The Clanton Advertiser

Mars Hill Baptist Church

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Mars Hill Baptist Church in Jemison! If you don’t have a church home, please visit us; we love people and will be happy to have you. You won’t find a more loving church anywhere, and our pastor, Bro. William Short, will bless your heart.

The year 2012 is coming to an end, and as I reflect on what has happened this year, I just have to stop and praise my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for bringing all of us through another year. God has a plan for each of us; he loves us and wants all of his children to be happy and live fulfilled lives. His word tells of his great love for us, from Genesis through Revelations. Christmas didn’t just start on Dec. 25, it started at the beginning of time, when God first said, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” That is when his love story for us started, and dear friends, it has never ended. Yes, Jesus knows me, this I love! To know that the creator of the heavens and the earth, knows me – and knows you – is a powerful statement.

The question that you should ask yourself right now, is do you know him? Yes, he knows you, he knows everything about you; there is nothing God doesn’t see and know, but do you know him? If you aren’t sure of your answer, now is the time to get the matter settled. Open up your heart and ask Jesus in, to live inside you, to be his child. The year 2013 can be a much different year for you when you know Jesus Christ. You can be assured that heaven is in your view, that God loves you and will never leave you nor forsake you; He will take care of you.

May the peace of God, the love of Christ and the comfort of the Holy Spirit invade your life this coming year, and flood you with a happiness that you cannot contain! God bless us all, every one.

Continue to pray for our church, our pastor, the sick, the lost, the hurting, the Newtown, Conn. community, our troops, our government and our country. Amen.

Mountain Springs

Services started Sunday with Bro. Ricky Cleckler leading the church in the following hymns: “Jesus is Coming Soon,” “Anywhere is Home,” “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” and “Joy to the World.”

Bro. Roger Cleckler gave a devotion from Jeremiah 10:1-4: The true meaning of Christmas is to worship Jesus.

After Sunday school, Bro. Ricky led the church in the hymn “Victory in Jesus,” and Sam Ross and Debbie Barnett sang “He’ll See You Through.”

Bro. Tim Henry and his family were with us this Sunday. Bro. Tim preached from Isaiah 9:6: Before Jesus comes back we need to make sure our hearts are set right with God. Jesus is coming back so we better be prepared for him.

Sunday night’s service was the older youth’s Christmas play. They performed the musical “The Christmas Shoe Tree,” and it was a blessing to all who came. We are so proud of all the youth at Mountain Springs.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and Happy Holidays. Our New Year’s Eve singing will be held on Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

We will have The Primitives along with Canaanland to sing and Bro. Tim Henry to preach the message. It will be a wonderful service where we will pray the old year out and the new year in. We hope you and your family are able to come.