SWIFT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
A Church That Practices Fruitful Living
PASSIONATE WORSHIP
Worship in June
June 5 Galatians 1:11–24
The Lord’s Supper celebrated
Worship at Live Oak Assisted Living, 1 pm
June 12 Galatians 2:15–21
Jody Beth Melton preaches
June 19 Galatians 3:23–29
Father’s Day — Wear Hawaiian shirts.
June 26 Galatians 5:13–25
July 3 Galatians 6:7–17
Pastor Keith to take continuing education week
Pastor Keith will be taking a continuing education week June 12–18. Part of that time he will be in Nashville at the Children’s Spirituality Conference to gain insight and information on:
- Introducing Young Children in Worship, Godly Play, and other contemplative models.
- Creating space for contemplative practices with children.
- Connecting art with spirituality.
- Practicing spiritual disciplines with children.
- Evaluating children’s Bible storybooks.
- Helping ’tweens (our digital “natives”) wisely navigate digital media.
- Implementing intergenerational models of spiritual formation.
Congregational Meeting for Nominating Committee
June 5 at 9:50 the congregation will meet in the sanctuary to elect four members from the congregation to serve on the nominating committee for elders and deacons. Elders already selected to serve are Ginny Kleinschmidt and Chuck Carneal. The deacon serving is Marlene Hastings.
WORSHIP COMMITTEE
By Kim Whitchard, Worship Elder
Hello, everyone,
It has already been six months into my “eldership” as your worship elder. I have been so excited and spiritually renewed about what Pastor Keith and Jody Beth have been doing to deepen our spiritual experience during worship. They are much appreciated.
We enjoyed bringing in Pentecost with some amazing music, thanks to Lisa Cardwell and the choir. Thank you to everyone who wore red to celebrate the Holy Spirit. Pastor Keith made that service so special for the children, too, by allowing them to create a Pentecost kite, and we all enjoyed watching the children fly their kites after the service.
Last Sunday [May 22], Pastor Keith had some fun with the congregation with “Praising the Lord with Our Lips.” If you missed it, Pastor Keith had big, red wax lips and then handed out lips to the children to illustrate his message for them. They really enjoyed that — as did the adults. If you did not see it, then go to our website. (Thank you, Greg McNair, for your work on the website and for taking over for Stevie Walker after her many years of service.)
The “greeter/usher teams” seem to be getting used to their rotation. Thank each of you for volunteering your Sunday mornings to serve during worship. If you have any questions about what team you are on, or need a refresher for the duties, please let me know. And if you would like to join in, it is NEVER too late.
Also with children’s church taking the summer off, if any of the younger children would like to learn to be acolytes, please let me know.
We are planning to have a “TAKE-OUT CHURCH” for families that will be on vacation or a “stay-cation” at home. We will be handing out activities that your children, and as a family, can do to continue worshipping while not being able to be in church for whatever reason during the summer. Those boxes will be handed out on June 5th, so make sure you are there that Sunday to get your box.
I would like to thank the Worship Committee — Pastor Keith, Jody Beth, Judy Walker and Lisa Cardwell — for your commitment to making worship a meaningful experience for all of us through your creativity.
RADICAL HOSPITALITY
Swift Presbyterian Church’s “Two or More” Lunch Group
“Two or More” is a monthly ecumenical fellowship luncheon, open to all. We meet once a month, on the first Thursday of each month, at 11:30 am.
June 2nd, we will meet at Captain’s Choice Restaurant in the Gulf Bowl. The service has improved since they will now take our orders as we arrive instead of waiting until everyone is there. Please RSVP to Pastor Jody Beth Melton at 251-213-6625 or Lee Mansell at 251-232-4775 to make a reservation.
Butterfly Girls and Guys Night Out
Thursday, June 16th, 6:30pm
Butterfly Girls and Guys Night Out are opportunities for us
to gather for a meal and fellowship, with no agenda and no commitments.
ALL ladies are invited to Butterfly Girls and ALL men are invited to Guys’ Night Out.
Come join us for Butterfly Girls and Guys’ Night Out June 16th at 6:30pm
We will all be going to Big Daddy’s, a Fairhope institution … located on the beautiful Fish River with a laid-back attitude and great seafood and burgers. Please join us!
Contact Susan Pichoff at 251-233-9486 for more info or to let us know you can join us.
Big Daddy’s Grill at 16542 Ferry Rd, Fairhope, AL 36532
RSVP to Susan and Daryl Pichoff, 251-233-9486.
MISSIONS AND SERVICE
Mission Report
Submitted by Cathy Rogers
We continue to collect “Two Cents a Meal” on the third Sunday of every month for Living Waters for the World. We are up a bit in our collections from last year. January through May collections totaled $1,128.65. Thank you to those who are contributing and think about how much a few dollars a month can do for this mission.
Allison Wehrung, special offerings ambassador for our area, gave a Minute for Mission on May 1st in preparation for Pentecost Offering that was taken on May15th. The total amount collected for Pentecost was $498, which was up $150 from last year. This offering goes to “at-risk youth” and 40% stays with the local church. Our Mission and Christian Ed Committee will determine what it will be used for at Swift.
Thirty families were fed by our food pantry in April. Sixteen families have been served at our food pantry so far this month. June 5th is our regular food pantry Sunday and all items will be needed, especially paper products. Phil Melton will work the June 8th distribution and is still looking for someone to help him. Linda Runtz and Sue Ann Lay will be the volunteers for the June 22nd distribution.
DEPOSITORS FOR JUNE — Don and Lynn Aspray
FOOD PANTRY VOLUNTEERS
6/8 — Shirley Hughes and Betty Carneal
6/22 — Sue Ann Lay and Phil Melton
GREETER/USHER TEAMS
6/5 — Lynda Walden, Sue Ann Lay and Susie Alexander
6/12 — Donna Donald, Lynn and Mike Barnwell
6/19 — Mark and Tresa Melton, Lynn Aspray and Jane King
6/26 — Bridgit and Jessica Gosa, Lee Mansell and Kim Whitchard
NURSERY VOLUNTEERS
6/5 — Donna Donald and Beth Brewer
6/12 — Jane King and Carlie Sims
6/19 — Lezli and Kenny Thomason
6/26 — Tanya Vetrano and Kathy Menk
INTENTIONAL FAITH DEVELOPMENT
College and Adult Education Students
Please continue to pray for our college and adult education students:
Pate Cardwell, Columbia Southern University, Online Bachelor of Applied Science in Fire Administration program
Rene Guidroz, University of South Alabama
Tracy King
Karely Kleinschmidt, Faulkner State Community College
Tara Morrow, Pensacola State College, Physical Therapist Assistant program to earn Associate’s Degree in Applied Science.
Philip Melton, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, Online Christian Leadership Program.
Zach Melton, Karleigh Neese, University of South Alabama
Tanya Vetrano, Criminal Justice, Faulkner State Community College
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION REPORT
VBS is Sunday, July 17th – Thursday, July 21st, from 5:30pm – 8:00pm! Dinner will be served when the children arrive at 5:30pm. Registration forms will be available at worship and in the church office starting on June 5th. You can also contact swiftchildren@outlook.com to get a registration form.
We are still in search for a decorations coordinator for VBS. We will plan on having a church-wide work day, but we are looking for someone to help coordinate what needs to be done. Support will also be given by the VBS directors. If you are interested in volunteering, email Teresa Thomas at teecee1955@gmail.com.
Another way you can help out is by donating or letting us borrow beach items (beach towels, umbrellas, sand buckets, beach balls, shovels, pool toys, etc.) and white T-shirts (children’s XS–XL). Monetary donations will also be appreciated for supply purchases.
VBS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! If you would like to help set up, clean up, or prepare a meal, please contact Susan Pichoff (tabfanatic@gmail.com). If you would like to volunteer to help with crafts, recreation, and help Lisa with music, please contact Carlie Sims (carliecsims@gmail.com).
We will be looking for leaders to help coordinate the children’s ministry for the next year. We are looking to fill the following positions:
- Sunday school coordinator — distributes curriculum, helps find materials, seeks volunteers, and makes the schedule for the volunteers.
- Children’s church coordinator — distributes curriculum, helps find materials, seeks volunteers, and makes the schedule for the volunteers.
- Two event coordinators — help coordinate and oversee volunteers and materials for Swift’s main children’s events (Fall Festival, Easter egg hunt and 2017 VBS).
The leaders will be supported and work closely with Teresa Thomas, the children’s Christian education elder. We are looking for the positions to be filled by July 1st.
Thank you to the Sunday school teachers and children’s church volunteers for all your hard work this school year!
We will be resuming Children’s Church and Sunday School on September 11th. We’ll be looking for volunteers for the year.
