Submitted by Sandy Creek Baptist

    Sandy Creek Baptist Church (22834 Liberty Road) will hold revival services on October 17, 18 and 19 beginning at 6:30 PM each night.  Music will be led by Bro. Justen Taylor, and the Message from the Word will be brought to us through Bro. Gary Purvis from Dewy Rose, Georgia.  Everyone is invited to attend.

Submitted by Barbara Simoneaux

The Fourth Annual Public Square Rosary Rally, imploring Our Lady of Fatima's intercession with her Divine Son, for the salvation of America will be held on Saturday, October 15 at noon.  We will be part of a nation-wide effort to eradicate the many evils that are plagueing our country, by all praying together at the same exact hour.  Everyone is invited.  Please arrive at 11:45 AM and bring a Rosary and a chair if needed.  There will be a rally at the corner of Hooper Road and Sullivan Road; and one at the corner of Hooper Road and Greenwell Springs Road.  God requires prayer and penance.  The Rosary is our prayer and standing out in the public in the hot sun is our penance.

The St. Vincent De Paul Annual Mass honoring all those who volunteer in many ways throughout the year was held September 29 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church. Receiving the award for his 22 years service at the St. Vincent De Paul Pharmacy was Mr. Herman Stroderd. Pictured with Mr. Stroderd are members of the St. Vincent De Paul Conference at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.

GRACE THAT SAVES IS THE SAME GRACE THAT TEACHES US HOW TO LIVE GOD’S GLORY

    We learn in Titus 2:11-12 that God’s grace that brings salvation has appeared unto all men to teach us how to live to God‘s glory. God’s grace teaches us to deny (reject, refuse) ungodliness and worldly lusts. God’s grace also teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

    This is what God’s grace teaches, but if we do not learn and live by what his grace teaches his grace is bestowed upon us in vain.

    The Apostle Paul writes in I Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

    For Paul, as should be for all of mankind, God’s grace motivated him to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. God’s unmerited favor is what compels, motivates, urges, teaches, and impresses upon a person to live by faith in Jesus Christ. Once we are truly saved by that grace we are compelled to live by grace and offer salvation to all men by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. God showed us grace through the sacrifice of his Son that we may learn to show others that same grace through the sacrifice in our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.

To God be the Glory,
Kenny Kepper, Pastor
Berean Ministries

 Zoar Baptist Church Ladies' Christmas Bazaar and Dinner for foreign missions will be held December 1st. If you are interested in being a vendor for this event, please contact Sonya at sonya.aydell@gmail.com or 261-3434. Booth rentals are $30. The deadline to apply as a vendor is November 6th.

Submitted by Magnolia United Methodist Church

The Magnolia United Methodist Church on Greenwell Springs Road will celebrate its annual Homecoming Sunday, October 2.  Services will begin at 11 a.m. and will be followed by a pot luck luncheon.
 
The Rev. Tommy Bergeron, former pastor of the Magnolia United Methodist Church, and currently on staff at the Live Oak United Methodist Church, will be the guest speaker for the service.  During the service a memorial recognition will be held for the late Margie Norton who passed away in November, 2010.  Her husband, Henry Norton, and other family members will light a memorial candle during the service in her memory.
 
All former members and friends of the church are invited to attend.

COMPETITION

    In his book, “Searching for Success”, Bill Arcement, MD writes about how we live in a competitive society. He says that competitiveness begins at a very young age and continues throughout our lives.

    At this time of the year football season is in full swing and we watch players and teams in competition.  Dr. Arcement wrote about a different type of competition – the one we practice against ourselves. As we begin a new school year we focus on our goals for our children and families. It would serve us all well to reflect on the competitive part of our lives and if competing is helping us to improves our life style, relationships, school, church and community. Each of us feels good when we have done our best and each of us benefits from reflecting on what it took to do so.

    I was touched by a story Dr. Arcement shared about Benjamin Franklin, “That as a young man, he (Ben Franklin) had great difficulty relating to people. Fortunately he was perceptive enough to know that he had to change. How did he change? He identified thirteen qualities that he had to acquire in order to improve. He began a little self-competition. His formula was relatively simple. He practiced one new habit each week. With thirteen characteristics, he was able to practice one per week and repeat the exercise four times a year. In time, by evaluating his effectiveness and improving his process he was able to transform himself into a world leader. His self-competition made a difference.”

    Until I read this I never gave much thought to the concept. When you stop and think about it, when we are in self-competition we have less anger, less frustration, less stress and we become more in tune with our own inner self. For each of us the challenge is to step back and see our own gifts and spend less or no time finding fault with the gifts of others. Much of life is spent on trying to make ourselves look good at the expense of someone else. Dr. Arcement gives us a new way of looking at life, but so do the scriptures. God said “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him.”

Blessings
Fr. Michael Moroney,
St. Alphonsus Liguori Church

Submitted by Grace UPC

Special Services at Grace United Pentecostal Church
Please join us as Evangelist Jerry Holland ministers and lives are changed by the power of Jesus' name!
Sept. 23 – 25; Sept. 30 – Oct. 2
The service times for these three dynamic weekends are listed below:
Friday and Saturday services start at 7:30 PM
Sunday school starts at 10AM, and Bro. Holland will begin preaching at 11AM

Submitted by Deacon Ronnie Hebert

    Join Deacon Ronnie Hebert of (St. Alphonsus Church) and Deacon Ricky Patterson (St. Louis King of France Church)  as they give a presentation on the Holy Bible.

    They will explore topics such as : (What came first, the Church or the Bible? / What the Church teaches on how to study and interpret the Bible / Sola Scriptura: Does the bible support the belief of the Bible alone? / Are we saved by Faith Alone? / What about the believe of “Once saved always saved?”).

    Come and hear Deacon Ronnie’s conversion story and how his study of the Bible brought him back to the Catholic Church. Also, there will be an opportunity to have your questions answered during the presentation.

     Date, time and location:  Thursday, September 22nd, from (7 – 8:30pm) @ St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 14040 Greenwell Springs Rd. / For more information: call Olga Johnson @ 261-4644.

DO NOT FEAR
2 Tim 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (NKJV)
FEAR. Our world is dominated by it! After hearing a broadcast of the evening news, listening to talk radio, reading a few news articles, having a doctor’s appointment and watching the Stock Market, we can see why people would become fearful.
I often would repeat the phrase, “Fear is simply false evidence appearing real.”. That isn’t necessarily the case! I now say that fear is, “Factual evidence appearing resolute.”. The evidence may be very true, extremely real and seem like it will last forever! Fear can cause us to become so focused on all the negative circumstances of life that we never find true inner peace and rest. Ultimately this allows our faith to be paralyzed.
Fear and faith will wage a warfare in our soul. As believers in Christ, most of us would never think about giving up on our belief and trust in God. However, if possible, fear will erode our faith and our confidence to the point that we are rendered ineffective in our God given mission.
Faith, on the other hand, rises up in the face of fear and says, “But God’s Word says…”. We don’t live our lives oblivious to the storms around us but we do rely on God’s word, His promises, His wisdom and His strength to get through those storms. Read these words of Jesus:
John 16:33: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (NKJV)
Matt 10:30-31: “But the very hairs on your head are numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (NKJV)
The phrases “Fear not” and “Do not fear” are used over 70 times in the Bible. Whatever situation we are facing, there is a promise in God’s Wird that can give us the faith and assurance to make it through. God’s Word will continually remind us that He has not been caught off guard, He’s not unaware of the storms you are facing, but that God is in control! We have been called to be diligent and wise stewards of all God has entrusted to us! Don’t let fear rob you of the blessings that come from fulfilling God’s plan for your life. Turn to the Bible, God’s Word, and find the promises that will help you carry on! Have faith and “Do not fear!”
-Ron Erickson, Future Hope Ministries