Inside this issue:

Pastor’s Message 2

Events/Birthdays 3

December Schedules 4

Music Ministry 5

Contact Info 6

N E W S L E T T E R

Dr. Paul Noe, Pastor

Rev. Mark Abbott, Associate Pastor & Minister of Music

Rev. Brian Ayers, Associate Pastor & Minister of Youth

Mrs. Missy Ferraro, Children’s Coordinator

December, 2016

December 15 Deadline

For all info to be included in

the January Newsletter.

“...I will bless

thee… And thou

shalt be

a blessing.”

Genesis 12:2

1. The Nursery Door Entrance of the Sanctuary Building.

2. The Playground Entrance of the Family Life Center.

GOLF CART

MINISTRY

Beginning Sunday, December 4th

“Golf Cart Stops” are located

at the two locations listed below:

Christmas Day Worship Service December 25th, 10:00am

(No Sunday School or Evening Service or Activities)

INTERNATIONAL MISSION STUDY

Wednesday, December 14th

6:30pm in the Family Life Center

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Goal: $20,000.00

Page 2

“PASTOR PAUL’S PARAGRAPHS”

Dear Members and Friends of Sweetwater Baptist Church: Christmas is my favorite time of the year! It is going to be an exciting holiday season here at Sweetwater. We have numerous special events planned throughout the month of December to help us celebrate. I am certainly looking forward to this year’s Christmas musical by our Celebration Choir entitled “Our Coming Savior.” There will be two performances. One on Saturday evening, December 3rd, at 7:00 pm and one on Sunday morning, December 4th, at 10:45 am. Let me encourage you to invite your family and friends to this special event. The Saturday evening presentation will allow those who are involved in other churches to participate. One of the highlights each December is the annual Widow/Widowers Banquet at Sweetwater. This year’s banquet will be on Saturday, December 10th. The delicious meal will be provided by “Riley’s On Main” from Johnston, and Russell and Kristi Johnson will be providing our special music. If you are a widow, widower , or deacon (active or inactive) and are planning to attend, please contact the church office as soon as possible. You don’t want to miss this delightful evening. The week of Christmas will be a meaningful time as we have our Candlelight Communion Service on Wednesday, December 21st, at 7:00 pm followed by our Christmas Day Celebration on December 25th at 10:00 am. “’Tis the Season for Missions!” One of the great traditions of Southern Baptist Churches is the collection of the Lottie Moon Christmas offering during the month of December. Our goal this year is $20,000.00. Let me encourage you to prayerfully consider what God would have you to give to support missions across the globe. Our International Mission Study will be on Wednesday, December 14th, at 6:30 pm in the Family Life Center. We are excited about our Golf Cart Ministry that begins this month. If you need a ride, please go to a “Golf Cart Stop.” They are located at the nursery door entrance of the Sanctuary Building and the playground door entrance of the Family Life Center. A special “thanks” goes out to Mark Stewart and the Greeter Ministry for heading up this im-portant ministry. There are two main attitudes about Christmas. Some ENDURE Christmas. Their goal is just to survive the holiday season. They just want it to be over with and their lives to get back to normal. They are turned off by the commercial-ism and the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Others, however, ENJOY Christmas. They thrive during this festive occa-sion. Their hearts are filled with excitement and wonder. As Christians, we can enjoy the Christmas season by staying focused on the true meaning of this special time of the year. “Jesus is the reason for the Season!” When your focus is on Christ it puts everything into perspective. Allow the decorations, music, food, family get-togethers, and programs to direct your heart to the Babe in Bethlehem who is the Savior of the World.

Merry Christmas!!

With a Pastor’s Love,

Brother Paul Philippians 1:3

December Events

Happy Birthday! 12/1 — Stephanie Redfern, Mike Clark

12/2 — Ann Skinner

12/3 — Joyce Campbell, Joe Braswell, Jeanette Clark

12/4 — Coy Barnes

12/5 — Zack Canady, June Arrington

12/7 — Eric Wiggins, Sunnie Cook, Paul Towner, Jessi-ca Majerus, Joel Robinson, Kim Slater

12/8 — David Reynolds, Jere Roswech

12/9 — Shawn Bohanan, Trevor Lyons, Tom Dorn

12/10 — Jim Crawford, Malissa Browder, Edwina Ab-bott, Jim Wilmoth

12/11 — John Lyons, Helen Butler, Anna Wagher

12/12 — Christina McClure, Chuck Jernigan, Barbara Pleasant

12/13 — Debbie McKie, Vic Emeneker

12/14 — Chuck Jewell, Terry Dearman

12/15 — Iris Fox

12/16 — Susie Robinson, Shannon Bohanan

12/17 — Don Carter, Bonny Gronski, Sharon Stuckey

12/18 — Keith Edwards, Linda Gillespie

12/19 — Susan Moore, Dena Sims

12/20 — Judy Farmer

12/21 — Russ Eubanks

12/22 — Deborah Ashcraft

12/23 — Spencer Preston

12/24 — Christina Mundy, Gladys Cross, Angie Smith, Shelba Stone

12/26 — Duncan Oliver, Katie Richardson

12/27 — Miller Butler

12/28 — Susan Shealy, Kathy Whisenant, Kristen Williams

12/29 — Cara Brown, T. J. Gillespie

12/31 — Anna Lepard

December 3 — Celebration Choir Christmas Musical “Our Coming Savior,” 7pm

December 4 — Christmas Musical “Our Coming Savior,” 10:45am

December 10 — Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8am; Widow & Widowers’ Banquet, 5pm

December 11 — Special Christmas Concert with Russell & Kristi Johnson, 10:30am

December 13 — Norma Pate Group, 6:30pm

December 14 — Neely Group, 10am; International Mission Study in the FLC, 6:30pm

December 16 — Joyous Seniors’ Christmas BRUNCH — 10am

December 17 — Youth Christmas Party, 5pm

December 18 — Children’s Christmas Musical, 6pm

December 21 — Christmas Candlelight Communion Service, 7pm

December 23 — Church Office Closed

December 25 — Christmas Service, 10am; No Sunday School or Evening Service

December 26 — Church Office Closed

January 1 — New Year’s Concert—Cliff Duren and Overflow, 10:30am

Page 4 December Schedules

SECURITY: December 4 December 11 December 18 December 25

8:30 AM Russell Britt Robert Thompson John Morgan No Service

11:00 AM Earl Butler David Bunch Allen Timmons Tim Thaxton 6:00 PM Jim Reece Mike Mock David Harley No Service

December 4

Clydie Blackwood & JoJo Payton

Crib: Mike & Nancy Clark Toddler: Paul Bunch & Robin Lanham

Theresa Todd & Kathy Crawford

December 11

Benay Byers & Julie Little

Crib: Rachel Ayers & Cindy O’Driscoll Toddler: Katie Johnson & Ginny Pardue

Gina & Cassidy Farrer

December 18

Charity Lyons & Jackie Lyons

Crib: Stephanie Redfern & Cade Hawkins Toddler: Libby Zahner & Aurora Spangler

Barbara Schmidt & Linda Black

December 25

No 8:30am Service Crib: Toni Steedley & Susan Folk Toddler: Eric & Tina Wiggins

No Evening Service

NURSERY SCHEDULE

8:30 AM 11:00 AM 6:00 PM

8:30 AM 11:00 AM 8:30 AM 11:00 AM

December 4 December 11

Tillman Miller Jimmy Pardue Melvin Scales Steve Whisenant

Robert Thompson Terry Mathis Lee Hanks Eric Wiggins

Rod Ingle Miller Butler Chris Gillespie Jim Williams

Rocky McKie Chuck Nail Jeff Kervin Jimmy Pardue

Gordon Ferguson Robert Ratcliff John Majerus Terry Mathis

December 18 December 25

Billy Todd Miller Butler No 8:30am Service Dean McDaniel

Mark Stewart Chuck Nail Jim Williams

Mike Lybrand Robert Ratcliff Jimmy Pardue

Phillip Dickert Steve Whisenant Terry Mathis

Ronnie Berry Eric Wiggins Miller Butler

CMC Ministry

Delivery Schedule

December 15

Libby Zahner &

Deena Latargia

“For the word of

the Lord is right;

and all his works

are done in truth.”

Psalm 33:4

Deacons on Call

December 4

Ronnie Berry

Chris McBride

December 11

Jim Wilmoth

Robert Ratcliff

December 18

Carl Boulware

Billy McBride

December 25

Jim Reece

Dick O’Driscoll

U

S

H

E

R

S

FOREIGN MISSION FIELDS FOR

THE MONTH OF DECEMBER

December 4 — Bahamas

December 11 — Honduras

December 18 — Brazil

December 25 — India

Please remember to pray for our Southern Baptist

missionaries and workers this month.

Church Office: 803-279-2821

Family Life Center: 803-426-1860

Web Site:

www.sweetwaterbc.org

“Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts.”

Zechariah 4:6

GOAL: $2,500,000.00

Reveal God’s Plan Received:

$670,557.46

Joyous Seniors… Our December meeting will be a Christmas Brunch of bacon, sausage, eggs, grits, gravy, and biscuits! We will meet on Friday, De-cember 16th at 10:00am in the Family Life Center. You will not want to miss this special treat. You do not need to bring anything, but there is a $5 charge per person at the door.

New Year’s Concert Sunday, January 1st

Cliff Duren and Overflow

10:30am in the Sanctuary

Men’s Prayer Breakfast—Saturday, December 10th 8:00am in the Fellowship Hall