Rev. Harrington will lead us in worship with the sermon text coming from Ephesians 4:25-5:2.

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.

As of the end of June, giving is below budget expectations, resulting in a year-to-date shortfall of $132,109.  So that we can continue to spread the Word of God, as well as serve our congregation and the community, please prayerfully consider giving to help rebound from this deficit.

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.

by Jen Phelps

Students and parents and ANYONE interested in our Youth Ministry are invited to The HUB to learn about what we have been doing - what we will be up to - and maybe even how to get involved.

by Katie Harrington

Our church is a wonderful gift for gathering, worshiping, and remaining faithfully present in our community. In July, we sent a letter to the congregation regarding plans to upgrade our HVAC system. Below is a copy of the letter for those who missed reading it. 

by Emily Donovan

SACPC's Earth Care Team invites you to join us on Saturday, September 28th for the 4th Annual Brunswick Heritage Riverside Ride. This is a 16-mile bike ride along northern Brunswick County’s Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. The pace is casual and is a great outdoor family-friendly experience.

The event is free and does require registration. Click the link below to learn more.

by Sue McCaffray

If you have been enjoying a summer break mark your calendar for the return of all Sunday school classes in September. Many adult classes have been meeting regularly throughout the summer; however, all classes will resume (or continue) as our new school year begins.

Watch for details about fall curriculum plans in late August. EVERYBODY is welcome in each of these classes. Visit as many as you please and meet the friendly folks who occupy the second floor between 10:00 am - 11:00 am on Sunday mornings.

by Cindy Litzinger

Registration is now open! This 8-week music-filled class celebrates the unique joys of your growing child. Each week your child will love singing, dancing, and playing instruments with you and their new friends and you'll love helping your child practice a wide variety of abilities such as gross and fine motor skills, turn-taking, social skills, and active listening.

In class, we'll also share tips and ideas for using music throughout the week. Plus, the fun (and learning!) continues with the Kindermusik home materials, including music from class, musical activities, and each month's story.

Multi-Age, Family Environment (ages birth - 6 yrs)
Classes are 40 minutes
Class Time: Mondays at 10:30 am
Tuition & Materials:  $120/child or $215 for 2 siblings

Classes Start Monday, September 16, 2024!

by Cindy Litzinger

Music on Market is proud to bring Wilmington Voices to its concert series. They will present Music for a Sacred Space, an evening of choral music that is not only a celebration of artistic excellence but also a testament to the enduring power of music. They seek to create a sense of peace and reverence in the hallowed confines of a sacred sanctuary, transcending boundaries and uniting hearts in a shared journey through sublime music. Whether one seeks solace, inspiration, or simply an opportunity to bask in the beauty of choral harmonies, this concert promises to be a memorable and uplifting experience for all who attend.

by Shelley Hobson

Our newest study is by Presbyterian pastor Timothy Keller.  Our group of women meets by Zoom every Monday from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm and discusses a chapter each week. You are invited to join us!  Stimulating discussions with no heavy lifting! For more information or to be added to our email list so you will receive the Zoom link, contact Lynn Kozik or Shelley Hobson.

by Shelley Hobson

The Malawi Partnership Team is excited that our good friend and Chulochosema pastor Silas Ncozana will arrive in Wilmington soon! The plan is for Abusa Silas to arrive (or around) September 19th and stay until the end of the month. His visit with us will be the final one as he is on his way to much-deserved retirement, and we will make time to celebrate his love for and inspiration to us. We are also anticipating that Joseph Malanga, associate pastor at Chuluchosema, will arrive several days after Silas (we are praying that he will get his visa!).  

Our church family will have several opportunities to greet and hear from Silas and Joseph during POPS and worship. There are also spaces in their schedule for your family or small group to invite one or both of them for a meal or your favorite Wilmington outing. If you would like to reserve a place on the visit calendar to spend extra time getting to know our partners, please contact Ed & Shelley Hobson.

by David Massey

Calling all Men… The Men’s Football Ministry is Fast Approaching.

Starting Thursday, September 5th our Men’s Football Ministry will host the NHHS football team for their weekly “pre-game” team meal.  While many of us have been lounging on the beach during these hot summer months, the NHHS football players have been sweating it out on the practice field preparing for another football season.  Please feel free to join us this fall.  This ministry is a wonderful avenue to fellowship with our neighborhood high school football team. If you have questions please feel free to call me and/or Russell Herring. Go Wildcats!

David Massey: 910-617-8546
Russell Herring: 910-520-9238

by Earth Care Education

The Earth is the Lord's, and all that is in it.  Psalm 24:1 

What can fly sideways, backward, and hover in place, but is not a helicopter? The answer is dragonflies/damselflies or odonates. Our good Father has given us these amazing creatures to delight and benefit us. These insects are nature's most lethal predators of mosquitoes, gnats, deer flies, and wasps, with a 95% success rate when hunting.  

Odonates have excellent vision, and can also race up to 30 mph with their independently operated four wings, which also account for their agility.  Being the strongest insect fliers in the world, some travel thousands of miles in their adult lifetime.  

Adults usually live about six months, but usually take from 3-5 years to develop underwater as nymphs before emerging as adults, which explains their living and breeding near water.  

They are an old species. Some types were around over 350 million years ago before birds and dinosaurs went extinct. There are many folk legends about these insects. Some referred to them as the "devil's darning needles", and misbehaving children were told these needles could sew their mouths, ears, or eyes shut!  But more cultures saw them in positive ways and associated them with good fortunes and spiritual awakening. There was a legend that said the dragonflies/damselflies were given an extra set of wings so angels could ride on their backs. Native American legends explained that they began as dragons, but were tricked by a coyote to shape-shift into an insect. Once it changed, it couldn't shift back. However, for this writer, the fact that they feast on mosquitoes is enough for me!

Sources:  Iowa State University Dept. of Etymology; reviz.com; Sierra Magazine - Summer 2024

Our next Banned Book Club book is Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You; A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning (AGES 12 & UP). We will meet in person this time at The HUB for discussion and desserts.  Amy Stuart will be leading our discussion. We are welcoming any that want to be included, but we are reading the young adult version recommended for ages 12 and up. Parents are encouraged to read the book along with their students!

On Sunday, August 25th, at 9:00 am and 11:00 am worship services, we will bless our teachers and students as they return to school. While we always hold you in our prayers throughout the school year we want to take this opportunity to bless the beginning of another school year for those who teach and those who are receiving the gift of teaching. 

Join us the last Saturday of even months as SACPC volunteers prepare and enjoy breakfast with our neighbors at Vigilant Hope. There are many ways to serve--with your time or your donations. Click the link below to sign up or see the supply list. See Jen Phelps for more details.

Come celebrate the end of summer and get plugged in with all the things happening in and with SACPC this fall! There will be food, games, prizes, and a special mission project. Find your people and maybe your purpose in serving in our ministries.

Join us for breakfast and a dedication of our newly-renovated Brown Hall! We will enjoy a time of fellowship and gratitude for the generous gift the Rudisill family gave in honor of Debbie as we dedicate Brown Hall to the glory of God.

Save the Date for our Fall Festival! We are joining with The Block tenants to put on a festival for the community including food, games, and a Trunk-or-Treat! More info coming soon. See Ann Danchak for details.

This month children in our county are either getting ready to return to school or, in the case of our year-round schools, are already in the classroom. For some of those children, the beginning of school means a return to regular meals, community, and much more stability than they’ve had during the summer. Once school starts, many of these children will be provided with free breakfasts and lunches, but snacks that they can either eat during or after school are also important. Some of you may not be aware that teachers often purchase such snacks themselves.  Please prayerfully consider helping fill these students' bellies this month. Donations needed:

• granola bars
• fruit or applesauce cups
• individually-packaged crackers
• pudding cups
• small water bottles or juice pouches

Donations may be delivered to the table in the 15th Street lobby. Thank you!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:4-6

Fred Cerequas died on August 6th. A service will be streamed on August 25th.  Fred was active in the SACPC choir for a time.

Faye Bauer, Rebecca Jernigan’s mother, died on August 8th.  A memorial service was held on August 12th.  A graveside service will be held in Ohio on September 14th.

Debbie Dunaway Reid died on August 3rd. A service will be held at Cameron Art Museum on September 7th, 2:00 pm.

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.

August 13: Walter Futch, Don Harris
August 14: Linda Montgomery
August 15: Terry Wilson
August 16: Kady Hurd, Marjie Kunz
August 17: Brooke Brownfield, Catherine Daum, Robert Keith
August 18: Alex DeSherbinin, Thomas Lockamy
August 19: Randy Barrow, Henry Wortman, Mike Youngblood
August 20: David Wortman

View our most recent Session Reports.