FBC Raleigh News • March 1, 2022
UKRAINE RELIEF FUND

CBF has established a relief fund in response to the global crisis in Ukraine, following the Russian invasion last week. Twenty years ago, CBF commissioned Gennady and Mina Podgaisky to serve in Kyiv. They established Village of Hope a year later, and their ministry has flourished in collaboration not only with our partner congregations but Baptists and other Christians in Ukraine. The first funding commitment with any contributions received with this relief fund will be to provide resources to those served by Village of Hope. There are also local partners of that ministry that serve under the leadership of the Podgaiskys and CBF Global Missions. Beyond that, funding will be directed to The Baptist World Alliance Forum for Aid Development (BFAD), the international disaster response work of our partners at the Baptist World Alliance. They are working actively with Baptist leaders in Ukraine and others in that country to identify the most essential use of funds. Because the situation on the ground is changing rapidly, and the crisis is mounting, it is imperative that we give generously and support the work of trusted friends and partners, not only among CBF field personnel but in the Global Baptist community. Give here!

UPDATE ON COVID PROTOCOLS

The risk management team, in consultation with the church staff, has decided that, given our community’s progress with regard to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and in the absence of any unforeseen setbacks, we can transition to a masks-optional policy beginning on Monday, March 7. Masks will still be required in the preschool area because of state and federal recommendations. But we are cautiously optimistic that we can begin this transition toward normalcy, a step at a time, as we transitioned into established COVID protocols.

“Masks-optional” means that individuals and groups, including Sunday School classes, can make their own decisions. Many of our members will continue to wear masks for various reasons. We will also continue to follow other protocols, like cleaning surfaces and hands, for the foreseeable future. And we will monitor the data along with recommendations from the NC DHHS and the CDC.

We appreciate our congregation’s patience and well-demonstrated commitment to acting not only in our best interest but in the best interest of our neighbors. We are all long past ready for change, but we want to take this small amount of extra time to prepare for the transition and make sure the number of positive tests and hospitalizations continue to trend downward.

CBFNC ANNUAL GATHERING:
THE GOD WHO SEES

March 17 & 18

Trinity Baptist Church
4815 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, 27609

It’s been two years since CBFNC has been able to have an in-person gathering. We are so lucky that this first gathering is right here in Raleigh. We realize everyone has different comfort levels about gathering in groups; thus, this year’s Annual Gathering will be a “hybrid” event. In addition to all the regular features of the in-person gathering, the main sessions will be live-streamed and workshops will be recorded for online viewing for those who are not comfortable or able to attend in person at Trinity. Whether you are there in-person or join in online, this is such a wonderful opportunity for us to connect, worship, and learn together with fellow Baptists in North Carolina.

In addition to many interesting speakers and thought provoking sessions, we have just learned that Mina and Gennady Podgaisky, CBF field personnel from Ukraine, will be speaking at the General Session on Thursday evening. In view of the current invasion, we look forward to hearing from them and learning how we can provide assistance.

Registration for the in-person gathering closes at 5pm on Friday, March 11. Walk-up registration will be available on both days during the event at Trinity Baptist; however, they are unable to offer the purchase of meals on-site due to catering deadlines. Those who do walk-up registration will need to go off-site to get lunch at one of the many dining options located near the church. Our very own And Also with 'Cue will be there to provide a lunch option on Friday!

I hope to see you there. To register click here.

Nancy Moore Phillips 
Chair, Denominational Relations 

MARCH MISSION PROJECT

Thank you to all who donated cans of soup for the recent "SOUPer Bowl Sunday." Two
large bins were filled and Lynn Lingafelt and Anne Cooke delivered them to the Urban Ministries Food Pantry last week. They were most grateful for the donation!

To meet the clothing needs of the school age children in the their program, Family Promise partners with Note in the Pocket. Schools or social service agencies refer students in need to Note in the Pocket which then provides each student with two weeks' worth of outfits. This includes new socks and underwear, shoes, a variety of tops and bottoms to mix and match and any outerwear needed for that season. Volunteers carefully select a wardrobe for each student (and for their immediate family if needed) which is then delivered to the school or referring agency. Note in the Pocket delivered over 100,000 clothing items to students and their families in 2020. By providing stylish, good-quality clothing that they can be proud to wear, they hope to empower students to better succeed in the academic environment. 
  
We will be collecting childrens' clothes (Kindergarten through 12th grade) for Note in the Pocket all thru March. Used clothing is welcome as long as it is clean and in good condition. If you would like to donate socks, underwear or shoes, those items need to be new. You may put your donations in the marked bin in the Lewis Lobby anytime during the month.

On Sunday, as a response to Jesus’ call to care for our neighbors (Luke 10:25-37), our 1st through 5th graders spent the first part of their Sunday School class creating hygiene kits
to share with downtown neighbors who come to the Clothing Ministry

FAMILY PROMISE WEEK

As was the case last September, Family Promise is continuing to house families experiencing homelessness in their transitional housing apartment building rather than in churches. Two to three families are sharing each apartment. Although housing and transportation are not needed, we will be providing meals the week of March 6-13, and the process will be similar to what we did this past fall.
 
A reminder of what that will look like: 
• First, we are being asked to provide evening meals to individual family units Monday through Friday and to deliver a list of needed breakfast and lunch supplies the Friday before. Family Promise is finding that families have more than enough left-overs for dinners on the weekends.
 • Second, Family Promise will pair us with another church to help share the load. We have not yet been informed of our church partnership but will find out soon.
 
Questions you may have:
• Do they need paper-ware? No – families have stocked kitchens.
• What about drinks? Request for drinks will be part of the breakfast/lunch request list. No additional drinks need to be provided with dinner
• Do we need to provide condiments with meals? No – the day center has plenty in stock.
• Costs - our Family Promise budget can cover these meals, so teams volunteering can submit receipts to the church office for reimbursement.
• Where is the day center? The day center is located at 903 Method Road, 27606, just off Western Boulevard.

If you are interested in signing up to support these families, please email Holly Ivel. She will coordinate with you directly, and answer any further questions.
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, which this year will be held this 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. 

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.  

CENTERPOINT (IN-PERSON AND ZOOM)

Art and Spirituality: A Wednesday Evening Lenten Study

On Wednesdays March 9, 16, 23, Timothy Brock will lead a three-session series exploring the interaction between art and Christian spirituality. On March 9, Dr. Brock will share a number of personal stories describing how various types of art have informed and nurtured his own spiritual formation. On March 16, he will facilitate a study of The Parable of the Prodigal Son using various artistic illustrations of the passage. Finally, on March 23, he will introduce and illustrate the use of visio divina, a process of spiritual reflection on artistic images.

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.
2022 CHURCH CONFERENCE DATES
Mark your calendar for the following 2022 dates for Church Conference:
March 30, May 25, August 24, September 28,
October 26, November 16, and December 14.
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:
March 2: Penne primavera with dinner rolls
March 9: Chicken and rice with broccoli
March 16: Salad Night (served with rolls)!
March 23: Beef stroganoff with green beans
BIBLE VERSES FOR DAILY USE
  • Tuesday, March 1: Psalm 35:11-28; Ezekiel 1:1; 2:1; Acts 10:23b-33
  • Wednesday, March 2: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
  • Thursday, March 3: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16; Exodus 5:10-23; Acts 7:30-34
  • Friday, March 4: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16; Exodus 6:1-13; Acts 7:35-42
  • Saturday, March 5: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; John 12:27-36
  • Sunday, March 6: Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16; Romans 10:8b-13; Luke 4:1-13
  • Monday, March 7: Psalm 17; 1 Chronicles 21:1-17; 1 John 2:1-6

DEACON ON CALL
• February 27-March 5 •
Libby Barnes (919-373-0103 h or 919-740-5845 m)
WEEK AT A GLANCE • March 1-7
Tuesday, March 1
10am Staff meeting (CR)
10:45am WMU Group 2 (Springmoor)
7pm Properties Committee Mtg (301)
7:30pm Pathfinders SS (Zoom)

Wednesday, March 2
Ash Wednesday
5pm Meal/Church Conference (PL/FH)
6pm Handbell Rehearsal (S balcony)
6:45pm Ash Wednesday Service (S)
7:30pm Adult Choir Rehearsal (Choir Rm/S)

Thursday, March 3
7am Band of Brothers (Zoom)
6:30pm HS Bible Study (Wade home)
Sunday, March 6
9:45am Sunday School
11am Worship/Communion (S/YouTube)
11am Japanese Worship (226)
5:30pm Youth Choir (302)
6pm Youth Supper (FH)
6:30pm Youth Program (FH/Blue Rm)

Monday, March 7
10:00am Clothing Ministry
6pm MMiH Rehearsal (S Balcony)
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 1-4!

• Lunch - Tuesday-Friday (11am – 1:30pm, church parking lot)
• Dinner, Friday, March 4 • The Gathering Park, 669 Old Dairy Drive, Wake Forest, 27587 (5-8pm)
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 24, 2022:
Current Week Revenue: $8,117.54 
Month-to-Date Revenue: $96,305.74 
Year-to-Date Revenue: $278,476.24
Month-to-Date Expenses: $124,779.31
Year-to-Date Expenses: $225,606.68
Global Missions: $6,643.00
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 Jennie Herrick. Email Jennie here.