Mount Bethel Baptist Church

It is always great to be in God’s house. It’s like getting a spiritual booster shot. You can be a little tired or a little down or worried about something, but when you get among God’s people singing and praising God, it does something to you. You are no longer tired or worried or down. You are energized with the Spirit of God.

We start our Sundays with singing followed by prayer. Then we go into our Bible study classes.

The Rev. Oneal Cleckler’s morning sermon, “Access to God’s Throne,” was taken from Hebrews 10:19-22 and Ephesians 2:13. What was called the Holy of Holies or the Throne Room was off limits to everyone except the high priest, and he entered only once a year to perform the ceremony. He was the only one to have access.

We have gained access by the blood of Jesus Christ. Once we repent of our sins and accept Jesus, he is at our access at any time. When we take Communion, it is a voluntary act but so important. We need to recognize the broken body and the spilled blood that was shed for us.

Bro. Cleckler’s evening message was on the gift of miracles (see 1 Corinthians 12:27-28, Acts 8:6, 19). Some things happen today we don’t think of as miracles. Until we have faith we will not see the miracles that happen around us. In Acts 19, Paul performed unusual miracles. They were so unusual that people caught sweat from his brow on a towel and it would heal. Jesus performed many miracles, but the one we may remember the most is raising Lazarus from the dead.

Miracles exist only if faith is strong enough to sustain them.

Visitors are invited to join us for worship and fellowship. Sunday School is at 10 a.m.; morning worship at 11; Discipleship Training at 5 p.m. and evening worship at 6.

Mt. Carmel No. 1 Baptist Church

Praise God for the wonderful day he gave our visitors and us Sunday. God is so good. After a great Sunday School lesson, our people gathered in the sanctuary and joined the choir in singing some beautiful songs. The special music was by Holly Smith.

Visiting with us Sunday was Bro. Roger Vines and his wife, Nadene. Bro. Roger’s message was from Numbers 22:1-37 and was entitled, “Balaam.”

Balaam was a man of God who slipped and was out of the will of God. Are you in the center of God’s will?

Sunday night, Bro. Roger’s message was from 2 Samuel 9:6-13. Remember to keep Bro. Vines on your prayer list as he is ministering in Nicaragua. Also pray for souls to be saved as Bro. Vines and Nadene preach and teach these people.

Our sympathy, love and prayers go out to the family of Annie Ruth Childress Chapman. Annie Ruth passed away Tuesday and services were held Friday, Aug. 21.

The church bulletin will be printed by Pat Hayes each week. If you have any news or announcements, contact Pat at 646-3361.

Choir practice got off to a good start Sunday at 4 p.m. You are invited to come and have a part in the choir. We have started our Christmas music under the direction of Holly Smith.

Remember to pray for our pastor search committee. A special date to mark your calendar for is Sept. 13, 2009. Bro. David Reid will be our guest speaker for the day. Please come have a part in the service.

Continue to pray for the names on our prayer list, especially Timmy Moats, as he is in Brookwood Hospital at the time of this writing. Pray for our church and the search for a pastor. We still have lots of sick ones on our prayer list. Remember these when you pray.

Tell someone about Jesus today.

Christ Independent Methodist Church

Sunday, Bro. Ron Mensinger fed our souls and touched our hearts with his inspirational sermon entitled, “Looking on the Other Side.” His sermon was based on scripture from the Gospel of John 14:1-6. This entire chapter might appropriately be titled “Promises,” for that is exactly what it is — promises Jesus made to his disciples to comfort them as he prepared to leave them.

Jesus tells Peter, “Let not your heart be troubled: Ye believe in God, believe also in me.” With few exceptions, the rest of chapter 14 is a list of promises God recites to Peter but which are applicable for each of us today. We would do well to read chapter 14 at regular intervals for the reassurance of the promises it contains.

Bro. Mensinger gave us this provocative question: “What do you want people to say about you when you leave this world?”

Hopefully no one flippantly said, “It does not matter.”

Remember, funerals are for the living and can be a healing balm or an everlasting hurt. Words said about the dead can be a memorial that heals those left behind or an indictment to hurt those left behind until they no longer hear them. Funerals give closure.

Continue to pray for Robbie Bagby and her sprained if not broken ankle, Mary Ann Carden and her therapy for her broken wrist, Mable Mitchell undergoing tests, Wilma Ellison for her pain, and Dr. Phil Simms still has hearing problems.

If you have missed hearing Bro. Mensinger preach while Dr. Stinson has been absent on medical leave, I urge you to come hear him next Sunday, Aug. 30, his last Sunday with us. He has blessed us each time he has preached.

Welcome to our visitors. We appreciate your presence. Have a blessed week.

Walnut Creek United Methodist Church

Sunday was an absolutely beautiful day to worship. Just as beautiful were the altar flowers placed by Sue Belcher, in memory of her husband’s birthday and in honor of their friend, Dave Harline.

Bro. Tony did the announcements, invocation and time for children. He told them they would hear their parents say, “Behave,” “Do good,” even, “Be the best that you can be.” If you need help, it will just take you so far unless you ask for a greater power in God.

Our joys and concerns: We were glad to welcome our visitors, Judy Woods, such a delightful person; Heather Howze, a longtime friend of Bro. Tony; Mrs. Kathy Kotke and her beautiful granddaughter, Kayla.

Our heartfelt prayers to those of our church family who lost loved ones — Mary Joyce Gilliland and family for the loss of her mother, Mrs. Flora ‘Jonnie’ Gore; Doris Maddox in the loss of her sister, Shirley Smitherman.

We missed our youth and football players; they were part of a special program at First Baptist Church, and Thomas Hughes left to enroll at Huntingdon College. Prayers and good wishes for Thomas.

Bro Tony’s message was from Joshua 24:14. Joshua took over for Moses as the leader of the people of Israel. Joshua had some final words to the people: “Fear the Lord and serve him faithfully.” Does this mean we should be scared of God? No, but it does mean we need a deep and abiding relationship with Him.

Bro. Tony reminded us we can’t be part-time children of God. He spoke of truth, integrity and stability as things that are expected of children of God. God desires that all of us be ready on the spot.

Do something with certainty about serving the Lord faithfully. Are you trustworthy? As Joshua left them with: “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

The music was great. The trio of Bro. Tony, Shirley Henley and Norma Popwell sang “In the Garden.”

Come worship with us at Walnut Creek. In Christ.

Jackson Chapel

“Cast all your care upon him, for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Bro. Dennis’ text came from Acts 26:27-29 with a message entitled “The One that Got Away.” If we are going to win people over to Jesus, we have got to put something out there that will interest people. The world has enough gloom and doom, so if we as Christians go around with a long face, the world will surely not want any of that. Christians are some of the most blessed people of anybody. When we are out in this world, we need to act like we belong to Jesus.

Sunday evening, Bro. Dennis’ text came from Job 3:1-3. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ no matter what happens in our lives. As Christians we need to show love one to another no matter if things are going good or bad in someone’s life. We need to work together no matter what happens because we are all working together to get to heaven.

Please remember these as you pray: Melba Adams, Geraldine Smith, James and Marie Johnson, Hershell and Marie Rhodes, J.E. Burnett, Juanita Mims, the Shirley Smitherman family, our lost loved ones, Horace and Juanita Wyatt, Agnes Cleckley, Billy and Kathy Waites, David Edwards, and our service men and women.

We are located at 4020 Yellowleaf Road in Clanton. Our service times are as follows: Sunday School at 10, morning worship at 11, evening worship at 6, and Wednesday night prayer meeting and Bible study at 7. We also have Kid’s Club on Wednesday nights at 7 for grades 1-6.

Bethany Baptist Church

Fifty-two Weeks to a Better You: Memory verse for this week is Ephesians 1:13: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”

Psalm 27:1 was Bro. Aubry’s text. There are many things in life that cause us to fear, but Jesus will give us the strength we need to face all the difficulties of this life. You may be living in darkness with fear and worry.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Sunday night Bro. Aubry’s sermon was “A Living Church” taken from Acts 2:37-47. The church at Jerusalem was in the state of revival; that is what we need in our church. In order to have revival in our hearts, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to come to the forefront in our lives. The Jerusalem church in this text was a good example for us: Many were converted and were baptized; they continued in the doctrines contained in God’s Word; they lived in unity with one another, sharing with each other and praising God; and the Lord added to the church.

Upcoming events: Aug. 30 — Fifth Sunday; Sept. 12 — AMD meeting at Landmark in Prattville; Sept. 13 — Bro. David Taylor will bring morning message; Sept. 27 — Homecoming at Bethany; Nov. 1-4 — revival with Bro. Don McCormick from Minden, La.

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

See you Sunday.

Mt. Carmel No. 2

Isn���t it great to know that the anchor holds when the storm rages in our lives? The anchor holds because when Jesus was on the cross, we were on His mind.

Bro. Lynn was filled with the Spirit and brought us the Lord’s message to us from Luke 19:1-10. Jesus did not care what “they” thought as He told Zacchaeus to come down because Jesus was coming to Zacchaeus’ house. Jesus seeks after those who need His guidance and help. The mission of Christ is to seek and save those who are lost. This is to also be our mission.

We need to tell the world the truth of Christ and His love for us. Christ rejoices over one lost soul being found. Jesus comes to all — not just the people deemed acceptable by society. We don’t have to worry about what other people think or say. We serve a mighty God who loves us. Only God knows what we need and He is the only one who can give us exactly what we need. Praise the Lord!

Chestnut Creek Baptist Church

Bro. Derek’s message to the church was titled, “Integrity and Priority: Examining Our Christian Walk.”

Our first priority in our Christian walk should be seeking God. Seeking to know him better, seeking to have a closer, more personal relationship with him. If you seek him you will find him.

Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks find; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Your journey begins the day you accept Jesus into your heart. You must strive to learn more, pray more, study his word more and love him more. Integrity is not just doing the right thing; it’s a matter of having the right heart and allowing the person you are on the inside match the person you are on the outside. Biblical virtue of integrity points to a consistency between belief and behavior, our words and our ways, our attitudes and our actions. In this life, we will never attain perfection but we should progress toward the call of God in Christ Jesus. Paul advised Timothy to give careful attention to his behavior and his belief, make sure they match. Constantly examining yourself to whether or not your walk matches your talk. As you focus on the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ you will recognize that even though you may feel undone, you are not undone because he has made you whole. His grace is sufficient for his power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Happy birthday this week to John Episcopo and Gene Headley.

Happy anniversary to Jeff and Julie Wilson.