29
Nov 2019
Catherine Zuckerman of National Geographic describes stars as celestial bodies made mostly of hydrogen and helium that produce light and heat from the churning nuclear forges inside their cores. She also calls them “building blocks of galaxies,” and tells us they are light years away from Earth. Stars are not your average nightlights! The prophet Isaiah invites us humans to look high and see theses stars. And Isaiah reminds us it is God that created these lights, and even numbers them, and accounts for them. In both spiritual and scientific ways, stars......
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27
Nov 2019
The 2019 Sardis Baptist Church Advent Calendar is here: Advent Calendar 2019 If you prefer to a virtual version, check Facebook or Instagram for daily images. We hope you will have an Advent full of discernment that leads to revelations of hope, peace, joy, and love in the coming Christmas Season....
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04
Nov 2019
A State of Worship I had the opportunity to officiate several weddings this past month. That’s not something I get to do often, and I enjoy it, especially because it’s a chance to be around people with whom I don’t regularly worship. The same is true of funerals, and Christmas Eve, and Easter, too. We celebrate and acknowledge monumental moments alongside extended family and friends, and almost inevitably, the congregation consists of as many strangers as regulars. And because I act in those settings just like I act on a normal Sunday......
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20
Oct 2019
Today, I’m walking with Sardis Baptist Church, Charlotte in the Charlotte CROP Hunger Walk. Here’s one last appeal, the same appeal I’ll share with our congregation this morning. There’s a word we like to use: Hangry. It’s what happens when your hunger makes you irritable. The girls and I had a quick get-away trip on Friday night. We were much belated leaving and arriving, and let me tell you, when our room service meal was more than an hour late, we got a first-hand lesson in toddler hangriness. Maybe you are a very focused worker,......
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28
Sep 2019
Sardis Baptist Church will host a Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, September 28th at 10:00 AM. The service is an opportunity to recognize and give thanks for every animal in our biosphere. All animals, insects and even microorganisms play a role in our ecosystem, and we’ll give thanks for them all. Our pets have a special place in our lives and will have a special place in this service. Pet companions model unconditional love and affection. For many people, they provide companionship that is unavailable elsewhere. The service will offer a......
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19
Sep 2019
Each time we gather at Sardis, we offer prayers of thanksgiving and intercession to God for the friends and family whom we love, as well as our many neighbors near and far. Those prayers aren’t just limited to our human neighbors, but also include all the creatures of God’s great and wonderful creation. In many instances, our pets and other beloved animals offer a companionship that is unmatched – they offer unconditional love, keep us safe, and infuse us with energy. They understand us. We think it’s important to acknowledge the special......
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18
Sep 2019
In this age of polarization, there are very few things we can agree on, but some things transcend politics. One of those things is the right of all people, especially children, to have consistent access to food and clean water. It’s not that we have a lack of these things. Instead, it’s a problem of resource allocation. And not just in places far away from Charlotte. As a matter of fact, nearly one in four NC school children are food insufficient, meaning that they aren’t sure where their next meal will come......
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05
Sep 2019
Please join us for Sardis Academy, our Wednesday night meal and program. On five Wednesdays this fall, we’ll gather for a communal meal at 5:45 p.m. followed by a program at 6:30 p.m. about a mission/cause in our community, or a topic of spiritual interest. First-timers always eat for free. $6 for adults with a $15 max for families. Academies are scheduled for the following Wednesdays. Check out our facebook page for details about programming the week prior to each scheduled event: Wednesday 9/11 Wednesday 9/18 Wednesday 10/2 Wednesday 10/16 Wednesday 11/13...
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15
Aug 2019
An Ecology of Emanuel Sardis Summer School, August and September First Thoughts: 9:45-10:15 a.m. Worship: 10:30 a.m. Talk-Back: 11:15 a.m. Theme: In her book, Creation and the Cross: The Mercy of God for a Planet in Peril, theologian Elizabeth Johnson explores what God’s healing and comfort mean for all of creation. She asserts that humanity must understand its interconnectedness to all created beings before it can begin to help bring about sustainable, impactful environmental change – change that is needed urgently. She offers ways that congregations can make a heart connection to......
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05
Aug 2019
This summer, Sardis will offer a unique opportunity for worship and discipleship that is contingent on one thing: your voice! That’s right, your voice matters, and we want it to be a part of our Sardis Summer School, a blend of worship, education, discipleship, and supper-table conversations. More details will be available in the July newsletter, but here’s a preview. We will explore two topics, spending four weeks in each topic. George Carlin famously explored the seven words you can’t say on TV. In the same spirit (only in a much less profane......
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