Lime Springs United Methodist Church

Our Sunday School lesson continued our series on the Hebrew names of God. This Sunday we studied El Elyon, “God Most High.”

Bro. Shannon brought the morning message from Matthew 8:5-7 on the Roman centurion and his faith that Jesus could heal his servant by just speaking the words. Because Jesus was willing to help this archenemy of the Hebrew people underlines the words of Acts 10:34: “God is no respecter of persons.”

Bro. Shannon presented an illustration of how this philosophy could always be seen on Valentine’s Day while in elementary school. Regardless of how you felt about a person or how they felt about you, on Valentine’s Day everyone received and gave cards. Receiving a card from someone, regardless of past feelings, always made you feel like you were someone important. This is how the Roman centurion must have felt when Jesus took the time to heal his servant. Great news! God wishes to give you a Valentine card today. It is written in red (blood) and can be found in the pages of the Holy Bible. It is the plan of redemption that proves everyone who receives it is the most important person in the world, regardless of what other people might think. God loves me best! The proof is in the Bible. God desires to give you that same assurance by receiving his Valentine’s Day card.

We enjoyed a Valentine banquet/show Sunday night to help raise money toward Relay For Life.

Happy anniversary wishes to Leola and Sherman Payne.

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.

Christ Independent Methodist Church

On this perfect Sabbath day, what a joy it was to gather in the house of the Lord. When we awoke to the pristine white snowfall earlier, who would have dreamed it possible for a spring-like day that greeted us Sunday morning?

Dr. Stinson preached on “Having the Right Stuff” using Matthew 5:13-16. The scripture 5:13 is captioned salt of the earth: “Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its savour, it is thenceforth good for nothing but to be trodden under the feet of men.”

Unfortunately, men can lose their savour as workers for their Lord and become of no value the same as salt that has lost its savour. We have all seen sad examples of just such individuals.

Continuing in 5:14-16 we are called the light of the world and a city that is set on a hill and cannot be hidden. How much plainer or more definitive could our Lord be in telling us that the choice is ours to make? If we make the wrong choice, he wastes no words in telling us by comparison that men or salt is of no value once whichever has lots its savour.

God wants us to be the best we can be for him. He is not pleased when we settle for less than the best that we are capable of being. He set the example for us by giving his best when he allowed his only Son to die for us on Calvary’s cross. He does not require us to do likewise, but he does say in Matthew 5:16, “Let your little light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

There is a song with the words, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” That is what God expects of you and me.

Continue to pray for our pastor Dr. Mac Stinson and his daughter Ann, who has gone to serve on the mission field in Africa; also remember Bonnie Headley, Dian Childress, Dwight Sammons, Nate Adams, Harley Martin and Arthur Ellison families, our military, their families, our church, community and each other.

Remember to pray for the family of Ola Mae Reed, who passed away Feb. 11. She was the mother of Jemison Mayor, the honorable Eddie Reed.

Missionaries John and Priscilla Kunkle will be with us for both services Feb. 20. Following the morning service we will share a one-dish dinner with them.

Have a blessed week.

Through the Grace of God Ministries

Don’t miss singer-songwriter Doug Hudson on Feb. 24 and 25. Doug has played on the Grand Ole Opry and has had number one songs on Gospel charts.

On March 10-12 we will welcome singer-songwriter and evangelist Jamie Coulter. Don’t miss this incredible man standing less than 3 feet tall, singing and preaching the word of God.

Bethsalem Baptist Church

Our morning service began with ministry opportunities and a welcome. Our fellowship chorus was “Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know.”

We held a baby dedication for Chris and Sonja Cox’s baby girl, Chloe; David and Brandy Clackley’s baby girl, Emily; Jessie and Amy Hucks’ baby girl, Macie; and Jamie and Davidica McConnell’s baby boy, Cullen.

For their special music, the Celebration Choir sang “Trophies of Grace.”

Bro. Brad brought the message, entitled “Our Infinite Inheritance,” from Ephesians 1:1-14.

Wednesday night is family supper at 5 p.m., followed by prayer meeting and choir practice for all choirs.

Pray for Lera Price, Charles Bryant, Jeanette Smitherman, Zoe Roper, 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, 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.

Also remember our shut-ins, families who have lost loved ones, families affected by cancer, residents of nursing homes, and those serving in the military.

Happy birthday this week to Julie Hunter, Morgan Cullum, Kaylen Bradberry, Drew Edwards, Aylene Enriquez, Roy Martin, Kayla Knight, Shirley Wession, Cody Stange,

Reese Sims, Janet Hand, Joel Gray, Kendall Reeves, Vicki Wilson, Patty Cleckler and

Jeff Pack.

Have a blessed week.

Center Hill Baptist Church

Free ballet classes will be offered for girls ages 5 and up every Tuesday night at 6:30. For more information, contact Amanda Varden at 688-4332.

The new children’s ministry, Olympians, meets every Wednesday night from 6-8. Dinner is served for both children and their families. For more information about this ministry, contact Tim Crist at 688-4332.

The “Sold Out” youth rally will be held Wednesday, Feb. 23 at the Jemison Municipal Complex beginning at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Bethany Baptist Church

Bro. Aubry’s message Sunday morning was taken from Romans 9. God probably doesn’t intend for us to know all there is to know about himself and his purposes. We know all that God intends for us to know from the word of God.

The charge to carry the message of God was originally given to the people of Israel, much as the Lord’s churches today have that responsibility.

The word of God will be fulfilled. His word will not return to him void (Isaiah 55:11). In Matthew 24:35, he says, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Salvation begins and ends with God, and salvation is not by any works we might do but by God’s grace, when we accept the Lord in faith for salvation.

Notice Ephesians 1:7, where it says we have redemption (salvation) and the forgiveness of sins by his grace.

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

Happy birthday this month: 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!

Walnut Creek United Methodist Church

What a beautiful day to serve our Lord, as we began with a prelude by Joan McGriff and Norma Popwell and our call to worship, “Love Lifted Me.”

You must come out to see all the things that are happening with our choir (adults and children), including a class in drama. Lisa Abbott blesses us as she come as music director.

The children gathered and listened to a message about love.

Mark McPherson did a great job of reading scripture from Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and our affirmation of faith.

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Enfinger will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary Sunday after the service.

A new study of the book “The Purpose Driven Life” is being taught by Benjie Abbott.

Sharing joys and concerns: Ray and Myrtice Enfinger are both in need of prayers. Gene Gilliland is improving, while Marilyn Popwell is doing well after her surgery. Lavada Attaway had a setback during her rehabilitation, lost a lot of blood internally and was rushed back to Shelby Saturday.

Special music was “Your Love Lifted Me,” followed by “Jesus Loves Me” and the offertory special, “His Eye is On the Sparrow” by Joan McGriff and Norma Popwell. Kayte Culpepper sang “Amazing Love.”

Bro. Tony’s message was from 1 John and the Gospel of John. This message was about love; the love God has for us and the love we must have for God and share with one another.

Our newest members are David and Sonja Horn and their children, Stephen and Anna; and Renee Donelow. A special welcome was given to Joe and Tricia and their little Paisley.

The postlude was “Love Lifted Me.”

The Church of God’s Word

Sister Marie Williams preached the service from Romans 8:4 about looking at things with spiritual eyes and not fleshly eyes.

We sang “Happy Birthday” to Gary Edwards.

Mt. Springs

Sunday morning was a beautiful day in the Lord’s house. Kelvin blessed us in song with “He Poured Out His Blessings On Me,” and truly God has blessed each one of us over and over again. Brother Don just keeps outdoing himself with wonderful messages. This week the text was from Deuteronomy 8, and the message title was “Lest Ye Forget.” God gave the Israelites many ways to remember His goodness. He has also given us ways to remember His goodness. God does not want us to forget all He has done for us. He wants us to remember He has set us free from the slavery of sin. He wants us to remember that while we were in the wilderness, He was with us and to remember how He uses the bad experiences for good. God allows the wilderness that we might seek Him, that we might learn our hearts. God wants us in our time of blessing to remember that all of the good in life comes from Him. How is your memory?

Sunday night, Brother Don preached from Romans 12:1-2 on finding fulfillment in your Christian life. Many Christians are looking to find something more to fulfill their life. They are saved but not fulfilled, unhappy. Our problem is that we do exactly the opposite of what the Bible says. We want more of God when the key to fulfillment is to give God more of us. We will never find fulfillment until we give God all we are and all we have. The pastor gave four elements needed in our Christian life to find fulfillment. First we must present ourselves unto God before we can offer sacrifice to Him.

Second, we must present our bodies to God. We must allow God to use us for His service. God asks for a living sacrifice. To speak for God, we must give him the use of our body. It is one thing to give our heart but to find fulfillment, we must be active in God’s work by giving Him our body for His work. We must make this sacrifice of our body to God daily and die to the things of the flesh.

Third, We need to present our minds to God. It is in the mind where we make the choice to use our body for God or to continue to live in the world. Set your affections on things above. He gives us a choice. We have a will. He doesn’t make clones of us. When we hear, see and read garbage, it fills our mind. The results in our life are that we produce garbage; garbage in, garbage out.

And last, we must give God our will. This is probably the hardest of all, to surrender our will to His by doing the things that are acceptable to Him. To find fulfillment, give more and more of yourself to God. When God saved you, He gave us all He had. It is what we do with what He has given us that leads to fulfillment.

Sunday School is at 9:45 a.m., followed by Sunday morning worship at 11, evening worship at 5:30 and Wednesday night service at 7.

Mt. Carmel No. 1

What a wonderful day we had in God’s house. Not only were we blessed with a beautiful day outside, but we also had a great day in our church.

The special music for our morning message was presented by our children’s choir singing “Each Step I Take.” Bro. Derrell followed the special music with a message taken from Luke 23:43 entitled, “From Here to Eternity.” Eternity seems like a long time away, but is it? What circumstances cause you to think of eternity? The thief on the cross was granted assurance of his eternal destination even though his present circumstances were the worst they could be due to sin in his life. We can have this assurance when we accept the grace offered to us by God. Eternity is just one breath away.

The evening message, “The Transforming Power of God,” was based on Romans 12:2. Only God can transform the stony, sinful heart of man into one that is filled with love. Only God can transform our will from being self-centered to God-centered. Only God can transform the mind to focus on His service and not ours. Sometimes God must use drastic measures because there is a lot of work to be done on all of us.

Prime-Timers, mark your calendars for Saturday, Feb. 19 at 6:30. There will be a meal served in our fellowship hall, especially for you. There will also be entertainment. Please make plans to be there.

The children’s choir will have practice Friday night at 6, and the adult choir will practice Sunday at 4 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to attend these practices.

There will be a Relay For Life yard sale at Mt. Carmel on March 4 and 5 in the family life center beginning at 7 a.m. each day. It will be held rain or shine. Please come out and support this worthy cause. If you have items you would like to donate, call 646-8501.

We have many church members who need a special prayer sent up for them. Among these are Johnny Giles, Ruthie Jean Giles, Debbie Lockhart and Sarah Scott. Please remember these and all those on a prayer list. You are always welcome at Mt. Carmel.

Friendship Baptist Church

The choir special was “Standing on the Solid Rock,” and Bro. Gene Hitchcock’s sermon was from Romans 8:8-9 and was titled, “Who He Is, Where He Is, Why He Is.” If a person is controlled by a sinful nature, he cannot please God. If he is not controlled by a sinful nature, the Spirit of God lives in you.

During the evening service, Pam Jones sang “If I Could Just Touch Him.”

Bro. Larry Felkins was our guest pastor. Referencing Acts 1:6-8, he talked about the importance of mission trips. He spoke about the upcoming Guatemala trip and what has been done in the past five years on these trips.

If anyone would like to help with sending a youth on a mission trip to “Give Kids the World” in June, please drop it off at the church or mail to Regeana Funderburk, 15 Dogwood Dr., Clanton. You can make a difference in a youth’s life.

Happy birthday: Faye Powell, Keme Jones and Mark Conradi.

Prayer requests: Ricky Pasco, Sara Cost, Lamar Cost, Jacks family, Sabrina’s family, the McCalls, Dorothy Nelson, the Guatemala medical mission trip, pastor search committee, Vernette Powell and Wayne Wyatt.

Cedar Grove

This has been an exciting week with beautiful snow that didn’t ice the roads, and a Valentine’s banquet Saturday night that was a huge success.

The song to get us going was “Jesus Hold My Hand” followed by “Jesus Is Coming Soon.”

Happy birthday to Michael Crowe and Gracie Vines. Gracie celebrated her 4th birthday Sunday. Happy anniversary to Kim and Charles Crowe.

The most exciting event was that Brother Ken Robinson was able to attend church for both services. The doctors said he would not live and he didn’t know anything. He was in a coma until, in his comatose state, he saw a big white horse and an old man in white who asked Ken if he wanted to go, and Brother Ken said no. From that time on, he began to know everyone and get better. If you don’t believe in miracles, you should talk to Brother Ken. God is so good.

We sang several hymns, and Chris Cleckley and his son, Kip, sang “All of Creation” for the morning special.

Brother Jeff Carroll preached on a continuation of his sermon last week entitled “The Thoughts of God.” The song of invitation was “What a Friend We Have In Jesus,” and the altar filled with people praying.

The evening service began with “Keep on the Firing Line” followed by “There’s Power in the Blood” and “Everybody Will Be Happy Over There.”

Brother Jimmy Flowers preached his second sermon Sunday night, and he did real well. His sermon came from James 1:22, and he said to read 2 Peter, which tells about false prophets.

He wants us all to stand up for what is right and not be afraid to speak up when things are wrong. I believe if we had paid more attention to things, prayer wouldn’t have been taken out of schools.

We welcome all our visitors to come back and join us.

Brother Casey Gruber was a guest speaker Sunday night, telling about his plans to go to West Africa in the not too distant future for missionary work.

For more information, call 646-2390.

Mars Hill Baptist Church

Come join us at Mars Hill as we celebrate Jesus Christ. It is a place where the Bible is taught and preached.

Our Sunday morning message asked, “What good can come from our difficulties?”

1. They test our faith

2. They open opportunities for service

3. They provide a testimony that we are living for Christ

We had altar prayer for some in the church and community that are sick. Please always remember to pray for the sick; one day we are healthy and the next day we are in a hospital.

The choir has started practice for the Easter program. We continue to fill our baby bottles with spare change for “Speak Up for the Little Ones.” This is a very worthwhile project, and if you can help please do so. Our Senior Supper will be Feb. 26 in the church fellowship hall.

Our Sunday School time is 10 a.m., and worship service is at 11 a.m. Children’s Church is during this time. The children are all smiles as they hurry to “their” worship service. Discipleship Training is at 5 p.m. with worship service at 6. Wednesday night Bible Study is at 7. You are always welcome to join us. We are located on County Road 42, west of Jemison.

Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church

It was another wonderful service as Brother Glenn Walker gave us the word concerning “The Perfect World.” We welcomed back Justin Yeargan from Iraq. We appreciate all he and our other soldiers are doing for our freedom.

We continue to plan for our upcoming events: The 22nd Annual Marion Easterling Singing to be held on Saturday Feb., 26, at 6:30 p.m. will feature the following gospel groups: The Bledsoes, Steve Linto, and The Fishers of Men. There will be an admission fee of $10.

The Mt. Pisgah youth group is planning a bass fishing tournament to be held in March. Watch for upcoming details and get your gear ready.

Our annual UMW District Day Apart will be held April 9 at Mt. Pisgah.

June 13-17 will be our annual Vacation Bible School. Registration will be on June 11. The church bus will be available for those needing a ride. For more information on any of our events, contact Teresa Walker at (334) 349-5725 or visit our website at gbgm-umc.org/mountpisgahumc.