This month, we will be focusing on the teachings of Mr. Rogers in our POPS programming and Sunday School classes. On this World Communion Sunday, we will celebrate the Lord's Supper with our neighbors at tables throughout the world, and seek to see how both Jesus and Mr. Rogers teach us what it means to be a neighbor. The sermon text comes from Scripture: Luke 10:25-37.

by Katherine B. Harrington

Our hearts are breaking as we hear news and see pictures of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene from Florida through Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and so much damage in our NC mountains, including Montreat. Many of us have family members, loved ones, homes and spiritual connections to these areas that have been deeply impacted. We do not know the full extent of the damages; and we know many are stranded with no access to water, power, or the ability to rapidly communicate emergency needs.

First, let us hold all involved close in our prayers. May God surround them with strength and give them hope during this time of deep crisis. Second, let us join our prayers with action. If you would like to immediately contribute to relief efforts, you may do so through the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA):

As always, 100% of your PDA donations will go to disaster relief efforts. PDA is ready to provide rapid response and immediate relief to all impacted areas. In the coming days, weeks, and months, there will be many opportunities to respond to recovery efforts. SACPC will be seeking ways to respond as a church, as well.

by Katherine Brandi

.For October, Beth Cherry will facilitate this Bible study on Land Justice using scripture from Genesis 2:7; Leviticus 25:23; 25; 26-27; 28; Deuteronomy 20:16-18; Joshua 6; 1 Kings 21: 1-16; Psalm 24: 1-2; Isaiah 5:8. Scriptural accounts of divinely ordered conquest and laws of Jubilee that support the rights of individual landowners stand in tension but are rooted in the perception that all the earth is God’s.

The same lesson will be given on October 8th, 9th or 10th at 10:00 am in the Dining Rm. All are welcome to join this church-wide Bible study sponsored by the Presbyterian Women. Contact Katherine Brandi for more details.

by Lynn Warner & Sue McCaffray

In October, we will journey into Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood as a congregation. Not only was this a beloved children's TV show airing from 1968 - 2001, but it was also a powerful evangelical message by Presbyterian minister, Rev. Fred Rogers (a.k.a. Mr. Rogers).

During Sunday school, Children, Youth, and Living Faith (adult) classes will use a special PC(USA) intergenerational curriculum looking at how Mr. Rogers "exhibited the Kingdom of Heaven to the world"--one of the Great Ends (goals) of our denomination.

The children's ministry will also use Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood to explore our own Neighborhoods - what will we have in our neighborhoods, who will be our helpers, and how will we deal with conflict in our neighborhoods. We will be looking at this through the eyes of scripture as we learn about and practice living as good neighbors in today's world.

Katie's sermons in October will draw from the curriculum series, and during POPS Programs we will screen the documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" about Mr. Rogers' life and work. Mark your calendar for these exciting opportunities:

Wednesday, Oct. 9th
POPS Program: Mr. Rogers’ Documentary Screening “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
6:30 pm, Brown Hall

Wednesday, Oct. 16th
POPS Program: Let's Talk About Mr. Rogers' Ministry
6:30 pm, Kardia Rm 224

Sunday, Oct. 27th
Intergenerational Sunday School
10:00 am, Brown Hall

by Katie Harrington

Are you interested in learning more about SACPC and/or becoming a member? Join us for our membership exploration class on October 13th & 20th 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).

by Lynn Warner

Come join our annual Fall Festival for Children & Families, put on by the SACPC Children's Ministry.  There will be games, crafts, snacks, photo-ops, face painting & Trunk or Treat!  This event is free to all!  Come and have fun! Great event for children and families!! This is a rain-or-shine event, the rain location will be Brown Hall. See Mrs. Lynn for more details.

by Earth Care Education

You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless. - Proverbs 14:31a

Being part of a jelly-making, sweet tea-drinking family made switching to organic sugar, costing a good bit more per pound, a surprisingly hard decision. However, after reading accounts of those in lower economic communities who suffer because of the burning of sugar cane to make white sugar crystals, switching made the decision an unavoidable personal moral issue, not an economic one.

There are two ways to harvest sugar cane, by burning the fields or by using mechanical harvesters, or green harvesting. Green harvesting is cutting cane without fire. Many countries have switched to green harvesting because of the effect on the health of their populations, and also for the environmental benefits.  

Conversely, the Glades in Florida, a major sugar-producing area in the US, has chosen to burn fields. Sifting through several sources of information on this issue has led this writer to conclude that the often cited words "profit over people" is the main reason that there is still burning of sugarcane fields in this area.

Some in the sugar industry do not want to make the initial investment of changing methods in harvesting sugar cane, even though the people in the areas of the fields are harmed, and the land and water they depend on are degraded by burning.

“Big sugar” is the largest employer in the Glades and pays good wages to the local workers. This fact alone causes divisions in the communities as arguments for and against burning come up.  People don’t want to lose good jobs. But those in the community who oppose burning say, “It can be better.” In fact, it can be better with new developments in mechanical harvesting and crop management. There are those who use organic methods as well, which do not include burning.

There is inequity in this whole issue. The truth is that big sugar carries a lot of political weight, while those in the communities who are adversely affected do not. A case in point is that the State mandates that burning can only be done when the winds aren’t blowing east into the more affluent neighborhoods of Palm Beach County.

Why is this even an issue?  The burning produces fine particles that aggravate respiratory and heart diseases.  During the 8-month burning season, there is often “black rain”.  People in the Glades avoid being outside during these months because of the volatile chemicals, such as acetone and benzene, which the smoke and sticky ash carry, and which coat everything in their paths, and seep into homes. During the spring through fall burning season, growers burn thousands of fires across over 400,000 acres of Florida.  Many of the schools in the area can see and smell the smoke and fires from the cane fields nearby.

As with all issues, this one has multiple sides. Switching to green harvesting initially increases transportation and harvesting costs. Since Growers don’t want to invest in updated equipment and adopt better ways of handling trash by-products, at first green harvesting results in less cane yield. But taking the longer view shows that the soil and water are eventually made healthier and harvest increases; the use of herbicide and chemical fertilizer cost decreases; air pollution is reduced, as are greenhouse gas emissions; and most importantly, public health in surrounding communities improves.  

There is some sugar harvested that isn’t burned, and isn’t labeled Organic, but finding the source of that sugar is an almost impossible task. The old adage of not letting perfection keep one from doing good leads convincingly to organic sugar. Again another caveat is that organic sugar shouldn’t be used in hummingbird food. The sugar has iron in it that the birds can’t handle.

Change is hard for most people, especially where money is involved, but sometimes change is desperately needed, and not for trivial reasons.  In this case change would be to benefit the future of real people in real communities.

Sources:Google: Stop the Burn, Go Green; University of Florida “Burning or Mechanical  Harvesting “ 2018 report; South Florida Sun Sentinel-opinion Patrick Ferguson; Sierra, Summer 2024, “A Burning Issue”.

Our POPS program for Oct. 2nd features an informative talk by Jan Fisher, of Church World Service, and our own Karen Frye, who will explain this organization does resettling refugees in our community. SACPC has worked with CWS in the past. Did you know that second Great End of the Church, according to the Book of Order is: "the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God" ?

We are excited to announce that the youth choir will begin starting Oct. 2nd. Rehearsals will be from 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm in the Choir Rm every other Wednesday, alternating with D-Groups so students can attend both D-Groups and Youth Choir. Rehearsal dates are: 10/2, 10/16, 10/30, 11/13, 12/4. We will sing in worship on Dec. 8th at 10:00 am. All are welcome! Invite your friends. See Angela Burns for details.

In October, we will collect for our neighbors, Vigilant Hope, which provides vital services to those in our city who, sadly, have no place to call home. Let's help them out with the following: 

• Umbrellas
• AAA batteries
• Men's undershirts (L and XL)
• Men's and women's warm socks
• Stocking caps

Please drop your donations in the bin in the 15th Street lobby near the Narthex. Contact Jane Smith for details.

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 by providing beneficial programs and spiritual events that lift up, motivate, and provide joy!

As of the end of August, giving is below budget expectations, resulting in a year-to-date shortfall of $114,090.  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.

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

Victims of Hurricane Helene who have been affected by loss of life, livelihoods, and property.

Martha Futch had a cardiac catheterization on September 30 and is doing well recovering at home.

Barbara Hart is moving on October 1 to a care facility in Norfolk VA to be near her daughter.

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.

October 2: Barbara Hart, Jeanne Owens
October 3: Valeri Froneberger
October 4: Murray Degnan, Jacob Diab, Cleve Nordeen
October 5: Hobbs Bissette
October 8: Wade Brownfield, David Swain

View our most recent Session Reports.