If you can’t attend worship, the sermons will be posted on the church website www.swiftchurch.org/. There are written and video copies available when you are absent.

SAFETY AT SWIFT CHURCH

A safety and security team has been established for Swift Church. They are actively looking at ways as best as possible to provide a safe experience while people are on the Swift Church campus.

■ A stranger walks in on a few women working in the fellowship hall.
■ The church office staff is surprised by the appearance of a transient inside the building.
■ An 8:00 worshiper has a heart attack.
■ In a crisis, communication by cell phone is interrupted because of the metal building.
■ A teacher needs a parent but can’t leave the others in the class unattended.
■ Someone breaks the window and steals the TVs from the annex classrooms.

These scenarios have happened or could happen any given week. To best be prepared for these and other emergencies, we need to purchase:

• trauma kits • first-aid kits • AED for chapel • coded door locks • panic bars for sanctuary doors • fire extinguishers • walkie-talkies • security cameras (inside and outside) • other items not yet identified.

Here is a way you can help. You can provide designated financial support above and beyond your pledge to the church. The total for these items is somewhere around $4,000. They will be purchased as money is made available.

If you would like to be part of the safety and security team, please talk with Marvin King, Al Sprouse, Jim Runtz, Don Aspray, or Pate Cardwell.

Chancel choir will be singing a new anthem on Oct. 13, “I Know Your Heart of Grace,” which was purchased in memory of Rick Jensen. This is a change from the September newsletter. Due to some changes in Lisa’s work schedule in Pensacola this fall, the chancel choir rehearsals will remain on Sunday mornings at 9 until further notice. We will be singing some previous and current favorites. We would love to have some additional singers.

You won’t want to miss worship on Oct. 27! The handbell choir will be playing two new anthems: “Rhythmic Rejoicing” and “Be Thou My Vision.” “Rhythmic Rejoicing” implements some unusual percussion instruments as we praise God in an unconventional way! “Be Thou My Vision” is a beautiful arrangement of this beautiful hymn, and includes another lovely hymn tune, Thaxted. They were purchased in memory of Barney Miller and Rick Jensen respectively.

Our Christmas program is Dec. 15. As in the past two years, we ask for vocal and instrumental soloists, small and large ensembles, and readers to join in the spirit of the season. If you are interested, please notify Lisa. We hope to have as varied a program as we did last year.

PRAYER AND SCRIPTURE READERS SOUGHT
 Greg McNair | worship elder 

Would you like to help spread the Word of God to the people of God during our 10:00 worship services at Swift Church?

Is the Lord leading you to share your leadership and communication gifts in this way from time to time?

Maybe you have wanted to give of yourself in this way but have never been asked. We’d like to help make that happen and get different people involved. The elder of the month is responsible for reading or getting someone to read the prayer of illumination and the Scripture that leads into the day’s sermon. Sometimes the elders just don’t know who they should ask, and that’s why the worship committee would like to compile a list of those who are willing to serve. We will make that list available to each of our active ruling elders.

If you are concerned about how to pronounce unfamiliar names of people and places, don’t worry. The pastors or worship elder will be glad to help. In addition, there are many websites featuring free pronunciation guides.

The church office sends the prayer and Scripture to the reader in advance via email.

Please let Greg McNair know if you are willing for us to add you to a contact list — or if you have questions.

‘TWO OR MORE’ FELLOWSHIP LUNCH
Thursday, Oct. 3 • 11:30 a.m.
O’Charley’s — 3060 S. McKenzie St., Foley

Everyone is welcome and invited to join us for Christian fellowship and lunch.
Please contact Lee Mansell, 251-232-4775, if you know you are coming.

BUTTERFLY GIRLS/GUYS NIGHT OUT
Thursday, Oct. 17 • 6:30 p.m.
The Crazy Cajun — 1220 S. Gulf Shores Pkwy., Gulf Shores

Butterfly Girls and Guys Night Out will meet Thursday, Oct. 17.

You will find our group traveling south to Gulf Shores, where we will sharpen our Louisiana accents at The Crazy Cajun. The restaurant advertises as being “not too pricey and not too spicy.” As we usually do, we will meet promptly at 6:30 p.m. for lively conversation and good food.

The Crazy Cajun is located at 1220 S. Gulf Shores Pkwy., immediately in front of the zoo location. There is ample parking. You could check them out at crazycajunrestaurant.net.

So, come one, come all. We just might attempt to sing some Cajun songs — who knows?

Please call or text Mary McNair at 251-295-5267 or send her an e-mail to marymcnair@centurylink.net by noon that day to confirm plans to come so adequate seating can be arranged.

Bring a friend! This is a great way to introduce folks to members of the church so that if they then decide to join us for church on Sunday morning, others will already know them by name. This dinner is not just for members. Need a ride? Let Mary know by Wednesday morning so it can be arranged.

Couples or singles are welcome. Join us and suggest new places for us to try.

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

Swift session met on Sept. 16. The time began with prayer. Afterward:

✓ We heard from the finance committee on the financial state of the church and plans for upcoming stewardship focus.

✓ Approved mission statement and policy statement from the safety and security team.

✓ Received reports from committees.

✓ Heard that home communion was served in early September by Pastor Jody Beth, deacons and elders.

✓ Received the report of the nominating committee (see report below) and approved congregational meeting on Sept. 29 at 9:50 to approve church officers and trustees.

✓ Talked about fellowship opportunities; how we can combine mission efforts with fellowship involving Boys Ranch.

The meeting closed with prayer.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT

The nominating committee met and went over the names submitted for consideration of church leadership.

Here are the results of our work:

■ ELDERS:
       Class of 2022 — Don Aspray, finance; Greg McNair, worship (returning); and Tracy Akins, youth

■ DEACONS:
       Class of 2020 — Ella Thomas, fellowship
       Class of 2021 — Mary McNair, congregational care (returning)
       Class of 2022 — Betty Sizemore, Elinor Gartman and Jane King, all congregational care

■ TRUSTEES:
       Class of 2021 — Eunice Ray
       Class of 2022 — Marlene Hastings

Food pantry
Our Swift food pantry served 37 families that included 87 individuals on Sept. 11. We had a new client at our food pantry. In an effort to expand our local mission service, the Alabama Sheriffs Boys Ranch in Baldwin County is supplementing its groceries from our food pantry. We are pleased to be able to offer our help to them. On Sept. 25, our food pantry served 38 families with a total of 73 individuals within those families. We appreciate the hard work and devotion from all of the volunteers at our food pantry. Plus the bounty of donations that make the food pantry possible is a gift from God, delivered by the loving people of Swift.

It is now time for our food pantry to make preparations for Thanksgiving. The following items need to be donated on or preferably before Nov. 24. To help make someone’s Thanksgiving, consider sharing canned ham, small frozen turkey, frozen chicken, box of dressing, cream of mushroom soup, cranberry sauce, canned yams, canned green beans, instant mashed potatoes, gravy mix, canned vegetables, cake mix, frosting, brownie mix, and/or cookie mix.

Elberta Elementary School
It has become a special mission to serve the school with needs for the children that are less privileged in our community. Swift Presbyterian Church has restocked EES’s need for more snacks during September. Other churches assist the school with complete uniforms for the students that have that need. Swift, with the help of school staff, has discovered a need that has been overlooked in the past. Occasionally, students will arrive at school wearing inappropriate clothes. It could be something that is torn, ill fitting, or not uniform-approved. Swift has donated dozens of clothing articles for girls and boys during September to fulfill that immediate need for these children. Don’t forget that our “two cents a meal” donations support this mission.

Alabama Sheriffs Boys Ranch
We have extended an invitation, which has been accepted, to the Alabama Sheriffs Boys Ranch to join our Swift family for worship on Nov. 17. Mark Melton, fellowship elder, has offered to host lunch after the 10 a.m. service with the attendees from the boys ranch as our guests of honor. Everyone’s attendance is always encouraged.

Our support to the boys ranch can be extended in other ways also. They are looking for a Christian, mission-minded couple to join their staff as relief house-parents with some light maintenance duties. This is a full-time, live-in position with benefits. If you know of anyone that could be interested, have them call (251)989-6392.

Thank you, Swift Presbyterian Church family
The Swift Presbyterian Church family has a giving heart and the mission committee is honored to serve God on your behalf. Thank you, each and every one.

Please contact Pastor Jody Beth or Elder Mark Melton to help with the reception. Sign-up sheets are in the back of the chapel and sanctuary.

“On behalf of the Presbytery of South Alabama’s Guatemala Partnership Committee, I would like to invite our congregations to ‘save the date’ for our next presbytery trip to Guatemala — June 16–24, 2020,” said the Rev. Chris Peters. “Many details will be worked out over the coming weeks and months. If you are interested in receiving details or have any questions, please contact me” at tpcpeters@gmail.com.