A New Hymnal: Next Steps

Hymnal Update

The Worship Committee would like to thank everyone for the feedback you have provided as we have researched newer hymnals that might enrich our worship together. Your thoughts and concerns support our guiding principles that a hymnal must be biblically based, support our reformed tradition of worship, honor the centuries of great hymns that have been foundational to our worship, and include the best of the more recent hymns that can deepen our worship.

We reviewed several hymnals and are excited to report that we have found one which we feel will support our worship for years to come. Lift Up Your Hearts is, as the editors write, a collection of hymns that is “biblical, Reformed, balanced and accessible.” It contains the hymns we have treasured for generations as well as the best of new hymns, songs from the global church and settings of all the psalms. In addition the hymnal is a rich source of prayers, litanies, scripture readings and creeds that will enhance our worship.

We would like to make a more detailed presentation about the hymnal and encourage you to attend the February 1st Family Night Supper to learn more about Lift Up Your Hearts. We think you will agree that the creators of this hymnal succeeded in creating a resource that “is deep enough to give voice to our praises and laments, contain both our sung prayers and God’s words to us, and play a significant role in the faith formation of Christians young and old alike.” The purchase of new hymnals will be totally supported by donations. Each hymnal will cost $20 and there will be the opportunity to designate hymnals in honor or memory of loved ones. Donations can be made by check or online to the Hymnal Fund.

Steve Baxley, Worship Committee chair

Click here for Hymnal Fund donation forms, or see below!

First Presbyterian Church Hymnal Fund

We are starting to collect donations for the new Hymnal Fund. The cost of each hymnal will be $20. If you would like to make a donation in honor or memory of someone, please fill in the information below and return it to the church office (forms will be available to you on Sunday mornings). Bookplates will be added to hymnals as designated.

Name: ________________________________

Amount:_______________________________

In Honor / Memory of (circle one):

Name __________________________________

Given by _________________________________

Questions? Contact Steve Baxley or Pastor Blake Daniel.
Learn more about Lift Up Your Hearts by clicking here.

Pastor’s letter

Dear church family and friends,

I’ll admit it: I like the end of December and the beginning of January more than any other time in the winter season. It has a “calm after the storm” quality to it. Candles have been lit, presents have been opened, cookies have been eaten, and – though it’s likely a mess from all the hustle and bustle – our house (and the church) feels lived-in and enjoyed, allowing for a time of rest and celebration.

The lyrics of “O Holy Night” have special meaning for me this year:

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,”
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

A new and glorious morn, indeed! Because of Christmas, the light has come. Because of Christmas, we know God has descended to us (rather than waiting for us to ascend to him), revealing himself in Jesus, Emmanuel, and promising to be with us always. Because of Christmas, nothing can ever be the same. The time of getting ready is over; the time of resting and celebrating is here.

As we move into a new year, it’s worth looking back to reflect on a rich and rewarding 2022. It has not always been easy, but it has been good. As the year began, we were still in a pandemic holding pattern: meeting inside but without much singing; oscillating between color codes and safety protocols; unsure and insecure about the state of our membership, the fragility of our finances, and the precarious condition of the church in America – to say nothing of personal struggles and grief.

Throughout it all, however, you’ve shown up and pulled together as the body of Christ. Our staff members have worked hard and led us well. Our elders, deacons, and committees have attended to the various needs of the church. And we were able to gather inside for Christmas Eve worship for the first time since 2019, lighting candles and proclaiming the good news that Christ the Savior is born. Thanks be to God!

May the Lord grant you rest and celebration, and may you have a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Blessed Epiphany season. I look forward to seeing you in 2023.

Blake

Pastor's Letter

Dear church family,

Advent is upon us! This is one of my favorite times of the year, and for good reason. While the world around us focuses on the commercial and sentimental aspects of the season (and we do, too), the church makes space for something deeper, richer, and more important: the remembrance of Jesus’ first coming and the watching and waiting for his coming again. Advent, therefore, begins in the dark and moves towards the light. But, as the preacher and writer Fleming Rutledge reminds us, we “should not move too quickly or too glibly, lest we fail to acknowledge the depth of the darkness.”

For some people, this might sound a bit glum or depressing. “Acknowledge the depth of the darkness? Where’s the Christmas cheer?!” How easily we forget that Jesus was born to a world of conflict. The people of Israel were scattered and living under the thumb of the Romans. Hunger, sickness, injustice, and spiritual confusion were the norm. Those old enemies of sin, death, and the devil ran rampant. And still, he came.

Are we much different today? While we live on the far side of the manger, cross, and empty tomb, we still groan under the weight of discord and division. Don’t take my word for it; just scan today’s headlines. As I write this, I am seeing reports of a shooting in Colorado Springs. There is continued fighting in Ukraine. Many are worried about the spread of RSV, Influenza, and Covid. The list goes on. It seems we know something about sin, death, and the devil, too. And still – Jesus comes to us by his Spirit, and he promises to come again. This is grace.

My invitation for you this Advent is this: name the darkness in the world and in your heart, and turn your face towards the light yet again. Start with showing up on Sunday mornings – come to sing and pray, to listen and learn, to give and receive in the presence of God and others. Then start showing up during the week – come to Family Night Supper, our Christmas Music Program, and Worship on the Longest Night. Find someone to read our Advent devotional with you. Sign up to serve in the community. Or simply make space for silence in a busy season. Watch and wait for Jesus because, as John’s Gospel reminds us, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Thanks be to God!

With you in Christ,
Blake

Advent 2022

Sunday, November 27 marks the beginning of the season of Advent, a time of watching and waiting for the coming of Jesus. We invite you to prepare for “the Promised One” as we move through this season together!

In-person worship services take place in the sanctuary at 11:00am on Sundays. We will continue live-streaming for those who prefer to worship from home via our YouTube page. Here are the upcoming Scripture readings:

• 11/27 - Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 24:36-44 (1st Sunday of Advent)

• 12/04 - Isaiah 11:1-10; Matthew 3:1-12 (2nd Sunday of Advent)

• 12/11 - Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11 (3rd Sunday of Advent)

• 12/18 - Isaiah 7:10-16; Matthew 1:18-25 (4th Sunday of Advent)

• 12/24 - Isaiah 62:6-12; Luke 2:1-20 (Christmas Eve)

• 12/25 - Isaiah 52:7-10; John 1:1-14 (Christmas Day)

Need a guide through the season of Advent? We recommend The Promised One, a collection of devotions published by Christianity Today. We will have copies of this devotional available at the church (suggested donation: $10), or you can purchase an online copy here.

Our Christmas Music Program will take place on Dec. 11 at 6pm in the Sanctuary. Members of both our adult and children’s choirs will perform Advent and Christmas music for all to enjoy! We hope to see you there.

We are hosting a service of Worship on the Longest Night on Dec. 14 at 6:00pm in the Sanctuary. This will be a simple, contemplative service of wholeness and healing in which we share our grief, name our struggles, and claim the promises of God to make all things new.

We will also be having a Candlelight Service of Worship on Christmas Eve. We will gather on Dec. 24 at 6:00pm in the FPC Sanctuary, and a reception will follow in our Fellowship Hall. Everyone is welcome, of any age, from our congregation and community!

Pastor’s Letter

Dear church family,

Fall is here!  The temperature is dropping, the leaves are turning, pumpkin is in everything, and church programming is in full swing.

In the midst of it all, I’ve been reflecting on some famous words from John Calvin:

“Our wisdom, insofar as it ought to be deemed true and solid wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But as these are connected by many ties, it is not easy to determine which of the two precedes and gives birth to the other.”

Calvin began his most famous book, the Institutes, with these sentences to remind us that stories matter — both God’s story and our personal stories.  If we desire wisdom, he says, we need to explore and understand these stories and see Jesus at the center of them, since he is the one who holds them together.

I’ve been thinking about this because of our upcoming visit from Dr. John Swinton, a professor at the University of Aberdeen School of Divinity in Aberdeen, Scotland.  I have been learning from John for over a decade and am so delighted for us to host him in Sylva on October 15.  He is what’s known as a “practical theologian,” meaning that he studies human experience in light of the Christian faith.  His teaching and writing has focused on issues such as dementia, disabilities, and the problem of evil and suffering.  As a former psychiatric nurse and chaplain, he has a special interest in those who live with mental health challenges.

It’s this latter topic that John will be discussing while he is with us, based on his recent book, “Finding Jesus in the Storm.”  He will address questions such as, What kind of life has God created us for?  How do people with mental health challenges experience that life?  And how can the church be a community not of condemnation, but of care and spiritual connection?  Following this presentation, we will eat lunch together and have a chance to ask John questions about these important topics.

I hope you’ll join us this fall for John’s presentation, services of worship, and other events in our life together.  Come to church willing to listen and learn.  Come ready to reflect and respond.   Most of all, come seeking knowledge of God and of yourself — because such is the path to wisdom.

Yours in Christ,

Blake

A New Hymnal: First Steps

The Session and Worship Committee at First Presbyterian Church are exploring the possibility of purchasing new hymnals for worship use. We have created this website as a resource for the congregation. Please take a look at the links and information below.

Letter from Steve Baxley

I love hymnals. I have eighteen different hymnals on my bookshelves at home. I come by this naturally since, from time to time, my father led the music at the churches we attended as I grew up, and many of the hymnals on my shelves were his. During my years as a minister of music, I added to my collection and our hymnal, The Worshiping Church, is among them. It holds a special place in my collection and not just because it is the hymnal of our church. The first person listed on the Editorial Committee that created the hymnal is Kerchal Armstrong. He and his wife were my favorite babysitters when I was a small child. Another member of the committee, Robert E. Webber, was my teacher for my Certificate of Worship Studies. It is one of the best of the new hymnals and hymnal revisions of the early 1990s. The beginning of the foreword to The Worshiping Church touches on the “reasonable lifetime” of a hymnal, the ‘“hymnal explosion”’ of the previous twenty years, and the changes in styles that had occurred during that time, all leading to the need for the creation of this hymnal. Our hymnal was first published in 1990 and, since that time, the “explosion” of excellent new hymns has continued if not increased. You will be familiar with a few of these hymns that we have sung with the words printed in our bulletins. “Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God” and “Blest Are They” are examples of new hymns coming from the United Kingdom and the United States. As music being sung in the global community becomes more accessible, great hymns from other cultures around the world are now being added to new hymnals. The growing interest in singing the Psalms has led to new, beautiful settings of these biblical texts. Changes in style during this time have meant that new hymns are more lyrical, accessible, and singable and often speak to issues for the church today that were not issues for our early hymn writers.

The Worship Committee at First Presbyterian Church is looking at new hymnals to see what is available that might contribute to our worship together. Church musicians say that the life of a hymnal is usually 20 – 25 years and ours is now 32 years old. There is an amazing body of hymns that was not available to the committee that created The Worshiping Church, and there have been more recent hymnals published that include the best of the new generation of hymns. Our guiding principles are that a hymnal must be biblically based, support our reformed tradition of worship, honor the centuries of great hymns that have been foundational to our worship, and include the best of the more recent hymns that can enrich and deepen our worship.

As part of our exploration of the hymnal’s place in our worship, we seek your input to help guide us. If you would like to share your thoughts on the place of hymnals in your worship experience, please fill out the questionnaire above. You will also find more information about the importance of hymnals at this link and new information will be posted in the weeks ahead. Also feel free to reach out to me at church or call or email me.

In Christ,
Steve Baxley
Chair, Worship Committee

Pastor's Letter

Dear church family,

When I graduated from high school, my parents threw a party for me in our backyard.  Friends and family members came to reminisce with us about 12 years of education and to celebrate this new chapter in life.  I’ll never forget what one of the guests, the husband of one of my favorite science teachers, Mrs. Groves, told me.  He pulled me aside and said, “Just show up.”  I thought he was joking, but he assured me he was not, that 80% of success in life comes from just showing up.  (Apparently, Woody Allen was the one to popularize this saying, but I certainly didn’t know that at the time.) 

And do you know something?  It’s true.  This isn’t to say that hard work, intellect, creativity, or anything else isn’t important.  But it is to say that that isn’t much use if you don’t first show up – whether at work, school, home, or in the community.  Simply being present and attentive is way more than half the battle in life.

One of the things I love about this time of year is that it’s a season of showing up.  School has started back.  Sports are ramping up.  And we, as a church family, are settling into a routine after summer vacation.  We’re meeting new college students on Sunday mornings and seeing friends and church members we haven’t seen in months (or longer).  It seems I’m not the only one who appreciates the in-person rhythms that September brings.

The challenge, though, is to continue showing up.  It’s no secret that the pandemic has thrown a wrench in our lives over the past few years, and churches have certainly felt the pinch.  Fear of sickness, the complexity of safety protocols, tension between friends and family members, and tightened budgets are all part of today’s “new normal.”  We feel more disoriented and disengaged than ever.

And yet, if I may be so bold, let me say to you what Mr. Groves once said to me: “just show up.”  Show up for worship, even if you’re sleepy or don’t like what the pastor’s preaching on or it’s easier to worship online from home.  Show up for Sunday School and other small group opportunities, even if you’re not sure who will be there or how it’s going to go.  Show up for suppers and prayer meetings and choir rehearsals and service projects.  Show up, even if it’s hard, because you matter to our life together, to this beautiful, messy, Spirit-filled outpost of Christ’s Kingdom that we call the church.

See you Sunday,
Blake

Dr. John Swinton

First Presbyterian Church of Sylva is pleased to host Dr. John Swinton, Professor of Practical Theology & Pastoral Care at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. John will be with us on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 10am-2pm (and again on Sunday morning). He will give a presentation called “Finding Jesus in the Storm,” focusing on the intersection of mental health and Christian discipleship. All are welcome to attend from the church and larger community. A light lunch will be provided, and childcare will be available upon request. Please email the church office with any questions or to request childcare: office@sylvapres.org. The event is free of charge, although donations will be gratefully accepted.

About John Swinton

John Swinton is Professor and Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He focuses on theology, disability, mental health, and pastoral care. On the Aberdeen website, he writes,

The foundation for much of my research and teaching has emerged from my background in nursing, ministry and healthcare chaplaincy. I worked as a nurse for sixteen years initially within the field of mental health and latterly within the area of learning disabilities. I also worked for a number of years as a hospital chaplain, latterly as a community mental health chaplain. It was whilst working in these fields that I began to gain a passion for developing modes of care that are genuinely person centred and which take seriously the significance of theology, spirituality and religion within the processes of healing, healing and community building.

I am an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland with a strong commitment to supporting the work of the church. I am member of Aberdeen Presbytery and currently secretary of Christ's College, which is responsible for the welfare and education of candidates for the ministry of the Church of Scotland.

Books by John Swinton

Interviews with John Swinton

Pastor’s Letter

Dear church family,

I recently read something lovely in Annie Dillard’s book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. She describes her house that’s nestled in the mountains of Virginia at the bank of a creek, like an anchor out at sea. She writes:

The creeks… are an active mystery, fresh every minute… Mountains are giant, restful, absorbent. You can heave your spirit into a mountain and the mountain will keep it, folded, and not throw it back as some creeks will. The creeks are the world with all its stimulus and beauty; I live there. But the mountains are home.

Dillard is describing two important aspects of our lives. On the one hand, life is ever-changing, transient, and dynamic – like a creek. On the other hand, life is rooted, connected, and constant – like a mountain. Both are true, and both bear witness to the life of our God, who is, as St. Augustine said, beauty ever ancient and ever new.

I share Dillard’s words because they seem to describe my busy summer thus far. Between traveling to South Carolina and Georgia to visit family, hiking Mount LeConte, and soon spending a week out west, we’ve had a lot on our plate. And all of it has made me feel like a creek – going with the flow, moving this way and that, prone to rush or meander depending on the circumstance and season. Maybe you can relate.

How grateful I am, then, to know there are mountains beneath it all to keep us steady, like anchors at sea. These mountains are spiritual practices, like prayer and Scripture-reading and worship. They’re also our trusted brothers and sisters in Christ, whom we can trust and depened upon. Most of all, they’re the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, whose love is steadfast and sure. We may feel like we live in the creek, but the mountains are home. Thanks be to God.

See you Sunday,

Blake

Pastor's Letter

Dear church family and friends,

There’s no such thing as a perfect church.  There, I said it! 

No matter how much a group of Christians love God, one another, and their neighbors as themselves, they will still fall short.  We will still fall short.  Yet the sooner we can recognize this fact, the sooner we can throw ourselves upon the grace and goodness of God.  I think this is what our Pastor Emeritus, Bill Serjak, meant when he would begin worship services with words that went something like this: “We welcome you to a community of sinners.  If you look around you, you will find fault with everyone, especially the pastor, since he is most visible.  But our job is not to point you to ourselves, but to Jesus Christ, with whom man has yet to find fault.” 

(And all God’s people said “amen.”)

We will soon see this truth in Scripture on Sunday mornings as we turn from studying Acts 2 to the New Testament book of First Corinthians.  If Acts 2 gives us a picture of the church on fire in the best possible way – as God’s people, filled with the Spirit, lead thousands to faith in Jesus Christ – then First Corinthians gives us a picture of the church on fire in the worst possible way – as God’s people, ignoring the Spirit, fight and divide among themselves.  In response to this, the apostle Paul writes to set those Christians in Corinth straight not by pointing to himself, nor to others in their midst – but by pointing to Jesus, whose mercy meets them in abundance.

I want to invite you to read First Corinthians along with me and our church family for the next few months.  Read it and find empathy in the foibles and frustrations of these early Christians.  See what Paul says about the Holy Spirit, who is at work in the midst of (or, often, in spite of) the community called “church.”  And together, let’s keep walking the dusty road of discipleship, confident that the one who is the Way still leads the way in Sylva, Jackson County, the United States, and even to the ends of the earth.

See you Sunday,
Blake

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Join us for worship on Sundays as we give praise to God, study Scripture and learn about its relevance for our lives, and go deeper in life together. In-person services take place in the sanctuary at 11:00am. We are live-streaming for those who prefer to worship from home via our YouTube page.

Sunday Scriptures for July:

• 7/03 – Acts 2:42-47

• 7/10 – 1 Corinthians 1:1-17

• 7/17 – 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

• 7/24 – 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

• 7/31 – 1 Corinthians 3:1-11

Pastor's Letter

Dear church family,

June is here, and summer is nearly upon us. For some of you, this means school is out and you’ll have more time with your kids or grandkids. Others will enjoy trips to the beach or lake. Still others will find themselves complaining about how muggy and buggy it’s become! Regardless of what this season means to you, I’m sure you agree with me that summer brings with it a certain kind of spirit.

Spirit. It’s an interesting word, isn’t it? We often use it in various ways, whether to describe the energy level at a baseball game or the mood of a particular person or moment. It’s like a thermometer or barometer this way, measuring particular human output or emotion in a given situation. But Scripture has a different idea. In a biblical sense, the word is almost always used as a proper noun – as Spirit, with a capital “S” – to refer not to humanity, but to God. Indeed, the Holy Spirit is the very presence of God and the third person of the Trinity, who is intimately connected to our human experience while also remaining distinct from it.

Think of Genesis 1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Or Matthew 3: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water… and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” Or Galatians 4: “God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” In all these references, the Spirit is not a product of human experience, but a gift of God – indeed, the gift of God himself.

You might know where I am going with this. The first Sunday in June is Pentecost Sunday, during which the church celebrates the Spirit’s descent upon the apostles and other disciples gathered together in Jerusalem (see Acts 2). It’s a story of great power, healing, unity, and direction, setting the stage for God’s work through the church for centuries to come. To reflect on this we will be studying Acts 2 on Sunday mornings through the month of June, moving from the Spirit, to Peter’s sermon, to the earliest Spirit-filled community of Christians.

I believe we need a reminder of the Holy Spirit’s presence with us especially now, given all that’s transpired in recent months. Our country has yet again been reeling from mass shootings in Buffalo, California, and Texas. Stories of sexual abuse have erupted in the Southern Baptist Convention. The war in Ukraine rages on. And we are moving through a mid-term election season, revealing more and more division in our country. What hope do we have as we live through these struggles, to say nothing of the struggles in our own families and hearts? The answer is the Spirit, who unites us to Christ so that we are never alone.

As Jesus himself said at the end of John 16: “Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you… In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Happy Summer,
Blake

Holy Week & Easter

King of my life, I crown Thee now / Thine shall the glory be
Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow / Lead me to Calvary
Lest I forget Gethsemane / Lest I forget Thine agony
Lest I forget Thy love for me / Lead me to Calvary

We sang these words at the close of our worship service on April 10, as a reminder that the joy of Palm Sunday gives way to the sorrow of Holy Week. The same Jesus who is greeted with palms and fanfare goes on to die, "for us and for our salvation," as the Nicene Creed puts it.

For the first time in three years, we will gather together for a Maundy Thursday meal. Join us on April 14 at 6pm in the FPC Fellowship Hall, and bring a main dish, side, salad, or dessert to share (drinks will be provided). After we eat, we will remember Jesus' Last Supper by sharing in communion together. Then we will gather in the sanctuary for a worship service centered around the cross (beginning around 7:30pm). We will leave the service in darkness as a reminder of Jesus' entombment and descent to the dead. Then we will wait. Because the good news is, Sunday's coming.

Yours in Christ,
Blake

Join us for Easter Worship on April 17:
Sunrise Worship
7:00am at Bridge Park
Traditional Worship
11:00am in the FPC Sanctuary

Pastor's Letter

March was a month of patience for my family.

First of all, this is because we’ve had a house full of literal patients. First, it was me and my sons. All of us tested positive for COVID in early March and were quarantined for a whole week (thankfully, with mild symptoms). Then, it was my wife and my sons. They tested positive for the flu in late March and were quarantined for another whole week (unfortunately, with fairly serious symptoms). As I write this we are all on the mend, thanks be to God. But it was a difficult month of being patients and learning patience.

In the midst of this, we have also tried to practice Sabbath during the season of Lent. Sabbath, you likely know, is a day of rest that honors the Lord. While we have dipped our toes in the waters of Sabbath over the years, my family and I have never made a formal Sabbath commitment. But we felt God leading us to do so this year for the 40 days of Lent. So, starting March 4, we have been “shutting down” on Friday nights for a solid 24 hours. We cycle laundry, go to the dump, pre-cook meals, clean the house, and remove notifications from our phones and other devices by 5pm on Friday so we can simply enjoy family time until 5pm on Saturday. We try not to be legalistic about it – after all, Jesus tells us that “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” – so if we have to throw a load in the wash or run an errand, we do so. But by and large, we try and spend that time in rest, play, and worship together. Which, yes, also requires patience.

The root of the word “patience” is “suffering.” And the root of the word “suffer” is “endure” or “bear.” To have patience, then, is to endure or to bear hardship as it comes, in whatever form. Such hardship could be as denying yourself email or TV for a day. It could be something larger, like the sickness of children. Or it could be something even more dire than that – things we shudder to name and that impact entire communities, as we have experienced recently in Sylva. We learn patience when we move through such times with the twofold recognition that we can’t do it on our own, and thus that we are wholly dependent on God’s grace. Indeed, patience is a fruit of the Spirit for this very reason.

The good news of Lent is that our patience leads us somewhere – to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the cross, and, beyond that, to the beauty of the empty tomb and the victory of Easter. Our suffering and endurance opens us up to the good news of Jesus. This is why the early Christians talked about Sabbath as the “eighth day,” a day signaling that God’s new creation has now begun in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And it’s why one of those early Christians, Paul the Apostle, was able to pen those triumphant words: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I hope you will join us in worship and life together this April as we continue to make our way down the dusty road of discipleship. In these difficult days, let’s pray for the Spirit to grow patience in us, let’s look out for each other, and let’s remain confident that the risen Lord Christ leads the way.

See you Sunday,
Blake

Lent 2022

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Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the season of Lent. If you didn’t grow up with Lent (and I know many of you didn’t, myself included), here’s a bit of background…

The word “Lent” comes from the Old English word for “springtime.” It refers to the length of time before Easter, traditionally forty days, when the Church prepares to commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Just as Advent helps us prepare spiritually for Christmas, Lent helps us prepare spiritually for Holy Week and Easter.

You may be asking, Do I have to observe Lent?  The first answer is, Of course not! But the second answer is, Why wouldn’t you?  This season is a gift to us in which we may pause and reflect on our lives in light of Jesus Christ. So, I encourage you to observe it this year. Typically folks use this time as a chance to give something up: certain foods, certain media, certain habits. In recent years it’s become popular to take something on: daily prayer, for instance, or journaling and letter-writing. Regardless, the goal isn’t self-promotion (pride) but self-effacement (humility). What will help you humble yourself over the next forty days, so that you can see Jesus more clearly? Whatever the answer is… do it.

For a special focus during this Lenten season, we at First Presbyterian Church are studying Following Jesus by Henri Nouwen. Want to read along? You can order a copy by clicking here. We will be meeting on Wednesdays at the church from 6:30-7:30pm for discussion and prayer. We welcome you to join us as we walk the way of Christ together.

• To learn more about Ash Wednesday, click here.

Lent Study: "Following Jesus"

The season of Lent has begun, and we at First Presbyterian Church will be studying the book Following Jesus by Henri Nouwen, starting March 9 at 6:30pm. Questions? Contact the church office!

Here is the study outline:

• March 2 - Ash Wednesday Worship (please read the Introduction and Chapter 1 before next week!)

• March 9 - Chapter 1: The Invitation

• March 16 - Chapter 2: The Call

• March 23 - Chapter 3: The Challenge

• March 30 - Chapter 4: The Cost

• April 6 - Chapter 5: The Reward

• April 13 - Chapter 6: The Promise

Pastor's Letter

“Who do you say I am?”

This is Jesus’ question to his disciples in the gospels, and it is his question to us as well.  He doesn’t ask us who scholars or skeptics or saints say he is; he asks us who we say he is, guided by Scripture. 

We might say that Jesus wants to make things personal.  Not private, but personal.  He wants to spark conviction in our hearts, by the Holy Spirit, so we can turn from our sin, call him our Lord, and follow him on the dusty road of discipleship for the renewal and restoration of the world. 

I once heard the Scottish professor and writer, Andrew Purves, put it this way: “The great theological question,” he said, “is essentially a who question: not ‘how did you do that?’ or ‘what did you do?’ or ‘can I do what you did?’ The essential question is, ‘Who are you, Lord?’”

I don’t know about you, but this “who question” has become more important to me during the past two years, both in terms of Jesus and in terms of his body, the church. 

Living through a pandemic has made me depend on Jesus more than ever – as all my idols have been interrogated and so many of my comforts have been stripped away.  Who is the one who loves us without fail, who will never let us down, and who promises to give us hope and a future?  It’s Jesus, Emmanuel, our Savior. 

At the same time, living through a pandemic has made me realize the importance of community – as Zoom meetings, quarantine, and endless TV and Internet commentary have revealed the primordial truth that “it is not good for man to be alone.”  Who are the people that Jesus has given me to share the journey?  It’s you.  The people of First Presbyterian Church, living as the body of Christ and an outpost of God’s Kingdom. 

I know I sound like an owl or maybe like Dr. Seuss, but the “whos” make all the difference – the “who” of Jesus, and the “who” of you.  Because when they come together, we get the cruciform (cross-shaped) witness of the church, a witness that this wounded and weary world so desperately needs. 

Take a deep breath and consider how you can enter into February with Jesus and with others, too.  Can you spend some time reading Matthew this month?  Could you come to Sunday School and worship on Sunday mornings?  Why not give me a call or send me an email so we can get together and catch up?  The Christian life is always personal, but never private.  Let’s keep walking the path together, trusting the Lord to lead the way.

Yours in Christ,
Blake

Image: Owls in Flight by Victoria Lakes

"Who do you say I am?"

"Who do you say I am?"

This is a question Jesus asked his disciples in the gospels. You can find it, for example, in Matthew 16:13-15:

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

This is a question Jesus asks us today, too. So take a moment to think about it. What do you know about Jesus? What do you believe about Jesus? Who do you say he is? How we answer this question makes all the difference in the world.

To attend to this question, we are beginning a new sermon series on Matthew starting this Sunday, January 9 at First Presbyterian Church. Matthew is one of four biblical books that tell the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection (this is why they're called "gospels," because they describe the "good story" of God). It was penned by Matthew the tax collector, who became a disciple of Jesus, and has much in common with the gospels of Mark and Luke.

I invite you to study Matthew along with us in this new year, so that we might come to know Jesus better — not just as a preacher, miracle worker, or prophet, but as the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

See you Sunday,
Blake

Worship at FPC

In-person services take place in the sanctuary at 11:00am. Masks are currently required for worship and other gatherings. We encourage you to socially-distance. We are live-streaming for those who prefer to worship from home via our YouTube page.

Resources for study and reflection:

• The Chosen - TV series available via online, streaming, or DVD

• The Bible Project - video overview of Matthew 1-13

• The Bible Project - video overview of Matthew 14-28

• Who Is This Man - book by John Ortberg

• The Jesus I Never Knew - book by Philip Yancey

• Matthew: Being Discipled by Jesus - study guide by Stephen & Jacalyn Eyre

• Matthew: The Christbook & The Churchbook - commentary by Frederick Dale Bruner

Pastor’s letter

Dear church family and friends,

As I write this, we are still in the Christmas season, celebrating Jesus’ birth for twelve days. On January 6 we will move into the season of Epiphany, remembering Jesus’ appearance to the Magi and the Gentiles (non-Jews). And what is the proper response to both these seasons? Joy.

I like the way Henri Nouwen talks about joy in his book Following Jesus:

“Joy is that ongoing movement out of the places of death, out of the places where things remain the same and are not moving. Everything in life changes… It is very important for us to realize that joy is precisely that leaping toward life and move away from the places that are the same. Joy is always about an experience of life as new.”

I don’t know about you, but I need to hear this word right now as we turn our calendars to 2022. Because, if I’m honest, my knee-jerk reaction to another year is not very optimistic. Covid is still with us. Cultural and political turmoil persists. It’s easy for me to shrug my shoulders and say, “here we go again.” Yet Henri Nouwen invites me into something different: the way of Jesus. This way leads not to fear or resignation, but to surprising joy. This is the joy of the Messiah, the Lord, who has come to turn things around, to usher in his Kingdom, and to give us hope and a future.

How do we experience this joy? We take time to celebrate each and every day. Not flippantly, but graciously, being mindful of the grace and giftedness at the heart of life. Again, Nouwen says this:

“Celebrating life is not a party, but an ongoing awareness that every moment is special and asks to be lifted up and recognized as a blessing from on high. Jesus rewards us with joy. Not only later, but now. Not only in happy moments but also in our sorrow. Joy is hidden in our suffering and revealed in our communal life.”

He’s exactly right. We need to celebrate, even amidst continued uncertainty, because that’s what followers of Jesus do, in season and out of season. And that’s how we see the Spirit at work in us to cultivate joy, one day at a time.

So, led by that same Spirit, I want to celebrate some things with you:

• Our staff, who have served our church in such faithful and creative ways. As I wrote last year, there is no playbook for leading ministry in a pandemic, and I have been proud of the ways they have handled the many curveballs thrown their way.

• Our elders and deacons, who have made hard decisions and cared for our congregation (and so many others) during trying times.

• The members and friends of First Presbyterian Church, 80 years running. You have joined in study, worship, and fellowship while staying flexible. You have given financially to our operating budget and Cornerstone Campaign. You have pulled together in happy moments and in sorrow. Keep persevering, friends; it’s worth it (see Romans 5:3-5).

• God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – for his unending love and amazing grace. Indeed, “you have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

Yours in Christmas, New Year’s, and Epiphany joy,
Blake

Christmas Eve 2021

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Join us for an Outdoor Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve!

We will gather on Dec. 24 at 5:00pm in the backyard of the Phillips home across from the church. Please bundle up and bring a folding chair if you'd like to sit (the service won’t be too long, so you are welcome to stand). Masks are optional, and candles and light refreshments will be provided. Kids, family members, and friends are welcome as we celebrate the miracle of the Incarnation and the good news of Christmas!

We will also be gathering for regular Sunday Worship on Dec. 26 at 11:00am. The service can also be live-streamed via our YouTube page.

Merry Christmas!

Advent 2021

You’re invited!

This Sunday marks the beginning of the season of Advent, a time of watching and waiting for the coming of Jesus. We invite you to “prepare the way of the Lord” as we move through this season together.

In-person worship services take place in the sanctuary at 11:00am on Sundays. Masks are required for worship and other gatherings, and we encourage you to socially-distance. We will continue live-streaming for those who prefer to worship from home via our YouTube page.

Please see the information below about upcoming events, and join us if you can!

Need a guide through the season of Advent? We recommend God is in the Manger by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It is a powerful daily devotional based on Bonhoeffer's writings. We will have copies available at the church (suggested donation: $10) or you can order your own through City Lights Bookstore or elswhere!

Join us for a Service of Worship on the Longest Night on Dec. 15 at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary. The holidays are not always "merry and bright.” Let's walk through the darkness together and renew our hope in Jesus Christ, the light of the world.

We will also be having an Outdoor Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve. We will gather on Dec. 24 at 5:00pm at the Phillips home across the church parking lot. Please bundle up and bring a folding chair if you'd like to sit (the service won’t be too long, so you are welcome to stand). Masks are optional, and candles and light refreshments will be provided. In the event of inclement weather, we will move the service into the Sanctuary. We will notify the congregation of any changes by noon on Christmas Eve.

Finally, we invite you to give to one or more of the following needs for Advent and Christmas as you are able:

• First Presbyterian Church - attn: Cornerstone Campaign

• First Presbyterian Church - attn: General Fund

• Black Mountain Home for Children, Youth, & Families

Thank you!