Looking around we can’t quite understand what is going on. We may even be wondering if God is still in control. This week we honored and remembered one of the most tragic events in American history, 9/11. I remember that day well. The terror, the horror, the crying, and then the resolve to get up, clean up, and move on. Churches were full as America turned to God for answers. This week, 12 years later, it seems we have forgotten. We haven’t forgotten that tragic day, we haven’t forgotten the lost loved ones, we haven’t forgotten the pain and sorrow, but we have forgotten God, the one who carried us through those tough times. Now, we seem to be facing an uphill climb. Financially, we still haven’t turned the corner. Physically, we have more sick than healthy. Emotionally, we are torn as to what is coming next, and politically, we are not sure what to do about Syria.
These are truly uncertain and unsettled times, and we need desperately to turn back to God, seek His face, and seek His guidance. When I am unsure, when things look really bad, and when I don’t understand or can’t find any reason to stand, I REMEMBER! I remember where there is Jesus there is always hope. I REMEMBER the forgiveness of the cross. I REMEMBER the victory of the empty tomb. I REMEMBER greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world, and I REMEMBER that God is still in control. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. Let us remember God!
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 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 will continue our September sermon series, which is a deep look at our glorious King Jesus through the book of Colossians. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to grow closer to your Lord, so come join us as we study His words together.
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 Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m.
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.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
First Baptist Church invites you and your family to join us on this Sunday, Sept. 15, 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. 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 p.m. Please join us!
We want to reinvent the Fall Festival and see it become a more purposeful experience that reflects our call to share the Good News. We need five or six volunteers to work alongside the staff to redesign the Fall Festival. Call the office to volunteer your help.
Each month, the Missions Closet will ask for a new item of the month. The item will help keep the food pantry stocked to better serve our community. The item needed for the month of September will be canned green beans. Please put donations in the box outside the Missions Closet.
Please stop by the foyer after worship service and pick up a bookmark designated for a particular student. You can put it in your Bible and pray for that student this year.
To every teacher and worker we say THANK YOU! We want to say it in a very tangible way with our Appreciation Fiesta on Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. Teachers and workers, please plan on being here as we celebrate you! We will join together on the third floor for a time of food and fellowship and to recognize our teachers and workers.
KidX returns on Sept. 18, 2013. We begin again on Wednesday nights to engage children and the Kingdom of God. Please call the office to volunteer.
National Back to Church Sunday began as a movement to invite everyone in America back to church by empowering and motivating church members to invite their family and friends to come with them to a special service hosted by the local church. This is an open invitation to all members and visitors to join us on Sept.15. Please plan on being here Sunday, Sept. 15, as we hope to have ALL of our members here!
Child Sex-Trafficking Awareness will be Sept. 21, 2013. Slavery is an unspoken crisis in the United States, and speaker Melissa Woodward is a survivor. Hear her story at FBC Roby along with a delicious meal. Tickets can be purchased for $8.
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 Sept. 22.
We will have a guest speaker on Sept. 22, 2013. Dr. Albert Reyes, President and CEO of Buckner International will be preaching during the worship service at 10:30 am.
For in depth information on First Baptist Church Sweetwater, find us on Facebook or at www.fbcsweetwater.org.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
First Presbyterian Church of 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.
All Sunday school classes will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, and will continue the study of The Story. Doug Richards and Dorothy Stroman are greeters. Paula Huckabee will be worship assistant. There is a Back to School Lunch after worship. Bring your favorite dish. Meat and bread will be provided.
Youth Night is Sunday, Sept. 15, from 6-7 p.m. Marina Wilcox will be meeting with all high school and middle school kids. Lou Ann Cumbie will meet with the Little Ones (two years to Kindergarten).
Activities for Wednesday, Sept. 18 are Plarning group at 1 p.m. and Session at 5:30 p.m. Choir will meet Thursday, Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m.
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 10:45 a.m. 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 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: Come join us this Sunday as we explore the Circles of Influence each of us has in the Kingdom of God. If you think that your potential for impact in the kingdom is small, come hear how God can work with simple acts of obedience.
Activities this week:
Sunday worship at 8:45 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.
Sunday at 5 p.m. — Prayer 101 (for third through eighth graders).
Sunday at 6 p.m. — Adoratio.
Sunday at 6:30 p.m. — “Secrets of the Secret Place.”
Wednesday at 10 a.m. — Morning Bible study.
Saturday, Sept. 21, at 9:30 a.m. — Bake sale (Wal-Mart parking lot).
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
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, “Ninety-nine and One: Ignorance and Unbelief.” 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 September is Mary Walker. Pat McKiddy will sing a special selection during the worship service.
Oct. 20 is the consecration date for our next community outreach ministry, Gateway Family Services. The center offers its services and ministers to individuals involved in family violence and sexual assault in Scurry, Nolan, Mitchell, Fisher and Kent Counties. We are collecting good used and new suitcases, paper goods (toilet paper, Kleenex, paper towels, paper plates and paper cups), laundry detergent, dishwasher liquid, bar soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bath towels and wash cloths. Bring your selected articles to church on or before the 20th and they will be placed in the appropriate location.
“Bless This House” is calling upon prayer for our fellow Christians in Egypt and the Middle East who are being persecuted by the terrorists. Their churches are being burned and destroyed. May they feel the presence of God through the power of prayer of Christians around the world in giving them the courage and strength in holding steadfast to their faith, comforting them as their personal lives and their families are under constant threat.
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.
TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH
Trinity Baptist Church, located at the corner of Hailey and Santa Fe Streets, invites you to join us for worship. Sunday school begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by Sunday morning worship at 10:45 a.m. Sundays at 6 p.m., we offer Bible studies for adults. Our Wednesday prayer time is at 6:30 p.m. Anytime adults meet at Trinity, their children are well cared for by our experienced nursery workers or caring volunteers who lead school age children and youth.
This Sunday, Sept. 15, we will have a Service of Celebration and Commissioning. During our worship service, we will praise God for His blessings and provisions as well as commission our new Pastor Search Committee. Members of the new Pastor Search Committee include Richard Acuña, Delbert Davis, David Green, Don Ware, Rebekah Chrismer, Becky Stewart and Donna Stewart. Alternates elected were Will Duniven and Krista Hendrix. Dr. Tommy Brisco from Hardin-Simmons University will present our message. This service will feature hymns as well as praise songs led by Trinity’s own praise team. Come join us as we celebrate the next step in the life of Trinity. You won’t want to miss this celebration!
We have three Bible studies going on right now at Trinity and YOU are invited to come!
• Ladies’ Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at noon and at 6 p.m. and features “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 are studying “Raising Kids With a Faith That Lasts,” which is a Focus on the Family study. It is offered at 6 p.m. on Sunday evenings in Room 111. 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.
• The adults are currently enjoying “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 on Sundays at 6 p.m. in the Family Life Center.
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.
Even though Trinity is without a pastor, we have been encouraged and excited to hear some great preaching coming from the pulpit here on Sunday mornings. On Sept. 22nd and 29th, Dr. Ken Lyle, Sr. will be preaching. Don’t miss hearing God’s Word from one of his servants.