This week at First Explorers, we had another fun-filled time! Starting with Monday, we toured the Appalachian Women’s Museum and participated in several fun activities—including weaving and looming. On Tuesday, Ms. Gaye lead us in chapel. On Wednesday, we played at Bryson Park. On Thursday, we swam at the pool. And on Friday, we played at the Pine Rec area near Cashiers. Once again, it was another fantastic week at First Explorers summer camp!
Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries is in need of spaghetti.
To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive.
Thank you!
Mission Moment 7.22.26
João Moraes
Associate Pastor for Spiritual Formation
Emmanuel Baptist Church, Alexandria, Louisiana
It may be that you need to slow down and consider which direction to take. Amidst the rush of daily living, discernment may seem too long of a word to consider, let alone to practice. So many of us move on and move fast because it simply takes too much energy to stop a system perfected for efficiency. Joined to the system, we are well-oiled cogs spinning tirelessly in some direction: no time to think which one, no time to consider right from wrong. That’s when we need wisdom.
Other times, though, movement is exactly what we lack. While some cannot stop to think, others cannot stop thinking—with their bodies paralyzed by analysis, their heads run wild with endless flow charts that attempt to predict the potential outcomes of every single decision. We become overwhelmed with fear, oppressed by anxiety and unable to move out of the sludge. We fool ourselves believing that a strong dose of certainty would solve our problems. But oftentimes, we already know what is right; we need courage to do the right thing.
Some days we need wisdom; other days we need courage. So, I pray that you may find in the Lord what you need in each instance.
A Blessing for Wisdom and Courage
May the Lord grant you time and space to slow down when the world rushes by.
May His gentle hands hold you steady as you dwell in the wisdom from above.
May His strong arm give you courage to take the next steps even when the way is unclear.
May your faith move you through uncertain situations,
And may you never forget: the One who calls you also goes before you.
Mission Moment 7.15.26
Jonathan Bailey
Field Personnel in Bali, Indonesia
Blessing for Sound
by David Whyte in The Bell and the Blackbird
I thank you,
for the smallest sound,
for the way my ears open
even before my eyes,
as if to remember
the way everything began
with an original, vibrant, note,
and I thank you for this
everyday original music,
always being rehearsed,
always being played,
always being remembered
as something new
and arriving, a tram line
below in the city street,
gull cries, or a ship’s horn
in the distant harbour,
so that in waking I hear voices
even where there is no voice
and invitations where
there is no invitation
so that I can wake with you
by the ocean, in summer
or in the deepest seemingly
quietest winter,
and be with you
so that I can hear you
even with my eyes closed,
even with my heart closed,
even before I fully wake.
Perhaps it should come as no surprise that a blessing for sound would be offered by a musician, that working so often with the magical power of music would lead me to the deepest sensitivity to the blessings it offers. However, it is not necessarily so. Frequent exposure to the stimulus of sound tires my ear and mind and deadens the senses. Sometimes I need silence. Pure and without exception. It is in silence that I’m most aware of God. Like Elijah in the cave, I sometimes sense God most keenly when the chaos of life ebbs for a moment. How thankful I am for those times, few though they are.
Whyte’s “Blessing for Sound” reminds me how rare such silence is. His blessing blesses by its clear cry that all life is sound, vibration, resonance between me and you and all creation and “even when there is no voice.” Attending to the sounds of life and even to the echoes of what is no more awakens me to that ever-present invitation to wakefulness and to the greatest blessing it has to offer: the surprise of you sitting beside me.
Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries is in need of spaghetti.
To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive.
Thank you!
First Explorers Summer Camp Recap 7.15.26
This week at After School, we had a great time at the church and around Sylva! On Monday, we went to East Laporte and played in the creek and skipped rocks. On Tuesday, we celebrated one of our camper’s birthday and had a party with cupcakes for them. On Wednesday, our own Ms. Gaye lead our campers in chapel. On Thursday, we went and splashed around in the pool; and later that afternoon, Generation Kids stopped by and did a fun program with us. And on Friday, we went to the Cherokee movie theater and watched How to Train your Dragon! Overall, it was another fantastic week at First Explorers summer camp!
Mission Moment 7.8.26
Jay Kieve
CBF Abuse Prevention and Response Advocate & Director of Ministerial Transitions
House Blessing
Invocation
Let us pray: Gracious God, who supplies us with every blessing in abundance, lift our hearts in gratitude and thanksgiving. Open us to remember the gifts we seldom notice, the bounty we take for granted, the rich possibilities you provide. For bread without scarcity, for water that is pure, for this house to live in and friends to enjoy, we give you humble thanks. For beauty and bounty, for healing and hope, for the gospel of Christ, we lift our voices in joyful praise. Dwell with us now. Amen
Scripture
The scriptures Jesus knew contained the command: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Jesus quoted this, as the first and greatest commandment.”—Deuteronomy 5:4-9
Fixing the Signs of Blessing
So in that great tradition, we affix to this door frame reminders of God’s calling and declarations of our prayer and hope. [Written in chalk on the door frame.]
“Hear” – Shema ( עמש ) – the first word of the commandments from Moses’
instruction to Israel – “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.”
“Peace” – (είρήνή) written as the prayer for all who enter or depart from this house symbols for Christ
Chi and Rho (ΧΡ) – the hope of this house and the hope for all our salvation
Prayer of Blessing
from St. Stephen’s Church, London
O God, make the door of this house wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship, narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife.
Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling-block to children, nor to straying pets, but rugged and strong enough to turn back the tempter’s power. God make the door of this house the gateway to thine eternal kingdom.
Loving God, bless this home. May it be a place of safety and hospitality. Grant that faith, charity and good health triumph over evil. May your word be cherished and obeyed in this home. We give praise and thanksgiving to you, and to your Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen
Pray. Give. Go.
Modified Office Hours
For the remaining summer months until the Wednesday evening meals resume in September (date forthcoming), our office hours will be Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
First Explorers Summer Camp Recap 7.8.26
This week at First Explorers summer camp, we had a fun time even despite the heat. On Monday, we made scratch art. On Tuesday, we made cool sand art thanks to Ms. Lydia. On Wednesday, we had chapel with Andrew and Gaye. On Thursday, we swam at the pool for a long time. On Friday, we had the day off to get ready for the Fourth of July. Overall, it was another spectacular week at First Explorers!
Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries is in need of spaghetti.
To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive.
Thank you!