Inside this issue:

Pastor’s Message 2

Events/Birthdays 3

January Schedules 4

Announcements 5

Music Ministry 6

Contact Info 7

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

January, 2016

January 15 Deadline

For all info to be included in

the February Newsletter.

“...I will bless

thee… And thou

shalt be

a blessing.”

Genesis 12:2

NEW YEAR’S CONCERT! Ken Turner and Valor III

Sunday Morning, January 3rd at 10:30am

(No 8:30am Worship Service)

Dear Sweetwater Family,

Thank you so very much for the cards, gifts, and expres-sions of love that you gave the Noe family during the Christ-mas season. Words cannot express our appreciation for your tremendous generosity and thoughtfulness. We are so blessed to be a part of such a loving and caring church family. May the Lord richly bless you!

We Love You!

Paul, Bobbi, Alyss, and Chandler

Philippians 1:3

Remember to Pick Up Your

Sacred Calendar for 2016 at the Information Center.

Page 2

“PASTOR PAUL’S PARAGRAPHS”

Dear Members and Friends of Sweetwater Baptist Church: Blessings!! 2016 is going to be an awesome year at Sweetwater . On Sunday morning, January 3rd, at 10:30 am we will be having a New Year’s Concert with Ken Turner and Valor III. This is going to be a great time of worship and inspiration as we begin a new year. I hope you will invite your family and friends to be a part of this special event. On January 10th Linda Gillespie and Kathy Ferguson will be giving a Romania Mission Report dur-ing the evening worship service. They will be sharing about their recent journey to Romania and how God gave them opportunities to share the gospel. The kickoff Sunday for the “Reveal God’s Plan” capital fund raising campaign is January 10th. In the months to come you are going to be hearing a lot about this special emphasis. Please, pray for your RGP Di-rections Team which includes the following individuals – Shannon Bohanan, Emphasis Director; John Dickenson, Leadership Encouragement Director; Alice Edwards, Spiritual Focus Director; Rhonda and Keith Ebetino, Celebration Event Directors; Coni Samson, Communications Director; Clarice Simmons, History Director; Lynn Burdette and Mary Mullis, Office Support Directors; and Jim Reece, Follow Through Direc-tor. These directors will need our support and participation during the entire RGP process. I want to encour-age you to prayerfully consider where you can serve during this important emphasis. The future of our church depends upon it. On November 8th Barry Edwards and Jackie Wenger from the Baptist Foundation of South Carolina were with us to make the “Reveal God’s Plan” presentation to the church congregation during a special called business meeting. During that meeting I brought a message entitled “Facing the Future” from Jere-miah 29:11-13. As we embark on 2016 and anticipate the future, I want to remind you of the three points of that message. 1. We are to approach the future PRAYERFULLY – Jeremiah 29:12 2. We are to approach the future OPTIMISTICALLY – Jeremiah 29:11 3. We are to approach the future CONFIDENTLY – Jeremiah 29:11 As a church and as individuals we should face 2016 prayerfully, optimistically, and confidently. Because God is with us, our future is bright and exciting!

It is a joy and a privilege to serve you!

With a Pastor’s Love,

Brother Paul Philippians 1:3

Happy Birthday! 1/1 — Heather Widener

1/2 — Lee Hanks, Sherry Hawkins

1/3 — Michelle Smith, Mike Lybrand, Ron Wheatley, Sandy Nail

1/4 — Matthew Benenhaley, Meredith Taylor, Janice Jernigan, Brandi Schwarz, Mark Key

1/5 — Gary Bell, Jr., Allison Dearman, Peggy Spaulding

1/6 — Elizabeth McDaniel, Brent Valentine, Charlotte Munns, Allen Byrd

1/7 — Dave McClure

1/8 — Gerald Messer

1/9 — Julie Little

1/11 — Casey Meteraud

1/12 — Diane Pitman

1/13 — Hollie Gillespie

1/14 — Kay Watson, Sandra Bell, Billy Payne, Doris Gaillard, Roy Walker

1/15 — Brenda Whiteaker, Bobbi Noe

1/16 — Briana Loehr, Matthew Robinson

1/17 — Iris Carter, Ryan Gillespie, Phillip Dickert, Audi Clemens

1/18 — Evangeline Schwarz

1/19 — Tillman Miller

1/20 — Dan Jernigan, Larry Campbell, Teresa Myers, Sally Hatfield

1/23 — Lilly Byers

1/24 — Charles Stewart

1/25 — Piper Cook, Madisyn Thatcher, Rocky McKie, Ali-son Ramsey

1/26 — Jeanette Miller, Greg Shouse

1/27 — Parker McCay, Nina Benenhaley

1/30 — Jerry Deese, Celia Valentine

1/31 — Dustin Loehr

January Events January 1 — Church Office Closed

January 3 — No 8:30am Service; Ken Turner & Vallor III in Concert, 10:30am; New Discipleship Training Class Be-

gins (“Heaven”), 4:45pm

January 4 — Reveal God’s Plan Directions Team Meeting, 7pm

January 5 — Norma Pate Group, 6:30pm

January 6 — Neely Group, 10am

January 9 — Reveal God’s Plan Leadership Breakfast, 8:30am; Music Ministry Volunteer Dinner, 6pm

January 10 — Reveal God’s Plan Kick-off Sunday; Romania Mission Report, 6pm

January 12 — “Sweetwater Night” at the Fox Creek Basketball Game (at Sweetwater)

January 15 — Joyous Seniors’ Luncheon, 11:45am

January 17 — Deacons’ Meeting, 4pm

January 19 — Ladies’ Photography, 6pm; Norma Pate Group, 6:30pm

January 23 — Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8am

January 27 — January Mission Study, 6:30pm

January 29 — Sweetwater Jammin’, 7pm; GA Slumber Party

January 31 — Fifth Sunday Food Drive

Page 4 January Schedules

SECURITY: January 3 January 10 January 17 January 24 January 31

8:30 AM No 8:30 Russell Eubanks Mike Mock Melvin Scales Robert Thompson

11:00 AM Allen Timmons Tim Thaxton Ryan Hunter Ben Ferraro Mark Spangler

6:00 PM Russell Eubanks Rich Long Jon Majerus Dean McDaniel Jim Reece

January 3

No 8:30 Service

Crib: Patsy Walker & Helen Butler Toddler: Eric & Tina Wiggins

Julie Curl & Nancy Britt

January 10

Benay Byers & Julie Little

Crib: Nancy Bonner & Mary Dickenson Toddler: Debbie & Kaylan Rodgers

Alyson Abbott & Bonny Lee Gronski

January 17

Charity Lyons & Jackie Lyons

Crib: Larry Scales & Kayley Smith Toddler: Robin Lanham & Paul Bunch

Theresa Todd & Kathy Crawford

January 24

Leigh Ryan & Lesa Stone

Crib: Rachel Ayers & Cindy O’Driscoll Toddler: Debbie McClure & Daughters

Gina & Cassidy Farrer

January 31

Allen & Wendi Byrd

Crib: Toni Steedley & Cade Hawkins Toddler: Katie Johnson & Ginny Pardue

Barbara Schmidt & Linda Black

NURSERY SCHEDULE

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

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

January 3 January 10

No 8:30 Service Miller Butler Rod Ingle Jim Williams

Chuck Nail Rocky McKie Chic Morris

Robert Ratcliff Gordon Ferguson Jimmy Pardue

Steve Whisenant Melvin Scales Terry Mathis

Terry Mathis Lee Hanks Miller Butler

January 17 January 24

Greg Lepard Chuck Nail Mark Stewart Dean McDaniel

Chris Gillespie Robert Ratcliff Jerry Hawkins Chic Morris

Jeff Kervin Terry Mathis Mike Lybrand Jimmy Pardue

Jon Majerus Eric Wiggins Phillip Dickert Terry Mathis

Billy Todd Jim Williams Ronnie Berry Miller Butler

January 31

Russell Eubanks Chuck Nail

Wil Mundy Chic Morris

John Morgan Steve Whisenant

Billy Cross Eric Wiggins

Tillman Miller Jim Williams

CMC Ministry

Delivery Schedule

January 21

Jim &

Shirley Wilmoth

“For the word of

the Lord is right;

and all his works

are done in truth.”

Deacons on Call

January 3

Carl Boulware

Steve Lanham

January 10

Jim Reece

Abbie Prince

January 17

Melvin Scales

Steve Whisenant

January 24

Jim Wilmoth

Jim Crawford

January 31

Carl Boulware

Robert Ratcliff

U

S

H

E

R

S

Pray for the “Reveal God’s Plan” Directions Team!!

Shannon Bohanan—Emphasis Director

John Dickenson—Leadership Encouragement Director

Alice Edwards — Spiritual Focus Director

Keith & Rhonda Ebetino—Celebration Event Directors

Coni Sansom—Communications Director

Clarice Simmons—History Director

Lynn Burdette & Mary Mullis—Office Support Directors

Jim Reece—Follow Through Director

“This Team Needs Our Prayers and Support!”

SWEETWATER JAMMIN’

Don’t miss our next session of Sweetwater Jammin’ on Friday, January 29th, at 7pm in the gym. All of the business of the holidays will be over, so start the new year off with a night of fun, fellowship, and good food. Bring a friend, and your favorite finger foods. If you have never been to Sweetwater Jammin’, you don’t know what or who you might see or hear!

ROMANIA MISSION REPORT

Sunday, January 10th

6:00pm

By Linda Gillespie and

Kathy Ferguson

Happy New Year!

Dear Church Family, It is my prayer that you had a blessed Christmas! It is amazing to see how quickly the Christmas season has come and gone. A new year is dawning, and just around the corner we’ll be wishing everyone a happy new year! I don’t know what 2015 was like for you. For my family, it was a year that brought about lots of changes. From saying goodbye to friends in Gaffney and moving back home to North Augusta, to entering into a new page of ministry here at Sweetwater, 2015 has definitely been a year of change and transition. I am thankful for the many blessings that God has poured out on my family. I am thankful that God has brought us home to serve the good people of Sweetwater. I also realize that for some of you, 2015 might not have been the best year. You might have experi-enced the loss of a loved one, a difficulty in your family, a job loss, or some other situation. Maybe you are still struggling with these issues and the dawning of another year isn’t something that you are looking forward to seeing. I want to offer a word of encouragement to you today. The Creator of the Universe is with you. He truly is Emmanuel, God with us! He has seen every tear, every hurt, and every heartache. He knows you by name. No matter what 2016 may hold for each of us, let us remember that God is still on His throne. We can worship Him no matter what we might be facing. We can rest and trust in Him, and know that He is working even when we might not be able to see it or feel it. We can face this New Year and say that “All is Well” because Christ has come and He will come again. In closing I share with you one of my all time favorite Christmas songs entitled, “All Is Well”:

All is well all is well

Angels and men rejoice for tonight darkness fell

Into the dawn of love’s light

Sing A-le Sing Alleluia

All is well all is well

Let there be peace on earth

Christ is come go and tell

That He is in the manger

Sing A-le Sing Alleluia

All is well all is well

Lift up your voice and sing

Born is now Emmanuel

Born is our Lord and Savior

Sing Alleluia Sing Alleluia All is Well

Born is now Emmanuel

Born is our Lord and Savior

Sing Alleluia

Sing Alleluia...All is well

Happy New Year!

Brother Mark

FOREIGN MISSION FIELDS FOR

THE MONTH OF JANUARY

January 3 — Malawi

January 10 — Japan

January 17 — Chad

January 24 — Greece

January 31 — South Korea

Please remember to pray for our Southern Baptist

missionaries and workers this month.

Trust God for a Miracle

Church Office: 803-279-2821

Family Life Center: 803-426-1860

Web Site:

www.sweetwaterbc.org

“For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.”

Psalm 33:4

Trust God For a Miracle

Goal: $2,300,000.00

Total to Date: $770,915.32

Joyous Seniors… Happy New Year, Joyous Seniors! Our January meeting will be Friday, January 15th, at 11:45am

in the Family Life Center. The meat will be provided, so bring plenty of your favorite side dishes and des-

serts, and be sure to invite your friends!

Our special guest this month will be Deborah Sasser of Sassafras Hill Bee Farm. We are going to

hear about the bee farm business, and how we get our local honey. This will be a great time of fellowship

and learning. We look forward to seeing you there!

Men’s Prayer Breakfast Saturday, January 23rd, 8am in the Fellowship Hall

Inspirational Speaker: Steve Lanham

New Discipleship Training Class Starting January 3rd at 4:45pm!

“Heaven,” Facilitated by Rev. Richard Moss

Please Pray for the GOOD NEWS CLUB as it

Begins Again in January at Mossy Creek Elementary School!