A love so attentive—and so offensive—that it healed. Katie leads us in worship with scripture from Luke 19:1-10 as we meet God [in] between the extremes of righteousness & mercy.

By Evelyn Estep

Am I willing?
Am I willing to abandon my routines, my security for His sake if it is the path He has set for me? Where will that path lead? Am I being asked to lose myself in finding Jesus and encountering the love of God in Jesus? Who will I be?

As Thomas Merton wrote:
 
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore, I will trust you always,
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Charlotte Smith, a sophomore at North Brunswick High School, loves making art.  She likes to find inspiration for her subject matter anywhere and everywhere — from images she sees that stick with her to daily experiences to the range of emotions she feels at any given moment.

Her painting of Zacchaeus meeting Jesus in Luke 19 is imaginative and whimsical. Instead of illustrating the Bible story in a traditional way, Charlotte was inspired to play into the stereotypes we assign animals often seen in storybooks.

Charlotte thought of Zacchaeus as a sly fox for several reasons. Not only are foxes shifty and manipulative, they’re also sweet and curious creatures. Zacchaeus is hated by many as a tax collector but he’s also curious about Jesus enough to climb a tree to see Him. Jesus knows Zacchaeus is better than his bad reputation and deceitful ways. You’ll see Jesus as a dove, rising to meet Zacchaeus. You’ll also see the crowd as a flock of noisy, raucous birds.

Charlotte said this about working on her piece: “It reminded me how important it is to not judge someone by what you see. There’s often a person behind the rough exterior who’s lovable and deserves a second chance. It’s important to remember that we’re supposed to love everyone — even the people who’re hardest to love.”

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. We plan to order palms and geraniums to help beautify our Sanctuary.

Any donation amount is greatly appreciated and those interested 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, April 13th.

by Lynn Warner

Attention all children or anyone wishing to be part of the Palm Processional. Join Lynn in the Chapel 10 minutes before either the 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. services on Palm Sunday, April 13th, to be part of the Palm Processional.

by Lynn Warner

Christ is Risen! Happy Easter! Children are invited to search for Easter Eggs during our Fellowship Time between services on Easter Sunday, April 20th! Infants through 5th Grade--and their parents--are encouraged to gather on the 15th St. sidewalk to meet with Lynn Warner for further instructions. No need to bring an Easter basket, we will provide bags. The egg hunt will only begin after the early service congregation has fully left the Sanctuary. Come, join the fun!

by Earth Care Team

As we get closer to celebrating our risen Lord, we encourage everyone to consider trying one or more of these Earth Care friendly practices during your family's Easter celebrations.

by Pate Southerland

This is a free, guided 6-mile paddle along the scenic and beautiful Black River. It is a very easy paddle by canoe or kayak and great for families with children who like to explore the outdoors. We'll enjoy many beautiful cypress trees on this stretch of the river and the water is very clean because there is no industry located nearby.

Plan to gather at the parking lot by New Hanover High School's tennis courts next to Brown Hall at 7:00 am sharp. We will leave at 7:30 am and travel approximately 30 miles to our put-in on the Black River. We should arrive back in Wilmington by 3:30 pm.

If you do not have your own canoe or kayak, we will help you find one. Registration is required and must be completed no later than 2:00 pm on Thursday, April 24th. You can register online or call the church office at 910.762.9693.

Any questions, or if you need a boat, call Pate Southerland at 910 262 4122.

by Julian March

March 6th Called Meeting
The session met to review a report on our Capital Campaign Feasibility Study. Rev. Harrington will share more details in a congregational letter.

March 16th Called Meeting
The Session held a called meeting to receive new members. Following introductions and the required faith questions answered in the affirmative, the session voted unanimously to receive the following individuals by reaffirmation of faith as members of SACPC:

• Michael J. DeCocco
• Emily Helen Hill
• George H. Franck
• Meryl Ann Samuel Franck
• Rebecca Y. Klouse
• Kristen E. Roeder LoMonaco
  
  

March 24th Standing Meeting
Rev. Harrington called the meeting to order and called on Steve Miller, who offered a devotion based on Joshua 3:5 and other scriptures and opened the meeting with prayer. 

Ryan Johnson reviewed the role of the Human Resources Committee, which contributes to the life of the church by serving as a confidential sounding board for the head of staff; acting in an advisory capacity; recommending terms of call and completing annual review of head of staff; updating the employee handbook and job descriptions; and participating in the annual budget process from a payroll perspective. 
. 
Overview from Sanctuary Task Force: Beth Davis provided an overview of the items that were included in the recommended budget that resulted from the Sanctuary Task Force. 

Presbytery report: Virginia Hager and Jack Richardson represented SACPC at the March 1, 2025, Presbytery meeting, where Travis “T” Worrell presented a sermon, was
examined, and then Presbytery voted to certify him as ready for ordination. He started this process as a SACPC member in 2015 and is serving at Woodburn Presbyterian Church in Leland.

Rev. Parker Lucas shared a reflection on his first month with SACPC, which included visits to the Harrelson Center, Carousel Center and Vigilant Hope, and how SACPC supports a variety of area missions. He spoke about the love and care the congregation has for people who walk in the building.

Katie Harrington reported:

• Gratitude for the Spiritual Life team’s leadership in curating art for Lent with artists illustrating worship themes.
• Holy Week has been planned, will be live-streamed and all are encouraged to attend.

Rev. Harrington adjourned the meeting by leading the group in singing the Doxology. 

by Lynn Warner

The third group in the PC(USA) that receives money given through OGHS is the Self Development of People (SDOP).

The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People is a ministry that affirms God’s concern for humankind. We are Presbyterians and ecumenical partners dissatisfied with poverty and oppression, united in faith and action through sharing, confronting, and enabling by participating in the empowerment of economically poor, oppressed, and disadvantaged people, seeking to change the structures that perpetuate poverty, oppression, and injustice.

Since its creation, the Self-Development of People Committee has had authority and responsibility to engage in a special ministry: 1) entering into partnership with groups of economically poor, oppressed, and disadvantaged people, 2) interacting with presbyteries and synods in the process of certifying their Self-Development Committees and helping to facilitate their work, and 3) encouraging a deeper understanding and involvement of the Church in the process of self-development.

Join us in welcoming Doug Mortenson one of our new members as of November 25, 2024. Doug is married to Robin Andrews Mortenson and they have two children, Maggie age 6 and Cole age 4.  Doug is on the Finance Committee and both Doug and Robin are involved in the preschool program.

by Carol Query

SACPC members and friends are invited to participate in the preparation of casseroles for the clients of the Domestic Violence Shelter.  Aluminum casserole pans and tops are available in the mailroom along with instructions for making and delivering the casseroles to the church on Sundays.  For additional information, please contact Carol Query at 910-470-3127 or send Carol and email.

by Earth Care Corner Education

“Using native plants is a common sense way to garden.”  That was a message we heard from Sarah Anderson during her recent POPS presentation.

With that in mind, the New Hanover County Arboretum is hosting a native plant sale from April 10-12, 10:00am-5:00pm each day.  

There is also an area in the Arboretum landscaped with native plants to stimulate ideas, and Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions. So this might just be your opportunity to give native landscaping a try or maybe try a native plant or two.

Spring is wonderful.  Happy Gardening!

by Lynn Warner

Last week in the MORE portion of M&M on Wednesday afternoon we played a game with balloons. We have been talking about working together as the body of Christ and played a game where we had to keep a balloon in the air - sometimes two or three!!! We didn't want the balloon to fall in the swamp! We started standing, then on our knees, then sitting down and finally laying down. We discovered that we all found one way or the other easier. The goal was to work together to keep the balloon up! Moral of the story - Teamwork makes the dream work. We all make up the body of Christ and when we work together cooperatively God's love is clearly evident!

by René Sasser

If you happen to have any extra paper at home that you are no longer using, the preschool would love to have it for our children's free art play. We can use old computer paper, printer paper, letterhead paper, plain note cards, card stock, etc. Consider us if you run across any paper you'd like to share.

by René Sasser

Registration for preschool is going well. Some classes are full and others are filling up quickly. We do have some spots available and would love to have your child, grandchild, or friend join us. We offer 2, 3 and 5 day options. Please email René for more information or to schedule a tour. We would love to meet you and share more information about our school!

by Kent Anderson

Nominations for next year's church officers are NOW OPEN. Nominations can be made online or via a Nomination form found on the back of our pews, as well as various locations in the church. Forms can be placed in the offering plates or turned into the church office. Please submit nominations by May 4th.

Come have dinner with your church family this Wednesday! Menu: Caesar Salad, Chicken Parmesan over Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, and Dessert. Cost: $7/adult, $5/under 12, or $25/family.

Our POPS Programs during Lent will tackle a handful of well-known stories from Luke's gospel that will be Katie's sermon texts for the coming Sunday. Join us as we help shape these sermons, pondering what it means to encounter God [in] between the extremes. We will use the scripture passages and a devotional guide. This weekly Bible study is led by Katie Harrington and Sue McCaffray.

**IMPORTANT INFO FOR APRIL 5th RALEIGH RINGER CONCERT **  Doors will open at 6:30 pm for ticket holders only. Seating will be held for ticket holders until 7:00 pm, after which time, seating will be first come-first served. See Cindy Litzinger for more details.

April's Let Justice Roll Down Bible study will be led by Barbara Hager. The theme is Intergenerational Justice. Like the authors who reflected midstream on the meaning of ancient Judah’s story with God, who held onto unrealized hopes for their future, we have a story with God, a story whose meaning is changing. We will explore scripture from 2 Kings 22:20; 23:25; 23:29-30; 24:1–25:25; 25:27-30.

All are invited to attend. The same lesson will be given on April 8th, 9th, and 10th at 10:00 am in Dining Room. See Katherine Brandi for details.

Join us on Palm Sunday at 11:00 am for a special presentation by our Adult Handbells group. They will be presenting "The Passion Prophecy" by Cathy Moklebust, a musical interpretation of Isaiah 53:4-5:

This musical offering will help us reflect on the profound theme of sacrifice and redemption, while preparing our hearts for Holy Week.

April's collection will be for various supplies in support of the Child Development Center (CDC), which provides early intervention services at their preschool for special needs children. The children they serve will be better prepared for their school experience the following year and beyond.

We can support the littlest of our neighbors with the following donations:  

• Glue sticks
• Construction paper
• Preschool-age story books
• Bubbles
• Hula hoops 
• Goo-Gone
• Staples 

Thank you for your generous support.

PLEASE NOTE: Only 4 spots remain. Please register as soon as possible If you are planning to attend this trip.

We are partnering with the Fuller Center in Burnsville, NC, from May 4th to 10th. The upfront trip cost is $150 - $154/person. Go & Serve will reimburse attendees $75 upon confirmed registration. Space is limited to 20 participants total. Click the link below to register or contact Gary Smith for questions.

We are thrilled to announce Year Two of an incredible summer camp opportunity for children ages preschool - 5th grade. Get ready for CAMP FUSION 2025: Putting Our Trust in  God. This one-of-a-kind experience combines the elements of VBS, music and creative arts!

Dates: June 16 - 20, 2025
Time: 9:00 am - noon
Ages: 3 years old (potty-trained) - not yet completed Kindergarten
Cost: $30/child

Preschool  campers will experience all the fun-filled morning activities which include Bible stories, crafts, and music;  however, they will not participate in the afternoon program. 

Dates: June 16 - 20, 2025
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Ages: Grades K - 5th (completed)
Cost: $120/child

Grades K - 5th campers will embark on a journey of faith, creativity, and expression. They will have the chance to deepen their understanding of the Bible through engaging lessons and activities; as well as, explore their musical, dramatic and artistic talents. The week ends with a special performance on Friday, June 20th at 2:00 pm.

*Register Early - space is limited.*
*Need-based scholarships are available.*

Middle school kids are invited to The HUB for their own Sunday night get together. We will have snacks (but not dinner) and an opportunity for fun and fellowship and some Sardines. Bring all the friends!

We have the opportunity to spend some of New Hanover County School's Spring Break serving our church and our neighbors!

Middle and high school students are invited to gather at the church the morning of Monday, April 14th: drop off anytime between 8:00 am - 12:00 pm.

We will be working at the church in the morning, then going as a group to work at the Diaper Pantry and then dinner at Eden Village.

Sign ups are needed, but space is not limited (we just need to know how many we are transporting around town).

Friendly Reminder: We believe money should never be a reason why a youth is unable to attend our trips. We also don't want families to feel like they have to choose financially between attending a youth trip or doing a different activity. We have partial scholarships available to offset the cost of any youth trip. Please contact Jen for more information.

Montreat Youth Conference
June 8 - 14, 2025
Cost: $700/student

This trip is open to current 9th - 12th graders. Spots are limited and will be open to members of our Youth Group initially; and then open to friends, if space allows.

Massanetta Middle School Conference
July 10 - 13, 2025
Cost: $400/student

This trip is open to current 6th - 8th graders. Spots are limited and will be open to members of our Youth Group initially; and then open to friends, if space allows.

CROSS Mission Trip
July 27 - August 1, 2025
Cost: $400/student

This trip is open to current 6th - 12th graders. We will travel to Charlotte, NC to participate in the CROSS Mission Program. This has been a favorite of students in years past and this summer's trip should live up to the hype! Spots are limited and will be open to members of our Youth Group initially; and then open to friends, if space allows.

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!

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

Rain to stop wildfires in North & South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Florida as well as protection for firefighters.

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-deployed to Poland 11-24), 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.

April 1: Nancy Worsley
April 2: Sarah Grace Hill, Robbie Wheeler
April 3: Greg Butner, Caitlin Glatt, Dumay Gorham, Nancy Lund, Lanielle Murrell, Carolyn Pappendick
April 4: Ellen Bridgers, Markay Carter, Barbara Hager
April 5: Bert Exum, Dave Mayes
April 7: Rowe Jenkins
April 8: Ellen James, Steve Wilson

View our most recent Session Reports.