Bethsalem Church News

Morning service began by singing Happy Birthday to Carol Smith, Arron Abbott, Elaine Hayes, Rebecca Lovett, Buddy Green, Ryan Spigener, Almee Dobbs and Ray Hollaon.

Happy anniversary to Frankie and Carol Smith, 31 years, and Wayne and Julia Hunter, 5 years.

Morning message by Dr. Jerry Pipes, “Building A Successful Family.” Evening worship message by Pipes, “Communication Understanding … Attitude, Winning.”

Pray for William Eubank, Lera Price, Nancy Poarch, Shorty Mims, James Moore, Sue Thomas, Angel Baker, Talon Hunter, Pete Burnett, Sylvia Winard, Richard David, Sara Jo Gross, and Robert Kaylor, Glenda Mims, Toni Headley, Sally Smith, Elzie Sanders, Howard Short, Diana Wyatt, Shirley Hicks/Gavin Arnold, Toni Ousley, Dean Patterson, Kathy Evans, David Little, Rita Lawrence, Obie Littleton, Todd Shavers, Scott Harmon, and Steve Penniton family. Remember the Allen family.

Men’s softball game Friday night at 8:30.

Come worship with us next Sunday.

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Samaria Baptist Church

Our Pastor’s message was entitled “ Blessed,” and his text came from Ephesians 1-3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. God comes closer to us when we are troubled or we draw to Him for help and comfort. Our struggles and trials cause us to realize a need for Him. We don’t always understand why trials and tribulations come, but it’s at these times that we realize our need for Him. When you have a right relationship with God, you love other people. We should worship Him, for He doesn’t desert us, nor forsake us.

Our prayer concerns today are Dorothy Easterling family in her passing, Pauline Glenn, Tracy Mims, Marsha Siler, Chase Brittnell, David Little, John Shearon and family, and Paul Brooks and family.

Diane Fisher sang, God on the Mountain for our special music today. Our God never leaves us alone, but sometimes we feel Him closer than other times. This is because of the attitude of our hearts. We can live in a way that brings honor and glory to Him. He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. He loves us, and blesses us with all the good things in our lives.

Most of us who want a job are blessed with one. We should praise God for our jobs, and work them as though Jesus were our immediate supervisor. Television preachers who asked for “seed” money in order to be blessed of God are dishonest in their ways. God blesses all who give of their money according to His word. Preachers who claim earthly riches are not earnestly speaking from God’s word.

Jesus said His joy may be made our joy. Philippians 4:13 says that I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me. If we are right, God speaks His blessings to you and me by His promises.

Sunday evening our Pastor’s message was about “The most dangerous people in the Church. This was relating to those who promote discord in our church or any other church. Jesus says, “Whosoever is not with me, is against me.” We are either for God or we are against Him. There is no middle ground. Satan, to war against God’s plan for that church, places some people in churches. The devil wants discord in the House of God. This way, fewer souls are saved, and those who look on are not impressed with the churches allegiance to God. People have no right to disrupt the services of God. We must not be fence straddlers, but we must follow the scriptures, and adhere to the lessons of God. If a person acts immorally, and ungodly, then this person is considered a heathen, rather than a Child of God. Lost people in the church who are church members, are plants of the devil and rarely are ever saved. We must dedicate ourselves to be vigilant as we work for the Master until the day He comes to take us home.

May God bless you all, and may we invite you to our services at Samaria on Sunday. Happy Mother’s Day to all.

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Bethany Baptist Church

Our memory verse for this week is John 1:12: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

Bro. Aubry continued his messages on our doctrinal statements. Doctrinal Statement 3: We believe in the Genesis account of creation (Genesis chapters 1 and 2). He used Genesis 1:1-2 as his text. God made His plan for our redemption even before He ever made the earth. Come now and submit yourself to Him.

We were blessed in the evening service to have Kurt Wallace, a Gideon witness, to bring a message. He told inspiring experiences of people who turned their lives over to the Lord from either the personal witness of a Gideon member, or reading God’s Word. God’s Word will not return unto Him void. (Isaiah 55:11).

Before we closed Bro. Aubry made some remarks concerning our memory verse (John 1:12). God gives us the power to become the children of God, but we must believe on Him.

Congratulations to those having birthdays and anniversaries in May: May 8, Jane Vines; May 12, Doug Mims; May 12, Lillian Burkhalter; May 16, Ralph and Wanda Wilson; May 27, Doug and Helen Mims.

Prayer List: Lela Mae Courtney, Mildred Crawford, Ashley Friday, Jack Friday, Ernestine Hatch, Gloria and Ernest Headley; Mary Knight, our military, Doug and Helen Mims, Billie Neeley, Aubry Wallace and Shirley Wallace.

See you Sunday.

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Walnut Creek UMC News

Call to Worship; “Grace Greater Than Our Sins”

Announcements: the youth raised $582 for Relay For Life Sunday, with their spaghetti lunch. Virginia Littlefield reminded us that next Sunday will be Mother’s Day and the traditional “table of roses” will be set up to honor mothers.

Beth Hughes and Ray Infringer placed beautiful flowers in the vestibule and Virginia Littlefield and Angie Calloway placed beautiful roses in the sanctuary.

Prayers for Kay Wade, Gil Burcham recovering at home, Mrs. Ruby Duke, Nina Tippett, Lavada Attaway [good reports from brain wave test] and Marilyn Popwell and Peggy Cleckler.

Diane did her usual outstanding job with Time or Children.

We had a Gideon Speaker

A beautiful Offertory by Joan McGriff and Norma Popwell, “It Is Well”.

Bro Tony’s Message was ‘May is the month of Grace’ With Gods Word coming from the book of Ephesians; After reading the words of “ Grace Greater Than Our Sins”, so elegantly as he does, we sang it again. He reminded us that:” Grace is a commodity, we read about it, sing about, it but we don’t scratch the surface of what its all about. As God told the Israelites in the wilderness after providing them with manna;” take what is needed for today” Gods grace is greater than our sins, greater than our enemy or anything that Satan can put in our way, the secret is that we must stay united in Christ and everybody in the body of Christ comes together in the unity of Christ.”

Bro Tony asked; “What if someone you don’t know does harm to you, you may not be so quick to forgive them, but what if one of your children does something—-you don’t even wait for them to ask for forgiveness, you forgive them before even do the deed. All they have to do is come to you in some way. God’s grace is out there just for the taking! It is by his grace that we are saved! ‘Grace is getting what we do not deserve.’

We are so proud of our youth, but I have been reminded that these special youth don’t just happen—-they are taught, guided from a lot younger age, we have the most beautiful, sweet and intelligent children just waiting to step up and folks it won’t be long!

Did you know John Thomas, Brodie and Jace Mims are already playing baseball!

We enjoyed our monthly luncheon for ‘building fund’.

Happy Birthday; Jim Popwell [14], Marilyn Popwell [22] Hannah Calloway [24]

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Jackson Chapel Church

The Sunday school hour got started off with a good lesson entitled “Faith in Desperate Situations” taught by Bro. Dewayne Castleberry. Bro. Gary Fant got the morning worship service started off with “Heaven’s Jubilee” and “Are You Washed in the Blood.” Bro. Dennis and Angel Bavar sang “Glory Road.” Bro Dennis’ text came from Luke 15:1-10 with a message entitled “Mercy & Grace.” It doesn’t matter how far in sin that we may be we need to remember that God loves us and he is will save us from our sins if we will just ask him. God’s grace is able to restore us back to where we need to be with Jesus Christ. God loves us in spite of what we do and all he wants us to do is live for him and keep his commandments. The service ended with several coming to pray.

Bro Gary Fant got the evening service started off with “Canaan Land is Just in Sight”, “I Want to Be Ready to Meet Him” and “Just Over in the Glory Land.” Bro Dennis sang “If I Could Telephone Heaven.” Bro Dennis’ text came from Genesis 12:1-3 – There are times in our Christian lives that God will fight our battles for us and there are other times when we need to get out lives right with God and quit fighting against what God wants us to do and if we will do that those battles are easier to fight.

Happy Birthday this week to Patsy Burnette

Please remember these as you pray this week – Geraldine Smith, Juanita Wyatt, Gary Fant, The Rhodes Family, The Johnson Family, Devaughn Welcher, Betty Smitherman, Nick Burnette, Terry Bice, Matt Mayfield, Nancy Martin Sisson, our service men and women and our lost loved ones.

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Cedar Grove Church

We really had an awesome day, both morning and evening service.

The service began with a very old song “ Where The Soul Never Dies” followed by I’ll Be Listening.

A very interesting Sunday school lesson taught by Brother Gary Hubbard entitled “Christian Character.” The scripture came from 1st Corinthians 6: 1 -11.The Golden Text: Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6: 10.

Happy birthday to Douglas Scott and Kip Cleckley.

We had beautiful singing by the choir also Sister Sandra Carroll sang ‘Thank You Says It Best.”

We had a special guest speaker today for the morning message, Brother Mark Lambert, President of the Methodist Protestant Association.

Brother Mark’s message came from Exodus 1: 5-8-11-14 and Matthew 11: 28. His topic was “Sin.”

Please remember all on our prayer list, God knows who they are, just mention Cedar Grove’s prayer list.

By the time you read this Brother Heath and Sister Freda will be the proud parents of a baby boy, his name is Jacob, Gracie is looking forward to a baby brother.

Brother Chris Cleckley sung “And Now MY Lifesong Sings” for the invitation, the Altar filled, he then sang Amazing Grace without music, and it was beautiful.

The evening service was fantastic, when you have five to be baptized what could be a better word. They are Joey and Felecia Patterson, Tyler Boothe, Shaina and Alaina .Muir. They were happy the water was warm; the ones that were baptized last week really knew when they went under. The heater has been installed now.

Kevin Boothe sang a beautiful song while they were getting ready to be baptized.

After the baptizing Chris sung “I Am Not The Man I Used To Be”.

Unless plans are changed for some reason, Cannanland will be singing on Channel 68 Saturday morning at 8 a.m. Be sure and watch.

I have had a hard time writing the news, Lightning kept me unplugging the computer off and on. I hope I haven’t made to many mistakes.

We welcome our visitors; hope you will come again.

For more information, call 646 2390.

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Floyd Baptist Church

We had a wonderful service this Lord’s Day! Bro. Andy Cannon of the Gideon’s was with us this morning. Bro. Andy shared many testimonies of how God has used this ministry to carry His word around the world and how many lives are being changed by this wonderful ministry. Please remember these men and women who are so faithful in giving out God’s word around the world in your prayers!

Sunday evening, Bro. Mike brought a message from 1 Corinthians 15:1-10 about the “Grace of God.” It is through God’s grace that we are saved, we can’t do anything to earn salvation and we certainly don’t deserve it. But God, in His grace, sent Jesus to die as a sacrifice for our sins. Also, through God’s grace, we can be sure of our salvation, of answered prayer and of Christ’s return and we can be secure in our salvation, knowing that no one or nothing can take it from us! Praise God!

If you would like to learn more about our Angel Food Ministry and how you can save on your grocery bill call us at 205-294-1577 for more information. If you have anyone buried in our cemetery that has coping around their grave with rock in it, please call the above number. We are looking at the possibility of doing some beautification work around these sites.

If you are looking for a God loving, Bible believing, Bible teaching church where you will be loved, join us for Sunday School at 9:45 a.m., Discipleship Training at 5 p.m., worship at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Wednesday night Bible study and prayer at 7 p.m.

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Lime Springs United Methodist

Our Sunday school lesson was on why we need forgiveness of sins by the blood of Jesus. This was the final part of a three-part lesson.

Brother Shannon brought our morning message from Mark 4:33-34. He reminded us of how Jesus often spoke in parables to the multitudes, and how often they centered around something in life that they common person could relate to; for example, fishing or farming. He also asked us to consider what Jesus would focus his parables on today.

Bro. Shannon gave us a modern day baseball parable Jesus might present to the church today. He reminded us that we are all batters facing the pitcher in life, the devil.

If we have a hit and make it to first base, this is symbolic of salvation (John 3:3). Reaching second base is symbolic of our baptism and church membership (Matthew 3:13-17 and Romans 6:4). Third base is symbolic of Christian service (Ephesians 2:8-9). Finally, reaching home plate is the finished job (Matthew 25:23).

Our Sunday evening Bible study continued to focus on the prophet Hosea.

Happy birthday to Ricky Burnett, Kelli Huffstutler, Peggy Thompson and Elmer Brant.

Happy anniversary to Elmer and Betty Brant.

Lime Springs service times are as follows: Sunday school at 9:30 a.m., Sunday service at 11 a.m., Sunday Bible Study at 5 p.m. Wednesday prayer meeting is at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 755-6356.

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Mt. Carmel No. 1

Sunday was a great time of worship and fellowship.

It started with the teaching of the Sunday school lesson. Each class had their Bible study from the book of Genesis. Holly Smith provided special music, singing “Healer.” Bro. Derrell and his family sang, “Sometimes He Calms the Storm.”

We want to say thank you to all that had part in making our Relay for Life fundraising efforts a big success. God bless you.

Remember Mothers’ Day is Sunday. If your mother is still living go see her this Sunday—better still go to church with her this Sunday morning and tell her how much you love her.

Praise God for another family coming to join our family of God here at Mt. Carmel. We welcome Reba and Ray Nichols and Jacob Williams into our church.

Visitors are always welcomed and invited to come back and worship with us each Sunday. Sunday school at 10 a.m. Discipleship training at 5 p.m. Children’s church is held during the morning worship service. Nursery is provided during worship services.

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Friendship Baptist Church

Our choir special was “When My Name is Called in Glory.” Bro. Gene’s message was from 1 Thessalonians, “Beginning of your Spiritual Life.”

Evening service: Our GA girls made three prayer blankets for one of our home bound members and two of our nursing home members. They showed them as we said a prayer over the blankets for the receivers. Thank you, GA’s.

Our youth sang, “Here I Am To Worship.”

Bro. Gene’s message was from 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, “Sharing the Gospel.”

May 8: Youth fundraiser, 6-11 a.m., pancakes, sausage and juice. $4. From 6-11 a.m.

Hot dogs, chips, drink. $4. 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Silent auction. Fun and games too. All donations go to “Give Kids the World.”

May 14:15-Extraordinary Women’s Confernce.

Prayer requests: Inby and Kaye Fanning, Michael and Matsy Remillard, our church, Ernest Brand family and Susan Cameron.

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Christ Independent Methodist Church

Dr. Stinson took his scripture from the gospel of St. John, where Jesus, talking to his disciples, says, “A new commandment I give to you; that you love one another as I have loved you.”

The Bible reiterates that commandment repeatedly as well as reminding us that God is love and John reminds us that God so loved the world He gave His only begotten son to die for us. What greater evidence do we need?

Still, in the real world today, I have witnessed actions by professing Christians that fall short of God’s “new commandment” to love one another.

Where does love come from? First, we must have an informed faith. That faith requires knowing what you believe and why you believe it. As my Sunday School lesson said, and I believe, “A genuine faith must be an informed faith.”

How can practicing Christians advance the tenets of their faith if they are clueless of what those tenets are?

The Apostle Paul writing of the early Colossian church said the members of that early church endeared themselves to him because they were united by their faith in Christ and their love for one another.

Do you feel loved by all members of your church? Do you love all members in return? We can recognize the presence of God in our lives when we can answer these two questions affirmatively.

Pray that God will help us to love one another and to be loved.

Special prayer is requested for Horace and Mary Ann Carden, Dwight and BeeBee Sammons, Lethia Northcutt, Mae Hunnicutt, Jim Ellison, Oneal Bice, Mable Mitchelle, John David Glasscock, Penny Daris, Wilma Ellison, Bill Farr and Beth Coogle.

Special prayer for our military, their families, our church, community, families affected by the mine disaster in West Virginia, the oil rig collapse in the Gulf of Mexico, and the people of Haiti still recovering from the recent earthquake.

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The Church of God’s Word

Bro. Joel Allen opened with a prayer that Jesus come for the lost and undone.

The Sunday School message came from 2 Corinthians 11:15-28: If you crucify the flash then what people say about you and to you won’t hurt you. Look at the sufferings Paul went through because he cared about the church. Look at the everyday life we through and the suffering we do when we should trust and believe in God to help us through it all.

We should rejoice even over our persecution. Count them as joy. If you exercise that you are a child of God’s every day it will show in the way you live every day. Life will tell it all.

Brother Al Green was the guest speaker from the Gideons. Your answer is in the Bible, which is the word of God. Sow a seed on good ground.

I pray that you will be in a church of your choice this week. Remember Eddie and Jackie Hayes.

The closing prayer was by Jimmy Langston.

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Mt. Springs Church

A cloudy and dreary day welcomed us Sunday, but inside was a day filled with the Son of God.

Bro. Roger Cleckler’s devotion was taken from Psalm 78:35-41, 55-58. God loves us so much, and He is a forgiving God but we can keep doing things against His will to provoke God to anger. Pray about what you are doing, that it is to please God and not something that will be against his will.

Bro. Kenneth Moates’ Sunday School lesson was taken from I Corinthians 11:1-10. Christ is the head of the church and our home, everything should be done to please him.

The Johnson Family sang “Trail of Tears” and did a great job. Bro. Don preached from Ruth 3:1-18.

Be careful where you take your family-you may regret it one day. Bro. Don compared the story of Ruth and Boaz to that of a Christian and Jesus. We need to clean up our lives, anoint ourselves to be consecrated to the Lord only, dress up, put on the things of God, wait for His return when He will receive us unto our heavenly home.

Bro. Ricky Cleckler did a great job Sunday night leading our singing. Prayer is an important part of our services. There were many requests to present to the Lord. We had an anointing of several prayer clothes to be sent to those that were in special need of a touch from God. Bro. Kenneth’s devotion was taken from Habakkuk 3:17-18. Happiness and joy are two different things. Happiness is according to what is happening around us but when everything is going wrong around us we can still joy.

Our evening song was sung by Bro. Roger Cleckler “One More Miracle” he always does a good job presenting the Gospel in song. Bro. Don’s message was from James 1:2-12. We might as well expect trials and tribulations in our life, but it is how you handle them that matters. In the book of James it tells us how to deal with the different situations. Always give him glory and through prayer we will understand and be able to yield to the will of God in our lives. Do you love him, then give God praise for bringing you through your trial.

The reward is the faith we receive at the end of our trial. Our love of God is constant. When we go through the bad times and the good we are stronger having God with us.

Come be with us Sunday and enjoy a Spirit filled worship serviced. Sunday School is at 9:45 a.m., worship is at 11 a.m., Wednesday night children 6:45 p.m., Adult 7 p.m.

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Mount Bethel Baptist Church

We had a great day of worship and fellowship with our Lord. It started with a song of praise followed by prayer. Then we went into our classes for Bible study.

In the adult class, the lesson was on, What if you falter? The Israelites did falter in their faith. When Moses was on the mountain for 40 days they lost sight of what was important and sinned greatly by making an idol to worship. God was going to destroy them but Moses pleaded their case. To make sure they remembered the mistakes they made, Moses melted down the gold calf, ground it into ashes, mixed it with water and made them drink it. We all falter, and when we do God is ready to forgive those who repent.

The choir opened the morning worship hour with “Somebody Loves Me,” and the choir special was, “Is my Lord satisfied with me?”

The Rev. Oneal Cleckler’s morning message was from Isaiah 26:3, John 14:27, 16:33. “Everybody wants perfect peace.” Not everyone knows where to find it. It is the character of righteous, good principles that are fixed in the mind that will produce good resolutions in the heart. Such as this bring forth blessing with them. All who belong to Christ are safe; they have a holy security and serenity of mind in the assurance of God’s favor. Isaiah 26:3 is a promise. Thou will keep in him peace, inward peace, outward peace, peace with God, peace of conscience, peace at all times, under all events this peace shall be kept in possession of whose mind has stayed upon God, because it trusted in Him. Peace does three things: 1) Secures us, 2)Dissolves fear, and 3)Maintains us.

In discipleship training class, the lesson was on Andrew, the one who brought others to Jesus. Andrew was a faithful follower of Jesus. He was chosen as one of the 12 apostles. He was also known as the introducer because each time we read about him he is introducing someone to Jesus. We don’t have Jesus in flesh, but we can still introduce people to Him through his Word.

Bro. Cleckler continued his teaching on the Lordship of Christ. This teaching was about His Lordship in the Church. Matt. 16:18. In this scripture it states: And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church. Peter was the foundation stone on which God would use, but he is not the exclusive foundation. We have been taught that the Christians are the body of Christ, but Christ is the architect, designer and owner of the church. The body of Christ cannot function without the God Head who is in control. As members we get our guidance from Him. Nothing functions in the body without God.

We want to wish a happy birthday to Jackie Hucks and Ailean Bolton.

We invite you to join us for worship and fellowship with our Lord. Sunday School is 10 a.m., morning worship at 11 a.m., discipleship training at 5 p.m., and evening worship at 6 p.m.