Come to the Mission and Fellowship Center on Friday, February 24th, any time between 9:30 and 3:30 to help finish the vests for the RAs and GAs. This has been an ambitious project with a few faithful women making over 50 lined vests for our children to use in mission education projects. Your help is needed to complete the vests as soon as possible. Bring your lunch and basic sewing equipment. Let's finish those vests!
Baby Shower for Elise and Caleb Parham
Please come to a baby shower honoring Elise and Caleb Parham on Sunday, February 26th from 2:00-3:30 PM in the Mission and Fellowship Center. Baby Joanna Ruth Parham is registered at Babies R Us and Walmart.
Zaxby's 1st Explorers Fundraiser
1st Explorers is having a fundraiser night at Zaxby's in Sylva on Monday, February 20th from 5-10 PM. 10% of the sales will go toward our 1st Explorers ministry. Please come out and eat dinner in support of 1st Explorers!
Charlie's Challenge Was a Success!
My sincere appreciation and thanks to my church family for all the help you provided for the Jackson Neighbors in Need Charlie's Challenge Dinner. Because of you it happened and because of you it was a success. Just know that because of you, a lot of your neighbors will have help with their heat in the cold winter months. Many, many thanks.
- Ruth McConnell
A Note from Our FCA Partners
Charlie's Challenge
You are invited to a Fundraising Event to benefit Jackson Neighbors in Need. Neighbors in Need is a part of Mountain Projects and is a voluntary organization consisting of a group of local churches, organizations and individuals who work together to keep vulnerable individuals and families warm during the cold weather months. We do this in three ways:
1) provision of a cold weather homeless shelter, 2) assistance with heating bills, and 3) weatherization of homes.
Please respond as indicated on the invitation to let us know you are attending. We hope to see you on January 28.
Can't come but want to help? Please send donations to Mountain Projects, 25 Schulman Street, Sylva, NC28779, writing JNIN on the memo line of checks.
Hospitality Table Sign-Ups
We are looking for volunteers to sign up to host the Hospitality table after worship on Sunday mornings! If you would like to provide/serve snacks and drinks to our congregation one Sunday, please consider signing up for any Sunday through the end of May! You can sign up by emailing Kristin Fritts at fritts-kristin@aramark.com.
Also, we'd like to send a huge thank you out to everyone who has pitched in to help at the table this past year! We always enjoy being able to fellowship together after worship on our front porch steps.
How to Give to 1st Explorers
Our 1st Explorers Ministry continues to grow at First Baptist Church and many have asked how to support this ministry. There are several ways to support this ministry.
1) With your prayers! Pray for our staff that care for children daily. Pray for the children and their families. Pray that our programs leadership continues to listen to God and hear where he is calling us.
2) With your time! Come volunteer in the program. You could read with a child, assist in a classroom or provide a special program! Contact Kelly Brown our Director about volunteer opportunities!
3) With supplies! We are always in need to crayons, paint, pencils and more! Check with Kelly Brown our Director to find out what specific needs are.
4) Our Amazon Wish List here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/LKIDY053QS5O/ref=bnav_topnav_lists_2
5) Financially. The money that funds our 1st Explorers Ministry is mostly through tuition and contributions.
a. While the tuition assists in the overall costs of the ministry we know that it takes more than that to support the good work our staff is doing as the minister to children and their families. You can donate directly to the 1st Explorers Ministry which in turn will assist the annual budget of $133,000 for the program.
b. You may donate to the Lou Bryson Memorial Fund which is overseen by our Children’s Advisory Board. This fund was created by Lou Bryson’s family to honor her love for children and our community. This fund is used to provide scholarships for families and provide supplies for the 1st Explorers Ministry.
c. Provide Scholarships for students in our programs:
i. Wee Explorers Pre-School tuition is $250 a month.
ii. After School for one child is $85 a month, $130 for two children, $195 for three children.
Summer Explorers Camp costs between $600 and $1,200 depending on family sizes.
Operation Christmas Child
For our 2017 Shoeboxes, WMU would love to have any stocking stuffers that you didn't use or that may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but didn't work out. We would also be grateful for any clean, gently loved Beanie Babies! Just drop them off in our box in the Loving Kindness Room.
Christmas Offering Total
This year our Christmas Offering totaled $4,884.52! All of the money raised from this offering will be divided equally between our local mission partners: Jackson County Neighbors in Need, The Community Table, The Good Samaritan Clinic of Jackson County, and Circles of Hope. We are so grateful to have such a loving and generous congregation!