SWIFT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FEBRUARY  2012   NEWSLETTER   PASTOR KEITH'S SABBATICAL               Pastor Keith is taking a 3 month sabbatical this year. Sabbatical is an extended period of leave from pastoral work, especially for rest, to acquire new skills or training, to vision and plan. Congregations are encouraged to offer pastors a sabbatical every seven years. Swift agreed, as part of his original terms of call, to count from Pastor Keith's last sabbatical in 2005 instead of starting over with his 2008 arrival.               The sabbatical is in two sections. He and Lisa will visit religious sites in Turkey, February 2-15. Pastor Keith will be at Swift for Lent and Easter. Then he will take the remaining weeks (April 9-June 17) for the second part of his Sabbatical.               When Pastor Keith and Lisa visited Greece, some folks appreciated Scripture readings to coincide with the trip. This trip includes travel through biblical provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. (See Acts 2: 8-9; 1 Peter 1:1) Here are devotional readings related to their journey to Turkey (biblical Asia Minor).   February 3        Arrive in Istanbul                    Acts 13:13-26 February 4        tours of Istanbul                     Acts 13:26-41 February 5        Troy/ Canakkale                     Acts 13:42-51 February 6        Pergamum                             Revelation 1:11; 2:12-17 February 7        Ephesus                                Acts 19:1-20; Rev 2:1-7 February 8        Pamukkale (Hierapolis)         Acts 19: 21-41; Colossians 4:12-13   February 9        travel to Konya (Iconium)  Acts 14:1-7; 19-20 February 10      Konya (Iconium)                    Acts 16:1-2; 2 Tim 2:10-11 February 11      Cappadocia region                1 Peter 1:1-12 February 12      Ankara                                    Acts 14:21-23 February 13      Istanbul                                  Acts 14:24-28   BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY   Forty Days of Fruitful Living, a church-wide devotional for the Lenten season (Feb 22 - April 7), guides you through daily readings designed to inspire, encourage and help cultivate the essential practices of a life lived in grace - to receive God's love, to love God in return, to grow in Christ, to serve others, and to give back. These devotional books are available at the rear of the sanctuary/chapel.   Five Practices of Fruitful Living, Sunday school/small group studies for all ages, (February 26 - May 20).   Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, a six Sunday sermon series offered by Samford Turner, our Executive Presbyter, while Pastor Keith is away.    What are 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.    Pastor Keith's sabbatical study will focus on these five practices. On his return in June, we will compare notes on how Swift can live as a fruitful people and congregation.     WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO THE GRIEFSHARE PROGRAM by Paula Brewer               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. The sessions are held each week on Saturday from 10am until noon in the Church Annex Room 3.                         GriefShare is a nondenominational, biblical support group that focuses on helping people who are dealing with a loved one's death. Each DVD session features nationally respected grief experts and real-life stories, followed by small group discussion about the topics presented (with workbook support). The workbook also provides a brief daily Bible study.               At each GriefShare session you will find encouragement and help in grieving the death of your loved one. No matter the cause of your loved one's death, this is an opportunity to be around people who understand what you are feeling. You will learn how to recognize the symptoms of being stuck in grief and how to cope with the normal emotions that come when grieving a death. You will learn valuable information on facing life situations, and you'll gain renewed hope for the future. These sessions are open to anyone regardless of whether your experience is recent or not so recent.               The group is led by individuals who have personally experienced grief due to a loved one's death. The program is free of charge and donations to the ministry are appreciated.  Information about the weekly topics can be found on the GriefShare website at www.griefshare.org. While you are on the website, we encourage you to sign up for the free daily email devotions. You will find them informative and comforting.               For additional information and to register, contact Paula Brewer at 251-979-6506 or jdandbutterflies@gmail.com or call the church office at 251-943-6387.   SWIFT CHURCH LIBRARY by Linda Walden   For adults:  Come by the library and read some good mysteries written by Terri Blackstock.  Most of her books are Christian fiction. Some of her titles that are included in the library are Southern Storm, Night Light, River's Edge, Line of Duty and many more!   For youth:   There are many books related to science with colorful pictures including Weather, Stars and Planets, Reptiles, Monkey & Apes and many more.   For young children:  Mad About Madeline and Madeline and the Cats of Rome by Ludwig Bemelman are funny and entertaining.   PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN by Linda Hewitt, Moderator               The women of the church are in full swing with activities for the upcoming Spring Gathering to be held here at Swift Church on March 10th.  If you would like to help, we need help with the center pieces and cleaning the kitchen in the fellowship hall. Just let Pat Gill know if you want to help with the craft project or me if you want to help with the cleaning. We will set the date for cleaning at the next P.W. meeting.  The added space in the kitchen should help with food prep. and serving for the event.  Please mark your calendar for that Saturday and join us for the Gathering.  Jody Beth with be the keynote speaker and the theme will be "Prayer."                                                                         BUTTERFLY GIRLS                                                                                               Butterfly Girls will meet at Mellow Mushroom in Foley on Thursday, February 16th, at 6:30pm. If you are a female who likes food, fellowship, and fun (not necessarily in that order), you are a "Butterfly Girl". Contact Lynn Barnwell to RSVP - 979-7581.   BUILDING AND GROUNDS by Ed Hewitt, Chairperson               The kitchen work is underway and with the help of Willard Penfold and Rex Darley the project should be complete in the next couple of weeks.  Minor repairs continue on all the buildings and grounds as expected. Soon it will be time to start the lawn mowing and with the theft of our lawn equipment in December, we will need to decide what we will do.  Please feel free to give advice or equipment to us and we will try to make it more theft proof.   WORSHIP COMMITTEE               Kim Vanbrimmer, your faithful worship elder, will be looking for greeters and ushers! What does a greeter do? A greeter smiles, shakes hands (or hugs!), hands out bulletins, welcomes visitors, and helps take up the offering. At the end of the service, you open the doors and you're done! What does an usher do? An usher helps take up the collection. Every week we need two greeters and two ushers. Kim will have a sign up board at church, and over the next few weeks, will be calling everyone in the directory to see who feels called to serve the church by greeting or ushering.   INQUIRING MINDS   Inquiring minds would like to know.....                         If you changed your cell phone number, did you drop your landline telephone in favor of your cell phone, did you change your e-mail address, did you change your address, get a new post office box, or is you birthday or anniversary correct in the directory?  We would like to make those changes for you in the directory.               Please check the directory and the updates and if any of your information has changed or is incorrect, please let us know by e-mailing Kathy at swiftpc@gulftel.com or Sue Ann at alay@gulftel.com.   SWIFT CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL by Lori Larkin, Director                                                                                                                                                       Genesis 1 tells us that on the fourth day, God spoke the sun, moon and stars into the sky.  To help her children better appreciate His creation, Mrs. Tosha is taking her class to Pensacola State College Planetarium and Space Theater to watch "The Little Star that Could".  After the show, they will enjoy lunch and playtime at Hitzman/Optimist Park.                                                                                                                          REMEMBER   The presence of Faith means the absence of "What-ifs".