Calvary Independent Baptist Church

We want to thank God for loving the world so much that he gave his only begotten son. We want to thank Christ for loving us so much that he was willing to die for our sins so that we could have the most incredible gift of all, eternal life.

Sunday morning’s service included a message from John 2 and Exodus 12 about the Passover in Egypt and how important it was to have the blood applied in order to keep the destroyer from coming to your house. The deliverance that night was a story to be told by all the parents to their children, then passed on to future generations.

If you are saved today by the blood of the Lamb of God you have a redemptive story that needs to be shared with all your loved ones. We cannot allow the testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ to be unheard by future generations.

Sunday’s evening service included a good Christmas program, a short message from Ephesians and a fellowship meal downstairs. Like so many of the Old Testament prophets, I think I can truly say that God was with us in all the services this weekend at Calvary. We want to thank all those who attended services this Sunday. We also want to invite you to visit and worship with us during any of our services. We are located south of Clanton, just past Dollar General, off U.S. Highway 31 on Fulmer Drive. Sunday school at 9 a.m., Children’s Church and adult worship service at 10 a.m., Sunday evening service at 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday service at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Pastor Oscar Mims at 205-755-9399.

Rocky Mount United Methodist Church

On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we celebrated the symbol of Joseph, who knocks at the door, ready to take his place among royalty.

We sang praises to those willing to say what needs to be said to show the light through all the darkness of this world. While we hear people under severe stress wondering where God is; we wonder if, when things are going well, they also wonder where God is. He promises to be with us when things are toughest. Not even death will separate us from the love of Christ!

We must all battle the devil. The devil just loves to encourage us by discouraging us. Just as Elizabeth and Mary both opened themselves to God’s plan, we, too, must open ourselves to God’s plan. Love came down at Christmas in a planned, creative gesture, a truly wonderful gift from God. That wonderful gift was presented in the mess of a barn to a poor young girl: proof that no place and no one is too poor or messy to have God with them. Have you made the right decision for him? He is the reason for the season.

We concluded our Sunday evening with a presentation of Christmas music led by our choir. We hope that you had a merry Christmas and realized the many blessings of the birth of Jesus.