There will be a drop-in bridal shower for Hannah Doolittle, granddaughter of Frank & Rachel Wilkie, on Sunday, March 5 in the Gathering Room from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Bringing a favorite recipe instead of a card has been requested.
Youth Newsletter
Click HERE to view the spring youth newsletter!
Sylva First Wednesday Returns Wednesday, March 1!
Join us for a time of table fellowship on Wednesday, March 1! Whether food from your kitchen, the grocery store, or a restaurant, you may put your food offering on the tables in the MFC beginning at 5:15 p.m. A blessing will be offered at 5:30 p.m, and then we will dig in!
At 6:00 p.m., we will watch the fifth episode, season two, of the series, The Chosen. In this episode titled, “Spirit,” Jesus is now pursued by Simon the Zealot, Atticus, and Shmuel after stirring the water. John the Baptizer visits the group and tells Jesus his dangerous mission. Meanwhile, back at the camp, Mary Magdalene is devastated by an encounter with a mysterious and dangerous stranger.
We look forward to seeing you and your family! Children have their own dedicated time together while the adults and youth watch The Chosen in the Mission and Fellowship Center.
Run and Tell!
Families of children ages 6-11 are invited to participate in a Lenten journey starting on Ash Wednesday. "Run and Tell" is a 40-day missions-based program to help families prepare for Easter. Each family participating will receive a calendar with suggested activities to complete every day during Lent as well as a weekly devotional guide that complements the theme of sharing the Good News.
If you are attending the Ash Wednesday service on February 22 (the first activity on the calendar!), see Cheryl Beck for your family's "Run and Tell" kit. If you won't be there, please let Cheryl know that you want to participate.
Sunday School and Childcare is Available!
Hurray for Our Nursery Workers of the Week!
Thank you to Ally Lima, a 1st Explorers staffer, for filling in in the nursery this past Sunday. We appreciate you!
Brooke Drum will be in charge of the nursery on February 26. Thank you, Brooke.
There is still room on the schedule to serve “the least of these”
on Sunday mornings. It is a blessing to see their smiles and enthusiasm as you spend
time with our infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Please contact Cheryl Beck (cabeck@ncsu.edu) if you would like to help.
Join Us for Worship!
Join us for worship on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary! There is no Sunday school on this Christmas Morning.
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.
Two Dips!
Two Dips
Take your pick—a savory and a sweet one!
Dill Dip
Ingredients
8 ounces Hellman’s mayonnaise
8 ounces sour cream
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped onion
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped parsley (dried)
1 1/2 teaspoons beau monde (Spice Islands spice)
1 1/2 teaspoons dill weed
Instructions
Mix together and chill.
Fruit Dip
Ingredients & Instructions
Mix equal amounts marshmallow creme and cream cheese.
Two Dips!
Click here to acess a printable version of the recipes. Both recipes provided by Ruth McConnell
Thank You, Church Family!
Dear Church,
We would like to express our thanks to you for your calls, prayers and cards. The love and care shown by our pastoral care team was greatly appreciated. A special thanks to Reverend Dr. Jeff for supporting us when it was most needed. His wonderful words and prayers were very comforting during this time of great sorrow. Please accept our deepest gratitude.
–Louise and Frank Burrell
Mission Moment 2.15.23
Eddy Ruble
CBF Field Personnel in Penang, Malaysia
I have always connected with nature and creation. Several years ago, I moved from road running to trail running in the woods. During the pandemic, my refuge became weekend hikes and trail running in the jungles of Malaysia. Walking prayer became where I found rejuvenation of mind, body and soul. “Forest bathing,” or as the Japanese call it, Shinrinyoku, has proven to be beneficial physiologically, psychologically and spiritually. It reduces stress and builds up the immune system as one inhales the microbes present in the forest and as one absorbs the sights and sounds of nature along the way. Combining physical exertion, nature and the spiritual elements, each step and each breath become a prayer of connection with creation, with God, and with my inner being. As I run, the sun’s first rays filter through the jungle canopy. The forest floor is bathed with golden streams of light. Monkey troops send out audible alerts from the treetops as I pass below. The screech of a sea eagle pierces the sky above. The sun’s rays of light activate a cacophony of alluring song birds as the dawn’s katydid songs fade. I love being out in nature. Nature’s healing power is amplified in the dawn hour.
Often, when I start my hike, my mind is filled with thoughts, tasks, responsibilities, or emotions layered deep. On particularly stressful days, I may feel the tension in my chest. With each step I climb, with each breath, I inhale rejuvenating oxygen while absorbing the serenity of the jungle. Starting at sea level, my hikes always begin with an uphill climb. How long does it take for my mind to slow down, for the thoughts to dissipate? Twenty minutes, maybe 45 on a stressful day. But inevitably, at some point, a shift occurs. Usually, the change is so subtle that I am not even aware there was a switch. By the time I turn around and start my journey back, my mind has shifted, my spirit has lifted. The stress and strain of life has evaporated in the dawn mist. I breathe in. I breathe out. As I make my way downhill, with a quickening pace and the agility of a trail runner, euphoria and joy fill my soul. I feel alive, firing on all cylinders!
I can never recall a time at the end of a hike or run when I didn’t feel better than when I began. Never have I thought I wasted an hour while out in nature. Why? Because that is where I find God. It is where I connect with creation and myself. God met Moses on a mountain top. God met David in the Judean hills while he shepherded sheep. Jesus was known to withdraw from the crowds and go up on a hill to pray. I meet God in profound ways, surrounded by creation on jungle trails, as my prayers harmonize with my movement and my breath.
Pray...Give...Go.