Join Dining for Jackson to Support Jackson Neighbors in Need

On Tuesday, March 5, Dining for Jackson will work to support Jackson Neighbors in Need. We will meet at 11:30 a.m. in the Mission and Fellowship Center of Sylva First Baptist Church. We hope you will come, bring a covered dish, donate what you would pay if you ate at a restaurant, and enjoy the fellowship of folks who have a heart for the poor. 

Jackson Neighbors in Need, (JNIN) was organized in November of 2009. Its main purpose was to keep people warm from November through March and not let anyone die from the cold. This idea came about when Patsy Davis was working for Mountain Projects and was helping people in the community who were having trouble paying their power bills and had exhausted all assistance with no place to turn. 

One day the money came to an end. The next person in line was a grandmother trying to raise two grandchildren. Mountain Projects had to turn her away after checking with other agencies that had also exhausted all their resources. Rumor has it, that night's homework was being done by candlelight and somehow the house caught on fire. The grandmother and the two children died in the fire. That absolutely broke Patsy’s heart. So, Patsy, together with Bob Cochran, Director of the Department of Social Services at that time, with Charles McConnell, a friend concerned about people, got together and formed Jackson Neighbors in Need. The purpose of this group was to help people when they were out of money and in a bind, to keep the heat going when it was cold. Since Charlie’s death, his wife, Ruth McConnell has worked tirelessly to make sure the needs of the poor are met.

The first year the group spent about $50 per household and served about 25 families. In the year 22-23, the group served 273 families with heat at a cost of $54,214 and special needs at a cost of $13,294. Also, many generous donations from individuals in the community made it possible to give away approximately 248 blankets, scarves, hats and gloves!

United and together we can make a difference in our community! So please join us on March 5 at 11:30 a.m. and let’s work to help the needy in our county.

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.

Flowers for Sanctuary

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.