Each week we include a recipe in the Church Chimes and we hope that you are enjoying reading and trying them. You can add your favorite recipes to the Chimes by sending them to Cheryl Beck at cabeck@ncsu.edu. This is an ongoing WMU project.
Thanks for participating!
Children and youth are asked to bring the backpacks they are taking to school this year to the August 13 worship service at 10:30 a.m. There will be a special time during the service when we will ask God’s blessings on the new year and on the students and their backpacks. Please try to attend and invite your friends to come also!
On the last day of the “Down on the Farm,” Preschool Reading Program, the children heard 2 stories about sheep, made sheep puppets, went on a search around the church for “lost sheep”, and enjoyed a snack. Children went home with some books about farm animals. A big thank you to Andrew Beck for assisting with the last day’s activities.
Janelle Messer and her daughter Sparrow enjoyed the preschool reading program.
Siler Messer and Andrew Beck collaborated on a farmyard poster with lots of fun drawings during the last day of the reading program.
We are thrilled to announce a very special Homecoming celebration as we honor Dr. Bob Holquist for his remarkable 40 years of dedicated service as our Minister of Music. This momentous occasion calls for a grand reunion, and we are calling all FBC Choir alumni to join us in this joyous event.
On Homecoming Sunday, we will gather on October 15 in worship to celebrate Dr. Holquist's incredible contributions to our church and community. Prepare your vocal cords, as all former FBC Choir members are invited to return and raise their voices during the 10:30 AM worship service. Let us fill the sanctuary with the harmonious sounds of praise and gratitude!
In addition to the exciting reunion of our FBC Choir, we are honored to welcome former FBC pastor, Rev. Ed Beddingfield to fill our pulpit. Presently serving as the pastor of Memorial Baptist Church in Buies Creek, NC, Rev. Beddingfield will grace our service with his leadership.
After the worship service, we will continue the festivities with a feast for the ages in the Mission and Fellowship Center. It will be a time of fellowship, laughter, and reunion. This is an opportunity not to be missed as we commemorate Dr. Holquist's extraordinary tenure and the impact he has made on our church family.
Please help us spread the word about Homecoming 2023. In particular, share this announcement with any FBC Choir alumni or former members of our congregation who may not be aware of this special Homecoming celebration. Let's come together to make this day truly spectacular!
Save the date, mark your calendars, and join us on October 15 for a day filled with reunion, celebration, and gratitude. We look forward to seeing you there!
Happy voices of children and adults, the sounds of building blocks being turned into towers and castles, and the clatter of “food” being prepared all emanate from the church nursery most Sundays during the year. The colorful rooms offer a myriad of fun learning activities for young children. Especially popular with the current group of preschoolers is the Matchbox race track. Nursery at Sylva First Baptist Church is a busy and happy place during Sunday School and worship service.
In recent sermons, Reverend Mathis shared how Jesus used agricultural references in many of his teachings. The word “nursery” has roots (pardon the pun) in agriculture, specifically horticulture. As early as the 1560s, a nursery was a “place where trees are raised to be transplanted”. Other meanings include “attentive care” and “state of being fostered” -- all perfect examples of what our nursery represents.
An important aspect of the nursery are the volunteers who serve there. Over 20 adults serve in the nursery on a rotating basis during the year. Some are young moms and dads with nursery-aged children, some are parents of older children, some are grandparents and older adults, some have no children. There are even some older children and youth who volunteer alongside the adults. All share a love for children. They realize the importance of having a place for our youngest ones to be cared for, nurtured, and prepared for “transplanting” into the bigger church.
I recently came across an article entitled “7 Reasons to Serve in the Church Nursery” by Tony Kummer. It encapsulates my feelings about the significance of this special place and the volunteers who serve there. In a nutshell, the 7 reasons are:
#1: God is in the church nursery. When children are welcomed and loved in Jesus’ name, you can feel God’s presence.
#2: The workers in the nursery allow parents to focus on worship, rather than worrying about their children.
#3: The first (and sometimes lasting) feelings a child will have toward church is formed in these rooms.
#4: Nursery volunteers are special folks to be entrusted with the little ones God has given us.
#5: Volunteers follow Jesus’ example of putting others first. Their involvement is a ministry.
#6: First impressions are important. For young families, the nursery may be the first contact they have with the church. The friendly greeting and safe, nurturing care provided by volunteers make a great first impression for our church.
#7: Serving in the church nursery provides a powerful opportunity for prayer. Praying for children in their care is another aspect of this important ministry.
It is always fun to visit the nursery after worship service and see the interaction between the volunteers, the parents, and the children. The volunteers share how the morning went, the parents express their appreciation, and the children are excited to see their parents and show them what they have been doing. There is always clean-up to take care of but the nursery workers happily put away toys and take out the garbage, often with the help of parents and children.
There are smiles all around and I, for one, am grateful for this space in our church, for parents who bring their young children to church, and for the people who dedicate time to love and nurture our little ones.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
Add this email address to your contacts list on your devices so that our staff and Pastoral Care Team can learn of your prayer requests as quickly as possible. And yes, you may still contact the church office directly at 828-586-2095 to share your prayer concerns, as well.
Ladies! The Women’s Missionary Union regional Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Lighthouse Baptist Church on Hwy 441 S from 9-12. The cost is $15. The meetings are very interesting and since it is being held 4 miles from our church, it would wonderful for us to go. We will have wonderful speakers and it would be an excellent way to meet other WMU members in our county and Western NC. Hope you can attend! If you need help with your reservation, please call Gaye at 828-506-3270. To make your reservation yourself, send an email to assistlbc@frontier.com.
If you’ve been keeping track of your reading over the summer, please let Cheryl Beck know the number of books you have read by August 14th. Prizes await!
We're excited to invite you all to our Church-Wide Picnic at the beautiful Deep Creek Pavilion in the Smokies, near Bryson City! Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 27, as we gather for a day of fun, fellowship, and spiritual celebration.
Come early and dive into the wonders of Deep Creek! Whether you love tubing down the creek, admiring the majestic waterfalls, or taking a leisurely stroll on the shaded hiking trails, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Then, 4:30 PM: Join us at the Deep Creek Pavilion for our delightful covered-dish feast. Bring your favorite dishes to share!
6:00 PM: After the feast, we will gather at the creek for a special baptism service. Witness the profound expressions of faith and support our fellow church members.
Please be aware that the national park now requires parking fees for those without an annual or weekly parking pass. To avoid any inconvenience, plan ahead and ensure you have your $5 parking fee either paid onsite or online before arriving. Also, consider carpooling to share the cost of parking!
Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to connect with your church community while surrounded by our breathtaking mountains. We encourage everyone to bring friends and family, as this event is open to all!
Join us for a day filled with joy, fellowship, and a deep sense of love! Let's make memories together at Deep Creek Pavilion in the Smokies to close out our summer!
With the start of school on August 16 comes the 1st Explorers After School Ministry. We are anticipating another great year full of enrichment activities, fun, missions education, and faith encounters through Chapel and special guests. What a wonderful ministry this is to children who need a safe, nurturing place while their parents are at work.
Registration is taking place right now for the program but we know that there will be a few open spaces. If you know a family who needs this type of support, please contact Marina Graham for more information.
This program is successful because of the dedication of the Assistant Director Melanie Stokely and the staff who lead the program. In addition, the myriad of volunteers who give of their time and energy to the children is a tremendous boost to 1st Explorers.
If you would like to contribute to this important ministry of our church, you may want to consider volunteering a couple of afternoons a month or contribute some supplies that are needed. Check with Melanie Stokely or Marina Graham about volunteer opportunities. Perhaps your Sunday School class would provide some snacks or sports equipment. There are ways for you to be a part of the mission of 1st Explorers.
Here is a "Wish List" of items that would be helpful over the next couple of months:
Sidewalk Chalk
Balls -Footballs, basketballs, soccer, dodge ball, wiffle ball and bat
Hula Hoops
Checkers
Chess Game
Card Table
Dry Erase Markers
Paper Towels
Wipes
Cups
Plates
Healthy Snacks: graham crackers, apples, applesauce, granola bars, cheese and peanut butter crackers, popcorn, etc.
Band-aids (assorted sizes)
Items can be left on the cart at the back entrance to the church. Thank you for considering ways to be of service to this ministry.