From the Pastor…

First Church Family: I imagine that with me, you are happy that the elections are over. I also imagine that, with me, you can report that some of those you voted for won, and some lost. But, as I closed last Sunday’s sermon: regardless of what comes out of the elections, “our God remains on the Throne!” That is what unifies us. My goodness, we need something to unify us! And that can only be our faith in our LORD…

First Church Family: I remember growing up that we looked for the first frost around October 15, and by golly that still seems to be pretty close. Cooler weather has arrived. Thank you for your responses to the needs of those who were devasted by Helene. We have delivered goods, and received offerings totaling more than $10,000 for relief. Those monies, and any additional ones, will go straight to families in western North Carolina who are in need. But now,…

October 10, 2024 First Church Family: Thank you for being an incredible church! Every time we choose to support a mission/ministry, you are all in; and over the past months there have been so many of them. Our prayers continue for those affected by the wrath of Hurricane Helene. A tragic news report shared that as flood waters rose in Buncombe County, one little boy was swept away from his mother. Though shrouded with grief, that mother later said that…

October 8, 2024 First Church Family: Please read the following message closely. Things are changing rapidly in the area of Helene response needs.  I will keep us updated every several days. Our Bennett Brittain and I delivered a truck load of cases of water, paper towels, toilet paper, flash lights with extra batteries, batteries, children’s diapers, women’s hygiene products, dog food, and much more to the UMC district office in North Wilkesboro on Monday morning. Volunteers were there to help…

First Church Family, We continue to offer prayers for our brothers and sisters in areas decimated by Hurricane Helene. Every day there are more stories of those who lost their lives in the storm. Many of you have connections in the areas who were worst hit. Three of my niece’s neighbors drowned in Swannanoa. Just a reminder, we will receive a special offering for Helene on Sunday. And we will also be collecting needed supplies for delivery to Boone, Hendersonville…

First Church Family: It’s interesting to note people’s responses when I tell them I am a Christian pastor.  Some people immediately begin to tell me about their churches, and/or their niece or nephew who is in seminary somewhere; while other people “clam up” for fear of exposing some hidden sin. People who know what pastors do sometimes shake their heads, wondering how any one person could get it all done; while others ask what we do all week.  I’m going…

First Church Family, Over the past weeks in worship, we have delved into the faithful lives of extraordinary women of the Bible. This past week our message in the sermon was more like a history lesson, articulating how God used Esther’s brilliance to save her people from extermination. This week we move from the Old Testament to the New, as we look at the life of Mary Magdalene, who truly was the female equivalent of Jesus’ disciples. Throughout the summer, our music in…

First Church Family: Several weeks ago, we were in the midst of what seemed to be a drought; and now, so much rain. Our prayers are with those on and near our state’s beautiful coast, as water from Debbie pours sin. Over the past weeks, we have made our thematic focus in worship to be the extraordinary women of faith God has used, as recorded in the Bible. The mother of all of humankind, Eve, was our first subject, followed by Naomi, Ruth,…

First Church Family, I pray that you are in good health and spirits. I have enjoyed worshiping as one body during the summer and focusing on extraordinary women in the Bible over the last Sundays. That continues this week, as we look at Rahab of Jericho, “God’s Most Unlikely Heroine.” Take the time to read the first two chapters of the Book of Joshua.  It won’t take but a few minutes, and it will prepare you for worship on Sunday. I…

First Church Family, Saying goodbye is sometimes difficult to do. That’s something I’ve been thinking pretty hard about over the last several weeks. Ivey Deitz has been my administrative assistant and our church’s office manager for the last five years. And she has done a beautiful job with both of those major responsibilities. Ivey is a person of extremely high character and loves our LORD, her family, and also our church greatly. And she possesses many gifts that have helped our church reach many godly…