Welcome to Swift Presbyterian Church's website. This is also the weekly newsletter with all the latest activities and events. Please feel free to browse around. Enjoy! History of Swift  Swift Presbyterian Church was built in the early 1900s. The old church is now a Historical Landmark.  Swift Church has a congregation of 292 members. From the large groups of young adults to retirees, God has kept the historical family atmosphere and blended it with a fresh breath of life. The only thing that takes precedence over the warm loving relationships at Swift is the willingness to serve God and His will. All are welcome at Swift Church, just as all are welcomed into Christ. Please click on "History of Swift" for the interesting beginning of this growing church. Present Sanctuary Worship Times Early Service in the old chapel 8:00 am Traditional Service in the new sanctuary 10:00 am MAY WORSHIP CALENDAR   May 20 - Rev. Bill Tidwell will preach at both 8:00 and 10:00. May 27 - Rev. Samford Turner will preach on "Risk-Taking Mission and Service" at both services.                                                                                             See Christian Education for Sunday School times   CHOIR Lisa Cardwell, Music Director               Adult Choir rehearsals will be moving to Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. on May 27th. This will be for the summer. This would be an opportune time to give us a try! We enjoy time with each other while preparing easier (but not less meaningful) anthems to praise, worship, and honor God. We would love to have more choir members!"  Christian Education News Christian Education   For further information please click on "Christian Education" Need Directions to Swift? If you need directions to Swift Church please click on the above link. It will take you directly to Mapquest. Swift Presbyterian Church is a member of the Presbyterian Church USA family. To access the PCUSA homepage, please click image above.  Ministries Ministries Getting Involved An important part of our membership in Christ's Body, the Church, is involvement. Many people enjoy participating through either a ministry, or one of the many Small Groups that Swift has to offer. Please feel free to contact any of the following leaders of a ministry or Small Group toward which you feel God's call. Please click on Ministries for further information.    Presbyterian Women Presbyterian Women PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN Linda Hewitt, Moderator               The Presbyterian Women will have their final meeting on May 10th.  This meeting will be a salad pitch-n and all ladies are invited to attend.  We are facing a crisis at this time and we need all ladies who have attended any of our meetings to join us as we decide whether to keep our group going or disband it.  At this time we have nobody stepping forward to take over the Moderator role.  This is probably a sign of the times but we need all the input we can to make this decision.                 Come See!  Click on web address at the top to see more about Presbyterian Women   FELLOWHIP COMMITTEE Philip Melton, Committee Elder               We have started the year with some nice fellowship events: the reception for our winter visitors, Souper Bowl soup dinner, and the corned beef and cabbage dinner. Then the Deacons provided a wonderful Easter morning breakfast. I would like to send out a special THANK YOU to everyone who helped with those events, those who cleaned up as well as those who prepared food.               I would also like to thank everyone who made donations during these events             I would also like to thank everyone who made donations during these events. That being said, I want to invite everyone to attend the upcoming May 20th dinner. That is the Sunday before Memorial Day. We will be serving a Baked Potato Bar, where we will have baked potatoes and a large variety of toppings to put on them. Also we will serve a delicious Salad Bar. This dinner will be served immediately following 10:00 am worship.  So join your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in May as we come together as the family of God. We will continue to raise money at this event to send the youth to camp, so if you are able, we appreciate your donations.               Up-coming events will include Dinner on the Grounds on June 24th to welcome Pastor Keith back from sabbatical, and it will also be the EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION dinner. I am not sure about July as of this posting, but in August we will have a special event, Ice cream Social and Talent show. The details are coming, so start thinking of what talent you would like to showcase and get ready to have some fun. Thanks again for everyone who has made these fellowship events a success.                                                                                                                                                   SWIFT MISSIONS  Click on MINISTRIES on the left side bar to learn about some of Swift's Missions. Also, click on MISSION CONNECTION for a look into a missionary's life.  Counselling Available Gulf Coast Counseling Services LLC Dr. Kim Witchard is offering counciling to all Swift members that need some help. Please click on the web site address. You may also contact her by email dr.kwhitchard@gmail.com . Are you in the need of prayer? Swift Church wants to extend an invitation to you to let us know when you have the need of prayers. You may email the church at swiftpc@gulftel.com with a request. In the subject line please insert "Prayer Request". Please indicate if you would just like the staff to pray for you, you would like to have your request put on the weekly Prayer Concerns list that is in the bulletin each Sunday or you would desire a call from the pastor or his assistant. You do not need to include your last name but please include your phone number if you want a call.    Church Library SWIFT CHURCH HAS A WELL STOCKED AND UP TO DATE LIBRARY IN THE NEW ANNEX - YOU NEED TO "CHECK IT OUT!"   Do you want to do some spring gardening?  A few titles in the library include Southern Living Gardens, Cut Flower Gardens and Container Gardens and many more!   Do you want to do some independent Bible studies?  A few titles in the library include Where to Find it in the Bible, Encyclopedia of the Bible, God's Word for the Biblically Inept, Illustrated Dictionary and Concordance of the Bible and many more!   Do the children need some fun reading for spring break?  Some suggested titles include Dr. Seuss' books, Hop on Pop, The Lorax, or read about Easter, dinosaurs, or the Hardy Boys and others.

Where Is Pastor Keith?   LETTER FROM PASTOR KEITH               I am wrapping up the third week of sabbatical. It began with addressing business at home to make life easier for Lisa while I am gone. Then I flew to Philadelphia for a three day workshop on becoming more obedient to Christ and becoming more like him in all aspects of life. This was a last minute addition to my plans and I believe a gift from God. What a wonderful way to set the temperament for the sabbatical!             Currently I'm residing in a two room apartment at a small camp/conference center outside of Gordon, GA. I am alone here except for the camp manager. Each day begins with time spent in prayer and scripture followed by exercise. Then I read from one of the dozen or more spiritual growth and church maturity books I brought with me and reflect on God's future for Swift. With God's help the results will be beneficial to me and to Swift Church.             Thanks again for this time apart.               Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, a six Sunday sermon series offered by Samford Turner, our Executive Presbyter, while Pastor Keith is away.  The five practices of fruitful living and congregations? 1) Radical hospitality 2) Passionate worship 3) Intentional faith development 4) Risk-taking mission and service 5) Extravagant generosity.   Butterfly Girls Butterfly girls Ladies, would you like to know more about the Butterfly Girls? Click on Butterfly Girls for the details. GRIEFSHARE MINISTRY                         This is a positive, uplifting, caring group in which you can learn how to deal with the emotions and challenges that come when a loved one dies.  Anyone who has experienced the death of a family member or friend is invited to attend our new GriefShare series. See Bulletin Board for further information. Cursillo If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. II Corinthians 5:17 This is your Invitation to join us at Alabama Presbyterian Cursillo. Please click on the logo to go to correct page.   For further information about the Preschool, click on the picture of Christ and child PRESCHOOL NEWS Lori Larkin, Director               We are so excited to have six children graduating from our preschool program this year.  Please join us on May 13th in helping Allie, Cheyenne, Heidi, Jon-Devery, Leland and Nate celebrate their accomplishments!  After the 10 o'clock worship service, we will be in the fellowship hall to share in the excitement of this memorable milestone.  See you there!       Youth Group   YOUTH CALENDAR YOUTH GROUP Youth Group Sunday School Classes (6th-12th grade) The Youth Group meets on Sunday mornings in the Youth Room, 9am-9:45am, and friends are always welcome.  We are using a study booklet and the Student Bibles that are in the Youth Room.  Cassie, Jimbo, Jody Beth, & Philip provide leadership.                                                                    KID'S CLUB (3rd-12th grade) Kid's Club,  Wednesday, May 9, 6:00-8:15pm  Kid's Club meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of most months, depending on other activities.  Please RSVP no later than the day before each time.  We play games, share a meal, and have a Bible lesson.    THE LAUNCH AT BLUE LAKE CAMPGROUND IN ANDALUSIA, AL, JUNE 24-28, 2012                             The Presbytery of South Alabama is gearing up for another great summer camp experience at The Launch.  This is the third year for camp and every time it gets bigger and better!  This camp is a ministry of the Presbytery of South Alabama and any child who has completed 1st grade through completed 5th grade is eligible to attend.  The Launch will be held June 24-28 at Blue Lake Campground in Andalusia, AL.               "Launch to the Stars" is our theme.  This summer we launch into outer space to save the galaxy!  You will learn what it takes to fight for what is right and to avoid the dark side.  The week will include daily Bible studies, large and small group games, competitions, campfires, worship, skits, crafts, great food, swimming, canoeing, paddle boats, archery and much, much more!  The camp will have a complete staff of high school and college counselors, a program team of adults and pastors, as well as a full camp staff, licensed medical staff and trained lifeguards.  There is also space for "Dorm Moms" and "Dorm Dads" if you would like to be a part of the fun.                If you would like a brochure and registration form, you can find it online at the Presbytery of South Alabama website:  http://www.presbyteryofsouthala.cityslide.com/launch_registration.html.  Consider inviting a friend to come with you.  It's going to be a great week!    CAMP FUNDRAISER (1st-12th grade) Sunday, May 20th, After the 10am Worship Service Our May fellowship dinner will be a Potato Bar, and all donations will go to scholarships for The Lauch and Montreat camps.  Parents, youth and children, please plan to help set up, serve and clean up that day.  Also, contact Phil Melton in advance if you would like to bring things for the meal.   "School is OUT for Summer Slumber!" (completed 6th-12th grade) Friday May 25th - Saturday May 26th From after school lets out Friday until mid-morning on Saturday. More details to come:  check facebook, emails and Sunday announcements.