Tuesday evening, Oct. 30, from 5:30-7 p.m. Avondale Baptist Family will be hosting a Trunk-or-Treat Fall celebration for all children. It will be held on our church parking lot at 1405 Hoyt Street. We will have trunks with treats for the kids, cotton candy, pop corn and games. We are looking forward to this great time of fun with the children of our community.
We would like to invite you to come and visit us if you are looking for a loving church family. We welcome you to come and worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ with us. We have Sunday school classes for all ages and we have great teachers for all of the classes. We are located at 1405 Hoyt Street.
We are having a good group attending the program "Fit 4 Christ." We meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. It is never too late to join in with us as we work together to become more healthy for our Lord and Savior.
Our regular Sunday schedule is coffee fellowship at 9:20 a.m., Sunday school Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship services at 10:50 a.m. and 6 p.m.
We have choir practice at 7 p.m. on Sunday. On Wednesday evening we have Bible study and prayer time at 7 p.m. If you need more information, call the church at 325-235-5835.
BROADWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
With early voting going on all week and the election just a little over a week away, it is my prayer that each of you have done your research, prayed diligently and are ready to exercise your right and privilege to vote. We, as Americans, have the responsibility to vote, not according to our wishes, desires, and wants, but according to the dictates of God’s Word. I am sure you have watched the debates, listened to the candidates, and discussed the issues. There also may be some of you who are still confused as to who will be best to take America forward.
There are many issues to look at: Our national security, our economy, our job situation, healthcare and the price of gas; but I do not believe these are the main issues of the election. I believe these will take care of themselves, if we will turn back to God and morality. I believe the main issues are the moral issues such as abortion, which God calls murder and homosexuality, which God calls an abomination.
I remember hearing a song that said, “God bless America, again.” This will not happen as long as we continue to have elected officials who shake their fist in the face of God and refuse to abide by the precepts of God’s Word.
As you vote, vote according to God’s Word and His principles. Vote to put God back in America, our schools and our homes. Vote for what is right!
Our church is offering an alternative to taking your kids out Trick-or-Treating. This alternative is Treatsville. Treatsville will be held Wednesday evening on Oct. 31, from 6:30-8 p.m. in the gym and the gym parking lot. Here are some of the events you and your child can enjoy: face painting, trunk or treat, dessert walk and multiple games.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This date is our church crafts and rummage sale. It will be held in the church building on 710 East Third across from the Sweetwater Intermediate Public School.
If you don’t have a church home, we would like to welcome you to come and visit us 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
The Sunday morning worship times for Emmanuel Fellowship Church are 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. We invite you to come and experience the life, love and joy of Emmanuel Fellowship Church this Sunday as Pastor Eric von Atzigen continues a new sermon series entitled “The Road to Recovery.” This series will address the hurts, habits and hang-ups in life, and set out a clear path to hope and healing through Jesus Christ. It will also help launch a new lifegroup at EFC focused on recovery from addiction, which will begin meeting on Tuesday evenings in November at 7 p.m., in the Sweetwater Prayer Center. This recovery group is open to anyone in the community! For more information, please call the church offices at 236-9200.
This Sunday evening, 6-8 p.m., we invite you to bring the kids to enjoy “Light the Night,” EFC’s Fall Festival. There will be plenty of games, prizes, food, and a great circus act! Friendly costumes are welcome. Don’t miss it — its going to be tons of fun for the whole family!
“Worldchangers,” EFC’s Wednesday evening children’s ministry 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. Our kids are also busy preparing boxes to send Christmas gifts to needy children across the world through “Operation Christmas Child.” All the info can be picked up in the church foyer. Boxes will need to be dropped off at the church by Wednesday, Nov. 7.
The Salvage Yard youth ministry, for grades 6-12, meets Wednesday evenings at 6:45 p.m. for their worship service and again on Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. for small group discipleship.
Lifegroups for adults meet Monday evenings (young adults group) 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.
For more information about the ministry of EFC, log onto the church website at www.efcsweetwater.com.
FAITH HARVEST CHURCH
Faith Harvest Church would like to invite you to come join us in our celebration of Jesus Christ! We are located at 408 Alamo Street, which is right off of Sam Houston. Our service times are 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings, 6 p.m. on Sunday evenings, and 7 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. We have Sunday school for adults, Out-of-Line Youth Ministry for teens, and Children’s Church for kids. We are excited about our Fall Festival on Saturday from 6-9 p.m. We will be having hamburgers, nachos, sausage on a stick, air castles, cake walks and trick or truck. The concession stand, air castles and cake walks will be open from 6-8 p.m. and we will have trick-or-trunk from 8-9 p.m. The only thing that cost is the cake walk. Come out we would love to see you! Don’t forget about our website, www.fhpcofsweetwater.com, where we add something new everyday! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Pastor Jimmy Bennett at 325-242-4750 or Deacon Bobby Hoover at 325-236-4023.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
First Baptist Church invites you and your family to join us this Sunday morning, Oct. 28, for Bible study, beginning at 9:15 a.m., for all age groups, followed by the Sunday morning worship 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 our fellowship together.
The October Mission Focus is Operation Christmas Child. Each week during the month of October, Sunday school classes will be asked to bring certain items to fill our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. There will be a packing party on Nov. 4 in the Welcome Center. However, if you would like to pack your own shoebox, that is also an option. Shoeboxes with instructions are available in the church office.
Growth groups are continuing on Sunday nights beginning at 6 p.m. If you have not attended yet, it is never too late to find one that interests you.
This Wednesday, on Oct. 31, there will be no KidX. Instead, we will be having our annual Fall Festival. It will be from 6-8 p.m. in the north church parking lot. All are welcome. There will be lots of delicious food, good family fun and games. What an awesome opportunity to share God's love!
As the month of November begins on Thursday, let us remember this time of giving thanks. Members are invited to share their personal stories of gratitude. All are invited to share their stories or comments by submitting them to the church office. These will be used through the month of November in various ways — bulletin boards, bulletin, Sunday school announcements, etc.
There will be a children's Christmas program this year. Children interested in being a part of the Christmas program will meet for practice at 7 p.m. on Wednesday nights. Also, the worship choir will be presenting a special Christmas musical entitled "A Christmas Prayer." Rehearsals are at 7 p.m. on Wednesday nights. New, past and present choir members are invited to participate. What an inspirational opportunity to share in the celebration of our Christ Jesus' birth!
For in depth information, find us on Facebook and check out our website www.fbcsweetwater.org.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Visitors are always welcome at First Presbyterian Church. The church is located at 14th and McCauley. Adult Sunday school is at 9:30 a.m. Worship service is at 10:45 a.m. A nursery is provided for all church activities for children kindergarten age and younger.
The Old Testament reading this week is Job 42:1-6 and the New Testament reading is Mark 10:46-52. The sermon title is “Job ~ Part II; Following Jesus”. The worship assistant is Anne Wilson; the greeters are Keith Brock and Richard Gesin. This will be Pastor Keith’s last Sunday with us and to thank him we will be having an appreciation luncheon after worship. The church will provide beef stew, cornbread, salads and dessert. Don’t forget noisy and reverse offering this Sunday!
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 time and Children’s Church for kids in preschool through second grade.
Sweetwater FUMC also has youth activities on Sunday nights beginning at 6 p.m. Every Tuesday and Wednesday FUMC hosts the Gaylord’s Pantry and a clothes closet. Both of those ministries operate 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: Lane Boyd, a former pastor of First Methodist will be our guest speaker this Sunday. Lane will be leading the congregation in our Consecration Sunday where we make our pledge to honor God with our giving.
“Adoratio” our new Sunday night praise and prayer service continues this Sunday! Come join us for a time of prayer and praise of the Savior who loves us and gave himself for us.
We will be hosting a Trunk-or-Treat on the East parking lot (next to McCoys) on Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 5:30 p.m. Come our for fun and some great treats.
Activities this week:
• Sunday at 6 p.m. — “Adoratio” praise and prayer service.
• Sunday at 6:30 p.m. — Beth Moore Bible study and Evangelism class.
• Wednesday Bible study at 10 a.m.
• Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. — Trunk-or-Treat.
• Thursday — Club 456 Praise team immediately after school.
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
You are welcome to 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, “Your Faith has Made you Well.” 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 October is Betty Merrell. Special guest, Allen Meadows, will present a musical solo. Remember to bring your coins and/or folding money for “noisy money” Sunday. The collection is designated for the outreach ministry, “No More Malaria.” The ministry has a goal of eradicating malaria in Africa within a five year period, in addition to furnishing bed nets for families, supporting new medical research and assisting hospitals in their ability to provide quality care for malaria patients. Following worship service, decorative fall snack sacks will be available for congregational members to delivery to our homebound.
Make plans to attend our fall rummage and bake sale on Friday, the 26th, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, the 27th, from 8 a.m. to noon. Come and shop for bargains and purchase delicious baked goods.
With our emphasis upon Gateway in October, Bless This House is calling upon prayer for the individuals and families that are touched through this outreach ministry who are suffering from pain, disillusionment or needing comfort and support. Pray that God will strengthen their lives spiritually, emotionally and physically. Ask through God’s guidance, the center provides trained and qualified help in restoring broken lives.
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)
Consider The Blessings
As I have reviewed the past 49 years, I have made some discoveries. One is that countless experiences I have had were not necessarily those one would consider extraordinary. In fact, at the time they transpired, they often seemed unremarkable and even ordinary. And yet, in retrospect, they enriched and blessed lives—not the least of which was my own. I would recommend this same exercise to you — namely, that you take an inventory of your life and look specifically for the blessings, large and small, you have received. The Lord is in the details of our lives.
Thomas S. Monsen
Many have asked our church throughout the world what we believe “The 13 Articles of Faith” is a summary of the basic doctrines of the Church.
The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Joseph Smith.
If you would like to talk with representatives of the Church about the Savior's teachings, call 1-800 622-5595.
Calendar:
Oct. 27 – Baptismal service at 2 p.m.
Oct.28 – Church services 9 a.m. Visitors welcome.
Oct. 29 – Family home evening.
Oct. 31 – Halloween.
We are located 910 Elm Street in Sweetwater. Missionaries serving in this area are Elder Holt and Elder Weldon. For questions, please feel free to call (325) 864-2999.
LAMAR STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
There are lots of activities in the near future, so mark your calendars! This Sunday is the last chance to give to the Mary Hill Davis offering for Texas Missions. Check out the display in sanctuary to see how close we are to meeting our goal. Our Trunk-or-Treat event will be Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the church parking lot. We invite all area children to stop by and visit us. Our annual Fall Festival will be from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 7, in the recreation building. Everyone is invited for a free evening of fellowship, food, games for the kids and more. We need members to help work game booths, donate individual wrapped candy or money to help with the cost of bounce house and food. Our annual church-wide Thanksgiving supper will be Wednesday, Nov. 14, in the recreation building at 6 p.m. We ask that members bring two dishes, a dessert or vegetable. If you can help deliver a meal to our shut-ins, be in the fellowship hall at 5:15 p.m. If you know of someone that would like to receive a meal that is unable to attend, be sure to put their name on the list.
Join us Sundays at 9:30 a.m. for Sunday school, followed by our 10:40 a.m. service featuring hymns, a Children's Sermon, and Bro. Billy Oliver will bring a message from the Bible. Come again at 6 p.m. for our Sunday night service.
On Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. we offer Mission Friends, GA's — Girls in Action, and RA's — Royal Ambassadors, youth activities for 7th-12th graders, and Bible study and prayer for adults. The choir has started preparing for our Christmas special; come join us following the service.
To learn more about Lamar Street Baptist Church, visit us at 513 Lamar, find us on Facebook or call the church at 235-1779.
TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH
The Trinity Family wishes to thank the community for their outpouring of love during our building project, the dedication and open house for our new Family Life Center. We appreciate your interest in our endeavors and invite you to worship with us at any time. Our regular weekly services are as follows:
• Sunday school – 9:30 a.m.
• Sunday morning worship – 10:45 a.m.
• Sunday evening Bible study – 6 p.m.
• Wednesday evening prayer time – 6:30 p.m.
Our church is located at the corner of Hailey and Santa Fe Streets. Handicapped access is available through the front entrance or through our new Family Life Center (either door).
Even though our building project is finished, we are not finished with our work for the Lord. We can rest for a while, but the fields are white for harvest, so the workers must stay diligent.
This week, Trinity is pleased to host BSM (Baptist Student Ministries) at Texas State Technical College on Tuesday (Oct. 30) at noon. If you are new to the area and attending TSTC, please join us. We will feed you both physically and spiritually during this time. BSM is held in the Pevehouse Building, Room 210. All are welcome.
Our senior adults will enjoy their regular monthly lunch on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 11:30 a.m. in our new Family Life Center. They always have a great time of fellowship together and the food is always good!
In November, we will be filling and collecting Operation Christmas Child boxes. Boxes will be available this Sunday and will be due back at the church by Monday, Nov. 12. Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ. Please call the church office to see if we have additional boxes available if you’re interested in helping. Otherwise, you can call First Baptist Church in Abilene to request boxes.
Trinity will also be host to this year’s Community Thanksgiving Service. Keep watching this column for more information as the time nears.