We hope everyone can come to worship and be a part of All Saints’ Day on Nov. 6. The handbell choir will be playing as part of this service. We will be playing “Saints of God,” which incorporates the hymns “For All the Saints,” “Arise, Your Light is Come!” and “Rejoice, Ye Pure of Heart.” We will also be involved in honoring those members, attendees, and others who have died since Nov. 1, 2015.
Work has begun for our Christmas program.
Our Joyful Tones (tone-chime choir) will begin rehearsing on Nov 13. This group will be playing several favorite Christmas tunes.
Our handbell choir has already begun rehearsing, as we are playing several anthems. We are playing varying styles, from early church music, to a spiritual, to various hymn tunes.
Our chancel choir began working on Christmas program music in October. They also will be singing some unique and beautiful anthems that celebrate Christ’s birth. It’s not too late for new members join us for this project. Please let me know if you are interested.
“Sounds of Hope,” our Swift Christmas music program, is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 18, at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary. We will be providing a variety show: chancel choir, handbell choir, Joyful Tones (tone-chime choir), ladies ensemble, and congregation participation in singing Christmas carols. Please mark your calendars and invite your family and friends.
As we have had a cookie fellowship time after our program in the past, we would like to do that this year as well. We are looking for volunteers to plan and organize a simple cookie, punch and coffee time. Please let Lisa or Jody Beth know if you are willing to help.
Children’s Christmas Play
Christmas play rehearsals begin Sunday, Nov. 6.
Parents, please look at your schedules.
The performance will be during the 10 o’clock service on Dec 11.
Please invite your guests.
Also, we are looking for someone with a digital video camera to tape the program. If you have one or know of someone who has one, please contact Lynn Aspray at 251-424-4551.
Worship Committee News
Kim Whitchard, worship elder
We as a congregation have enjoyed the transition from summer into fall (hopefully). We will be celebrating All Saints’ Sunday on Nov. 6 to celebrate those saints that have moved onto their heavenly home this year. If we have missed anyone, please let the office know.
It is hard to believe that it has already been a year that I have served as your worship elder. I have felt blessed and honored to serve you in that role.
The worship committee has strived to meet the mission of passionate worship throughout this year. To review what the worship committee has been able to do with your help this year (I forgot to mention some of these during the time for missions.)
The worship committee, with your contributions, has continued to provide welcome bags to visitors. We were able to be creative with our worship in several special services such as “Lent in a Bag” to visually illustrate the Lenten season. We created “Take-Out Church” during the summer so that families could continue connecting with God during their summer travels. The worship committee had fun making the red streamers for Pentecost Sunday. I am sure there will be more surprises up our sleeves during the Advent season to ensure a meaningful spiritual experience.
We are still looking for older children fifth grade and up who stay in church instead of going to children’s church. I know Ella and Olivia are getting tired of being my “go-to girls” on the second and fourth Sundays. To address this issue, I have been considering adult acolytes that would include the greeter/usher teams. Bringing in and taking out the light of Jesus the Christ — THE Word — is an important part of our worship and needs to be continued. Any suggestions are welcomed.
Oct. 29 is our fall festival. I hope everyone will be able to enjoy the fellowship and bond that our church has with one another. Swift is truly a very close, compassionate, generous group of God’s people.
Please be in prayer for our country as the elections are on Nov. 8. This election is so important to who we will become as a nation and what will happen to our freedom as Christians and Americans. Please be in prayer for our country and the future of this world.
Communion will be served on Nov. 6 by intinction at both services. Also on Nov. 6 is our fish fry to celebrate the completion of the fellowship hall. Thank you to everyone who participated in the renovations — the list is too long to name everyone here, but thank you to all who participated with your time, talents and treasures. I hope everyone is happy with the outcome.
Thanksgiving is on Thursday, Nov. 24. I pray that this will begin a time of true thanksgiving for all that the LORD has provided us during this year. We all have a lot to be thankful for and I pray that we will take time to reflect on our blessings as we move into the Advent season. Again, I am grateful for all of you that have helped the worship committee, me, to serve you and to serve our God.
May God bless us and keep us in His will.
RADICAL HOSPITALITY
‘Two or More’ Lunch ...
... will be Thursday, Nov. 3, at 11:30 a.m. at the Captain’s Choice Grill at the Gulf Bowl.
Please contact Lee Mansell at 251-232-4775 to make a reservation or just show up.
Butterfly Girls and Guys’ Night Out
Mark your calendar for Thursday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m.
Butterfly Girls will meet at Fish River Grill 2 in Foley
And the guys will gather at Portabella’s in Foley.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Susan or Daryl Pichoff at 251-233-9486.
INTENTIONAL FAITH DEVELOPMENT
Coffee with Keith
This conversational class moves to a new room — the carpeted area of the fellowship hall. This class features a Christian leader opening the discussion via DVD. The class then comments on and discusses the topic. The class meets Sundays at 9 a.m.
Nov. 6 Grace: Love Is the Bottom Line
Nov. 13 God — Faith Is a Quest
Nov. 20 Religion — Spirituality Is Not Enough
Nov. 27 Jesus — The Revolution of Love
Dec. 4 Salvation — Abundant Life Now
Dec. 11 Cross — Where God Is
Dec. 17 Church — An Imperfect Family
Dec. 25 No class
Jan. 1 No class
Daniel Bible Study
There is a Bible study on the book of Daniel being offered both Sunday nights (5:30 to 6:30 p.m.)
and Thursday mornings (10 to 11:30 a.m.). People are welcome to join this group at any time.
Please contact Elder Lee Mansell at 232-4775 for more information.
MIA: Missing in Action
Our red popcorn maker on the stand, like a movie-house popcorn maker, has gone missing.
We don’t really care who has it or why, but we would like it returned to the church office as soon as possible.
Thank you so much.
MISSION AND SERVICE
Mission Report
Cathy Rogers and Philip Melton, mission elders
The Peace and Global Witness offering was collected on Oct. 2 in the amount of $384. Our congregation keeps 25% of this for global witness of Christ’s peace. The remaining $288 was sent to the Presbyterian Mission Agency.
Pastor Keith rode his bike in the Presbyterian Children’s Home “Children’s Home Challenge” on Oct. 15. Jim and Linda Runtz traveled to Talladega to staff a rest stop for the ride. Thanks to our congregation for their support for this event.
Living Waters for the World continues to be in the third-Sunday offering. In September, $268.94 was collected for this purpose. This was a bit higher than usual.
The food pantry served an average of 25 families on the two distribution days in October. The Presbyterian Women-hosted meeting brought in many items to stock our pantry and the congregation has been generous. But with the large numbers of families for which we are serving and the fact that we have not received food from Catholic Social Services during the month of October, the food pantry is in need of replenishment. We hope to have the food pantry relocated in the back of the kitchen of the fellowship hall as soon as final construction is completed. Vicki and Jerry Walker have donated a nice shelf for the food pantry that will save us some money.
In December, our focus will be on a Presbyterian Children’s Home offering every Sunday and on Christmas Eve. Be praying about how you can share with that home that is so dear to our hearts and improves the lives of homeless children and their mothers. We are hoping for a $20 donation from every giving unit of our membership.
November Volunteers
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10
GREETER/USHER TEAMS
Nov. 6 — Mark and Tresa Melton, Lynn Aspray, Jane King
Nov. 13 — Jessica Gosa, Lee Mansell and Kim Whitchard
Nov. 20 — Norm and Debbie Schmidt; Danny and Paula Brewer
Nov. 27 — Lynda Walden, Sue Ann Lay and Susie Alexander
NURSERY VOLUNTEERS
Nov. 6 — Pate and Brett Cardwell
Nov. 13 — Donna Donald and Cassie Woodall
Nov. 20 — Kathy Menk and Carlie Sims
Nov. 27 — Bobby and Karely Kleinschmidt
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN
Nov. 6 — Cathy Rogers
Nov. 13 — Jane King
Nov. 20 — Teresa Thomas
Nov. 27 — Judy Walker
CHILDREN’S CHURCH
Nov. 13 — Tosha Thomas and Brett Cardwell
Nov. 20 — Aaron and Lyndsey Ward
Nov. 27 — Jane King and Carlie Sims
FELLOWSHIP DEACONS
Nov. 6 — Tosha Thomas
Nov. 13 — Beth Brewer
Nov. 20 — Brett Cardwell
Nov. 27 — Tosha Thomas
EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY
Finance/Stewardship Update
Chuck Carneal
In the month of November, the finance/stewardship committee will put together and present to the session our 2017 budget. In order to accomplish this:
WE NEED YOUR HELP
Stewardship Sunday is Nov. 6. We are asking the congregation to prayerfully consider making a pledge for 2017 and bringing that pledge up front and placing it on the communion table at the requested time during the service. This will allow us to put together a realistic budget to continue God’s work through Swift Church. If you cannot be at church on the 6th, you can bring your pledge to the office at any time before Stewardship Sunday.
Thank you for all you do, in so many ways, to make Swift Church a place for God’s people to meet, worship and serve.
Special Offerings in the Third Quarter
● Living Waters for the World — $570
● Food pantry — $420
● Santa Foundation — $1,600
● Children’s Home Challenge bike ride — $520
● Peace and Global Witness — $288
● Kitchen/fellowship hall — $2,790
