SUNDAY SCHOOL WITH LIZZY GARCIA AND SHAREFISH

On January 19, there will be a special optional Sunday School session in the fellowship hall with Lizzy Garcia, the director of Aprende Conmigo, the community learning center operated by Sharefish in El Carrizo, Honduras. All Sunday School classes are welcome to join.



Lizzy was the first full-time employee of Sharefish, and started a preschool in Aprende Conmigo in 2015, utilizing training and materials she received from the FBC preschool staff during her first visit to the US. She also teaches in the Aprende Conmigo middle school. Many of our members have been a part of Sharefish’s work and this is a special opportunity to learn more about its education programs and hear from Lizzy her perspective on the impact of those programs in El Carrizo. We hope you will join us.

NATIONAL DAY OF

RACIAL HEALING

COMMUNITY DIALOGUE

You are invited to join us on Saturday, January 18, for a meaningful community dialogue in honor of the Kellogg Foundation’s National Day of Racial Healing. This year, the YMCA of the Triangle, Encouraging Place, Triangle MLK Committee, Raleigh Chamber, Wake County, and Wake Together are coming together to host an engaging local event generously sponsored by Wells Fargo. The morning will begin at 8am in our fellowship hall with a continental breakfast followed by a keynote speaker and small group breakout sessions. This gathering, now in its second year, creates space for people from all backgrounds to engage in meaningful dialogue and take actionable steps toward a more just and equitable future. Please RSVP here by Wednesday, January 15!

INCLEMENT WEATHER

Cancellation information about scheduled activities will be noted on a recorded greeting obtained by calling the office at 919-832-4485. Information will also be supplied to WRAL-TV (1st Baptist, Salisbury St), WTVD-TV (First Baptist Church-Salisbury St). We will also post on the home page of our website and on social media (Facebook and Instagram).

HOSPITALITY + COMMUNITY

LUKE 14:12-14

Dear Church Family,

At FBC, hospitality is at the heart of everything we do. We strive to create a warm and welcoming space each Sunday, where our worship is filled with love and openness. We offer meaningful activities for families, connecting the youngest to the oldest in fellowship that strengthens our bonds with one another.

And our commitment to serve extends beyond our walls.

Through ministries like And Also With ’Cue, we feed those who are hungry, offering more than just a meal but also friendship and care. Our clothing ministry ensures that everyone has the dignity of clean, warm clothing regardless of their circumstances. We are proud that Toy Joy continues to make Christmas brighter for families, and when lending a hand on Habitat for Humanity homesites, we are helping create homes and hope for those in need. And when our youth participate in mission trips and the annual CROP Walk, we are passing on this tradition to the next generation.

Your past gifts make these ministries and many others possible.

In Luke 14:12-14, Jesus teaches us the importance of inviting all to the table—especially those who cannot repay us. This call to hospitality mirrors what we aim to do at FBC. Every act of service, every welcoming hand, is a reflection of our collective commitment to follow Christ’s example and embrace all who seek Him.

This year, our stewardship campaign theme reflects these values of community and hospitality. This fall, our youth choir sang “Crowded Table” by The Highwomen on World Communion Sunday. Like the song says, we envision a church that makes space for everyone. We believe in a table where everyone is welcome, where there’s plenty of love and fellowship to go around, and where we serve our neighbors together in faith.

But we need your continued support for this vision to become a reality.

Our approved 2024-25 budget is $1,738,000. With your pledge, we can confidently move forward, ensuring we have the resources to continue serving one another and our broader community. Your generosity allows us to provide a space for worship, growth, and outreach—where all are truly welcome.

We invite you to prayerfully consider your pledge for the coming year. Every gift helps deepen the roots of our church, allowing us to grow in our ministry and impact. Please return your pledge card to the church office, or you can easily pledge online.

Thank you for being a vital part of this community. With your continued support, we can ensure that FBC Raleigh remains a place where all are invited to the table and God’s love is shared in word and deed.

With deep gratitude and hope,

FBC Raleigh Stewardship Committee

**As of December 31, we have received 112 pledges totaling $981,160.

THIRTY-NINERS GATHERINGS

Come join us Thursdays at 10:30am in the fellowship hall for interesting speakers, mission projects, and once a month, a program that's a little out of the ordinary. We also have an outing each month, but mostly we enjoy spending time together, learning something new and useful, and always ending with a meal.

JANUARY

9 New Year’s Resolution: chair yoga lesson (Phyllis Kritz, Instructor from Jewish Community Center of Raleigh)

16 Friendly Family Feud (member participation)

23 LUNCH OUTING: Taverna Agora Greek restaurant (326 Hillsborough Street; 11:30am reservations or meet at FBC at 11:15am to ride in vans -- note change in time!)

30 What We Should Know About Our Medications: Get Your Questions Answered

(Myra Brickell, pharmacist)

CENTERPOINT IN JANUARY

WOMEN IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY:

STORIES YOU'VE NEVER HEARD,

LED BY DR. JUDY SIKER

We know from our biblical text that women were among the followers of Jesus during his ministry. Their stories, however, are brief and often the women go unnamed. Recent scholarship has given us new and intriguing tales about a variety of early Christian women (e.g., Thecla, Perpetua, Felicitas) whose stories are not contained in the New Testament. Join us as we explore some of these stories and expand our understanding of the development of Christianity and the roles of women in the early church on January 8,15, and 22.

Dr. Judy Yates Siker is a recently retired professor of New Testament and Christian Origins, having taught most recently at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. Her teaching, in other locations such as Meredith College and UNC Chapel Hill, included classes in the field of New Testament and Christian Origins and in biblical languages, Greek and Hebrew, as well as Psychology, Spirituality, and Transformation. 

Dr. Siker is an ordained Presbyterian minister and currently serves part-time as parish associate at White Memorial Presbyterian Church. She has numerous publications geared both to the academy and the church.

CHURCH CONFERENCE DATES

Mark your calendar for the following 2025 dates for church conference:

January 29, February 26, March 26, May 28, August 27, September 24,

October 22, November 19, and December 17.

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

We would love for you to join us for a mid-week meal! The supper line is open each Wednesday night, 5:15–6:15pm. You may reserve your spot at this link on the website or by calling the church office. Please note that every person eating Wednesday night supper must check-in with our volunteer collection team before getting their meal. Even if you have pre-paid online, please check-in with our volunteer. We accept cash, checks, or credit cards.



Ages 0–3: Free

Ages 4-12: $4

Adults (over 12): $8

Family cap (over 3 people): $24

The menus for upcoming Wednesday night suppers are as follows (all meals come with salad and bread):

January 8: Chicken fried rice with veggies; non-meat option: mock chicken fried rice; kids: egg roll.

January 15: Beef stroganoff and green beans; non-meat option: mock beef stroganoff; kids: buttered noodles.

January 22: Breakfast for dinner. 

January 29: Sweet and sour meatballs with macaroni and cheese and baby carrots; non-meat option: mock meatballs.