FBC Raleigh News • February 20, 2024 | |
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CHURCHWIDE RETREAT THEME
In his preface to Terrence Tilley’s book Story Theology, Robert McAfee Brown says that the Jewish and Christian faiths were launched when someone had a question and someone else replied, “My friend, let me tell you a story…” Stories lie at the heart of the human experience, and they lie at the heart of our faith. Jesus was a masterful storyteller whose core teachings, the ones we remember most, are found in story form. But it’s not just biblical stories that have a sacred quality. All our stories are sacred because they are human and because God is present in every part of human experience - the laughter and the tears, the seriousness and the frivolity. We will explore this theme of “Sacred Stories” at our annual churchwide retreat on April 19-21 at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain.
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In addition to our usual mixture of Bible Study, fellowship, recreation, and elective options, we have invited musician/storyteller/author Jennifer Armstrong to lead us in one primary session on storytelling and an evening of entertainment. We hope you will be able to join us as we explore together the sacred stories that define and ultimately are our lives.
It is not too late to sign up! This year we have reserved the Blue Ridge Center and Asheville Hall located next door. Each room is equipped with air conditioning, telephones, two beds, and private baths — hotel-style accommodations. We have handicapped-accessible rooms available in both buildings and elevator access to all floors. Listed below is the cost of the weekend for all adults ages 12 and up. Children three and under are free! This year, a non-refundable deposit of $100 (per registration/family) will secure your spot. The deposit may be paid by cash, check (memo: churchwide retreat), or online.
Register by visiting our website. After you have registered and paid your deposit, Leah will follow up with you via email with the amount owed. Payment in full is due no later than March 3. Single rooms will be assigned on a first-come/first-served basis. Since we know that not everyone will be able to attend, we will also have Sunday School and worship in our sanctuary on Sunday, April 21. More information coming soon about our theme, schedule details, and elective options! For questions about registration, please email Leah.
Two nights lodging + four meals + supplies will be:
- Single room - $310/adult
- Two per room - $180/adult
- Three per room - $140/adult
- Four per room - $125/adult
- Two per room - $145/child (ages 4–11)
- Three per room - $100/child (ages 4–11)
- Four per room - $80/child (ages 4–11)
- Family cap = $470
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STEWARDSHIP UPDATE & BUDGET RECOMMENDATION
We are delighted to report that, as of February 20, we have received 146 pledges and scheduled payments and distributions (counted routinely in past years) totaling $1,246,750. Traditionally, to adopt a proposed budget we would like to have to have 80% of the proposed budget pledged. Our goal is $1,306,063.20 (80% of the General Fund target of $1,632,579). This leaves us $59,313.20 short of the 80% goal.
The finance committee is confident that the church will continue its generous giving that has resulted in the church being in a favorable financial position at present. Therefore, the finance committee is recommending the full proposed budget presented last Fall. A letter from the Finance Committee will be emailed to the congregation by the weekend with the Committee's rationale. The proposed budget may be seen here. We are grateful for those who have pledged, and we ask for the prayerful consideration of those who have not. You can find a pledge form in the church office, or just click here to go to the form on our website.
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SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER
After five years of being off the church calendar, the Shrove Tuesday pancake supper was held once again with music, good food, great fellowship, and Mardi Gras mask-making. We had close to 70 people in attendance. We even awarded prizes for the best masks (by age) by audience voting. - Sheila Jordan, Social Committee
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LENTEN DEVOTIONAL
Beginning tomorrow, we will enter the season of Lent. During these forty days, we are encouraged to slow down, prepare, and reflect both individually and as a broader community of faith on the death and resurrection of Christ. The 2024 Emmanuel McCall Lenten Devotional series is prepared by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship family and friends for the season of Lent. The McCall Lenten series features wonderful reflections on God's Word, thought-provoking questions, prayers, art, music, noteworthy information, and resources for action. Join us as we journey together through Lent reflecting on these devotions and their calls to pursue justice for all of God's people. Click HERE to access the devotional online.
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CBFNC ANNUAL GATHERING
This year, CBFNC marks its 30th 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 30th 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
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NABPR ANNUAL MEETING
On May 20-22, FBC will host three national organizations holding their annual meeting. We last hosted this meeting in May 2019. Over 200 participants will be at FBC from the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion, the Baptist History and Heritage Society, and the Association of Ministry Guidance Professionals. The joint meeting will include plenary sessions, smaller group sessions, lunches, and dinners. Some of the meetings will be open to FBC members as the host facility and we will let you know about that shortly. But first, we have some volunteer opportunities for our FBC family:
- Volunteers are needed to help with quick room changes to accommodate the meeting schedule, assisting our facilities staff.
- Meal servers are needed to assist the food service staff before, during, and after meals.
- We will provide snack/beverage stations all during the meeting, so volunteers are needed to help refresh the stations all during the event.
- Greeters are needed to welcome our guests and provide directions from 2–7:30pm on Monday, 8am–6pm on Tuesday, and 8am–noon on Wednesday.
FBC received rave reviews five years ago because of the volunteers who served our guests. If you are willing to help with any of these opportunities, please contact Wayne Hager, who is serving as the FBC space coordinator for the meetings. Email Wayne here!
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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 1st 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!
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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!
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CENTERPOINT
THIS WEEK
On February 21, Cara Lynn Vogel will lead the Centerpoint program and will report on her short-term mission trip to Uganda.
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
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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 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
March 6 — smothered chicken with red potatoes, and mixed vegetables; non-meat option: mock chicken; kids: chicken nuggets.
March 13 — Pasta Night! Ziti, spaghetti with Normandy veggie medley; kids: mac-n-cheese.
March 20 — Breakfast for Dinner! Eggs, sausage, mock sausage, grits, pancakes.
March 27 — No Centerpoint (Holy Week)
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CHURCH CONFERENCE DATES
Mark your calendar for the following dates for church conference in 2024:
February 28, April 24, May 22, August 28, September 25,
October 23, November 20, and December 18.
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BIBLE VERSES FOR DAILY USE
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Wednesday, February 21: Psalm 77; Proverbs 30:1-9; Matthew 4:1-11
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Thursday, February 22: Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 15:1-6, 12-18; Romans 3:21-31
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Friday, February 23: Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 16:1-6; Romans 4:1-12
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Saturday, February 24: Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 16:7-15; Mark 8:27-30
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Sunday, February 25: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22:23-31; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9
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Monday, February 26: Psalm 105:1-11, 37-45; Genesis 21:1-7; Hebrews 1:8-12
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Tuesday, February 27: Psalm 105:1-11, 37-45; Genesis 22:1-19; Hebrews 11:1-3, 13-19
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DEACON ON CALL
February 18–24 • Mary Powell Rhodes (919-818-6482 m or 919-469-3649 h)
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WEEK AT A GLANCE • February 21–28 | |
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Wednesday, February 21
1pm WMU Circle #7 (P)
5:15pm Meal served (FH)
5:45pm Children's music (301/307/311)
6:15pm Centerpoint (FH)
6:30pm Children's missions (PS/CS)
6:30pm Handbell rehearsal (302)
7:30pm Adult choir rehearsal (S/310)
Thursday, February 22
7am Band of Brothers (Zoom)
10:30am Thirty-Niners lunch outing (Captain Stanley's Seafood, 3333 South Wilmington Street)
Saturday, February 24
5:30pm Youth girls basketball (at Trinity Baptist)
Sunday, February 25
9:45am Sunday School
11am FBC worship (S/YouTube)
11am JBC worship (226)
12pm RA Car Race (FH)
1:30pm Youth girls' basketball (at Trinity Baptist)
5pm Youth choir rehearsal (choir room)
6pm Youth supper (FH)
6pm Music Ministries Countil meeting (Choir Loft)
6:30pm Youth program (FH/Blue Room)
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Monday, February 26
10am Clothing ministry open
6:30pm Music Made in Heaven (302)
Tuesday, February 27
10am Staff meeting (CR)
10:45am WMU Group 2 (Springmoor)
1pm WMU Group 2 (Independence Village)
Wednesday, February 28
5:15pm Meal served (FH)
5:45pm Children's music (301/307/311)
6:15pm Church conference (FH)
6:30pm Children's missions (PS/CS)
6:30pm Handbell rehearsal (302)
7:30pm Adult choir rehearsal (S/310)
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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!
LUNCH:
Wednesday–Friday — church parking lot, 11am–1:15pm(ish)
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AMONG OUR FAMILY
A link to the entire prayer list may be found below.
Please use your church directory for mailing addresses.
Prayer List • February 20
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THE RECORD WE WROTE
As of February 15:
Current Week Revenue: $21,047.17
Month-to-Date Revenue: $45,473.16
Year-to-Date Revenue: $252,773.04
Month-to-Date Expenses: $71,227.69
Year-to-Date Expenses: $199,505.90
Global Missions: $10,320.00
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To facilitate your giving to FBC, use the QR codes below to link to the website
for our main electronic giving, VANCO Faith, and the page that lists
all our e-giving options and instructions.
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SUBMIT A ROSE WINDOW WEEKLY ARTICLE
Do you have an article 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 Jennie Herrick. Email Jennie here.
SUBMIT AN ARTICLE HERE!
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A link to the current and archived editions of the
Rose Window Weekly is available on the website.
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First Baptist Church Raleigh| (919) 832-4485 | 99 N Salisbury St, Raleigh NC 27603
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