A WORD FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

Only a little more than two months remain in 2023. As is usually the case, the “summer doldrums” impacted our giving—especially in August and September. Traditionally, our congregation responds well in its giving during the months of October, November, and December, and our annual budget is not significantly impacted. Encouraging news is that giving through the first three Sundays in October has shown a rebound as giving in October exceeds total giving for each of the months of August and September--and two more Sundays are still to be reported for October.

A snapshot comparison of our church budget as of September 30, 2022, and September 30, 2023, shows that 2023 revenue trails 2022 revenue by $56,000. Revenue as of 9/30/22 was 74.76% of Annual Budget while revenue as of 9/30/23 represents only 68.22% of Annual Budget. Expenses for both years have remained in line with Annual Budget projections. Expenses as of 9/30/22 represent 71.81% of Annual Budget while expenses as of 9/30/23 represent 72.82% of Annual Budget. Revenue as of 9/30/22 exceeded expenses by $44,789.51; however, as of 9/30/23 expenses exceeded revenue by $73,041.51.

I encourage all of us to examine whether we have met our financial commitment to our church thus far in 2023. If not, there is still time to remedy the situation. With everyone working together and sharing the workload, we can do great things in being the hands and feet of Jesus in this community and beyond.

Sam Ewell

Chair, Finance Committee

NEW NON-FICTION

IN THE LIBRARY

Recently, the library staff has added a significant number of non-fiction books to the library collection. They are on display on the table in the library and ready for check-out. We invite you to come by and take a look. Some examples of what you will find are:

Lessons from Old Testament Characters by William Powell Tuck: Dr. Tuck examines the lives of Moses, Jeremiah, Esther, Ruth and many others and shows how their lives connect with us today.

Selected Spiritual Writings of Anne Dutton: Women theologians were a rarity in the 18th century. Anne Dutton stands out as an exception. She was an English, Baptist theologian. Mercer University Press has given the six-volume set of her writings to First Baptist in recognition of the church’s 200+ years of contributions to Baptists in North Carolina.

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, NY Times bestseller, PBS commentator, psychologist, and Nobel Prize winner: The author explains the two systems that drive how we think. “System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; system 2 is slower, more deliberate, and more logical. ” Both are important in shaping our judgments and decisions.

The Road to Character by David Brooks: In this book, Brooks focuses on deep values that should inform our lives. He challenges the reader to rebalance the scales between “resume virtues” (achieving wealth, fame and status) and “eulogy virtues” (kindness, honesty and faithfulness).

Faith Still Moves Mountains by Harris Faulkner: This book is a highly readable

collection of true-life stories of God’s intercession into our lives in response to prayer.

Joe Webb

2024 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

GIVING GENEROUSLY WITH GRATITUDE

Our 2024 stewardship emphasis is taken from Paul’s second letter to Corinthians 9:7 “Each of [us] should give what [we] have decided in [our] hearts to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

The Finance Committee presented a proposed 2024 budget to the diaconate on Sunday, October 22, and will present it to the church conference on Wednesday, October 25. During the week of Monday, October 23, pledge cards and a letter from the Stewardship Committee will be delivered via US mail and e-mail. Members of the Stewardship Committee will also visit Sunday School classes on October 29, November 5, and November 12 to provide information about the campaign. “Commitment Sunday” is November 19.

Please prayerfully consider how you can give generously and with gratitude to God through First Baptist Church.

Thanks to each of you.

Your Stewardship Committee,

Jessica Helms, David Kelley, Robert Ponton, Jane Weathers, and Robin Willis

CONNECTIONS

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS 

In the spring, we offered a new Sunday School class which has recently been named Connections. The class chose this name because we strive to connect with God, the church, the community, and with one another. For several months now, couples, singles, young adults, and mid-life adults have gathered in the Connections classroom for fellowship and for studying God’s word together. Regardless of age or life status, if you're looking for a place to connect with fellow church members and be part of thoughtful discussions, please join us. You can find us Sundays at 9:45 am in Room 224. For more information about the class, please contact Tonya and Lin Carter and/or Lou Anne and John Liverman. We hope to see you soon.



VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

FOR TOY JOY

The Toy Joy team is excited to invite you to volunteer for this year's event on Saturday, November 11, as well as for set-up the day before! On the day of the event, you may volunteer either for a morning session or an afternoon session . . . or both! If you do both sessions, lunch will be provided for you. There are jobs for every age—anyone from middle school students on up can help in the building on November 11. Parents and their children (ages 3–5th grade) may volunteer to help in the parking lot in our hospitality area serving refreshments to our guests after they finish shopping. The handbell choir Music Made in Heaven will be entertaining our guests during the morning session, and we’d like people to sign up to provide vocal or instrumental Christmas music during the afternoon session in 30-minute increments.

Our church family always comes through for Toy Joy— we certainly couldn't do this event without you! Over the years, many of you have invited friends, neighbors, and co-workers to participate and some of these folks continue to return each year. While we hope that the families we serve will be blessed by the gifts they receive, we know that as volunteers, we gain so much more than what we give. It's truly a blessing to be able to help these families have a joyful Christmas.

Click here to volunteer! Email Lynn Lingafelt directly if you're interested in helping with the hospitality area. Email Anne Cooke or any member of the Toy Joy team with questions.

DEACON ELECTIONS

Per the bylaws, the election of deacons will take place during the month of October. Ballots will be available each Sunday and each member may vote for up to eight men and eight women. Ballots are in the library, the Gathering Room, the narthex, and in the Lewis Lobby; you may also obtain an electronic version below. The box for ballots will be on the long counter in the library. If you choose to mail yours in, please do so well before the end of the month. On Sunday, October 29, the tellers appointed by the deacon chair will gather to count the ballots, and the chair and vice-chair will then notify those selected.

Please see the attached deacon election ballot for a current list of deacons

and their spouses who are not eligible based on the bylaws,

as well as others who have asked not to be considered for election.



Please give thoughtful and prayerful consideration as you participate in the deacon election process.



OCTOBER MISSION PROJECT — CROP WALK

The Greater Triangle Area CROP Hunger Walk is our October church-wide mission project and it starts and ends at the First Baptist parking lot on Sunday, October 29, with sign-in at 2 pm and the step-off at 3 pm.. Funds raised support local agencies and the international work of CWS (Church World Service). Go here to see information about each of these agencies. 

And Also With 'Cue, FBC's give-back food truck, will be in our parking lot from noon until 2:30pm on walk day 20% of the sales that day to the CROP Walk. Click here to place your order for your meal. Tables will be set up in the Fellowship Hall.

You may join/donate to the FBC church-wide team here. FBC youth have an additional team and you may join/donate to it here. You may also donate through the FBC electronic options. Make checks payable to FBC with "CROP Walk" in the memo line and to mail to : Financial Administrator, FBC, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, 27603).

CHURCH CONFERENCE TOMORROW



Our regularly scheduled church conference will be held Wednesday, October 25, at 6:15pm. Please note that our prayer time will begin at 6pm, so the conference can begin on time. The Zoom link is below, as well as a call-in number for those who would rather join via phone. Our by-laws require 50 members in attendance (in-person and Zoom) in order to transact business. Please make plans to attend so we can vote on important matters for our church.

Church conference agenda

Finance chair summary report

Finance report

2023 Budget and 2024 proposed budget comparison

Draft minutes of September church conference

View via Zoom with this link, meeting ID: 850 6201 7518, passcode: wDefe3. 

To view the speaker throughout the presentation, click the three dots

on the right portion of the screen and choose "pin this video." 

If you would prefer to call in,

use 646-558-8656, meeting ID: 850 6201 7518 Passcode: 490422.