We regret to announce that—out of an abundance of caution—the church picnic that was originally scheduled for this Sunday, July 21, has been cancelled due to a number of COVID cases within the congregation.
Joe's Window
By Dr. Joe Yelton
Interim Pastor
Across the land, almost like a mantra, I hear Christians say of their church: "I want my church to grow." Don't you suspect that for many, what is actually being said is, "I wish my church was as I remember it in the past." That's noble and good.
Yearning for the church family to have new faces in our midst week by week ... seeing families move to the community and joining us here ... watching our children and youth thrive in their faith development, all of these and more are healthy desires for any congregation. To that end, may I offer a few thoughts?
Do:
Introduce yourself to an unfamiliar face, even risking discovering they've been here for a while. Your friendliness is almost always the reason people decide to return.
Offer to sit with people new to our faith-family. It's terribly lonely feeling like the odd- person out.
See if they'd like to join you in the coming week for a coffee or lunch.
See if you might answer any questions they have about us.
If it seems appropriate, offer to introduce them to the church ministers BUT CERTAINLY, introduce them to those seated around you.
If they've just moved to your neighborhood, welcome them into your life and your church.
Don't:
Avoid rushing others toward participation. Let them find their pace as well as their desires for involvement.
People will flourish in the places they are given room to find their own way. Avoid trying to fulfill YOUR agenda for them.
Everybody's different. Don't encourage those discovering our church to become like you. Let them find their own thumbprint for "being the church."
Avoid negative words and speak positively. Anybody ... anybody can find the rips in the tapestry of life. It takes a special person to help rethread the torn places. Be that person.
In the end, precious friends, give love and grace ... first, midterm, and last. (wash, rinse and repeat -:: } Joe
Enchilada-Stuffed Shells
(from Taste of Home Pasta Recipes)
ingredients
15 uncooked jumbo pasta shells
1 pound lean ground turkey or beef
1 10-ounce can enchilada sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 cup refried beans
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and rinse in cold water. In a nonstick skillet, cook turkey or beef until no longer pink, drain. Stir in enchilada sauce and seasonings, set aside.
Place a rounded teaspoonful of refried beans in each pasta shell, then fill with meat mixture. Place in an 11”x7” baking dish coated with cooking spray.
Cover and bake at 350 degrees F. for 25 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese. Bake 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Tip: Remove pasta shells from water with tongs. Drain any water in shells and place on waxed paper until ready to fill.
– Provided by Sarah Davis
Enchilada-Stuffed Shells
Click here to download a printable version.
-Provided by Sarah Davis
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.
Recipes Appreciated!
Each week we include a recipe in the Church Chimes and we hope that you are enjoying reading and trying them. You can add your favorite recipes to the Chimes by sending them to Cheryl Beck at cabeck@ncsu.edu. This is an ongoing WMU project.
Thanks for participating!
Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries is in need of: shampoo (prefer 2-in-1 shampoo & conditioner), body wash, deodorant, toothpaste, child diapers (all sizes), cereal, spaghetti sauce and spaghetti noodles. To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive. Thank you!
Hurray for Our Nursery Workers of the Week!
Hurray for Melanie and Izzy Joiner for taking care of the nursery last Sunday.
Looks like they were busy!
Next week, Brooke Dills is in charge of the nursery. Thank you, Brooke, for helping in so many ways.
Ways to Stream Our Worship Service
Watching the Sunday worship services has become much easier to stream for remote viewers who have smart TV devices. Rather than navigating to the First Baptist Church website or to YouTube on a computer, iPad, or phone, you can now download the “Boxcast” app on the following smart TV devices: Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, or any smart television having direct Internet connectivity. Using your device, go to the “App” icon and search for “Boxcast.” Once the “Boxcast” app is downloaded, search for First Baptist Church of Sylva. For future viewing of the service, simply click on the “Boxcast” app and click on our church’s service for that particular Sunday. Viewing the worship service on a TV screen instead of a computer device will hopefully provide a more meaningful worship experience for the remote viewer.
Mission Moment 7.17.24
Brian Foreman
CBF Coordinator of Congregational Ministries, GA
The conversion of Saul receives lots of attention in Scripture. However, there is a figure in the middle of this story with whom I resonate more each time I encounter the story. Ananias has a dream from God inviting him to go restore Saul’s vision and deliver a message of instruction from God. I cannot help but read his response to God in verse 13 in the voice of a somewhat sarcastic college student: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man!”
Consider it: God tells him to go to the most oppressive member of the Jewish religious leaders and make sure he’s all fixed up. In fact, God even tells Saul that Ananias is coming to him. I would have been sarcastic with God just to hide my fear. And yet what does Ananias do? He acts faithfully and goes to Saul. We probably do not give ordinary people credit for heroic acts like this; and yet it is Ananias that forms me to be courageous when being faithful, even in hard situations. He must have considered arrest or even death as a real possibility. That is a far more significant response to his faithfulness than any rebuke or rejection I might face.
Pray...Give...Go.
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.