Lime Springs United Methodist Church
Last Sunday, June 26, we celebrated homecoming at Lime Springs. We enjoyed a special time of music, fellowship and worship. Bro. Shannon brought the morning message from 1 Kings 22:29-40 on the importance of acting like Christians.
Special music was presented by Mary Catherine Tollett, Stephanie Tollett and Allie Belknap. It was great to have so many of our families and friends gather for homecoming.
This past Sunday, we continued our study on the biblical meaning of the Church in Sunday School.
Our morning worship focused on Independence Day. We sang patriotic hymns like “America,” “America the Beautiful” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Allie Belknap led the congregation in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Bro. Shannon brought the message from Matthew 12:33 entitled, “It Is Time to Tend to the Tree.” He talked about how refreshing it is to see patriotism expressed so deeply during the holidays like the Fourth of July, Veterans Day and Memorial Day. How sad that those same expressions of patriotism are not always seen the rest of the year. One of the reasons is because we tend to enjoy picking the fruit but have neglected the needs of the “liberty tree.” These fruits include freedom to worship, express our opinions, assembly and bear arms. However, in order to continue to enjoy these fruits, we must tend to the needs of the tree, as any farmer can testify that good fruit comes from healthy trees.
Ways to tend to the liberty tree include supporting our military, exercising our right to vote, supporting our government officials and being involved in community affairs. But the greatest means is found in Deuteronomy 7:12-14. We must be obedient to God in all things. As our scripture reading expresses, this is the way to make the tree good, and good trees will continue to produce good fruits. Happy 235th birthday, America!
Our Sunday Bible study continued on our study of a summary of the Old Testament.
Happy birthday wishes to Mary Catherine Tollett, Bill House and Betty Frost.
Please join us for our weekly services 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
As we celebrate this Independence Day, let us focus on God’s blessings on America. Thank God for our freedom and liberty and his blessings on America. We are thankful for all those that have served our country in any way, and our prayers are with the ones serving today.
We began our service by singing “God Bless America.” The children’s choir marched into the sanctuary carrying American flags. They stood at the front as the congregation sang.
Special music was presented by Pat Hayes singing “Statue of Liberty,” a very appropriate song stating, “I am proud to be called an American and I’m so glad to be called a Christian.”
Bro. Derrell’s morning message was taken from Romans 13:1-7 and entitled “The Most Patriotic Thing I Can Do.” Know your duties; let us join together to be a witness to the dark and lost world. Paul’s letter to the Roman church reminds us we all have a duty to Jesus Christ, to our church and to our country. We love our nation, we are thankful for our nation, and we are thankful for our freedom and all the service persons and leaders. Pray for all these as they serve.
It was so good to have all our visitors with us Sunday. The Jake Poore family from Texas was visiting with Ellodene Mims.
Jake brought our special music Sunday night, singing, “I’d Rather Have Jesus.” Bro. Derrell’s message was “Rest for the Stressed” from Matthew 11:28-30. How do we gain rest when we are stressed out? Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Learn to lean on Jesus, take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
July 16 at 1 p.m. there will be a baby shower for Holly Smith in the fellowship hall. It’s a boy! She is registered at Target and Bye-Bye Baby.
A grass cutting will be held Saturday, July 9 at 7 a.m. Men and boys, mark your calendars for this date. A prayer breakfast for everyone will follow in the fellowship hall. You are invited to join us for devotion, prayer and breakfast.
Homecoming is Sunday, July 24 beginning with singing at 10 a.m. with the Coleman family. Lunch will follow the services in the fellowship hall.
Remember to pray for the names on our prayer list. We ask prayer for Tammy Church, as she has open-heart surgery this week. We welcome everyone to worship with us Sunday. If you do not have a home church, you are welcome at Mt. Carmel.

Calvary
Independent
Baptist Church
Calvary Independent Baptist Church had a wonderful song service Sunday morning presented by the choir. It was awesome to be able to celebrate Independence Day by coming to the house of the Lord and giving thanks for the freedom we have here in America.
We were glad to have our Youth Pastor Bro. Kevin Shaw and his family back from their travels last week. Children’s church and morning worship service followed the choir special. The morning message was brought by our Pastor Bro. Rick Hatchett as he explained about a void inside each of us that only Jesus can fill.
The evening service continued in Revelation 7 with our associate pastor, Bro. Oscar Mims.
We were glad to see visitors for both our Sunday morning and Sunday night services. We welcome and invite everyone to come join with us during any of our services. Sunday School is at 9 a.m.,  Children’s Church and Sunday morning worship service at 10 a.m., Sunday evening services at 5:30 and Wednesday evening services at 6:30. We are located off Highway 31 South from Clanton just past Dollar General right on Fulmer Drive.
Please pray for us as we strive to lift up Jesus in all that we do. We have an active outreach ministry including bus ministry as a part of our children’s ministry. As we continue to see souls saved and lives changed, we pray that people everywhere will begin to turn from sin and turn to God.

Bethany Baptist Church
Freedom is not free.  Our wonderful country has the freedoms we have because so many people have sacrificed time, family, careers and even lives.  We appreciate what those are doing and have done for our nation’s freedom.
Neither is the price of our redemption free. It took the precious blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Bro. Steve’s message was taken from Galatians 5:1; Paul said, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” What are some of the freedoms we have?  We have the freedom of faith, we can place our faith in God; we have freedom of hope, freedom from our past, and freedom from the fear of death.  There are many others, but our liberty is not a license to do wrong but a license to do what is right.
Sunday evening Bro. Steve presented a Bible study on the principles of Bible interpretation, aids in learning the doctrines of God’s word.
July birthdays and anniversaries:  Aubry and Shirley Wallace (July 2); Wanda Wilson (July 4); Junior and Jean DeLoach (July 24); and Steven Vickers (July 26).
Prayer list:  James Bixler, Lillian Burkhalter, Ashley Friday, Carl Gray, Ellen Gray, Ernestine Hatch, our servicemen and women, Larry Miller, our missionaries, Billie Neeley, Pvt. Josh Peppers, Aubry and Shirley Wallace, Jesse Wallace, and our pastor and his wife, Steve and Phyllis Vickers.
See you Sunday!

Bethsalem Baptist Church
We began our morning service by saluting our flag and recognizing our servicemen and women, followed by a scripture meditation.
We sang the hymns “Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know,” “The Star Spangled Banner,” “Hope of the Nations,” “Here I Am to Worship,” “I Love You Lord” and “Without Him.” Special music by the Celebration Choir was “So High the Price.”
Bro. Brad brought the morning message, “God’s Call to Follow the Leader,” from Ephesians 5:1-7. This was Part 2 in a series of messages.
There was no evening service. We hope everyone had a happy Fourth.
Wednesday night is prayer meeting and choir practice for the children’s choir.
Pray this week for Paul Green, Makayia Wingard, James Moore, Charles Bryant, Elza Enriquez, Gertie Sanders, Betty McGee, Chris and Sonja Cox, Jim Beck, Pete Burnett, Rita Brasher, Vicki Knight, Larry Little, Kyle Pack, Catherine Gillespie, Alan Adams, Larry Little, Bob Riley, Diane Latham, Cathryn Thomas, Sue Coleman, storm victims, missionaries, all families who have lost loved ones and the homebound. Also pray for revival to come.
The women’s softball team will face New Life Thursday night at 8.
Come worship with us on Sunday and get connected with us.
Have a blessed week. Jesus loves you.

Cedar Grove Methodist-Protestant Church
When we turned down County Road 29, it looked like it had rained huge rolls of hay. God really blessed that hayfield, it was really beautiful.
“The Birth of Samuel” was the title of our Sunday School lesson, which came from 1 Samuel 1:1-11, 20 and 28.
Golden Text: “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Welcome to our visitors. We were glad to have Rick and Darlene Lowery with us Sunday and several others.
We have a lot of sadness in our church. We are sad for the families, but as for the ones that have gone on to be with Jesus, they are happy. Brother Earl Caton, Derek Gray, Wanda Bullard’s dad, G.W. Whitfield, Gayla Popwell’s mom and Karen Sparks passed away. Be with all the families in prayer; they need comforting now more than anytime in their lives.
Brother Chris Cleckley blessed us with a hand-clapping song before preaching, “The Cloud That He Is Coming back On.”
Brother Jeff Carroll preached on “Free Born,” and his text came from Acts 22:25-30, John 8:31 and Romans 6:15-23.
You know, we hear about America being free, especially freedom of speech, but just try praying in school or at a ballgame or using God’s name at graduation. It doesn’t sound very free to me. Just keep praying about the condition our country is in, and it will change.
Brother Jimmy Flowers’ mother, Barbara Oliver, was baptized Sunday morning.
Sister Amelia sang the invitation song, “In My Father’s House.” Many went to the altar praying and to be prayed for.
Come visit with us; we would love to have you, and who knows — you might like it here too.

Samaria Baptist Church
God’s blessings abound on this Sunday before Independence Day at Samaria.  Our prayer concerns focus on Pat Milford’s sister-in-law, Ms. Wright; Audrey Jones, Mr. Mcannelly, Mr. Willis; Drusilla Hudgin’s mom and Mandy Spencer as well as our shut-ins and our military at home and abroad.
Special music was performed by Darrell Willis, who sang “God bless the U.S.A.,” and we honored Lois and Bob Shultz as they celebrated their anniversary on July 4.
Brother Brooks’ message was entitled, “The Eloquence of God.” From Hebrews comes the story of growth producing power.  Hebrews presented the greatness of Christ better than any other book.  The word of God abounds in the verses of Hebrews. Christ is lifted up through these writings.
Some Christians were persecuted for their allegiance to Christ. Being a Christian is the only way; however, it is not without trouble when Satan knows we mean business for God.
Christian persecutions have happened for centuries.
If evil gains control of the world, we will lose a lot of religious freedom.  We should be ready to take advantage of our opportunities to serve Christ and lift Him up, publicly, while we still can do this. Ministers face charges of “hate crimes” for preaching against homosexuality, which comes from the pages of God’s holy word. Christians, rise up.  We have a great hope in Christ, and He is the only hope for our time.  He speaks peace to our hearts when we are in trouble. Seek Him today.
Come see us!  Jesus is here to meet you. God bless you, and God bless America.