Gary Smith will lead us in worship with sermon text coming from Isaiah 58:6-12 and  Matthew 25:31-46.

by Catheryn Thomas

This Thursday, October 24th, the office will be open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, then closed the rest of the afternoon. Staff will be working remotely.

by Katie Harrington

In times of crisis and in times of celebration, we as the church want to pray with you and care for you. Please continue to send us all your prayer requests, concerns, milestones, celebrations, and service personnel updates by using the CareLine Request form located on our website under "Resources" or on the home screen of our mobile app. The CareLine is published weekly in our Saints Alive newsletter.

For more direct pastoral care needs, including a call from a pastor or a hospital visit, contact the church office (910.762.9693 x201). Please let us know how we as a congregation can pray with and for you!!

by Cindy Litzinger

Our Music on Market series continues with a free concert by the NC Brass Band on Saturday, November 16th at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary. Get into the festive spirit with this brass quintet concert featuring an enchanting repertoire of beloved holiday music. Experience brilliant musicianship, the powerful blend of brass instruments, and unforgettable melodies to fill your hearts with the holiday spirit.  This is sure to be a Quintessential Holiday Concert Experience!

by Sue McCaffray

We will wrap up our Mr. Rogers month on Sunday, Oct. 27, 10 am-11 am in Brown Hall as children of ALL ages gather to hear the greatest of all neighbor stories, the parable of the Good Samaritan. All children, youth, and adults are welcome. Bring your kids, bring your parents, bring your friends, or come on your own for lesson, refreshments, service project, and more.

by Katherine Brandi

November's Let Justice Roll Down Bible study will be led by Lynn Atkinson. The theme is Food Justice. The Bible portrays the earth as yielding food in abundance, and today’s agricultural scientists say it could provide food for all.  We can learn to produce food with justice and peace and feed a starving world. We will explore scripture from Genesis 1:22, 3:19; Exodus 16:13-18, 19-21; Joshua 5:12; Psalm 65:11-14, 78:23-29, 105:40-41; Hosea 4:1b-3; Micah 6:12-15; Matthew 13:8; Mark 4:8; Luke 8:8.

All are invited to attend. The same lesson will be given on November 12th, 13th, or 14th at 10:00 am in Dining Room. See Katherine Brandi for details.

by Katherine Brandi

This event is sponsored by our Women's Ministry Team and open to the public, encourage your friends and neighbors to attend. Check-in starts at 1:30 pm with the program beginning promptly at 2:00 pm. Breaks and snacks included.

Guest Speakers:
Kevin Kramer, Certified Financial Planner - “Scams and Ways to Protect Your Money”
Holly Pilson, Director, Cape Fear Agency on Aging
Representative from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office - “Fraud and Scam Prevention“

The event will include an expert panel discussion followed by audience Q&A. Contact the church office for more details.

by John Bobrink

Stewardship packets are available for pick-up during POPS this Wednesday and again on Sunday between both worship services. Help us save on postage by making an effort to pick up your packet while at church. After Oct. 27th, any leftover packets will be mailed.

by Shelley Hobson

If you’re at least 70 ½ years old and have an IRA, a Qualified Charitable Distribution might provide a tax-saving way to give to SACPC.  

Here’s an update: For tax year 2024, if you are age 70½ by December 31, 2024, you are eligible to contribute up to $105,000 from your IRA Savings account to a 501{c}3 organization such as St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church prior to the end of the calendar year. This is particularly beneficial for taxpayers not filing tax returns with itemized deductions. This is no longer tied to your Required Minimum Distribution.

A Qualified Charitable Distribution represents one of the few ways a taxpayer can withdraw funds from an IRA without incurring income tax liability. An additional benefit of using this feature of the tax code is it may reduce the percentage of your Social Security income subject to income tax. For 2025, this amount is expected to increase due to the indexing for inflation per the tax code. The limit for 2025 is not yet published.

For more information please consult with your tax advisor. For assistance with a QCD contact your IRA Custodian.

by David Massey

For the last six years our church has formed multiple basketball teams for the high school boys that live in our neighborhood, playing games in the Halo Hoops Basketball league. We are hoping to continue this ministry, and even expand it, yet we need additional adult men to assist.  We hold practice one day a week after school starting in mid December and the games are on Saturdays during the months of January and February.  If interested in participating in this impactful ministry please contact David Massey for additional information.  

by René Sasser

The preschool has had a wonderful start to the year! Children are settling into the year and learning new things every day. Chapel has started and we appreciate Lynn Warner sharing her gifts with us each week. One way you can support the preschool is by linking your Harris Teeter VIC card to our school - St. Andrews-Covenant Preschool or use our code 6685. For every account that links to our school and either has an existing HT Plus membership or signs up for a trial membership, Harris Teeter will donate $10 to our school. If you have questions about this, contact René.

Thank you for supporting our preschool. It is such a beautiful ministry of the church.

Menu: Caesar Salad, Pasta Alfredo, Garlic Bread, and Tiramisu Cake. Cost is $25/family, $7/adult, and $5/under 12.

Please join our own Pate Southerland and Everett Randall at POPS on Wed., Oct. 20th, 6:30 pm -7:30 pm, in the Kardia Room, as these two retired insurance veterans explain the fine points of various kinds of insurance. We are fortunate to have experts among us. Bring your friends and join us after dinner, or better yet, join us FOR dinner at 5:30 pm before the presentation.

Our small group ministry for 6th - 12th graders meets this Wednesday at the HUB. Doors open at 6:30 pm for fellowship with programming starting at 7:00 pm. See Rita Pasquariello for more details.

Youth choir rehearsals are 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: 10/16, 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.

Our Banned Book club will be reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. This book is recommended for ages 11 and up and won a National Book Award. Amy Stuart (who has won our hearts) will again be leading our discussion. For more details, contact Amy.

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

Wayne Wright will have sinus surgery at Chapel Hill on October 25th.

We pray for all those who have been affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton with loss of life, livelihoods, and property.

Miranda Dungan who is nearing the end of life.

The SACPC Fall Mission Trip Team October 27th - 30th: Sallie Bridger, Mary Kay (MK) Campbell, Lil  Conley, Kathy Denlinger, Mary Farmer, Shelley Hobson, Sonya Johnston, Nancy Lund, Linda  Nicks, Fatima Charlton, Paul Charlton, George Bridger, Jeffrey Denlinger, Donald Harris, Ed Hobson, Chris Johnston, Bill Landen, Scott Lund, Jack Richardson, David Smith, Gary Smith, Pate Southerland

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)

Prayer requests: Click here to tell us about your need.

Hospitalizations: Please click here to email Katie Harrington or call the church office at 910.762.9693 to leave a message.

October 22: Sam Query
October 23: Harrison Landen
October 24: Jackie Norton
October 25: Jacob Waldrop
October 26: Ron Faulk, John Stewart, Greg Wayne Jr.
October 27: Jim Kraus, Frances Todd
October 28: Donna Farren, Hampton Thompson
October 29: Jackie Cooke

View our most recent Session Reports.