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.
Children, parents, and grandparents: Be sure to check out the Children's Library next time you are at church. There is a good selection of Christmas books for toddlers through older children as well as some holiday DVDs. There is also a Christmas scavenger hunt (with prizes) you can do while you are in the library. Check it out!
I always remember that, as a kid, I was so impressed with some of the prayers I would hear in church, especially those in the King James/Reina de Valera version. You know, the ones, with the old language words. Since that was the language of the Bible, I thought those were the prayers to which God gave priority.
Another thing that impressed me was the length of the prayers. The only time I did not like the long prayers was when we gave thanks for our meal. The elders of our church would hold our hands while giving thanks. I always thought it was to keep us kids from eating during the long prayers. How did they come up with so much to say? My prayers always seemed to be short and to the point. I would ask my Sunday school and discipleship teachers and my pastor how could I learn to pray like that; but they would try to explain it to me with theological church words which they themselves probably did not understand.
One day, during a sermon on the Pharisee and publican’s prayers, it dawned on me. It was not so much about the words we use in our prayers, but our attitude before God. Then, a few years later, I learned about the things we do as an activity, rather than living it as a lifestyle. What did Jesus mean to pray without ceasing? Do I really need to close my eyes? Do I have to kneel, sit or stand? Does it have to be while everybody is still sleeping to count? Do I have to sacrifice something so that God will listen to my prayers? The more I pondered, the more questions came to mind.
As a (rotten) kid, my grandmother would punish me by making me kneel in a corner of the house. Every once in a while, she would check up on me. She knew me too well. She would ask me if I was still kneeling and my response was that on the outside I was kneeling, but on the inside I was standing up. That was how rebellious I was! Is that not what we do sometimes before God? We give the appearance of being humble, but in our hearts, we are filled with pride and standing up.
Before leaving for India in 2002, we would ask people to give to missions. Come and do missions, we would say and, if nothing else, pray for missions. When we first returned to the United States, we apologized to those to whom we had said those words. It was during our first years on the mission field that we realized the best thing anyone can do for us is to pray. Many times we would find ourselves ready to give up because of the situation we were in and, almost like clockwork, at our lowest points, we would receive a note, a letter, a phone call from someone letting us know they were praying for us. WOW! We came back and asked everyone to simply pray for us. We learned that when people pray for us, they will want to support the work we are doing and to be a part of it in other ways. They might even come join us! With all my heart, I believe this is the power of prayer.
PRAY . . . GIVE . . . GO . . .
The church office will be open next week
on Wednesday and Thursday, December 27 & 28,
from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Merry Christmas!
Please join us on January 2, at 11:30 a.m. in the Mission and Fellowship Center of Sylva First Baptist Church as we work to help Habitat for Humanity. Bring a covered dish and enjoy the fellowship of folks with a heart for helping those in need in Jackson County.
Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
They partner with people in our community to help folks build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. With your support, Habitat homeowners are able to achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and for their families.
This organization relies on gifts from folks like you to help families in need of decent and affordable homes and all donations of any amount are deeply appreciated.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit Christian housing organization. All who desire to be a part of this work are welcome, regardless of religious preference or background. They have a policy of building with people in need regardless of race or religion and they welcome volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds.
Their mission is to put God’s love into action and to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope.
The principals of Habitat are 1) to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ, 2) to focus on shelter, 3) to advocate for affordable housing, 4) to promote dignity and hope, and 5) to support sustainable and transformative development.
So please come dine with us on January 2 and help this wonderful organization as they work to provide folks in need with a decent place to live. You will not only enjoy a wonderful meal but you will hear about the work Habitat is doing in Jackson County and you can become a part of making great things happen for those in need.
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!
Begin your family’s Christmas celebration with the story of Christ’s birth! Join us on December 24th for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Come early at 5:00 PM to light a candle in the windows in memory of a loved one and to hear Christmas music before the service. Then, beginning at 5:30 PM, our family-friendly service will capture the wonder of Christmas with familiar carols, the retelling of the Christmas story, and the glow of candlelight. Afterward, gather your family in front of our beautifully decorated Christmas tree for a classic holiday photo. Don’t miss this opportunity to create lifelong memories with your entire family!
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!