EXPANDING OUR REACH

THROUGH THE

FELLOWSHIP FUND

For many years, our congregation has been providing financial assistance for our neighbors in need through the Mike Morris Fellowship Fund. In the late fall of 2019, we started Housing All with Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. We worked diligently to provide rental and utility assistance to families in need until the early fall of 2023. Unfortunately, we have received news that Pullen is not able to fund Housing All in 2024. While we are disappointed for this specific partnership to come to a close, our church will remain committed to providing emergency financial assistance in our community. As a result, we have decided to shift our focus to other congregational partners that are doing similar work in our community. We are confident that with the help of our dedicated volunteers and supporters, we will be able to continue providing much-needed assistance to those struggling with housing insecurity. We want to thank Pullen Memorial Baptist for their past support and wish them all the best in their future outreach to the community. We were delighted to co-host a One Wake event this past fall with Pullen, and we look forward to new ways we might partner together in the future!

As we searched for additional congregational partners, we were able to begin conversations with Edenton Street UMC and First Presbyterian Church. These two congregations have been doing financial assistance together for the past few years, and they have welcomed our congregation into this collaborative effort! We are excited and hopeful about this new partnership, and all that 2024 might hold with our collective communities of faith. Through your gifts to the Fellowship Fund, we are proud to collaborate with these two wonderful congregations, working together to ensure that our neighbors have access to rental and utility assistance.

This past week, your gifts helped three people with eviction notices stay in their homes. What a Christmas gift! Your regular donations to this offering ensure our ability to continue helping people experiencing financial crises right here in our community. Every dollar given goes directly to help a family in need.

Volunteers are needed to make phone calls weekly, and we'd love to have your voice as an extension of our church's care. Please visit the sign-up genius link to volunteer, and email Leah with any questions. For more information on how to donate to the Fellowship Fund, please visit our website. We are deeply grateful for your continued generosity, and we're hopeful for the year ahead.



CHURCH OFFICE

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

As Christmas approaches, we want to remind you that the church office will be closed on December 22, 25, 26, and January 1. One of our ministers will be "on call" for all of these dates, so do not hesitate to call the church office and leave a voicemail if a need arises. We also want to let you know that today's Rose Window Weekly will be our last publication until January 9. We hope that you have enjoyed reading our weekly newsletter this year and we look forward to bringing you more exciting updates in the new year. Merry Christmas!



As we have been for years, FBC is a performance venue for First Night Raleigh on December 31. Our sanctuary will be filled with the sound of jazz during four event times. A First Night ticket is required for entry.

7pm – The Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble

8pm –The Gregg and Kathy Gelb Jazz Quintet feat. Phillip Norris, Thomas Linger, and Michael Ode

9pm – The Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble

10pm – Community Jam session

Go here for full information about First Night and all the activities available. Go here for information about purchasing a ticket. 

CHRISTMAS EVE

BREAKFAST & WORSHIP

Because the Fourth Sunday of Advent is also Christmas Eve this year, we will have multiple opportunities for fellowship and worship on December 24. The day will begin with an intergenerational breakfast at 9:45am. Since this is a potluck, please sign up here to bring your favorite breakfast item!

The final Advent service will take place at 11am, our usual worship time. There will be Extended Session for children on Sunday morning for worship, and as always, worship bags will be available in the Gathering Room for children attending the service. At 5pm, we'll celebrate Christ's birth together in a traditional service that includes hymns and texts of faith, the lighting of candles, and the celebration of communion. Children of all ages are invited to join us in the Sanctuary.

Both services will be in-person and live-streamed on our YouTube channel. We invite those who are joining us at home for the 5pm Christmas Eve Service to prepare bread or crackers and wine or juice so they can partake of these joyous elements with us when the time comes, as well as to prepare a candle to light with us as we sing of Christ’s birth at the end of the service.

“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,” the familiar carol proclaims, “O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold him, born the King of angels; O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.” We invite you join us as we celebrate this sacred truth together as a church family.

CHURCHWIDE RETREAT

SAVE THE DATE

Mark your calendars and save the date for our churchwide retreat, April 19–21, 2024! We're headed back to the Blue Ridge Assembly in beautiful Black Mountain, and we hope your family will make plans to join us. More details about signing up, the theme, and all the specifics coming in January!

WINTER RETREAT & SKI TRIP

Our annual winter retreat and ski trip is coming up soon! Join us from January 5–7 for a trip to Pipestem, West Virginia. There will be a day of skiing at Winterplace Resort, however, if you would like to adventure outside of skiing, or just have a relaxing weekend in the beautiful mountain cabins by the fire, all are welcome to join. Please email Michael for more information!

END-OF-YEAR GIVING & OFFERING ENVELOPES

We are thankful for the financial support First Baptist Church has received this year. As we near the end of the calendar year, we know you have many options to consider for charitable giving. We hope you will prayerfully consider your giving to First Baptist Church. Giving options, including stock gift instructions, are located here.

2023 financial year gifts must be post-marked or given electronically by December 31 in order to be recorded on your 2023 contribution statement. Gifts brought to the church office must be in the office by December 29 since the 31^st is a Sunday. The last Sunday to bring an offering is December 24.  If you have a question about your giving in 2023, please contact Kathy Rattie.

If you have used offering envelopes this year or have requested them for 2024, you will find contribution envelopes for 2024 on the first floor corridor leading to the Clothing Ministry on Sunday, December 24. If you would like some but have not requested them, please click here.



INCLEMENT WEATHER

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

CHILD CARE-GIVERS DURING WORSHIP NEEDED!

We are in need of adults and youth who are interested in serving once a quarter to provide top-notch care for our preschoolers during worship (10:45–12 noon). Folks interested must be church members or actively involved in the life of the church for at least six months.  You would know in advance your four dates for the year, and you can swap with others on the roster if one of your assigned dates doesn’t work with your schedule. Please contact Lynn as soon as possible if you’re interested.

AAWC CHRISTMAS PREORDERS

And Also with 'Cue is now accepting preorders for Christmas. Skip the long lines at the grocery store and countless hours in the kitchen and let David With cook for you!

All preorders are available on their website where you can select from Boston butt, brisket, BBQ, ham, ribs, and sides too. TODAY (December 19) IS THE LAST DAY TO PLACE ORDERS! You may pick up your food in the FBC parking lot on Thursday, December 21, between 10am and 2pm.