FBC Raleigh News • December 22, 2020
A VIRTUAL
CHRISTMAS EVE

This is the evening for which we have been waiting for four long weeks. After a month of preparation and anticipation, reflection and devotion, the time has finally arrived to celebrate Christ’s birth. We may not be able to gather safely in-person, but we can still offer our thanks and praise to God for the gift of salvation. We invite you to join us for a virtual Christmas Eve service at 5pm on our YouTube channel.

As always, this service will include hymns and texts of faith, with the lighting of candles and the celebration of communion. We invite you to prepare bread or crackers and wine or juice so that you can partake of these joyous elements with us when the time comes. And we invite you to prepare a candle to light safely with us as we sing of Christ’s birth at the end of the service.

“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,” our opening carol proclaims, “O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold him, born the King of angels; O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.”
BIBLE VERSES FOR DAILY USE
  • Tuesday, December 22: Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Samuel 1:19-28; Hebrews 8:1-13
  • Wednesday, December 23: Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Mark 11:1-11
  • Thursday, December 24: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)
  • Friday, December 25: Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20
  • Saturday, December 26: Psalm 148; Jeremiah 26:1-9, 12-15; Acts 6:8-15; 7:51-60
  • Sunday, December 27: Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 148; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40
  • Monday, December 28: Psalm 148; Jeremiah 31:15-17; Matthew 2:13-18
  • Tuesday, December 29: Psalm 148; Isaiah 49:5-15; Matthew 12:46-50
  • Wednesday, December 30: Psalm 148; Proverbs 9:1-12; 2 Peter 3:8-13
  • Thursday, December 31: Psalm 148; 1 Kings 3:5-14; John 8:12-19
  • Friday, January 1: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Psalm 8; Revelation 21:1-6a; Matthew 25:31-46
  • Saturday, January 2: Psalm 148; Proverbs 1:1-7; James 3:13-18
  • Sunday, January 3: Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 147:12-20 or Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 1:(1-9), 10-18
  • Monday, January 4: Psalm 110; Proverbs 3:1-12; James 4:11-17
DEACON ON CALL
DECEMBER 20-26 • Jess Helms (919-812-6681)
DECEMBER 27-JANUARY 2 • Ron Maness (919-796-9353)

The Church Conference minutes from December 16 are linked below.

WEEK AT A GLANCE • DECEMBER 15-20
Tuesday, December 22
6pm Theology on Tap (Zoom/In-person tbd)
7:30pm Pathfinders Sunday School (Virtual)

Thursday, December 24
OFFICE CLOSED
5pm Christmas Eve Service (S/You Tube) Communion

Friday, December 25
OFFICE CLOSED – Merry Christmas!

Sunday December 27
10am 6th Grade SS (Go to Meeting)
10am 7th & 8th Grade SS (Zoom)
10am HS SS (Zoom/In Person tbd)
11am Virtual Worship (YouTube)
Monday, December 28
OFFICE CLOSED

Tuesday, December 29
10am Staff Mtg. (Zoom or Library)
6pm Theology on Tap (Zoom/In-person tbd)
7:30pm Pathfinders Sunday School (Virtual)

Friday, January 1
OFFICE CLOSED – Happy New Year!

Sunday, January 3
10am 6th Grade SS (Go to Meeting)
10am 7th & 8th Grade SS (Zoom)
10am HS SS (Zoom/In Person tbd)
11am Virtual Worship (YouTube)
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE
The church office will be closed December 24, 25, 28, and January 1. There will be no Wednesday night activities on December 23 and 30. We will resume with Centerpoint, and children's activities on January 6.

We know this Christmas will be different, but even still, we hope you are able to experience the peace, love, hope, and joy that comes through the gift of Christ into our world. Merry Christmas!
CHRISTMAS BAGS FOR THE WELCOME HOUSE

Ten Christmas bags for Welcome House were delivered last week to be given to refugee and immigrant families new to the Triangle area. Each Christmas bag contained items like Walmart gift cards, cleaning supplies, pantry staples, toiletry items, stuffed animals, and activities for the children. We are grateful for the partnership of Marc and Kim Wyatt, Carolyn McClendon, and Hannah Turner (who are pictured here) and the entire Welcome House network that provides hospitality to those seeking refuge in our city. We have linked Marc and Kim's Christmas letter so you can read about their year of serving through this incredibly ministry. Many thanks to the children’s families and EMF class who helped to fill these bags! 
MUSIC MINISTER
SEARCH SURVEY

If you have missed listening sessions with the Music Minister Search Committee, you can still share your feedback in an anonymous way by completing a short survey via this link. The survey will be open through December 23. 
CHRISTMAS POSTLUDE PICTURES

We’d love to have a Christmas picture of you and/or your family for our postlude pictures this month! Between now and December 23, please send a picture of you and those you live with (canines and feline family members are welcome!) in front of your tree, decorated mantel, or whatever Christmas-y background that you have to Lynn Lingafelt. Spread the word among your Sunday School or small group members to do the same! It would be wonderful to have pictures of EVERYONE in our church family represented during the next couple of weeks!  
GLOBAL MISSION OFFERING EMPHASIS

December is here, Christmas is coming, and we’re all ready to sing “Joy To The World.” That’s what it’s all about, but there are still many people in this world who have not heard the Good Word. Our FBC family is fortunate to be a part of so many ways that show God’s love this year and every year. Most of our opportunities are right here at home, but our CBF missionaries have given their lives to serve both here and in foreign lands. When we give to the offering for Global Missions, we help plant new churches and share the hope of Christ with people who have never heard the Gospel, we offer food and teach children how to succeed in school and help refugees adapt and thrive in their new homes. Please join us for both of these reports and give prayerfully to the CBF Global Mission Offering. - Nancy Moore Phillips, WMU President
GIFT CARDS NOW AVAILABLE

Still in need of a last minute stocking stuffer? And Also With 'Cue is now offering gift cards! Available in custom amounts, and useable all year long. Give the gift of 'cue this Christmas! Purchase your gift card here.
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:

December 22-23 • 11am-1:30pm, church parking lot
December 24 • Christmas pre-order pick-ups from 11am-2pm. We’ll also have BBQ and sides for sale.
We’ll be closed at lunch from December 25-January 4, re-opening on Tuesday, January 5!


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.

Prayer List • December 22, 2020
THE RECORD WE WROTE
Week as of December 15, 2020
Current Week Revenue: $22,751.00
Month-to-Date Revenue: $110,718.94
Year-to-Date Revenue: $1,339,802.70
Month-to-Date Expenses: $50,211.90
Year-to-Date Expenses: $1,283,935.99
NC State Missions: $3,640.00
CBF Global Missions: $4,315.00
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.