CBFNC ANNUAL GATHERING

This year, CBFNC marks its 30^th anniversary – thirty years of learning, growing, and thriving together. North Carolina Baptists have faced many seasons together, and our Fellowship has faithfully responded to the needs of our clergy and congregations and we will continue to do so in the years to come! It is this journey of Thriving Together that we will celebrate in a variety of ways at the 2024 Annual Gathering. The theme is reflective of Psalm 100:5, "We know the Lord is good and that God’s steadfast love and faithfulness endures to all generations."

The CBF North Carolina Annual Gathering will be held on Thursday and Friday, March 14 and 15 at First Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC. This year’s event will be an in-person gathering with both worship sessions live-streamed online. (No registration is required for streaming!) There will also be a 30^th anniversary celebration event in downtown Greensboro on Thursday night, a special experience at the International Civil Rights Center & Museum during the workshop sessions on Friday, and a state choir. A separate Leadership Forum (separate registration/fee) will once again be offered on Thursday. 

Click here to find information on the gathering, including a full listing of workshops as well as the registration link. — Teresa Teague, Denominational Relations Committee

YOU ARE WELCOME IN UGANDA

Cara Lynn Vogel experienced quite a trip when she went to Uganda where refugees seek peace as they flee from many surrounding countries. I have been privileged to hear her on three occasions, and learned much from each presentation. The first was when she spoke to my WMU Circle and the next two were last week when she spoke to our mission friends and GAs and on Thursday morning to the Thirty-Niners. Much of the work at Amani Sasa is being done in partnership with our own CBF missionary, Missy Ward-Angalla. It is no surprise to hear Cara Lynn already talking about hoping to go back, when you hear her obvious concern for the plight of refugees and her personal stories of the people she met. —Nancy Moore Phillips, WMU Director

SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY

While the 49ers and the Chiefs give it their all on the gridiron on February 11, won’t you join us in giving our best efforts in our own Souper Bowl Sunday? 

As our February mission project, we invite you to bring in cans of soup (and other canned goods) as you come to church between now and February 11. There will be collection wagons in the Lewis Lobby on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings between now and then. These canned goods will be donated to Urban Ministries Food Pantry which provides fresh produce and canned goods for families in need throughout our community.  

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE

As a Baptist congregation that follows the Christian year, we allow the Jesus story to shape our lives throughout the year and we allow a sacred calendar to shape worship. By doing so, we are borrowing from other Christian traditions, while making them our own. One tradition we have embraced for over a decade is the Ash Wednesday Service to be held Wednesday, February 14, at 6:30pm, in the sanctuary.

The service includes congregational singing, prayers of confession and assurance, and a brief homily, but the central act is the imposition of ashes in the shape of a cross, as we speak these words, “From dust you have come, and to dust you will return.” These ashes (created by burning the palm fronds from last year’s Palm Sunday service) offer a sign of our mortality and penance, a confession of our frailty and need for God. Our willingness to receive them demonstrates our commitment to self-examination as well as our openness to God’s grace. Our Ash Wednesday service provides sacred space in which to begin a season of spiritual renewal called Lent. 



IT'S BACK!

SHROVE TUESDAY

PANCAKE SUPPER

After five years of pandemic craziness, we are inviting everyone to join us for our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper r on Tuesday, February 13, at 5pm. We will gather around the supper table to enjoy a meal of pancakes, sausage, grits, and beverages, all prepared by Troy Dye. Beat the Valentine's Day rush and eat with your church family a day early!

Tickets will be sold through Wednesday, February 7, in the Lewis Lobby on Sunday and Wednesday. You may also reserve tickets online HERE. Tickets must be purchased by February 9, either by check, cash, credit card through the credit card kiosk or online via PayPal or VANCO; select "Shrove Tuesday" option. The cost is $6 for 13+, $4 for ages 4–12, free under 4, and a family max of $20. We will have music and mask-making, along with other entertainment. More info to follow in the coming weeks.



THEOLOGY ON TAP'S FEBRUARY GATHERING

You're invited to join Theology on Tap for their February gathering at Clouds Brewing (126 N. West Street) on Thursday, February 15, at 6pm. Join in for discussion, connection, and a good beverage!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

FOR ALL AGES

Our intergenerational VBS will be Sunday, July 28 – Thursday, August 1 from 5–8pm (which includes an optional supper). There will be self-contained classes for babies through rising kindergarteners, and for rising 1^st graders through adults, we’ll have age-grouped Bible study followed by the ever-popular craft, recreation, and music electives! 

It’s never too early to let Lynn know if you can help teach and/or if you have ideas of fun and engaging elective ideas! Teaching opportunities include:



• self-contained preschool classes
• Gradeschool Bible study
• craft and recreation electives

We hope you can join us! It’s a great time of intergenerational fun and learning!  

WEEKDAY PRESCHOOL

NOW ENROLLING!

Weekday Preschool is currently enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year. Our classes are 9:30am-1:30pm each day with lunch and snacks provided, and we have up to five day options in all our classes. Click here for more information! 



CENTERPOINT

THIS WEEK

On February 7, we will view and discuss a documentary on the work of Civil Rights pioneer Ella Baker, a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 60s with North Carolina roots who studied at Shaw University in Raleigh. 

 Adult Wednesday Night Schedule:

5:15–6:15pm - Supper line is open

6:15–6:30pm - Prayer time and announcements

6:30–7:15pm - Adult program

 Children's Wednesday Night Schedule:

5:15–5:45pm - Supper line is open

5:40pm - Blessing and dismissal

5:45–6:30pm - Pre-K/K music/Elementary choir

6:30–7:15pm - Pre-K/K missions/Elementary missions

NEW CHECK-IN FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

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 recognize that many of you do this every week, but many do not. This is just an attempt to streamline our process and make sure every person is checked off the reservation list. A volunteer will be stationed in the Lewis Lobby with the Wednesday night supper reservation list. You may reserve your spot at this link on the website or by calling the church office. The volunteer will check-in your family and collect payment for the meal - we accept cash, checks, or credit cards.

Please note the slight increase in the cost of our Wednesday night suppers listed below. It has been several years since we have adjusted our prices, so we appreciate your flexibility as we attempt to keep up with the rising cost of all things!

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):

February 7 — Mexican casserole; non-meat option: vegan Mexican casserole; kids: taquitos

February 14 — sloppy Joes, corn, green beans; non-meat option: vegan sloppy Joes; kids: sloppy Joe

February 21 — chicken Marsala, broccoli, mashed potatoes; non-meat option: mock chicken Marsala; kids: chicken nuggets

February 28 — vegetable pasta with cream sauce, spinach and mushroom; kids: buttered noodles