Aglow International Sweetwater Community Lighthouse will have a Mexican Pile-On Dinner on Sunday, August 25th at 12:00 at Lighthouse Assembly of God Church, 412 Newman St. Cost will be $5.00 a plate w/drink. We will also have a Silent Auction for the desserts. Everyone is invited to come.
BROADWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
I once read a sign in the school zone which read: “Drive carefully; there is an acute shortage of TEACHERS!” Although this sign was meant to be funny, it sure does stress how important our teachers are in the training of our children. The Bible says in Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Of course the training of children is the responsibility of their parents, but the parents give teachers the responsibility to help them in training their child in knowledge and wisdom. We cannot underestimate the role that the teacher plays.
School starts Monday, and we truly need to be praying for parents, students, teachers, administrators, interns, and all employees of SISD. I truly believe teachers are difference makers, and we need to show them our support, love, and appreciation. As this year begins make a commitment to get to know the teachers and be there for them. They face new challenges each day and with a heart of love they will lead, teach, and build the life of those in their class.
If you don’t have a church home, we, at Broadway Baptist Church, would like to welcome you to come and visit us this Sunday. Our Life Groups, which is for all ages, starts at 10:00 AM. Our AM service is at 10:50, and our PM service begins at 6:00. 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 am and 11 am. 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 5th grade.
This week, we will conclude our August sermon series, “Kickstart My Heart,” as we take a look at God’s desire for us to be fully alive!
Lifegroups have begun for the fall semester! For more information about the many Lifegroup options that are available, please log on to our church website at www.efcsweetwater.com. Our children’s and youth ministry is in full swing again for the fall as well and are meeting on Wednesday evenings at 6:45 pm!
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 10:30-11:00 am and 12:30 – 1:00 pm.
For more information about the ministry of EFC, log onto the church website at www.efcsweetwater.com.
FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH
Faith members come together each Sunday to worship our loving God and receive His guidance and strength to do His will in our daily lives. We invite you to join us for Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:45 a.m. If you are unable to join us, listen to the Lutheran Hour at 8:30 a.m. on KWKC 1340 AM radio. This is a ministry heard around the world. Pastors explain specific verse and apply Lutheran doctrine to life in today's world. You may find the message on your computer at www.kfuo.org. God cares, trust Him to always work for your good, even when others do not.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
First Baptist Church invites you and your family to join us on this Sunday August 25, for Bible study, beginning at 9:15 am for all ages, followed by the Sunday morning service, which begins at 10:30 am. First Baptist Church is located at 213 East Third Street, next door to the Post Office. We warmly greet you! Your presence will enhance our worship experience and our fellowship together!
Koinonia coffee is held at The Welcome Center before Bible study each Sunday morning. Coffee is the perfect complement to meeting old friends and new. It is an invitation to sit and talk for a while, to share stories, to get to know one another better. You are invited to join friends each Sunday morning as we all share a warm cup of Koinonia Coffee.
There are many opportunities for service. If you have not received a Church Participation Form, please pick one up in the church office. As members of the Body of Christ at First Baptist Church, we are all called to serve in one way or another. We have many areas of service available to you. Children’s Church facilitators are always welcome. Choir rehearsal continues on Wednesdays at 7 pm. Please join us!
Saturday, August 24 at 6 pm, we are having a men and boys Skeet Shoot fellowship and cookout. Bring your own shot gun and ammo, and a donation will be taken to cover clays and the meal. Call the church office for details!
Promotion Sunday is August 25. During Sunday School, come decked out in your favorite crazy socks for Crazy Socks Promotion Sunday! Breakfast will be served in the Children’s Department.
Sunday, August 25, we will be observing the Lord’s Supper during the morning service. As you prepare for worship, reflect upon the awesome sacrifice Jesus gave for you. Take time for personal reflection as we share together at the Lord’s table.
The Annual Ice Cream Fellowship will be August 25! We will join First United Methodist Church and Church of Christ behind 4th and Elm at 7:00 pm for a time of fellowship. Bring your favorite home-made ice cream and a chair!
Sunday, September 8, at 6 pm, every committee will meet together to select a chairperson and go over the duties of the committee. Bring a soup, sandwich, or dessert to share.
To every teacher and worker we say THANK YOU! We want to say it in a very tangible way with our Appreciation Fiesta on September 15 at 6 pm. Teachers and workers, please plan on being here as we celebrate you!
National Back to Church Sunday is September 15. Please plan on being here Sunday, September 15 as we hope to have ALL of our members here!
Twenty times in the New Testament, Jesus issued a compelling and challenging invitation to follow Him. He’s not interested in mere fans or enthusiastic admirers. He wants completely committed followers! Growth Groups this fall over the book “not a fan” by Kyle Idleman will be led by our Deacons. Sign up today for this wonderful study that begins September 8.
For in depth information on First Baptist Church Sweetwater, find us on Facebook or at www.fbcsweetwater.org.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
First Presbyterian Church, Sweetwater, welcomes all to join us for worship. Our Church is a warm and loving church, and we want you to feel comfortable and at liberty to call on us for anything you need pastorally. We would love to have you be our guest.
Our journey through The Story will begin this Sunday, Aug. 25, for all ages at 9:30am. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect the mighty and powerful themes of God’s story with your personal story. All classes will begin with chapter 1, and adults invited to read pages 1-11 before class. The youth and children will receive their Bibles Sunday morning. See you at 9:30 this Sunday!
This Sunday we will be using a contemporary service to praise God. Philip Brock, Stephanie Weile, Alex Weile, and Caroline Brennan will be leading worship. Greeters are Lou Ann Cumbie and Dorothy Stroman.
During the worship service, the Reserve and Noisy offerings will be collected. The Reserve Offering goes to support the Nolan County Food Pantry and the Noisy Offering goes to support the missions of the Ministerial Alliance.
We are excited to announce our new: Children’s Director, Lou Ann Cumbie and Youth Director, Marina Wilcox. A back to school party was celebrated last Sunday. A calendar of events will be coming soon. Thank you to Lou Ann and Marina!
The mission of First Presbyterian Church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ by being an oasis of God’s love. Worship services are each Sunday at 10:45am. We are located at the corner of 14th Street and McCaulley, across from the high school. Find out more information about our ministry by calling 235-5491 or visit the church’s website www.fpcsweetwater.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 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 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 Sunday nights beginning at 6:00 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. 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: Come join us this Sunday as Pastor Brian continues a series dealing with the war that each of us must fight. Fortunately, it is a battle that is already won if we will let the Holy Spirit do the fighting for us. Spiritual warfare is something that every person must be prepared for because we have an adversary in Satan and he wants to destroy us. Come hear the good news that we can be victorious through Christ! On Sunday evening we will be enjoying a time of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Along with First Baptist Church, we’ll meet under the trees on the parking lot of 4th and Elm Church of Christ to enjoy homemade ice cream and desserts. You won’t want to miss it!
Activities this week:
Tonight @ 8 pm Youth Back to school lock-in
Sunday @ 8:45
Sunday @7:00 pm Tri-Church Ice Cream social
Fun activities are offered at different times during the month for 4-6 graders (Club 456) and 1-3 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
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, “The Spirit of the Law: Freedom from Bondage.” 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 is Betty Merrell. This is “noisy money” Sunday. Bring your coins and/or folding money for the outreach ministry, “No More Malaria.” In addition to the goal of eradicating malaria in Africa, the ministry furnishes bed nets for families, supports new medical research and assists hospitals in their ability to provide quality care for malaria patients.
“Bless This House” is calling upon prayer for all students, their families, teachers and administrative staff as they begin the new school year. Pray that each one gives his or her utmost with an energetic and optimistic attitude. May God give them patience, encouragement, understanding and determination in performing at their highest capabilities in attaining their goals.
On Labor Day Sunday, the 1st of September, congregational members are asked to dress in attire that depicts or displays their service in the Kingdom of God. One’s attire may possibly denote a specific gift from God that is used in His service.
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)
Washington Post Points to Mormon Values of Community Building
In a Washington Post opinion piece about social mobility in the United States, columnist Fareed Zakaria says “cities with strong families, civic support groups and a community-service orientation do well on social and economic mobility.” He notes that this is “why Salt Lake City — dominated by Mormons — has mobility levels that compare with” countries in northern Europe that “do better at moving poor people up the ladder than the United States does." Salt Lake City may not be “dominated” by Mormons, but the Latter-day Saints there consider it a religious duty to help their neighbors.
Zakaria calls this fabric of community relationships “social capital,” and it’s one of the values that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lives by. What’s more, this same “social capital” is greatly boosted by religion. Several commentaries on MormonNewsroom.org explain how Mormon faith and practice help create strong families and robust communities. But it’s not only Mormons. All people of faith nurture social capital in their efforts to make the world a better place.
Mormon Newsroom’s most recent commentary about the relevance of religion points out that religious observance strengthens communities.
The value of religion speaks less through sermons and more through the soup kitchens, hospitals, schools and countless other humanitarian works it nurtures. Simply put, religion builds social capital. Research shows that more than 90 percent of those who attend weekly worship services donate to charity. … Religious observance is linked to higher civic involvement, connected to trust and correlated with the neighborly virtues of charitable giving, volunteerism and altruism. Churches of all kinds bring communities together and provide a space and setting for individuals to serve people they otherwise would not. According to Rabbi [Jonathan] Sacks, religion “remains the most powerful community builder the world has known.”
A commentary about why society needs strong families highlights the importance of individual families in fostering successful communities.
None of us lives in isolation. A report on the state of marriage in America put it this way: “Marriage is not merely a private arrangement; it is also a complex social institution. Marriage fosters small cooperative unions — also known as stable families — that enable children to thrive, shore up communities, and help family members to succeed during good times and to weather the bad times.”
Another commentary notes that Mormonism encourages its members to lift society by thinking of their fellow man first. Importantly, the Church seeks to help all people — not just its members.
Mormons contribute donations to a welfare program that is operated, administered and implemented by rich and poor members alike. Everyone is invested in the system. And you don’t have to be a Mormon to participate. Whether one has fallen ill, lost a breadwinner or can’t find a job, this network of compassion works hard to put people back on their feet. Bad things happen to everyone, near and far. In addition, when disasters strike in places around the world, Mormon volunteers offer a helping hand. And on an ongoing basis, service missionaries partner with local and international charitable organizations to help alleviate poverty, prevent disease and give relief to the disabled.
2013 CALENDAR
Saturday Aug. 24 – Regional Stake Conference in Abilene 6 p.m.
Sunday Aug. 25 – Regional Stake Conference in Abilene 10 a.m.
Monday Aug. 26 – First Day of School and Family Home Evening
Wednesday Aug. 28 – Scouts, Young Women 6:30 a.m.
We are located at 910 Elm Street in Sweetwater. If you would like to talk to a representative of the church about the Savior's teachings, call 1-800 622-5595. Missionaries serving in this area are Elder Thorpe and Elder Sheffield. Call 325 864-2999.
TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH
Trinity Baptist Church, located at the corner of Hailey and Santa Fe Streets, would love to have you join us for worship. Worship times are as follows:
Sundays:
9:45 a.m. – Sunday School (there’s a place for every age!)
10:45 a.m. – Sunday morning worship
6:00 p.m. – Bible Study (adults, youth and children)
Wednesdays:
6:30 p.m. – Bible Study/Prayer Time/TeamKID
Other activities at Trinity can be found at our website: www.trinitysweetwater.com.
Our Youth Pastor, Bro. Emmanuel Jimenez, will present God’s message this week (August 25th). We invite you to come hear Bro. Manuel’s message and experience the love and fellowship Trinity is known for. Dress is always casual, so come as you are! Our services are a mix of traditional hymns and contemporary music, complete with our own very talented Trinity Praise Team. Our Praise Team has a special treat planned for this Sunday, so don’t miss out!
This Sunday, we will be casting our first vote to select members of our Pastor Search Committee. Church members are encouraged to attend so you can have a voice. We are also encouraged to be praying during this week for God’s direction in choosing that committee. The Pastor Search Committee will undertake the task of finding the pastor, leader and shepherd God has already chosen for us.
Also this Sunday, August 25th, we will have our Sunday School Kick-off Breakfast in the Family Life Center. Prepared by our deacons, we will enjoy a hearty breakfast at 9:00 a.m. followed by Sunday School at about 9:45 a.m. Children who are promoting are asked to go to their new classrooms. Children’s Sunday School classes are based on your child’s current grade in public/private school.
Sunday will also feature special prayer for our teachers, students and schools. There will be lots of activity going on during our Sunday service. Come experience life at Trinity!
In September, we will have the honor of hearing Dr. Tommy Brisco preach for the first three Sundays of the month. We are looking forward to hearing God’s Word from him. We have been blessed to have some tremendous preachers sharing the Truth with us this summer. We hope you have found your way to Trinity to experience some of those sermons.
Also in September, we will begin some great Bible studies!
• Ladies’ Bible Study will begin on Wednesday, September 4th, at Noon and at 6:00 p.m. They will be studying “Gideon” by Priscilla Shirer. Choose which class would meet your schedule and come join the ladies as they enjoy the study and great fellowship together. This study will encourage you to recognize your weakness as the key that the Lord gives you to unlock the full experience of His strength in your life.
• Parents will be studying “Raising Kids With a Faith That Lasts”, which is a Focus on the Family study. It will be offered at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings beginning September 8th. One of your greatest privileges as a parent is helping your child begin a relationship with God. You’ll see how everyday conversations, family fun, and purposeful projects build spiritual foundations your son or daughter can rely on for a lifetime—and beyond.
• Also beginning on Sunday, September 8th at 6:00 p.m. will be an adult Bible Study entitled “The Maberry Bible Study”. Based on episodes from The Andy Griffith Show, the morals and lessons learned in those episodes will be tied into scripture. Adults of all ages are invited to attend.
You can sign up for either of these Bible studies by calling our church office at 235-2991, or simply by attending at the specified times.
We would ask you to pray for our Personnel Committee as they seek an interim pastor for our church family. You can be certain that even though we are “pastor-less” at the moment, our faith and trust in God, as well as our current leadership, will keep Trinity going in the same loving, giving, caring direction.
If you would like more information about Trinity, or if you would like to speak to someone about Christ, please call the church office at 235-2991. We would be happy to share Christ with you! For more information about our church, please visit us on Facebook or on our website, www.trinitysweetwater.com. Blessings!
WORD OF GOD CHURCH