FBC Raleigh News • May 12, 2020
MISSION BLITZ

During non-COVID times, this would be our week of Mission Celebration. It’s when we would all be gathering at the church on Wednesday night to be informed and entertained by our Mission Friends, GAs, and RAs as they share with us about CBF missionaries around the globe and their work of sharing the Good News of Christ in word and deed. But since we couldn’t be together this Wednesday night, we decided to re-tool our Mission Celebration into a Mission Blitz – and actually  become  the missionaries.       
 


Even in this time of physical distancing, our children found creative ways to encourage, to uplift, and to share the love of Christ with their community. From writing notes, to helping neighbors, to cutting hair to make wigs for cancer patients, our children rose to the challenge and embodied the mission lifestyle. So sit back, click on the link below, and let us show you what we’ve learned about sharing the love of Christ in word and deed right where we are.
CHURCH CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
The 2020 dates for Church Conference will be as follows:
May 20 • August 19 • September 30 • October 28 • November 18 • December 16
WEEK AT A GLANCE • MAY 12-18
All regularly scheduled programming is canceled.
BIBLE VERSES FOR DAILY USE
  • Tuesday, May 12: Psalm 102:1-17; Proverbs 3:5-12; Acts 7:44-56
  • Wednesday, May 13: Psalm 102:1-17; Proverbs 3:13-18; John 8:31-38
  • Thursday, May 14: Psalm 66:8-20; Genesis 6:5-22; Acts 27:1-12
  • Friday, May 15: Psalm 66:8-20; Genesis 7:1-24; Acts 27:13-38
  • Saturday, May 16: Psalm 66:8-20; Genesis 8:13-19; John 14:27-29
  • Sunday, May 17: Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:8-20, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21
  • Monday, May 18, 2020: Psalm 93; Genesis 9:8-17; Acts 27:39-44
DEACON ON CALL • MAY 10-16
Jay Carothers
FROM THE PASTOR

While we are not able to meet in person, the life of our church continues to flourish. We are worshiping on Sundays and praying on Wednesdays through live streaming, videos, and YouTube.Sunday School classes and the youth are finding ways to connect and members are caring for each other. The Church Council met last week via Zoom to consider a number of important matters, including the immediate decision regarding reopening. We will not reopen the church office to the public during Phase 1, and the development of strategies for long-term reopening is ongoing (please stay tuned – we are not there yet). And other key groups like the staff, Finance Committee, and the Youth and College Minister Search Committee continue to work. While April giving was down a bit, predictably, the strength of our first quarter still puts us in a good though watchful financial position.
So, the church in isolation is still the church in witness, mission, service, and love. Thank you for your prayerful support of all that we are doing together and for your role in doing it. To paraphrase the Apostle Paul, we are isolated but not alone, discouraged but not without hope, unsettled yet still at peace, limited in many ways but not in love (2 Corinthians 6:8b-10, adapted)! - Dr. Chapman
INFORMATION NEEDED FROM COLLEGE GRADS

Class of 2020, congratulations! We want to recognize your accomplishments, and celebrate these milestones alongside each of you. If you are graduating from college, we would like to have the following information for our church's publications.

 Please e mail Deborah the following information:
• Graduate's name
• College
• Degree
• Your relationship to the graduate
All responses are needed by Friday, May 29.
VIRTUAL CENTERPOINT

In case you missed it, in last week's virtual Centerpoint, we heard thoughts and reflections from Matt Bullard, Lila Davis, Cindy DeFoor & Rae Moorhead, Owen Fulk, Dennis & Betsy Herman, Rhonda Lowe, Charles Petty, Rebecca Sasser, and Kimberly & Emily Taylor. We hope you enjoy hearing from members of your church family, as we check in with each other in the weeks to come.

These videoed midweek offerings will include a brief devotional from one of our ministers and contributions from you, our church family, as you respond to weekly prompts. Each Wednesday,  a new virtual Centerpoint will be added to our YouTube channel. The link will be emailed and can also be found on  our website . Our fifth video will be uploaded tomorrow!
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED
TO THE PUBLIC

In light of the state-wide "stay at home" order, we have closed the church office to the public for the immediate future. We regret any inconvenience this causes, but we feel like this is another small thing we can do as a church to embrace the requests of community leaders to help limit the spread of COVID-19. We will monitor the answering machine and respond to messages quickly, and we encourage you to contact any of the ministers if you have a pressing need. We have linked each of the ministerial staff member's emails below, so please do not hesitate to reach out with concerns. Chris Chapman , Mary Alice Seals , Trey Davis , Lynn Lingafelt , and Leah Reed .
WAYS TO GIVE

There are several different ways in which you can continue to support the church financially during this time of social distancing. We know many people are facing their own financial challenges right now and have been very generous already, but a number of people have asked how they could support the church while we are unable to gather together physically. Wayne Hager has provided the following answers to this question.

• We continue to receive mail daily. Any gifts mailed to the church will be processed and deposited as soon as possible.
• We will continue to debit bank accounts through auto drafts as we have been instructed by donors.
• If you have set up a recurring donation through one of our electronic options, those donations will continue without interruption unless YOU make a change.
• If you wish to begin electronic giving, please go to this link where each of our options is explained.
• If you are considering a stock gift, please visit this link for instructions. 

If you have any financial or giving-option questions, please email Wayne Hager.
WORSHIP FROM HOME

For the past few weeks, we have invited you to join us at 11am on Sundays for a live stream worship service from our sanctuary. We hope this time of worship brings you an assurance of God's presence and a sense of peace from the comfort of your home.


We want to answer some of the frequently asked questions we are getting as we all learn this new digital worship experience together.

LIVE STREAM FAQs:

Help! I'm not getting the email link to the order of worship and the live stream!
If you are NOT receiving the weekly worship order and link via email, please email Leah. Also, make sure to check your junk/spam, or your promotions folder. We have found that many email servers send Constant Contact (our email provider) communications straight to the spam folder.

Where can I find the link to the worship order and live stream?
The worship order and live stream will always be posted on our website.

Where can I find the YouTube link for the service?
Upcoming and previous services may be accessed on the YouTube Channel named  First Baptist Church Raleigh on Salisbury Street.   Be sure to subscribe to our channel and it will automatically update when you go online to YouTube or use your device app.
Copy this YouTube link into your device browser and save it as a “favorite” for easy access. On your Smart TV, or any device with apps, locate your YouTube app and search for our channel and the Rose Window graphic.

I can't open my worship order and watch the live stream at the same time!
 We suggest you watch the live stream on one device and view the worship order on another device. If you have a printer, you can also print it so you're not juggling two devices. The worship order for the last service will remain in the PDF reader until one for the next service is opened.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES

Community is in short supply during these uncertain times. We're all longing to reach out, finding ways we can "be" the Church when we're not able to be physically present with one another. We are updating new needs every week and will continue to list them below as an opportunity for you to connect with our downtown Raleigh community.

Donate to the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants • USCRI is currently in need of donated items for refugee clients with babies. Due to COVID-19, the two locations their clients had been using to get diapers have been closed. In addition, they have had four refugee clients who gave birth during the pandemic and are in need of baby essentials for them. 

Here are a few essential needs:
• Bassinets (no cribs or pack-n-plays)
• Baby wipes
• Newborn diapers, size 2 through 6. You can have diapers or wipes shipped directly to the office if that is more convenient for you.    
• Car seats - baby & toddler (no booster seats). Please note that a car seat expires six years after the date of manufacture.

If you are able to donate items, please email Adelen Kirkland , volunteer coordinator. She will coordinate drop offs, pick ups, and shipping while the USCRI office is closed.

If you know of other community outreach opportunities, please email Leah.
AMONG OUR FAMILY
A link to the entire prayer list may be found below.
Please use your church directory for mailing addresses.
THE RECORD WE WROTE
Week of May 5, 2020
Current Week Revenue: $31,152.82
Month-to-Date Revenue: $31,152.82
Year-to-Date Revenue: $597,973.84
Month-to-Date Expenses: $4,748.93
Year-to-Date Expenses: $470,373.46
Heck Jones: 1,310.00
SUBMIT A ROSE WINDOW WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENT

Do you have an announcement 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 Leah Reed. Email Leah here.