2017 November Communicator

The Communicator ~ November 2017

Church Life

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

Parents Night Out!

Special Jericho Brass Guest Ensemble

Saturday, November 4 · 7 – 9:00 p.m.

November 19, 2017 11:00 a.m.

Good Road Ciderworks · 117 Southside Dr.,

Charlotte, NC 28217

On November 19 at 11 a.m., Worship will have Jericho Brass as a

guest ensemble sponsored by Penny and Ollie Frazier in honor of

As parents, we work so hard to get our

their wedding anniversary.

kids connected and we rarely have time to

connect to other parents at Sardis! Let’s change that. Meet us at Good Road

If you would like to support our relationship with Jericho Brass in

the

future,

please

contact

Jared

Daugherty

at

jared.daugherty@sardis.org.

Ciderworks and let’s get together for conversation and connection!

Questions:

Contact

linwleslie@yahoo.com.

Lin

Leslie

at

November Friendship Connection

The Friendship Connection, a fellowship group for retirees, will meet on Tuesday, November 21 for a program at 11:00 a.m., followed by lunch. The program will be led by Tom Phlegar, a Revolutionary War Reenactor, and will focus on the American Revolution as it occurred in the Carolinas.

Reservations are needed for lunch and need to be made by noon on Friday, November 17. You may make your reservation online at www.sardis.org or call the reservation line at 704.926.1590.

If you have questions, please contact Rev. Dr. Jane Fobel at 704.366.1854.

Adult Cooking Class

Wednesday, November 29 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Sardis main kitchen

Chef Ron Ahlert of the Community Culinary School of Charlotte will be leading the class. The class is limited to 12 people and costs $25 per person. Register at www.sardis.org or by calling the reservation line: 704.926.1590. The deadline to register is November 17.

The Communicator ~ November 2017

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

Church Life

Sardis Youth Bake Sale ‐ Sunday, November 19!

Looking for something special to take to Thanksgiving Dinner, perhaps an extra dessert for the kids’ table, snacks for your guests, or something in between? Look no further! The High School and Middle School Youth of Sardis are having a Holiday Bake Sale on Sunday, November 19, 8:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m. The monies raised from the sale will go toward supporting our summer youth trips—The Great Escape, Montreat Youth Conference, and the St. Louis Mission Trip. Donations are much appreciated!

We’ll be accepting homemade and store‐bought baked goods on Saturday, November 18 from 3 p.m.‐5 p.m. and again on Sunday morning after 8 a.m. at Sardis. If you are interested in donating baked goods, please help us out by packaging items like cookies or brownies in individual servings, of 2‐3 items per sealed bag, and larger items like cakes, pies, or bread on sturdy bottoms or containers for transport home. Please keep in mind that Sardis is a nut allergy‐sensitive campus. Contact Karen Muldoon at wmuld@aol.com to let us know what you can bring!

Bring a friend and a teacup and enjoy teatime with light food and fellowship. Women and girls of all ages are welcome! We will light an Advent wreath, and enjoy Scripture and song.

Join us as we prepare our hearts for Advent!

*Please note the corrected date of December 2*

Register at sardis.org or pick up a form in the church

The cost is $5 and you can register online (by November 18). Contact Katie Harrington, katie.harrington@sardis.org,

for

more

information.

The Communicator ~ November 2017

Church Life

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

Presbyterian Ministry Co‐Workers

The Presbyterian World Ministry began sending people into mission 180 years ago. And today it is a vibrant ministry providing hope, peace, justice and love for countless people around the world. Sardis Presbyterian Church supports several mission co‐workers through the Mission Interpretation Ministry’s annual funding of supported activities. Your pledges make this ongoing support possible. Currently our supported mission co‐workers are as follows:



Jodi and James McGill serving in Niger and South Sudan



Dr. Larry Sthreshley and Inge Sthreshley serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo



Rev. Sara Armstrong and Rusty Edmondson serving in Peru



Mark Hare and Jenny Bent serving in Haiti and the Dominican Republic



Doug Dicks serving in Israel and Palestine

Please pray for God’s mission and for those directly involved in the work of Presbyterian World Mission.

Investing In the Lord’s Work

The stock market has been good to us of late. It may be time to consider appreciated stocks as a gift to Sardis Presbyterian Church. The transfer of securities can be handled by Sylvia Zwick, our Financial Administrator, 704.366.1854. Charitable giving is our privilege as Christians. Thankfully, the IRS encourages it as well. We have heads to make money and hearts to give it.

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

Financial Highlights September

September expected

This year so far

This year so far expected

Pledges, gifts, and other revenue

$113,699.81

$140,864.75

$1,477,866.53

$1,450,744.29

Expenses

$168,958.03

$191,355.01

$1,492,447.98

$1,540,758.04

Net Total

($55,258.22)

($50,490.26)

($14,581.45)

($90,013.75)

Annual Budget: $2,076,000

Our Church Family Congratulations to Christina Weber and Michael Thomas, who were married on Saturday, September 30, 2017; to Jacqueline Silva and Robert Smith who were married on Saturday, September 30, 2017; and to Alison Duffy and Andy Wood, who were married on Saturday, September 30, 2017.

The Communicator ~ November 2017

New Porte Cochere!

2018 Sanctuary Flowers

The construction of the Porte Cochere is now complete

The two arrangements of flowers that grace our

and as you can see, the buses will drop you off under

sanctuary for worship service are provided by

cover, at the ramp leading into the Narthex.

Roseland Floral Company at a cost of $150 to the

Feel free to drop those off that need extra time under the

donor. The flowers you donate may be designated

“double lane” Porte Cochere. If parking, take the shortcut

in honor or memory of loved ones or to mark a

and walk thru the center of the Porte Cochere.

special occasion.

As we begin planning the 2018 floral calendar,

please check to see if you would like to reserve a particular date. If so, please contact Sheila Duyck at 704.364.4637 or sduyck@att.net.

Circle 4

Circle 4 is the only night circle at Sardis. We meet the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the small dining room. We welcome women of all ages to join us in fellowship and spiritual growth to enhance our daily lives. We represent a cross‐section of women at Sardis who are interested in meeting other women with common interests.

We have light refreshments with fellowship time and also a leader who presents the lesson for the evening. We are currently studying the Horizon Book, The Community of Christ in Hebrews. If interested call Dianne Correll at 705.366.7205.

With Open Hands or Closed Fists?

Cindy McLeod

While on the beach today, walking across the white sand and looking out over the vast ocean, my thoughts went to what a beautiful world we have. A beautiful world that God created… the ocean, the little crabs popping their heads out of the sand holes, the seagulls flying barely over the water… God created all this.

Psalms 24:1 “The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” In other words, since God created it, He owns it all. We are just stewards of all that He has created. Since He owns it all, we can not hold anything totally in our own hands. He has given all this to us. As Max Lucado says “God is the ultimate giver. He gives the way His son died on the cross – with open hands.”

God owns it all. Now that doesn’t just mean land and things. God gives us our abilities, skills and talents. God gives us opportunities to earn our incomes by having the strength and energy to perform our work. God gives our employers money to pay us. He gives us all of this and so much more because He loves us. We are called to be the disciples of God in this world. But in order for Sardis to build His kingdom, the church has financial needs. The church can’t bring about the good He calls us to do without the financial support of its members. Remember, though, it is all His in the first place. In preparation for Dedication Sunday on November 19, please have an open discussion about your pledge with your family. I ask you to reflect on these two questions: How are you doing as a manager? Are you giving back with open hands like Jesus or with closed fists?

Prayers for our Haiti Mission

Your Dollars Make a Difference

Group and Soles4Souls

The Mission Interpretation Ministry is proud to remind all that your dollars make a difference to those in need! With discretionary monies in the Mission Interpretation budget, we gladly sent funds for hurricane rebuilding efforts first with Harvey and Irma in the Southeastern U.S., and once again when hurricane Maria hit hard in Puerto Rico.

Additional discretionary funds are also being used for a project with Friendship Trays of Mecklenburg County.

Thanks be to God for this opportunity to share!

We wish our Haiti Mission Team bon voyage and will keep them in our prayers as they make their trek in mid‐November. The Soles4Souls project was a great success, and we will be sending those many pairs of rubber clogs with our mission group to the community of Bayonnais. Thank you to all who contributed.

Alternative Gift Market

Our annual charitable opportunity for the holiday season will be starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Do you ever wonder what to give your friends and family who ʺhave everything”? Consider giving a gift in their honor to fund one of our various charitable organizations at the Alternative Gift Market. Many of you may remember our alternative gift market which funds groups both locally and globally. We are all excited to get this event underway once again.

Year Two For Our Newest Advent Tradition!

Last year, we began a new tradition with the “Reverse Advent Calendar.” We had a great response, and people found it a meaningful way to celebrate the Christmas holidays and the gift of a Savior born for us. We are invited to mark the days of Advent with “The Reverse Advent Calendar.”

The Reverse Advent Calendars use two 12 bottle wine boxes. Wine boxes with dividers are often available at your local grocery or wine store. On November 12, 19, and 26, boxes will be available for pick‐up in the Education Hall.

Each box will contain dividers to create 12 slots. Pick up two boxes for 24 slots. Take the boxes home, decorate them if the spirit moves you, and label each slot with numbers 1 through 24.

The Reverse Advent Calendar guides will be available in the Education Hall where an example of a completed Reverse Advent Calendar will be on display. For each day, December 1 – 24, the guide will list an object to be placed in the corresponding numbered slot. The objects may be toothbrushes for Room In The Inn or spaghetti noodles for Loaves & Fishes. With each day there will also be listed scripture to be read and a prayer request.

After Christmas, return the boxes to Room 218 by January 7, 2018. Community Service Ministry will sort and deliver the contents to the appropriate agencies, as designated within the Reverse Advent Calendar Guide.

As we engage in giving back this Advent, we look forward to making the New Year brighter for those in our community who are in need.

Lay Ministry

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

Habitat Volunteers Needed

We need volunteers! Sardis is assisting Habitat for Humanity with building a home for the Kingombe family of Matthews. Volunteers from Sardis are needed November 11 for flooring.

Sign up online‐‐https://www.givepulse.com/event/52033‐Thrivent‐Faith‐Build‐Sardis‐Presbyterian

Register online at www.sardis.org, or contact Steve Hoots at steve.hoots@childressklein.com. Lunch volunteers may contact Susan Hudson at sue24shaw@gmail.com.

NoDa Pancake Breakfasts continue through November 25, at The Freedom Factory in NoDa.

Clothing Drive—48 bags of clothes were delivered to Crisis Assistance Ministry!

Spaghetti Sauce—49 pounds were delivered to Loaves &

Price is $5/children under 10, $10/other. The Fishes!

Freedom Factory is located at 200 E 36th Street, Thank you to those who are willing to give your time to

Charlotte, NC 28206. For more information, contact tutor students from Rama Road Elementary School!

April Meadows at aprilmmeadows@gmail.com.

Donate to Loaves & Fishes Food Drive through 11/5!

Room In The Inn Needs Volunteers

Do you have just three hours from December 3 – March 28 to volunteer at our Room In The Inn ministry? We need help making beds, fellowship at dinner, directing laundry and showers, socializing after dinner, keeping watch overnight, serving breakfast, giving out lunches, and showing hospitality to 13 homeless neighbors on Sunday and Wednesday nights during those months. Families are welcome! Here are the times for each group: Greeter: 5:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.; Social 7:45 p.m. – 10:45 p.m.; Owl 10:45 p.m. – 4:45 a.m.; Rooster 4:45 a.m. – 6:30 a.m.

For further information contact Marilyn Taylor at mtaylor6604@gmail.com. To volunteer for dinner and/or lunch preparation, contact Jane Tilley at jtilley8084@gmail.com, To volunteer as a team host, sign up online at www.sardis.org. Click on the “serve” tab and choose “Service Opportunities”, then “Room in the Inn”.

Rama Road Elementary Angel Tree

Yes, the holiday season is almost here and Angel Tree is back again for its 9th year! The tree goes up November 12 in the Gathering Place. The hope is to provide some students at Rama Road Elementary School with gifts for Christmas. These children have been identified by teachers and staff as those with the greatest need.

After choosing your angel off the tree, there will be instructions on what to do, including gift suggestions. At a minimum, we hope to collect at least one article of clothing and a toy for each child. Gifts must be returned by Sunday, December 10.

Contact Molly Kennedy at 704.845.1752 or makennedy1019@gmail.com or Susan Aulebach at 704.560.5620 or saa1980@aol.com with questions.

The Communicator ~ November 2017

Youth ministry

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

Sunday Night Fellowship

Our Sunday Night Fellowship program for both high school and middle school is going great! This year, we are following our theme of “Following Jesus” and studying Jesus’ teaching and trying to live it out in our lives. Both high school and middle school meet for dinner, then have separate devotions and programs.

We hope all 6th through 12th grade students will join us for this meaningful time on Sunday evenings this year.

For more information, please contact Adrian Martin at 704.366.1854.

What Do They Do?

Save the Date!

Are you curious about what the youth do each week?

Please mark your calendars for a College Christmas

Come find out for yourselves! We have volunteer

Holiday Gathering at the home of Karen and Chuck

opportunities

Bohlen, Monday, December 18 at 6:30 p.m.

on

Wednesday

evenings,

Friday

evenings, and Sunday evenings.

All current Sardis college students are invited!

For more information, call Andy Lankford 704.576.1986

Reconnect with all of your Sardis friends at this fun

or Karen Bohlen 704.222.6298.

event. More details to come!

Youth Ministry Service Work

The Youth Ministry aims to serve others through our programming. The High School Youth have helped paint the portable showers that will be delivered to Texas and the Middle School Youth made 350 sandwiches for Urban Ministry Center.

We have more service work scheduled, so come and serve others with us!

Middle School Fall Retreat

Twenty‐one adults and youth traveled to Camp Pee Dee on October 20‐22 for their annual Fall Retreat. During the retreat, the youth learned more about “Sabbath” and what that looks like in our busy, over‐scheduled lives. We participated in a high ropes course to challenge ourselves both mentally and physically and had several devotions and a closing worship service.

A special thank you to the advisors who were able to participate in the retreat: Elizabeth Campbell, Brady Koesel, John Waller, and Melinda Wilkinson.

The Communicator ~ November 2017

“Let the little children come unto me.”

Parent Workshop

On

Sunday,

November

12,

Stacey

Vanderwel

(Registered Dietitian, Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist) will lead a special parent workshop on “A Candid Talk about Eating Disorders and the Journey for Recovery” from 6:30‐7:30 p.m. All parents are encouraged to come and participate in this workshop.

With at least 30 million people in the United States suffering from an eating disorder, your child most likely knows someone who is struggling with this. Come learn tools to equip your family to recognize the signs and know how to get help for those affected.

For more information, please e‐mail Stacey at staceyvanderwel@yahoo.com.

Sardis Weekday School Updates Thanksgiving at the Preschool

Save the Date

Thanksgiving is an especially wonderful holiday at

We will be getting ready for our Christmas Pageant

the preschool. Our own Thanksgiving feasts are

and annual Sardis Weekday School bake sale on

enjoyed by both native American Indians and

December 14.

Pilgrims. Of course, one gets to choose to be one or

the other. The menu is the same for all…always yummy! More importantly, we learn the importance of giving thanks for all our blessings.

You are invited to attend our pageant at 11 a.m. and while you are here, you can purchase a treat or two from our bake sale.

As it is good to give thanks to the Lord.

The Communicator ~ November 2017

The Communicator

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2018 Sardis Presbyterian Church Confirmation Class

The confirmation class wishes to thank the following adults who are serving as partners for the youth this year: Lissa Archer, Dave Archer, Doug Banks, Chuck Bohlen, Cary Campbell, Bryan Carroll, Valerie Hetherington, Susan Hudson, Darrell Myers, Lucinda Myers, Mary Beth Blackley, Sheryl Smith, Linda Tucker and Rhonda York.

Sarah Beals

Emma Bowley

Wilson Colcer

Mary Denny

Micah Martin

Collin McClure

Catherine Moore

Samantha Pressly

Alex Selembo

Hunter Smith

Barbara Tucker Sophia Spangler Leah Vasbinder The Communicator ~ November 2017

Raleigh Walker