If you would like to provide flowers in the sanctuary for Sunday morning services, please contact Gwen Messer at 828-506-8370, or Janice in the church office to be placed on the calendar.
The Audio-Visual Team Needs Your Help!
Weekly, we broadcast our service to YouTube.com and FirstBaptistSylva.com, with 30 to 50 connections. During the broadcast, one camera focuses on the pulpit, and another showcases different church areas. However, the camera’s only capture the front half of the pews, making it seem like there’s less attendance. We ask that the congregation please consider moving closer to the front during the service. If attendees could sit closer to the front, it would accurately reflect our congregation’s size. Your help in showing the true might of our congregation is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Ash Wednesday Service TONIGHT
Please join us TONIGHT for our Ash Wednesday Service marking the beginning of the Lenten season. The service will be held in the Sanctuary beginning at 6:00 p.m. and will be led by Dr. Joe Yelton.
Sunday School and Childcare is Available!
Joe's Window
By Dr. Joe Yelton
Interim Pastor
Nothing exists in a void. Fill a glass with water, the substance and composition of fluid consumes the space within the vessel. Now, pour the water out. What now fills the glass? Air.
The laws of the physical universe have their counterparts within our spiritual beings. To make room within yourself for something new, something else must be vacated.
Entering the holy season of Lent, we are to inspect our lives and determine why we live them as we do. Further, what are the places within your life that slow you, or worse, decrease your meaning. NOTHING LIVES IN A VOID. Where the unproductive and negative are abandoned, embrace the spiritual practices of scripture reading, meditation, and service to others.
Essentially, this is the work of the next six weeks within our church. This is the work of Lent. We not only march toward Easter, we do the hard work of shedding the debris of our lives. Then, the harder work begins of instilling faith practices that draw us nearer to our holy God.
Do the work! It’s good work. If you seek the face of God, and determine what needs to be released and, what needs to be taken up within your life, you will find yourself in the midst of the most extraordinary Easter… Ever!
Quick-Four Frittata
With just 4 ingredients and 20 minutes, you’ll have a dish on the table. Get kraken’!
Ingredients
4 cups baby spinach leaves (6 ounce bag)
4 eggs, beaten
4 tablespoons Mexican style finely shredded four cheese
4 slices bacon, cooked, chopped
Instructions
Cook spinach and 1 tablespoon water in medium nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat 4 to 5 minutes or until spinach is tender,stirring occasionally. Mix remaining ingredients; pour over spinach. (Do not stir.) Cover; cook 5 minutes or until center is set.
NOTE: The uncooked spinach will generously fill the skillet but will cook down quickly.
–Mary Anne Roos
Quick-Four Frittata
Click here to download a printable version.
-Provided by Mary Anne Roos
New Family-Care Program
We are initiating the Family-Care program which is similar to the Deacon-Care program we had for years. This time the program will use volunteer church members along with some deacons.
In the next month you will be receiving the name of the person who has volunteered to be your family care person. This person will connect with you and work in close liaison with you and your family. You can contact this person in a time of crisis, in a time of joy, when church concerns or questions arise, or just to talk.
If you would like to volunteer to be a member-care person, please contact Jennie Hunter (828 399-0623 jnnhunter@aol.com) or Ann Melton (828 421-7689 meltonann@att.net).
Carey Phillips Honored
Church member Carey Phillips was recently honored for his 42-year streak of attending and reporting on Smoky Mountain High School athletics. He covered 1,102 consecutive women’s basketball games during his tenure, a record sure to remain unbroken! Congratulations, Carey, on a career well-lived. First Baptist Church of Sylva is proud of the example you set and to call you a fellow member.
1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update
Assistant After School Director Kayla Hartman reports that 1st Explorers had a great week of learning about kindness and patience. In Chapel on Monday, Cheryl Beck shared the story of Ruth; Tuesday’s Chapel centered around the difference in niceness and kindness and the children were encouraged to THINK before speaking, 1st Explorers Alex Wittekind and Maddox Howell led Chapel and did a wonderful job sharing the story of “The Boy Who Shared HIs Lunch.”
Missions Friends and GAs made Valentine cards for nursing home residents on Wednesday, while RAs got to practice their sportsmanship in a lively game of kickball. RAs also welcomed two WCU students, James and Christian, who have volunteered to help with this mission group. Thank you to Andrew Beck for leading RAs for several weeks.
Rounding out the week, Curtis from the Health Department shared the importance of having patience with others. On Friday, the children shared their favorite part of the week and the most challenging part of the week, then finished off with a movie.
Below:
(From Left to Right) Sawyer Anderson was welcomed back to 1st Explorers in February; The newly installed tire swing is enjoyed by Ava and the other children in 1st Explorers; Maddox and Alex leading chapel.
Ages 70+ Lunch to Be Hosted by Children of the Church
If you are 70 years of age or older, have we got a meal for you! The children of the church invite you to a "Blooming Into Spring" lunch right after worship on Sunday, February 25, in the Mission and Fellowship Center. They are preparing a simple but tasty meal and providing entertainment to boot! It will be a good time to fellowship with new and old friends.
Please let us know that you are coming by calling the church office at 828-586-2095!