A teacher was working with her class on math problems. She was trying to teach them about fractions. She presented them with this simple problem: “Your mother has baked a pie for desert and placed it on the table. Each person (you, your sister, your brother, your father and your mother will all get a slice). How many pieces of pie will there be?” A little boy raised his hand and said, “Four.” The teacher said, “Are you sure?” The little boy thought a moment and said, “Yep! It is four!” The teacher said, “But there are five members of the family, so wouldn’t it be five?” To which the boy said, “Nope, the mom would say she didn’t want any, so that Dad and the kids could have a bigger piece.”
That is a mother’s love. Her love is unselfish, always looking out for her family and caring for others. As we celebrate Mother’s Day, let’s think of Mom’s favorites. Let’s bless her by giving or remembering her favorite song, scripture, candy, color or book and do what we can to make Mother’s Day a day of favorites for her.
Children’s Day at Broadway will be Sunday, May 19, during the morning service. This is where the children will be able to share with us what they have learned this year in our various children’s programs: Kid Zone, Wiseguys and Toddler Church.
If you don’t have a church home, we would love for you to visit us at Broadway Baptist Church on 710 E. Third Street, this Sunday. Our Life Groups, which is for all ages, starts at 10 a.m. Our morning service is at 10:50 a.m. and our evening service begins at 6 p.m. Come and let us be a blessing to you as we worship the Lord together.
EMMANUEL FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
We invite you to join us this Sunday at Emmanuel Fellowship Church! Our Sunday morning services are at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Both morning services are filled with the same warm fellowship, dynamic worship and life-giving messages, as well as top-notch children’s ministry and nursery care for children up to fifth grade.
This week, we continue our New Testament Challenge! Each week during the challenge, we will be looking at one of the eight major themes of the New Testament. This Sunday, we are exploring what the New Testament has to say about “Godliness.” If you would like to prepare your heart for the service with a daily reading, log on to www.efcsweetwater.com and click on the “New Testament Challenge” link.
We will also be recognizing all of our mothers this week as we celebrate Mother’s Day! All moms are invited to come and receive a gift this week as we worship together. Happy Mother’s Day, ladies!
EFC’s Wednesday evening children’s ministry, “Faith Factory” is in full-swing, with children ages birth through fifth grade exploring what living life with Jesus really looks like! They meet Wednesday evenings from 6:45-8:30 p.m. and are loving their all-new facilities.
The Salvage Yard youth ministry, for grades 6-12, meets Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. for their worship service and again on Sundays at 6 p.m. for small group discipleship.
Lifegroups for adults meet Monday evenings (Young Adults Group, Tuesday evenings (Celebrate Recovery) and Wednesday evenings (Family Groups and Women’s Group) at 7 p.m. For more information on how to connect with a small group, check out the Lifegroups display in the church foyer, or log online to www.efcsweetwater.com.
We also invite you to step into The Growth Central Bookstore when you visit EFC. It’s stocked with Bibles, study aids, devotionals, marriage and parenting resources, worship music, inspirational gifts, original art and fiction books — there’s something for everyone! The bookstore is open between Sunday morning services, from 10:30-11 a.m. and 12:30-1 p.m.
For more information about the ministry of EFC, log onto the church website at www.efcsweetwater.com.
FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH
Faith Lutheran Church would like you to know what May 9, is about. It was the most forgotten Thursday of the church year: Ascension Day. Coming 40 days after Easter, Ascension remembers how our Lord went off with His disciples and disappeared into the clouds. His promise then and now is that He has not abandoned His people, but has gone to prepare the way. Sunday, May 19, we well celebrate Pentecost, where Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so his followers would not be without a counselor and guide. We celebrate the completion of the victorious Easter Season and look to the coming of the Season of Renewal — Pentecost, where Jesus continues to send the Holy Spirit to lead His people. You are welcome to come and worship with us each Sunday with Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and worship services at 10:45 a.m.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
First Baptist Church invites you and your family to join us on this Sunday, May 12, for Bible study, beginning at 9:15 a.m. for all ages, followed by the Sunday morning service, which begins at 10:30 a.m. First Baptist Church is located at 213 East Third Street, next door to the Post Office. All are welcome. Your presence will enhance our worship experience and fellowship together.
There are many opportunities for service. Children’s Church facilitators are always welcome. High School Camp will be June 9-14. Vacation Bible School will be June 24-27. P3 at Circle Drive will be July 7-11. Missions Camp will be July 30-August 2. Lad and Lassie Camp will be August 2 and 3. Day Camp will be on August 3. P3 at Coral Cove will be August 4-8.
All the summer camps are tied together under one church theme: “Refuge: Who Is Your Strength?” with a theme verse of Psalm 46:1. When you sign your student up for camp, they will receive a First Baptist Church camp shirt. Camp balances are due May 26.
We are in the process of forming a rotation of bus drivers to pick up children on Sunday mornings. If you are interested, please contact Phillip Thomas.
The church food pantry is in need of canned food and plastic bags. Please contact a member of the Missions Committee for more information.
Heart Gallery is a collection of portraits featuring children in foster care who are currently waiting to be adopted. Please join us in prayer for those who are pictured in the foyer.
The students will be having several fundraisers for camp and other summer activities. On May 11, there will be a church garage sale. If you have items you would like to donate, let Tique Hamilton know and we will store them in Thee Hut. Also, the youth will be painting addresses on driveways and curbs for donations. If you need your address updated so people can see it better, let Tique know.
On Wednesday, May 15 at 6 p.m., the Children’s Department will be having a fundraiser meal as well as Cup Cake Wars for dessert. The meal will be Alice Springs chicken, green beans, bread and tea with dessert of Cupcake Wars. Please bring one dozen creatively decorated homemade cupcakes. There will be three judges to decide on: Prettiest Cupcake, Most Unusual Ingredients, Over All Best Use of Flavor and Most Creative Name. Cupcakes will also be judged by the people at 25 cents per vote. The cupcake with the most votes will win “People’s Choice Award”.
On Mother’s Day, May 12, we celebrate those who care about and for us. This year, we’re honoring our mothers by following their example. Let’s sacrificially give through a special offering to provide nourishment for someone else. By consolidating the power of Texas Baptists, we can raise $1 million or more for a great cause-ending hunger in Texas and beyond.
The Sunday school leadership meeting will be on May 19, at 8:30 a.m. in the Welcome Center.
Monday, May 20, at 10 a.m., Women on Mission will host a guest speaker. Come hear Adabelle Clark, director for the Women’s Resource Center, inform us about all that the Women’s Resource Center does for the community.
We have 10 seniors graduating from high school. Join us on Sunday, May 26, as we celebrate our seniors and their accomplishments.
We will be having Summer Sunday Nights Bible Study. Phillip Thomas will be facilitating a comparative religion study on June 16, June 23, June 30; July 21, July 28; and August 11. Please join us in this informative study.
For in depth information on First Baptist Church Sweetwater, find us on Facebook or at www.fbcsweetwater.org.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Sweetwater First United Methodist Church wants to invite you to join us on Sunday mornings to worship and praise our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The United Methodist Church is open to all persons and is a place where all are welcome and encouraged to “come as you are” with the expectation that by the grace of God you will leave different. The change that a relationship with Christ brings about is a life-changing encounter and we believe that while God accepts us as we are He loves us enough not to leave us in our sins. We believe that Scripture informs all aspects of our lives and should be our rule and authority.
The first service begins at 8:45 a.m. and is built around a traditional model with great hymns of the church. This service uses a more liturgical framework and often employs a wonderful choir. Immediately following the first service we have Sunday school classes for all ages and stages of life. We invite you to try one of our many opportunities to come together and seek God in small groups that emphasize God’s Word and proclaim His glory. At 10:50 a.m. we have a second worship service that has a decidedly contemporary flavor and incorporates more of progressive style and pace. This second service also has a “Children’s Church” for kids in preschool through third grade. The children stay through our time of praise and then go to their own worship service.
Sweetwater FUMC also has youth activities on Sundays beginning at 6 p.m. with a prayer and praise time that we call Adoratio. Every Tuesday and Wednesday FUMC hosts the Gaylord’s Pantry and a clothes closet from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Please enter through the North (4th street) entrance if you would like to receive God’s blessing through either of these ministries.
News this week: What a blessing we enjoyed this week. The DaySpring Revival with Wesley Putnam was wonderful. If you didn’t make it you missed a great time. We pray that God will continue to revive our hearts with his grace. This Sunday we will be honoring our mothers on Mother’s Day and there will be several baptisms and confirmations in the 10:50 a.m. service. Come join us as we celebrate new spiritual lives!
Activities this week:
Sunday at 8:45 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. — Worship- Confirmation Sunday!
Sunday at 6 p.m. — Adoratio.
Sunday at 6:30 p.m. — Youth.
Wednesday at 10 a.m. — Bible study.
Thursday from 3:45-5 p.m. — Youth praise team.
Fun activities are offered at different times during the month for fourth through sixth graders (Club 456) and first through third graders (UMKids). If you have any questions call Linda at our church office (325-236-6617) or email churchoffice@fumcsweetwater.org. If you need prayer or have the need to contact our pastor you can call the same number or email him at pastor@fumcsweetwater.org.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Join the excitement at Highland Heights United Methodist Church. We are a multi-ethnic, multi-racial congregation, serving the Lord in unity and purpose, where the contribution of everyone is valued and welcome. The congregation and staff of Highland Heights is a friendly God loving people — join us as we praise God together and practice unity here on earth until he comes again in Glory.
For more information, call the church at 325-235-2454 or the parsonage at 325-933-4296 (Monday through Wednesday). Highland Heights United Methodist Church is located at 1801 Lamar Street in Sweetwater. The pastor is Rev. Claude A. McKiddy, and the youth pastor is Darren Williams.
Our Church’s Mission Statement: “To glorify Christ in all that we do by bringing People to Christ and equipping them to serve Christ.”
Join us for Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. and worship service at 10:45 a.m., with Pastor Claude bringing the message entitled, “Ascension of the Lord: You will be Given Power.” Worship assistants are Lisa Peterson serving as worship leader, Brenda Alexander leads the congregational hymns and plays the keyboard, pianist is Eugenia Hill and our greeter for the month of May is Deena Kirkpatrick. Brenda will sing a special musical selection.
Evangelism committee meets on Monday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m., in the Friendship Sunday school class room.
“Bless This House” asks that we offer up prayers for all the victims and their families in the terrorist attack bombings in Boston and all the citizens of West, Texas, where an explosion occurred at the fertilizer plant. Both events resulted in fatalities and many individuals being severely injured. Pray that we as God’s servants, minister and comfort those who are hurting by extending the love of Jesus Christ through our prayers and by sharing our material and financial blessings with ones in need.
You are always invited to join us at 1801 Lamar Street, sharing in our vision of making Disciples of Jesus Christ, growing spiritually, fulfilling our God-given gifts, witnessing to others, and ministering to ones in need.
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS (THE MORMONS)
Mormon Messages To Every Mother
Every time a child is born
So is a Mother.
Mother
An Eternal bond is formed.
As you grow, your mother is there.
There to tuck you in.
to cheer you up.
There to teach.
There to send you off and to listen when you call.
There to encourage you as you explore, create and dance the night away.
There to encourage to build faith.
There by your side, when others have left you.
There in good times, and hard times.
There in the details of daily life.
Life doesn’t come with a manual
It comes with a Mother.
This Mother’s Day thank the women
who have loved, mentored, and mothered you.
Happy Mother’s Day!
CALENDAR:
May 12 — Sunday church service at 9 a.m. Visitors are welcome.
May 13 — Monday home evening.
May 15 — Wednesday Young Women, Scouts, Cub Scouts and Achievement Day Girls 6:30 p.m.
LAMAR STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
Happy Mother’s Day!
We invite you to join us Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for Sunday school, followed by our 10:40 a.m. service including children sermon, hymnals and praise songs, and Bro. Billy Oliver will bring a message from the Bible. Our evening service starts at 6 p.m., Bro. Billy will bring another message from the Bible.
On Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m., we offer activities for children in first through sixth grade; activities for preschool age; youth activities for 7th-12th graders; and Bible study and prayer for adults led by Bro. Billy Oliver.
We want to remind members that are many opportunities to give within our church, for example, our food pantry, our local mission projects and helping our children attend camp, and our two Zambia kids we give to each month and more.
Vacation Bible School has been set for July 8-11 from 6-8:30 p.m. for all children age 4 though completed fifth grade. This year’s theme is Athens: “Paul’s Dangerous Journey to Share the Truth”.
Summer time is near, so we are preparing for camps. Youth camp is the week of July 15-19, please contact Carolyn Mullican. Mission Camp for children first through sixth grade is July 30 through Aug. 2; and Day Camp for Kindergarten through third grade is Saturday, Aug. 3, please contact Donna Lanfrey or Linda Kite.
We are excited to be celebrating our 100th year. We are gathering addresses of past and present members and staff, so please turn these address in the church office. The celebration is set for Sunday, Oct. 13.
Please continue to pray and encourage the members serving on our pastor search committee, and members church-wide. There is a mailbox in the foyer to send uplifting words to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
To learn more about Lamar Street Baptist Church, visit us at 513 Lamar, find us on Facebook or call the church at 235-1779 and leave a message and someone will return your call.
TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH
The Trinity Family will honor our ladies this Sunday, May 12, which is Mother’s Day. Not only will each lady be presented with a special gift, the Children’s M
As is our tradition, Trinity will not hold evening services this Sunday only in order for everyone to spend time with their families.
Next Sunday, May 19, we will have an Ordination Service for Bro. Ray Browning and Bro. Emmanuel Jimenez. Services will begin at 6 p.m. in our Sanctuary and will be followed with a reception in our Family Life Center. Everyone is welcome to attend this special service. There will be no other activities at Trinity that evening in order for all to attend the ordination.
Sunday, May 26, will be a special Graduate Sunday at Trinity. We will recognize our graduating seniors for 2013. This year, our seniors are Mackensey Hayes and Lora Stewart. Mackensey and Lora have been friends since they were little ones, so come see their video photos and congratulate them as they move forward in the direction God is leading them.
Also on May 26, the transportation and fellowship committees will host a fundraiser lunch immediately following the morning service. Funds raised during this luncheon will be used to help purchase a second 15-passenger van before summer camps begin. Come on out and enjoy a great meal, knowing that the cost of your meal will be going for a great cause.
Sweetwater’s Baccalaureate Services will also be held on Sunday, May 26. Beginning at 7 p.m., this year’s service will be held at First Presbyterian Church with our pastor, Bro. Ward Hayes, delivering the sermon. There will be no services at Trinity that evening so that everyone can attend Baccalaureate.
If you haven’t checked our website lately, please go to www.trinitysweetwater.com and see what’s happening. We have Bro. Ward’s sermons on video now. You can access them on the website by clicking on Beliefs/Sermons, then choose Sermons. We even throw in some music, so try it out!
Worship schedule at Trinity Baptist Church, corner of Hailey and Santa Fe here in Sweetwater is as follows:
Sundays:
9:45 a.m. — Sunday school (we have a class for YOU).
10:45 a.m. — Morning worship.
6 p.m. — Evening Bible studies, Children’s Choir and Bible Drill.
Wednesdays:
6:30 p.m. — Prayer time, TeamKID, youth Bible study.
Trinity is a loving, caring family, striving to walk in Christ’s steps. If you are looking for a church home, give us a try. You will be glad you did!