Rev. Katherine B. Harrington
On this first Sunday of Advent, we’re waiting not just for the baby in the manger in Bethlehem, as Mark 12:24-37 reminds us; but we are also waiting for Jesus to come again—to come in the clouds with great power and splendor and glory. We’re waiting for Jesus to come again to inaugurate the kingdom of God here on earth. We wait, in eager anticipation, and alertness. Come, worship, sing, pray, and stay alert! 

Join the fun today and help be the Light our world desperately needs. Here are two ways you can give generously during #GivingTuesday to further the work at SACPC and support our mission to:

We're encouraging everyone to go the Extra Mile today and prayerfully consider giving a little extra to SACPC's general fund. Also, if you made a pledge last year and are financially able, please make sure your pledge giving is current. These faithful donations are used to glorify God's work in our community; as well as, ensure SACPC's ministry and mission work continue to inspire others to love Jesus.

You can also support our Malawi Education Fund to help change and brighten the futures of students whose lives are limited by extreme poverty. Gift cards are available for wrapping or tucking into a Christmas stocking.

Give Online:
Click the button below to make an online donation. Choose either "General Fund" or "Malawi Education" to support these opportunities.

Give by Check:
You may send a check with "Malawi Education" or "SACPC General Fund" noted on the memo line. You can place your check in the offering basket during worship or mail it to our church office.

Please mail to:
St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church
1416 Market St.
Wilmington, NC 28401

by Emily Vasser

Please join Soaring As Eagles in our 5th year of Saturday Academy!  If you enjoy working with elementary students, have a love for reading and/or math, and you’re 15 or older, we need YOU!

Saturday Academy is a tutoring program designed to help 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders from Title 1 schools with reading and math in preparation for the EOGs.  We will meet two Saturday mornings a month, January through May, at Rachel Freeman School of Engineering, 2601 Princess Place Drive.

Not only will the students receive 1-to-1 tutoring but they’ll be served a hot breakfast and learn stress management techniques. The most important part of the experience for our students is knowing that one more person cares about their success … you’re the heart of the program!

Below is the Sign Up Genius link for more information and to sign up.  You can sign up for one session or more, whatever is convenient for you.  

If you have any questions, call Emily Vassar at (910) 274-4788.  Thank you for your interest … and thank you to all the SACPC tutors who’ve helped in past years!  We appreciate you!!!

by Sue McCaffray

One great book that's available on the display shelf is Brian D. McLaren's Naked Spirituality: A Life With God in 12 Simple Words. McLaren is the author of many best-selling books on Christian life and faith. In Naked Spirituality, he offers great wisdom along with a practical approach to a prayer life that evolves over the course of a whole lifetime. Check it out!

by Shelley Hobson

It's SACPC's twelfth year of contributing to the education of children in Malawi, one of the Earth's poorest countries and home of our partners at Chuluchosema CCAP.  Some of "our" students have graduated and gone to college and have found meaningful careers. Children who are now in preschool through primary and secondary school still need our support!

Donations from our church family help provide supplies and a meal to preschoolers, necessities such as shoes, uniforms, and book bags for primary school students, and school fees for youth in secondary school.  SACPC supports the Saturday vocational training program where young men and women learn marketable skills such as tailoring and woodworking. They also receive a meal (often the only one they receive that day). Our goal for this year is $25,000.

Making an investment in a child's future is a gift you can give in honor of a family member or friend for the holidays. Gift cards are available for wrapping or tucking into a Christmas stocking. You may donate online (choose "Malawi Education" from the pulldown menu) or send a check marked "Malawi Education" to the church office.

If you have any questions, please contact Ed Hobson, chair of the Malawi Partnership Team.  We pray you will share your gifts with this fruitful ministry. Zikomo!

by Lynn Warner

Please consider volunteering to help in our church nursery during worship on the following dates:

- Sunday, December 24 - 10:00 a.m.
- Sunday, December 24 - 3:00 p.m.
- Sunday, December 24 - 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday, December 31 - 10:00 a.m.

 Please contact Lynn Warner to volunteer.

by Gail Richardson

Have you ever read the book, Stone Soup? The book, Stone Soup, is all about the magical ingredient called sharing!  

Our children acted out the story for their parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends on the lawn on November 21st.

Afterwards,  we all enjoyed eating the stone soup, bread, and butter that the children had prepared. We all felt grateful to be together celebrating. And we are thankful to know that we have more than enough to share.

by Catheryn Thomas

We are looking for a part-time Administrative Assistant to work with the Senior Pastor and Executive Administrator. If you or someone you know might be interested, please see the attached job description and contact Catheryn Thomas for more information.

by Earth Care Team, Education 

Thank you Women’s Ministry for offering earth-friendly choices at your Hope in a Busy World event. Your intentional efforts were simply “icing on the cake” for an event that was all around well done and well received.

Advent is a time of anticipatory waiting for the incarnation--for God to burst into our lives. So while we are waiting, there is work and preparation God is calling us to do. Each Sunday in worship, through Scripture and song, we will explore themes of what we do while we are waiting for Jesus to come. 

by Cindy Litzinger

Join us on Dec 10th at 10:00 am for a special morning of worship through music. This is our Advent unity worship experience where we come together and enjoy one combined worship service. This hour will be dedicated to the power of music in helping us reflect, connect, and prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus Christ. Our talented musicians and choirs have been diligently preparing a program that will help us celebrate the richness of our faith and the joyous anticipation of this sacred season.

During this Special Music Sunday, you can expect a blend of traditional hymns, contemporary pieces, children’s voices, and perhaps even some surprises along the way. The music has been thoughtfully chosen to capture the essence of Advent - a time of anticipation, hope, and joy.

PLEASE NOTE:  Sunday School will be at 9:00 am on Dec. 10th.

by Susan Dykes

Poinsettias add to the beauty of the Chapel and Sanctuary during the Advent season. You have the opportunity to purchase these beautiful flowering plants in memory or honor of a special person. Use the white envelopes in the pew racks prepared for this use or click the button below to order online. Poinsettias are $12 each. Orders are due by Sunday, December 10th.

by Jen Phelps

It's not too late to join our Reverse Advent!

Reverse Advent is the practice of GIVING daily while we are waiting. Calendars are available in the Narthex and at the 15th Street entrance - or you can download a copy by clicking the button below. Return your basket, bag, or box filled with the donations to the church on Christmas Eve!

The Spiritual Life Team would like to invite everyone to take home a free, printed copy of this year's SACPC Advent Daily Devotional. Each day of Advent read a new devotion created by members and friends of our congregation. Copies are available in the Narthex, Gathering Area, and church's front office.

Additionally, our Adult Faith Formation Team purchased a digital copy of the Presbyterian Outlook 2023 Daily Advent Devotional called "Apocalyptic Advent: Embracing Hope in the Second Coming of Christ." Click the button below to download a copy.

The Christmas Joy Offering will be received twice this Advent season. Once on Sunday, December 17th during both worship services, and again at all Christmas Eve services. This is a special offering that has been received by Presbyterian Churches throughout our denomination since the 1930s.

The offering helps fund the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, which provides current and retired church workers with the help they need to get through life’s unexpected challenges. The offering also supports Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color. These schools include Menaul School (Albuquerque, NM), Presbyterian Pan American School (Kingsville, TX), and Stillman College (Tuscaloosa, AL).

Ways you can give this Advent season:
In the church: Use the special envelopes provided and place them in the offering plates.
Online: pcusa.org/give/christmasjoy.
Via phone: text CHRISTMASJOY to 91999.

Thank you!

Our youth will present a Living Nativity again this year on the 15th St. lawn - join us on this special night following or between our Christmas Eve worship services. See Jen Phelps for more details.

Rehearsals are underway.  Children in grades K - 5th are encouraged to attend. For more details and info on how to participate contact Cindy at CLitzinger@sacpc.org.

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! Click here to read Kirkus Reviews about this book.

Our youth will be singing at the 11:00 am service on Sunday, December 3rd - please meet in the choir room at 10:00 am that day for donuts and rehearsal!

Any youth planning to sing that morning also have the opportunity to go to Enchanted Airlie with our group that evening from 8:30 - 9:30 pm.  Contact Jen ASAP to reserve your spot and get more details!

High School students have an opportunity to travel together to Wintergreen Ski Resort.
Never been skiing - we will teach you! Don't want to ski? - we have an option to go and just hang out!

Cost:
Skiing - $595/person
Not Skiing - $350/person

We will be leaving BEFORE DISMISSAL on Thursday, February 1st, and will require an early checkout that day.

Registration opens Wednesday, December 13th at 8:00 PM via our mobile app!

The Go and Serve Team is highlighting the Salvation Army during November. SACPC has the opportunity to provide a wonderful Christmas to children in need by participating in the Angel Tree project. Our Angel Tree is up and decorated in the donation area at the 15th Street entrance. The tree contains "Angel ornaments" with a child's name, age, sizes, and Christmas gift wishes.

A sheet with instructions is in an envelope on the bulletin board next to the tree. Please take one or more ornaments, shop to fulfill the child's wishes, and return the unwrapped gifts along with the Angel ornament to the donation bin near the Angel Tree by December 3rd. (If you wish, more than one person can go together to fulfill a child's wishes.)

We will deliver all of the gifts to the Salvation Army the week of December 3rd. If you prefer, you may deliver your gifts to the Salvation Army Toy Center at 715 Greenfield Street. SACPC is so grateful to be able to participate in this project and bring a joyful Christmas to children who otherwise may not have one. 

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

Mary Eberts, 96 years old, mother of Katherine Brandi, died November 18th.  A service was held at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware, on November 24th.  

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.

November 28: Sheila Moore
November 29: Brent Bush
November 30: Pate Southerland, Jim Swart, Rick Wheeler
December 1: Nancy Braswell, Bonnie Thiele
December 3: Lil Conley, Bob Martenis, Benjamin Smith
December 5: Chris Brownfield, Aidan Flynn, Louise Heidenreich, Steve Wallace