♦ We celebrate the Lord’s Supper “virtually.”
in our homes at 10 a.m. during our online service.
Be prepared with bread and juice
and celebrate this sacrament with the community.
‘Simple Sinful Servants’ 2 Corinthians 12:2–10
Pastor Jody Melton preaches
Father’s Day
Send photos of your father (living or deceased)
along with his name.
We will put together a video celebrating fathers.
Summer Road Trip A sermon series beginning June 21
While many are still uncertain or uncomfortable traveling this summer and staying close to home, we will take a road trip.
Each Sunday we will follow Old and New Testament men and women as they travel unfamiliar roads by faith.
Update on COVID-19 response
Swift Presbyterian Church session met on Monday, May 18. At that meeting a task force was established to review best practices data and to make a recommendation to session regarding in-person activities at Swift Church. The task force read a number of articles from the denomination, other Christian denominations, medical recommendations and what other Presbyterian churches in our area are implementing.
They met on Wednesday, May 27, put together a four-stage plan for worship, Sunday school and other activities held on our campus. They are sending a proposal to session for review, approval and implementation.
For now we continue with the current policy of online worship and Zoom Bible study with our food pantry remaining open. Once a policy is approved, the church will send information via the internet and postal mail.
One thing is certain; we will continue to provide weekly worship opportunities online for anyone who continues to feel safer in their homes. Also, we will continue to mail copies of sermons to folks who decide to stay home and don't have the internet to worship online.
You might have noticed improvements in the quality of the editing and presentation of our online services. I have hired someone to do the editing, putting the various clips together and uploading for viewing. I have used some discretionary funds to cover the cost. Because of limited funds, sometime in June we will move back in-house with these preparations.
Rest assured, the task force and the session are concerned about the desire to return to in-person activities on site while also acknowledging safer practices regarding COVID-19.
Thank you for your commitment to this church and your ongoing care for one another.
— Pastor Keith
A message from Kathy Menk
Thank you all so much for 15 of my very best years, spent at Swift Church. Thank you for being my friends and helpers. I could have never succeeded without your help and God’s guidance. A special “thank you” to Pastors Keith and Jody Beth, to Judy, and to the finance/personnel committee for the lovely parting gifts — an appreciation plaque, the beautiful bougainvillea plant (Moe can keep it alive), and the gift card to Jesse’s. Thank you for your love, your friendship, and your support. Y’all are going to love Sena, too.
— Kathy
Radical hospitality
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.
WELCOME SENA COOPER
Sena Cooper responded to our advertisement of seeking a part-time administrative office assistant. Sena has 15 years office and management experience with non-profit agencies. Sena is Presbyterian by faith, her church membership is presently with First Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa. Also, her daughter graduated in May from Columbia Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, with a master’s of divinity and a master of arts in practical theology.
In her professional career, Sena served most recently as executive director of Southern Prevention Associates, focused on reducing substance abuse in schools and communities, offering services in reaching prevention goals, and promoting the behavioral health model.
Prior to that, Sena served for five years as executive director of PRIDE of Tuscaloosa, dedicated to educating, promoting and supporting youth, parents and the community in prevention of alcohol and substance abuse, and safe and healthy lifestyles. Sena began work on May 19 and shadowed Kathy for a week. She and Judy will continue to job-share, working every other week. Sena will be in the office on June 2.
Mission and service
MISSION REPORT Pate Cardwell and Al Sprouse | mission elders
Food pantry
Beginning in June, the food pantry will revert to being open twice a month — on the second and fourth Wednesdays. We very much appreciate the members who have really give of their time, and talents to assist with the weekly distributions that we have maintained for the past several months.
In May, we distributed 108 bags of food that provided food for 248 people. We also very much appreciate the 52 masks that a member sewed and provided to our clients.
ONLINE GRIEFSHARE GROUPS
“GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone.”
There are online GriefShare groups meeting, and several of them are with churches in our area. If you think of someone who may be interested, or if you yourself are grieving the loss of a loved one, contact Pastor Jody Beth or visit www.griefshare.org.
Intentional faith development
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION REPORT
‘SNACKS WITH SUSAN AND DARYL’
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
Hello from “Snacks with Susan and Daryl.”
We have really missed getting together with you since we have been worshiping from home, but we have been thinking about what we will do when we can get back to it.
Here are a couple of resources that we will be looking at:
We will also delve into our earthly ends — we are looking at Living Fully, Dying Well as a possible study to help us really look at an important but often-uncomfortable topic.
We look forward to seeing you soon and hope everyone is well.
— Susan and Daryl Pichoff
ONLINE ‘ZOOM’ BIBLE STUDY Open to all members and friends
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.
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
CHILDREN AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES 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.
Plans for summer camps will be discussed at a later date.
“Thank you” to the youth who assisted Moe Menk in putting the American flags on the veterans’ graves in our cemetery to commemorate Memorial Day. We have veterans buried who served in the Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and in Vietnam.
Extravagant generosity
FINANCE ELDER’S NOTE Don Aspray | finance elder
As I compose this note to you, the congregation of Swift Church, I cannot help but feel a connection to the Apostle Paul when he would write to the people who were close to his heart, yet beyond his reach — physically speaking. As a member of the chancel choir, I had the advantage of seeing your faces during the entire worship services and even though I did not get to speak to each of you the feeling of community and personal connection was still there. Now, as we are more isolated for the benefit of our individual health, I have the opportunity to see how much this loss of contact and support impacts me. Quite frankly, I refuse to stay away from the church. I am more active in working with the food pantry and other projects that allow me the opportunity to physically do things for other people. Of course, I am wearing a mask so that I won’t be recognized — or risk the health of others.
All this to say these are strange circumstances that have interrupted our “normal” way of life and worship. I suspect there will be more changes coming at us down the road. Recognize and embrace the important things in your life — God and family and country. God loves you and so do I.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO GIVE
Although we are not meeting in person, please remember to use the quick-response code button or link below, mail or drop off your tithe during this time of separation.
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 a donation link on the church’s website.
