We are still in need of a leader for Royal Ambassadors. Please be in prayer that someone will come forward to teach these wonderful boys.
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.
Recipes Appreciated!
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!
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them
I love seeing children participate in worship! Whether it’s waving the palm fronds for a Palm Sunday processional or coming to the front for the Children’s Message, or performing a skit, or reading Scripture, it just makes me happy to see them.
In the two small Baptist churches I grew up in, children played an important role in worship. We helped with the offering and we had a great youth and children’s choir that sang every Sunday. My friends and I knew that our participation was valued by the adults in the congregation. We also realized that we were worshipping the Lord in our own unique way.
Once a year we had a Children and Youth Sunday which was a very special occasion. The entire worship service was led by the young people from the music to the sermon.
These early experiences in worship leadership helped me understand how important a child’s participation can be in their faith formation. I daresay each of the children at Bethel and Jackson Line Baptist churches (who are now in their fifties and sixties) are grateful for the opportunities afforded them to have a role in worship.
Ashley Danyea, a Christian musician and educator, in her blog, offers four reasons she believes that children’s participation in worship is an important ministry of the church. They are:
Inviting: Welcoming children (and their parents) into the church and into worship is one of the greatest, most sincere ways to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Inclusive: Creating a place for children in worship and giving them opportunities to participate offers a message of inclusivity and acceptance and gives children responsibility, ownership, and a renewed sense of belonging.
Intergenerational: Inviting children to participate in worship gives them a unique opportunity to serve alongside older teens, young adults, middle age members, and seniors, creating a new sense of community for all.
Inspiring:Watching children lead worship — through song, word, and action — is inspiring to all involved. Everyone benefits.
Sylva First Baptist Church values children and provides many opportunities for their spiritual growth. Taking a leadership role in worship is an integral part of this growth. Thank you, First Baptist, for recognizing this and encouraging our children in this way!
My Favorite Blueberry Muffins
This is my favorite!
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar (can use brown too -- or a mixture of white and brown)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries plus 1 teaspoon flour
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners. Combine the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon flour over the blueberries and stir gently to coat the blueberries. Gently fold in the blueberries. Fill muffin cups to the top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.
Note: You can swap out the all-purpose flour for self-rising flour -- and then omit the salt and baking powder.
–Tonya Lloyd
My Favorite Blueberry Muffins
Click here to download a printable version.
-Provided by Tonya Lloyd
Snacks Needed for 1st Explorers
1st Explorers After School Ministry is in need of help with snacks for the new semester. We appreciate your contributions in the fall. Your snacks help offset the cost of the ministry — and the children love them!
This Sunday’s Guest Preacher
Doug Murray is a native of Raleigh. He was trained at Wake Forest University and Southeastern Seminary. He has served churches in Baltimore, MD and eastern NC. He is the Pastor Emeritus of First Baptist Church of Wilson, where he served for 22 years. He was also the Moderator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of NC from 2017-2019. Almost six years ago, Doug and his wife Candy moved to Weaverville to be near their daughter Whitney, who with husband Jay have a six year old son, August. Candy and Doug are the President Couple of Better Marriages NC. They are members of First Baptist in Asheville.
Speaking of the Nursery...
Please take a few minutes to peek into the church nursery prior to the called church conference this coming Sunday. Your observations will help you make an informed decision about the upcoming vote on refreshing the nursery.
Pen Pals Set to Begin Soon
The Pen Pal Project, in its 4th year, will begin soon. This is an opportunity for the adults in our congregation to connect with the children from our church and from 1st Explorers After School Ministry by corresponding through letter writing. The children are always excited to receive a letter and their replies to their pen pals helps with their literacy and writing skills.
Cheryl Beck will be contacting folks soon about participating. In the meantime, please let her know if you are interested.
Devotional Resource for Families/Youth/Children
Passport Camps offers a daily devotional resource that is easy to access and use. The devotionals can be used by the entire family or individuals. Check them out at passportcamps.org/kids and download 365 Daily Devotions on an app on your phone.