Four seniors will present the message for
other!
the day based on the temptations of Jesus as found in Matthew
6:00‐7:30 p.m., begin with dinner and then
4:1‐11. The speakers are Caroline Barnhill, Jack Bohlen, Jake
have separate devotions and activities for
Moore, and Meredith Newman.
middle school and high school youth. You
We
meet
each
week
from
are welcome to come and welcome to bring friends!
Spring Retreats
Come grow with us!
The Youth Ministry will sponsor spring retreats for both the high school and middle school. The high school spring retreat will be whitewater rafting and will be March 13‐15 and the middle school beach retreat will be April 24‐26. Come and join us as we get away for a weekend of fun, sun, and plenty of water!
Each
retreat
costs
$125/person
but
scholarships
are
available by speaking with Adrian Martin in the church office. Register online on the youth page!
Join Us For Middle School Sunday School! ‐Kristi Gallimore, Linda & Doyle Williams
Exciting events are happening in Middle School Sunday School! We held additional days in court and kudos to parents, preschool and elementary teachers! When middle schoolers are running to open their bibles for arguing a point, excellent teaching has occurred in the past.
For the second year, on the fourth Sunday in Advent, we held a bench trial on the Wise Men presented in the second chapter of Matthew. This year, arguments were presented first by the plaintiff (half of our class) to keep the reference to the coming of the Magi (may trigger presents). The defendant (other half) then argued to properly remove the reference as it is confusing, incorrect and aligned with Herod. Briefs were prepared by both parties to the judge. Then, at the risk of impeaching the judge for lack of a quick decision, the case was stayed for another year until the fourth Sunday in Advent. Some of the young lawyers regret this delay as some will be confirmands next year and will miss opening arguments. On our most recent Lord’s Day, our students were again engaged. A three‐judges panel was chosen to weigh in on a brief hearing. Both sides of the bench presented theories as to why John, the great Apostle, chose not to incorporate more of the Christmas Story similar to Matthew and Luke. We can’t reveal the decision but it was unanimous.
All sixth and seventh graders are invited to our Sunday School class where the action is rapid, enjoyable and interesting. Snacks are provided and our teachers rejoice at having youth to continue their Journey of Faith in room 106 at 10:00 a.m. each Sunday.
6 The Communicator ~ March 2020
“Let the little children come unto me.” Calling All Youth and Children!!
On March 22 our Children’s Choir will present the musical Table for Five…Thousand! by Tom Long and Allen Pote during the 11:00 a.m. worship service. We need help filling a few more roles in an active part of sharing bread with the congregation during this musical! There will be one rehearsal for youth and children to practice passing out the bread on March 21 from 1:15 ‐ 2:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Please email Kaitlyn at kaitlyn.davros@sardis.org if you are able to be a part of this exciting musical!
We have been learning the story of Feeding the Five Thousand, that those who come to Jesus will never go hungry, and that we can all gather around the table of Christ. Through this musical the children are learning that they are more than performers and that we are all in community with one another.
Sardis Weekday School 2020‐2021: Registration
Registration is now open!
Are you looking for a half‐day preschool program for your child?
The Sardis Weekday School offers a program for children ages 1‐5 years old from 9 a.m. ‐ 1 p.m., including a Transitional Kindergarten program for students who will not meet the kindergarten cutoff date or who need a bridge year to reinforce their skill set.
If you are interested in enrolling we would be happy to give you a tour of our program. You can visit our website
sardisweekdayschool.org,
contact us directly at 704.366.9681, or reach out to our Preschool Director, Elizabeth Angerson, by email at elizabeth.angerson@sardis.org.
We hope to hear from you soon!
The Communicator ~ March 2020 7
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Registration is open! Get details and register online at www.sardis.org. 8 The Communicator ~ March 2020