■ Worship each Sunday at 10 a.m.
in the sanctuary;
live streaming on Facebook

■ Online worship available later on YouTube and the church website

The Swift Church session met on Monday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m.

   ■ After a quorum was noted, the meeting began with prayer concerns and prayer.
   ■ We received the financial report. Contributions to the church continue to cover expenses. A big thank-you to all who continue to make their offerings via mail, online or through Sunday offerings.

Information
   ■ Heard that the youth are headed to Montreat Youth Conference the first week in June. Expenses are covered. They will be gone June 5–12.
   ■ The air-conditioning compressor in the annex is bad. Estimated replacement cost is $3,000.
   ■ Received preschool report. The school is full and registration is open for the fall. Employees received a pay increase in May.

New business
   ■ Received the clerk of session retirement letter from Sue Ann Lay. The session expresses thanks to her for dedicated 19 years serving in that role.
   ■ Discussed the problem with Waste Pro and garbage pickup. They are irregular in picking up trash and it overflows. Seems the problem is a lack of drivers. We’re investigating options.
   ■ Received an estimate for sealing and striping the driveway and parking lot. Finance will look to see about funds available to get this done.
   ■ Addressed the new CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19. The session authorized changes to the sanctuary layout. Other concerns will be forwarded to the COVID task force. (See the following article about sanctuary changes.)

Submitted reports were approved.

Elder Don Aspray closed the meeting with prayer.

The handbell choir is taking a break while our bells are being refurbished. Those who are available will be playing later this summer.

A recent poll of our chancel choir members revealed that there will be fewer members returning to the choir. As there are several members who are traveling this summer, we are postponing chancel choir until September.

If anyone is interested in joining us in the fall, please let me know. We are also looking forward to chime choir and beginner handbell choir starting back this fall.

Welcome back ...
BUTTERFLY GIRLS/GUYS NIGHT OUT
Thursday, June 17, at 6:30 p.m. at Fish River Grill, Foley
behind Walgreens

After our long COVID hiatus, with current health information from the CDC and a decision from our session, the monthly dinners out resumed in May with a good turnout, but we would love to see even more in June.

All are welcome, so feel free to invite others who are not Swift Church members to join us! However, Mary McNair, the coordinator, needs your help trying to get an approximate head count as close as possible for requesting tables. Please let her know by noon that day, even if you’re just a maybe, so adequate seating can be reserved. However, attempts are also made to have extra chairs for anyone who decides last minute to join us. (We will continue to have the ladies and men sit at separate tables, so don’t think this is just for couples.)

Can’t make it this month? Then mark your calendar to plan ahead for future months since we always gather on the third Thursday, with restaurants changing each month. (Suggestions of places to go that aren’t extremely expensive and take reservations are welcome.)

Calls or telling her at church are OK, but Mary prefers text messages at 251-295-5267 or emails at marymcnair@centurylink.net. Please provide the names of all for whom you are making the reservation.

Our session asks that those who attend understand that sitting together in restaurants does carry a risk and that we are to fully comply with the restaurant’s policy regarding COVID-19. However, when the reservation is being made, Mary McNair will request outdoor seating for better ventilation but availability cannot be guaranteed.

Mary has been our coordinator in the past, calling or texting folks to remind them, contacting the restaurant for reservations and encouraging people who haven’t come before to join us. However, she is asking that someone else prayerfully consider taking over starting with July. Please let Jody Beth or Mary know if you’re willing to do so.

Join us for fellowship time after worship.

Snacks and beverages are being provided after worship again. Beverages and snacks are available outside the sanctuary.

Fellowship Deacons Kathy Knipe and Lezli Thomason and also Fellowship Elder Mark Melton will be overseeing weekly fellowship. Let one of them know if you would like to contribute some prepackaged goodies or help with setup or cleanup.

The congregational-care deacons continued reaching out to their care lists throughout the pandemic, and your fellowship deacons have recently started to provide refreshments outside of the sanctuary weekly again.

The full deacon board will meet for the first time in more than a year on Sunday, June 6, at 11:15 a.m. for devotional time, training and fellowship.

If you have questions about the ministry of the deacons, or who your care deacon is, contact Pastor Jody Beth Melton. We are grateful that they follow their call to serve.

Food pantry
In May, our food pantry served a total of 59 families, which comprised 53 family members.

Our food pantry will be open on the second and fourth Wednesdays. June 9 and June 23, from 10 to 11 a.m.

If you are interested in helping with the food pantry, please contact Kathy Menk at 251-518-7966 or mkmenk9010@gmail.com.

The Thursday morning in-person Bible study will begin meeting weekly again in September. Please contact Pastor Jody Beth for details.

We are also considering offering a study sometime during the summer months.

We will decide depending on how many are interested — and everyone’s vacation schedules. Let Pastor Jody Beth know if you might want to participate.

Meanwhile, please consider visiting or joining one of the two great Sunday school classes that are offered at 9 a.m. each Sunday.

(See below for details.)

Cheryl’s class meets each week at 9 a.m. in room 2 in the annex.

We have an empty chair that needs to be filled by you. Coffee and the Bible are served. You are loved with an everlasting love. We continue our study of Hebrews in the New Testament.

Come grow with us!

— Cheryl Jensen

On June 6, “Snacks with Susan and Daryl”is starting a new series called “Address the Mess.” We hope that you will consider joining us; no books are required, just watch and discuss. We meet in the fellowship hall at 9 a.m.

It’s a common misconception that the Christian life is all about avoiding messes and staying out of trouble. But it turns out that your messes and the messy people you meet along the way may actually be your greatest opportunity to know God. In this four-part series, Andy Stanley reminds us that following Jesus isn’t about avoiding something; it’s about becoming something.

Message titles:

■ The Mess in the Mirror
■ Best Mess Ever
■ Inside Out
■ Messy-er

Special note: We will take the month of July off from class to enjoy some summer activities and travel.

— Susan and Daryl Pichoff

Swift Church youth will attend the Montreat Youth Conference June 5–12 in the North Carolina mountains near Asheville. The theme this year is “Called To Connect.”

Those attending from Swift will be Olivia Akins, Zadie Barnwell, Chase Cardwell, McKenzie English, Baylee Thomason, Ella Thomas, Jon Devery Thomas, and Hailey Vanbrimmer. They will be accompanied by Jessica Gosa and Pastor Kim Vanbrimmer.

The youth group will meet again on June 27 (and every other Sunday) from 4 to 6 p.m. at the church. All youth are welcomed.

For more information about the youth group, please contact Tracy Akins at tracyakins@live.com or 251-979-7798.

 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.

Thank you for your generous pledges and ongoing offerings. Your financial support will enable Swift Church ministry to plan for the coming year. Your support and commitment to our church is greatly appreciated.

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.