FBC Raleigh News • March 23, 2021
HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONALS

With word and art, members of our church family have shared thoughts and images that have come to them in reading the biblical events of Jesus’ last week on earth, events that Christ-followers all over the world will be pondering this Holy Week. We offer this devotional guide to you with the hopes that these scripture lessons will speak to you in fresh ways, that the vulnerability shared by the authors and artists will deepen your ponderings, and that this central reading will unify us as the body of Christ at 99 North Salisbury Street. May we be emboldened to share this Good News in authentic and meaningful ways with our world.

Booklets were mailed out to family units on Thursday of last week, and the PDF can be found on our website. If you did not receive one in the mail and would like a hard copy, please contact the church office.
BIBLE VERSES FOR DAILY USE
  • Tuesday, March 23: Psalm 119:9-16; Isaiah 44:1-8; Acts 2:14-24
  • Wednesday, March 24: Psalm 119:9-16; Haggai 2:1-9, 20-23; John 12:34-50
  • Thursday, March 25: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 45 or Psalm 40:5-10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38
  • Friday, March 26: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Jeremiah 33:1-9; Philippians 2:12-18
  • Saturday, March 27: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Jeremiah 33:10-16; Mark 10:32-34, 46-52
  • Sunday, March 28: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16
DEACON ON CALL • March 21-27
Kati Gardner (404-374-7141)
WEEK AT A GLANCE • March 23-29, 2021
Tuesday, March 23
6pm Theology on Tap (Zoom/In-person tbd)
6:15pm Middle School Gathering (Ellis Home)
6:30pm HS Girls Bible Study (Helms Home)
6:30pm HS Boys Bible Study (Carter Home)
7:30pm Pathfinders Sunday School (Zoom)

Wednesday, March 24
5:30pm Preschool Music & Missions (Bissette Yard)
5:30pm Church Conference (Zoom)
7pm Youth Netflix Movie Night (Teleparty)

Thursday, March 25
7am Band of Brothers (Zoom)
12pm FBC Preschool Easter Egg Hunt (Garth)
7:30pm College Gathering (Zoom)
Sunday, March 28
10am 6th Grade SS (Gotomeeting.com)
10am 7th & 8th Grade SS (Zoom)
10am HS SS (Zoom/In Person tbd)
10:30am JBC Worship Service/Fellowship (Rms. 301/302)
11am Virtual Worship (YouTube)
2pm 1st & 2nd Grade SS (Zoom)
4pm 3rd-5th Grade SS (Lingafelt Yard)
4pm 3s-Kindergarten SS (Zoom)
5:30pm Deacons Meeting (Zoom)
6:30pm Youth Group (Zoom)

Monday, March 29
7pm Nominating Committee Mtg. (Zoom)
CENTERPOINT
March 24 • 5:30-6:30pm, Church Conference via Zoom. Link below!

March 31 • No Wednesday night activities/spring break
VIRTUAL CHURCH CONFERENCE

Please mark your calendars for tomorrow, Wednesday, March 24, at 5:30pm. The Zoom invite for the meeting is listed below, as well as a call-in number for those who would rather join via phone. We will send out the needed attachments that normally would be on the tables via email before the meeting. We look forward to seeing as many of your faces as possible on March 24!



Meeting ID: 850 6201 7518
Passcode: wDefe3

Phone number: (301) 715-8592
Meeting ID: 850 6201 7518
Passcode: 490422
HONOR A LOVED ONE
AT EASTER

By paying tribute to a loved one this Easter, you will also support FBC mission teams. With each gift of $10 or more, a portion will be used to prepare a small display of lilies in the sanctuary on Easter and the remainder will be directed to the Day Mission Fund, supporting the efforts of various mission teams sent from our congregation. An insert in the Easter worship order will list the names of those memorialized or honored along with the donor’s name. Submit your requests here. Checks or electronic payments should be received no later than Wednesday, March 24 (tomorrow!). Checks should be mailed to: Financial Administrator, First Baptist Church, 99 N Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27603; please write “Easter Gift” in the memo line.
EASTER WORSHIP

As we approach the one year anniversary of worshiping virtually, we recognize the deep yearning for our congregation to gather in person for worship, in a safe and distanced way. While we are diligently working with the Risk Management team on a plan to be back in the Sanctuary together, we are not quite there yet. Following the CDC and state guidelines, we do feel like it is safe to gather together outdoors in small groups, with masks and social distancing in place. You are invited to join us for worship in person on Easter Sunday, April 4. We will gather for an outdoor service at the Fred Fletcher Park Amphitheater, located at 820 Clay Street. There will be 3 service times - 10:30am, 11:30am, and 12:30pm. As of this afternoon, Governor Cooper has expanded gatherings to 50 inside, and 100 outside. We have changed the sign-up to include 50 more spots for each service! Sign-up is required to attend, along with masks and social distancing. We will have a 40-minute worship service, with a quick turn-around time for exiting and getting the next group in and settled. There is a parking lot on Washington Street, in addition to street parking (Clay Street & Washington Street). Please bring your own chair or blanket to sit on, as chairs will not be provided. No bathrooms will be available on site, so just keep that in mind.


There also will be a pre-recorded service from the Sanctuary on our YouTube channel at 11am. This will be our rain plan, in case our service is canceled due to weather. If the weather looks questionable, we will make a call early on Sunday morning and send out a mass email to keep you informed.

We appreciate your patience and faithfulness over the last year, as we navigate uncharted territory as a community of faith. We are hopeful, and looking forward to an opportunity to gather together as we celebrate the resurrection of our savior!
RISK MANAGEMENT UPDATE

It certainly has been a long year for our church members. The Risk Management Team wants to thank all our church community for their steadfastness in following our church guidelines for COVID-19. The team has made its decisions based on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Guidelines and will continue to do so as we move through this pandemic.

Presently, we will continue to have worship service virtually. Small indoor church gatherings limited to 25 will be allowed as we move forward. Wearing masks and practicing social distancing will also be required during the gathering. You must request the meeting through the portal on our website. We have limited rooms that can be used due to the spacing needed. Outdoor gatherings of 50 at our church facility are also allowed following all COVID-19 guidelines; requests for outdoor gatherings also need to go thru the church portal on our website. In the future when NCDHHS adjusts their guidelines, we will do our best to follow them based on our existing facility. We all yearn for the day when we can gather safely but the well-being of our members, ministers and staff, and the community requires us to act prudently and with caution.
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:

March 23-26 • 11am-1:30pm, church parking lot
March 25 • 5:30-7:30pm McCullers Walk Garner off 401
March 26 • 5-8pm, Mystic Distillery Movie Night

Do you have an idea about how to giveaway food in our community? Email Leah!
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.
CURRENT OFFICE PROCEDURES
DURING THE PANDEMIC

While the church office will remain closed to the public for the immediate future, we have someone in the office Monday through Friday, 8:30am-5pm to answer the phone and let people in for pre-approved activities. The staff and Church Council continue to monitor all realities related to COVID-19. In addition, we have formed a Risk Management Team (RMT) made up of John Baldwin, Sam Ewell, Ron Maness (chair), Alice Marshbanks, and Hollis Yelverton to help us make decisions. The RMT has developed a list of guidelines which can be found here. Any group wishing to schedule an in-person meeting or activity should contact Wayne Hager. We still encourage you to contact any of the ministers if you have a pressing need, using the following email links: Chris Chapman, Lynn Lingafelt, Leah Reed, and Michael Hood.
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 as of March 18, 2021
Current Week Revenue: $17,676.00
Month-to-Date Revenue: $55,323.03
Year-to-Date Revenue: $384,596.82 
Month-to-Date Expenses: $61,249.91
Year-to-Date Expenses: $250,144.89
CBF Global Missions: $17,485.00
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.