“In God’s word, my hope”

BETHEL ASSEMBLY OF SWEETWATER

“But the LORD has been my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge”

Psalm 94:22

In uncertain times it’s good to be standing on something that’s certain and proven. God is the ROCK that cannot be shaken. Pastor Carter Edmondson Join us this Sunday to find refuge from the storms of this world. Our services are 10:30 AM on Sundays. If you can’t make it to worship with us in person just yet, please tune in to KXOX 96.7. We are also on YouTube at this time for those who can watch the services anytime. We are not meeting on Wednesdays but plans are being made to start meeting then ASAP. On Sundays we have children’s church, Kingdom Kids, meet during the same time as our regular services meet in first in the Fellowship Hall and then in separate age appropriate classes after worshipping Kingdom Kids are for ages 4-12. We also have our nursery open for ages 0-3. We will have hot coffee and donuts ready before Sunday services, so please come early and fellowship with us if you can.

Pastor Carter began a series of sermons titled ‘CONNECT, CULTIVATE, AND CARRY ON’ last Sunday.

John 15:5 - Jesus said, “I AM the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, will bear much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.’”

It really does matter what you’re connected to. #letsabide #letsconnect. OUR REDEEMER LIVES !!!

BROADWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

Lists

How many are list makers? I know I am. In fact, my NOTE app on my phone is full of them. I have lists of people I am praying for. I have lists of people who have visited the church. And, of course, I always have a list of the things we need from the store.

Throughout the Bible, there are lists everywhere. We recently did a sermon series on the list of 2 Peter 1, as a part of the “These Things” messages. That list told us to “give all diligence to add to your faith in Jesus, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity.” These things had a way of really getting our attention.

Another list speaks of what we put on top of our “faith foundation” in Jesus. It is found in 1 Corinthians 3. Here’s the list: gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. Three things worth something, followed by three things that are less valuable.

The point of the passage, and the reason for this list, is to get us thinking what we are building our lives with. You see, when we invest our lives on things of heavenly value (like the Bible, our relationship with God, and people), a great impact is being made for now and forever. These things are of great value as are gold, silver, and precious stones. However, if our lives are full of frivolous things (our stuff, our accomplishments, our pride) they become pretty worthless in the end. Just as wood, hay, and stubble decay, rot, and are blown away.

Maybe this list is in the Bible to get us to evaluate our lives. Are we placing high priority on the right things? Or, is my life full of worthless efforts that will not mean anything in the long run? It’s worth thinking about. In the meantime, I must go to the store. I have a shopping list, you know!

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

500 Episodes

Our 500th episode will drop next week. Tune in for this special edition. You can find our podcast under First Baptist Church Sweetwater where we post our Sunday Conversation message and a Mid-Week Conversation with Tique Hamilton and Jerry Hendrix.

Guest Speaker on Palm Sunday

On Sunday, April 2, Myles Werntz will be our guest speaker. Myles leads the Baptist Studies Center at Abilene Christian University and is an accomplished author and speaker. Join us on Palm Sunday at 10:30 AM.

Lenten Worship

During this Lenten season we walk with the people of God to the cross. It is our hope that the journey will deepen our faith and prepare us for new life with Christ.

April 2 Palm Sunday, Myles Werntz guest speaker.

April 4-6 Holy Week lunches hosted by local churches Ministerial Alliance.

April 7 Tenebrae Service, 6:00 PM.

April 9 Resurrection Sunday 10:00 AM.

Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday our worship service will be at 10:00 AM in our Worship Center. This is a change from our weekly schedule.

Youth and Children’s Ministry

Our Wednesday night programming for Youth and Children meet each Wednesday at 6:00 PM.

Youth programming includes theme oriented games, Bible study and a meal for grades 6-12.

Children’s programming includes a meal, music, Bible study and theme-oriented games for grades K-5.

For more information about the ministries of First Baptist Church you can go to www.fbcsweetwater.org. Weekly messages are posted on iTunes, Facebook and YouTube.

LAMAR STREET BAPTIST CHURCH (LSBC)

Join us for Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. morning worship service at 10:40 a.m. Nursery is provided.

Sunday evening, VBS (Twists & Turns) meeting at 5 p.m., and activities begins at 6 p.m. for all ages. Nursery is provided.

There is a coffee fellowship every Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. in the rec. building, everyone welcome!

Wednesday evening at 6 p.m., there is a meal, and at 6:30 p.m. there is Bible study for adults, youth and children activities.

Our monthly breakfast is the first Saturday of each month at 8 a.m. in the rec. building. Everyone is welcome.

Rent a Youth to help them raise money for camp. If you need help with a project contact Justin so he can get it scheduled.

Continued to pray for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North America mission field.

We will have a Good Friday service on April 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Our annual Easter egg hunt will be on Easter Sunday, April 9, that morning during Sunday school this year instead of the Wednesday evening before Easter. Plan to come eat breakfast with us at 9 a.m., egg hunt for the children, then morning service at 10:40. No evening services on Easter Sunday.

Continue to pray for our pastor search committee.

LSBC is located at 513 Lamar Street. Steven McCaslin, Interim Pastor. Justin Niksich, Youth Pastor, and Jimmy Davis, Music Director. If you have any questions about our services or events, please call 325-235-1779, if no answer, please leave name and phone number and someone will call you back.

ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (502 Locust) welcomes all to our 11:00 AM service on Sunday, March 26, 2023, the Fifth Sunday in Lent. The Rev. Bryan Callen is our vicar, leading us in worship with Eucharistic Prayer Rite I. All are welcome!

The Scriptures assigned for this Sunday are Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45, and the Collect: “Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”

On most Tuesdays at 9:30 AM in Argos, we meet for “Coffee with Jesus”, a half hour of Morning Prayer liturgy. On Saturday March 25 at 9:00 AM there will a Holy Hike with Eucharist at Newman Park Fitness Trail, an easy walk of less than a quarter mile. On Friday March 31 at 5:30 PM is a service of Stations of the Cross at All Saints’ in Colorado City, followed by a fish fry and a fish taco bar. A most important date to put on your calendars is Father Callen’s Installation on Monday, March 27 at 7:00 PM at St. Stephen’s. Bishop Scott Mayer will officiate.

The mission of St. Stephen’s, Sweetwater and of All Saints’, Colorado City is to help restore the people of our communities to God and each other in Christ through worship, service, and friendship. Every Thursday during Lent at 5:30 live (but can be viewed later) on our Facebook page, Father Callen presents a brief service of Evening Prayer. Be sure to visit us there where our Sunday morning services are now Live Streamed: facebook.com/St-StephensSweetwater-All-Saints-Colorado-City, and we can be found at our website, https://ascsss.dionwt.org.

“I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; in his word is my hope.” (Psalm 130:4)

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Let us gather together all whose lives would proclaim God’s Glory! We open our hearts to God’s presence and power. We surrender before God all that we are and do. With courage we will share God’s presence with those around us. Then let us gather in song and praise for all the world to hear! Blessed be the name of the Lord!

First Presbyterian Church, Sweetwater, welcomes all to join us for worship. Our Church is a warm and loving church, and we would love to have you be our guest.

We will worship together at 10:45am on Sunday, March 26 for the 5th Sunday in Lent. The Noisy Offering will be collected which goes to support the missions of the Ministerial Alliance. The children through 5th grade will meet at 5:00pm and Middle School and High School will meet at 5:45pm.

You are invited to use the Home Worship provided by our pastor, Kathy Monroe. The link for the worship is available on the church’s website,www.fpcsweetwater.org.

The mission of First Presbyterian Church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ by being an oasis of God’s love. Worship services are each Sunday at 10:45am. We are located at the corner of 14th Street and McCaulley, across from the high school. Find out more information about our ministry by calling 235-5491 or visit the church’s website www.fpcsweetwater.org.

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. 2 Timothy 4:22

FAITH HARVEST FULL GOSPEL CHURCH

400 Alamo Street Sweetwater

Happy fall from all of us at Faith Harvest Church. The seasons are changing and change can be a good thing, especially if you are changing for the good. Change you say, no way not me.

Most of us don’t like change but change can be good if it is positive steps forward.

Many are stuck in discouraging and dead cycles. I believe that Jesus still wants to rescue everyone out of them.

I can say from my own personal experience that Jesus makes everything new and he also refreshes our souls. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

So if you are stuck in discouraging cycle I would encourage you to cry out to Jesus for help. Ask him to show you new things to do for him. I believe you will feel a new well and a freshness as Jesus beings to make things new in your life. May the love, joy, and peace of God be in your life today and everyday as you learn to trust him more.

TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH

Join us tonight at Trinity Baptist Church at 7 p.m. for a free concert put on by the Singing Men of West Texas. It will be held in our sanctuary.

We look forward to seeing everyone Sunday morning for Sunday school classes at 9:45 a.m., followed by our worship service at 11 a.m. led by Pastor J.T. Thornton. We have classes for all ages. Nursery is available for children under 3 years of age. Children’s church activities during worship are available for children ages 3 to Kindergarten.

On Sunday evening from 6 to 8, we will be host a church-wide gift card baby shower for several families who have or will soon have new babies. If you would like to help with the shower with decorations, food, setup, or clean-up, contact Vicki Foust or Briana Strickland. You may also donate a gift card to these families at any time prior to the shower.

We are now collecting plastic eggs stuffed with candy in the hallway outside of Kellen’s office for the upcoming Easter festivities. We will collect until Wednesday, March 29. We will have our annual Easter egg hunt and dinner on Sunday, April 2, starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Duniven home. This will replace our First Sunday Lunch.

We now host a Men’s Group that will meet together every Wednesday morning at 6:45 in the Family Life Center. All ages are welcome.

On Wednesday nights, we host Kids BLAST for children in K-5th grades and Pulse for our youth in 6th-12th grades from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Children meet in the Family Life Center while our youth group meets in the youth room upstairs. Our adults will have their prayer meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 in the sanctuary.

Our next Senior Adult Lunch is planned for Thursday, March 30, at 11:30 a.m. in the Family Life Center. We always look forward to this time of fellowship. All are invited to join us.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

309 Cedar St. FUMCsweetwater.org / 325-236-6617 You are always welcome at FUMC Sweetwater!

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

First United Methodist Church will gather for worship in-person at 10:30am as well as via livestream @ 10:30am. All are invited and nursery is provided for children 3 and under. See you Sunday!

CHILDREN & YOUTH

Sunday Nights 5:00-7:00pm

All children and youth are welcome to gather on Sunday nights for games, food, lessons, & music!

FUMC PODCAST & VIDEO

If you missed last week’s sermon you can find a podcast link on our website (FUMCsweetwater.org) or by searching “FUMC Sweetwater” in your podcast app of choice. For video of recent services or Livestream link, visit our YouTube channel (search “FUMC Sweetwater TX”).

RHEMA VALLEY CHURCH

Searching for a Church Home? We invite you to come Worship with us at Rhema Valley.

Sunday morning service time is at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday night at 7 p.m. We offer a Children’s Church and Nursery during Sunday morning. Pastor Ollie has begun a new series: “Through the Book of Jude”. Rhema Valley is a Charismatic Ministry located at 3304 East Broadway. Come join us as we celebrate Jesus!

FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH

First Assembly of God Church, located at 312 E. Ave. “B” in Sweetwater where Rev Wayne & Pat Kirk are pastors, wishes to invite you to a Revival at the Church Beginning November 7, 2021. The Evangelist is James and Sharon Smith from Oklahoma.

The services will begin with Sunday School at 9:30 followed by Morning Worship at 10:30 and Evening Worship at 5:00. Monday the 8th through Friday will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The Smith’s have traveled as Evangelist and pastored a number of Churches, their last Pastorate being in Arroyo Hondo, NM. They semi-retired from there at the end of last year. They say they retired from Pastoring but not from Preaching. They are both very gifted in playing musical instruments and singing. Their ministry in music and preaching will bless you.

First Assembly of God Church would like to invite you to come and join them for this Revival and to any or all services at the Church. Sunday morning Sunday School starts at 9:30a.m. for all ages. Morning Worship and Children’s Church starts at 10:30 a.m. Evening service starts at 5 p.m. Wednesday night services are at 6:30 p.m. for children, with programs for girls and boys, youth service and adult Bible study.

FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH

Witnesses To Christ: People From His Passion

John tells us why he wrote his Gospel: “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31). Life! When we believe that Jesus is the Christ, God gives us life-abundant life, forgiven life, and eternal life. Historically, the Fourth Gospel is likened to an eagle-an image that suggests John soars to heights of glory and grandeur. That’s because the evangelist paints a stunning portrait of Jesus, who is the bread oflife, the resurrection and the life, and the way, the truth, and the life. Life in Jesus. That’s God’s gift to you!

This Lent, our life in Christ will be strengthened as we hear the witness of those in John’s Gospel who journeyed to the cross. Along the way, we’ll meet villains, such as Barabbas and Pontius Pilate, as well as sinners, such as Peter (who denied Jesus three times), Mary Magdalene (who was possessed by seven demons), and Judas Iscariot (who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver).

Please join the people of Faith Lutheran Church, 1607 Josephine Street for Wednesday Midweek Lent worship services at 7:30 P.M. and Holy Week services as listed. We will hear the witness of these people in John’s Gospel:

Midweek of Lent 1: March I. Mary, the Sister of Lazarus and Martha, John 12:1-11

Midweek of Lent 2: March 8, Malchus, John 18: 1-11

Midweek of Lent 3: March 15, Peter, John 18:12-27

Midweek of Lent 4: March 22, Barabbas, John 18:33-40

Midweek of Lent 5: March 29, Pontius Pilate, John 19:1-16 HOLYWEEK

Palm Sunday: April 2, The Disciples, John 12:12-19, service time: 10:45 A.M.

Good Friday: April 7, John, the Gospel Writer, John 19:25-37, service time 7:30 P. M. Easter Sunday: April 9, The Resurrection of Our Lord: Mary Magdalene, John 20:1-18, service time 10:45 A. M.