Friendship Baptist Church

Our choir special this Sunday was “Thy Word.” Special music was provided by Bro. Dusty Dutton. He sang “Somebody Touched Me.” Bro. Ken’s message was taken from Genesis 32:22-26 titled “What to Do.” In that passage, Jacob wrestled with God all night and his name was changed to Israel.

Bro. Dusty and Bro. Raymond sang “His Eye is on the Sparrow” and Bro. Dusty sang “You Raise Me Up.”

Bro. Ken’s message, taken from Romans 12, was titled “A New Life in Christ.” The message focused on living sacrifices to God. We should be living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is a spiritual act of worship. We should be a living testimony to the world.

Upcoming events: Nov. 9: Youth lock-in at the fellowship hall. Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day service 10 a.m. and Harvest Service after the a.m. service. Nov. 24: Youth serving the hungry in Birmingham, leaving at 4:45 a.m. Nov. 30: Matthew Jones’ Marine basic training graduation. Dec. 3-5: Gaither Concert in Gatlinburg. Dec. 11: W.M.U. Christmas pajama party at 6:15 p.m. Dec. 16: Christmas Cantata 10 a.m. Dec. 27: youth bowling.

Happy birthday to Juanita Staggs and Robina Gonzalez.

Prayer requests: Juanita Staggs, Hurricane Sandy Victims, our local hospital, the Kelley family and Floyd Logan.

Jackson Chapel Church

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8.

Bro. Gary Fant got the morning worship service started off with “Praise Him, Praise Him” and “Just Over in the Glory Land.” Bro. Gary Fant blessed us with “I Call It Home.”

Bro. Dennis’ text came from 2 Chronicles 7:12-15. As Christians, we have to realize that prayer works, and it is powerful. Prayer is our way of communicating with our Heavenly Father. We tend not to ask God to help us when we need help. Jesus Christ is here to help us with anything that burdens us. All we have to do is turn those burdens over to him and he will remove them from us. There are things we need to do in order for us to get back to where God wants us to be. We need to turn from our wicked ways and seek his face. If we would do these things, there is no end to what God will do for us. The service ended with people coming to pray.

Bro. Gary Fant got the evening service started off with “Blessed be the Name,” “I Want to be Ready to Meet Him” and “The Eastern Gate.” Bro. Dennis blessed us with “If I Could Telephone Heaven.” Bro. Dennis’ text came from Luke 21:34-38. Satan would love to get in our churches and tear them up. Satan doesn’t like it when God’s people are doing things to serve Jesus Christ. As Christians, we need to be careful about the things we do in serving Jesus Christ because Satan will bind us up with all the cares of the world and steal the joy God has bestowed on us.

Happy birthday to Carol Smith and Linda Varden.

Please remember these as you pray this week: Cecil Smitherman’s family, Faye Baker, Sabrina Lett, Margie Baker, Myra Davis, Eloise Cleckler, Johnny Scoggins, Melba Adams, Jerry Castleberry, our service members and our lost loved ones.

We are located at 4020 Yellow Leaf Road, Clanton. Sunday School starts at 10 a.m., Sunday morning worship at 11 a.m. and Sunday evening worship at 6 p.m. Wednesday evening Bible study begins at 7 p.m.

Samaria Baptist Church

Our services were truly blessed this morning with a large crowd of young families. This is the future of our church family and we praise God for leading them to us. Our prayer concerns are for Paul Shearon, Lashelle Harris, Terry Sparks, Mr. Smith, the storm victims, Vernon Evans’ family, as well as the election.

Bro. Charles message came from James 4:13. Don Fisher played “Sunlight” on his harmonica and Diane Fisher sang “When He Was on the Cross.”

To him who knows to do good and does it not, it is sin. We are like the grass and flowers; we flourish for a time, then wither and die. Today is all we have, and we are not promised tomorrow. We should make the best of the time we have to be a shining light for our Lord Jesus Christ.

We should be willing to be used of God for the influence of others who need the Savior. We must impress our children while they are young, and give them those childhood memories that return to them when they are old, memories that mean something spiritual and special to them. Impressions of love, tenderness, mercy and the example of living life for Jesus Christ is the impact we need to be making on our little ones. We are accountable for the example we set. We should pray with compassion for those children who live in drug infested, alcoholic homes, filled with violence and despair. These lives are never impressed by anything good unless someone shows Christ to them.

As we look to the future, we should say, “We will do this or that, if it is God’s will.” God knows everything we need; he knows what we can do, and he provides direction to those who seek him by faith.

He knows what you earn, for he provides the job, the ability and the strength to you for the work you do. It makes sense to give one tenth of our income to Christ, since he actually owns it all, but only asks for 10 percent.

God rewards our efforts and goodness. Life is a vapor. It appears for a time, then vanishes. Make each day count. Satan will blind our eyes if we do not seek the Lord while he can be found. He gave all for you and me. When God convicts us, we realize what we are and what we have done against his will. Don’t leave this world without Jesus.

We welcome you to join our love affair with Jesus Christ as we worship each Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. We have a program for each of you. Jesus is here with us, so come and meet him here. God bless you.