Thank you to everyone who brought pasta and sauce for the United Christian Ministry spaghetti contest! Collectively, we were able to exceed our goal of providing over 200 spaghetti meals. And last but not least, congratulations to the piano side of the sanctuary for bring the most food items!
Sign Up for 1st Explorers Newsletter!
If you would like to receive updates about First Baptist's 1st Explorers Ministry, we encourage you to sign up to receive our 1st Explorers Newsletter! You can do so by submitting your email address at the bottom of the 1st Explorers page on our website. You can access it here: http://www.fbcsylva.com/first-explorers
Your Daily Dose of Advent
On Sunday during worship, we distributed a book of Advent Devotions to every family in our church. It is comprised of daily reflections, crafted by our own church members, to help guide our Advent Season. I am grateful for our church’s willingness to contribute to this project, and I want to make sure every family receives a copy. I think that you will find that the devotions give us a more intimate glimpse into our church family’s wisdom and insight.
Additionally, I’d like to draw to your attention to the first page of our Advent Devotional booklet. It’s a schedule for the Advent and Christmas Season. Be sure to include our church family’s holiday offerings into your own family’s plans this holiday season. (Tia: Please run the schedule as a chimes article)
If you have not already received your Advent Devotion book, you may pick them up at Sylva First Wednesdays, or on Sunday mornings, or in our church office.
When you do, you’ll be able to read excellent commentary on our Advent Season like Joseph Moon’s entry listed here:
‘The God of Hope’
by Joseph Moon
Wishful thinking is for magic and fairytales, right? Is there a difference between wishing and hoping? I think of wishing and hoping as two different things. I may “wish” that I could have a photographic memory OR I may “wish” I could retire a millionaire right now. On the other hand, hoping is being patient and deeply anticipating the unforeseeable future. I am thankful to God that He has graciously given us the greatest gift in which we can place our hope: our Lord Jesus Christ.
What exactly did Jesus do for us? What is He actively doing right now? If we are placing our life’s hope in Him, we need to allow Scripture to encourage us daily with a reminder (Rom. 15:4). We know that we have all fallen short of the glory of God and Christ is the only way to reconcile us with God (John 14:6). Right now, Christ is seated at God’s right hand with far more power than any current worldly rule (Eph. 1:20-21). Apart from Christ we have no hope, so rejoice in the hope we have through Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:2).
Life is never what we plan, schedule, or anticipate. This may come as an unwelcomed surprise for most of us. I know that, if necessary (1 Peter 1:6), I will face trails for a little while. I will take comfort in knowing that these temporary sufferings don’t even come close to comparing them with the glory that will be revealed in Jesus (Rom. 8:18).
Glory be to God for His love by giving us hope through Jesus to confidently sing together: “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future. And life is worth living just because He lives.”
When the Weather Outside Is Frightful...
Here are a few things to remember when snow, sleet and freezing rain are in the forecast:
1.) Wednesday evening programming will not be determined by local school closings. The church will broadcast any cancellation on Wednesday via an email, our church’s website, Facebook page and in the local media.
2.) If weather proves to be inclement on Sunday morning, we will make every effort to have church. If that goal proves to be elusive, we will likely A.) cancel Sunday School and offer only Worship at 10:30 AM; or B.) Schedule worship at 2:00 PM in the afternoon.
You may determine the status of our church programming at any time by checking our website, Facebook page, or our local media. A decision will be made at least two hours prior to the regularly scheduled event.
Lastly, thank you for your understanding in advance as we strive to make decisions that are complicated by weather conditions which create different realities in our county due to location and elevation. Overwhelmingly, we are striving to to provide continuity of ministry offerings while balancing concerns about road conditions.
Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes
A big shout out and thank you to Sylva First Baptist Church! You donated a total of 180 shoe boxes to this year's Operation Christmas Child ministry. Pastors around the world host shoe box distributions in places where people may not know Christ and invite them to follow Him. Other churches use the boxes as resources for outreach in orphanages and other at-risk areas. Please continue to pray for the shoe box recipients.
Thanks to the Decorating Team!
A huge thank you to everyone who stayed and decorated the church. It went wonderfully and I am very thankful for all the volunteers who gave up their afternoons to make sure that the church was ready for the Advent season!
Mission Moment from India
Our Church is pleased to support CBF Global Missions in moments like these where unity and love are modeled and shared.
Sewing Training Centers are key platforms to share God's true love in India. Needy widows and teenage girls are the beneficiaries of this sustainable community-based program. With six months of training, each one develops a new skill to support their family with dignity and respect. At Graduation they receive a sewing machine, a Bible and a certificate that enables them to work anywhere with job orders coming directly to their homes. This program is opening hard hearts and dark corners of the community for the Gospel.
- Sam Bandela, CBF field personnel, India
Holidays at the UC
Christmas Offering
If you're looking for a Christmas gift for a loved one, choose to give a gift in their honor/memory through our Christmas Offering! Income we receive from this offering will be divided equally between our local mission partners, namely: Jackson County Neighbors in Need, The Community Table, The Good Samaritan Clinic of Jackson County, and Circles of Hope. When you make a contribution to this Christmas Offering, the church will send an informative–and handsome!–Christmas card to the person you are choosing to honor. Christmas Offering envelopes are available in the pew racks in both our sanctuary and church office.
Storage Area for Pews
First Baptist is trying to sell some of our church pews, but in the meantime, we are looking for a space to keep them. If anyone has space (maybe a storage unit or garage) and is willing to keep the pews there until we sell them, please contact John Dills or Harold Messer.