Members of McKendree United Methodist Church hosted their vacation Bible school with a “Kick Off Block Party” on Sunday afternoon, July 14, on the parsonage lawn.

The youth had fun with inflatables and water games while adult leaders participated in games and everyone enjoyed the cookout. The Bible school sessions began on Wednesday night and continued through Saturday night.

The theme for the Bible school was “Colossal Coaster World” and the scripture passage was Timothy 1:7. The theme song for the sessions was “The Ride of Your Life.”

Each night those in attendance enjoyed a video of “A Part of the Life of a Worker in a Theme Park.”

On Sunday, July 21, Youth Director Kevin Crawley delivered the message for the morning worship service. His message was on “The Ride of Your Life—-Becoming A Christian.” After the service, a potluck lunch was served in the fellowship hall and a Bible school ceremony was presented. The video “Colossal Coaster World” was shown, and videos of the children’s activities on each of the four nights were shown as well.

Certificates were given to the children and helpers. The adult volunteers were: Lynn Hogan, Tammy Vest, Kim Tanner, Larissa Partlow, Stephanie Crawley, Beth Shelton, Melee Laney, Frances Rowe and Kevin Crawley. The youth volunteers were: Alli Hogan, Brannigan Crawley, Hayden Partlow, Stephanie Evans, Ivy Ochoa, Dori Wallwork, Caroline Partlow, Will Tanner and Maggie Tanner.

Members of Shady Grove Baptist Church express Christian love and heartfelt prayers for the following soldiers and their families: Justen Terry-Navy, Dakota McClung-South Korea, Jeff Hartsfield-Afghanistan, Brandon Jones, Derek Jones-Marines, Aaron Money-Afghanistan, Jeremy White-Virginia, Jack C. Herbert, Josh Spinks-South Korea, Seth Fagan-Marines, Anthony Thomas, Matthew Young, Lee Thompson and Brad Wallace. God bless all of our brave young men and women and their families and “God bless America.”

Rachel Slate, Sandy Hughes, Martha Jackson and Marc Allen Slate enjoyed attending the Alabama Accordionists Association meeting on Sat., July 20, in Clanton. Those participating in the association program are listed as follows: Sandy Hughes, Jim Wadowick, Reid Matherne, Gene Omasta, Dovie Cutchen, Jim Pollock, Jim Bossert, Craig Funderburg, Myra Fields, Martha Miller, Mercedes Rodriguez, Dot Gauthier, Jake Herzog, Mandy Reeve, Bryan Corbello and Wolf Moritz. They played wonderful music for those attending during lunchtime. The next meeting of the association will be on Nov. 16 in Clanton.

Special belated happy birthday wishes go out this week to Florence Painter on July 29 and Max Roden on July 30. Happy birthday wishes also go out this week to Steve Terry and Aleshia Dobbins, both on July 31.

Members of Shady Grove Baptist Church express Christian love and heartfelt sympathy to the following families: Helen and Junior Taylor and family in the death of her brother, Herman Lassiter; Gary Long and family in the death of his mother-in-law, Syble Anders; and J.W. and Pat Franklin and family in the death of his nephew, Steve Franklin.