The Bible is God’s message to us. It provides instructions about how to live as Christians and encouragement and empowerment for serving God in the world. Do we read and study it every day? Pastor Gary will lead us in worship with the scripture reading coming from II Timothy 3:14-17. See you Sunday!

by Jen Phelps

THIS WEDNESDAY 1/24 we will be joining others in our congregation for the Let's Talk About It conversation on How To Have Disagreements led by Dr. Ben Rigby from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm. DGroups will meet after this in the classrooms in the church basement. DO NOT GO TO THE HUB this Wednesday - we will not be there!  Meet us at the church.

by Jen Phelps

Our high school and college students are starting something new! Get the book - read the book - join us via  Zoom on Sunday, February 18th at 8:00 pm to discuss the book. See Jen Phelps for more details.

by Jen Phelps

Before your summer calendar fills up - here are the dates for the trips planned for our current middle and high school students:

JUN 9 - 15: Montreat Youth Conference (current high school students)
JUL 11 - 14: Massanetta Springs Middle School Conference (current middle school students)
JUL 21 - 25: Local Mission Trip (current middle and high school students combined)

Registrations for these trips will open in February. Come get more information at the Summer Opportunities Fair on Sunday 1/28 during the Sunday School Hour!

by Earth Care Education

According to Xerces Society biologists, bumble bees are better pollinators than honeybees, partly because their buzzing releases more pollen from the flowers. Unfortunately, the numbers of these bees are declining, much like the honeybees. Entire ecosystems depend on the survival of these winged workers, not to mention humankind.  

Since the 1990’s the bees’ numbers have plummeted because of habitat loss and seasonal mismatches due to climates changing. Thankfully, there are ways individuals can help the bumble bees.  For example, there aren’t enough field biologists to gather the data needed to help the bees, but volunteering to become a citizen science observer and collector of data is one active way to help.  Volunteers are trained to hunt down bumble bees and report their findings to the online platform, Bumble Bee Watch.  Or, download the Bumble Bee Watch app and submit your sightings to help track bumble bees in our area.

Planting early and late-blooming flowers helps the queens survive as they enter and exit their winter nests.  Carolina jasmine, crab apple, and chokeberry are good spring blooms, and golden rod, black-eyed Susan’s, asters, and sedums are helpful in the Fall.

Backing off of a super tidy backyard and allowing dandelions and other flowering “weeds” to live in the spring provides food sources for many bees. Leaves, stems, brush, and soil are important winter habitats. So again, finely swept backyards aren’t helpful for these important pollinators.

Hopefully, you can find at least one way to offer to keep the dances of the bumble bees going, on and on and on.

Sources: Xerces Society-Bumble Bee Atlas surveys and carolinahoneybees.com

by Cindy Litzinger

There are now a limited number of large-print hymnals available for those members who may find this helpful as they worship. Simply grab one in the Narthex (by the ushers' table) on the way to worship and return it when you are done. See an usher for assistance.

Volunteer to participate in one of Habitat's Unity Church Builds. Volunteer slots are available through the Habitat website, click the button below to sign up as a volunteer. One Unity build began on January 6th, and the kick-off for the one at Legacy Landing is scheduled for Saturday, February 17th.

by Cindy Litzinger

Unlock the magic of music and discover the joy of rhythm, melody, and movement in a fun-filled musical adventure for you and your little ones. Classes begin the week of January 29, 2024.

There are two class options to choose from:

Mondays at 10:00 am - Mixed Ages - 8 weeks
Thursdays at 10:30 am- Mixed Ages - 4 weeks

Don't miss out - reserve your spot today and let the laughter and learning begin! For more information, contact Cindy Litzinger.

by Jane Smith

Please join us in Brown Hall on February 10th from 10:00 am – 2:15 pm to learn about dementia and how to best care for loved ones with a memory impairment.  North Carolina’s well-known dementia expert, Melanie Bunn, RN, MS, GNP, will lead a discussion on the different levels of dementia and behaviors caregivers may expect. She will share helpful suggestions and tips on things like communication, redirection, and how to work through anger and resistance to care. Melanie will also help us understand what we need to do, ourselves, to avoid difficult situations our care receivers might not understand. We will also have numerous service providers and vendors onsite who will explain how they can be of assistance.

Several of us from SACPC attended a similar conference in the fall and found it to be very worthwhile.

Please RSVP online using the link below. There is a $5 registration fee, which includes lunch and snacks. Registration ends on February 2nd.

We also have limited space for a group respite setting for loved ones with dementia, if needed. Please check the appropriate box when you RSVP and someone will reach out to you about the possibility.

This workshop is sponsored by the Area Agency on Aging, Lower Cape Fear Life Care, Life Care Memory Partners, and the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina.

All children K-5th grade are invited to attend our m&m program.  For more information, contact Cindy Litzinger.

This week's menu: Garden Salad, Assorted Soups & Sandwiches, and Dessert. Cost is $25/family of 4 or more, $7/adult, and $5/under 12. 

SACPC is made up of many different people who are not in agreement about everything, but who do love the Lord and who seek to love their neighbors inside and outside the church. Please join us for a presentation by our own Dr. Ben Rigby, Staff Psychologist at the Community Counseling Center, as he offers us guidelines for important conversations on difficult subjects. 

Looking for Summer Activities for your Children and Youth? Come to the Summer Activities Fair in Brown Hall on Sunday, January 28th from 10:00 am - 11:00 am. The following groups have already signed on to be there for information and sign-up opportunities:

- Camp Kirkwood
- YMCA
- UNCW - Upward Bound Math & Science
- Hanover Stables
- SACPC - VBS & Music Camp - June 10-14
- SACPC Youth Opportunities
- Junior Lifeguard Camp Information

These groups and more will be represented! See Lynn Warner for more details.

Each year our middle and high school girls celebrate Galentines - and this year we are inviting all ladies of all ages to join us! We will gather in Brown Hall on Wednesday, February 7th from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm (after POPS) for fun and fellowship and chocolate fountains.  Please bring items for dipping to share!

Activities are planned and we will be collecting period products for the Diaper Bank of NC to be distributed to our schools. Please consider donating ultrathin pads (not traditional maxi pads), tampons, and individually wrapped liners before the event, or bring them that evening.

See Jen Phelps for more details.

Mercy Pouch Donations: January is the month we will be collecting Mercy Pouch supplies.  Last year, again, we distributed over 1,000 pouches. Thank you!!!  The bulletin board in the 15th St. Lobby near the Narthex has tickets for the items needed.  Please take one ticket or as many as you can and help purchase the items. Thank you again for your contributions and for distributing these pouches to our neighbors in need.  

A Safe Place Donation Drive: February 1 is National Freedom Day, which marks the culmination of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in January. The State Department estimates that 27.6 million people are currently the victims of human trafficking worldwide. As many as half of them are minors; 80% are female. Twenty years ago, when the United States passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, most Americans did not know that, in our modern era, people were still being held in slavery. In the subsequent decades, fortunately, most have become aware of this tragedy.

In New Hanover County, we are blessed with several ministries that are providing services to local victims. One of those is A Safe Place, which Go and Serve supports annually through our budget. A Safe Place opened a shelter for victims in 2012 and has expanded its services to include counseling, case management, and an outreach center, primarily to young women and teen girls exiting, or trying to exit, the sex trade.

For February, we will be collecting items for this vital ministry including the following:
 

• Women’s underwear sizes M-XL
• Women’s solid color tees, sizes M-XL
• Socks
• Journals
• Laundry Detergent
• Cleaning supplies
• Paper towels
• Toilet paper

To learn more about A Safe Place, click the button below to visit their website.

Confirmation classes will meet on Wednesday, January 31st from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm in the youth classrooms located in the basement. See Jen Phelps for more details.

ATTN Confirmands, Parents & Mentors: Please download the SACPC mobile app and join the "Youth: Confirmation Class" group chat. This is where Jen will post all things related to Confirmation and you can ask questions.

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

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.

January 23: Ted Davis, Julian March, Krisiann Moskal, Steve Potter, David Smith
January 24: Dena Bingham, Benjamin Davis
January 25: Clint Cornette, James Murray, Romi Wheeler
January 26: Joan Gray, Betsy Knowles
January 27: Patti Whitley
January 28: Sarah Katherine Elmore, Caroline Hill
January 29: Lynn Goodman, Gregory Wayne
January 30: Rebecca Lynn Burney