■ Worship on Sundays at 8 a.m.
in the historic chapel

■ Worship each Sunday at 10 a.m.
in the sanctuary;
live streaming on Facebook

■ Online worship available later on YouTube and the church website

■ Join your church family for fellowship
after the 10:00 service in the fellowship hall.

“Lent” comes from an old English word for springtime, perhaps connected with the lengthening of days in this time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The season of Lent is a time for growth in faith through prayer, spiritual discipline, and self-examination in preparation for the commemoration of the dying and rising of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Reconciliation is a key theme in the season of Lent — reconciliation with God and with one another through the grace of Jesus Christ. Lent is a period of forty days — like the flood of Genesis, Moses’ sojourn at Sinai, Elijah’s journey to Mount Horeb, Jonah’s call of repentance to Nineveh, and Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness. The Sundays in Lent are not counted among the forty days, as every Lord’s Day is a celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
(Book of Common Worship)

Here are several ways for you to journey through the Lenten Season this year:

Ash Wednesday services — March 2
Swift Presbyterian Church in the sanctuary at noon
Note change in time from previous years.
Foley First Presbyterian Church at 6 p.m.
Orange Beach Presbyterian Church at 6 p.m.

Weekly worship
Worship services continue on Sundays at 8 a.m. in the chapel and 10 a.m. in the sanctuary.
See list below for names of guest pastors.

Sunday school classes
There are two adult classes, and one children and youth Sunday school class offered each week. If you are not already participating, consider joining one for the Lenten Season.
See weekly announcements for details.

Lenten lunches
Swift Church has joined with local churches in the greater Foley community for over 10 years for a Lenten luncheon series. This year’s theme is “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” Make a note on your calendar now and plan to come each Thursday.
Pastor Jody Beth will be leading the devotional on March 24.

Intercessory prayer
Our “Step Away and Pray” intercessory prayer group will begin on Wednesday, March 9, and continue through April 6, meeting at 9 a.m. in the chapel.

Lenten calendar
Lenten calendars, which emphasize One Great Hour of Sharing, will be available at the Ash Wednesday service and Sunday worship services.
Please take one and share the daily message and reflection with your family as you prayerfully consider your gift to this special offering.

Palm Sunday — April 10
Bring palm branches to wave as we celebrate Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, while yet knowing that Jesus’ death is near.

Good Friday Tenebrae service — April 15
Swift will combine the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Services this year with a Tenebrae service, gathering just one night, Friday, April 15, at 6 p.m.

The service will include prayer, scripture readings, Handbell and duet music, hymns, communion, extinguishing of candles, and carrying the cross to the cemetery.

The Swift session met on Feb. 21, opening the meeting with prayer by the Rev. Bob Madsen, our guest moderator and regional executive presbyter. Some highlights include:

     ■ Finance committee reviewed the report for January and the church’s expenses did not exceed donations year to date. There was also a vote to update the approved co-signer list on the church’s checking account.
     ■ Approval of written reports.
     ■ Discussed ongoing work related to supply preachers and interim pastor candidates. There is a limited supply of individuals for both and we will continue to pursue the right opportunities.
     ■ Swift has submitted the yearly reports to the presbytery. The clerk will also begin work on a new directory — please stay tuned for updates.
     ■ Thanks to buildings and grounds for clearing out the tree debris.
     ■ Mission committee will be updating the congregation on some exciting local mission opportunities in the near future that will help our immediate community.

The handbell choir will play in the 10 a.m. service on March 13. We are playing an arrangement of “Near the Cross” and “What Wondrous Love Is This.” They are also working in preparation for Good Friday and Easter services.

Jenni and Lisa are currently working on Lenten piano duets. We will include well-known Lenten hymns, as well as communion music, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

I so appreciate those who work weekly to bring beautiful music to life in our services.

We will not meet in March.

Instead, everyone is encouraged to attend the Lenten lunch on March 3. Please see below for more information about the Lenten lunches.

The “Two or More” lunch group normally meets on the first Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. for food and fellowship.

‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’
Thursdays through April 7
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Spirit Center, Foley United Methodist Church
915 N. Pine St., Foley

Join South Baldwin Ecumenical Ministries for lunch on Thursdays during Lent at the Spirit Center of Foley United Methodist Church as we talk about six times that Jesus broke bread in fellowship with others. The lunches start at 11:30 a.m. and conclude an hour later.

■ March 3 — Father Paul Zoghby of St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church

■ March 10 — The Rev. Dr. Brent Norris of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

■ March 17 — Pastor Elwanda Powell of Word’s Alive Ministries

■ March 24 — Assistant Pastor Jody Beth Melton of Swift Presbyterian Church

■ March 31 — Pastor Trent Langrehr of City Hope Church

■ April 7 — The Rev. Bennie Richardson of Morningstar Missionary Baptist Church

Thursday, March 17 • 6 p.m.
The Shrimp Basket
1500 S. McKenzie St., Foley

Come join us as we gather for great conversation and fellowship over dinner. Men and women sit separately. It’s a great way to get to know others in the church, and guests are always welcome.

Please RSVP to Mary McNair by text at 251-295-5267 or email at marymcnair@centurylink.net. Please provide the names of all for whom you are making the reservation and indicate any who would like a ride.

Swift Church has always had a love for missions. One of our oldest missions is supporting overseas missionaries through the Vernon Anderson Memorial. We also participate in Presbyterian missions, such as One Great Hour of Sharing (Lenten special offering). In December, we collect offerings to support the Presbyterian Home for Children.

Swift Food Pantry is now open every Wednesday to serve the hungry in our area.

Our local mission for the last several years has been Elberta Elementary School. We supply snacks, uniforms, and other items when needed.

This month, we are adding another local mission. We are supplying snacks and drinks to the South Baldwin Literacy Council for their after-school programs for youth during the school year.

Thank you for your generous support in allowing Swift to participate in these worthwhile missions.

The food pantry served 84 families and 146 individuals in February. The pantry will be open every Wednesday in March from 10 to 11 a.m. to serve the community.

If you are in financial need from lack of work, medical bills, or other reasons, please contact Pastor Jody Beth for assistance. Your generosity to the pastors’ discretionary fund allows us to provide those in need with financial support.

The class, led by Cheryl Jensen, meets in room 2 in the annex every week at 9 a.m.

The class, led by Susan and Daryl Pichoff, meets in the fellowship hall every week at 9 a.m.

Through March 20, we are looking at the Adam Hamilton series Half Truths. Have you ever heard these sayings?

     ■ Everything happens for a reason.
     ■ God helps those who help themselves.
     ■ God won’t give you more than you can handle.
     ■ God said it, I believe it, that settles it.
     ■ Love the sinner, hate the sin.

Are they in the Bible? We’d love you to join us to discuss what you think about them.

In late March, we will move to a video and discussion from Andy Stanley called Why Easter Matters. We look forward to seeing everyone for some fun, thought, and conversation.

Meets in the annex, youth room, every week at 9 a.m. Taught by Tracy Akins.

Wednesday, March 16 • 6 to 8 p.m.
at the Akins home
9132 Woodland Drive, Elberta

Middle- and high-school youth will meet for dinner and Refuel. Refuel will continue to meet the third Wednesday of each month during the spring semester.

Generosity describes the Christian’s unselfish willingness to give in order to make a positive difference for the purposes of Christ. Extravagant generosity describes practices of sharing and giving that exceed all expectations and extend to unexpected measures.

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

Clicking the button will take you
to our donation page on a secure site.

Using your “smart phone” and this box you can connect to the church’s online giving page. You can set up for automatic donations of your tithes or one-time gifts to a number of funds benefiting ministries of Swift Church. Use this by either entering your credit/debit card information or your checking account information. Of course, this is a secure website.

You can also do the same thing by clicking a donation link on the church’s website.