Giving the Jesus Way

United Christian Ministries requests that we temporarily suspend providing supplies and instead provide monetary donations.  Given the current situation with Hurricane Helene’s suppliers, the needs of clients are changing daily.  A monetary donation will allow them to purchase specifically what is needed at any point in time.  To donate, please drop off a check at 191 Skyland Drive or mail it to PO Box 188, Sylva, NC 28779.  Thank you!

1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update

This week, we had an “Uncle Sam” week. Jay Coward came and spoke to the kids about the importance and process of voting and what is like to hold local office. We had an election of our own to elect an After School president with Ivy Abbey winning the title. We are gearing up for our Christmas program, so we had play practice as well, while the beautiful fall leaves provided a plethora of fun outside! 

Three Ways You Can Help 1st Explorers

  1. Assistant Director Kayla Hartman would love to have some folks from Sylva FBC help with the monthly Bible Q&A Time.  Please see her for more details.

  2. Anyone who would like to share a skill, present a program, read a story, etc., for After School would be most welcome.  Just let Kayla know.

  3. Snacks are always appreciated.  Leave individually wrapped snacks on the cart at the back entrance to the church.  

1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update

This Halloween week we did a “Gavin the Friendly Ghost” Mad Lib and walked the pumpkin patch (a game mixing the concepts of music chairs and four corners). We made “funny bones” as our snack (pretzel sticks with marshmallows dipped in white chocolate) while we listened to the Valley of the Dry Bones Story from the book of Ezekiel. We did an experiment of mixing white vinegar and baking soda inside of a bottle with a balloon as the lid and watched the CO2 blow the balloon up to reveal a little balloon ghost. And we finished off the week learning Christmas songs for the Christmas show!

Three Ways You Can Help 1st Explorers

  1. Assistant Director Kayla Hartman would love to have some folks from Sylva FBC help with the monthly Bible Q&A Time.  Please see her for more details.

  2. Anyone who would like to share a skill, present a program, read a story, etc., for After School would be most welcome.  Just let Kayla know.

  3. Snacks are always appreciated.  Leave individually wrapped snacks on the cart at the back entrance to the church.  

We need some itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny cans of Van Camp’s Beanee Weenee!

We are all stretched tight financially with the recent storm devastation and our determination to respond to the urgent needs that will persist for months to come. But as we look forward to Christmas let us remember the public-school children whose families experience food insecurity. United Christian Ministries of Jackson County (“UCM”) will again sponsor their annual Christmas Food Bag Project. UCM will fill 650 grocery totes with food for the children to take home for the long holiday break. This is a significant increase over its past food bag target because not only has the need in Jackson County increased, but also because Manna Food Bank, one of UCM’s primary partners in addressing food insecurity, was impacted by Hurricane Helene and is operating at only limited capacity. 

Our church is committed to providing 650 Beanee Weenee Pop-top cans (Original flavor, 7.75 oz.) to help fill the grocery totes. We need your help! Please add this item to your grocery list and place the cans in the Loving Kindness Center. (Through the door at the front of the Sanctuary on the piano side.) Additionally, UCM needs volunteers to help assemble the food bags so that they may be distributed before students are dismissed for the Christmas break. The “Bag Packing Party” will be at the First United Methodist Church of Sylva on Saturday, December 14, beginning at 8:00 a.m. 

P.S. We have been notified that the Sav Mor grocery store has ordered an extra large supply of Beanee Weenee’s for anyone wanting to shop for them there.