Bethany Baptist
What a blessed day of hearing the beautiful hymns reminding us of Christ’s birth.  Bro. Steve sang “I Wonder as I Wander” playing his guitar.
His message was from Luke 2:1-20, “Lessons From the Shepherds.”  God’s word is always true, and He superintended all the events to have Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem at just the right time; and he used the small group of humble shepherds to carry the Good News of Jesus’ birth.  The shepherds believed the angels and were faithful to joyfully spread the news of the greatest message ever told.  One of the many lessons we can get from these scriptures is that wherever we are in our lives, God can use us to carry His word.
Sunday night a men’s group sang  “While Shepherds Watched Their Flock.” Prior to the congregation singing “Silent Night, Holy Night,” Bro. Aubry shared an inspiring personal story involving this song and an encounter in 1968 with Bob Hope.
Prayer list:  Betty Biggs, Carl Gray, Ellen Gray, Ophelia Griffin, Ernestine Hatch, Danny Jones, Lori Knight, Mary Knight, Larry Miller and Billie Neeley.
See you Christmas for Sunday School and our morning worship service.

Bethsalem Baptist
Our morning worship hour started with a baptism for Lexi and Drew Glasscock. Young musicians sang “A Strange Way to Save the World” with soloists Ashton Arnold and Michelli Enriquez. Special music by the Celebration Choir was “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”
Bro. Brad Eubank preached from Luke 2:1-20, “A Strange Way to Save the World.”
During the evening service, our children’s Music Makers and younger musicians presented their musicals.
Next Sunday we will have a church service at 10:45 a.m., just morning worship. Also, Jan. 1 morning worship will be at 10:45.
Pray for Bruce Moore, Charles Bryant, Lilianna Thompson, Tyler Harmon, Debra Mims, April Stange, Renee Wingard, Keith Smith, Janice Blac, Max Martin, Johnny Smith, James Harris, Crystal Keith, Pamela Howell, Betty Gregory, Jacob Jones, Diana and Alyson Stockton, McCoy Duren, Robert Ethridge and Scott Bogard.
Remember our Lottie Moon post office is open at 25 cents per card.
Have a blessed week.

Calvary
Independent Baptist
Calvary Independent Baptist Church experienced a very impressive performance by our youth in the Sunday morning service. They presented a play about the birth of Jesus. Pastor Rick Hatchett brought the morning message on the finished work of Christ at the cross. He preached from John 19 and Galatians 2 on the eternal security of the believer in Christ.
Sunday evening service included a short message from Luke 10 by our associate pastor Oscar Mims. It was followed by a fellowship meal downstairs to celebrate all the birthdays, anniversaries for the month.
We all sang “Happy Birthday” to a very special person in our church, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sunday, Dec. 25 morning service begins at 10 a.m., and we will be having communion. Evening service will be at regular time, everyone is invited . We are located South of Clanton just past Dollar General right off Highway 31 on Fulmer Drive.

Cedar Grove
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).
Sunday was a perfect day, beautiful weather, feeling good, everyone happy and cheerful. It was a wonderful day to be in the Lord’s house.
The ladies did a fantastic job of decorating the church. We thank all who worked (there had to be some men involved too). It is just beautiful.
We had a great time at our Christmas supper with good food and a game of dirty Santa.
Happy birthday to Rita Price and Nathaniel McGuire.
We have a tiny baby on our prayer list, Cooper Mason Betinez. He was born Dec. 7 but wasn’t due until Feb. 13. He weighs 3 pounds 3 ounces and is doing well. He will be in the hospital until his regular due time. His parents are Rachel and Shane Betinez. Please remember him when you pray along with all the others on our prayer list, spoken and unspoken.
Bro. Jeff Carroll preached a message, “Grace” from Galatians 5:1-15, John 1:17 and Ephesians 2:1.
The service for Sunday night was great. Our pastors were honored, Bro. Jeff, Bro. Heath Vines and Bro. Clay Collins. Everyone that has anything to do with the church were recognized, even me for writing the news. We had a lovely day, both morning and evening.
Service on Christmas Day will be from 11 a.m. until noon. For more information, call 646-2390.
I want to wish Bro. Kenneth Moates and Sis. Phyllis a Merry Christmas and thank them for always playing a song I request, especially “O What a Savior” By Rosie Roselle. Merry Christmas and God bless.

Christ Independent Methodist
Our church service began this beautiful fourth Sunday of Advent dedicated to love, with the congregation singing “Redeeming Love.” Could any hymn have been more appropriate?
Our pastor, Dr. Mac Stinson, continued to follow the above theme with his personal message based on the meaning of Christmas. At this joyful season for Christians and Christian Jews worldwide, it must be a dismal time of year for atheists who deny or disbelieve the existence of God. Little children will believe anything that those they trust teach them, but once they learn to read and study and draw their own conclusions, how can how can they remain so misguided? With that hypothetical question to consider, I’ll move on.
Dr. Stinson read us the traditional Christmas story, and we sat with rapt attention as though hearing the story of the baby born in a stable in Bethlehem for the first time.
Sunday night, the young people of our church presented the Christmas story directed by Laurel Lee Adams and narrated by Stacy Adams and Mary Ann Carden. A fellowship meal followed.
Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, Dr. Mac Stinson will bring a special Communion service beginning at 5 p.m.
Prayer list: Mary Ann Carden’s daughter, Charlotte Verren, Michelle Lufta, Mable Mitchell, and all whose names are known to the Great Physician.
Remember our military, their families, our county, our leaders, our community, church and each other.
Remember God’s promise to bless those who support Israel and God’s chosen people.
Have a blessed week, a Merry Christmas, happy New Year, good health and my personal best wishes to each of you.

Church of God’s Word
We started the service off with praise and worship, and God began to move. We had five people to give their hearts to God. The Holy Ghost moved mightily during the service, and we had a glorious time.
Our pastor then brought the message from Psalm 23.
The Lord is your Shepherd. If God is leading you and guiding you, then he is your Shepherd and you shall not want. So if you truly seek God with all your heart he will give you the desire of your heart. The shepherd’s job is to watch over and take care of his flock; he maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters, he wants to lead and guide us. He can take us by the hand and lead us, but he won’t pull us. He wants to be in front and not behind — if you get on the merry-go-round it is time to get off. You are to let God lead. We can lead an old horse to water but we can’t pull him. And that’s the way we get at times — we get stubborn and want to do things our way instead of letting God have his way and lead and guide us.
God is love, so if we are walking with God, we will love everyone no matter what they do and we will try to lift them up when they fall instead of pushing them further down. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. His rod and staff comforts me, he has prepared a table before my enemies. Surely goodness and mercies shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
We invite everyone who will to come and be with us.

Friendship Baptist
We had a very unusual type morning service. We had a visit from two people from Bible times, Samuel (Bro. Ken) and Hannah (Regeana). They shared what they had just seen in Bethlehem; how Mary and Joseph could not find a place to sleep. There were no rooms at the inn. The only choice these two had was to sleep in the stable. Mary was with child and she had to rest. There, she gave birth to Jesus.
Sunday evening, Bro. Kevin Peters brought our message from Luke 1:26-38 titled “Christmas Courage.” Mary, a virgin engaged to Joseph, had a visit from an angel who told her she would give birth to the Christ child. Mary accepted the plan God had for her. We must be committed as Mary was.
Prayer requests: Jimmy Smith family, Juanita Staggs, Vivian Jones, Sandra White, Glenda Marcus and Tracy Steadwell.
Happy birthday to Anita Glover, Glenda Marcus and Ashley Dutton.
We are still asking for donations to pay off our air conditioner balance.
Upcoming events:
Saturday, Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Vespers at 5 p.m., carols and the Lord’s Supper.
Sunday, Dec. 25: morning service from 10-11 a.m. Happy birthday, Jesus.

Mars Hill Baptist
Sunday was a day for our choir to show their talents. Under the direction of Jessica Duren they presented their cantata “Mary Did You Know.” The music was heartwarming and inspirational.
Sunday night the children gave us their program and afterward they had a “Happy Birthday Jesus” chili supper. The little ones are a treasure to watch as they try so hard to get everything just right. We thank the leaders who work with them.
Sunday, Dec. 25 we will have a short service from 10 to 11 a.m. Please try to attend church on the Lords Day. Christmas Day does not often come on Sunday and we need to take the time out to go and worship Him on His birthday.
When you carry a Bible, the devil gets a headache, when you open it, he will collapse; when he sees you reading it, he faints; when he sees you living it he flees.
If you were a visitor at Mars Hill today we are glad you came and we welcome you back. We invite everyone to come visit us for any and all our services. We have our nursery staffed by caring and competent workers. Our Children’s Church is during regular worship services on Sunday morning. All classes are taught by dedicated and responsible teachers.
We are located on County Road 42 West in Jemison.

Mt. Carmel No. 1
Sunday was a gorgeous day and full of reasons to sing praises to the Lord. Jesus is the reason for the season.
Our morning service began with a time of welcoming, fellowship and singing. The special music was a piano solo by Libby Warren and the playing of “Jingle Bells” on the trombone; very good, Libby.
A large group of little people gathered for the children’s sermon in a sack by Bro. Derrell from Luke 1:30-31.
Our morning message, “Christmas Wisdom,” was taken from Matthew 2:1-12.
Sunday night, the youth did a good job presenting their program entitled “Waiting for the Christmas Guest.” We thank all the youth and all who worked with them, and we do not forget to thank our children and their part in the program and for singing for us.
Sunday, Christmas Day, Bro. Derrell and all our church family, friends and loved ones will gather at 11 a.m. for a family time in the house of the Lord. Put the Lord first and come worship with us at Mt. Carmel. There will be no service Sunday night.
Pray for the On Mission Celebration coming to our church Feb. 25 and 26.
Pray for Cecil Franklin, Jean Giles, Robert Childress, Hershel Scott and Jacob Jones. If you can’t remember to call each name our to the Lord, just request prayers for all the sick and shut-ins. Pray for our church, and we will be praying for you.
Have a merry Christmas.

Mt. Springs
Services started on Sunday, Dec. 18 with Bro. Kenneth Moates leading the church in the following hymns: “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Joy to the World,” “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” and “I Want to be Ready to Meet Him.”
After Sunday School, Bro. Kenneth led the church in the hymns “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus” and “Come and Dine.” Debbie Barnett and Sam Ross sang “He’ll See You Through” and blessed the church with such a wonderful song.
Bro. Don’s message was from Isaiah 9:6. Our nation needs peace. Only the Prince of Peace can bring peace into people’s lives. We need to cherish peace because it is a gift from God.
Sunday night, Mt Spring’s younger youth as well as teens and adults put on two outstanding plays. The younger youth performed “One Starry Night” directed by Tina Thomas. The young children did a wonderful job bringing back the remembrance of Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. The older youth and adults performed the musical “The Christmas Shoes” directed by Michelle Coker. Many hearts were touched and blessed by both of these musicals.
We will be having Sunday morning worship service at 11 a.m. Christmas day. If your church is not having services, we would love to have you come worship with us on Christ’s birthday.