Mt. Carmel No. 1 Baptist Church

After a dreary, rainy start to the weekend on Saturday morning, we were blessed with a beautiful, sunny Sunday. Even though the weather is not always what we would have it be, isn’t it great that God is in control, and he knows what we need and when we need it?

Our morning service began with Tammy and Rebeka Jones singing “Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone.”

Bro. Derrell used scripture verses from Ephesians 4:14-16 and 2 Peter 3:18 to bring the message he titled “How to Keep On Growing Spiritually.”

When you come to a time when you feel as if you have run into a spiritual wall, you need to realize your spiritual growth is a work in progress. Maybe we need to stop and refocus our thoughts. There are ways to keep growing spiritually, and there is always a need for growth. As we grow, we need a deeper understanding of God’s word. It takes an effort on our part to gain this understanding. It takes studying the Bible and letting the Spirit lead us to this knowledge. From the time of our accepting Christ as our Savior, the growth process begins. Spiritual growth distinguishes the real from the fake, and it produces good fruit. It is a building block for God’s glory, not our own. Spiritual growth requires a good spiritual diet (God’s word) and spiritual exercise (obeying God’s word). Spiritual growth in Christians helps the church to flourish.

To give time for family members to attend baccalaureate services, we did not have service on Sunday evening. We would like to take this time to congratulate all the 2013 graduates. To those graduating from high school and college, we pray that God will direct your path and you will be willing to follow. For those graduating from kindergarten, we pray that you will grow in God’s grace and the knowledge of his will for your life.

Our VBS will be June 23-27 from 6-8:30 p.m. each night. Commencement will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 28. We will have classes for all age groups including adults. Crystal Warren is our VBS Director. She asks that all teachers and workers please remember the meeting on Sunday directly after the morning worship service.

We have several special prayer needs in our church family. Among those on our prayer list are Barbara Liveoak, Winston Liveoak, Ruthie Jean Giles, Elladene Mims, Myron West and family, Jacob Jones, Sarah Scott, Minnie Childress, Ronnie Childress and Leona Liveoak.

Calvary Independent Baptist Church

We want to congratulate to all the graduating seniors in Chilton County and ask that all Christians be in prayer for them as they start out in various new directions in life.

Sunday morning’s service included a message from John 5:30-47 on the witness of Jesus Christ by the Father, the forerunner John, the fame of his miracles, and the foretelling of him in scripture.

We all have a testimony that goes before us because of the choices we make in life. We can tell people we are a Christian, but is there enough evidence to prove it? If I am saved and baptized into a body of believers, it would be silly to assume that I can serve the body, yet be separate from the body.

Sunday night’s service included a song service, a short message from Isaiah 22:20-23 on being a nail in the house of God, and afterward, a fellowship meal downstairs recognizing our graduates and those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this month.

We invite you to visit with us for any of our services, and if you do not have a church family, we hope you will consider being with us this Sunday. We are located in South Clanton, just past Dollar General, off U.S. 31 on Fulmer Drive. Sunday school: 9 a.m., Children’s Church and adult worship service: 10 a.m., Sunday evening service: 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday service: 6:30 p.m.

VBS begins with registration on Sunday, June 2 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. VBS will be June 3-7 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. each night. For more information, call Pastor Oscar Mims at 205-755-9399.