Rev. Katherine B. Harrington
Jesus commands: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Here at SACPC, we have stated that it is our mission to inspire one another to love Jesus by staying faithfully present in our community. What does that love of God and love of neighbor look like in action here in our church and in our community? Come worship with us on Sunday!

by Cindy Litzinger

Join our BRAND NEW Adult Handbell group! This new group is specifically designed for individuals of all ages and backgrounds, with no prior experience required.

So what can you expect if you join this new Adult handbell group?

Fun and welcoming atmosphere: We believe in creating an environment where everyone feels included and valued. Our group is filled with friendly and supportive members who are excited to share their love for handbell ringing with newcomers.

No experience necessary: Whether you're a seasoned musician or have never picked up a handbell before, our group is perfect for you. We will guide you through the basics, ensuring that you feel comfortable and confident in no time.

Teamwork and collaboration: Handbell ringing is a unique musical experience that relies on teamwork and synchronization. You'll be amazed at how quickly the group will come together to create beautiful harmonies and melodies. It's a fantastic opportunity to bond with fellow members and build lasting friendships.

When will the group meet?  We will meet for 6 weeks on THURSDAY mornings from 10:30 am – 11:30 am.  Our first rehearsal will be on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd, and will conclude on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14th.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to be a part of this exciting handbell-ringing group! Contact Cindy Litzinger for more details.  We can't wait to make music with you!

by Cindy Litzinger

Calling all rhythm rebels, beat busters, and groove gurus! Join us on Nov 1 and Nov 8 at 6:30 pm in Brown Hall for the first ever SACPC Drum Circle.  

We will have fun learning and connecting through playing a variety of drums.  No prior drumming experience is required.  We promise you won’t be judged for your lack of rhythm or your advanced years.  We believe that drumming is a universal language that transcends age and ability levels.

Drums and percussion instruments will be provided (you are also welcome to bring your own drum if you have one!).  Ages 6th Grade – Adults are welcome!  Pat Litzinger will be our facilitator.

To help us plan on the appropriate number of drums, pre-registration is encouraged, but not required.

by Cindy Litzinger

Join us for a holly, jolly time for this year’s Children's Christmas Musical on Sunday, December 10th.  We will be decking the halls and spreading the holiday cheer with our musical message that will warm your heart and bring joy to all.

All children ages K – 5th grade are invited to be part of this musical celebration! From angels to shepherds, wise men to animals, there's a special role waiting for every child.

Your children will have a blast singing and acting, but most importantly, they'll also gain the joy of sharing the news of Christ’s birth with others during this holiest of seasons.

So, don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to be part of this year’s Children's Christmas Musical!  

Mark your calendars and spread the word! Rehearsals start this week and are Wednesdays 4:45 pm – 6:00 pm.  For more details and info on how to participate contact Cindy at CLitzinger@sacpc.org.

by Ann Danchak

Go and Serve will highlight The Salvation Army for the month of November. SACPC has the opportunity to provide a wonderful Christmas for children in need. Every December, The Salvation Army hosts the Angel Tree project to provide a wonderful Christmas for children who otherwise wouldn't experience the joy of waking up Christmas morning to open gifts from Santa. Beginning November 9th, you can choose an ornament with a child's name, age, and desired gifts from a tree in the donation area near the Sanctuary. Choose one or more ornaments, purchase the items to fulfill the child's wishes, and return unwrapped gifts with the ornament to the donation area by Sunday, December 3rd. We will deliver the gifts to The Salvation Army the first week of December. You can also drop your gifts off at the Salvation Army's Harrelson Center office.

by Jen Phelps

All of our middle and high school youth are invited to make a joyful noise together! We will be incorporating singing into our Wednesday night gatherings in preparation to help lead worship on Sunday, December 3rd during both the 9:00 am and 11:00 am services. Rehearsals will be at 6:45 pm in The HUB on November 1st and 15th. On November 29th, we will meet for dinner at 6:30 pm in Brown Hall and then head to the sanctuary for rehearsal. See Jen Phelps for more details.

by Jane Smith

On January 27th we will be hosting, in conjunction with the Area Agency on Aging, a conference that will provide attendees with a better understanding of dementia and how best to walk alongside both caregivers and those who suffer from this debilitating disease. Several of us attended a similar conference recently--and learned so much! More information will be posted as we finalize plans; for now, mark the date on your calendar and plan to join us in Brown Hall from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm that day.  Lunch will be provided.

by Catheryn Thomas

Our staff members gather every Tuesday morning for devotion and prayer time together. Every other week, we also have business meetings, discussing what we have happening in each of our ministry areas, brainstorming how to engage the congregation in the work of the church, and planning seasonal worship, education, and fellowship opportunities. These weekly meetings are vital for our work and connection as staff members. For all of our staff to be present at these meetings, we rely on volunteers to occupy the reception desk and answer the phone and the door. If you have an interest in helping out, even just one Tuesday a month, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, please contact Libby White.

by David Massey

The end of the season is fast approaching, but never too late to join the team. There are only two more regular-season meals planned. So, please come to support Steve and the Football Team this Thursday at 5:30 pm in Brown Hall. Go Cats!

by Gwen Behen

An easy way to be Earth-friendly is to carry and reuse a refillable water bottle. According to Healthline.com, tap water is usually a better choice than bottled water for a variety of reasons.* For example, it is less expensive and doesn’t create single-use plastic waste. Plus, it’s important to be aware that leaving water in plastic containers when temperatures rise, as in a car or garage, causes chemical bonds in the plastic to break down, releasing various chemicals into the water. Finally, in the US only one out of every five single-use plastic bottles gets recycled, out of the 35 billion that we annually discard. Dismal. Fortunately, refillable bottles are a simple way to help us do better, and we can make a positive difference on Earth.

Education Sector, Earth Care Team

*If your area is experiencing tap water contamination consider installing an appropriate under-sink filter to remove the contaminates. 

by Susan Dykes

In 2017 Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which doubled the standard deduction and limited many itemized deductions. This had the effect of causing many taxpayers to no longer have the ability to take a tax deduction for donations to churches and other non-profit organizations.

Most people continued to make donations just as they had in the past despite the lack of a specific tax benefit.

Despite this change in the standard deduction, there is a tax benefit available to older Americans which is not as well-known. This tax benefit is known as the QCD or Qualified Charitable Distribution. This feature of the IRS tax code allows people age 70 ½ and over to make a distribution from their IRA accounts directly to a church or 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation and not be subject to tax on that distribution. This is a substantial benefit as normally any distribution from an IRA is subject to state and federal income tax and can also affect the amount of Social Security Benefits which may be subject to federal income taxes.

It is fairly easy to use this benefit; however, each IRA custodian typically has adopted their own procedures to utilize the QCD. In the case of Fidelity Investments, the IRA owner simply requests a withdrawal from their account and requests a check made payable to the church or other non-profit organization to which they would like to benefit. Then the check can either be mailed by Fidelity directly to the organization or the check can be sent to the owner of the IRA who will then transmit it to the organization they are gifting. Because the distribution is not subject to income tax, there is no need to withhold taxes from the distribution.

What are the limitations of a QCD? The maximum amount that can be distributed is $100,000 per person aged 70 ½ and over per annum. Distributions must be made prior to December 31st to count in a given tax year. There are some other rules that may affect the taxpayer’s ability to benefit from the QCD. For example, gifts to private foundations are generally not considered qualified charitable distributions.

The key point here is that if you are withdrawing money annually from an IRA and then turning around and giving some of those funds to a church or other non-profit organization you are missing the opportunity to reduce your personal income taxes. On a $10,000 gift, you are possibly paying $2000 or more in unnecessary taxes. The higher your tax bracket the greater the benefit is.

As always when considering any transactions affecting your taxes it is important to consult your personal tax advisor to ensure that you will obtain the benefits expected.

By Jen Phelps

Our college students are invited to join with other college students at Montreat for worship, keynotes, workshops and critical conversation groups (and all-important recreation).  Gather with your extended college-age church family for some Sabbath renewal.

Dinner is from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm. The menu this Wednesday is Garden Salad, Hamburger Steak w/ Gravy, Green Beans, Rice, Rolls, and Cookies. Cost is $25/family, $7/adult, $5/under 12.

The US EPA estimates Americans discard enough food loss and waste into landfills each year to equal 42 coal-fired power plants. This doesn't even include the methane emissions generated from food waste rotting in landfills. The good news, you can immediately become a part of the solution! Join us as we hear from Joe Suleyman, New Hanover County's Environmental Management Director, about how we all can participate in the county's municipal composting program without buying any worms! This program will take place in The Chapel immediately following our POPS Meal.

In the mood for some reading and discussion about the Christian faith? Join us for a ZOOM class based on N. T. Wright’s book Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense. Wright is the author of dozens of very approachable books about the New Testament and the way of Jesus. We will read and ponder a chapter a week, also using a Participant’s Guide available via pdf.

Meetings are every Thursday, Oct. 26th - Dec. 14th, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm. Participants will need to be able to access Zoom via phone, laptop, or other device, and to acquire a copy of Wright’s book on their own. For more information or to sign up, contact Dave Hoff or Sue McCaffray.  We will limit participation to the first 15 registrants, due to the logistics of conversation via Zoom. Join us!

Calling ALL women!! Are you tired, burned out, weary, lonely, young, old, single, married, worried, happy, and all the in-betweens? We see you. We hear you. Come gather. Bring your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to this special event just for you. Join Jen Phelps, Danielle LeBlanc, and Matthew McDonald for an informal gathering. Learn some ways to relax and let go of stress. Childcare provided. This will be a day of togetherness you didn't know you needed--until you did.

We are asking for everyone to register for this free event so we can prepare the necessary supplies and arrange childcare needs. 

God provided a beautiful day for our Fall Festival! It was a wonderful success! Children and adults alike had fun doing crafts, playing games, enjoying yummy snacks and having fellowship time together! Thank you to the Children’s Ministry Team for your work planning, setting up and cleaning up this fun event!

As October is Domestic Violence Prevention Month we will collect various items for the Domestic Violence Shelter and Services (DVSS). DVSS provides shelter and direct services for victims and their children in New Hanover County. This organization has changed the lives of countless women and children who are in crisis.

We will collect: umbrellas, microwave-safe paper plates and bowls, toilet paper, stuffed animals, and full-size toiletries including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap, and deodorant. When buying shampoo and body wash, consider buying for adults and children. Or click the button below to view the DVSS Amazon Wish List and purchase items for direct shipping to the center.

The Lord gives his people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace. 
Psalm 29:11

Martha Futch had a cardiac procedure at NH on October 12th. A second stage to this procedure is planned in the next few weeks.
Chris Faulk has pneumonia and is doing better.

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.

October 24: Warren Barkley, Kate Hiatt, Jackie Norton
October 25: Jacob Waldrop
October 26: Ron Faulk, Carl Hinds, Campbell Monroe, John Stewart, Greg Wayne
October 27: Jim Kraus, Frances Todd
October 28: Donna Farren, Hampton Thompson
October 29: Jackie Cooke
October 30: Amy Allen, Steve Hein, Janet Renninger
October 31: Chris Collings, Bobby Greer, Lois Potratz