FBC Raleigh News • July 7, 2020
CELEBRATING
DR. MARY ALICE SEALS

How do you celebrate a beloved Minister of Music who is retiring after 20 years of service among us? And during a pandemic at that? On Sunday, August 30 , we will honor Dr. Mary Alice Seals during the worship service and at an afternoon retirement send-off tailored for the times. Mary Alice’s Drive-By Goodbye will take place from 2-3pm in the McDowell Street parking lot . Please plan to come by and offer Mary Alice your socially distanced good wishes for retirement and enjoy some refreshments – all without leaving your car. If you’d like, adorn your vehicle with signs and balloons that will add to the festivity of the occasion. Mary Alice will greet you from the shelter of a large tent that will protect her from at least some of the heat and humidity that’s typical for Raleigh in late August. 

Please join us for this heartfelt farewell – and be on the lookout for an upcoming email about a secret collective project to help make this occasion even more special. 
Mary Alice, we can’t imagine making music at FBC without you. But we look forward to celebrating with you as you prepare to begin life’s next stanza – one where YOU’LL set the tempo.
WEEK AT A GLANCE • JULY 7-14
All regularly scheduled programming is canceled.
BIBLE VERSES FOR DAILY USE
  • Tuesday, July 7: Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Genesis 29:1-14; Romans 3:1-8
  • Wednesday, July 8: Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Genesis 29:31-35; John 13:1-17
  • Thursday, July 9: Psalm 119:105-112; Exodus 3:1-6; Romans 2:12-16
  • Friday, July 10: Psalm 119:105-112; Deuteronomy 32:1-10; Romans 15:14-21
  • Saturday, July 11: Psalm 119:105-112; Isaiah 2:1-4; John 12:44-50
  • Sunday, July 12: Genesis 25:19-34 and Psalm 119:105-112; Isaiah 55:10-13 and Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
  • Monday, July 13: Psalm 142; Micah 1:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
DEACON ON CALL • JULY 5-11
Sarah David (336-682-3695)
HECK JONES
OFFERING UPDATE

The positive side of our $4,295 in offerings received, is that we’re almost halfway to our goal of $10,000! But the programs affected are way more important then just $$ signs. While we have been safely hunkered down to protect ourselves and others, many important things have been left undone. The 10,000 bags of rice, soy protein, and dried vegetables that we weren’t able to fill at our Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event in May are part of 22 million missed meals that weren’t made since the COVID quarantine began. And yes, we have tentatively rescheduled for the fall, but meanwhile people are hungry and needs continue. For so many reasons, I hope this fall brings a better situation and we are able to come together, fill bags and ring the gong at each 1,000 bags, and cheer together as we do our part to stop hunger....BUT. It’s all so uncertain at this time. What I am certain of, is that I want to be ready. I want to have our goal met and funds ready to buy our supplies. If you haven’t given yet, please do so. Now more than ever, our contributions can make the difference in so many lives. All of the programs that benefit from this offering are about the basics - food, clothing, and shelter. Your prayers and gifts are appreciated. - Nancy Moore Phillips, WMU President 
CLOTHING MINISTRY UPDATE

The Clothing Ministry team has continued to meet remotely and led several small teams of volunteers to sort, bag, and label summer clothing into sets based on size and gender. With that work nearing completion, we’ve turned our focus to the plan for distribution. Just as planning efforts in our community continue to change and evolve because of COVID-19, our plans for distributing our summer stock have also changed.

Instead of a one-day sign up and distribution at the church on July 11, we are now planning to partner with a few local agencies who currently have direct contact with families in need (including several organizations that we know serve guests of our clothing ministry). We will be working with these groups to deliver the prepackaged items for distribution so our guests won’t have to figure out transportation to our church and possibly wait in lines outside on a hot July day. 

We anticipate needing volunteers to help sort and box up packages by sizes/gender or deliver these items to local agencies during the next several weeks. Once we have the details confirmed, we will provide information and sign-ups for this work. If you would like to receive this information directly, please email Sabrina Tyndall at cmvolunteercoordinator.fbc@gmail.com and she will add you to the group email list to receive notifications. 

Thanks to all who have already participated, whether by praying for our work, helping to sort and bag clothes, or sharing ideas for new ways to serve. We are grateful for each of you and your support. - FBC Clothing Ministry Team
QUARANTINE COOKBOOK
BENEFITING INTERACT

Mary Jordan and Noel Tucker have been working on a cookbook during these quarantined months to benefit InterAct. It is called The Quarantine Cookbook and it includes over 150 recipes, art creations, and quotes from 64 unique and wonderful people. The cookbook was made to share good thoughts and recipes that were made during the COVID-19 crisis while collecting funds to help victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a real issue every day and the need has only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. All proceeds from the sale of the Quarantine Cookbook will go to InterAct, Wake County's only non-profit provider of domestic violence and sexual assault services.
 
Digital copies via email are $5 and a printed copy, including mailing costs, is only $10. Digital copies will be emailed and printed copies will be mailed after payment either through Venmo or by check is received. Please keep in mind that printed copies may take a few days to get to you. Purchasing one of the cookbooks digitally is on the honor system, so we ask that folks don't forward their copy. 
 
Feel free to share the word and pass along this info. Even if you don't like to cook, there are some good quotes and some educational information about InterAct.
 
Click here for the link to order with the Venmo code. For further questions, please email Noel Tucker  
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED
TO THE PUBLIC

Although we are well into Phase 2, our church office remains closed 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.
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 June 29, 2020
Current Week Revenue: $8,114.00
Month-to-Date Revenue: $101,145.16
Year-to-Date Revenue: $778,149.02
Month-to-Date Expenses: $78,356.49*
Year-to-Date Expenses: $670,130.53*
Heck Jones: $ 4,295.00
*On June 28, the Church Conference approved the 2020 Budget which shifts service contract expense to the Church Maintenance Endowment Fund. This reduces already-incurred expenses by $21,453.25, and is adjusted in the June expense total.
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.