Joe's Window
By Dr. Joe Yelton
Interim Pastor
When I was pastor in another place, a professor in that congregation came to me just before Mother’s Day and explained that she would not be in church the coming Sunday. Her story was a hard one to hear and, I’m certain, a far harder one to experience.
Her mother had been a brutish, angry, belittling, and abusive mom. Her brilliant daughter experienced this throughout her growing up. The split second she was old enough to leave home, she did. There was never an effort to reconnect, either by the mother or her daughter. Her mother, now deceased, was for her a nightmarish memory. At some point, she discovered that it was best to skip church on Mother’s Day rather than hear the accolades being heaped upon mothers and the institution of motherhood. Such remarks were as sandpaper to her heart and salt in her wounds.
To this day I remember the depth of feeling she had for her painful childhood. Yes, I thanked God that my mama was none of those. However, that was not enough. I promised this woman that if she could give Mother’s Day at church just one more try, I’d do my best to make it meaningful and filled with hope.
Mother’s Day morning, she was there. I realized what a risk this was for her. As promised, the service was uplifting without being insensitive to the reality that not all have sweet memories of their mothers. The next morning, she dropped by my office and asked for an hour of my time. Within twenty minutes we were standing at the graveside of her mother. This was the first time she’d visited her mom’s grave. Initially, she spewed her venom at the grave-marker. Tears flowed from both of us. But then, something happened. Quietness overtook us. She said, “God is here.”
For the first time she felt pity for her mother. For the first time she crawled out of the grave of hate and pain she’d grown accustomed to, and looked for God, and found God. Yes, she was already a believer, but for the first time in her life, she felt a cleansing that had been desperately needed all her life. Leaving the graveside, she kissed the tips of her fingers and laid them on the top of the gravestone and said something to the effect, “I’m going to try to learn to love you, mama.”
And she did. It’s never too late to learn to love those who’ve been unlovely to us. She didn’t miss a Mother’s Day service after that. Better than that, years later when a terminal illness was soon to claim her, she purchased a burial plot directly next to her mother’s. It’s never too late to learn to love that deeply, thanks be to God.
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School time is almost here! We are partnering again with churches in the downtown Sylva area and each one has a job to do. Sylva FBC is in charge of the set-up and take-down each day and the Bible story time. Harold Messer and his phenomenal crew of strong men are already making plans to put up and take down tents, tables, etc. Thank you!
Cheryl Beck will be leading the story time but a volunteer to assist each day would be great! We are also in need of some "props"—camping gear like a lantern, coffeepot, a fake campfire (bricks or rocks to make the ring), etc. If you have something we could borrow to make our "campsite" more realistic or if you would like to assist, please let Cheryl know.
Volunteers are also needed to be Group Leaders and accompany the different age groups to the various stations. If interested, let Cheryl know.
Please remember to register your child for VBS by using the QR code shown here. Scan or click on the QR code above, or click here to register now!
Take Note of the Accompanying. . .
There is so much going on in the next month. We hope that you will download and print out the attached list of events so you can be sure not to miss all of the fun!
Pen Pals Celebration
Another successful spring Pen Pal Program is coming to an end and we want to celebrate! On Thursday, May 23, adult pen pals are invited to don their most colorful tropical shirts, grass skirts, and colorful T-shirts and pants/shorts for a Hawaiian-themed party on the playground. You’ll get to meet your pen pal and enjoy taking part in the games and activities with them from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Soon adult pen pals will receive an assignment for the day through email. Watch for it and get your best hula dance and limbo stretch ready!
Chicken Salad Casserole
Ingredients
2 cups cooked, diced chicken
3 boiled eggs
1 can cream of celery soup
1 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons chopped onion
2 cups potato chips, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
Mix all ingredients; put in greased baking dish. Crush additional potato chips for topping. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.
This dish is good hot or cold. May be prepared the day before.
– Provided by Othello Crawford
Chicken Salad Casserole
Click here to download a printable version.
-Provided by Othello Crawford
Send Us Your Prayer List Updates
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.
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.
Take Note of the Accompanying. . .
There is so much going on in the next month. We hope that you will download and print out the attached list of events so you can be sure not to miss all of the fun!
1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update
Damon enjoys building with Legos and blocks during some downtime at 1st Explorers.
The focus of 1st Explorers last week was learning about different countries. On Monday and Tuesday, the children split into groups to read some library books about other places and then they came back together to share 3 facts about each one. They learned a lot! On Tuesday, Donnie Smith made tacos and 1st Explorers watched a video about Mexico. It was a fun week!