Everyone is invited to the Walk-A-Thon to benefit United Christian Ministries on Saturday, March 23, at Smoky Mountain High School. The "Super Hero Stroll" will take place from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. In addition to the fun walk, there will be live music, face painting, a costume contest, and more.
Let your inner "super hero" come out to play and walk to raise funds for this vital ministry in Jackson County. Register at www.ucmsylva.org or call 828-586-8228.
Easter Sunrise Service will be held at First Presbyterian’s pavilion Sunday, March 31st at 7am. A light breakfast will be available following the service. Attendees have been invited to provide breakfast items such as fresh fruits, donuts, pastries, bagels, etc. Coffee & other drinks will be provided by First Presbyterian.
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.
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.
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.
Everyone is invited to the Walk-A-Thon to benefit United Christian Ministries on Saturday, March 23, at Smoky Mountain High School. The "Super Hero Stroll" will take place from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. In addition to the fun walk, there will be live music, face painting, a costume contest, and more.
Let your inner "super hero" come out to play and walk to raise funds for this vital ministry in Jackson County. Register at www.ucmsylva.org or call 828-586-8228.
I stumbled upon someone who has been nurturing my faith via Instagram. His name is J.S. Park. His post caught my attention and immediately I began to scroll through his feed reading about his experience as a hospital chaplain and father to a two-year-old daughter. Park shared stories about entering the room when patients were intubated, holding space for grieving families and the moments when he got it wrong. His stories resonated with me. I had recently resigned from being a hospital social worker in the intensive and neuro-intensive care units. At times, by patient or patient’s family request, I had conversations regarding faith, illness and grief. I realized not many people gave the patient or family the freedom to feel.
Reading Park’s posts felt like balm to my weary soul and reminded me of the precious work social workers, chaplains, pastors, ministers and everyday people can experience if we open ourselves to it. I think in Christian circles we often propagate the idea of false positivity. We fear the stillness; we do not want to feel the discomfort when someone shares their grief. We want to silence people’s fears, worries and pains, and we quickly brush them off with a quick blurt of “God is in control.” God says “do not worry.” “They are in a better place now.” “Look at the bright side.” And the list goes on and on.
Park shares about being present with people where they are. He says, “They say it’s not easy. But I don’t believe it’s always so hard. Sometimes it is harder not to. It can take seconds to be gracious. As simple as breathing. Or one look. It is hard to break systems. To heal DNA. To march against hostility. To create safe policy. And to protect those with stolen dignity. But it begins here, between you and me. Usually the best theology is you.”
J.S. Park has influenced my spiritual practice and theology in challenging me to be present. To live in the now—not where we romanticize the past, glamourize the future, or wish to be in the tomorrow. We become blind to the weeping mother, the angry brother and the sick child. In Scripture, we find Jesus seeing, looking and turning his gaze towards a person, a group, a crowd. We find Jesus having compassion. We find Jesus hearing and listening to those whom the rest of the group rebukes and tries to silence.
May we also live like Jesus—God with us—and be present. Present to see and hear those around us. May the divinity in us see the divinity in them.
“I see you. I hear you. I am with you. I am for you. I am here.”
J.S. Park is a Korean American, son of immigrants, hospital chaplain, and Christ-follower. He has a blog called “J.S. Park: Hospital Chaplain, Skeptical Christian—A blog for busted-up, beat-down people (like me). He is also the author of The Voices We Carry: Finding Your One True Voice in a World of Clamor and Noise. He is currently working on a second book on grief coming out in May 2024.
The Ladies Mission Circle will meet Tuesday, March 12 at 10:30 a.m. in the Gathering Room. Please plan to attend. Vickie Lewis will be telling us about the Pregnancy Center she works with to provide care to low income mothers and children. Please bring diapers and/or baby wipes to donate to this program.
Our nomination process for choosing new Deacons has begun. Those elected will serve for a three-year term to begin May 1. Following is the Deacon nomination process timeline for this spring:
March 3 thru 10: Absentee ballots are available in the church office or can be mailed upon request. Absentee ballots must be received at the church no later than March 10th.
Sunday, March 10: In-person voting will take place. Ballots will be distributed and collected during worship service. Again, absentee ballots must be received by this date.
Wednesday, March 20: Announcement of those who have accepted the call to serve as Deacons will be published in the Church Chimes.
Please be in prayer for this process. We as a church have a bright future. Those answering the call to serve will be instrumental as we look forward to new ways to share His love.
Click here to view the deacon nominee handout which includes a list of the nominees.
We have initiated the Family-Care program. Your Family-Care 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 have not been contacted by someone and would like to be, please alert Jennie Hunter (828 399-0623 jnnhunter@aol.com) or Ann Melton (828 421-7689 meltonann@att.net).