We invite you to join us for a showing of the recording of Sarah Beddingfield's memorial service in our Gathering Place. It will be shown on Wednesday, February 21st at 4 PM. The service lasts about 90 minutes.
Charlie's Challenge
Book Drive for Appalachia Mission
Dear Fellow Members of First Baptist,
The gift of reading can be a powerful tool for any child.
However, for those who live in poverty, their resources are slim, as are the schools and parents that support them.
We are starting a book drive to support Scarlette Jasper and Paula Settle, The Baptist Missionaries in Kentucky, who are supported by WMU.
Our thought is that most of us will be visiting extended family and friends this month for the CHRISTmas Season. Many of these people may have children’s books (Ages 3-17) that are simply sitting on the shelf and no longer being used.
We are thinking it would be wonderful if they would donate these books to this Mission.
Also, Dollar Tree has some terrific books for the youngest readers.
Our goal is that no one needs to spend a lot of money, or any money, to participate!
This is the start of our Children’s Books for Appalachia Mission. We are looking to collect books for children ages 3 to 17. There is a bin in The Loving Kindness Room located by the elevator where you can leave your book donations.
We feel confident that we can reach our goal of 1,000 books by the end of January 2018, with your help and God’s Blessing.
Gratefully, Diane and Charlie White
UPDATE: We now have 612 books! Please continue to help us reach our goal of 1,000!
New Year Message from Pastor Ernesto in Cuba
"Beloved brothers and sisters from First Baptist church of Sylva,
For this year, we wish for you guys to start the year with health and peace. We are living through some difficult times at the moment, which we have to place in the hand of God.
We are praying for all of you, asking God that you all are well, and that if there’s anything going on with your family that God will take control of the situation and guide you to a solution. This new year, our church is going to focus on family, in which we include you.
I found out from Pastor Jeff what happened to the wife of one of your former pastors. This news is very sad and difficult to manage. We are praying that God will give you wisdom as you grieve their loss and respond with kindness and support. When difficulties and tragedies occur, put your energy into what can happen next so that God’s redemptive power can spring into action.
We love you and will remember you in our prayers during the coming year, and will hope alongside you that 2018 will make our love for Jesus Christ stronger."
A hug,
Ernesto and Marisol
Updated: Help for the Beddingfields
As many of us are aware, the house of our former pastor, Ed Beddingfield, burned down in a rapid and terrible fire on Christmas Eve. Tragically, Ed's wife, Sarah, died in the accident. Their daughter Shannon suffered burns and is in ICU in Chapel Hill (Most recently, we have learned that Shannon is in stable condition after having a successful procedure on Sunday to improve the functionality of her lungs). Both Ed and Meghan did not sustain any injuries and have abundant support from their church family and their friends.
In addition to lifting them up in prayer, there are three things that you can do to help the Beddingfields:
1.) Give. Most, if not all, of their possessions were destroyed in the fire. While donated items will be available to them, their most pressing need is money to purchase basic needs. You can help the Beddingfields by giving a love offering to them. Monetary donations may be made directly to the Beddingfields. Mail to: Memorial Baptist Church, PO Box 485, Buies Creek, NC 27506.
2.) Search and Share. The Beddingfields’ pictures have been destroyed in the fire. One thing you can do is search through your own photos for pictures of the Beddingfields when they served at First Sylva in the 1990s. Once you find them, bring these photos to the church office and we will turn them into digital files by scanning them so that we can share them with Ed. Our church office will be open Wednesday the 27th and Thursday the 28th, and will reopen after the holiday weekend on Tuesday morning, January 2.
3.) Send a Card. Condolences can be sent to Rev. Ed Beddingfield c/o Memorial Baptist Church PO Box 485, Buies Creek, NC 27506.
Lastly, a service for Sarah is not imminent as Ed wishes for their daughter Shannon to be out of the hospital and able to attend. If these plans change, we will promptly let you know.
Letter from Cindy and Raye Parker
Dear Church Family,
I would like to thank our Church Family for all of your prayers, telephone calls, beautiful cards, gifts, flowers, visits to Mission Hospital and Smoky Mountain Health/Rehabilitation Center in Waynesville I received during my recent illness.
Your thoughtfulness and kindness was very much appreciated. May God bless you and we wish you a Healthy and Happy New Year – 2018.
Thanks again,
Cindy and Raye Parker
Help for the Beddingfields
As many of us are aware, the house of our former pastor, Ed Beddingfield, burned down in a rapid and terrible fire on Christmas Eve. Tragically, Ed's wife, Sarah, died in the accident. Their daughter Shannon suffered burns and is in ICU in Chapel Hill. Both Ed and Meghan did not sustain any injuries and have abundant support from their church family and their friends.
In addition to lifting them up in prayer, there are three things that you can do to help the Beddingfields:
1.) Give. Most, if not all, of their possessions were destroyed in the fire. While donated items will be available to them, their most pressing need is money to purchase basic needs. You can help the Beddingfields by giving a love offering to them. Checks may be made out to First Baptist Church of Sylva, with the note: 'Beddingfield Love Offering.’
2.) Search and Share. The Beddingfields’ pictures have been destroyed in the fire. One thing you can do is search through your own photos for pictures of the Beddingfields when they served at First Sylva in the 1990s. Once you find them, bring these photos to the church office and we will turn them into digital files by scanning them so that we can share them with Ed. Our church office will be open Wednesday the 27th and Thursday the 28th, and will reopen after the holiday weekend on Tuesday morning, January 2.
3.) Send a Card. Condolences can be sent to Rev. Ed Beddingfield c/o Memorial Baptist Church 271 Leslie Campbell Ave, Buies Creek, NC 27506
Lastly, a service for Sarah is not imminent as Ed wishes for their daughter Shannon to be out of the hospital and able to attend. If these plans change, we will promptly let you know.
A Letter from John Deitz
On the cold morning of Tuesday, December 12th, while snow was on the ground, a group of men from First Baptist Church was at my house at 8:00 AM. They bulit a handicap ramp for my house within about 5.5 hours. These men did fabulous work. I really appreciate that they took the time and had the skill to build my ramp. Please let these men know that I thank them.
Merry Christmas
- John Deitz
Letter from AWAKE
Dear First Baptist Church of Sylva,
Thank you for your recent donation to AWAKE. It is greatly appreciated! Each dollar donated helps us continue our mission to provide hope and healing for abused hildren and their families through coordinated services in a child-friendly center. We are so grateful to have people like you who understand how important it is to protect and empower our children. Again, we thank you for being a leader in child advocacy!
Sincerely,
Renee Coward
AWAKE Children's Advocacy Center
Operation Christmas Child Packing Party
Photos from our Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Packing Party!
#shoeboxes2017
#285boxes!
#thankyouFBC