GA TEA

Who knew that our fellowship hall could be converted into a lovely tea room, but on Sunday, it absolutely was!   

As Sherri Henderson played cheerful melodies on the piano, our first through fifth grade girls gathered after worship with their moms and their FBC Buddies for a delightful time together, and our fifth graders welcomed their grandmothers as extra special guests! The back wall was lined with posters representing individual mission projects that each of the girls chose and carried out. Please take some time to check them out when you’re there next.

After a yummy sampling of the most delicious finger foods (and a trip back for seconds!), we recognized the participation of our GAs on Wednesday nights by presenting sashes with badges that represent various mission projects and activities related to missions education in which they’ve participated. Our fifth graders, Meg Foster and Kinley Pegram, received special recognition as they approach the end to their eight years of being Mission Friends and GAs and prepare to enter the youth group this fall. Meg and Kinley each led parts of our GA Tea program and were shining examples of the positive role models and peer leadership they bring to our children’s ministry.  

Our many thanks to Dorothy Holley, Dawn Wade, and Hope Phillips for leading these outstanding girls each week.  

FESTIVAL BY THE SEA

This past weekend, 15 members from the youth choir at First Baptist Church, along with 4 adults, had a fantastic time at Festival By the Sea in Myrtle Beach! They enjoyed fellowship, delicious food, singing, worship, and fun beachside activities in the beautiful 74° sunshine. We are truly grateful for our talented youth, their amazing leaders, and the wonderful opportunity to be part of this event.

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER

This year's Shrove Tuesday turned out to be another fun night starting off with breakfast prepared by Chef Troy and his team. There was much laughter during a variety of games and while creating Mardi Gras masks. Thanks to all who made this night a success.

HURRICANE RECOVERY WORK -- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Dennis Ellis is coordinating a Hurricane Helene recovery work trip in the Boone area through NC Baptists on Mission March 20–22. Men and women, skilled and unskilled, are welcome. Contact Dennis for more information and if you are interested.

FBC MARCH MADNESS

Come play basketball with your church friends! We have rented a gym at Lake Lynn Community Center March 23 and 30 for us to gather and play some pick-up games together. Enjoy one of the most wonderful sports seasons of all! Whether you are reliving your peak athletic days, dusting off your mid-range jumper, have little skill, or want to work up to being a local legend, you are welcome to join. Please click here to sign up or contact Michael if you'd like to play either day. 

CENTERPOINT IN MARCH

March 12: We will have a presentation from Dr. Brian Klausner, the medical director for WakeMed's Community Population Health program, which works to improve the health of uninsured and homeless patient populations in Wake County. As medical director, he drives collaboration with community partners to ensure patients are connected to proper medical, mental health, and community resources. We will learn about the valuable and important work he is doing to serve the medical needs of our downtown neighbors and his autobiography, titled In the Gaps: Better Understanding the Expensive Human Suffering of Chronic Homelessness. Books will be for sale for $15 and proceeds will go towards non-profits working with the families moving into the new affordable housing complex King's Ridge in Raleigh. 

March 19: We will hear from our very own Michael Hood in his self-titled presentation "What To Do the Next Time You Get Hit by a Cannonball." This is an exploration of the life of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the imaginative spirituality that he championed, the spiritual exercises that he authored, and how these things are useful for us today, coming from FBC's own Ignatian spiritual director-in-training. Ignatian Spirituality is all about the use of the imagination, our "affect," and seeking God in the whole of life. However, it is also extremely practical with time-tested practices in discernment and devotion as its foundation. If a spirituality system from a 16th century Catholic order might seem the furthest thing from FBC to you, then you should definitely be interested!

WHAT'S FOR SUPPER?

We would love for you to join us for a mid-week meal! The supper line is open each Wednesday night, 5:15–6:15pm. You may reserve your spot at this link on the website or by calling the church office. Please note that every person eating Wednesday night supper must check-in with our volunteer collection team before getting their meal. Even if you have pre-paid online, please check-in with our volunteer. We accept cash, checks, or credit cards.



Ages 0–3: Free

Ages 4-12: $4

Adults (over 12): $8

Family cap: $24

The menus for upcoming Wednesday night suppers are as follows (all meals come with salad and bread):

March 12: Pizza casserole with green beans and corn; non-meat option: non-meat casserole. 

March 19: Cornbread and beef casserole with potatoes and broccoli; non-meat option: non-meat casserole; kids: nuggets.

March 26: Honey-baked ham with macaroni and cheese and cabbage; non-meat option: non-meat patty in gravy; kids: pizza rolls.

CHURCH CONFERENCE DATES

Mark your calendar for the following 2025 dates for church conference:

March 26, May 28, August 27, September 24,

October 22, November 19, and December 17.

GADDY LECTURES WITH

KRISTIN KOBES DU MEZ

March 28-29

We are looking forward to hosting the next Gaddy Series event on March 28-29 when we will hear from historian/writer/speaker Kristin Kobes Du Mez. Dr. Du Mez is Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the author of the New York Times best seller Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation. She has spoken at a CBFNC General Assembly and more recently at Campbell Divinity School, informing and inspiring as much in these lectures as she does through her writing.

The Friday schedule will include dinner at 6pm and a first presentation at 7pm with a time for questions to follow. The evening will conclude at 8:30pm. The Saturday schedule will include a continental breakfast at 9am and a second presentation at 10am with a time for questions to follow. The program will conclude at 11:30am.

Childcare will be provided for preschoolers–gradeschoolers on both Friday evening from 6:30–8:30 and Saturday morning from 9:30–11:30. To register for childcare, please contact Lynn Lingafelt no later than Sunday, March 16. Lynn will be back in touch to gather information and share details.

The menu for Friday's supper is creamed chicken and baked ziti with a bolognese sauce with roasted potatoes and broccoli Normandy.

The cost follows our traditional Wednesday night suppers:

Ages 0–3: Free

Ages 4-12: $4

Adults (over 12): $8

Family cap: $24

Click here to register for the supper, and then

Click here to pay via Paypal.

Click here to pay via Vanco.

You may also pay at the credit card kiosk.



This sign has been placed at all our entrances in response to a legal action CBF joined and the court decided had merit. It means the church’s status as protected space for immigrants and refugees has been restored. For more background on these matters, read the press release from CBF here.

DONATIONS FOR WHITE FLAG

There are some unbudgeted expenses that we are incurring as we continue our White Flag ministry for homeless women in our community; thus, the Finance Committee has approved giving people the option of supporting this important ministry with financial gifts. You may contribute by check (write "White Flag" in the memo line), cash (placed in an envelope with "White Flag" written on it), the credit card kiosk in the church office, or via electronic methods (see below).



Click here to contribute using VANCO. 

Click here to contribute using PayPal.

CBF ANNUAL GATHERING

The Denominational Relations Committee invites you to attend the upcoming CBFNC Annual Gathering March 27–28 at Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church in Charlotte. Keynote speakers for the Gathering will be Rev. Victoria White, Rev. Bill Stanfield, and Rev. Anita Thompson.  

For complete information, including registration, please click here.

INTRODUCING:

THE FBC YOUTH FRESH FOOD DRIVE!

This semester, donate fresh fruits and veggies to serve our youth group! On Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings there will be a cooler by the Lewis Lobby display case where you can drop items. We are looking for things like cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, apples, oranges, melons, etc. (fresh produce that can be prepped and consumed raw). Each Sunday, these items will be incorporated into the youth mealtime to offer an even more fresh, diverse, and delicious meal for our kids.

What is this all about? Here’s what Michael has to say: A big desire of the youth is to give the congregation various ways to get involved and give toward our youth group. One of the best things about Sunday nights is that we feed our kids for free, no questions asked (another big ambition)! Our meal together is also a core community-building time that our youth have each week. Chef Troy has been amazing at providing meals, and together we want to offer an even more fresh and vibrant mealtime for them. This means procuring produce for a fresh salad/veggie/fruit option every Sunday night, and that is where we could use some help from you! So, as you grocery shop throughout the week, consider coming home with an extra fruit or veggie or two and dropping it off at church for our youth!

Over the summer, our snack drive blew us away! Our youth were overjoyed with the provision and care that our church showed. It made a lasting impression, was an example of service, and kept them full in the meantime. So, let’s try a new challenge by enlivening our Sunday night mealtime together!

MATERNITY LEAVE DETAILS

While Leah Reed, our Minister with Community, is on maternity leave, you may contact the following people with questions:

White Flag - Holly Ivel & Holly Cook

Clothing ministry - Sabrina Tyndall

Mike Morris Fellowship Fund - LaCount Anderson

Rose Window Weekly - Jennie Herrick

Social media (Facebook & Instagram) - Michael Hood

Mass emails to the congregation - Jennie Herrick or Wayne Hager

Website - Wayne Hager

First Foundations magazine - Jen Foster

And Also With ‘Cue - David With 

Sunday morning greeters - Mary Powell Rhodes

Community Ministries - Sam Carothers 

THIRTY-NINERS GATHERINGS

Come join us Thursdays at 10:30am in the fellowship hall for interesting speakers, mission projects, and once a month, a program that's a little out of the ordinary. We also have an outing each month, but mostly we enjoy spending time together, learning something new and useful, and always ending with a meal.

MARCH

13 Selling Your Home? What to expect! (Ruth Ann Dyer, Fonville Morrisey Realtors)

20 LUNCH OUTING: Hibernian Pub (311 Glenwood Avenue; meet at FBC at 11:45am to ride in vans)

27 Clothing ministry project (Sabrina Tyndall, coordinator)