FBC Raleigh News • January 5, 2021
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
THIS WINTER

God calls us to reconcile ourselves to him and to each other. How do we do this in a world filled with deep disagreements and conflicts that continually strain many personal, familial, and community relationships? On Wednesday nights this winter, we will be exploring what it means to seek reconciliation in our relationships with each other, our larger community, and God. This Wednesday, we will start with a two-part Bible study lead by Dr. Chapman, who will help us explore personal and cultural forms of reconciliation. 

On January 20, Dr. Andrew Manis will lead us in a reflection on Racial Reconciliation. Andrew M. Manis is Professor Emeritus of History at Middle Georgia State University. An ordained Baptist minister with a PhD from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he is the award-winning author of Southern Civil Religions in Conflict, A Fire You Can’t Put Out, Macon Black and White, and most recently, Eavesdropping on the Most Segregated Hour: A City’s Clergy Reflect on Racial Reconciliation. 

We will build on the discussion with Dr. Manis in February through a two-part series where we will discuss the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. This New York Times Bestseller tells the true story of Stevenson's founding of the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit law firm in Alabama whose mission is defending those in our criminal justice system who have been wrongly convicted. In 2019, this best-selling book was adapted into a movie that can be streamed on YouTube, Amazon and Google Play. Both the book and the movie take us inside the unforgettable story of Walter McMillian, who was convicted and sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit. You are invited to read the book or watch the movie and join us for this discussion on February 3 and 10.

We hope you will join us this winter as we seek ways we can work personally and corporately to reconcile ourselves to God and each other. Note our 2021 program will start a little later - at 6:15pm - and will end by 7:30pm. 
BIBLE VERSES FOR DAILY USE
  • Tuesday, January 5: Psalm 110; Proverbs 22:1-9; Luke 6:27-31
  • Wednesday, January 6: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12
  • Thursday, January 7: Psalm 29; 1 Samuel 3:1-21; Acts 9:10-19a
  • Friday, January 8: Psalm 29; 1 Samuel 16:1-13; 1 Timothy 4:11-16
  • Saturday, January 9: Psalm 29 ; 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12; Luke 5:1-11
  • Sunday, January 10: Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11
  • Monday, January 11: Psalm 69:1-5, 30-36; Genesis 17:1-13; Romans 4:1-12
DEACON ON CALL, JANUARY 3-9
Matt Bullard (919-605-6887)
WEEK AT A GLANCE • JANUARY 5-11
Tuesday, January 5
6pm Theology on Tap (Zoom/In-person tbd)
6pm High School Bible Study (FH/302)
7:30pm Pathfinders Sunday School (Virtual)

Wednesday, January 6
6:15pm Centerpoint (Zoom)

Thursday, January 7
7am Band of Brothers (Zoom)
7pm Nominating Committee (Zoom)
Sunday, January 10
10am 6th Grade SS (Go to Meeting)
10am 7th & 8th Grade SS (Zoom)
10am HS SS (Zoom/In Person tbd)
11am Virtual Worship (YouTube)
2pm 1st-2nd Grade SS (Zoom)
2pm 3rd-5th Grade SS (Zoom)
4pm 3s-Kindergarten SS (Ellis Yard)

Monday, January 11
6:15pm Finance Committee Mtg. (Zoom)
7pm Adult Ministry Council Mtg.
CENTERPOINT

January 6 & 13 • 6:15-7:30pm
Dr. Chapman will lead us in a two-part Bible series on reconciliation looking at personal and cultural forms of reconciliation. Join us here!

January 20 • 6:15-7:30pm
Dr. Andrew Manis will lead us in a reflection on racial reconciliation.

January 27 • 5:30-6:30pm
Church Conference via zoom.

February 3 & 10 • 6:15-7:30pm
Book/movie discussion on Just Mercy
2021 CHURCH CONFERENCE DATES
Mark your calendars for the following 2021 dates for Church Conference.
January 27, February 24, March 24, May 26, August 18, September 29,
October 27, November 17, and December 15
STEWARDSHIP UPDATE

Even in this pandemic time, the ministry of FBC continues touching lives and sharing God's love every day. These efforts are sustained through tithes and gifts made to the church. As of January 5, we have received 160 pledge cards totaling $1,094,441 for the 2021 budget. Traditionally the finance committee has recommended that we need to pledge about 80 percent of the church budget (which is approximately $1,188,566). We are close, but not there yet, and soon the church will need to finalize the 2021 operating budget.
 
Please help us meet our goal. Click here to go our 2021 Stewardship Page on our website to see our stewardship challenge and to see our 2021 tentative budget.
 
Here are three ways to make a pledge to the church:
1) Email our financial administrator.
3) Use the pledge card you received in the mail. If you want us to send you another card, please email financeadmin@fbcraleigh.org.
 
All information you send is confidential. Thank you for supporting the life and ministries of our church. - The Stewardship Ministry Team
SHARING THOUGHTS
BOOK STUDY

The Sharing Thoughts class will begin a discussion of Dan Day’s new book, Finding the Gospel: A Pastor’s Disappointment and Recovery, on January 17. As always, they welcome anyone who wants to join the discussion. The class is meeting online for now, at 10am on Sunday mornings. Email Beth Yerxa if you are interested in participating and we will send you the link. Dr. Day's book can be purchased here.
DELIVERING MEALS TO THE
HELEN WRIGHT CENTER

For the past year through our partnership with And Also With 'Cue, we have been providing dinner to the women living at the Helen Wright Center. The Helen Wright Center offers emergency shelter to single women without children who are experiencing homelessness. Ever since the pandemic began, this has been a contactless experience that involves picking up the food from our church kitchen and delivering it to the Helen Wright Center where it is served by their employees. We have already committed to several dates in 2021, and would love your help in making these deliveries. If you are able to help deliver for one or more of these dates, please email Leah.
• January 12
• February 4
• March 2
• April 1
• May 6
ESL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

USCRI is seeking volunteers with ESL teaching experience for our clients, some of whom require one-on-one sessions while others are grouped together based on language skills. They prefer that the sessions are conducted twice a week, 60-90 minutes for each session, with volunteers determining their own schedules. Volunteers are required to access the virtual volunteer orientation and training sessions and also complete application forms for background check prior to volunteer assignments. Volunteers have flexibility to develop the curriculum for their students. USCRI’S current ESL program was developed and is managed by CBF Field Personnel, Kim Wyatt. ESL classes are offered to our local refugee and immigrant families who are children and adults of all ages with varying levels of English competency. Since the beginning of the pandemic, they have continued to provide ESL classes remotely, using apps such as Zoom and WhatsApp. To sign up, email Thuy Dancik, USCRI's Volunteer Coordinator.
OFFERING ENVELOPES

We are approaching the time of the year when we distribute offering envelopes for the next year. COVID-19 presents an obstacle to our usual process and would force us to mail all envelopes at considerable expense to ensure delivery. In addition, more and more people are switching to on-line giving, doing stock transfers, and reducing the number of times they are mailing an offering to the church.  Most people have envelopes left from last year. 
 
Taking all of this into account, we will not be distributing new envelopes unless requested. If you need envelopes for 2021, please email Wayne Hager. Let him know how many of each of these envelopes you need: undated regular offering envelopes, Mike Morris Fellowship Fund envelopes, and the mission offering packet. Also, let him know if you want to arrange to pick them up on a trip to the church or if you wish for them to be mailed. 
 
We thank you for your continued faithfulness in giving and want to support your giving in any way we able. We do, however, want to be good stewards of your financial support by not spending where we do not need to. If you will be using old envelopes, please mark out the printed date, write in a new one, and leave your envelope number on the envelope.
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:

January 6-8 • 11am-1:30pm, church parking lot

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.



DECEMBER 2020 • MEMORIAL & HONORIFIC GIFTS

Capital Repair & Replacement Fund
In Honor of:
Margaret Clary
Randall & Lou Lolley

Clothing Ministry Fund
In Honor of:
Bob & Dolores Bailey
Margaret Bartolotto
Catherine & Jerry Dudeck
Nancye Gaj
Barbara & Pete Nickel
Alan Latham
Ashley Prather

Joy C. Hager Veterans AssistanceFund
In Memory of:
William Graham Crutchfield

Mike Morris Fellowship Fund
In Memory of:
Patsy Kelly

In Honor of:
Hayden James
Chuck Nichols

Toy Joy Fund
In Memory of:
Patsy Kelly
Shantell Whitaker
Nancy Byard
Thomas Broughton

In Honor of:
Chris & Dana Chapman
THE RECORD WE WROTE
Week as of December 29, 2020
Current Week Revenue: $43,361.78 
Month-to-Date Revenue: $178,825.17
Year-to-Date Revenue: $1,407,908.93
Month-to-Date Expenses: $115,751.08
Year-to-Date Expenses: $1,349,475.17
NC State Missions: $3,640.00
CBF Global Missions: $7,030.00
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.