Rev. Dr. Gary Smith
Using Luke 15:11-24 as our guide, the parable of the prodigal’s son teaches us that God gives us second chances and encourages us to graciously treat others who receive second chances. See you Sunday!

by Paige & Jim Williams

by Jen Phelps

We are starting a Confirmation Class in the upcoming months for students in 8th grade and above. Jen Phelps has begun reaching out to families with details, if you are interested in participating in this year's class - please contact her ASAP. If you would like information about Confirmation - we are holding an information session on Sunday, September 17th at 10:00 am in the Dining Room.

Gary Smith's Do All the Good You Can: How Faith Shaped Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Politics is now available through the University of Illinois Press website.  Friends can receive a 30% discount on both the cloth book and the eBook by using the promotional code: F23UIP

by Rev. Dr. Gary Smith

Our Presbytery is forming a mission team to travel to Puerto Rico for 8 days in February 2024. Three hurricanes (Irma, Maria, and Fiona) caused tremendous destruction in Puerto Rico. Over 1,000 families are still waiting, with homes damaged by wind and rain, storm surge, and other forces of nature, for assistance in their rebuilding.

Insurance payments were not enough. Disaster Recovery is a long process. The hope for many of these families is for volunteers to help them rebuild. The presbytery is looking for 12 to  24 people to travel to a Presbyterian Disaster Assistance host site in Puerto Rico and work with partner agencies to help in rebuilding work.

The cost of the trip is $1,300 per person, which includes airfare from Raleigh to San Juan, transportation, most meals, and lodging.  If you would like to join this trip. complete the online application by August 23, 2023. If you have questions, please email Laura Lupton or call  910-818-9938.

by Barbara Hager

Over 70 SACPC women are ready to begin a new Bible study, support mission work and share fellowship with one another starting the second week of September. We have three circles which meet at 10:00 AM; Circles 2, 6, and 8 which meet respectively the second Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each month.  This Fall our Bible study will be Sacred Encounters about the power and presence of Jesus in Luke-Acts. Please email a Circle leader if you are interested in joining. All women of the church are invited.  Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in the fall!

by Jan McGowan

For as long as I have been a member of SACPC (2006) and well beyond, this church has hosted the temporarily homeless families of the Family Promise Emergency Shelter program one week a quarter each year.  Our next opportunity is the week of August 27th - September 2nd. During our quarterly hosting, a member of our church provides a meal for up to 3 families.  Our hosts arrive at the Family Promise Day Center at 3511 Frog Pond Place Apt.101 by 5:30 pm with their prepared dinner and enjoy eating with the families.  After cleaning up and good conversation, families will leave no later than 7:00 pm.  

If you'd like more information on this service opportunity, please call Jan McGowan at 716-863-6677 or Robin Harper at 910-231-8419.  

Help us celebrate the start of the new school year with a special Back to School Blessing during both worship services.

Find your people, and maybe your purpose. Learn about all the great programs and opportunities officially starting on Rally Day (9/10).

Come try a Kindermusik play date! You get the same Kindermusik fun and learning in the classroom . . . and the same high-quality music to enjoy at home, but in a stand-alone class so you can try it out! Registration is required. Contact Elizabeth Gray for details.

Volunteer to help nourish and nurture New Hanover High School football players during their weekly "pre-game" team meal. Contact David Massey for details.

3rd Grade students attending either the 9:00 am or 11:00 am worship service will receive new Bibles. Students in 4th or 5th grade who did not previously receive a Bible will also be recognized. Students are then invited to a special class at 10:00 am to explore their new Bibles. Contact Lynn Warner for more details. 

Children & Youth Sunday School classes return from summer break, as well as, a few adult classes. Our Wednesday evening programs return on September 13th.

All children in grades K - 5th are invited to join this after-school Bible-based music program. Contact Lynn Warner for details.

Dinner is from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. The menu is spaghetti bolognese, garden salad, garlic bread, and berry trifle. Cost is $25/family, $7/adult, $5/under 12.

POPS Program begins at 6:30 pm with a special report from our Malawi mission team which will share pictures and stories from their visit in June.

Rev. Harrington will lead a 5-week book study of the readable classic by famous Christian martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 

Join us for Disciple Groups. The HUB will open at 6:30 pm with the program starting at 7:00 pm. Contact Jen Phelps for details.

Children of all ages are welcome and encouraged in each of our worship services, either in the pew with parents/caregivers or in what will be our newly developed PRAYGROUND in the back of the chapel. The PRAYGROUND will be equipped with quiet activities and age-appropriate worship materials. Parents and caregivers will sit in a nearby pew. The PRAYGROUND will be appropriate for preschool age children. Nursery care will still be available for infants and toddlers if you so desire at both worship services, as well. More information will be coming soon!

Beginning September 10th we will be expanding our Sunday School class offerings for children! The following classes will be offered this fall at 10:00 am for children ages Pre-K - 5th Grade:
 
Pre-K Class (Rm 112) for ages 3 - 5 years old not attending kindergarten.
K- - 2nd Grade Class (Rm 25) located in the basement.
3rd - 5th Grade Class (Rm 26) located in the basement.

We are in need of teachers and plan to develop a team teaching concept in all classes. More information and how to volunteer will be forthcoming.

As we look to expand our Sunday School offerings for children this fall we will also be in need of a broader group of volunteers. In order to not overwhelm a small number of people we are working to form Teaching Teams in each age/grade level.

A teaching team would consist of two people - perhaps you and a friend, who would commit to working together to teach in a given class. We are looking to recruit at least 4 Teaching Teams in each age/grade level. By having four teams in each age/grade level the teaching responsibility will be only 8-10 weeks between September - May.

Teacher training and support will be provided. For more information please contact Lynn Warner.

Please prayerfully consider this exciting opportunity to share your faith and build relationships with some amazing children and fellow teachers!

Rising 6th-grade students will be joining our youth group this fall - but our Youth Director, Jen Phelps, needs to know you are out there (and start connecting with parents) NOW! Please contact Jen with information about rising 6th graders and their families ASAP: jphelps@sacpc.org or 910-790-9103.

All adults are welcome to attend one of our three classes meeting in August: Connette-Covenant (Room 226), taught by Dumay Gorham; Venture (Room 240, resumes August 6th), taught by Teresa  Conoly; Walking in the Word (236), focusing on the Lectionary and taught by class members. All adult classes will resume on Rally Day, September 10th.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  
Romans 12:  9-13 (NIV)

Gwen and Mike Behen celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary on August 13th.

Lib Pusey died on August 11th.  Arrangements are pending.

John Henderson in his travels to Ecuador to work with the Raiz Foundation.

For the safety of students as they return to school.

Marilyn Mitchell was transferred from the hospital to CN Davis rehab.

Cathy McLaughlin’s brother Bruce Clisdal had a kidney transplant on August 9th.  Cathy’s sister Carol King is the donor.  Carol has been discharged.  Bruce and Carol have good kidney function now.  

Steve Hovdesven (Joint Chiefs of Staff Intern, Arlington, VA), Billy Purdom (USS Stout DDG ), Smith Beacham (Fort Richardson, Anchorage, AK), Jack Looney (USS Carl Vinson, San Diego, CA) , Samuel Makepeace (Fort Polk, Louisiana), Brennan Litzinger (Fort Bliss, Texas), Mikayla Reifert (Kadena, Japan), Bradley Garrett (Coast Guard, Elizabeth City)

Prayer requests: Click here to tell us about your need.

Hospitalizations: Please click here to email Ann Benson or call 910.762.9693 x202 to leave a message.

August 15: Terry Wilson
August 16: Kadie Hurd, Marjie Kunz
August 17: Brooke Brownfield, Catherine Daum, Robert Keith
August 18: Alex deSherbinin
August 19: Randy Barrow, Henry Wortman, Mike Youngblood
August 20: Preston Cornette, David Wortman
August 21: Mark Ciarrocca, Elyza Messina, Frances Nunnally
August 22: Andy Harrison