The church office will be closed on Monday, April 1, in observance of the Easter holiday. We will reopen on Tuesday, April 2, at 9:00 a.m.
Maundy Thursday Service With Communion
Unimaginably, Holy Week is upon us. A significant scheduling difference involves Wednesday and Thursday of next week. On Wednesday, March 27, there will be NO evening activities at church, including choir rehearsal.
On Thursday, March 28 at 6:00 p.m., we will gather in the sanctuary for a brief time of worship, as we commemorate our Lord’s inaugural communion. As you know, Maundy Thursday is the catalyst for Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Glorious Easter.
On Maundy Thursday, we’ll observe the Lord’s table through intinction. If coming forward presents a barrier to participation, the elements can easily be brought to you.
At approximately 6:45 p.m., the service will conclude and choir rehearsal will follow.
Yard Sale! Yard Sale! Yard Sale!
Just like everything else, the price of Passport has gone up this year! The children who are planning to attend from our church hope to defray some of the expense of this wonderful camp by hosting a yard sale in early May.
As you do your spring cleaning over the next few weeks, look through your house to see what you could contribute to make the yard sale a success. You may bring your items to the Sunday School room beside the choir room, beginning Wednesday, April 10. If you need help transporting items, please let Cheryl Beck know and we can arrange to have items picked up at your home. The date of the yard sale will be announced soon. Thanking you in advance for your contributions!
Mission Moment 3.27.24
Kirk and Suzie
CBF field personnel, Southeast Asia
These words were penned not by a saint of old, but by a young man who has come to be an incredible blessing to us. We first met Som almost 25 years ago, when we moved into a bamboo and thatch house across the street from his place in a village in the mountains of Southeast Asia. He was in high school then, and shyly came to our house to ask for help on his English homework—which turned out to be translating some heavy metal songs that contained many words we felt should not be translated!
Som had a rough childhood. His father often fell into alcohol-fueled rages, beating his mother mercilessly before abandoning the family. The trauma of that and other abuse sometimes left his mother in a listless state, unable to care for herself or her son. By age seven, Som was doing the cooking and other domestic chores. Free public school in Som’s area only went through grade nine, but a CBF-connected Korean church in Houston made it possible for Som and several of his friends to continue their studies at an agricultural junior college and then university. On the weekends and during school breaks, Som and this group of friends began working with us to produce literacy materials in the local language and translate the New Testament and portions of the Old Testament.
Working on the translation team for over 10 years gave Som the opportunity to become deeply acquainted with Scripture and the person of Jesus. Yet he could not quite come to a place of personal faith—saying that he would believe if only he could experience a miracle. When the New Testament was published, he went on to other employment. Several years later, Som called us on the phone, his voice full of excitement. The night before he had experienced something that felt more real than any ordinary dream. He saw a white bird coming down upon him and felt an overwhelming sense of peace and love. He woke with the sense that he had encountered Jesus. He felt that the miracle he had been praying for had indeed happened—not a miracle of healing or seeing water turned into wine, but a miracle of a changed heart. He asked to be baptized.
Som, fearful of the social consequences that he knew would follow, asked that we not tell other villagers about his decision to follow Christ. But as time passed, villagers noticed a change—and Som felt emboldened to be open about his faith. Now, almost weekly, Som posts about his faith on Facebook. He even wrote a short book to share with friends, narrating his life from the early days of emotional trauma and poverty to the new life and hope he has found in Christ. His observations about Scripture and walking with Jesus are profound and inspiring to us.
Sunday School and Childcare is Available!
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.
Easter Egg Hunt
Children up to age 12 are invited to participate in an Easter egg hunt on Sunday, March 31, following worship service. Please bring an Easter basket for each child participating.
A hospitality table will be provided for all by Beth & Chris Moore and Nancy & Scott McConnell.
Easter Story Cookies
This was published in HomeLife magazine many years ago and is credited to Cathy Strickland
from Florence, S.C. It is a clever way to share the Easter story with children.
This is great to do on the Saturday evening before Easter.
Ingredients
1 cup pecan halves, to be broken
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly grease a cookie sheet.
Place pecans in a plastic resealable bag. Let children pound the pecans into small pieces with wooden spoons. Set aside. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by soldiers. (Read John 19:1-3)
Let everyone smell the vinegar then measure 1 teaspoon into a mixing bowl. Explain that while dying on the cross, Jesus was thirsty and soldiers gave Him vinegar to drink. (Read John 19:28-30)
Separate eggs. Add whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. (Read John 10:10-11, 28)
Sprinkle a little salt into each person’s palm and let each one brush it off into the mixture. Have them taste their salty palms. This is a reminder of salty tears shed by those saddened by Jesus’ death. (Read Luke 23:27)
Add the sugar, trusting that this will give the mixture a pleasant result. The sweetest part of the Easter story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He makes it possible to know Him and belong to Him. (Read Psalm 34:8; John 3:16)
Beat with electric mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks form. Point out the pearly white color, the color of purity in God’s eyes for those who have been cleansed from sin by Jesus’ death. (Read Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 3:1-3)
Fold in nuts. Drop rounded teaspoons of the mixture on the cookie sheet. Explain that each mound resembles the rocky tomb like the one in which Jesus’ body was placed. (Read Matthew 27:57-60)
Put cookie sheet in preheated oven, close the door, and turn the oven completely off. Give each person a piece of tape to secure the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. (Read Matthew 27:65-66)
Time for bed! Explain that they may feel sad and discouraged leaving the cookies in the oven with the door closed. Jesus’ death seemed final to His followers, and they were in despair when the tomb was sealed. (Read John 16:20, 22)
On Easter morning, open the oven door and give everyone a cookie. Point out the cracked surface of the cookies, and then take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter morning, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find His tomb opened and empty. He had risen! (Read Matthew 28:1-9)
Easter Story Cookies
Click here to download a printable version.
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.
Hurray for Our Nursery Workers of the Week!
Thank you to Ally Lima, a 1st Explorers staff member for working
in the nursery on March 24 and for participating in the
Palm Sunday Processional with the children. We are so glad you could help!
On Easter Sunday, Janelle and Cody Messer will work in the nursery.
Thank you for your willingness to serve!
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.