Homecoming 2023 Is Sunday, October 15

We are thrilled to announce a very special Homecoming celebration as we honor Dr. Bob Holquist for his remarkable 40 years of dedicated service as our Minister of Music. This momentous occasion calls for a grand reunion, and we are calling all FBC Choir alumni to join us in this joyous event.

On Homecoming Sunday, we will gather on October 15 in worship to celebrate Dr. Holquist's incredible contributions to our church and community. Prepare your vocal cords, as all former FBC Choir members are invited to return and raise their voices during the 10:30 AM worship service. Let us fill the sanctuary with the harmonious sounds of praise and gratitude!

In addition to the exciting reunion of our FBC Choir, we are honored to welcome former FBC pastor, Rev. Ed Beddingfield to fill our pulpit. Presently serving as the pastor of Memorial Baptist Church in Buies Creek, NC, Rev. Beddingfield will grace our service with his leadership. 

After the worship service, we will continue the festivities with a feast for the ages in the Mission and Fellowship Center. It will be a time of fellowship, laughter, and reunion. This is an opportunity not to be missed as we commemorate Dr. Holquist's extraordinary tenure and the impact he has made on our church family.

Please help us spread the word about Homecoming 2023. In particular, share this announcement with any FBC Choir alumni or former members of our congregation who may not be aware of this special Homecoming celebration. Let's come together to make this day truly spectacular!

Save the date, mark your calendars, and join us on October 15 for a day filled with reunion, celebration, and gratitude. We look forward to seeing you there!

1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update

1st Explorers have been busy with a variety of activities this week.  In Chapel, they’ve been learning about children in the Bible.  RAs and GAs have been interesting and fun.  There’s been lots of outdoor play in the cooler fall afternoons (still warm!) and Curtis Collins visited again from the Health Department, bringing his dogs for the children to see.  

Some time was spent this week in preparing for the Christmas program which the 1st Explorers and children of the church will be presenting in December.  Auditions were held on Friday for the major speaking parts.  The program will be filled with music, Scripture readings, and skits.  It promises to be a lot of fun!

Thank you for the outpouring of contributions from our “wish list”!  Sylva FBC — you are the best!

Thank You

Dear First Baptist Church of Sylva,

We are overjoyed. Thank you for having a clothing/food drive for our students.The food donated is perfect for us to send home with hungry kids and easy for them to make on their own. All the clothing is such a blessing and will allow us to continue to support our students by providing clean, well-fitting clothing and undergarments. We are so grateful of your continued support, generosity and kindness.  Thank you for being a part  of our community. 

Christina Daniels, Jackson Community School, Community School Circle

Giving the Jesus Way

United Christian Ministries is in need of  pasta sauce, ramen, pancake syrup, applesauce (6-pack individual cups), and laundry detergent. To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive. Thank you!

Southern Coca Cola Cake

This southern Coca Cola Cake is a classic!

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional (I think the cinnamon brings out the chocolate flavor even more)
1 cup butter or margarine or two sticks or 16 tablespoons
1 cup Coca Cola (I always use regular coke and have not tried it with any other kind)
3 tablespoons 100% pure cocoa
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting for Coca Cola Cake:
1/2 cup butter or margarine or 1 stick or 8 tablespoons
3 tablespoons 100% pure cocoa
6 tablespoons Coca Cola
1  1 pound package powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pecans or nuts of your choice, optional

Instructions
For cake, combine sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a large bowl and mix well using a wire whisk.  Combine butter, the 1 cup of Coca Cola, and cocoa in a pot on the stove and bring to a boil, stirring often.

Remove from heat and pour over flour mixture.  Mix with a spoon.  Mix buttermilk and baking soda together and pour into cake mixture.  Add marshmallows and continue stirring.  (Your marshmallows will not melt.)  Add in eggs and vanilla extract.

Pour into a sprayed 9”x13” pan and bake in preheated 350 degrees F. oven for 30 to 35 minutes, testing for doneness.  Frost.

For frosting, bring margarine, cocoa, and Coca Cola to a boil on top of the stove.  Remove from heat and add vanilla and powdered sugar until frosting is of spreading consistency.  You can either stir in nuts or sprinkle on top of the cake.  Spread over hot cake.

–Provided by Tonya Lloyd

Southern Coca Cola Cake

Click here to download a printable version.

--Provided by Tonya Lloyd

Third Annual GA Camping Trip September 30

The third Annual GA camping trip will be held at Standing Indian Campground on September 30 (we will leave the church at 1:00 p.m.) and will return on October 1. Please let us know ASAP if you plan to attend by returning a sign-up sheet to Gaye, Sandi or Melanie by this Friday, September 22. We will have church services Sunday morning at the campground and will return to the church for parent pick-up by 5:00 p.m.

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.

Open House for Preschool, Children and Youth Sunday School

Parents, please plan to pop in to the children's Sunday school room on Sunday, October 1, from 9:25 to 9:40 a.m.  There will be yummy refreshments, time to meet your child or teen's Sunday school teacher, and a kick-off for a “Parents Prayer Challenge.”  Stop in the youth room and in the nursery to check out where the preschoolers and teens "hang out."  Sunday school will follow the informal gathering.

The children's Sunday school room is located on the second floor in the corner facing the playground.  Please come visit us!

Mission Moment 9.20.23

This past year has brought to me a collection of simple, but radical truths. The more I grow, the more I reckon with the reality that I fall short, that I get distracted easily and that I can’t do everything right. Prayer for me has been a surrender that doesn’t always want to surrender. In the naked loneliness, I am met with the truth: “You are beloved,” says the One who orchestrates the rhythm of my breath. I have been coming to God, not always with something to say, but to just be with God. And that is hard. It is in this human natured resistance of wanting to work to be enough that the beautiful irony of the gospel is revealed to me. A perfect God would send God’s son to die for me. The more I sit with the realization that I always come empty-handed and wordless, whether I believe it or not, the more I crave to come back to that place. When you grip something, it creates tension and after a while you begin to ache and strain. It feels good to not hold anything. Besides, we need empty hands to be able to continue tending to God’s Kingdom on Earth. 

Pray. . .Give. . .Go.

Help!

Someone left an envelope full of great recipes in the church office but did not include his or her name.  We want to use these delicious recipes in the Church Chimes but we also want to identify the wonderful cook who submitted them.  Please email or text Cheryl Beck (cabeck@ncsu.edu) with your name.  We can't wait to use them!