FBC Raleigh News • February 2, 2021
ASH WEDNESDAY

It seems like COVID-19 has altered everything we do, including the way we celebrate the sacred rituals of our faith. But in almost every case, we have been able to celebrate these rituals and find meaning in altered practices. Ash Wednesday will present yet another opportunity for worshipful devotion amidst adaptation. While the service typically includes congregational singing, prayers of confession and assurance, and a brief homily – all things we can stream now – the central act of Ash Wednesday is the imposition of ashes in the shape of the cross, as we hear these words, “From dust you have come, and to dust you will return.”

Since we cannot gather safely yet, we will provide ashes in a small container which you can pick up, along with a Lenten Devotional Guide, at the end of the ramp in the McDowell Street parking lot behind the church. There will be two opportunities for you to pick up these items in person - Monday, February 15, 11:30am–1:30pm or Tuesday, February 16, 4–6pm. As you drive up to the ramp, just roll down your window and a minister will be there to hand out your family's Lenten items.

During the service, which we will stream live from our YouTube channel on Wednesday, February 17 at 6:30pm, you will be invited to impose ashes on one other or on your own forehead. Many people had a meaningful experience several years ago when we held this service in fellowship hall because of a boiler issue and imposed ashes on one another. We trust that we will find meaning in the ritual this year. Even in this altered form, Ash Wednesday provides sacred space to begin the season of spiritual renewal called Lent, as we allow our faces to get dirty and long for cleansing in our hearts.
BIBLE VERSES FOR DAILY USE
  • Tuesday, February 2: Psalm 35:1-10; Numbers 22:22-28; 1 Corinthians 7:32-40
  • Wednesday, February 3: Psalm 35:1-10; Jeremiah 29:1-14; Mark 5:1-20
  • Thursday, February 4: Psalm 147:1-11, 20c; Proverbs 12:10-21; Galatians 5:2-15
  • Friday, February 5: Psalm 147:1-11, 20c; Job 36:1-23; 1 Corinthians 9:1-16
  • Saturday, February 6: Psalm 147:1-11, 20c; Isaiah 46:1-13; Matthew 12:9-14
  • Sunday, February 7: Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147:1-11, 20c; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 ; Mark 1:29-39
  • Monday, February 8: Psalm 102:12-28; 2 Kings 4:8-17, 32-37; Acts 14:1-7
DEACON ON CALL • JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 6
Chuck Underwood (919-819-2033 m or 919-782-4887 h)
WEEK AT A GLANCE • FEBRUARY 2-7, 2021
Tuesday, February 2
6pm Theology on Tap (Zoom/In-person tbd)
6:15pm Middle School Gathering (Ellis House)
6:30pm HS Girls Bible Study (Zoom)
6:30pm HS Boys Bible Study (Carter House)
7:30pm Pathfinders Sunday School (Zoom)

Wednesday, February 3
6pm Centerpoint: Book/Movie Discussion; “Just Mercy” (Zoom)
Thursday, February 4
7am Band of Brothers (Zoom)
8:30pm Parenting Seminar for Children’s Families (Zoom)

Sunday, February 7
10am 6th Grade SS (Gotomeeting.com)
10am 7th & 8th Grade SS (Zoom)
10am HS SS (Zoom/In Person tbd)
11am Virtual Worship (YouTube)
2pm 1st-2nd Grade SS (Zoom)
4pm 3rd-5th Grade SS (Foster Yard/Zoom)
4pm 3s-Kindergarten SS (Zoom)
6:30pm Youth Group (Zoom)
CENTERPOINT

February 3 and 10 • 6:15-7:30pm
Book/movie discussion on Just Mercy. Join us here!

February 17 • 6pm
Virtual Ash Wednesday service

February 24 • 5:30pm
Church Conference via zoom
MINISTRY DESIGN CONFERENCE

On Saturday, February 20, from 10-11am, you are invited to a morning of seminars at the Ministry Design Conference. There is no cost to sign up, and there are a variety of different Zoom presentations including topics covering racial reconciliation, welcoming refugees, leadership in a virtual world, and cultivating community. This conference is sponsored by The Barnabas Partnership and CBFNC. See the fliers below for specific seminar information, and the leaders involved in presenting. To sign up and receive the Zoom link, please email Michael.
HOUSING ALL UPDATE

In October of 2020, we began a new, multi-church, inter-faith initiative called Housing All. This began out of a desire to combine resources with other downtown churches and Wake County to help our neighbors in need with rental and utility assistance. This partnership started with our congregation and Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, combining our intake process to meet a greater need in our community. As two churches in partnership with one another, we quickly realized that we can do so much more together than we could ever do on our own. Thanks to your generous gifts to the Mike Morris Fellowship Fund and the Housing All Fund, in four months we have helped 24 families with $18,862.46 of rental and utility assistance!

We started the Housing All fund with a gift from the Mike Morris Fellowship Fund, approved by the finance committee. We have been given permission to replenish the Housing All Fund from the Mike Morris Fellowship Fund whenever donations are low, and that is needed. Pullen has given an equal donation to start this initiative, and continues to give generously. The Fellowship Fund is still used for things like gift cards, groceries, bus passes, and general small needs that come up as we work alongside our neighbors in need. If you would like to give directly to the Housing All Fund, you may designate your gift online through Give+. All checks can be made out to First Baptist Church, with "Housing All Fund" designated in the memo line. Know that 100% of your donation goes directly to pay someone's rent or utility bill. These are incredibly desperate, difficult times for so many people in our community. Your gifts to this fund are helping families keep a roof over their head, heat in their living rooms, and lights on in their homes. For questions about the Housing All Fund, please email Leah.
GLOBAL MISSIONS OFFERING CHALLENGE

Thanks to all who have contributed to our annual offering which supports CBF field personnel around the world. As an incentive to encourage us to raise at least $20,000 this year, a couple in the church who wishes to remain anonymous has offered to match all gifts up to $3,000 made now through February 28. You are encouraged to be generous and respond to this challenge as we continue FBC's long tradition of supporting financially both local and global missions.
MEALS FOR WAKE MED

For our February church-wide mission project, we'll be providing lunch during the second week of February for the staff in the COVID unit at Wake Med Hospital. There are 105 staff members for which we'll be providing a delicious BBQ lunch through And Also With 'Cue, and our children will be writing thank you notes that will be taped to the top of their take-out containers. We hope this will brighten the day of these local heroes. We need your help purchasing individually wrapped chips and cookies to go with the BBQ sandwich! If you would like to make a donation, you may do so online through Give+ or Paypal. Checks may be made out to the church with "Wake Med Meals" in the memo line. We appreciate your help providing lunch to these front-line workers! For questions, please email Anne Cooke or Leah.
PARENT SEMINAR FOR CHILDREN’S FAMILIES 

Knowing that the end of the pandemic is (hopefully) in sight but not here yet and that fatigue is real; knowing that schooling will look different for a while longer; knowing that there is unrest in our nation and in our own community surrounding the inauguration, let’s gather virtually and explore/remind ourselves of tools, practices, techniques, and encouragement in our parenting to help us and our children finish strong. Join us on Thursday, February 4, via this Zoom link from 8:30-9:30pm. Megean Millen Knowles, PhD, (clinical psychologist at 3-C Family Services) and Sarah Catherine Rhodes (certified instructor of Conscious Discipline) will co-facilitate our time together. Please email Lynn with any questions.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT BOOK/MOVIE STUDY

We invite you to join us beginning tomorrow night, February 3 and 10 for a two-part series as we discuss the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. This New York Times Bestseller tells the true story of Stevenson's founding of the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit law firm in Alabama whose mission is defending those in our criminal justice system who have been wrongly convicted. In 2019, this best-selling book was adapted into a movie that can be streamed on YouTube, Amazon and Google Play. Both the book and the movie take us inside the unforgettable story of Walter McMillian, who was convicted and sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit. You are invited to read the book or watch the movie and join us for this important discussion, led by Rev. Leah Reed. Join us here!
AAWC'S WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Each week, we post And Also With 'Cue's weekly schedule here in Rose Window Weekly as well as on our Facebook page to let you know our lunch schedule and if there will be outside events on the weekend for you to attend.

Come eat with us this week:

January 26-29 • 11am-1:30pm, church parking lot

Have an idea about how to giveaway food in our community? Email Leah!
WAYS TO GIVE

There are several different ways in which you can continue to support the church financially during this time of social distancing. We know many people are facing their own financial challenges right now and have been very generous already, but a number of people have asked how they could support the church while we are unable to gather together physically. Wayne Hager has provided the following answers to this question.

• We continue to receive mail daily. Any gifts mailed to the church will be processed and deposited as soon as possible.
• We will continue to debit bank accounts through auto drafts as we have been instructed by donors.
• If you have set up a recurring donation through one of our electronic options, those donations will continue without interruption unless YOU make a change.
• If you wish to begin electronic giving, please go to this link where each of our options is explained.
• If you are considering a stock gift, please visit this link for instructions. 

If you have any financial or giving-option questions, please email Wayne Hager.
CURRENT OFFICE PROCEDURES
DURING THE PANDEMIC

While the church office will remain closed to the public for the immediate future, we have someone in the office Monday through Friday, 8:30am-5pm to answer the phone and let people in for pre-approved activities. The staff and Church Council continue to monitor all realities related to COVID-19. In addition, we have formed a Risk Management Team (RMT) made up of John Baldwin, Sam Ewell, Ron Maness (chair), Alice Marshbanks, and Hollis Yelverton to help us make decisions. The RMT has developed a list of guidelines which can be found here. Any group wishing to schedule an in-person meeting or activity should contact Wayne Hager. We still encourage you to contact any of the ministers if you have a pressing need, using the following email links: Chris Chapman, Lynn Lingafelt, Leah Reed, and Michael Hood.
AMONG OUR FAMILY

A link to the entire prayer list may be found below.
Please use your church directory for mailing addresses.

THE RECORD WE WROTE
Week as of January 28, 2021
Current Week Revenue: $13,217.00
Month-to-Date Revenue: $130,971.75
Year-to-Date Revenue: $130,971.75
Month-to-Date Expenses: $97,112.45
Year-to-Date Expenses: $97,112.45
NC State Missions: $3,645.00
CBF Global Missions: $13,635.00
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For any questions concerning the Rose Window Weekly,
contact Leah Reed. Email Leah here.