Rev. Katherine B. Harrington
When we are grieving, we long for hope. When we are suffering, hope seems so distant. And yet, John of Patmos speaks words of hope to our souls and into our lives in Revelation 7:9-17. We hear a vision of joining the great multitude worshiping around the throne, a promise that one day we will hunger no more, thirst no more, and God will wipe every tear from our eyes. Come this All Saints' Sunday as we remember the saints in our lives and celebrate communion together.

Friendly reminder to set your clocks back one hour this Saturday. 

by Shelley Hobson

Join us for an informal discussion with author, Jed Smith (in town to visit his sister, Shelley Hobson), as he shares excerpts from "Under the Oak with Agnes" his debut novel. Jed will answer questions posed by Katie and participants.  The book is available locally at Pomegranate Books and on Amazon (in paperback and Kindle formats). There are surprises in this book, so reading it ahead of time is recommended!

From Kirkus Reviews:

"Death might just be the single biggest piece of dynamite that can come along for a person. It can blow a life apart. It can also blow things wide open. There's a difference."

These are the words that Agnes, an unassuming hospice aide, offers to accomplished attorney Emory Farrell in the wake of his mother's passing. In his profound grief, Emory is invited to dispense with conventional wisdom as he searches for wholeness and dares to challenge the status quo of his seemingly ideal life. At Agnes's urging, he volunteers at the hospice house where his mother died. There, Emory meets four very different people who are in their last days: a teenage girl with a wisdom well beyond her years, a long-haul truck driver with a surprising past, a fundamentalist minister estranged from his son, and an elderly woman lost in dementia.

Emory's journey faces many twists, turns, and challenges--not the least of which are the efforts of the woman who is supposed to love him most, yet connives to keep him safely under the sphere of her control and away from the truth he seeks.

"Emory and Agnes celebrate "the chance to die while [we're] still livin'," disrupting all we assume we know about ourselves and the basis of our connections with others….Earnest and thoughtfully executed, this book shines a light on all of the phantom lives that are merely assemblages of the ghosts of expectations… A thoughtful, tender meditation on mortality and transformation.

by John Bobrink

Fellow members, please watch and listen to the attached video as Ed and Shelley Hobson discuss their views on SACPC and how we can help it to thrive.

by Terry Wilson

Thank you Saint Andrews members for your prayers, cards, food and visits to my home while I was recovering from knee replacement surgery.  Because of your care and concern, I am recovering nicely and I appreciate you all very much. Terry Wilson

by Catheryn Thomas

The children with C.I.S. (Communities in Schools) are in our gym every Tuesday afternoon, playing basketball, dodgeball, golf, and generally running around having fun. But that makes them hungry! We are low on snacks and would appreciate donations of individually packaged chips, crackers, cookies; also juice boxes and water bottles. Please consider donations for our community kids on a regular basis throughout the year. You can bring items to the C.I.S. bin in the kitchen prep room. THANKS!

by Jane Smith

NOTE: The Dementia Conference announced last week will now be held on February 10, 2024. In order to provide the best possible programming for attendees, the organizers needed to make this change.We'll be announcing more as we get closer to the conference. But for now, get your calendars out and change the date!

We are 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 Education Sector, Earth Care Team

In the US alone, about 125 million tennis balls are trashed each year. These release carbon dioxide as they degrade.  Additionally, the production of the balls results in deforestation when the rubber is harvested.  However, a group of earth-friendly tennis enthusiasts in Vermont have established a program that partners with gyms, players, and athletic clubs and repurposes the rubber from the balls for turf.  Anyone with at least 100 old tennis balls can ship them to RecycleBalls and receive a shipping label free.  If a donation is made, you can receive a tax-deductible form.  Let your tennis-playing friends know!  

People can and do make a good difference for our good earth!

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 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.

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.

Dinner is from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm. The menu this Wednesday is Garden salad, a variety of soups (ham and beans, chicken tortilla, broccoli cheddar, and chili) with grilled cheese and cheese quesadillas. Cost is $25/family, $7/adult, $5/under 12.

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.

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.

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. 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!

Our high school seniors gather to get through the year together.It’s Friendsgiving - don’t forget to bring a dish to share.See Jen Phelps for the address and more details.

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!

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.

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

The family of Edina Navaya of the Chuluchosema congregation who died on October 29th and is survived by her husband and six children.

Mary Tyler is scheduled for knee replacement at Cape Fear Memorial Hospital on October 31st.

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 31: Chris Collings, Bobby Greer, Lois Potratz
November 1: Trish Boyd, Ashley Cuesta, Eleanor Nordeen, Hunter Tadlock
November 2: Wesley Landon, Sally Morrison
November 3: Alison Sineath
November 4: Matt Hartzell, Samuel Mayes, Stacey Worrell 
November 5: Bill Terrell, Rob van der Vaart
November 6: Morgan Holder, Craig Stewart
November 7: Robbie Benson, Norwood Crawford, Jeff Flynn, Warren McMurry, Susan Mercer, Josh Williams