FBC Raleigh News • February 15, 2022
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE

As a Baptist congregation that follows the Christian year, we allow the Jesus story to shape our lives throughout the year and we allow a sacred calendar to shape worship. By doing so, we are borrowing from other Christian traditions, while making them our own. One tradition we have embraced for over a decade is the Ash Wednesday Service to be held Wednesday, March 2, at 6:45pm, in the sanctuary. We are thankful to be able to have this service again in-person after making significant adjustments for a virtual-only experience last year.
 
The service includes congregational singing, prayers of confession and assurance, and a brief homily, but the central act is the imposition of ashes in the shape of a cross, as we speak these words, “From dust you have come, and to dust you will return.” These ashes (created by burning the palm fronds from last year’s Palm Sunday service) offer a sign of our mortality and penance, a confession of our frailty and need for God. Our willingness to receive them demonstrates our commitment to self-examination as well as our openness to God’s grace. Our Ash Wednesday service provides sacred space in which to begin a season of spiritual renewal called Lent. All who are comfortable are invited to participate in this special service - we will remain masked for the ritual - but we understand that some are not quite ready. So, the service will be streamed as well. 
SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY THANK YOU

What a super Souper Bowl Sunday we had! Regardless of whether your team won or lost Sunday night, we know that the Urban Ministries Food Pantry scored a big win with two large and over-flowing bins of soup (which will be delivered to them tomorrow)! Thank you for your generous response and for helping to alleviate food insecurity in our community!

DREAM TEAM ON THE WEB

The congregation has been at work since last August talking and listening and dreaming about who we want to be as a church going forward. From that process, we have gathered stories, ideas, and insights. All of that has now been gathered in one place on this FBC webpage for you to read and ponder. We hope you will take the opportunity to review it before our next congregational effort, which will take place
on Sunday, March 27, before worship.  
PLACE YOUR ORDER FOR FREE AT-HOME COVID-19 TESTS

Residential households in the US can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:
  • Limit of one order per residential address
  • One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
  • Orders will ship free starting in late January

Fill in this form at the USPS website with your contact and shipping information to order your tests.
INCLEMENT WEATHER

Cancellation information about scheduled activities will be noted on a recorded greeting obtained by calling the office at 919-832-4485. Information will also be supplied to: WRAL-TV (1st Baptist, Salisbury St), WTVD-TV (First Baptist Church–Salisbury St.), and posted on our home page and on social media (Twitter and Facebook). 
2022 CHURCH CONFERENCE DATES
Mark your calendar for the following 2022 dates for Church Conference:
February 23, March 30, May 25, August 24, September 28,
October 26, November 16, and December 14.
CENTERPOINT (IN-PERSON AND ZOOM)

On February 16, we conclude our program extending support to our Jewish friends in response to the recent attack on a synagogue in Texas. This week, we will ponder appropriate Christian responses in more detail.

Join us for a live broadcast of the Centerpoint adult program, every Wednesday night via Zoom with this link! 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: 842 9426 6630 Passcode: 478112

Wednesday night Children's Missions & Music schedule:
6-6:40pm • Mission Friends/ RAs/GAs
6:40-6:50pm • Transition time/bathroom break for grade-schoolers; outside play for preschoolers
6:50-7:30pm • Music for children
**Childcare provided from 5:45-7:30pm for babies to two-year-olds
For questions about our Wednesday night program offerings for children, please email Lynn Lingafelt.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPER
 
Each week, dinner will continue to be from 5-6pm, tailgating style, in the parking lot. If it rains or is too cold, your family may come inside the building and we'll all spread out between the Fellowship Hall, Lewis lobby, and 301/302. We have returned to requiring reservations for Wednesday night dinners; reserve your spot at this link to the page on the church website or by calling the church office. 

The menus for Wednesday night suppers are as follows:
February 16: Broccoli cheddar soup with chicken salad sandwich
February 23: Meatball Night! (served with rice)
March 2: Penne primavera with dinner rolls
March 9: Chicken and rice with broccoli
WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT . . .

Matthew Hager, part of our church family, is a featured actor in the next play from Justice Theater Project: We Are Proud to Present . . . The play fits into our Centerpoint emphasis on racial justice, acts of genocide, and our response.

In the play, a group of actors gathers to tell the little-known story of the first genocide of the twentieth century. As the full force of a horrific past crashes into the good intentions of the present, what seemed a far-away place and time is suddenly all too close to home. Just whose story are they telling?

Award-winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury collides the political with the personal in a play that is irreverently funny and seriously brave.
The play is live at St. Augustine's University and live-streamed, February 18 - February 27. The themes of the play may not be suitable for early teens and younger children. Parental discretion is encouraged.

Further information and tickets are available HERE.
SANCTUARY CHOIR UPDATE

As we work through the current Omicron wave of the pandemic, the format of the Sanctuary Choir will remain as smaller ensembles for a few weeks in both Wednesday evening rehearsals and Sunday morning worship services. We anticipate resuming normal activities soon. Interested in joining the choir? Have questions? Contact Warren Howell. Vaccination against COVID-19 is a requirement.
BIBLE VERSES FOR DAILY USE
  • Tuesday, February 15: Psalm 120; Ezra 1:1-11; 2 Corinthians 1:12-19
  • Wednesday, February 16: Psalm 120; Jeremiah 22:11-17; Luke 11:37-52
  • Thursday, February 17: Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; Genesis 43:16-34; Romans 8:1-11
  • Friday, February 18: Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; Genesis 44:1-17; 1 John 2:12-17
  • Saturday, February 19: Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; Genesis 44:18-34; Luke 12:57-59
  • Sunday, February 20: Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38
  • Monday, February 21: Psalm 38; Genesis 33:1-17; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

DEACON ON CALL
February 13-19 • Dennis Ellis (919-395-8916)
WEEK AT A GLANCE • FEBRUARY 15-21
Tuesday, February 15
10am Staff meeting (CR)
10:45am WMU Group 2 (Springmoor)
6:15pm Finance Committee Mtg (CR/Zoom)
7:30pm Pathfinders SS (Zoom)

Wednesday, February 16
5pm Meal/Centerpoint (PL/FH)
6pm Handbell Rehearsal (S balcony)
6:30pm MS Small Group (Blue Rm)

Thursday, February 17
7am Band of Brothers (Zoom)
6:30pm HS Bible Study (Wade home)
Sunday, February 20
9:45am Sunday School
11am Worship (S/YouTube)
11am Japanese Worship (226)
12:15pm Deacons' Mtg (220/Zoom)
6pm Youth Supper (FH)
6:30pm Youth Program (FH/Blue Rm)

Monday, February 21
10:00am Clothing Ministry
6pm MMiH; Bell Maintenance (301)
MATERNITY LEAVE DETAILS

We celebrate with Chad and Leah on the December 2 birth of Jennings Jett Reed. During her maternity leave, Leah will be checking email only sporadically, so please contact the following lay leaders, ministers, and staff who are taking over her ministerial duties with your questions or concerns:

Clothing Ministry - Sabrina Tyndall
Rose Window Weekly - Jennie Herrick
Housing All - Anne Bullard and Courtney Selna
Mike Morris Fellowship Fund - Chris Chapman
First Foundations magazine - Jen Foster
Social Media (Facebook & Instagram) - Michael Hood
Mass emails to the church body - Jennie Herrick or Wayne Hager
Website - Wayne Hager
And Also With 'Cue - Rebecca Sasser, Ashley Prather, or David With
Centerpoint Zoom - Wayne Hager
Habitat for Humanity - Chris Chapman
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,
February 15-18!

• Lunch •
church parking lot (11am – 1:30pm, Tuesday-Friday)
• Dinner, Thursday, February 17•
Sunset Ridge South, 5454 Sunset Walk Ln, Holly Springs, 27540 (4:30-8pm)
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
As of February 10, 2022:
Current Week Revenue: $40,646.69 
Month-to-Date Revenue: $69,755.44 
Year-to-Date Revenue: $251,922.67
Month-to-Date Expenses: $27,469.40
Year-to-Date Expenses: $135,764.93
Global Missions: $5,598
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 Jennie Herrick. Email Jennie here.