It's Communion Sunday! Rev. Harrington will lead us in worship with the sermon text coming from Matthew 9:9-13. The Old Testament reading will be Hosea 5:15-6:6. We will also recognize our new members and Sharon Miller will play at both services--read more about Sharon in the Announcements section of this newsletter.

Congratulations to our Associate Pastor, Rev. Dr. Gary Smith, on publishing a new book this week titled The Greatest Sports Stars of All-Time: Fifteen Fantastic Athletes. Here's a review:

"In GOATS, Gary Scott Smith takes on an impossible task: identifying the greatest athletes of all time. Written with a historian's eye and a love for sports, Smith's book offers a great entry point into thinking more deeply about the lives and legacies of some of the most important athletes in modern history. Agree or disagree, Smith's extensive research will give you something to ponder. Let the debates begin!"

- Paul Putz, Assistant Director for the Faith & Sports Institute, Baylor University’s Truett Seminary

by Ann Danchak

Ordained Elders and Deacons have the honor of serving communion at SACPC. Many of us have been ordained at other churches and are not active at the moment. If you are an ordained elder or deacon and would like to serve communion at SACPC occasionally, please contact Ann Danchak to learn more.

by Jen Phelps

Attention all 6th - 12th graders! Our next Be The Light Event will be at The Harrelson Center on April 14th from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm - MARK YOUR CALENDARS! In the meantime.... we are collecting sunscreen and bug spray to add to hydration bags that will be distributed by Catholic Charities to migrant farm workers this summer. Bring your donations to The HUB or the church anytime we gather.

by Lynn Warner

The children of our M&M program on Wednesday afternoons have been busy creating these beautiful Family Table Talk Jars for you! The questions in these jars are a perfect way to generate conversation during the Lenten Season. Everyone is invited to take a jar home with them. Extra jars are located in the Narthex.

Put the jar in a convenient place at home, perhaps a dinner table, where you gather together regularly. Each day, pick a paper from the jar and share the conversation it generates. When the jar is empty you can place a votive candle inside and enjoy the glow! Remember that GOD LOVES YOU!

February 15, 2024

Dear SACPC,

Ecclesiastes 3:1 reads, there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under
heaven.

The past four and a half years have been incredibly rewarding, fun, and challenging in a great way!

During this season we have experienced wonderful activities at our beloved SACPC Preschool.
During this time, we not only survived covid but SACPC Preschool thrived during it.
During this season, an incredible staff and ministry team was formed.
During this season, money was raised and an awesome playground was constructed!
During this time, our preschool became financially sound.

What a great season it has been and I am eternally grateful that I have had this opportunity to be the director of this preschool family. And after much thought and prayer, I have made a very hard decision to retire as the director of SACPC Preschool May 31st, 2024.

In my next season, I believe that God is redirecting my talents, or shall I call them “pearls of
wisdom” and I look forward to my role as GiGi, Miracle Maggie’s grandmother, traveling with
Jack, spending more time with family, and devoting more time to my parent coaching business.

I will miss this preschool family so much because they are truly like family to me!
With much love!

Pause, Breathe, and Pray,

Gail Richardson

by Emily Donovan

Be sure to scroll through the entire newsletter, we've made some changes. Below the CareLine you will find the church's financial highlights. These numbers will be updated every month by our Finance Committee. We've also added a special section for Session's monthly reports. You can view the most current Session report in this location and easily access previous reports. 

by Earth Care Corner Education

In our hurried and consumer-driven society where newer and easier is coveted, have we forgotten God's mandate to care for the earth?  Are we sacrificing the health of God's creation with plastic abuse?

To fulfill our needs for convenience, many of us easily overlook the detrimental health impacts of plastic production on others, borne disproportionately by those living in lower-income communities.

Our over-sized demand for plastics creates harm; our demand for "stuff" and for the newest and the best fuels the plastic industry. "Lack of intent does not equate to lack of harm".  One notorious example of unintended consequences is Cancer Alley, a 130-mile stretch along the lower Mississippi, primarily concentrated in Louisiana. This area, which is home to about 400,000 people, or 1/10 of the Louisiana population, is the location of over 200 industrial petrochemical facilities. These toxic manufacturing locations make our plastic water bottles, as well as other single-use plastic items, affordable, and we have come to feel that they are necessary for our daily lives.

These traditionally undervalued communities have been forced to endure the poisoning of their homes and surrounding environments because they have no choice.  Economics keeps people from moving and they suffer debilitating and costly health effects like cancer, organ malfunction, impaired sensory organs (eyes, skin), birth defects, and many more illnesses. We sustain and contribute to the toxicity of their homeland by our choices. We also know what it's like to deal with toxic pollution in our tap water.  While we live far enough away from Cancer Alley, our consumer choices directly impact the lives of others. We can make small and big lifestyle changes to reduce or eliminate our consumption of single-use plastics which will positively impact others. This action is right and just.  

As Psalms 89:14 says, "Your kingdom is founded on righteousness and justice."   We, and the folks along Cancer Alley, are part of God's kingdom, and we must listen to His Word.

Information from www.presbyterianmission.org

by Cindy Litzinger

We are thrilled to welcome Sharon Miller and her trio to the Music on Market Concert on March 2nd at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary. Sharon was SACPC's Director of Music and her husband was the organist from 2008 until 2018, when they retired and moved back to Richmond, VA. We hope you will come out Saturday night and hear Sharon play what will undoubtedly be an incredible concert. As an added treat, Sharon has agreed to share her talents in worship with our congregation on Sunday, March 3rd!  At the 9:00 am service, you can enjoy Sharon playing our grand piano.  And at the 11:00 am service, you can enjoy hearing the entire trio play for worship.  We hope to see you there!

by Gary Smith

Coastal Carolina Presbytery's East Community churches have an wonderful opportunity to participate in an outreach project to eliminate medical debt in our community.

The East steering team has partnered with RIP Medical Debt, a medical relief organization, to relieve the medical debt (as assessed on January 1, 2024) from hospitals in our East Community counties.  We are already getting positive responses from many of our churches.  We want and need 100% of our churches to be part of this blessing for others.  

This video from the East Community Presbytery has more information about this project:

The goal is to raise $20,000 to eliminate $2,000,000 in medical debt.  RIP has already purchased the debt, at greatly reduced rates, from the hospitals in our East Community counties.  This is a very achievable goal if all 48 East Community Presbyterian churches share in their generosity and support.

The campaign runs January 1, 2024 – April 30, 2024. 

Please send contributions for this project to SACPC and list RIP Medical Debt Relief in the Memo line. Ways to give:

Give Online: Use the button below to make an online donation.
Give In Person: We take offerings at every worship service via cash or check.
Mail A Check: You can mail your donations to our front office Please mail them to:

St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church
1416 Market St.
Wilmington, NC 28401

by Cindy Litzinger

Unlock the magic of music!  Join us for Kindermusik classes, starting soon!  Discover the joy of rhythm, melody, and movement in a fun-filled musical adventure for you and your little ones. Don't miss out - reserve your spot today and let the laughter and learning begin!

This is a 4-week class from February 29, 2024 - March 21, 2024.
Cost: $60/child, or $108 for 2 siblings/same class.
Questions?  Contact Cindy Litzinger

by Susan Dykes

Flowers represent a new season, a new birth! This Easter you have the opportunity to contribute to the cost of flowers in memory or in honor of a special person. Beautiful palms and geraniums will be used to help beautify our Sanctuary. Any donation amount is greatly appreciated, the suggested donation is $12. Those interested in donating may use the white ‘Special Flowers’ envelopes located throughout the church, through our website, or contact Susan Dykes in the church office at 762-9693 ext. 207. The due date for donations is Sunday, March 17th.

The prayer stations from Ash Wednesday have been relocated to the Temple Rm 29 on the ground floor to become part of a newly created Spirituality Center.  Additional activities will be added throughout the season to deepen your Lenten journey. These activities are designed for all ages 3 - 103. We invite everyone to enjoy them throughout the Lenten season!

SACPC's Earth Care Team encourages everyone to participate in The Presbyterian Hunger Program's Lenten calendar which focuses on ways to move  "towards sustainable choices that restore and protect all of God’s children and creation." Lent is the perfect time to slow down and reflect on how "our collective choices have led to a changing global climate, which translates to warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, and severe storms..."

To address these global concerns, everyone must "commit to treading lightly on God’s Earth." Our Earth Care Team hopes you will use this resource with your friends and family to take steps intended to create more mindful choices throughout this season and the rest of the year.  

We have purchased digital rights to the Presbyterian Outlook's Lenten series titled Local Pilgrim: A Wandering, Wondering Daily Devotional. Each passage invites you to explore new and familiar places within your community.  Lent is the perfect time for a pilgrimage and this devotional will have you exploring your community with fresh and new eyes like visiting a cemetery, a bar, a library, or an emergency waiting room.
 
Outlook Editor/Publisher Teri McDowell Ott and other writers helped craft this year's daily reflections. The devotional begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. It includes personal reflection, Scripture, and prayer.

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

This week's menu: Italian Sausage and Marinara Sauce with Penne Pasta, Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread, and Dessert. Cost is $25/family of 4 or more, $7/adult, and $5/under 12. 

This Wednesday, we'll gather "around the table" to talk about Matthew 9:9-13 and Hosea 5:15-6:6. Rev. Harrington will lead this discussion.

Dinner is offered in Brown Hall at 5:30 pm.

Music on Market welcomes the TAM(T³) Trio for a concert that will span the ages from classical through folk, jazz, and modern pop.  TAM(T³) includes Sharon Miller on piano, along with Kate Tibbetts on cello, and Christine Anderson on violin. Come enjoy an evening of great music and entertainment. 

Join this women's small group book study which meets every Monday via Zoom. Each week the group discusses a new chapter from the book "Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times" by Bishop Michael Curry. New members are welcome to join at any time. Contact Shelley Hobson or Lynn Kozik for more details or to receive the Zoom link.

by Matthew McDonald

There's no better time to join the ever-expanding Contemporary Worship Team. Matthew McDonald is looking for acoustic guitar, piano, bass guitar, drums, and singers to join the team on Sunday mornings. Training and guidance will be provided throughout the process, and it's a great way to serve our church and connect with a vibrant fellowship. Contact Matthew via email to sign up today!

During March, Go & Serve will be collecting non-perishable foods for Good Shepherd, Salvation Army, and the Rescue Mission. Suggested food items include:

• cereal
• pasta
• pasta sauce
• canned fruits and vegetables (including #10 cans)
• canned soup
• packaged snacks
• canned chicken or tuna

Please drop your donations in the bin in the 15th Street lobby near the Narthex.

We are thrilled to announce an incredible opportunity with a new SACPC summer camp. Get ready for CAMP FUSION - a one-of-a-kind experience that combines the elements of VBS, music, drama, and a musical production! At Camp Fusion, your children will embark on a journey of faith, creativity, and expression.

Camp Fusion Preschool will be a half-day version of the full Camp Fusion experience. Children will experience age-appropriate and fun-filled activities, Bible stories, crafts, and music. 

Camp Fusion will be a full-day experience combining VBS, music, drama, and musical production in a unique opportunity for campers to grow spiritually, explore their artistic abilities, and make lasting memories with new friends.

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

Susan Dykes’ mother-in-law, Carolyn Dykes of Cincinnati, died on February 22nd. No funeral is planned.

Tom Lubbers died on February 19th. A memorial service was held on February 24th at SACPC.  

Joy Keziah, Jane Shelton’s sister-in-law, died on February 18th.

Stephanie Williams’ stepfather, Thomas Diehl, died on February 15th. A family gathering is planned for the banks of the Eno River in Durham.

Bette Jean and Billy Aman’s grandson Brock Pascal has the first of a 2-stage, 2-day back surgery.  The first day was on February 23rd; and the second, on February 27th.  Brock will be at Duke for the surgery.

Bette Jean and Billy Aman’s grandson Aaron Pascal will have shoulder dislocation repair on February 29th in a Raleigh hospital after a skiing accident.

Kelly Hawkins’ brother, Terry Garrett,  had a stroke on February 14th and is recovering in Richlands Hospital in Columbia, SC.

Ann Danchak had a successful hip replacement on February 20th and is recovering at home.

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.

February 27: Barbara Avent, Charles Gainey, Allen Michael Kraus, Paul Richardson, Carolyn Wells
February 28: Kathy Benson, Nancy Bullard, Sue McCaffray
March 1: Gwen Behen, Maryellen Hinson, Elijah Huss, Craig Murden
March 2: Abigail Holder, Kelly Laham
March 3: Julia Lensch, Jack Richardson, Clyde Strassner, Emily Vassar
March 4: Mary Margaret Burney, Maggie Mortenson
March 5: Dawn Wallace

Thank you for contributing to the work and love of Jesus through St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church. Your gifts enable us to stay Faithfully Present in Our Community.

Financial updates will be provided each month.  If you have any questions, please contact Susan Dykes, Financial Administrator, 910-762-9693x207, sdykes@sacpc.org; or our Church Treasurer, Ed Hobson, treasurer@sacpc.org.

View our most recent Session Reports.