Join us and bring a friend for “A Sweetwater Family Christmas,” December 22, 10:30am. We’re making our regularly scheduled worship service a festive gathering for the whole family, with live animals, sweet treats and hot cocoa, live music, and “Buddy time.”
The birth of our Savior is “good news of great joy for all people,” and we’re exited to celebrate it with you!

 

Join us Tuesday evening for a traditional Christmas Eve candlelight service, 5pm, December 24th. 
We won’t keep you long, but would love for you to join us as we reflect on the birth of our Savior and the true meaning of Christmas. 

This week of local missions is sponsored by the Sweetwater Student Ministry. All are invited to join us as we reach out in the name of Jesus!

 

 

THIS SATURDAY & SUNDAY IS STUDENT SERVE WEEKEND!

This is an opportunity to serve your church family and to earn a $100 toward the 2024 Student Summer Camp at Lake Yale, July 2-6. 

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If students need to complete their 5hrs to earn the $100 credit toward camp there are a couple more opportunities this week. 

 

 

CAMP REGISTRATION IS ACTIVE. THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MAY 30. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

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We will be doing some work on our own church campus, helping a family move, helping at the home of some of our church members, and serving in our own food pantry. 

Students will be assigned to a specific project upon arrival. 

All students will be accompanied by at least 2 adult leaders, and will serve with a group of 2-5 students. 

 

 

We will meet at the Fellowship Hall on the South Campus, Saturday, 5/18, 10:00am (please be on time). 
Upon arrival we will assign to groups and prepare for the day. We will depart to serve by 10:45am at the latest. 

 

12pm – Sunday
On Sunday, after church, we will meet in the Fellowship Hall on the South Campus for a quick lunch and will depart to serve no later than 12:30pm. 

 

Students should be picked up between 3:00pm & 3:15pm on both days. 

 

 

Students will make their own lunch with the sandwich items provided, before we set out for the day, along with chips and a drink. For those who may be familiar with it, this is similar to what we’ve done on Student Mission Trips. 

 

 

Students must register, using the link below, and serve for a minimum of 5 hours in order to earn a $100 credit toward Summer Camp. While we would like students to serve on both days, we understand that may not be possible. See the update above for additional serving opportunities. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Verse 1: Steven Musso]
I just want to speak the name of Jesus

 

Over every heart and every mind
‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus

[Verse 2: Charity Gayle]
I just want to speak the name of Jesus
‘Til every dark addiction starts to break
Declaring there is hope and there is freedom
I speak Jesus

[Chorus: Charity Gayle & Steven Musso]
Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

[Verse 3: Charity Gayle, Charity Gayle & Steven Musso]
I just want to speak the name of Jesus
Over fear and all anxiety
To every soul held captive by depression
I speak Jesus

 

 

 

DEEPENING – STILL

 

How old were you when you first came to Christ?

It’s often said you’re either coming out of a trial, going through one, or walking toward one; which of those stages do you feel you’re in currently?

 

My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

 

What are the cisterns we dig for ourselves?

 

16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

17 “I have no husband,” she replied.

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

 

Why did Jesus ask her to get her husband?

Why do you think they woman brushed off Jesus’ response?

 

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

 

What were the newly saved believers doing?

 

My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

 

 

How do we get filled? This Session explores the first stage in our “FLOW” metaphor. We want to intentionally create spaces in which we ask God to help us see and understand a concept together. The theme for the month might be something totally new to you or something we’re inviting you to explore on a deeper level. These 3rd Friday Fill Nights are kind of like a church service in our chapel on the South Campus–think worship, a message, a quick discussion question and prayer groups, with coffee/tea and snacks. Every 3rd week of the month, we’ll kick off a new theme to focus on for a month. 

 

Moving Forward at SWYA, 3rd Fridays are “FILL NIGHTS.” 

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¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14

 

³ And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3

 

 

 

 

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¹⁹ The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. ²⁰ Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” ²¹ Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. ²² You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. ²³ But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. ²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” ²⁵ The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” ²⁶ Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” John 4:19-26

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Commentary:
In this mountain – Mount Gerizim, only a little way from Sychar. On this mountain they had built a temple somewhat similar to the one in Jerusalem. This was one of the main subjects of controversy between them and the Jews. The old Samaritan Pentateuch, or five books of Moses, has the word “Gerizim” instead of “Ebal” in Deuteronomy 27:4. On this account, as well as because the patriarchs are mentioned as having worshipped in Shechem, they supposed that that was the proper place on which to erect the temple.
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¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³ And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. ¹⁴ All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
¹⁵ In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, ¹⁶ “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷ For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” ¹⁸ (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. ¹⁹ And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ²⁰ “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’;
and
“‘Let another take his office.’
²¹ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²² beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” ²³ And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴ And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” ²⁶ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
​¹ When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 1:12 – 2:4

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³⁷ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸ And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” ⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Acts 2:37-41

 

 

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What do think these days were like?
What happened as a result of the disciples being filled? 

 

How do we do this as individuals?
How do we do this as a group?
How do we participate in “filling” with the larger church @ Sweetwater?