Ladies! Underline, circle in red, and star Monday, November 5th on your calendar for the Baptist Women Around the World Christmas Party! Join WMU for the annual World Day of Prayer, lunch, and Christmas shopping! Time is 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (employed women, join us at your lunch hour) and the place is the Mission and Fellowship Center.
More details to follow in upcoming Church Chimes.
Thank you to everyone who helped in WMU's campaign to recognize and honor our graded missions leaders through contributing to the Heck-Jones Offering. The "Fan the Flames" effort garnered $974.01 with a match from an anonymous donor bringing the total contributions to $2000.00. The money will used for statewide WMU projects to help children, teens, and adults grow in God's love and discover their role in spreading the Gospel.
Our offering will be sent in honor of:
Beth Moore -- Mission Friends leader
Linda Todd Phelps, Nell Cummins, Sandra James -- Mission Friends helpers
Gaye Buchanan -- GAs leader
Tonya Lloyd -- GA helper
Chris Moore -- RA leader
Kelly Brown -- RA leader
Carol Cloer -- Youth on Mission
1st Explorers Staff -- for helping with all groups
Thank you First Baptist Church for your generous support!
FLORENCE RECOVERY UPDATE
Find Ways to Volunteer
As the response to the disaster caused by Hurricane Florence shifts into longer-term recovery, there are still great needs in all of the affected regions.
Volunteer opportunities are available through Baptists on Mission (click here) and CBF Global (click here).
CBFNC is focusing attention at this time on two neglected areas: Trenton and Columbus County. While the needs are tremendous throughout eastern North Carolina, these two have been identified as high needs/low resources.
For information on how you can help in these two areas, contact the following leaders:
Trenton - Daynette Snead (daynettesnead@gmail.com)
Columbus County - Ryan Clore (fbcwhitevillepastor@gmail.com)
We are grateful for the generous outpouring of support already received from the CBFNC community. We welcome additional gifts for Florence response, which can be given here.
We will need help on Saturday, October 20th at 10:30 AM to load a UHaul with clothes for our partners in Kentucky. For more information, please contact Charlie White at (704) 460-2928.
The ladies of the church will have a worship service at Skyland Nursing Home on Sunday, October 14th at 2:00 PM. Please put this on your calendar to come and help sing and minister to these dear people. This is also Homecoming at our church, so let’s share some of our spirit of fellowship with those who aren’t able to attend church.
Thanks,
Linda Stewart
When: Saturday, October 13th from 10 AM - 2 PM
Location: First Baptist Church of Sylva’s outdoor front common area
Mission: Our GA, RA and Acteen mission programs work hard every year learning about missionary work here and abroad. We want to provide them with an opportunity to earn funds in a FUN way to help provide for a missionary project.
Rock-A-Thon description: We hope to have 10-15 school age participants, Grades 2-12, to rock in rocking chairs between 10 AM - 2 PM. Kindergartners and 1st graders are welcome but a parent or guardian must stay with the child during the event.
How will they raise money? Each participant will get at least 5 sponsors to sponsor their rocking efforts per hour and also help sell jewelry, coffee, and baked goods.
How will the money be used to benefit mission services? To provide food boxes for children and youth through United Christian Ministries of Jackson County, NC.
How can I help? You can help by sponsoring your child and help them achieve their goals of 5 or more sponsors or if your child is unable to attend you can also help by donating baked goods to sell or monetary funds to First Baptist Church of Sylva/Mission programs by check or cash at our church office M-F 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
Can I volunteer? We would love for you to volunteer your time during the event. You can also rock for missions and have sponsors yourself or you can donate baked goods to sell or just be present to support your child at the event.
Deadline: All permission slips/Volunteers forms are due by October 10th
All sponsorship forms and money is due by Oct 13th.
Contact: Bethany Moore @ 828-226-3433 or Email cwmoore21@gmail.com
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. When you think of the contributions of Hispanic Americans, remember the people behind “successful Latinos” – the courageous parents who brought their children to this country seeking “a better life.” Like Miguel, Maria and Dominga, who began their American dream in the fields picking vegetables; Jaime, a construction worker; Silvia, a stay at home mom; Emilia, a cook – all immigrants and U.S. citizens.
Despite the challenges of limited English, functional illiteracy, long hours at hard, low-paying jobs, and life in impoverished neighborhoods, they’ve raised bilingual, well-rounded youth and young adults with bright futures ahead of them. Ministry to today’s immigrant families is an investment in tomorrow’s leaders.
Dear God, my prayer today is for Your people to hear the call to engage in tangible ministry efforts that seek to welcome immigrants in our communities. Thank you for the blessing of serving others, and help us to remember the words of Your Son, “For I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” Amen.
Sue Smith, CBF field personnel among Latino Immigrants
I don’t like it when things are unresolved. But when I was growing up, I used it to my advantage.
As the youngest child in my family, I had to work hard for attention. I didn’t earn my family’s attention, however. I stole it. One of my more effective efforts at getting attention came at the expense of my musically gifted sister. To elicit a response from her, I simply had to create unresolved suspense by not playing the last measure of a song that I was practicing on the piano in the living room. She liked this not one bit. I found it delicious.
On Sunday, my sermon did not address the last ‘measure’ of our scripture passage.
We were looking at the story of Elijah’s response to Queen Jezebel’s threats in 1 Kings 19. Although Elijah had just triumphed over the prophets of Baal in dramatic fashion, the reader finds God’s premier messenger trembling beneath a solitary broom tree in the middle of nowhere. We learned that Elijah wanted to end it all right there. But God was not interested in removing Elijah from his unsettling circumstances, even though that would have represented an answer to Elijah’s prayer. Instead, God sent his angels to attend to Elijah’s needs. Because of God’s intervention, Elijah rested. He was fed and nourished by God’s ambassadors. God provided his servant sanctuary so that his strength could be restored.
But for what reason?
Yes, just when your curiosity had been piqued, your preacher omitted the final measure. The story was left unresolved. The question was not answered. Why, indeed, did God provide sanctuary for his prophet?
Our clue comes from the mouth of one of God’s angels who told Elijah to, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.”
God provided sanctuary to his servant so that he would have strength for the journey. Although Elijah was ready for his journey to be over, God was not done with him. God gives him room to despair, yes. God gives Elijah a place to rest, true. And nourishment for healing is provided so that Elijah can continue on his way. This all happened for a reason. The road that Elijah would continue down would lead to a breathtaking encounter with the Living God. This was why God provided Him sanctuary in the first place.
Although I left this point on the table, so to speak, the point will preach: God provides His people sanctuary because He’s not done with us yet. He knows we need strength for the journey ahead. And God, at least, won’t leave us hanging.
Jeffrey, the obnoxious 7-year-old in the Mathis household, however, just might.
A funeral for Mary Culp will be held on Saturday, October 6th in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church at 2:00 PM. The family will receive guests and visitors at a reception that will commence immediately following the funeral service. A graveside ceremony will follow the reception at Garrett Hillcrest Memorial Park in Waynesville.