Jackson Chapel Church

Bro. Horace Wyatt got the morning worship service started off with “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Joy to the World.” Bro. Dennis blessed us with a beautiful Christmas song titled “There’s a New Kid in Town.”

Bro. Dennis’ text came from Psalm 33:1-12: We need to learn just how much God loves us and we should love others just as much as God does. It is not always easy to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, but if we are Christians, we will want to love others just as God loves us. We need to be a living sacrifice to others because Jesus Christ gave his only son just so we could have eternal life.

The service ended with several coming to pray.

Bro. Horace Wyatt got the evening service started off with “Silent Night.” The youth presented their Christmas program and it was truly a blessing. The children presented a nativity scene and performed a skit. They also played “Go Tell It On the Mountain” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” on the handbells. Luke Wilson sang “Happy Birthday, Jesus” and he did a wonderful job. The program ended with the children gathering around with Bro. Dennis as he shared the Christmas story with them and singing “Angels Among Us.”

Happy Birthday to Olivia Campbell. Happy Anniversary to Wayne and Janice Cobb.

Please remember these as you pray this week: Billy Burnett, Samuel Burnett, Gail Fant, Faith Castleberry, Billy Maddox, Margie Baker, Mason Pate, our lost loved ones and our service men and women.

We are located at 4020 Yellow Leaf Road in Clanton. Our service times are Sunday school: 10 a.m., Sunday morning worship: 11 a.m., Sunday evening worship service: 6 p.m. and Wednesday evening Bible study: 7 p.m.

Christ Independent Methodist Church

Dr. Mac Stinson’s sermon was taken from Isaiah 35:1-10 and James 5:7-10. His sermon title was “Be Patient.”

James 5:7-10 tells us: “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

In our scripture reading, James encourages us to be patient. We appear to be impatient people. We are a fast food society, we are a microwave society and we are in Internet society with instant communication; we want what we want, and we want it now!

It is hard for any of us at any age to be patient. It is especially hard for any of us to be patient at this season of the year. Can you still remember how hard it used to be when we were little, waiting for Christmas morning to see what Santa Clause left in or by the stocking that we left for him?

The real meaning of Christmas is about God’s redemptive plan of salvation. God has a plan for our world—a plan that extends from creation to the cross, from the empty tomb to eternity. God is at work bringing in a perfect world. Only a perfect God can create a perfect world. And that is what Christmas is all about. The child born in Bethlehem of Judea will one day rule over creation. And here is the good news of the day: you and I can be part of that kingdom.

When you pray, remember Dr. Mac Stinson and his son, Opal Miller, Annelle Smith, Katrina Brown, Ryan, Brand, our military forces and their families, our leaders, our neighbors and each other.

A very special “thank you” to Phil and June Simms for a wonderful time of fellowship at their home on Friday night.

Also, thanks to all the participants in our live nativity on Monday night. We wish a special blessing to each person who made the live nativity possible.

Sunday night’s candlelight service was a special time of beauty and celebration. On Sunday morning, we will celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Our Christmas program will be on Sunday evening. A time of fellowship will follow. Each family is asked to bring one sweet and one non-sweet finger food dish.

Bring items for a special family next Sunday.

If you are new to the community, or without a home church, we invite you to join us for church services.

Have a blessed week.