Oct. 27 • 2024
23rd Sunday after Pentecost

■ Intercessory prayer group meets each Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the chapel.

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“Prayer is not designed to change God; it is designed to change us. Prayer is not calling God in to bless our activities. Rather, prayer takes us into God’s presence, shows us His will, and prepares us to obey Him.

— From Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby

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■ Our food pantry is open to serve the community each Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m.

Swift outdoor work day
set for Saturday, Nov. 2

We are planning to have a work day on Saturday, Nov. 2. This will be to clean away undergrowth around trees, bush hog, grind stumps, cut down some dead trees and nuisance limbs, and burn the big burn pile.

Volunteers are needed.

If anyone is interested in helping, please contact Bill Garretson so he can go over the equipment needed and get an idea of who will be able to help.

The best way to contact Bill is by email (wgarretson@hotmail.com) or by phone (251-747-1543).

■ Fall events — Mark your calendars for these upcoming fall events. Look for more information, including time and locations, in upcoming announcements and newsletters.

Come join in singing Cursillo songs by the campfire on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 4:15 p.m. We will meet behind the chapel, gather around the fire and enjoy singing our favorites accompanied by guitar music. Please bring lawn chairs.

It’s almost here!

Lots of planning and preparing is taking place for our Christmas market, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you would like to be involved in planning, crafting, donating, contributing and helping with the market, please attend any or all of our meetings and craft times.

Come join the fun!

     ● Christmas market planning meeting — Thursday, Oct. 31, at 10 a.m. in the fellowship hall

For more information, contact any of the marketplace committee members — Susie Alexander, Janelle Armbruster, Karen Langley, and Kathy Menk.

We still have raffle ticket packets ready for pickup.

If you’re willing to help sell tickets for the raffle, please pick up a packet in the fellowship hall this Sunday. Instructions, raffle information and tickets are included in the packet. Questions, please contact any of the marketplace committee members listed above.

Also … flyers are available to pick up to distribute around town at local businesses, libraries, restaurants and anywhere that is willing to display the flyer.

Please help spread the word about Swift Church Christmas Market.

If you would like to help the deacons provide fellowship treats for fellowship time (either a sweet or a protein or a fruit), please sign the list on the table in the fellowship hall, or contact Kathy Menk, 251-518-7966.

The food pantry is open every Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m. to serve the community.

This week, we served 66 families, including 222 people.

If you are interested in helping or know of someone who might be interested, please consider getting involved or at least share the opportunity to volunteer with others.

If you have questions or want to volunteer, please contact Jan Taylor (251‑978‑6418).

Swift Church will participate in the Ecumenical Ministries angel tree Christmas sharing program this year to help children have a meaningful Christmas.

This involves taking an angel and buying gifts for the children. They ask that each participant spend approximately $75 on each child’s gifts. Each angel will have a list of what each child wants, with details such as size, etc., and they will provide a bag to hold the gifts.

The angels will be given to us by Nov. 22. We need to bring the gifts to them by Dec. 11 and they will distribute them to the families. If you would like to participate, please let the church office or Chuck Carneal know by Friday, Nov. 1, so we can let them know how many angels we want.

Thanks for your consideration.

— Chuck Carneal, mission elder

The Swift Church Nominating Committee is seeking candidates for church officers to serve in the class of 2027.

The positions open are fellowship deacons and congregational-care deacons. Each of these is a three-year commitment.

Please prayerfully consider if God may be calling you to serve in any of these positions. If you have questions about any of the positions, or if you are willing to serve, please contact Jan Taylor at 251-978-6418 by Sunday, Nov. 3.

You fear you won’t make it through. We all do. We fear that the depression will never lift, the yelling will never stop, the pain will never leave. In the pits, surrounded by steep walls and aching reminders, we wonder: Will this gray sky ever brighten? This load ever lighten?

Join Snacks with Susan and Daryl on Sunday mornings for a new series by Max Lucado, “You’ll Get Through This (Hope and Help for Your Turbulent Times).”

The sessions include:
     ● You’ll Get Through This
     ● Down and Out, but Never Alone
     ● Stupid Won’t Fix Stupid
     ● Is God Good When Life Isn’t?
     ● Now, About Those Family Scandals and Scoundrels
     ● God Can Use This for Good

The class meets at 9:00 in annex room 4.

Join us as we continue our study of the book of Exodus.

We meet on Sundays at 9 a.m. in annex room 2.

Join us as we study the Bible together. We meet at 9 a.m. in annex room 3.

Thank you for your generous pledges and ongoing offerings. Your support and commitment to Swift Church is greatly appreciated.

If you would like to place flowers on the chancel to honor or celebrate a loved one or a special occasion or “just because,” please contact Susie Alexander at 251-943-4145 or 217-246-4051.

Are you willing to serve as a liturgist, acolyte or greeter/usher? Contact Marvin King or Eunice Ray, worship elders.

Pastor
The Rev. Alexandra Hutson
251-250-9522
swiftpastor@gmail.com
Friday is her sabbath day of rest.

Swift Church staff
Sena Cooper, office assistant
Stephanie Craft, office assistant
251-943-8367
swiftpc@gulftel.com

Swift Church Preschool
Jessica Hammontree, director
251-943-8367
swiftchurchpreschool@gmail.com
Preschool website