There is extensive damage throughout the area from Hurricane Sally. We have five or six families that are displaced. Some temporarily; others permanently. Many, if not most of us have damage to trees, fences, homes, and/or autos. Also, there are a number of Swift folks who work as law, fire, or utility workers. They have worked long, hard hours over the past two weeks. You are all lifted up in prayer.

Swift is ready to help you with your physical needs.

The 3 M’s:

■ Meals — If you can benefit from someone else cooking your dinner after a long day of cleaning or working, Swift has people who can provide a meal.

■ Money — Unexpected and certainly unplanned expenses arise during times like this. Repairs, deposits, equipment rental, food replacement, or maybe you need a little money to cover until insurance or payroll arrives. We have some money to offer.

■ Moving — We have already helped some move furniture and possessions from flooded homes. Swift can offer help with that. While we can’t move large trees we can help move tree limbs or leaves and other debris from your yard. We can offer transportation to appointments, or pick up groceries, or wash laundry.

Pastor Jody Beth is coordinating the 3 M’s. Contact her for assistance or for offers to help minister to members in need.

Many of you have had major damage to your homes or apartments — or have relatives who have been displaced during the recent Hurricane Sally. We ask that you depend on and lean on your Swift Church family to help you or others during this natural disaster. Please let Pastor Keith, Pastor Jody Beth or the church office know if you would like them to pray with or for you and your friends. We are standing by to pray with you and lift up your losses and worries to the Lord.

“Oh, Lord, please be with those who have experienced damage to their homes and property because of Hurricane Sally. We ask that you send angels to rest on their shoulders, lift them up and give them peace, knowing that You are with them and You will guide them as they go through the repairs or relocations they are enduring during this terrible disaster. We ask you to bless and guide them during this time of suffering. Amen”

About 20 years ago, I rented a small second-floor apartment in Connecticut. As it was the first time the Crossman family had a renter, their two sons were fascinated by all the activity as my parents helped me move my belongings up the narrow staircase into the cozy (translation, very small!) apartment.

The older boy, Stephen, asked his parents lots of questions. One thing he wanted to know was our names. As we bustled by him time and again, at one point I heard his mother say that I was the only one that would be living there. The young boy wanted to know why the other two people were there, and his mother explained to him that they were just there to help.

That is when Stephen blurted out something I’ve never forgotten: “Oh, so they’re The Helpers!” From that point on, he was no longer concerned with sorting out the names of the people providing such excitement for him that crisp fall afternoon. I was moving in, and they were The Helpers. And each time my parents visited, he’d say, “Mom, The Helpers are here!” He said it as though that was their collective name, and no longer concerned himself with what their names were.

In Foley and Elberta, Gulf Shores, Summerdale, and all of Baldwin County, The Helpers arrived the morning after Hurricane Sally made landfall. We cannot possibly try to thank all the Swift people who have done so much for one another since the night that Sally “moved in.” We thank all of our local emergency workers who came to our rescue. Know that everything and anything you have done to help one another has been appreciated. I praise God for all the outside help from electrical workers to American Red Cross meal trucks, from local churches and businesses handing out ice and water, and you — Swift family — for supporting one another with rakes and phone calls and rides and comfort and meals … and prayers and so much more. The nameless people bustling around: You are The Helpers.

Praise God,
Pastor Jody Beth

■ Our intention (barring COVID or Hurricanes) is to worship each week in person in the Swift Church sanctuary at 10 a.m. Masks and sanitizer are available at the church, if needed.

■ We continue to offer worship online via YouTube and Facebook or on the church website also at 10 a.m. (or view later online). Have your bread and juice ready for in-home worship and communion.

■ All Saints’ Day — During the Nov. 1 in-person worship, we will read the names of Swift family and friends who have died since last Nov. 1. A bell will ring in their memory. Please submit names with spelling to the church office no later than Oct. 26.

Jenni and Lisa are working on piano duets! Don’t worry … we are socially distancing by playing two different instruments. Jenni is playing the grand and Lisa is playing the clavinova. We are looking at arrangements of hymns and contemporary Christian songs. We hope to have a duet ready weekly for services. We will be playing “As the Deer” on Oct. 4 and “Be Thou My Vision” on Oct. 11.

Handbells are getting back in the swing this month after taking a couple of weeks off thanks to Hurricane  Sally. We are also following guidelines set by a national handbell organization. We will be playing in October and also on Nov. 1 as part of our All Saints’ Day service. We will also be working on a men’s handbell quartet.

Stay safe, and allow music to lift your spirits during this difficult time.

FELLOWSHIP GROUPS

As you know, unfortunately, our “Two or More” fellowship lunch and Butterfly Girls and Guys Night Out have been canceled until we can all get together again without the fear of spreading this pandemic. Hopefully, it will be safe to get back together again soon.

Living Waters for the World
We have received a thank-you for the contribution our church made through the Clean Water Sunday offering. Our generosity will help children, women and men have the clean water they need to stay healthy. When children are healthy, they can go to school. When adults are healthy, they can earn a living. When a family is healthy, lives are transformed. Our gift helps assure that this happens.

Food pantry
The food pantry will be open on Oct. 14 and 28 from 10 to 11 a.m. In September, the pantry served 81 people with 31 bags of food, three masks and a pair of shoes.

If you are available on Mondays to help fill bags, or if you can work while the food pantry is open on Oct. 14 or 28, please contact Dorothy Warren at 251-424-5117.

We will begin a five-week study based on Adam Hamilton’s book, “Unafraid.” We know Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid,” but with everything going on in the world, how is it possible not to be anxious? In this study, we will explore the worries and fears most of us experience. Especially in 2020, this feels like a spot-on study! We hope that you can join us this Sunday in the fellowship hall at 9 a.m.

The five video session topics include:

■ Understanding and countering your fears
■ Crime, race, terrorism, and politics
■ Failure, disappointing others, insignificance, and loneliness
■ Apocalypse, change, missing out, and finances
■ Aging, illness, dying, and fear of the Lord

— Susan and Daryl Pichoff

Cheryl’s home had extensive storm damage from Hurricane Sally. Adult Sunday school class with Cheryl will not meet until further notice.

— Cheryl Jensen

The Thursday morning Bible study continues to meet as an online study, through a tool called Zoom. It can be accessed on a computer or smart phone. It is open to all members and friends.

The study is led by Pastor Jody Beth Melton and Philip. Everyone is invited to join the group. Contact jodybeth7@yahoo.com — 251-213-6625.

“I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.”
— Exodus 6:7

 Brett Cardwell | elder/children • Tracy Akins | elder/youth 

Sunday school classes for children and youth,
SWAG (Saved with Amazing Grace),
GphiG (Glori•fy•ing God), and Refuel will not meet until further notice.

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.

Your love and support of our church is amazing! The willingness of our members to persevere throughout the past six months exemplifies our deep commitment to Swift Church and our church family. Thank you for your continued support and for giving to God as God has given to us.

Your financial support, through checks or online giving through our website, enable Swift Church ministry to continue. Mission support, pastoral care, worship leadership, property maintenance and education depend on your extravagant generosity.

Please remember to use the quick-response code button or link below, mail or drop off your tithe.

About online giving . . .

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.