Church News for Sept. 3

Published Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Lime Springs United Methodist Church

Our Sunday School lesson was on the 18 similarities of Old Testament Joseph to Jesus.

Bro. Shannon brought the morning sermon from Luke 8:43-48 on "By His Stripes We Are Healed." He reminded us of the woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years and how she had sought help from all available sources, even to the point of spending all her money.

Bro. Shannon shared with us the social, physical and spiritual ramifications the woman faced because of her illness. After years of suffering, she finally went to Jesus, the true source of healing.

The key to receiving our healing is to approach God in the same manner as this woman. We must go to the right physician (Jesus) first and foremost. Second, we must approach the Great Physician on His terms and not ours. Next, we must be willing to follow the instructions of God, even when it does not make much sense. Finally, we must seek, our healing by faith.

Bro. Shannon then reminded us of the prophetic words of Isaiah 53:4-6, whereas, through Calvary we can be made whole. He then reminded us that Jesus instructed His disciples in Luke 22:14-23 to remember His broken body through Holy Communion, and that He promises to be with us when we partake of Communion. Therefore, when we approach the Communion table as the woman with the issue of blood, seeking Christ, humbled, wiling to receive and by faith, we, too, can be made whole.

We close the service with Holy Communion, prayer at the altar and anointing for the sick and afflicted.

Happy birthday wishes go out to Jamie Moore, Allie Belknap and Kalyn Shannon.

Our evening Bible study focused on the Second Coming of Christ.

Our service times are as follows: Sunday School at 9:30 a.m.; Sunday morning worship at 11; evening Bible study at 5:30; and Wednesday night prayer meeting at 6:30.

For more information concerning Lime Springs, please call 646-2399 or 755-4950.

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Friendship Baptist Church

Bro. Gene's message, "Jesus Met the Captain," was from Matthew 8:5-15. Jesus used the centurion to teach a valuable lesson. The man felt he did not deserve to have Him come under his roof. Jesus told him he had never seen anyone in Israel with such great faith. If we today showed faith like this man did, our world would be so much different -- better! God's power to heal has not diminished in today's time. If you're sick with sin, come to the Healer.

Sunday evening, we started a study during Discipleship Training on how to make our church grow. Bro. Gene is teaching us a wonderful lesson.

Bro. Gene's message, "Come to Me," was from Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus gives rest to the weary. Jesus is gentle and humble, and He will give us rest for our souls.

Prayer requests: Lauren Davis Collum, travelers, Leah Leon, Ernest Brand, Margaret Mims, Tony Connell, Melissa Gerald, Pauline Little, Bill Gray, Judie Easterling, Glenn Miller, unspoken requests.

Happy birthday to Faye Honeycutt, Derek Pate, Kristen Oliphant and Tori Griffin.

Upcoming events:

Sept. 3: nursing home and The Gardens visits, 9:45 a.m.

Sept. 5: mission trip to Camden, Ala. Meet at the church at 6:40 a.m. School supplies are needed. Call Regeana Funderburk with any questions at 755-2534 or go to spiritofluke.com.

Sept. 7: Labor Day.

Sept. 12: Chilton Baptist Association "Tablescapes" from 9-11 a.m.

Sept. 13: Homecoming singing will be at 10 a.m. with Dan Gilliland and speaker Bro. Jason Vinson. Food and fellowship will follow the morning service.

Thought for the week: "The task asked of us is never as great as the Power behind us!"

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Mt. Carmel No. 1 Baptist Church

Our Sunday morning service began with the teaching of Sunday School lessons. Anchor your hope in God by faith. Come join us for the teaching of the Bible, God's holy word. Do not miss any of God's blessings.

Bro. Cecil Franklin introduced the guest speaker, Bro. Shawn Collins. Bro. Shawn's message was taken from Job 1:6 and entitled "A Great Day."

Job feared God. He was perfect and upright, but Satan was there going to and fro. But Job kept his faith.

It was good to have Bro. Shawn's wife and daughter visiting with us. We welcome them to come anytime.

Our visiting speaker for Sunday, Sept. 6 will be Bro. John Pullen. The following Sunday will be Bro. David Reid. The search committee will present Bro. Reid to the church as a candidate for pastor. Please be here to hear him and be praying for his decision.

Nursery workers for the month of September will be as follows: Sept. 6, Missy Mandrell; Sept. 13, Pat Hayes; Sept. 20, Mary Ellen Campbell; and Sept. 27, Laura Liveoak.

Remember Tablescapes at Jemison First Baptist on Sept. 12 at 9 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. our Prime-Timers will meet. After a potluck supper, we will have singing by our children's choir. If you miss this meeting, you'll be sorry!

You are invited to the wedding of Brittney Lenoir and Michael Rogers on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Church.

Continue to pray for all prayer requests. God knows their names and needs. Join us in daily prayer for these and their needs, and we will be praying for you. We love you and so does Jesus.

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Christ Independent Methodist Church

Sunday, Bro. Ron Mensinger preached his last sermon for us, fulfilling his commitment to Dr. Mac Stinson, who has taken two months medical leave on his doctor's advice. Bro. Ron has blessed us, inspired us, and given us new insights into familiar passages of scripture.

Bro. Ron's sermon topic was "Sin-Covered and Covered Up." God's desire is always to forgive sin if we are willing. King David was a man who knew God and knew the enormity of the sin he had committed.

David prayed in Psalm 51, "Wash my sin and make me clean."

Despite David's inability to resist temptation as he faced it, his saving grace was a contrite heart and his willingness to ask for God's forgiveness.

Next Saturday, Dr. Stinson and Glinda will be back with us. We invite our church family to be present to welcome them. Sunday night after Singspiration, we will share a meal in the fellowship hall to welcome them back.

Pray for Vera Posey Easterling of Oxford, who is having heart surgery on Monday, Sept. 1. Also, Lane Miller, grandson of Opal Miller, has undergone surgery this past week. Robbie Bagby is recuperating from a severely sprained ankle, and Laurel Lee Adams is scheduled for tests resulting from a fall that has damaged her right arm. Continue to pray for Mary Ann Carden and her broken arm, and for Michelle Latza who was absent due to illness Sunday. Remember Wilma Ellison who requests our prayers for health problems.

Mark your calendars for our Celebration Sunday, Sept. 20. The Stewart Sisters will bring us special music. Guest minister will be the Rev. Jim Webster.

Welcome back, Dr. Mac and Glinda. We have missed you and hope that your time off from service has given you needed rest.

Ronnie Mims, son of the late Lake Mims and Lurlene Blow Mims Johnson, passed away Aug. 25 at UAB Medical West. He was buried at Highland Memorial Gardens in Bessemer on Aug. 28.

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Pleasant Valley Baptist Church

What a glorious day! Liquid sunshine was falling outside as God's loving blessings were falling on His people inside.

The choir's message in song, "This is Our God," proclaimed Jesus as our hero and conqueror, offering love, mercy and salvation. Bro. Wayne's text, Ephesians 6:10-18 reminded us of the confidence we can place in Jesus as we prepare for the battle before us. Jesus is indeed our Hero.

We also praise God for the new addition he blessed us with; we are still growing! Sunday evening was a treat! We have special fifth Sunday night services. This week we enjoyed a movie and popcorn night. Attendance was great and so was our fellowship.

We invite you to join us as we worship the True and Living God. You are always welcome at Pleasant Valley. We are located at 6454 County Road 24 in the Enterprise Community. Bible Study is at 10 a.m. with morning worship at 11. We do not promise you the world, we promise you God.

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Bethany Baptist Church

Fifty-two Weeks to a Better You: Memory verse for this week is Jeremiah 15:16: "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts."

We had a good fifth Sunday service, complete with a great meal. We enjoyed the worship service and the fellowship.

Bro. Aubry's message was "Standing for Righteousness," taken from 1 Chronicles 17 and Psalm 145. We think of many Old Testament men who stood for righteousness like Ezra, Ezekiel, Hosea and David; and many New Testament men such as John the Baptist, Peter, John and Paul. As Christians, we are all to be spokesmen for God (Psalms 145:10-12). Remembering that the more we know and teach, the more we are accountable (James 3:1). We are the saints of God who are here to carry forth the words of God to the world.

Upcoming events: Sept. 12 -- Mission (AMD) meeting at Landmark in Prattville; Sept. 13 -- Bro. David Taylor will bring morning message; Sept. 27 -- homecoming at Bethany.

We should be preparing for our revival meeting Nov. 1-4. Let's not wait for Nov. 1 for revival to begin. Bro. Don McCormick, president of Louisiana Baptist Institute of Minden, La., will be our guest speaker.

Prayer list: Bonnie Burks, Lillian Burkhalter, Lela Mae Courtney, Mildred Crawford, Doris Driver, Ophelia Griffin, Jeanette Jessop, Mary Knight, Doug and Helen Mims, Ellen Gray, Billie Neeley, Pastor and Mrs. Wallace.

See you Sunday!

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Rocky Mount United Methodist Church

Sunday may have been a rainy day, but it was a glorious day at Rocky Mount. The morning began with all the Sunday School classrooms buzzing as people gathered and began sharing their week with each other. Then, our morning worship service was led by our lay speaker, Charlotte Powell. Charlotte brought us an important message that included reminding us that some of our earthly questions won't be answered while we are here on earth, and we just have to be trusting and patient and get answers in the Lord's time. The service concluded with a special baby christening service. It is always so special so see parents bring their child to the altar of God and dedicate themselves again to the Lord as well as promise to bring up a child in a Christian home and church.

The evening had us coming together to share a fellowship meal with our preacher for our revival, Bro. Warren Ford from Fayetteville. In usual Methodist custom, the table was laden with delicious food for us to enjoy before proceeding upstairs for our worship service. Bro. Ford took the back seat while we were treated to a special surprise performance by our own Haleigh Moman and Rachel Snow. How delightful it is to see our young people willing to share their talents with the Lord and us. We look forward to more songs in the future. Praise the Lord for our young people.

Brother Ford shared with us an inspirational and true to revival style message. Our hearts were warmed and hopefully all minds opened to a new fire for the Lord. We even heard of some ways some have already been inspired to share God's love within our community. We look forward to his messages through Wednesday evening. He has promised to share his testimony with us as well as bringing some special music with him. Our own Paula Merrell will also share with us in song as well as Jemison's own Joseph "Swampy" from Piggly Wiggly. If you have never heard Joseph sing or share his message of God's love, you are missing a treat.

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Oak Grove Church of God

Bro. Northcutt took his text from 2 Kings 20:1-11 and the title of his message was "Remember My Faithfulness."

When is it the hardest time to say "no" to our kids? Perhaps it's when they have just done something wonderful without being asked, or when they have followed through on an important helpful task without being asked. When they come to us and ask for something it is hard to say "no" to them. We want to encourage this unselfish and thoughtful attitude by rewarding that behavior.

Our heavenly father also likes to reward faithfulness by His children. While attempts to manipulate God's blessings and favor will always fail the Bible does teach that those who walk faithfully with the Lord do find they are generally under the blessings and attention of the Lord. Nothing is more satisfying in this life than to be able to come before the Lord at a moment of crisis and be able to say "Lord, remember my faithfulness" -- not as a form of manipulation, but as a reminder to self and to others that faithfulness counts, and God's heart is always on those who walk faithfully with Him.

Don't underestimate the response of God to those who can say with an honest heart, "Remember My Faithfulness." If you can't say that now, start making today the first day of your walking faithfully with the Lord. He always sees honest intentions to begin to live faithfully. The journey of a million miles begins with one step, Take the first if you haven't been faithful before and start the journey. If you have been faithful keep on keeping on!

Oak Grove is a loving and caring church striving to better serve our God and our community.

If you do not have a church home we invite you to come worship God with us and be a part of our church family at Oak Grove. Service times are: Sunday School at 10 a.m., worship service at 10:45, Sunday evening service at 5:30 and Wednesday night service at 7.

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Cedar Grove Methodist-Protestant Church

Sunday was a wonderful day with a full house even though it was raining. It was a good time in the house of the Lord.

The Lord came by, as many went to the altar and were anointed and prayed for.

Happy birthday to Russell Wyatt and Don Tippett. Bobbie and Earl Giles celebrated their 50th anniversary with a celebration Aug. 29 at Helen's Place, hosted by their children, Lojuana, Patsy, Jerry and Kim.

Bro. Royce Ellison was the guest speaker for the homecoming service. His message came from 1 Samuel 17. The subject was David kills Goliath.

We all went to the old fellowship hall for a bountiful meal and returned to the church at 1:30 for a blessing from our guest singers Mike and Kelley Bowling. Kelley's sister Tara sings with them also.

We hope to be in the sanctuary by Thanksgiving. We have three or four couples getting married as soon as it is completed.

We were glad to have Bro. Dennis Smith, Susan and grandson Luke with us, and also Bro. Stoney Barbee and Debbie.

We have several on the sick list who need our prayers: Shirley Davenport is in the hospital at this writing; pray for Jim and Ellen Ruth Scott, all our spoken and unspoken requests, the leaders of our country, the military and our president.

If you are looking for a home church, come to Cedar Grove. We would love to have you. We welcome our many visitors Sunday, including Lois and Charles Fox.

Bro. Jeff is teaching from the book of Revelation on Wednesday night at 7. Come on out and join us. For more information call 646-2390.

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Jackson Chapel

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" (Isaiah 55:6).

Bro. Dennis' text came from Matthew 12:34-37 with a message entitled "Words." If you are willing to start the healing process with people that have hurt us, we have got to be willing to forgive those that have caused the wound. We need to be very careful about the words that we speak because they will either heal or hurt. We will either be justified or condemned by the words that come out of our mouths.

Sunday evening, Bro. Dennis' text came from Isaiah 55:6. If we want to get to heaven we've got to put forth and effort to get there. If a person wants to get to heaven, they have got to be sold out to Jesus and we've also got to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We need to make ourselves available for God to use us in ways that he sees fit. If God calls us to a work for him he will provide us with what we need to fulfill what he has called us to do.

Happy anniversary to David and Sandra Pate

Please remember these as you pray this week - Geraldine Smith, The David Riley Family. James and Marie Johnson, Hershell and Marie Rhodes, Juanita Wyatt's sister Glenda, Ester Wyatt, George Gilford, The Davis family, The Edwards Family, Sha Bruce and Family, JoAnn Wyatt, Virginia Cole, our service men and women and our lost loved ones.

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Walnut Creek United Methodist Church

Beautiful flowers were placed by Kayla and Phillip Cook in memory of Kayla's grandparents, Paul and Varah Williamson, and in honor of Phillip's mother, Mary Lou Cook on her birthday.

What a great group of children we had Sunday. Diane Handley taught them an interesting lesson. When you bite into a beautiful apple, you don't always know what's inside -- maybe a worm! The people were complaining to Jesus that the disciples were eating without washing their hands. He called them hypocrites because it was their hearts -- what was on the inside -- that mattered.

Sharing joys and concerns: What a pleasure I was to see our new friend and visitor, Kathy Kotsay, Sunday morning after having six stents placed in her heart Thursday. It was also great to see Judy Woods, and all the beautiful young people and children.

Our scripture was from Deuteronomy 4.

"If this message had a title, it would be, 'The Joys and Benefits of the People of God,'" said Bro. Tony. "But we must first learn how to be people. After we are born again, we must also learn to be people of God."

As the prodigal son came to his senses in the hog pen, God was right there. He will not come into the hog pen to get you, but he will be there for you.

One of the greatest benefits of being a child of God is his constant presence, but uncalled on, it will be there ineffective in our lives.

The power of God can do anything, if we call on him.

You know why folks hide money in the Bible? Nobody's going to look for it there! Even though it is the most powerful book in the world, it is God's instructional manual -- it is the written representation of Christ, yet we don't read it. We try to work things out on our own. What kind of children of God are we?

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