There will be a VBS Volunteers Meeting this coming Sunday at 4:00 PM in the Mission and Fellowship Center. Contact Kelly Brown with questions.
Summer Time and the Livin’ Is Easy
Although Memorial Day Weekend typically signals the unofficial start to summer, First Baptist Church got a week’s headstart.
No, I’m not referring to the typical summer-like pattern that evolves in our mountains with foggy mornings and afternoon thunderstorms. I’m referencing our children’s campout and sleepover this past weekend. As our 1st Explorers Ministry Director, Kelly Brown, details in his own reflection, the young men in our Royal Ambassador program went on a campout to the Davidson river while our Girls in Action had a sleepover at the church.
On Saturday morning, I drove across Highway 276 to rendezvous with the boys as they began to strike camp after a wet night in the Pisgah Forest. Yes, the boys and their leaders were a bit damp, but the bacon that Chris Moore was frying had everyone in a festive mood and the boys played whiffle ball beneath the drippy canopy of leaves. There was an unmistakable feeling of accomplishment among them, and I delighted in the sense of community that had sprung up among the men and boys. With the smell of a campfire flooding my nostrils, I couldn’t help but smile as the men drank coffee and the boys acted like boys. After a long and at times torturous winter, we had finally made it to summer.
Summer is a time for Sabbath-taking. It is ripe for new rhythms, late dinners and walks along a lush river valley. Summer is also a unique time for service and ministry as the season provides unique opportunities to assist our friends and neighbors while we tell them the “old, old story” of Jesus and his love. At First Baptist, we will strive to honor both rest and mission.
Here are some highlights of what we have planned for this summer:
-Sylva First Wednesdays concludes for the spring on Wednesday, June 6. Our Wednesday night programming in the fall will begin anew on August 22.
-Our joint Vacation Bible School with other downtown churches will run from June 11-15 in the mornings at Bridge Park. There are countless ways that you can serve the children and our families that week. Join us to help lead the children’s small groups, or to provide water for volunteers, or to visit with parents, or to help set-up tables and tents, or to simply be a part of the joyful chaos that is Vacation Bible School. Truly, the sound of children’s laughter is a balm for a sick and weary soul.
-Speaking of children, our 1st Explorers Ministry will again be offering their robust offering to the community with our Summer Explorers Camp. Although you may not have a child or grandchild participating in this wall-to-wall summer ministry opportunity, your Sunday School class can choose to partner with Kelly and our staff to provide unique opportunities of connection with children and their families this summer. I can think of no better ‘home’ mission opportunity than for a group, ministry, circle or couple to adopt a summer camp group of children who will be on campus with us over 40 hours each week. Think of the relationships that could be built and strengthened!
-As a church family, we’ll gather for fellowship on three Sunday afternoons this summer to relax, play and devour ice cream. Yes, we’ll be headed to the pavilion at Deep Creek in the Great Smokies Mountain National Park on June 24 where we’ll eat and play, and we’ll have our traditional potluck picnic at East LaPorte on August 26. But sandwiched between these two events will be a new gathering where we’ll have supper on the church grounds. On Sunday afternoon, July 15th, we’ll enjoy a hot dog supper followed by a veritable feast of ice cream afterward. It’s been some time since we crowned an ice cream maker champion, so get your recipes primed and ready for our contest after supper that evening.
-Of course, it’s not summer without the crack of a bat. Although our children and youth will be at their respective Passport Mission Camps the week of July 4th, that won’t stop the rest of us from taking in an Asheville Tourists game on the 4th of July at 7 PM. We’ll drive separately but sit together. And after the game, we’ll be invited to head out onto the field to take in their fireworks display. Tickets are $10 each and must be purchased by June 4th in our church office.
-Oh, and there’s much more. Our youth will be meeting together on Mondays from 4-6 PM each week, and there will be church hikes and a host of other mission opportunities to be a part of, as well. We know that your family will be traveling and vacationing this summer, but we also hope you’ll choose to broaden your chumminess with our own church family this summer, also.
Summer is a sweet, sweet gift and we’re not about to waste it. So, look around and see God at work in our beautiful mountain home. Feel the mist from a thundering waterfall. Take in an evening with friends by a fire pit. Barbecue on a rusty grill by a cement picnic table in the national park. Listen to the melody of the songbirds. And above all, be thankful.
It’s summer, and the time is ripe to play, rest and serve.
RAs and GAs Activity Weekend
This past weekend was full of excitement and growth as our Girls in Action spent the night in our Mission and Fellowship Center and our Royal Ambassadors spent time together camping at the Davidson River Campground. For the past few years, our RAs and GAs have been meeting during After School to provide some overlap with our 1st Explorers Ministry and church. By my account, this has created an opportunity for our larger church to become more involved with our After School ministry through building relationships with children and our college student staff.
On Friday, there was a buzz among girls as they prepared to spend the night eating pizza, painting nails, having a pajama fashion show and growing closer to one another. A similar buzz was happening as boys were preparing for an exciting evening and morning camping at the Davidson River Campground. Our boys spent time playing whiffle ball, making hamburgers, singing, hanging around the campfire, touring the Cradle of Forestry and growing closer together as well.
Both of these events were spearheaded by individuals from our church who felt called to share with our children as they grow in the faith. The success of these events and many others are a testament to our commitment to pass on the faith to our children and their families. It’s my prayer that we will continue to find authentic and creative ways that we can learn, share and grow together in Christian community.
Vacation Bible School 2018
Holy Week Activities
March 25th - 31st is Holy Week! Here are some activities we will have going on that you can participate in:
Wednesday, March 28: Wednesday Night Activities - We will have our usual Wednesday night activities this week, including dinner, Adult Bible Study, and Children/Youth activities.
Thursday, March 29: Maundy Thursday - Join us at 6:30 PM in our church sanctuary for a special Maundy Thursday service.
Friday, March 30: Stations of the Cross - Our sanctuary will be open all day for you to have an experiential journey with Christ to the cross through stations that will include scripture readings and object lessons.
Sunday, April 1: Easter Sunday - Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with us at First Baptist Church in Sylva on Easter Sunday morning, April 1st at 10:30 AM. An Easter Egg Hunt for children will take place on our playground immediately following our service. Bring your family to worship and hear the story of Easter with us.
Kickoff to Kindergarten
Nursery Volunteers Needed
Are you interested in being a volunteer in our nursery on Sunday mornings? Please email Meredith at m.keskula@yahoo.com to be added to the schedule for the remainder of the year!
Children's Ministry Day 2018
Children's Ministry Day 2018 was a success as children took "missions on the road" last Saturday. The children visited HomeBase on the WCU campus where they learned about this student ministry sponsored by the Baptist Children's Homes, toured the building, and met interns working with the program.
The highlight of the "missions road trip" was packing over 130 gallon-sized ziplock bags with toiletry items or breakfast foods. Those will be available to students who come to HomeBase for help meeting basic needs.
After a pizza lunch provided by WMU, the children and adult helpers boarded the church bus and headed back to Sylva, ready for more mission adventures over the next few months!
Nineteen people participated from Sylva FBC on the trip, with many others providing soap, shampoo, granola bars, etc. A big thank you to all who helped. A special thanks to these children who participated: Lucie Moore, Mattie Moore, Ellen Mathis, Zeb Mathis, Oliver Kindy, Parker Kindy.
We are proud of you!
CALLING ALL CHILDREN GRADES 1-6!
You are invited to participate in Children's Ministry Day sponsored by WMU on Saturday, February 24th. Meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. and travel by van (or carpool with your parents) to visit HomeBase on the campus of Western Carolina University. Learn about this special ministry to college students who have been in foster or children's home care. While there you'll pack some goody bags for the students, tour the building, and have pizza! You'll be back to church around 12:15.
Please register to attend by calling the church office by Thursday, February 22nd. You will need to fill out a permission slip to participate. Also, please bring any of these items that you can to help fill the goody bags: hotel-size soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, non-perishable breakfast foods (granola bars, Pop-Tarts, instant oatmeal, etc.)
Don't miss out! Have a part in missions right here in Jackson County!
CALLING ALL ADULTS!
Help our children in grades 1-6 have a meaningful Children's Ministry Day on February 24th (see preceding article). While the children are at HomeBase that day, they will be packing small bags that Director Jim Dean says are needed by the students he works with. Please bring items for Toiletry Bags -- hotel-size soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, small tissue packets, hand sanitizer, etc. Also needed are items for Breakfast Bags -- think non-perishable foods that would help start a student's day. Please bring granola or breakfast bars, fruit cups, instant oatmeal packets, Pop Tarts, trail mix, dried fruit, etc. A box will be earmarked in the Loving Kindness Room for this purpose and items should be brought by February 23rd.
Let's help make our children's hometown mission project a success!