Rev. Harrington will lead us in worship using text from John 15:9-17. Communion will be served at both services.

This past Sunday, we officially welcomed the Confirmation Class of 2024 and there was one moment that made this day extra special. During the confirmation process our youth director, Jen Phelps, expressed a need for new stoles. Beth Davis heard the call and exceeded all expectations! Beth designed and created 13 different stoles utilizing fabric materials given by long-time church member, Miranda Dungan. Each stole was thoughtfully designed--some with water, earth care, and music themes. Thank you, Beth Davis, for sharing your godly talents to glorify this special day for our confirmands. God is always working--even in the details. 

Please join us in welcoming our newest SACPC members: (top row, left to right) Finnlay Donovan, Allen Kraus, Max Harrington, Blake Lowry, and Charlotte Smith. (middle row, left to right) Larkin Mayes, and Charlotte Cherry. (front row, left to right) Eliza Johnson, Eliza Rigby, Berkley McEwen, Maggie Butner, and Weezie Heidenreich.

Kara Ann Johnson and her daughter, Eliza Ann Johnson, upon confession of faith, were baptized on April 28, 2024. 

by Education Sector, Earth Care Team

We Americans use a lot of toothbrushes. This keeps our dentists happy and our teeth healthy. Estimating that we have 327 millions of Americans, and that each replaces their toothbrushes regularly, that adds up to about 300 toothbrushes per person in a lifetime. Multiplying this number we find that these plastic sticks weigh in at about 4 billion pounds for each generation, and they end up in our landfills. That's the equivalent of 70 Statutes of Liberty!

A small step in reducing our plastic dependency is to use bamboo toothbrushes. This is an easy and affordable way to make a choice that does help our environment. The handles are even compostable if you remove the nylon bristles. Even better is locating a brand that uses boar hair bristles, which makes the brush completely compostable. One more small change with a heavy impact on our earth.

Source: Living Without Plastic by Brigette Allen and Christine Wong

by Gary Smith

As long-term partners of Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity, we invite members of SACPC to please join us for the kick-off of our new affordable home development!

Haven Place
Wednesday, May 8th at 8:00 am
109 Jubilee Court

This is a day to celebrate as we begin construction on the first of 35 homes that will provide stable, affordable housing for approximately 100 individuals in our community. We would love for you to be part of it.

Jubilee Ct is a new street and may not show up on GPS. Use the following address for the property beside our new neighborhood.

3121 Castle Hayne Road
Castle Hayne, NC 28429

We will celebrate the wall raising of the first home in the neighborhood and the start of Cape Fear Habitat's Women Build Project. The land and $1 million toward this development were donated by New Hanover County.  

Click the link below to sign-up to attend.

Thank you to all who donated to our Presbytery's East Community medical debt relief campaign. Because of your generosity, SACPC reached our internal goal of raising $10,000 towards the Presbytery's goal of $20,000. We raised $10,222!

by Gwen Behen

Physical hunger is a burden many in this world face. One way that we in this congregation can offset the burden of hunger in our church family and local community is through the Unseen Guest Program, which SACPC initiated many years ago. Participating by cooking or financially supporting this service offers us the opportunity to actively follow the teaching of Christ to feed the hungry. Doing that also sometimes alleviates more than physical hunger as folks realize that others are concerned about them.

Today, this program is organized through cook teams of men and women who are assigned a month to cook. Each person assigned that month fills 10-12 trays that are provided. Each cook team cooks 2 to 3 times a year.

This ministry serves some elderly folks in the community, single moms with kids, and children in WRAAP--an after-school program that SACPC supports. We also share meals with individuals in our congregation who are ill, or simply no longer have the energy or motivation to cook.

As some of the current cooks retire from this service, having others step up to fill those food trays is so important to the folks who are served. I ask that you prayerfully consider serving on a cook team.  Even if you can cook only one time a year, that fills a need in the program. Simply call the church office and leave your name and number with the front office staff, or click the button below to send me an email and I will soon contact you. A new rotation is about to be made, and empty slots are waiting to be filled.

Thank you for considering this ministry.

by Sue McCaffray

All adults are invited to gather for a combined Sunday school class in the Kardia Room on Sundays in June. Your friendly staff members will offer a short course on the book of Ephesians. Children having completed Pre-K through Youth are invited to join Jen, Lynn, and friends in the Chillaxation Station on the Ground Floor at 10 am for the first four Sundays in June, where all will learn and grow our faith together in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. So join your church family whether Sunday school is part of your routine or something new and different. All are welcome!

Austyn Gray Rouse, daughter of Jordan Vance and Alice Bullock Rouse received Christian Baptism on April 14, 2024, at SACPC during the 9:00 am service. In baptism, we promise to guide and nurture these children by word and deed, love, and prayer, encouraging them to know and love Jesus Christ and to be His faithful disciples.  

by Preschool Director Search Committee

Our Preschool Director, Gail Richardson, is retiring from her current position as she feels God is redirecting her talents. Gail has been a steadfast leader, guiding our program through Covid, fundraising for a beautiful new playground, and ensuring our Preschool is fiscally sound. Please give Gail a hug and thanks for her dedication and love for our children!

While Gail has planned for the upcoming year, we still need to try and fill her shoes. The search committee has posted the Preschool Director job opening and is currently accepting applications. We are asking our congregation to consider who you might know who would be a good fit to lead our preschool in the next season. The position is listed on Indeed and we are hoping to have it filled by the end of May.

Questions and resumes may be sent to SACPCPreschool@gmail.com or you may speak with one of us.

Peace,
Preschool Director Search Committee
Lauren Allen, Clare Powers, Randy Warner, Paige Williams, Rev. Katherine Harrington

by Gary Smith

We are excited to be back on the build site with Ericka to finish up the construction of her home. We currently have hardware (April 20th) on the volunteer calendar. You can log in to your Volgistics account to access the calendar or use the links below to create an account.

Since we have moved on to finishing work, volunteers ages 14+ are welcome to join in the fun!)

Build Location: 1620 Dorsey Lane  
Note: Dorsey Lane is a new road and may not show up on your GPS. Use the following address instead: 3204 Reminisce Road (Castle Hayne). This is the address for a large blue house on the left side of the street. Dorsey Lane is just past this house! Also, there is a Dorsey Lane in Navassa, so be sure your map is leading you to Castle Hayne!

by Sue McCaffray

The Spiritual Life Team is offering a 2-night, 3-day Fall Retreat from September 20 - 22, 2024 at the beautiful Trinity Center in Pine Knoll Shores. The theme for the weekend is titled: "God is in the Mess: Having Honest Conversations with God." The weekend will be led by Rev. Rachel Doll of Winter Park Presbyterian Church. Rachel is a noted Biblical storyteller, and her focus will be on Mark 4 & 5.

Registration is now open and will close on June 1, 2024. Space is limited. Contact Linda Smith for more information.

Join us for a 6-week Zoom book study every Thursday from May 2nd - June 6th at 6:30 pm. We will explore Old Testament scholar Walter Breuggemann's series, "Embracing the Prophets in Contemporary Culture: Confronting Today's 'Pharaohs'." This class is led by Dave Hoff and Sue McCaffray. There is some reading each week to prepare for class, and a short video that we watch together. Email Dave Hoff for more information and to get the zoom link.

Are you interested in learning more about SACPC and/or becoming a member? Join us for our membership exploration class on May 12th & 19th at 10:00 am in the Dining Room. Rev. Harrington will lead this class with a general overview of St. Andrews-Covenant and our ministries, as well as what it means to be part of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Eden Village is helping house Wilmington's homeless population in innovative and sorely needed ways. From their tiny homes to their new God Pods, they are providing safe, affordable housing for our neighbors in need. Please consider donating any of the following items: Dish soap, disinfectant wipes or sprays, sponges, trash bags, toilet bowl cleaner, or hand sanitizer. A donation table is available in our 15th St. lobby. Simply drop off your items during church office hours or on Sunday mornings. Thank you.

This summer we are offering Camp Fusion - Mission Possible! This will be a combined Vacation Bible School/Music Camp. We have amazing programs planned and invite you to join the fun by being a Camp Volunteer.

Our camp will have morning and afternoon sessions. The morning session will be a "typical" VBS schedule. Preschoolers will participate from 9:00 am - noon and Grades K - 6th will stay from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Morning Volunteers needed for:
Crafts
Shepherds for Preschool, K/1; 2nd/3rd/4th
Storytellers
Recreation

Afternoon Volunteers needed for:
Drama
Music
Set design

Email Lynn Warner if you are interested in blessing this need.

All 6th - 12th grades are invited to attend. We will gather at Wrightsville Beach Park for a cookout and our KICKBALL CHALLENGE with SACPC Elders and Deacons!

Friends are welcome - registration for youth is not required, but there is a sign-up to contribute to the cookout food if you would like.

History buffs and Bible readers alike will find Harry Friedman's engaging book, "The Murderous History of Bible Translation" entertaining and educational at the same time. Did you know that people have been translating scripture for more than 2,000 years? Learn about people like William Tyndale, who gave his life to produce an English-language Bible, and be inspired by their passion for the Word of God.

A very special new book was donated by the Stillpoint Class in honor of Katherine Brandi's mother, Mary Eberts: "The Cup of Our Life", by Joyce Rupp. Rupp offers reflections on how to have a more intimate and disciplined life of prayer, and Mary loved it.  

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

Elizabeth Bland died on April 22, 2024.  No service is planned.

Mary Tyler died on April 23, 2024.  A private service for the family was held on April 27, 2024, in the SACPC Memorial Garden.  A public service is planned for later in the summer.

David Massey’s mother, Emily Massey of Charlotte, had a fall and required surgery to repair a shoulder and a hip fracture.

Billy Purdom (USS Stout DDG ), Smith Beacham (Fort Richardson, Anchorage, AK), Jack Looney (USS Carl Vinson, San Diego, CA) , Samuel Makepeace (Fort Moore, Georgia), Brennan Litzinger (Fort Bliss, Texas), Mikayla Reifert (Kadena, Japan), Bradley Garrett (Coast Guard, Elizabeth City), Patrick Falvey (Landstuhl Military Medical Center, Germany)

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.

April 30: Palmer Sineath
May 1: Margo Davy, Carolyn Wilson
May 2: Ginny Silliman
May 3: Ashley Garrett, Tom Glatt, Berkley McEwen, Cathy McLaughlin
May 4: Tex Peterson
May 6: Clay Harris, David Lensch, Deborah Swart
May 7: Lilli Johnson

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.