Lime Springs United Methodist Church

Our Sunday School lesson continued our series on the Hebrew names of God. This Sunday we studied Yahweh, “I Am.”

Bro. Shannon brought the morning message from 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 on how important it is to believe in things that “just don’t make sense.” He gave several examples of biblical stories of people asked to do “strange” things for God, simply by faith. It made no sense for Noah to build an ark, Moses to go back into Egypt, David to face Goliath, and Naaman to dip seven times in the muddy waters of Jordan. Yet, all of these people trusted God.

The reason God asked these people to do these “strange” things is because God knows the future and understands what is required of us to make sure our future is bright. Using that thought, Bro. Shannon discussed how hard it is to understand Calvary and why Jesus had to die for sinners like us. Using our scripture text, he shared with us three reasons the cross had to happen. First, God knew the day would come when we would need an incorruptible body. Second, God knew we would need victory over the grave one day. Finally, God knew we would need to spend eternity with him and not Satan.

For these three reasons, we aren’t asked by God to understand the necessity of the cross but simply to respond by faith.

We closed the service with an altar call as we sang, “I Know Whom I Believed.”

Our Bible study concluded our study on faith.

Happy birthday wishes to Benton Moore and Myra Parker.

We invite everyone to join us for worship at Lime Springs. Our service times are as follows: Sunday School at 9:30 a.m.; Sunday morning worship at 11; evening Bible study at 5; and Wednesday night prayer meeting at 6:30.

For more information, please call 755-6356.

Mt. Carmel No. 1

Our Sunday School lesson focused on Hosea 1-3. God loves the unlovely and wants to have a relationship with them. Our lesson challenges us to respond to God’s love by trusting Christ and living obediently for him.

We began our service by singing some of the old hymns such as “The Old Country Church,” “Come and Dine” and “Heaven’s Jubilee.” Our special music was brought to us by Charity Lockhart, who sang “Jesus Is All I Need.” It was such a beautiful, spirit-filled song.

The message for Sunday morning was taken from Exodus 16:3 and was entitled, “Where Do We Go From Here?” The Israelites took their journey and all the congregation unto the wilderness, and they murmured against Moses and Aaron. God took a group of slaves and welded them together as a nation ruled by God.

The evening service was great. The weather was very cold, but we still had a good crowd. Bro. Derrell blessed our hearts with a beautiful song entitled, “When Jesus Passes By.” Then he brought a good message from 1 Samuel 10:26, “The T-O-U-C-H of God.” We received God’s touch through daily Bible reading and prayer. Be still and listen to God.

Visiting us on Sunday night was Bro. Roger Vines and his wife. It was so good to have them with us. Remember to pray for Bro. Vines and his mission work.

We want to welcome our new arrival to our church family, the baby boy of Ashley and Adam Worrells. The proud grandparents are Terri and Roger Ellison. Uncle Jordan is very proud too.

Prime-Timers, mark your calendars for Saturday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 in the church fellowship hall. We will have food, fun, fellowship and entertainment.

Come join us as we celebrate the Lord Jesus in praise and worship. Remember to pray for us and we will be praying for you.

Christ Independent Methodist Church

Sunday, Dr. Stinson took his scripture reading from 1 Corinthians 2:1-10, where the Apostle Paul is speaking to the people of Corinth. Paul declares that he speaks to them the wisdom of God. It is well to know that Corinth, Greece was not a small backwoods village at this time but was a flourishing commercial center processing trade routes unsurpassed anywhere else in the empire. While Paul was preaching God’s word to the Corinthians, he had to compete with wealth, easy living and vice, for all abounded in that city. Like Ephesus, Corinth was known as a sin city.

At this time, Jesus has been crucified but Paul is on fire to spread the Gospel. In 1 Corinthians 2:9, Paul writes, “As it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

I think Paul would probably say the same words if he were here today.

Our prayer request for the present included the following: Dr. Mac Stinson, Dr. Mike Weldon, president of the AIM, our Methodist conference; Bonnie Headley, Tyler Riff, Opal Miller, Wilma Ellison, BeeBee and Dwight Sammons and all others dealing with health problems. Pray for the families of Billy Anderson and Ronnie Ellison as both men passed away this past week. Pray fervently for our military, their families, our country, our church, our leaders, our community and each other.

Remember to pray for the little country of Israel that has so many hostile countries in close proximity. Remember God’s many promises to protect the Jewish people and to bless those who support Israel.

Say a special prayer for Egypt and its people who have long been America’s friend in the Middle East. Pray for peace in Egypt’s war-torn land and help for the people of the land.

Sunday night, Feb. 13 we will share our Valentine’s dinner at 5. If you have questions, please contact June Simms. If you have missed a few Sundays, we would welcome the opportunity to see you again.

Have a blessed week.

The Church of God’s Word

We sang “Happy Birthday” to Bro. Ray Edwards, and he opened our services with prayer.

We serve a great God, but he is also a God of wrath. What he does for one he will also do for you.

Our message came from Mark 10:31-34. The Bible tells us what we have to do in order to be a child of God’s.

Remember Harold and Rachel Seagle, Reuben Edwards, and Ray and Mary Jo Edwards in prayer this week.

The closing prayer was led by Bro. Jimmy Langston.

Friendship Baptist Church

Our choir special was “Restore My Soul in the Valley.”

Bro. Gene Hitchcock’s message was from Isaiah 41:10-14 and was entitled, “There Is No Reason for Fear.” The Lord will be with us always. He will strengthen and help us. He will uphold us with his righteous right hand.

During the evening service, we watched a moved called “Faith Like Potatoes.” It was based on the inspiring true story of a farmer who found faith. Moving his family to South Africa, he faces a series of seemingly insurmountable losses. Through unlikely friendships and much-needed divine intervention, he discovered his life’s true purpose. It’s a movie life journey of a man who, like his potatoes, grows his faith unseen until the harvest.

Happy birthday this week to Faye Powell.

Prayer requests are for Ralph Sanders, Dan Dennis, unspoken requests and the pastor search committee.

On Friday, Feb. 11, our youth will host a Valentine’s banquet beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is a donation of $15 per couple and $10 per single; proceeds will help support our youth mission trip to Give Kids the World. It will be a mystery dinner. Please join us.

Jackson Chapel

Bro Dewayne Castleberry got the Sunday School hour started off with a good lesson entitled “Christ In You.”  Bro Gary Fant started the morning worship service started off with “Jesus Hold My Hand” and “Are You Washed In The Blood.”  Bro Dennis Smith blessed us with a very touching song, “He Didn’t Throw the Clay Away.”

Bro Dennis’ text came from Romans 8:18-28 with a message entitled “The God of Help and the God of Hope.”  If we love God like we say we do, we will keep his commandments.  It would be a tragedy if we served God for many years and then decided it was way too hard to serve him and the very next day Jesus Christ returned. We have to be held accountable for turning our backs on God.

The service ended with several coming to pray.

Bro Gary Fant got the evening service started off with “Heaven’s Jubilee,” “Victory In Jesus” and “O I Want To See Him.” Bro Dennis Smith and Glenn Riley blessed us with “I Will Trade This Old Cross for a Crown” and “How Great Thou Art,” Misty Burnett sang “The Greatest of All Miracles” and Bro Dennis sang “Glory Road.”

Bro Dennis’ text came from 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. If we as Christians are going to run the race for Jesus Christ, we’ve got to run it to the finish line because there is no time to quit on God.  God wants to bless us, and all we have to do is ask him but it is sad to say that we will pass up opportunities for God to bless just because we will not take the time to ask him for what we need.  God is never too busy to bless us, but we’ve got to slow down from our busy lives and just let God bless us with his blessings.

The service ended with several coming to pray.

Happy birthday to Josh Burnett, Cole Riley and Cain Varden.

Please remember these as you pray this week: Geraldine Smith, Faith Castleberry, Kevin Bavar, Wayne and Frances Caton, Gail Edwards, Bro Gary Fant, Marie Johnson, Billy Crumpton, Mike Sewell, Margie Baker, Gina Lynn Riley, Marion Brown, Pearline Davenport, Zeke Cobb, our lost loved ones 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.

Bethsalem Baptist Church

Our morning service began with ministry opportunities and welcome. The fellowship chorus was “Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know,” followed by the call to worship, “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” and later, “How Great Thou Art.” Special music by the Celebration Choir was “He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need” featuring soloist Emily Edwards.

Bro. Brad brought the morning message, “Captivated By Our Community,” from Acts 1:1-11. We had three join our church by letter, Tracy Hand, Wessie Robinson and Patricia Coles.

In our evening worship service we heard many great talents from our people singing in the children’s choir.

Wednesday night is family supper at 5 p.m., as well as prayer meeting, business meeting, choir practice for all choirs, and youth group meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Pray for Eudora Pastnic, Hazel Green, Hazel Gothard, Hazel Boswell, Hunter Moore, Edward Moore, Jean Hucks, Nell Mims, Iella Vance, Faye Legendre, James Harris, Logan and Lawson Crawford and mother, Kevin Ray, Pete Burnette, Bro. James Moore, Mary Cleckler, Carol Hayes, Brent Jackson, Jasmine Smitherman, Bill Tipton, Brett Jackson, Charles Cobb, Jimmie Smith, Luci Terri, Durward and Derrie Gray, our shut-ins, families who lost loved ones, families affected by cancer, residents of nursing homes, and military servicemen and servicewomen.

Happy birthday to Sjohna Pierce, Jack Lyster, Holly Sealy, Pattie Tuma, Audry Moore, Lisa Merrill, Gabrielle LeBlanc, Jessica Jones, Katie Littlefield, Chelsea Ousley, Ralph Edwards, Bill Smith, Alden Moore, Allen Edwards, Sharon Thornton, Johna Ellison, Jasmine Wilmon, Tommy Loyd, Allison Kelley, Amy Spigner, Jeremy Bradberry and Kim Edwards.

Happy anniversary to Brad and Rebecca Eubank (nine years) and Judson and Joanna Hill (three years).

Sunday, Feb. 13 is our Valentine breakfast for ladies and families by our men.

A baby shower for Joey and Jennifer Gray will be Sunday, Feb. 13 from 3:30-4:45 p.m. in the fellowship hall.

Have a blessed week. Tell someone about Jesus. God is so good, all the time. Come worship with us at Bethsalem.

Bethany Baptist Church

After congregational singing, the choir accompanied a trio, Elaine Staton, Jeanette Jessop and J. C. Collins, singing “I Feel Like Traveling On.”

We were blessed by Bro. Aubry’s message taken from John 14:1-6, which he entitled “Help For Troubled Hearts.”  There are struggles and defeats which tend to destroy our joy of living and our desire to keep pressing forward.  But if your heart is troubled today, there is help for you.  These verses offer a lot of encouragement for a Christian.  We are told to “Let not your heart be troubled…I will come again and receive you unto myself, there where I am, there ye may be also.”  Read also other verses promise, including Philippians 4:6-7 and Matthew 11:28-30.  The only time we know we are free is when we have left everything up to God.

Prayer list:  Lillian Burkhalter, Jean DeLoach, Ellen Gray, Ernestine Hatch, our military, Larry Miller, Billie Neeley, Jackie Neeley, Pvt. Josh Peppers, Jesse Wallace, Pastor Wallace; revival in America, and James Bixler.

Happy birthday this month to Larry Miller (Feb. 1); Lori Knight (Feb. 12) and Josh Peppers (Feb. 28).  Jane and Jerry Vines will celebrate their wedding anniversary on Feb. 27.

See you Sunday!

Cedar Grove Methodist-Protestant Church

I could hardly see the sun was so bright Sunday. It was truly a welcome sight.

Happy birthday to Sandra Carroll, Preston Porter, Tammy Porter and Bobbie Giles.

We are so excited about having such a good attendance to worship with us. The first time you come you are a visitor, next time you are part of our church family. We had more than 100 in attendance. We were glad to see Brother Tim Scott and Sister Debbie Scott with us. We really miss his parents, Brother Jim and Sister Ellen Ruth; we know they are in heaven now. I can just hear Brother Jim singing, “Long Black Train.”

Remember to pray for all the sick and shut-ins, all the bereaved, especially the lost in sin.

Brother Sam Price helped his dad lead the congregation singing, “When He Reached Down His Hand For Me” and “I’ll Fly Away.” The choir sang, “I Was There When It Happened” and “I Am a Friend of God.” Brother Alton Russell and Sister Amelia Hubbard blessed us by singing, “He Will Do the Same for You and Me.”

Brother Jeff Carroll preached a wonderful sermon entitled, “The Thoughts of God.” His text was taken from Psalm 139:1-18, and he also read from Jeremiah 29 and Psalm 40:1-5. The altar filled, and several were anointed and prayed for. The song of invitation was “The Lighthouse” sang by Brother Gary Hubbard, Sister Amelia Hubbard and Brother Alton Russell.

The evening service began with singing, “What a Day That Will Be,” “He Set Me Free” and “Just a Closer Walk With Thee.”

We had a good attendance, especially with the Super Bowl on TV.

Brother Heath preached a wonderful sermon too, entitled, “Walking With God.” His text came from Genesis 2 and 3.

The song of invitation was “Heaven Won’t Be Heaven,” sung by Sister Amelia Hubbard. Several went to the altar to pray.

We have just received word that Julian “Zeke” Cobb of Jemison passed away. We are so sorry. The family has our heartfelt sympathy and prayers.

Mars Hill Baptist Church

To start our worship service, the choir gave us “I’ll Fly Away.” Haven’t you often thought that it would be great to just fly away from all your troubles and go right on to heaven to be with God for eternity? However, He seems to have more work for us to do here.

The morning sermon focused on what will happen when Jesus returns. That will make you think. What will you be caught doing when He returns? We best be ready for His return because it is one week closer than it was a week ago today.

Our Senior Supper will be Feb. 26. This is a time of fun, food and entertainment when the younger adults give the senior adults an evening out.

The WMU is sponsoring “Speak Up for the Little Ones” this year. We were given baby bottles to fill with our spare change. These donations go to CareNet. Please help all you can toward this cause, God will richly bless you.

We are already starting work on our Vacation Bible School. Please volunteer if you can help teach, or work with, these children this summer. The truths learned while young will stay with them all their lives. Many times you hear adults telling what they learned in VBS.

Come join us for any and all our services. You are always welcome at Mars Hill.

Mt. Pisgah

Sunday we welcomed Susan Proctor of the Society of St. Andrew. She gave us some wonderful ideas on how we can help feed the hungry. It went along with the sermon Brother Glenn Walker preached. He preached on the topic of 100 percent participation in all the ministries of the church.

We are making preparations for a number of upcoming events: Our 22nd Annual Easterling Singing will be held on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m.  Bledso, Steve Lindo, and the Fishers of Men will be performing. There will be a $10 admission fee.

Our Easter Sunrise service and drama will be held on Sunday, April 24.

Preparation for our Vacation Bible School has begun. Registration will be held on Saturday, June 11, and the Bible School will be held June 13-17, from 7:30-11:30 a.m.

The church van will be available for all those needing rides. The men are trying to start a men’s basketball team, and the youth are trying to start a youth softball team. You don’t have to be a member to play. For information on these or other events at Mt. Pisgah, contact Teresa Walker at 334-349-5725.

Through the Grace of God Ministries

Our Sunday morning worship service began with Randall Edwards leading our music ministry. Randall led the congregation as they sang “There’s a Land That Is Fairer Than Day” and “In the Garden.”

The Rev. C.H. Nevett began his message by preaching on Acts 16:19-26. He told of how the Apostle Paul and Silas were stripped, beaten, whipped and placed in stocks in the inner dungeon. Despite their dismal situation, they praised God by praying and singing until God relieved them of their oppression. Rev. Nevett’s subject was praying your way out and prayer being the answer for those locked up in turmoil. Other subjects of interest were what is it about prayer that moves God, what assurances we have that God cares for us, and prayer is God’s way of communicating with man.

A new ladies support group, Ladies Helping Hands, began Monday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. Ladies interested in joining this group are welcome. Please call for more information or if you have any questions.

Thursday, Feb. 10 a free fellowship meal will be served at 5 p.m. The Dotson Family will be singing at 6.

Friday, Feb. 11 a free fellowship meal will be served at 5 p.m. Steve Roberson will be singing at 6.

We invite everyone to join us for worship at Through the Grace of God Ministries. Sunday morning worship is from 9 until 10.

Through the Grace of God Ministries is a non-profit ministry working through the grace of God, providing services for those in need.

Donations may be made to The Grace of God Ministries by contacting Ralph Bingham at 205-755-8199

May God bless you and your family.