FBC Raleigh News • November 10, 2020
STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord…..and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all the people will see it together.  Isaiah 40:3-6

With all the challenges we have had in 2020, it is natural to feel we are stuck in the wilderness like the exiled Jews in Babylon. While church may not feel the same right now, FBC Raleigh mission remains the same - to love one another, to care for the less fortunate, to be the face of Christ in the world, to show compassion and justice, to love mercy and walk humbly with our God.

Even though we may not be seeing each other in person right now, the needs of FBC Raleigh have not changed. In order to carry on the ministry of the church, everyone’s continued support is vital. Our finance committee is anticipating proposing a 2-3% decrease for the 2021 budget. The proposed budget will be presented at the November 18 virtual Church Conference, and when pledges have been returned to the church, the budget will be presented again for approval by our congregation. Please prayerfully consider your 2021 financial commitment to strengthen the shared calling of our church.


BIBLE VERSES FOR DAILY USE
  • Tuesday, November 10: Psalm 78; Nehemiah 8:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
  • Wednesday, November 11: Psalm 78; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 24:29-35
  • Thursday, November 12: Psalm 123; Judges 2:6-15; Revelation 16:1-7
  • Friday, November 13: Psalm 123; Judges 2:16-23; Revelation 16:8-21
  • Saturday, November 14: Psalm 123; Judges 5:1-12; Matthew 12:43-45
  • Sunday, November 15: Judges 4:1-7 and Psalm 123; Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 and Psalm 90:1-8, (9-11), 12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30
  • Monday, November 16: Psalm 83:1-4, 9-10, 17-18; Judges 4:8-24; Romans 2:1-11
DEACON ON CALL • November 8-14
Wyatt Yelverton (919-389-6681)
WEEK AT A GLANCE • NOVEMBER 9-15
Tuesday, November 10
10am Staff Mtg. (Zoom or Library)
6pm Theology on Tap (Zoom/In-person tbd)
6:15pm MS Small Group (Zoom/1107 Marlowe Rd, Raleigh)
6:30pm HS Bible Study (FH/302)
7:30pm Pathfinders Sunday School (Virtual)

Wednesday, November 11
5:30pm 1st-5th Grade Boys Music & Missions (D. Wade Yard)
6pm Centerpoint (Zoom)

Thursday, November 12
7am Band of Brothers (Zoom)
7pm Nominating Committee Mtg. (Zoom)
Friday, November 13
HS Retreat (Camp Caraway) Returns 11/15
6:00pm Family Movie Night (Church PL)

Sunday November 15
10am 6th Grade SS (Go To)
10am 7th/8th Grade SS (Zoom)
10am HS SS (Zoom/In-person tbd)
11am Virtual Worship (YouTube)
2pm 1st & 2nd Grade SS (Zoom)
2pm 3rd & 4th Grade SS (Zoom)
4pm 3’s-K SS (Ellis Yard)
4:30pm Youth Group (PL/Zoom)
7pm Music Minister Search Committee Mtg. (Zoom)
CENTERPOINT

Wednesday, November 11 (6-7:30pm)
Since this is Veterans Day, we will honor veterans who are members of our church family. During this Zoom program, we will hear veterans reflect on the importance of community, what community meant to them during their times of service, and how their service to our country impacts their relationship with their local communities now. Veterans may also wish to share how their service has impacted their relationship with their local community since leaving military service. We look forward to their sharing their thoughts as we honor their sacrifice and service. Join us here!

Wednesday, November 18 (5:30-6:30pm) Virtual Church Conference - Join us here!

Wednesday, November 25 • No Centerpoint, Happy Thanksgiving!

Children's Music & Missions:
On Wednesday, November 11, our 1st-5th grade boys will be in the Pegram's yard for Music & Missions from 5:30-6:30pm. If you haven’t already, email Lynn if you can come!
VIRTUAL CHURCH CONFERENCE

Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 18, at 5:30pm. The Zoom invite for the meeting is listed below, as well as a call-in number for those who would rather join via phone. We will send out the needed attachments that normally would be on the tables via email before the meeting. Several deacons (and their families) are available to help with the technology. If you need assistance, please email Deborah ahead of time and we will get you connected with a deacon. We look forward to seeing as many of your faces as possible on November 18!

Meeting ID: 859 7741 4227
Passcode: 436183

  Phone number: (646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 859 7741 4227
Passcode: 436183
HONOR A LOVED ONE DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Our sanctuary is so lovely during Advent and Christmas when it is decorated with candles, fresh flowers, and greenery. This holiday “dress” transformation will certainly be different this year; however, we have determined a safe way for our church family to be a part of adding the elements that bring us such joy during the season. Watch for future issues of the Rose Window Weekly to learn more about our virtual Hanging of the Greens and how you can participate. Once again, you are invited to honor a loved one by making a donation toward the decorations for the service. With $15 for each honorific or memorial gift, all monies will help defray the cost of the trees, wreaths, fresh flowers, and greenery for the service. An insert in the December 13 worship order will list the names of all for whom gifts were given. Please submit your request here. Checks or electronic payments should be received no later than Friday, December 4. Forms are also available in Sunday School boxes. Mail checks to: Financial Administrator, 99 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603; please write “Holiday Greenery” on the memo line.
PASTOR EMERITUS' NEW BOOK AVAILABLE

The newest book from Dr. Dan Day (FBC pastor 1996-2007), has been released: Finding the Gospel: A Pastor’s Disappointment and Discovery. In the book’s 196 pages he tells of his journey from his earliest preaching days as a youth evangelist to the present. Throughout the journey, his persistent question was: “What is the gospel?” In the first two sections of the book Day tells of his disappointment with the answer given him by his tradition and then his discovery of what he terms a “bigger, better gospel” of the kingdom of God. In the final section he reports how this kingdom-gospel has led to changes of mind about subjects like race, sex, the church, the Bible, worship, and politics. Of the book, Dr. Day says: “People have sometimes asked how I came to believe and preach what I do. In this book I’ve tried to lift the veil on one preacher’s journey, and report how I’ve come to the convictions I hold sixty years after my ordination.” Copies are available from Nurturing Faith Books and also through Amazon. If you would like an inscribed copy, order it directly from Dr. Day at 833 Gaston Manor Drive, Durham, NC 27703, enclosing your check for $19.50 (postage and shipping included), and providing instructions about the desired inscription.
DRIVE-IN MOVIE NIGHT

Please join your FBC family for an outdoor movie night to watch "Shrek" on Friday, November 13! The church parking lot will have designated spots for each family to socially distance. You may arrive at 5:30pm, and the movie will begin at 6pm. Please wear masks and bring camping chairs, blankets, etc. Space is limited to the first 50 people, per COVID guidelines, so make sure you register soon. Register here!
THANKSGIVING
PRE-ORDERS

Thanksgiving is only two weeks away, and it's time to begin planning your family's menu! This year, And Also With 'Cue has expanded their Thanksgiving pre-order menu, including all of their delicious smoked meats, sides, and homemade desserts. Make sure to place your order by Monday, November 23! All pick-ups will be on Wednesday, November 25, from 11am-3pm at the food truck. Order here!
DEACON ELECTIONS
 
There is one final week left to elect deacons, spiritual leaders of the church who assist with congregational care. As with so many things in this pandemic, the process this year is a little different. We are staying as true as we possibly can to the process outlined in the bylaws, while at the same time providing methods for voting that fit with our remote gatherings. The process is as follows.

Attached below is the ballot for 2020. You have until November 15 to submit your nomination of up to 16 deacons (eight men and eight women). Those ballots can be submitted by printing off the form below and filling it out, or by simply writing out your nominations on a piece of paper marked “Deacon Nominations 2020” and mailing it to the church at 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27603, attn Jennie Herrick. The paper forms can also be dropped off in the ballot box that is located at the doorway under the portico facing McDowell Street. In addition, nominations may be sent electronically by email to Jennie Herrick. That email should show “Deacon Nomination” in the subject line and list the nominees. Jennie will then print the form, cut off the identifying information, and place the nominating form in the deacon ballot box. On Sunday, November 15 (the fourth Sunday after the beginning of the nominating period), the tellers appointed by the chair will gather in the library to count the ballots and the chair and vice chair will then notify those selected.

TOY JOY UPDATES

There are only two weeks left to make final preparations! We have signed up almost 300 families for Toy Joy this year, and we still have several ways for you to participate, both virtually or in-person.

Volunteer at home: We have added a way for our church family to participate virtually. We are looking for groups or individuals to pray for our guests during the month of November. Different groups are doing this in different ways.

  • One group is giving each person three families' names to pray for individually, and then they are holding a Zoom session to say a collective prayer for their group of families.
  • Another group divided into three subgroups and each took ten families for which they will pray virtually.
  • Individual families may also take a family (or as many as they would like) to pray for.

Please sign-up here to participate in this Toy Joy prayer ministry. We will then send you the details after you sign-up.

Volunteer in person: On Friday, November 20, there are volunteer opportunities in the morning and again in the afternoon. That day, we will be checking orders, organizing gift packages and setting up for the event. The online sign up for the actual Toy Joy event Saturday, November 21, and Sunday, November 22, is divided into general volunteers and translators. Translators will be working in the parking lot as our guests arrive and register. Most of the general volunteers will be in the parking lot as well, helping to take the gift boxes and bags to the guests' cars after they have parked in the lot. There will be a few positions inside and a couple of these can be done while seated. Assignments will be made when you arrive for your shift. Since most of the work will be done in the parking lot with cars coming and going, we are not able to have any children there unless they are in at least 6th grade (please note: all middle school-age children will need to work with a parent). 

Masks will be required at all times and temperature checks and health screening questions will be performed on all volunteers at each shift. Here's the link for the sign-ups on November 20, 21, and 22.

Because of COVID-19, items and toys must be new this year. You can use the Amazon wish list or the Walmart event registry to find needed gifts. We can still use the following: Sports balls such as Size 5 or larger soccer balls or regulation size footballs and family games such as Monopoly, Sorry, or Life. You may ship toys directly to the church. Please send the items to First Baptist Church TOY JOY, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. We will be happy to shop for you if you send a check to the church (payable to FBC with TOY JOY in the memo line). Or you may donate online through PayPal or Give+.

As always, we're so grateful for your help with this mission and even more so this year as we do it in a very different way. We're doing all we can to make this a safe experience for our guests as well as for our volunteers. If you have questions, email Anne Cooke. We look forward to seeing you soon!
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:

November 10-13 • 11am-1:30pm,
church parking lot
November 13 • FBC Raleigh movie night

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 November 3, 2020
Current Week Revenue: $16,577.82
Month-to-Date Revenue: $16,577.82
Year-to-Date Revenue: $1,152,154.69
Month-to-Date Expenses: $3,856.91
Year-to-Date Expenses: $1,148,689.71
NC State Missions: $2,200.00
SUBMIT A ROSE WINDOW WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENT

Do you have an announcement that you would like to include in the Rose Window Weekly? All information must be submitted by Thursday at noon, to be included in the following Tuesday's edition. Just fill out the Google form in the link below, and we'll make sure to include it in next week's publication.



For any questions concerning the Rose Window Weekly,
contact Leah Reed. Email Leah here.