9:30 am Congregational Life Committee

9:30 am Youth Committee

10:00 am Sunday School

11:00 am Worship

5:00 pm Sunday Night Live

at the Rhodes' Home

6:00 pm Transition Team Meeting

6:30 pm Rosemary Benjamin Circle

10:00 am Dement-Waldrop Circle

10:30 am Sounds of Grace

11:45 am Never Grow Old

12:30 pm Community Lenten Pilgrimage

at St. Mark UMC (Rivers St.)

5:30 pm Children's Music Activities/Choirs

5:45 pm BYOM

6:30 pm CIAs and Childcare

6:30 pm Holy Ground for Youth

6:30 pm Building Blocks for Adults

6:30 pm Chancel Choir

10:00 am Betty Schopp

Prayer Shawl Ministry

9:30 am Diaconate Executive Committee

10:00 am Sunday School

11:00 am Worship

5:00 pm Voices of Grace

6:30 pm Salt Shakers

Connections Newsletter

Esther and Joseph: Carole Russell, the leader of this study, says, "Looking at the Book of Esther, we will see more than her beauty. As the story unfolds, problems become victories and God joyfully and dependably protects His own." After studying Esther for four weeks, the group will explore the life of Joseph. The study on Joseph is timely since Voices of Grace Youth Choir is presenting "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in May. This study meets in the Carpenter Classroom - Room 210.

Seeing Through the Eyes of Jesus/Lenten Study: Mary Frances Thompson will use video, scripture, and discussion to help participants envision the world the way Jesus saw it. Spiritual disciplines and faith practices that strengthen our commitment to Christ and His mission will be examined. This study meets in the Trinity Classroom - Room 211.

Coping with Anxiety: The Growing on Grace Street group invites anyone struggling with anxiety to join them as they study the book Anxious: Fighting Anxiety with the Word of God by Scarlet Hiltibidal. Kelly Rhodes will facilitate the discussion. This study meets in the Mauldin Classroom - Room 208.

Let Every Voice Rejoice: If you have thought about joining the Chancel Choir but were not sure whether you wanted to make a long-term commitment, this is your chance to try the choir for eight weeks. Keith Jameson and the Chancel Choir invite all interested singers to join them for rehearsal every Wednesday night at 6:30 pm in the Choir Room.

The meal will be available from 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm in the Fellowship Hall. The Maundy Thursday service will begin at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. The menu for Maundy Thursday is oven fried chicken, green beans, mac & cheese, and apple crisp with ice cream for dessert. A salad bar, bread, and beverage is included. The cost is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for children, and no family pays more than $30.00. Reservations are needed by 5:00 pm Friday, March 31, either online or by calling the church office.

Robby Stevenson, Jeff Rush, Dennis Moore, and Jim Firmin will prepare the Maundy Thursday meal and have agreed to prepare Wednesday night meals on a trial basis from April 12 until the end of May. The cost of the Wednesday night meal will remain the same: $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for children, and no family pays more than $30.00. A new permanent reservation list will be created. To be placed on the permanent reservation list or to make a week by week reservation, call the church office (229-5557) or make a reservation online here by 5:00 pm the Friday before the Wednesday you plan to eat. All meals will include an entrée, sides, a full salad bar, roll/bread, dessert, and beverage.

The Community Lenten Pilgrimage continues this Wednesday at St. Mark UMC Rivers St. campus from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm, preceded and followed by lunch (cost $2.00) from either 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm or 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm. The weekly schedule is as follows:

MARCH 8: St. Mark UMC Church Rivers Street Campus

MARCH 15: South Main Baptist Church

MARCH 22: First Baptist Church

MARCH 29: Main Street UMC Church

APRIL 5: Morris Chapel Baptist Church

Living Well Through Lent 2023 from Living Compass is the devotional booklet the Spiritual Formation ordered for the congregation this year. Please pick up a copy for your family from the table in the narthex or from the church office. You may also download a copy here or by clicking the image above. A daily reflection is also offered through email as well at LivingCompass.org/Lent. The Lenten devotions begin this Wednesday, February 22, which is Ash Wednesday.

The Spiritual Formation Committee wants to remind you that daily devotions are available year round at d365.org. This website includes a weekly musical selection to aid your devotional practice of pausing, listening, thinking, praying, and going.

Please join First Baptist Church and Cooperative Baptists around the world in offering prayers and financial support to provide emergency assistance following the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria. CBF Global is coordinating disaster response donations that will be used to help people and communities affected by the earthquake. Gifts will support the provision of goods and services through CBF partners to those affected as needs become known. Donations to the Turkey/Syria Earthquake Response may be made in several ways:

On Easter Sunday, FBC will publish a list of donors and those honored or remembered through a special offering during Lent. This year, honoring and memorial donations may be designated for the purchase of lilies, for the Beverly Greer Offering for State Missions, or for the Ministry Plan. After worship on Easter, lilies may be picked up by the donor or recipient. Flowers not picked up will be given to shut-ins. The cost of lilies is $19.00 and orders must be received no later than March 31. Checks for lilies should be payable to The Floral Case. All other checks should be made payable to First Baptist Church. A form is in the church office for donors to indicate where the donation is to go and who is being honored or remembered. Since cards will be available in the church office for donors to send to recipients, no acknowledgements of these gifts will be sent by the church office.

Here are a few amazing facts about the Christian faith you may not know:

Candy and small surprises are needed to help fill the plastic eggs for the children's April 2 Easter Egg Hunt. Anyone who would like to donate some "stuffings" can drop them off at the church office or give them to Anna. Monetary donations are also welcome. Please make donations by Wednesday, March 29. Thank you for helping make this event special for the children.