The Ladies Mission Circle will meet Tuesday, April 9 at 10:30 a.m. in the Gathering Room. The WMU Leadership Team will meet at 9:45 a.m. in the Conference Room, before the Circle Meeting. Please plan to attend!
Good Friday Service
There will be a Good Friday Service at St. John’s Episcopal Church this Friday, March 29, at noon for anyone wishing to attend.
Flowering of the Cross
The Flowering of the Cross is a tradition at Sylva First Baptist Church, symbolizing the ugliness of death being transformed into the beauty of the resurrection. The Table Fellowship Sunday School class takes the lead in decorating the cross but counts on members of the congregation to help by bringing fresh flowers before Sunday School on Easter. Please bring your offerings to the porch of the church on your way to Sunday School.
The result will be a beautiful and meaningful symbol for our church and community to see.
UCM Walk-a-Thon Was Fun for FBC Participants
Despite the threat of rain, the Walk-A-Thon for United Christian Ministries was a success with over $3000 raised just by those walking from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m., on Saturday. Additional money was raised through a raffle that day.
Participating in the walk from Sylva FBC were Kathey Clemmons (Board member of UCM), Emily and Mike Taylor (UCM volunteers), Cheryl Beck, Andrew Beck, Melanie Joiner, Truman Joiner, Bodhi Joiner, and Lucie Moore. Andrew was the official face painter for the event.
Thank you, FBC folks, for helping with this important community ministry!
1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update
"First Responders Week" was the theme for after school March 18-22. Two EMTs visited on Monday with a rescue vehicle. One of the paramedics was former staff member Jan, whom the children were very excited to see. This visit was followed by the arrival of an ambulance and paramedics. Alex Wittekind even got to take a ride on the stretcher.
The children delivered goody bags to the Sylva Police Department in appreciation for their work in keeping the community safe.
Generation Kids came on Thursday and talked about "if you have a pulse, you have a purpose." They told stories and played games with the kids. Pen Pal letters were also written during the week.
1st Explorers will not meet this week because of Spring Break.
Joe's Window
By Dr. Joe Yelton
Interim Pastor
I suspect that most of us live cautiously with an uncomfortable truth…Easter is simply not as much fun as Christmas. For the four or five weeks preceding Christmas, we party, carol, purchase, decorate and generally, act nicer than usual. Easter…well, we show up Easter morning to sanctuaries a bit fuller than usual but beyond that, not much. Why is that? Most believers would agree that the climactic event in human history was, is, and forever will be the resurrection of our Lord, the Christ. Why then does Easter, for many of us, get second billing to Christmas?
The quick answer may be: we love births, whether Bethlehem births or Sylva births. Deaths, particularly bloody, painful deaths, even deaths followed by resurrection, are hard to party, carol, purchase, decorate and act nicer around.
Maybe, just maybe, we are missing an essential point: Jesus coming to us in the form of Bethlehem’s baby was as much an act of contrition by God (leaving heaven’s glory for humanity’s indignity) as was Jesus dragging His broken body to the top of Golgotha’s pinnacle to be crucified.
I will always feel giddier about births than deaths, even deaths followed by resurrection. But what I FEEL isn’t the point. What I know, what I have experienced, what has transitioned me from what I was into a “new creation” is the point.
“What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow night, Maundy Thursday, as we prepare to join with Jesus in retelling the story of that first Holy Communion. Then, walk slowly on Good Friday, remembering that as Jesus looked down from the cross, He saw your face and mine. Then gather this Sunday, as we declare to any willing to hear, “He is risen, He is risen indeed.” It the greatest truth…ever!
WMU Bible Study
The Ladies Spring Bible Study will continue on Monday, April 1, at 10:00 a.m. in the Gathering Room. This is a study of the Book of Esther. The Old Testament story of Esther is a profile in courage and contains many modern parallels for today’s overloaded and stressed woman. Esther, while a queen, lived as an outsider in a hostile environment. Women will learn strong lessons of faith, providence, and hope to equip them to live courageously “for such a time as this.” This study will have video sessions led by Beth Moore. Study books are available in the Church office but are not required to do the study.
Church Office Closed
The church office will be closed on Monday, April 1, in observance of the Easter holiday. We will reopen on Tuesday, April 2, at 9:00 a.m.
Maundy Thursday Service With Communion
Unimaginably, Holy Week is upon us. A significant scheduling difference involves Wednesday and Thursday of next week. On Wednesday, March 27, there will be NO evening activities at church, including choir rehearsal.
On Thursday, March 28 at 6:00 p.m., we will gather in the sanctuary for a brief time of worship, as we commemorate our Lord’s inaugural communion. As you know, Maundy Thursday is the catalyst for Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Glorious Easter.
On Maundy Thursday, we’ll observe the Lord’s table through intinction. If coming forward presents a barrier to participation, the elements can easily be brought to you.
At approximately 6:45 p.m., the service will conclude and choir rehearsal will follow.
Yard Sale! Yard Sale! Yard Sale!
Just like everything else, the price of Passport has gone up this year! The children who are planning to attend from our church hope to defray some of the expense of this wonderful camp by hosting a yard sale in early May.
As you do your spring cleaning over the next few weeks, look through your house to see what you could contribute to make the yard sale a success. You may bring your items to the Sunday School room beside the choir room, beginning Wednesday, April 10. If you need help transporting items, please let Cheryl Beck know and we can arrange to have items picked up at your home. The date of the yard sale will be announced soon. Thanking you in advance for your contributions!