First Explorers Update & Thank You!
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Mission Moment 11.15.23
Rev. Ashley Mangrum
Assistant Chaplain for Pastoral Care and Interfaith
Support at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN
Dense fog is not uncommon on the mountain where I live. (Actually, it’s not a mountain; it’s a plateau. But those who live in Sewanee, Tennessee affectionately call it The Mountain.) The thickest fog I have ever seen rolled into Sewanee a few minutes before a meeting of Grief Circle (a grief support group I facilitate on the campus of the University of the South) was to begin. I pivoted from the material I had prepared for the day and, instead, led the group outside to experience the fog.
I guided the group in a walking meditation in which we practiced putting one foot in front of the other—even when we could not see the path ahead. We went slowly, but kept going. We named our feelings of disorientation and fear. We came to appreciate what we could see—the dulled outline of a tree, the green hues of the moss that somehow seemed brighter on the stones at our feet—even while acknowledging what we could not. We talked about what we could not see but knew was there. We paid attention to the sounds—or lack thereof—and the way our bodies, minds and spirits felt as we made our way through the fog. It was the perfect metaphor for grief. Experiencing the fog in this way enabled the participants to talk about the dense and heavy grief through which they were walking.
Recently, I’ve found myself in a time of uncertainty as I moved with my family from rural middle Tennessee to the Boston area. I imagine many of you can relate to the unknowing and resulting fear that come with a major life transition. Where will we live? What shape will my calling take in this new place? What is best for our children?
I am surrounded by a thick cloud of “I-don’t-knows.” It’s much easier and certainly more comfortable to stay put, safe from the discomfort of limited visibility and uncertainty. In this season of uncertainty, prayer has not kept me out of the fog. Prayer has helped me experience the fog more fully and, in doing so, given me the space to process it. Stepping into the fog, into the unknowing, has been an act of prayer. Putting one foot in front of the other, moving forward despite not being able to see, is prayer. Allowing myself to simply be in the thick of it—in whatever spiritual or emotional fog that has rolled in—is prayer. It’s acknowledging that which I cannot see, but know is there just beyond my line of vision.
Pray. . .Give. . .Go.
Church Passenger Bus for Sale
The church Trustees recommend selling the church’s 2005 Ford E-450 24-passenger bus which is no longer being utilized. The Trustees have discussed the possible sell with the Board of Deacons and the Deacons have suggested presenting the recommendation before the church membership at the November 15th Fall Conference for discussion and a vote.
Main reasons for selling the bus:
Not being utilized.
No longer needed for larger groups.
We have a smaller church van to accommodate our needs and After School Ministry.
The E-450 bus is 18 years old with an odometer reading of 61,789 and expensive to maintain.
The E-450 bus requires a Commercial Driver’s License to operate.
Family Christmas Fun Event
On Sunday, December 3, families with school-aged children and preschoolers are invited to the Christmas Family Fun Event in the After School Room right after worship service. Lunch will be provided. Afterwards there will be crafts, games, and fun for the entire family. Please let Cheryl Beck know by November 26 if your family will be attending. (NOTE: The Sylva Christmas Parade will be at 3:00 p.m. that same day.)
Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries is in need of pasta sauce, ramen, pancake syrup, applesauce (6-pack individual cups), and laundry detergent. To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive. Thank you!
Join Us for Worship!
Join us for worship on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary! Also join us for Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. for all ages!
The CDC recommends that you wear a mask indoors.
Maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others.
Our worship service will be streamed online at firstbaptistsylva.com.
Sunday School and Childcare is Available!
Adult Book Study Concludes November 29
Join us November 29 at 6:00 PM as we conclude our discussion of Phyllis Tickle's book, The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing & Why.
"Rooted in the observation that massive transitions in the church happen about every 500 years, Phyllis Tickle shows readers that we live in such a time right now. She compares the Great Emergence to other "Greats" in the history of Christianity, including the Great Transformation (when God walked among us), the time of Gregory the Great, the Great Schism, and the Great Reformation.
Combining history, a look at the causes of social upheaval, and current events, The Great Emergence shows readers what the Great Emergence in church and culture is, how it came to be, and where it is going. Anyone who is interested in the future of the church in America, no matter what their personal affiliation, will find this book a fascinating exploration."
If you are a student of history and have a heart for the future of our church, obtain a copy of this thoughtful and faithful book and dive in! You can order it on Amazon here.
Wednesday, November 15 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Gathering Place Room
-Please come to our discussion having completed the book (through Part 3).