Welcome to The Communicator, your weekly guide to the life at Sardis.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Sardis Serves Together January 29

Make plans to join us for Sardis Serves Together on Sunday, January 29. We will have a day of worship, education, and mission for ALL ages of children, youth, and adults. We are partnering with Families Forward Charlotte for this event and we will help pack weekend food bags and essential baskets for hundreds of families and children.

  • 10:00am: Worship in the Sanctuary
  • 11:00am: Lunch, Sunday School and hands on mission projects in the Fellowship Hall.

Click here for more information and to register your family!

***IMPORTANT*** BEFORE YOU ATTEND:

Rev. Allysen Schaaf is doing research on perspectives and practices of Christian mission for her Doctorate of Ministry Project. Please fill out this survey BEFORE attending worship and the Sardis Serves Together event on January 29, 2023. You will be asked to fill out another survey immediately following the event on January 29 and a final survey in March/April. 

This Week at Sardis

This Sunday

January, 8 2023


9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service in the Fellowship Hall

10:00 a.m. Sunday School for all ages

11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service in the Sanctuary


  • Ordination and Installation of Elders and Deacons at both services.
  • Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. William Pender Rekindle preaching "The Gift of God", II Timothy 1:3-9a. Dr. Pender served pastorates in NC, FL, SC, and TN in over 40 years of ministry. He holds an M.Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Duke University. He is the father of Amy Dockery, to be ordained as a deacon, and grandfather of Mary Louise Dockery, who will be baptized at the 9:00 a.m. service.

Joe B.'s Bible Study: The Book of Romans

Beginning on January 4/5/8, Joe B. will lead us as we explore Paul's theology in his Letter to the Romans. This will be offered on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. in Room 210 and via Zoom. Also on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. with the Robert Pharr Sunday School class in Room 212. Email Robin Medlock or Joe B. for the Zoom links.

Renda Brinson's Bible Study Picks Back Up in the New Year

All are welcome to join as this class resumes on January 10. We meet on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. in room 210 and via Zoom. We will cover the Sermon on the Mount through the Great Commission. To register (must register to receive the Zoom link) or for more information, please contact Renda Brinson (704.458.0366).

Opportunities to Serve

Room In The Inn Neighbors Need You

Sardis will host Room In the Inn on Sundays and Wednesday from January through March 2023. We plan to get 13 neighbors out of the cold for 26 nights, but we need your help! Our neighbors need:

  • Greeters (5 p.m. - 10 p.m.)
  • Overnight Hosts/Owls (10 p.m. - 5 a.m.)
  • Closers/Roosters (5 a.m. - 8 a.m.)
  • Bed Makers
  • Bagged Lunch Providers
  • Dinner Providers

Ready to make an impact? Click here for more information and to sign up to volunteer. You can also contact Kay Taylor (704.975.2588) or Sallie Crossley (704.650.5270) for more information.

American Red Cross Blood Drive - January 22

Sardis Presbyterian Church is proud to sponsor our next blood drive with the American Red Cross on January 22 from 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. If you are eligible, please come out to donate. Most donations take about an hour, so please book your appointment, and become a part of the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross and Sardis. Click here to make an appointment.

Your Heart, Their Math

Kick off the new year with a resolution to build community by volunteering

as a tutor with Heart Math Tutoring! January is a great time for new tutors. 

Students at Rama Road Elementary are ready to be paired with math tutors 

to strengthen foundational math skills and build academic confidence. A commitment of just one hour per week can

make a huge impact in a student's life. Visit the HeartMath website to learn more

and to sign up today! Feel free to contact Ed Shoaf with any questions.

Families Forward Charlotte Needs Family Liaison Mentors!

Families Forward Charlotte empowers local families to overcome intergenerational poverty. In their Family Success Program, family liaison mentors develop one-on-one relationships with their assigned family partners, assist them in setting personal goals and help them navigate the steps necessary to achieve those goals. Creating change for these families is a journey...and we hope you'll join us for the next one! Families Forward Charlotte (FFC) is gearing up for another life-changing year and YOU can be a part of it. You’re invited to attend one of our short (zoom) informational sessions to learn about how being a Family Liaison Mentor can truly be life-changing to a struggling family in our community. Click here to sign-up, or email [email protected].

Earth Care Worship Team

Worship is one area of focus for Sardis to become an Earth Care Congregation. The worship goal for the Sardis Earth Care Team is that “our worship and discipleship will celebrate God’s grace and glory in creation and declare that God calls us to cherish, protect and restore this earth.” We are excited to begin asking congregation members to join us for short- or long-term projects with a Worship Creation Care Team. The Session has approved an Earth Day Sunday worship on April 23, 2023, and the worship team will work with the pastors and staff with that day as our major project. Please join us in forming the new Worship Earth Care Team. Contact Ed Shoaf or Shannon Klug to join the team.

Usher Volunteers

If you would like to join our talented

usher pool and help when you’re available,

please sign up or contact Coddy Coddington. Average assistance in 2022 was twice per volunteer.

Volunteer in the Nursery

The nursery is open for both the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services and we need your help to keep it running smoothly! We're so excited about our new nursery location, the former Resource Room next to the Adult Library, and hope that you'll check it out! Sign up to volunteer here! Contact Sarah Dianne Jones with any questions. 

Church Life News & Announcements

Spring Program Guide Now Available!

We are looking forward to kicking off a new year and hope you'll find a Bible study, Sunday School class, Fellowship opportunity, or service opportunity that will help equip you to explore your faith and change lives in 2023! Download your program guide here or you can pick-up a copy in the Narthex, Gathering Place, or church office.

Youth Newsletter

The new year has brought lots of updates for our middle and high school youth families. If you want to get caught up on all things youth, check out this week's youth newsletter here!

Thank You From Families Forward Charlotte

Dear Sardis Members,


As we begin a new year, our staff and board would like to share our deepest gratitude with you. You have given to our mission so generously through the Missions Ministry, Alternative Gift Market, Sunday School classes, and more! Every gift is appreciated and is used to support families in our programs. One recently shared the following with us via email and we want to share it with you:

"I am not just grateful for the material gifts, but the countless hours you all invest in just supporting the program and the participants. FFC has been one of the greatest gifts my family could have ever received. This time last year I didn't have much to smile about, and 2022 has definitely come with its challenges. However, with the knowledge and support I've gained from FFC workshops and resources I was able to handle them in a way I'm sure I wouldn't have."


They also went on to show appreciation for their Family Liaison mentor who has become more like a Godparent to their family. What an impact that relationship has made which is only possible due to your support!


Thank you for your partnership and most importantly, your prayers! We wish you all a wonderful and joyous 2023.

Our Church Family

Congratulations: to Christy & Mark Barrett upon the birth of their daughter, Miller Anne Barrett.


Our Sympathy: to the family of Gene Williams.


Your church family wants to pray for you. If you have a procedure or are in the hospital, please let the church office know so we can, as a church family, be praying your healing.

Coming Soon

Elementary Children MLK Service Day: January 16

All elementary-aged children are invited to join us at Sardis for a morning of service on Martin Luther King, Jr Day! On Monday, January 16 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. we will be helping with Room in the Inn – making beds, preparing sandwich lunches, and more! Register here.

Worship AV/Tech Training: January 22

You can volunteer along side our Technical Arts Coordinator, John Nipe, any Sunday, but we are also hosting AV/Technology training for volunteers to learn all the ins and outs of our Sunday worship technology on Sunday, January 22 at 12:15 - 1:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Email John Nipe to RSVP or inquire about alternative dates.

Registration Open for the 2023 Women's Retreat

The 2023 Sardis Women's Retreat will be February 17 -19 at William Black Lodge in Montreat, NC. We will be led by Rev. Martha Kearse, Senior Pastor at Peakland Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA. Our Contemporary Worship Leader, Beth Williams, will be leading the music for the weekend. Registrations are now open! Click here to register.  

Save the Date: Friends Empowering Haiti Fundraiser

Friends Empowering Haiti was founded 30 years ago as a result of the strong relationships formed between missionaries in the U.S. and local leaders in Bayonnais, Haiti. Their mission has been to share God’s love and to support locally-led efforts to create healthy, hopeful and empowered communities throughout Bayonnais.


On Thursday, March 9, there will be a 30th year celebration with delicious food, drinks, a silent auction, and Actionnel Fleurisma, (founder of ), as the guest speaker. Please mark your calendars for this special event, invitation to follow. For more information, please contact Betsy Liles, fundraising chair.

Click here to explore our church calendar and see all the meetings and events coming up at Sardis. Don't forget to add anything of interest to your calendar!

Opportunities to Share & Updates

November Financial Highlights

Thank you for contributing to Christ’s work through Sardis Presbyterian Church.

Ways To Give

We invite you to continue to uphold our ministry with your gifts as you are able. Sardis depends on your weekly donations to keep exploring faith and changing lives through the work of our ministries. Use the giving option:

  • Give Online: From your computer or smartphone give online ››
  • Text: Sardis + Amount to 73256
  • Mail: 6100 Sardis Road, Charlotte, NC 28270 . 
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