Sardis Academy

Five months of the year (two in the fall and three in the spring), the congregation gathers on Wednesday nights for a fellowship meal and a time of biblical, theological and missional education.

The adults spend time exploring topical studies of a various nature. These series are led by either the ministerial staff or by other community leaders or subject matter experts. Sardis Academy series include: An Interfaith Dialogue, covering Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism; Making a Difference in Charlotte, with speakers from Habitat, Urban Ministry Center, Crisis Assistance and Loaves & Fishes; A Faith & Science series, and a series on how race and gender affects theology.

Our children engage in Missions and Music Education. Each series, the children spend time both encountering God through music and by encountering God through stories of how people throughout the world are making a difference by being the presence of God to others. Each series focuses on field personnel working with a specific people group. The children encounter the culture of the people group through games, art, music, cooking, among other exciting methods of learning. In 2008 the children spent time learning about the Karen people of Burma making a home in the US, the Romany Gypsy people group of Hungary, and the Berber people of North Africa.

Older children rehearse music from all cultures and prepare to sing in worship services several times a year, sometimes with the Chancel Choir. Younger children are introduced to a love of music by dancing, singing, and playing percussion instruments as well as learning children's handbells.

Sunday School

Bible Study classes for children and adults meet each Sunday morning at 9:45.

Sardis has two adult Sunday school classes. One is a traditional class, which uses Baptist literature developed by Smyth & Helwys to guide their discussion. The second uses a variety of resources, such as the Baylor Center for Ethics and Ethics Daily, which are selected by the class.

Sardis has five age-graded classes for children:

• Youth - Currently this group is studying a handbook for reading the Bible titled The Faith Story of the Bible. Rev Moore and Rev England Cole collaborated on the creation of this study.
• Older Elementary - Our children in grades 3-6 spend time studying the Bible according to resources published by the Mennonite Press called Gather Round.
• Younger Elementary - Our children in grades K-2 also use Gather Round to guide their time together.
• Preschool - Our children ages 3-5 spend time learning about God through play, through nature, through the love of caring adults, and through encountering Biblical stories and principles guided by material published by Smyth & Helwys.
• Infant/Toddler - Our youngest children encounter God through play, through a safe and secure environment to explore, through engaging nature, through the love of caring adults, and through encountering Biblical stories and principles guided by material published by Smyth & Helwys .

Children

Children are a vital part of the life of Sardis.

In addition to weekly Sunday School Classes and children's Sardis Academy programming on periodic Wednesday nights, we offer the following annual events include:

• "Going to Worship" Class - Typically, our rising kindergartners begin joining us for worship. They and their families are invited to a special gathering to begin this transition. They spend time exploring the worship space, spending time with the pastors, and learning about worship and celebrating this milestone in their lives.
• Acolyte Training - Children lead worship at Sardis by serving as acolytes. Each week we have three acolytes; a crucifer (one who carries the cross), a light bearer (carrying in the light and lighting the candles), and a book bearer (carrying in the pulpit Bible). The children participate in annual educational and instructional time about this important worship leadership role.
• Vacation Bible School - A week long morning event in the summer for children from ages 4 through 6th grade. Activities include crafts, music, bible study and recreation. In 2009, we had 49 children participate in VBS.
• PassportKids! - A mission focused children's summer camp run by Passport Inc. for 3rd-6th graders. We attend the session offered at Eagle Eyrie in Lynchburg, VA. The camp runs for four days & three nights.
• Messy Day - A fun filled day of the messiest games involving foods, water, and goo! Usually topped off with a lunch of Sloppy Joes!
• Family Events - Periodic family events such an afternoon hayride and corn maze in the fall and a cook-out and egg hunt in the spring.
• Music Camp - A spring music retreat for older children (grades 3-5) in partnership with several other Charlotte churches, such as Myers Park Baptist Church.
• Service Projects - Children at Sardis participate in mission projects, such as making lunches for Room in the Inn and visiting local nursing home facilities.
• Tween Time - A monthly gathering time on Sunday evenings for our "tweens," our 4th-6th graders, where we focus on community building and discipleship.

Pre-School

Our preschool children participate in age-appropriate play and loving care during Sunday School and at Worship Care. Worship Care is a ministry to preschoolers, while the rest of the congregation is worshiping God in the sanctuary. Worship Care providers are prepared to guide the children in "Godly play," where they are nurtured into an awareness of God's love as they play, draw, take a nature walk and other age-appropriate activities.

On Sardis Academy Wednesday evenings, preschool children also receive beginning music classes, including an introduction to handbells and other assorted percussion instruments.

Youth

The ministry with the youth of Sardis is highly relationally based. In the past year we have held gatherings in homes, pool parties, and white water rafting trips.

The youth have taken mission trips to the North Carolina mountains, West Virginia and New Orleans. In July 2010, an intergenerational mission trip will go to rural Arkansas.

Senior Adults

Sardis Senior Adults meet monthly for lunch, conversation, and for day trips. Some meetings may take them down memory lane; others point to the future. But all of them are a present of fun, laughter and sharing of friendship. Scheduled days and times of meetings vary so that participation can be convenient everyone's personal timetables.

Companions in Christ

This small group experience is offered occasionally during the year for those wishing to deepen their practice in the spiritual disciplines. Each series of studies vary depending on the course. Participants find themselves supporting and being supported by their colleagues on the Christian journey. Reading and exercises are chosen to stimulate personal spiritual growth and contribute to congregational spiritual development.

Choirs

The Chancel Choir at Sardis Baptist consists of a group of very talented and dedicated adults. This choir sings for Sunday morning and special worship services. We sing music from various areas of Christian music including classical, spirituals and music from contemporary composers. This choir also has talented and willing soloists and instrumentalists. Choir practice is on Wednesday evenings at 7:30. Practice is a joy, where fellow singers laugh and enjoy each others company while doing something that each loves. Typically the choir takes the months of July and August off and we enjoy guest musicians during those Sundays.

We are fortunate to have an experienced minister of music, Pam Greenwood, who has served in Baptist, Presbyterian and Episcopal congregations. We are doubly blessed to have a wonderful accompanist and accomplished pianist in Irena Hramenkova. Trained at a famed Moscow music school, Irena is a master at the piano.

Yoga

“Yoga for Every Body” is led by Judy Murphy every Monday and Tuesday in the Education Building at Sardis Baptist. Judy teaches a 6 PM class on Mondays and two classes on Tuesday, at 4:30 and 6 PM. She typically offers them in 8-week sessions (one per week). Cost is $80.

Judy Murphy is a Hatha Yoga Instructor. Beginners are welcome at “Yoga for Every Body.” The classes are taught to welcome the novice and the experienced.

To request more information or to find out how you can join a class, email the church office at info@sardisbaptistcharlotte.org or you may call Judy directly at 704-535-2831.

Piano Academy

Sardis Piano Academy offers piano lessons to students young and “young-at-heart.” Irena Hramenkova, pianist at Sardis Baptist, is an acclaimed piano teacher, having been educated in piano at the Moscow Conservatory of Music. She was the official accompanist of the National Soviet Gymnastic Team and her compositions were used for the Olympics and for all international gymnastic teams in 1984 and 1988.

Ms. Hramenkova has been a piano teacher in Charlotte for over 13 years. Many of her students have won local and state competitions. She has had students play for the Charlotte Youth Symphony and with the Charlotte Symphony at Belk Theatre.

Lessons are taught in the Sardis Baptist Meetinghouse on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning mid-afternoon. Costs for lessons are: $52 for hour sessions, $39 for 45 minute sessions, and $26 for half-hour sessions. Students are expected to regularly perform at recitals, competitions and festivals.

To request more information, lesson availability or a registration form, please email Irena at Irena@sardisbaptistcharlotte.org or you may call the church office at 704-362-0811 to speak with our secretary or leave a message on the answering machine.