SWIFT  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH

A Church That Practices Fruitful Living

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 RADICAL  HOSPITALITY 

“TWO OR MORE” LUNCH
Will meet Thursday, Oct. 5, at the Gulf Bowl, Captain’s Choice Grill, Juniper Street, Foley, at 11:30 a.m.
Delicious food, reasonable prices and great conversation. Come and meet new friends.

Please RSVP if you know in advance you will be joining us — but if you don’t, we always have
room for more at the table. Contact Lee Mansell, 232-4775.
 

BUTTERFLY GIRLS • GUYS’ NIGHT OUT
Thursday, Oct. 19 • 6:30 p.m.
At The Gulf (weather permitting).

Come join us for food and conversation. The women and men will be seated in different areas.

Contacts are Daryl and Susan Pichoff, 251-233-9486.

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 INTENTIONAL  FAITH  DEVELOPMENT 

SWIFT CHURCH CONFIRMATION CLASS
Inspiring, resilient faith
Students explore what it means to be Presbyterian and how to live out their confirmation promises.

Beginning Oct 1 and continuing for most of the school year, Swift Church is offering a confirmation class for ages fifth grade and up. The group of about 10 will meet on Sundays in the youth room during Sunday school time, 9 to 9:45. On Oct. 1 a calendar will be provided that gives classes and dates for the whole series. We are working on making a video recording of each class for those who miss a week or who want to review a class.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN
Teresa Thomas, elder

Kids’ Club began meeting again on Sept. 6. We had three precious girls and enjoyed our time but we would like to have all our K–4 children participate, so after talking with some of our parents we have decided to change the meeting dates and times for Kids’ Club to coincide with GɸG. We hope this will eliminate the conflicts during the week and give the parents that have kids in both groups a break from multiple dates and times.

Therefore, the new meeting dates and times are:

Sept. 24 — 4 to 6 p.m.
Oct. 29 — 4 to 6 p.m.
Dec. 17 — 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (tentative)
Jan. 14 — 4 to 6 p.m.
Feb. 25 — 4 to 6 p.m.
March 11 — 4 to 6 p.m.
April 8 — 4 to 6 p.m.
May 6 — 4 to 6 p.m.

Fall Festival will be Sunday, Oct. 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. A great big thank-you to Tracy Akins, Lyndsey Ward and Lezli Thomason who will be heading up this event. The youth will be having a fish fry in conjunction with the festival. Donations will be accepted for the fish plates.

“Thank you” on behalf of the Christian ed children.

​YOUTH REPORT
Tara Morrow, elder

Youth activities this month are:

● Confirmation class: every Sunday from 9 to 9:45 a.m. in the youth room.

● Refuel: Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. (location TBA)

● Fall Festival: Sunday, Oct. 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. Youth will provide a fish fry to help raise money to attend Montreat next summer.

● GɸG: Sunday, Oct. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the youth room.

SNACKS WITH SUSAN
Daryl and Susan Pichoff

Our Sunday morning “Coffee with Keith” class has changed to “Snacks with Susan” and will be at the same time and same place: in the fellowship hall, 9 a.m. each Sunday and will be led by Daryl and Susan Pichoff while Pastor Keith is teaching the confirmation class. They will begin a new study on Oct. 1: “Forgiveness: Finding Peace through Letting Go.”
 

BIBLE STUDY AND FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
FOR ADULTS AT SWIFT CHURCH

We are so blessed to have so many people who would like to be part of Bible study and fellowship at Swift Church. Here is a listing of the groups currently meeting. All of them are open to people visiting and/or joining the group, whether you are a member of Swift Church or not. For more information, contact the leaders or the church office.

Weekly:

• Sundays, 9 to 9:45 a.m., adult Sunday School class, Andy Lay room, a chronological study of the New Testament, led by Cheryl Jensen and Anthony Kaiser.

• Sundays, 9 to 9:45 a.m., Coffee with Keith class, fellowship hall, studying spiritual disciplines using the book Flunking Sainthood, led by Pastor Keith Cardwell.

• Sundays, 5:30 to 6:45, Sunday night Bible study, Andy Lay room, studying Jeremiah, led by Pastor Jody Beth and Philip Melton, 251-213-6625.

• Thursdays, 10 to 11:30, Thursday morning Bible study, Andy Lay room, studying Jeremiah, led by Pastor Jody Beth and Philip Melton, 251-213-6625.

Monthly:

• Thursdays (first Thursday of month), 11:30 a.m., “Two or More” fellowship lunch at Captain’s Choice Grill at the Gulf Bowl in Foley on Juniper Street. Contact is Lee Mansell, 251-232-4775.

• Thursdays (second Thursday of month), 1 p.m., Sack Lunch and Fellowship, fellowship hall. Bring your own sack lunch and enjoy Christian conversation. This is a new group, started by six people who attended Cursillo #36, and is open to everyone. Contact is Sue Johnson, 251-923-6550.

• Thursdays (third Thursday of month), 6:30 p.m., Butterfly Girls and Guys’ Night Out fellowship dinner at area restaurants, different place each month. Sometimes men and women eat at same restaurant at separate tables, sometimes two restaurants near one another. Contacts are Daryl and Susan Pichoff, 251-233-9486..
 

 MISSION  AND  SERVICE 

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“So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near.”
— Ephesians 2:14–17

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MISSION REPORT
Cathy Rogers and Philip Melton, elders

The mission focus for the last few weeks of September and the first week in October will be the Peace and Global Witness Offering. As followers of Christ, our call to work for peace begins in our own neighborhoods and extends to the ends of the earth. It is a call that Presbyterians at all levels of the church seek to follow.

At the national level, this witness means supporting those working to heal the divisions in violent areas such as South Sudan. It means bringing leaders together who have made a profound witness for peace around the world and deploying them to congregations like ours. It means creating materials that equip congregations to deal with important issues — from disagreements between members of session to bullying at schools to gun violence in our communities. It means using our seat at the United Nations table to speak up for the vulnerable around the world.

Yet the offering is as much about our local congregation living out a commitment to peacemaking as it is proclaiming Christ’s peace. Twenty-five percent of the offering stays with our congregation and 25 percent is retained by our mid-council, enabling us the freedom to provide support where we need it most.

Please prayerfully consider contributing to this mission.
 

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

Swift Church Session met after worship on Sunday, Sept.17, for the purpose of receiving new members. The church received and welcomed Pat and Bill Rickert on transfer of membership from Gulf Shores Presbyterian Church.

Swift Church Session met on Monday, Sept.18, for the stated meeting. We:

● Talked of how worship has been hospitality to us — God’s hospitality to us as we worship.
● Received prayer concerns and prayed.
● Received the financial report.
● Approved minutes and committee reports.
● Heard of the work of the nominating committee.
● Approved Oct. 8 at 9:50 a.m. for congregational meeting in the sanctuary to elect church officers.
● Got updates on buildings and grounds matters and the driveway fund.
● Shared upcoming ministry of church through various committees.
● Closed with prayer.

 

WE APPRECIATE OUR OCTOBER VOLUNTEERS

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“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10

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GREETER/USHER TEAMS
Oct. 1 — Paula and Danny Brewer, Debbie and Norm Schmidt
Oct. 8 — Susie Alexander, Elinor Gartman, Sue Ann Lay, Lynda Walden
Oct. 15 — Lynn and Mike Barnwell, Willard Penfold, Eunice Ray
Oct. 22 — Jane King, Judy Walker, Kim and Tony Whitchard
Oct. 29 — Greg McNair, Lee Mansell

NURSERY VOLUNTEERS
Oct. 1 — Brett and Pate Cardwell
Oct. 8 — Bridgit Gosa and Tara Morrow
Oct. 15 — Lyndsey and Aaron Ward
Oct. 22 — Megan Curry and Debbie Schmidt
Oct. 29 — Jane King and Carlie Sims

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN
Oct. 1 — Cathy Rogers
Oct. 8 — Tess Helton
Oct. 15 — Judy Walker
Oct. 22 — Pastor Keith
Oct. 29 — Teresa Thomas

FELLOWSHIP DEACONS
Oct. 1 — Tresa Melton
Oct. 8 — Brett Cardwell
Oct. 15 — Tosha Thomas
Oct. 22 — Tresa Melton
Oct. 29 — Brett Cardwell

ACOLYTES
Oct. 1 — Madison and Morgan Lay
Oct. 8 — Cadi Cardwell and McCoy Cooper
Oct. 15 — Zadie Grace and Zoeylynn Barnwell
Oct. 22 — Lainey and Jon Devery Thomas
Oct. 29 — Gracie Helton and Bailey Thomason
 

GRIEFSHARE
Paula Brewer

In September, we talked about how hard grieving is and why it is harder than we could imagine, why the intensity and duration of our emotions are normal and appropriate, and how, despite how we feel right now, there is reason for hope. We also discovered additional reasons why our pain is so overwhelming, some of the effects that grieving has on our minds, spirit and body, and how to get things done when we don’t have the energy to do anything.

During the month of October, we will be discovering new tools to help us through the grief journey. The topics and some of our discoveries are:

►The Journey of Grief • Oct. 7 and 14
We will discover helpful goals to set on our journey of grief
How to deal with those who try to rush us through our grief
How long the journey of grief typically lasts
Why it’s important to put effort into our healing
How the events surrounding our loved one’s death affect our grief
The best ways to deal with our loved one’s belongings

►Grief and Relationships • Oct. 21
We will find reasons why the death of a loved one affects friendships
Why solitude can be a blessing and a curse
How to deal with friends who don’t understand our grief

►Why? • Oct. 28
We will discover reasons why God wants us to share our feelings with Him
Why being honest with God is an expression of faith
What God has to say to us about our “why” questions

If you or someone you know has lost a loved one to death and need to be with others who are dealing with the same issues as you are, please join us on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. until noon in the Andy Lay room. You are not alone.

If you would like additional information, please call me at 251-284-4255 or email at jdandbutterflies@gmail.com. God bless you — Danny and Paula Brewer

P.S. Is helping others on their grief journey something you feel that God is leading you to do? Danny and I would love to talk to you about what it means to be a part of the GriefShare ministry team.
 

 EXTRAVAGANT  GENEROSITY 

STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

October is our stewardship emphasis month. Each week in the month, a different committee will talk about their work. This will help the congregation know the ministry needs of the church.

Oct. 1 — missions; Oct. 8 — Christian education; Oct. 15 — worship; Oct. 22 — building and grounds; Oct. 29 — finance/personnel. All presentations will be done at both services.

Betty Carneal will mail stewardship letters to the congregation on Oct. 20. Stewardship Commitment Sunday is Nov. 5. Please return your pledge card on that Sunday or mail to the church office.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

A capital campaign (for driveway) is ongoing and total monies collected and pledged is $7,965. (Goal is $20,000). The committee decided that if we do not reach our goal, we will investigate doing the work in phases, starting with widening the driveway. We will also consider doing some of the work ourselves.

ITEMS NEEDED FOR A.R.C.C. IN FOLEY

Nancy Hope and Lee Mansell are asking for gently used stuffed animals for use at the Alabama Retarded Citizens Center in Foley. The animals will be used at story time and then donated to the center.
 

ABOUT ONLINE GIVING . . .

You may have noticed this box in your bulletin. 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 the donation link on the church’s website, www.swiftchurch.org.