On Thursday the 15th, First Baptist will be hosting a meal for the Smoky Mountain High School Varsity Football squad. We are looking for volunteers to help serve the meal during the mid-afternoon. Please contact Ruth McConnell (506-8827) if you are willing to help out!
Thank You Note from Ruth McConnell
My heartfelt thanks to my church family for all the many acts of kindness shown to me during my recent surgery. The visits, food, cards, transportation, and phone calls all meant a lot. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
With love,
Ruth McConnell
A Note from Linda Minor
Dearest Friends,
Again and again you continue to be my support. Your phone calls have been encouraging, your cards have been uplifting, your visits have helped me stay connected, your flowers have brought smiles to my face, your meals have nurtured me, and your never-ending prayers have helped me remember the strength and hope found in our Father. Thank You.
Looking forward to seeing you in church soon.
Linda Minor
Big Thank You to Our Painters!
Gary Frye and Bob Holquist
Our Mission and Fellowship Center is being painted and cleaned this week by a few very generous helpers! We are so grateful that they took time out of their days to help keep our church looking beautiful.
Summer Camp and Smiley Faces - Sarah Davis
Mid-1960’s someone came up with a bright yellow sunshine-looking circle with wide-open eyes and a HUGE ear-to-ear smile. It caught on and is, even now, a popular method of expressing happiness, joy and friendship. All that to say: If I had to capture the Summer Explorers Camp in just a couple of words, I’d say “Smiley Face!”
Smiley faces on staff - I had the chance to bring my grandson to camp several days this summer. Every day part of the staff was waiting at the front door to the Mission and Fellowship Center with big smiles and cheerful attitudes greeting each child by name and engaging them with questions and quips. Toward the end of the program, I KNOW they had to be tired, but the big smiles and laughs were still there! (It was also comforting to know they were at the door so little ones couldn’t escape!) Inside workers were passing out breakfast and playing with students. Always excitement, always joy, always relaying - “We’re so glad to see YOU!”
Smiley faces on children – Field trips, water day, crafts, singing, dancing, planning chapel, praising God, trips to the “castle with the big clock” (the library), riding the Great Smoky Mountain Railway, new friends, old friends, Bible stories brought to life, and on and on…. All you have to do is look at the pictures in the First Explorers Newsletter – smiling faces everywhere! Enough said!
Smiley faces on parents - Camp wrapped up with a dinner for parents and students, a silent auction of student art work, and presentations by age group that summarized the summer in song and recitation. I sat near parents from our church, other churches and the community at large who were so happy that their children had the opportunity to be a part of this exciting adventure. Parents expressed appreciation for our church’s hospitality, our great staff, and for making summer camp something that their children didn’t want to miss! We were truly an oasis in a dry and thirsty land!
Many thanks to Kelly Brown who directed Summer Explorers and his assistant Hannah Harris. And to all the energetic staff: Caleb Bonner, Ashley Fitzgerald, Jacob French, Megan Harris, Elise Parham, Caleb Parham, Jose Martinez, Sarah Ogletree, Clara Richards, Landon Smith, Sarah Spiro and Alexa Teague - THANKS for making this a “Smiley Face” kind of summer!
A Letter from Pastor Ernesto Bazan
Greetings brothers and sister of First Baptist Church of Sylva,
I hope in the Lord that you all are well and happy. I thank God that I was able to have the chance to meet so many brothers and sisters at this church who pray and understand and open their doors to other countries. America unites us with sincerity and the desire to do things together for God's glory. I sincerely hope to come back and meet more brothers and sisters who grow every day in love. Friendship through brotherhood and solidarity will unite us forever. You received our church like it was a city of God. You will forever bless the church of God no matter where you go.
Sincerely in Christ,
Ernesto Bazan
A Note from Hazel Monteith
Dear First Baptist Church,
Thanks so much for all the beautiful cards I have received from your church. I love to send and get cards. I see many times the good work your church is doing, especially with the children. I've really loved to work with the children in my younger years.
Remembering your kindness with warmth and gratitude.
Love and Prayers,
Hazel Monteith
Backpack Ministry
We need donations to buy backpacks which are expensive for high school students. Those can be dropped by the church office or in the Loving Kindness Room.
Supplies needed are the usual school supplies:
paper
pencils
pens
composition books
mechanical pencils
copy paper
markers
highlighters
calculators
compasses
wipes
project binders
note book subject separaters
glue sticks
Thanks to the Faith Sunday school class, GA's, RA's, and the Dorothy Edwards WMU Circle for making this a major summer project. Much help is needed by all. There will be a designated area in the Loving Kindness Room for leaving supplies. These need to be in by August 7. For questions call Gaye Buchanan 586-5642.
A Note from UCM
UCM Board of Directors and Volunteers would like to THANK our First Baptist Church family for all that FBC does to help support United Christian Ministries.
Your generous donations are very much appreciated and help to feed and assist families in need in Jackson County.
Thank you.