2018 February Communicator

The Communicator ~ February 2018

Church Life

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

Boy Scout BBQ Fundraiser | February 2 ‐ 3

Support BSA Troop 33 on Friday, February 2 (11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.) and Saturday February 3 (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.). They will be selling their famous BBQ at the Scout Hut (across the street from the Sanctuary). Visit their website for more information: troop33charlotte.org. The Boy Scouts will be recognized on Sunday, February 4 during the 9:00 a.m. worship service.

Help us Tackle Hunger on Sunday, February 4

Please bring cash for our Souper Bowl of Caring collection on Sunday, February 4. The collection will benefit the Urban Ministry Center Soup Kitchen, feeding Charlotte’s homeless every day. The UMC Soup Kitchen, which served 99,230 lunches last year, is open to all. Neighbors do not have to share their names, participate in any programs, or even say thank you.

They feed the hungry, but have found that the Soup Kitchen is a crucial first step to getting neighbors on the path to end homelessness.

Basketball Sunday | February 11

On Sunday, February 11 during the 9:00 a.m. worship service, the basketball ministry at Sardis will be recognized as we thank Sardis for their support. Basketball players are encouraged to wear their jerseys!

Ladies Softball League

The Sports & Recreation Ministry is calling all ladies to come out this spring and summer and play softball! The team is open to ages high school to mature adults, and all skill levels – beginners to veterans. Games will be Tuesday evenings at Mount Harmony Baptist Church starting end of May through August. If you are interested please email Kathy Templeman by March 1 at ktempleman@carolina.rr.com.

2 The Communicator ~ February 2018

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

Church Life

Kingombe Habitat House Complete!

In a heart‐warming dedication ceremony on December 14, the Kingombe family, Hardis, Mimi, Gloria, Gabriella, and Jeff, received the keys to their new home in Matthews.

Sardis Presbyterian Church was a major sponsor of this Habitat home in partnership with Thrivent Financial, as well as Christ Covenant, Cross and Crown Lutheran, Matthews United Methodist, and Matthews Presbyterian churches. In addition to financial support, Sardis members served as construction volunteers and meal providers. Sardis members Walt Donham, Warren Langston, and Dick Puryear serve year round on the Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity Building Committee. Sardis has partnered on building a Habitat House every third year.

Thank you, Sardis, for helping to make a home for this wonderful family!

February Friendship Connection | February 20

The February 20 program will meet in the Sardis House at 11:00 a.m. The speaker will be the Rev. Tony Marciano, Executive Director of Charlotte Rescue Mission, a faith‐based addiction treatment organization. His topic will be, “Is It Possible to Change? Stories of Hope.”

Lunch will follow at 12:00 noon. Reservations are required for lunch and are to be made by noon on Friday, February 16. To make a reservation, register online using MySardis at sardis.org or call the reservation line, 704.926.1590.

Midweek Study Opportunities | February 21 ‐ March 28

Joe B. Martin will lead a Lenten Bible Study based on the Beatitudes. It will meet for six weeks, February 21 ‐ March 28 and will be offered at two times each Wednesday: 10:00 ‐ 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. ‐ 8:00 p.m. Both groups will meet in 211‐212 in the Fellowship Hall Building.

The Study will be based on the Kergyma Program resource, Blessed Are You: The Beatitudes of Jesus in Scripture and in Life. Participants may order a copy of the Resource Book, $10.

To register for the series, and to order a book if desired, contact Jane Fobel, jane.fobel@sardis.org, or call 704.366.1854.

The Communicator ~ February 2018 3

Church Life

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

Stewardship and Finance Update

A special thanks to those sending in pledges for 2018 by the end of the year. By December 31, 2017 we received 386 pledges totaling $1,688,037 as compared to 402 pledges totaling $1,783,140 for the previous year, a decline of 5%.

Pledges make up only part of the budget, however, with non‐pledge giving contributing most to the rest.

During January, final budgets will be developed and presented to Session for approval. It is important that if you have not pledged and plan to, we ask that you please send it in. We use this information as we plan for everything from how much we can spend on programs and building maintenance to what can give to local and international mission efforts.

We are pleased to report that Sardis ended the year slightly ahead of budget. Achieving a balanced budget is an important improvement as we ended 2016 with a $82,000 shortfall. Giving for 2017 totaled $2,056,603, which was 99% or our goal. Committees did an excellent job controlling expenses ending the year at $2,054,449, also at 99% of budget and Sardis ended the year with a slight surplus.

This year Sardis successfully completed a financial audit and updated our accounting procedures. In 2017 we also renegotiated our loans consolidating three of them into one while maintaining our low interest rate and extending maturity dates. We will look forward to updating you in future Communicators on final budgets, plans and our progress.

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

Financial Highlights

December

December expected

2017 actual

2017 budget

$262,488.60

$302,845.44

$2,056,602.86

$2,076,000.00

Expenses

$243,108.12

$227,388.93

$2,054,449.63

$2,076,000.00

Net Total

$19,380.48

$75,456.51

$2,153.23

$0.00

Pledges, gifts, and other revenue

Annual Budget: $2,076,000

Our Church Family Our Christian Sympathy: to Liz Alba upon the death of her step‐father, Dan C. Smith; to the family of Barbara Dorricott; to Peg LeCount upon the death of her brother, Robert B. Nutt; to the family of Mary Jones; and to the family of Sarah Gardner.

Congratulations: to Faith and David Abercrombie upon the birth of their granddaughter, Eleanor Hancock; and to Amanda and David Willis upon the birth of their daughter, Maeve Livingston Willis.

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Lay Ministry

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

Christmas at Room In The Inn

We celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with 14 neighbors, including four children, boys aged eight and 11, and twin girls, two years old! Our host “elves” made a quick trip out for Santa gifts, much to the delight of the children on Christmas morning. All neighbors received gift bags, thanks to Jane Tilley, and CVS gift cards, plus the treat of getting to sleep in on Christmas morning and have a later arrival uptown.

The Parrish/Dean families prepared a wonderful dinner for us, and the neighbor children enjoyed having the Dean children to

Yo‐Yo Lessons By Mike D.

help entertain them. Breakfast was a treat as well with casseroles, grits, special breads, and fruit from our ad hoc food team.

We all felt the overwhelming presence of Jesus that night and morning as we served the least among us. What a blessing to have the love and support of the Sardis community in this wonderful ministry!

The Gift of Giving

Baby Dolls at Breakfast

The Communicator ~ February 2018 5

Youth ministry

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

Welcoming Joe B.

The Youth Ministry helped welcome new Senior Pastor Joe B. Martin to Sardis by hosting him in our Youth Ministry on Sundays, January 21 (with high school) and January 28 (with middle school). The youth had fun getting to know our Senior Pastor, and he had fun getting to know our youth!

Youth Sunday

Youth Sunday is Sunday, March 4, and we are looking for youth who would like to have a part in the worship service. If you would like to assist in either the 9:00 a.m. contemporary or 11:00 a.m. traditional worship services, please contact Adrian Martin at adrian.martin@sardis.org.

Middle School Beach Retreat

Summer Trips

The Middle School Youth have their annual Beach Retreat

It is time to register for the summer trips to the

on April 13 ‐ 15. All middle school students (grades 6 ‐ 8)

Middle School Great Escape, High School St. Louis

are encouraged to join us for the wonderful weekend of

Mission Trip, and High School Montreat Youth

fun, sun, sand, and devotions! To register, please visit

Conference.

sardis.org/ministries/youth

and

use

the

on‐line

To register, please visit sardis.org/ministries/youth.

registration tools. You may also grab a registration sheet

You may also grab a summer trips brochure from

from the Youth Room and register that way.

the Youth Room and register that way.

You will not want to miss out on these exciting and life‐changing opportunities for spiritual growth during the summer!

2018 College Conference at Montreat

During winter break, seven of our Sardis college‐aged youth attended worship, participated in critical conversation groups and workshops, and overall enjoyed fellowship with one another and their adult leaders at the College Conference at Montreat. The theme of the conference revolved around the word “home” and what it means to them once they go to college, study abroad, travel, begin jobs, or engage in mission. Here is what a couple of our young adults had to say about the conference:

“The conference opened my eyes to many modern issues and gave us time to discuss how we can be the change through our Christian faith.”

“The conference reminded us that home is more than a place you stay. It’s a place where you feel comfortable in your community and are able to connect with those around you. This was especially important for us adapting to college.”

Please continue to keep all of our Sardis young adults in your prayers.

6 The Communicator ~ February 2018

“Let the little children come unto me.” Matthew 19:14

Summer @ Sardis! Save the Dates!

June 24 ‐ 29

VBS: Under Construction

July 9 ‐ 13

Join your Sardis friends for a week at camp!

Contact Katie Harrington with questions and register at campgrier.org.

Winter Olympics 2.0

We had so much fun at our Winter Olympics last year, we are doing it again!

All kindergarten through 5th grade kids are invited to join us on Sunday, February 11 from 4:30 ‐ 6:00 p.m. in

SMASH (Music & Arts Camp) July 30 ‐ August 3

the Education Hall for our very own Winter Olympics.

There will be snacks, even bigger games, and lots of fun!

Contact Katie Harrington (katie.harrington@sardis.org) for more information.

Sardis Weekday School Happenings SWS Valentine’s Day Dance and Auction Sardis Parent Council will sponsor the annual SWS Valentine’s Day Dance and Auction on Friday, February 9 from 5 ‐ 7 p.m. All are invited to join us for dancing, pizza, cookies, and fun activities! A silent auction will be held during the dance to benefit SWS.

The Communicator ~ February 2018 7

The Communicator

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