HOLY WEEK SERVICES

We have five opportunities for worship during Holy Week, the annual recognition of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection.

We begin with Palm Sunday, April 13, at 11 am, remembering Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem which includes shouts of “Hosanna!” and the waving of palms, but which also takes place under the shadow of the cross.

We continue with a Maundy Thursday service (a name derived from the Latin mandatum which means “command” or “mandate” and refers to Jesus’ last teachings at the table, recorded in John 13) on Thursday, April 17, at 7pm. This service will include the celebration of communion.

Next, for the first time in a number of years, we will have a Good Friday service, April 18 at noon with a lunch to follow (no reservations are necessary).

And then on Easter Sunday, April 20, you will have two opportunities to worship and celebrate the resurrection: the Easter Sunrise Service at the Capitol at 6:30am (music begins at 6:20am; Dr Chapman is preaching; and music is led by Warren Howell, featuring a duet with Tom Childrey) and our worship service in the sanctuary at 11am.

This is a week that defines our faith, one that points to the central mysteries of crucifixion and resurrection, and each part of this story is significant. Thus, we encourage you to participate in as many of the services as possible and to reflect daily on the meaning of this week for your life and the whole world. To experience Maundy Thursday and Good Friday without experiencing Easter is to miss the ultimate joy that is ours. To experience Easter without experiencing Maundy Thursday or Good Friday is to miss the cost of our salvation and to hide from our responsibility. To experience all of the events of this week is to know authentic joy – the joy that comes because love prevails over fear, hope prevails over despair, life prevails over death. Who would want to miss that?



EASTER EGG HUNT

FBC Salisbury Street and FBC Wilmington Street will be having our egg hunt on Saturday morning, April 12, and we’d love for friends, neighbors, and grandchildren to join us!  Here’s the scoop:  

• TIME? 10–11:30am
• PLACE? Courtyard of the Facilities Management Building (431 North Salisbury Street) **Unfortunately, the Capitol Grounds were not available for us this year.
• WHO? Toddlers–fifth graders and their parents. We’ll have a separate area for toddlers and twos to hunt eggs, and another area where our threes–fifth graders will hunt eggs.
• RSVP? Let Lynn know by Sunday, April 6, so we can plan and ensure we have eggs and refreshments aplenty! Specific details about parking and our egg-hunting process will be emailed the week of our egg hunt to those who sign up.

A REFLECTION ON THE GADDY LECTURES

Looking back on the 2025 Gaddy Lectures presented by Kristin Kobes du Mez this past weekend, I am filled with gratitude for several reasons.

First and foremost, I am grateful for the generosity and vision of Charles and Lucy Gaddy in endowing this lecture and concert series in honor of Mary Lily Gaddy in 1999. It enables us to invite the community around us into deeply enriching experiences which reflect the character of our church.

Second, I am grateful for the courage, insight, humility, and authentic faith Dr. du Mez exuded throughout her time with us. Her scholarship is much needed in this time, as are her spirit and integrity. The subject matter is challenging and threatening to some, so much so that scholars like Kristin who venture into this realm must be willing to live with not just opposing views but personal threats. I do not use the word “courage” here casually. But the material is as critical as it is challenging. As I said in this past Sunday’s sermon, we need to be aware of the different images for God and Jesus people are using in our culture because these images affect our witness.

Third, I am grateful for the attendance of not only church members but also many people from our community and state. The latter reality confirms the value of offering enrichment to the community while letting those outside our walls know something about what kind of Baptists we are.

A video recording of these lectures and dialogue times will be available on the church website which reminds me of additional reasons for gratitude – those who helped with sound and video, the deacons who served as greeters, Troy Dye who prepared our dinner on Friday, and many other staff members who helped manage various details for this event. It was in many ways FBC at our best, something we have been able to say in connection to numerous aspects of church life over the past year. So, thanks to all who are being the body of Christ on our part of the Capitol Square in Raleigh!

Christopher C. F. Chapman

OPENING FOR FLOWERS

OR PARAMENT

There is an opening on April 27 for a sponsorship of the pulpit parament or flowers. Please contact Myra Brickell with your interest.

SOFTBALL GAMES IN APRIL

WEDNESDAYS IN APRIL

April 9: As a makeup from February 19, we will look at and discuss a speech given by Martin Luther King Jr., who in December of 1964 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his dynamic leadership of the Civil Rights movement and steadfast commitment to achieving racial justice through nonviolent action and advocacy. For those who may want to access the talk prior to, it can be found here.

WHAT'S FOR SUPPER?

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: $24

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

No meal on April 2 (spring break)

April 9: Chicken cordon bleu casserole with stuffing and green beans; non-meat option: non-meat casserole; kids: meatballs.

April 16: Breakfast for dinner; non-meat-option: veggie sausage.

April 23: Pork bbq with baked beans and coleslaw; non-meat option: non-meat bbq. 

April 30: Hamburger steak and gravy with potatoes, fried apples, and corn; non-meat option: mock hamburger steak.

CHURCH CONFERENCE DATES

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

May 28, August 27, September 24,

October 22, November 19, and December 17.

MATERNITY LEAVE DETAILS

While Leah Reed, our Minister with Community, is on maternity leave, you may contact the following people with questions:

White Flag - Holly Ivel & Holly Cook

Clothing ministry - Sabrina Tyndall

Mike Morris Fellowship Fund - LaCount Anderson

Rose Window Weekly - Jennie Herrick

Social media (Facebook & Instagram) - Michael Hood

Mass emails to the congregation - Jennie Herrick or Wayne Hager

Website - Wayne Hager

First Foundations magazine - Jen Foster

And Also With ‘Cue - David With 

Sunday morning greeters - Mary Powell Rhodes

Community Ministries - Sam Carothers 

THIRTY-NINERS GATHERINGS

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.

APRIL

3 NO MEETING  

10 Easter cards to homebound members

17 Behind the Scenes (FBC staff)

24 LUNCH OUTING: Piccolo Italia (423 Woodburn Road, Cameron Village; meet at FBC at 11:45am to ride in vans)