In John 11 we read of the death of Lazarus and how Martha and Mary were standing at the tomb mourning the death of their brother. Christ arrives and Mary says, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” This troubled Christ and he wept. He wept, not over the death of Lazarus for he knew what was about to happen, but for the unbelief of the people. Later Martha and Christ are at the tomb, and she expresses her belief in the resurrection. Christ takes a moment to move that belief from doctrinal to personal when he says, “I am the resurrection.”
Easter is not a day we celebrate once a year. The resurrection is not an event that happened almost 2000 years ago. It is much more. The resurrection brings hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless. It brings life to death and the resurrection offers to you and I a personal relationship with Christ. So as we prepare for Easter, remember it is all about Christ. He is the way, the truth, the life. He is the resurrection!
Sunday, March 24, we will have the Dartts Quartet sing for us during the 6 p.m. service. The leader of the group, Tracy Dartt, is a song writer, and he is best known for writing the Song: “The God On The Mountain.” Come out and hear their smooth Gospel Music sound. You will truly be blessed. The Dartts’ website is www.darttmusic.com.
On Easter, Broadway Baptist is planning a sunrise service at 7 a.m. in the Family Center parking lot, as well as our regular services on that day. We will also have an Easter egg hunt for the children directly following the regular morning service. You are more than welcome to come and be a part of these events.
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
We invite you to join us this Palm 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.
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. and are loving their all-new facilities! Come check out the all new “Faith Factory!”
The Salvage Yard youth ministry, for grades 6-12, meets Wednesdays 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, 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 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 MS will hold Good Friday evening services at 7 p.m., Sunday school services at 9:30 a.m. and Palm Sunday worship services at 10:45 a.m.
Easter Sunday services will begin with a breakfast at 8 a.m., Sweetwater Healthcare devotion at 9 a.m., Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. and worship at 10:45 a.m. We welcome visitors to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord with us.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
First Baptist Church invites you and your family to join us on this Sunday, March 24, 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 needed for November. High school camp sponsors are needed June 9-14. Vacation Bible School workers are needed June 24-27. P3 Circle Drive workers are needed July 7-11. Missions Camp sponsors are needed for July 30-August 2. Lad and Lassie Camp sponsors are needed August 2-3. Day Camp sponsors are needed for August 3. P3 Coral Cove workers are needed August 4-8.
During the month of March, the local missions committee is asking that you bring donations of diapers, baby wipes, baby lotions, blankets, etc. These items will be donated to our local Women’s Resource Center.
The fifth and sixth grade Sunday school classes are partnering with Group Cares and World Vision to provide mosquito nets to children threatened by malaria. For a mere $6 donation, up to three children’s lives will be saved for years to come. Please help teach our children about the precious gift of life. You may send your donation to the church or place it in the basket in the lobby at the Squash Malaria information center.
Kid X continues on Wednesday nights at 6 p.m. Kid X is an exciting way for children in Kindergarten through sixth grade to learn about Jesus. The Rolling Plains Network Bible Drill will be on March 24 at 4:30 p.m. at FBC in the fellowship hall. Please plan on attending as your support is helpful to each Bible Drill contestant.
We will have a special Palm Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. on this Sunday, March 24. We encourage everyone to attend the Maundy Service at First United Methodist Church on Thursday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m.
On Good Friday, March 29 at 6 p.m., please join us as we walk with Jesus to the cross and the tomb, experiencing some of what the disciples might have felt that Friday, two thousand years ago. You have never experienced Good Friday like you will this year.
Join us at The Bowl at 7 a.m. on March 31, as we celebrate the Resurrection together with our sister churches. This is a special service sponsored by the Ministerial Alliance. This experience is amazing and there is no better reason to get up early than to celebrate the empty tomb that is our hope.
Join us again at 9:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday, March 31, for a potluck breakfast and Sunday school followed by a 10:30 a.m. worship celebration of the Resurrection. The choir has some great songs prepared and we will hear God’s Word during the message.
For in depth information on First Baptist Church Sweetwater, find us on Facebook and check the website www.fbcsweetwater.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."
You are welcome to attend one of three Sunday school classes at 9:30 a.m. and worship service at 10:45 a.m., with Pastor Claude bringing the message entitled, “The Wages of Sin is Death: Do You not Fear God?” 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 March is Lela Hatter.
Maundy Thursday is a common and popular name for Holy Thursday. It commemorates Christ's Last Supper, at which He instituted the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Maundy Thursday begins the final three days of Lent before Easter. We invite you to join us at 6:30 p.m., on Thursday, the 28th, for our Maundy service.
Lent is the 40-day season of preparation before Easter. Many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ — his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection. “Bless This House” ask that we prayerfully use this period to examine our own lives and spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ.
Our Samaritan Hospitality House collection will be consecrated on Sunday, April 21, during morning worship. A field trip is scheduled for delivery on the following Friday. “The House” is located at Colorado City and ministers to families visiting loved ones that are incarcerated in area prisons. With a homelike atmosphere, the facilities provide weekend lodging for family members during their stay free of charge. If you wish to contribute, please call the church office at 235-2454, for further information.
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
By President Thomas S. Monson
We live in a unique time in the world's history. We are blessed with so very much. And yet it is sometimes difficult to view the problems and permissiveness around us and not become discouraged. I have found that, rather than dwelling on the negative, if we will take a step back and consider the blessings in our lives, including seemingly small, sometimes overlooked blessings, we can find greater happiness.
As I have reviewed the past 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.
Reinforced constantly during my own review of the years has been my knowledge that our prayers are heard and answered. We are familiar with the truth found in 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon: “Men are, that they might have joy.” I testify that much of that joy comes as we recognize that we can communicate with our Heavenly Father through prayer and that those prayers will be heard and answered—perhaps not how and when we expected they would be answered, but they will be answered and by a Heavenly Father who knows and loves us perfectly and who desires our happiness. Hasn’t He promised us, “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers”?
My brothers and sisters, the Lord is in all of our lives. He loves us, He wants to bless us. He wants us to seek His help. As He guides us and directs us and as He hears and answers our prayers, we will find the happiness here and now that He desires for us. May we be aware of His blessings in our lives.
Calendar:
Sunday, March 24 — Church service at 9 a.m. Visitors are welcomed.
Monday, March 25 — Family home evening.
Tuesday, March 26 — Institute of religion at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 27 — Young women and Scouts 6:30 p.m.
If you would like to talk with representatives of the church about the Saviors teachings, call 325-864-2999. Elder Rios and Elder Cosman are local.
We are located 910 Elm Street in Sweetwater.
TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH
The Trinity Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir proudly presents their Easter Cantata this Sunday, March 24 at the 10:45 a.m. worship service. See What A Morning, arranged by Camp Kirkland, tells the Easter story in beautifully orchestrated fashion and is narrated by David Green. The Lord’s Supper is a large part of this cantata, making the symbolism of Easter come alive. Come experience this beautiful presentation. Our church campus is located at the corner of Hailey and Santa Fe Streets here in Sweetwater.
Also this Sunday, Trinity will host an evening reception in honor of Bro. Ward Hayes’ 10th anniversary as our pastor. This reception will be held in our Family Life Center beginning at 6 p.m. Please join us as we honor the service of Bro. Ward and his wonderful family.
Easter activities at Trinity this year include a 7 a.m. Sunrise Service hosted by the Ministerial Alliance, 9:45 a.m. Sunday school here at our church, followed by 10:45 a.m. Easter Sunday worship. An Easter egg hunt follows worship for school age children who are here for services. We will have room for everyone, so come worship with us and experience Christ, The Risen Savior. Our casual, family atmosphere works well with all our services, which include both traditional and praise music. The Trinity Family is made up of people from all walks of life, so you will be sure to fit in. Come as you are and worship with us.
Ladies began a new Bible study this Wednesday called Unglued, by Lysa Terkeurst. Sessions are offered at noon and again at 6 p.m. each Wednesday in Room 109 at our church.
We will begin a new adult Bible study on April 7 based on the mini-series “The Bible.” Studies will be each Sunday at 6 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Short videos of the series will be shown followed by informal discussion. If you’ve been watching the series, you will no doubt enjoy this study. Children’s choir, children’s Bible drill and youth Bible study are offered during the same time for your children and youth.
DivorceCare continues on Thursdays at 6 p.m. in Room 109 here at our church. If you have recently gone through (or presently going through) a difficult time of separation or divorce and would like to know more about DivorceCare, you can visit their website at www.divorcecare.org or call our church office. Childcare is provided upon request.
If you have questions about salvation or your walk with God, please feel free to contact us here at Trinity. We can be reached by phone at 235-2991, or drop by our offices located at 1503 Crescent Drive. For more information about events at Trinity Baptist Church, please visit our website at www.trinitysweetwater.com or you can find us on Facebook.
WORD OF GOD CHURCH
Transforming ordinary people into passionate followers of Christ through God’s Word, growing them into mature Christians, to be Jesus’ lights in this world and witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus and the Kingdom of God, seeking the lost for the glory of God and His kingdom.
We are a non-judgmental ministry — meaning that the ministry itself is not judgmental. We are not concerned where you have been or where you are at but where you are going. Everyone needs hope and to feel the love of God’s mercy. Those who falter and are weak are welcome. We will guide all that come, into a direction for peace in their life.
The teachings from the pulpit are deep rightly divided truth as 2 Timothy 2:15 speaks of. You will hear the unadulterated word of God ministered straight from the Bible. Introducing deep truths and promises you can stand on, that will never crumble out from underneath you. These truths have discipled many to be followers of Christ as it can do for anybody. Opening up the eyes and ears of those who receive.