Three ladies went to Kentucky to support “our” missionary, Paula Settle. Her e-mails had been indicating a stressful several months; the death of a child after a long struggle with cancer; the stress of teenage foster children; and ending with the withdrawal of her funding from CBF next June. Paula has worked in Nada, KY, a “pocket of poverty” in the program Together for Hope for 15 years. (Incidentally, the same programs in Miami and Helena AK have also been defunded, so other missionaries are affected as well.) “What next?” is her question. Our church has supported her work through funding, sending teams to work, and this time to support her personally. She was in need of TLC which we gave her.
Thanks to the WMU groups and the Faith/Grace Sunday School class for helping to make this trip possible; funding the trip as well as sending “goodies” to cheer her. Keep Paula in your prayers.
Words of Gratitude from Tia Ashley
Words of Gratitude from Tia Ashley
During the month of November, we will be demonstrating our gratitude to our church staff. Some of our staff members will be offering their own words of gratitude for our church in the Chimes each week. We pray that these words of thanksgiving will model for us a spirit of appreciation for our church and for one another.
This week, we will hear from our Administrative Assistant, Tia Ashley, and from Dee Grantham.
Why I’m Grateful for First Baptist Church of Sylva
By Tia Ashley
One of the reasons I enjoy living in Jackson County is that I love the intimacy of small town living. I love knowing that if you go to the store you’re likely to run into everyone you know and their mother. I also love not having to wait in long lines or traffic every day, like you would in a busy city. And I love being able to find secret, quiet hideaways where you can get away from everything and enjoy being outdoors. Living here is just good for the soul.
Here at First Baptist Church, we have a tightly knit congregation that constantly proves to me another reason I love living in a small community. When I come to church on Sundays, I know I’ll be greeted by familiar faces and warm embraces. I have the comfort of knowing that sweet friends will take the time to stop by my office during the week and brighten my day. I’m grateful to know that if I am ever in need of help, there is a long list of church members who are willing to lend me a hand. This is the kind of church that sticks with you and becomes your family.
You can tell a church is a family by their willingness to help. Our church jumps at any opportunity to help by not only serving our community, but serving others as well. Our mission teams are making a difference both locally and beyond. A prime example of that is the Disaster Relief Team that just returned from Texas this week. They did such an incredible job being God’s hands and feet by helping those who needed it most. I am proud to be part of a church that is selflessly doing God’s work every day.
I am humbled and grateful that First Baptist Church of Sylva decided to let me into their family a little over two years ago. Thank you all for allowing me serve alongside you.
Tia—The Face and Voice of First Baptist
By Dee Grantham
One who is not familiar with First Baptist Church and walks into our office or calls, will, more than likely, encounter our Administrative Assistant first. What an important role Tia Ashley carries on her young shoulders. She does, indeed, become the face and the voice of our church. I ponder this fact and come away feeling confident that we are fortunate in that respect.
I cannot imagine the many tasks she is responsible for in her administrative role. However, I do work closely with her regularly, often requiring weekly, if not daily, phone calls to update our prayer list. In doing so, I am delighted to focus on her skills as I have observed them. First of all, her dependability and her availability are without question. I have never asked her to help me complete a task without her readily agreeing to do so. She makes one feel that your particular request is the most important item on her agenda at that time. That is an amazing quality. I have found her to have the computer expertise needed in her job, and her gracious spirit in dealing with all the ages and personalities among our membership is a valued trait. She exhibits a willingness and even an appreciation for learning and is receptive to any suggestions that make her more effective in her varied interactions with our membership. She seems to possess a style of quiet efficiency.
It is easy to take for granted the smooth day to day operation of any organization. We've come to expect that. This is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to give affirmation to Tia for her service to our church.
Mission Team Report
Our Disaster Relief Mission Team will be giving a report on their recent trip to Texas on Wednesday, November 8th at 6:00 PM in the MFC during prayer meeting.
Daylight Savings Time
Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 5th. Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour!
Youth Wednesday Night Dinners
On Wednesday nights, the Youth will now be eating in the MFC with the adults at 5:15 PM. Please continue to let us know if your child will be with us so we can reserve a free meal for them!
Rock-A-Thon
Our 1st annual Rock-a-Thon was a success! We raised $1,010.00 for United Christian Ministries youth food boxes. Thank you so much for your support and we look forward to having a rocking good time again next year.
1st Explorers November Updates
With Thanksgiving on the horizon, you’re invited to remember the things in your life that you’re most thankful for. Personally, I’m most thankful that God led my journey to Western North Carolina and that I get to learn, share and grow with children and their families in 1st Explorers!
During the month of November we have several exciting activities going on! We will provide extra information about these activities via our weekly newsletter and/or in the parent pick-up line. Sherrie Peeler from the Jackson County Cooperative Extension will be teaching our children about etiquette. Pastor Jeff will be leading a baptism seminar for the kids and we will have a Charlie Brown themed Thanksgiving Celebration on Monday, November 20th!
Additionally, we will have several fundraisers during the month of November. Local photographer, Heather Kindy, will be providing an affordable option for holiday family photos on November 12th and 18th. See the weekly newsletter for details on how to sign-up. On November 19th, following worship, local author and church member Karen Monteith will be having a sale and signing for her book “Redrick Raccoon and the Christmas Mystery” and all proceeds that day will go to support our 1st Explorers Programs!
I’m thankful for the many opportunities 1st Explorers is able to provide for our children!
With a thankful heart!
Kelly
Stay Connected With Our Friends in Cuba
Hola friends and family,
We continue to be buoyed by the grace of your prayers and good thoughts. Here's a link to my blog musing from Cuba.
-Stan Dotson
En El Aire (blog by Stan on Sept 25) https://www.facebook.com/notes/stan-dotson/en-el-aire/10155683536674266/
A Note from Diana Fisher
Dear church family,
Thank you for the cards and many well wishes after my surgery. Also, thank you for the visits to Jim while he was in respite care. Your love and kindness mean so much to us.
- Diana Fisher
Just a Snapshot, Really
It’s only a snapshot, of course, but it serves as a powerful reflection of our church family.
The first thing you notice when you look at the photo that we took on our front steps after worship on Homecoming Sunday is that it is incomplete. Yes, like a river or stream that you never step into twice, our church is always changing. But at its core, the church’s spirit is the same as it has always been.
If you look closely at our church family picture, you’ll see that folk are missing. Over a dozen of our most familiar faces are not in this picture because they are on the mission field serving and providing disaster relief in Texas. Others are absent from our church photo because they are serving in the kitchen and in the Mission and Fellowship Center, all helping to prepare a feast of a potluck lunch (I speak for all of us when I say how grateful we are for your hard work!). I might add that a mark of a healthy church is evidenced in the fact that some are always absent because they are serving.
Look again at our church photo. What else do you see? It won’t take you long to see every generation represented on our church steps. As we know, this is not easy to accomplish and we should be grateful for the gift of one another. Babies, children, youth, young adults, middle-aged parents, grandparents, retirees and senior adults are all present in our photo and in our church.
Consider, also, the diversity that is represented in our church photo. You’ll see various shades of skin tones, as well as different nationalities and ethnicities present on our church steps. Yes, there are guests, newcomers and fraternity members from Western Carolina University. There are new members (Welcome, McLeods, we see you!), newly baptized individuals and longtime church members who have come home to be with parents and grandparents.
Look closer and you’ll see smiles that are genuine. Families are split up and mashed together with other families. Friendships are on display here, as are reunions and reengagements.
It should be noted, also, that some of our beloved church members are not in our picture because their life circumstances have changed. Some individuals and families have new rhythms and they are no longer a part of our faith community. Some individuals are no longer able to attend like they once did because of health realities that minimize their movements. And some faces are missing because they have gone on before us to life-everlasting with God. Being church includes an acknowledgement that our community is incomplete, and that we miss and long for the company of those who are no longer with us.
Our photo is a fitting snapshot of who the church is. Our church is a community of attendees, guests, newcomers, life-timers, staff members, and recently acquired folk. It has holes and is incomplete. It harbors hurts and disappointments, sorrows and tragedies. It is full of celebration, is patient in hope, and is leaning into its future. The church is always a snapshot of God’s people, and it will always be fluid.
God is present in our church photo, and His love emanates from our expressions. There is room for more in our picture, which is beneficial, because we are growing! This is what the Body of Christ looks like, y’all. We are God’s gift to one another.
No wonder we’re smiling.