FBC Raleigh News • July 11, 2023
VOICES OF THE CBF GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Seven FBC-ers (and one very social toddler) represented our congregation at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly in Atlanta. The theme of Holy Ambition revolved around the idea of responding with our best to God’s calling in and on our lives. As this was not my first Assembly, I arrived with a sense of expectation but also a good deal of doubt as to whether I would hear anything new.

I left with the sounds of a variety of voices resounding in my ears and even deeper in my heart. From the Together for Hope dinner where I heard the words, “I never use the term ‘social gospel’ because I understand that that is redundant. It’s just like saying wet rain or cold snow. if you understand the good news of the Gospel, you understand that it must be shared with others by improving their situations.”

Our group heard the voices of women who have been marginalized as they responded to God’s call on their lives. We joined as a community praying for these women as they stood together. We experienced the joyous community as it celebrated the changing donation total (think of an upscale Jerry Lewis telethon) as $28,000 was raised to support the work of Baptist Women In Ministry.

In worship, we heard the voices of those who did not grow up speaking English but now are leading the Global Missions work of CBF. We heard the voices of children as they read the hopes and prayers of other children and adults.

We also heard the voices of conversations, often late into the night, as family joined together in Atlanta. As I spoke with a friend whose children will soon be moving to Raleigh to attend NCSU, she said that she hoped that her children would find what they were looking for in a church home. She said that her son was especially looking for a church that was open to questions. Without hesitation, I said, “I’m so glad that my church is not only open to questions but even living without a definitive answer.” She smiled and said, “I’m so glad. I’ve already encouraged him to visit FBC.”

I can say that after arriving back in Raleigh, I continue to hear the echoes of the new and relish the familiar. Next year’s General Assembly is in Greensboro. I hope you’ll come to meet some of your extended family and hear the new voices. - Cara Lynn Vogel
ALL-STATE YOUTH CHOIR
IN CONCERT

Mark your calendars for next Thursday, July 20, as our church hosts the NC Baptist All-State Youth Choir in concert! The concert will be held at 6:30pm in our sanctuary, featuring our very own, Jesse Vogel. This choir is an auditioned group of select high school students from Baptist churches across the state. For the choir, this week-long retreat begins on a Sunday when they spend three full days memorizing their music, singing together as a group for the first time. This year, we're honored to be their first official concert on the Tune my Heart tour! This was a formative experience for Leah Reed, who was in this choir in high school. Additionally, Anna Anderson has served as a chaperone for many years. We will be taking up an offering during the concert for their ongoing efforts, so that the good work of this ministry can continue. To see their entire tour schedule, visit the CBFNC website. Please make plans to join us!
THIRTY-NINERS
JULY LUNCH 

You're invited to join the Thirty-Niners for lunch on Thursday, July 20 at Ms. Lacey’s Magnolia House, 405 Carthage Sreet, in Sanford. If you are riding the church bus, meet at church at 10:30am. We will leave for the restaurant at 10:45am. If you are driving on your own, reservations are at 12pm.
TEMPORARY ENTRANCE TO THE SANCTUARY

Beginning Monday, July 17, the front steps of our sanctuary will be under construction. Since the main sanctuary doors will be inaccessible for a few weeks, you may enter through the side entrance of the sanctuary, on the corner of Salisbury & Edenton Streets (pictured here, circled in yellow). As always, the back parking lot doors and the Edenton Street doors will be open for Sunday School, and locked at 11:05am. If you are coming in for worship after 11:05am, please use the side entrance of the sanctuary. Beginning July 23, we'll have signage on the sidewalks to point folks in the right direction. We appreciate your patience as we make this necessary fix to our building!

Until July 19, the state parking lot (on the corner of North Salisbury and Hillsborough Streets) will not be open due to construction on the lot, and the door to the Lewis Building will not be unlocked until the work is finished. Lights and cameras are being added to the lot for security. The door into FBC from that lot can only be used as an emergency exit, not an entrance. A pathway down the side of the building to Hillsborough Street has been marked off by the state. In an emergency, exit and go to your right. If you have any questions, please contact Wayne Hager.

VOTE FOR PALM SUNDAY

Patrick Nichols' film Palm Sunday was nominated by Columbia University to a national student film competition hosted by TheWrap. Anyone who is interested can watch the film (and about 20 other great shorts) and vote for it from now until July 12 at this link.
NEXT THEOLOGY ON TAP GATHERING

After a brief break, Theology on Tap resumes Thursday, July 20, at 6pm at Tobacco Road Brewery at 505 Jones Street. We hope to see you there!
ETHAN USLAN
IN CONCERT

Mark your calendars for Sunday evening, August 13! Our end-of-summer fellowship will feature ragtime-jazz-swing pianist-entertainer, Ethan Uslan. More details coming next week, but for now, save the date!
SHARING YOUR STORY

The First Foundations magazine team is hard at work on the last two publications of the year. Our December issue's theme is Epiphany, and we are looking for writers/artists to share interpretations that will allow readers to explore this rich meaning. Perhaps you have a story to share around a time of self-discovery, a sudden insight into the meaning of a particular subject, or a reflection on the Christian season of Epiphany. We would love to hear your story! In each publication, we also profile an artist from our church. This could be photography, painting, drawing, knitting, pottery, woodwork, or any other medium used to create art. If you would like to write or share your artwork, please email Jen Foster or Anne Bullard by July 14.
Pictured artwork by Jen Norton.
MEN'S SUMMER
DONATIONS NEEDED

The clothing ministry is in desperate need of men's shirts and shorts as the weather continues to heat up! Any sizes and styles (t-shirts, short-sleeves, casual shirts, etc.) are happily accepted until July 15.

As we prep for more repair work in the clothing ministry space, we ask that ALL clothing ministry donations be halted from July 15 through August 15, as we will not have access to sorting and storage spaces due to building repairs scheduled during that time. Once we know a confirmed date of completion for this work, we will announce when we will begin donation collections once again. Thanks for your continued support and patience!
HECK-JONES OFFERING

Our emphasis for this year’s Heck-Jones offering is on the basics of life, food, and shelter. The namesakes of this offering were about basics in the 1800s as original members of this church. If you enter the sanctuary through the gathering room, you will see their portraits on the wall. We continue their timely legacy when we give of our abundance to help those who struggle to find food and proper shelter, both around the globe and right here in our own community. Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 for these worthy non-profits doing the work of feeding and housing our neighbors. Please give prayerfully and generously to this offering in support of these life-changing organizations.
RISE Against Hunger • $4,000
We hope you will join us Sunday, September 17, in the fellowship hall after worship for our annual meal-packaging event. RAH is an international hunger relief organization that distributes food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable. The 10,000 meals we pack this year will bring our church record to 100,000 meals.
Habitat for Humanity of
Wake County • $3,000
Through our work with the Downtown Faith Coalition, we will be helping provide affordable housing right here in our community. Habitat is a non-profit organization that helps families build and improve places to call home. Families build their own home alongside volunteers and then pay an affordable mortgage. As the housing crisis grows in Wake County, Habitat's work continues to make the biggest impact.
ONE Wake • $3,000
ONE Wake is a non-partisan, multi-racial, multi-issue group of religious congregations, associations, and other non-profits in the Wake County area. ONE Wake is about people: developing their innate skills and ability to work with each other to identify common problems, to find or create solutions, and to work together to implement systemic changes within society to achieve the common good.
BIBLE VERSES FOR DAILY USE
  • Wednesday, July 12: Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Genesis 29:31-35; John 13:1-17
  • Thursday, July 13: Psalm 119:105-112; Exodus 3:1-6; Romans 2:12-16
  • Friday, July 14: Psalm 119:105-112; Deuteronomy 32:1-10; Romans 15:14-21
  • Saturday, July 15: Psalm 119:105-112; Isaiah 2:1-4; John 12:44-50
  • Sunday, July 16: Genesis 25:19-34 and Psalm 119:105-112; Isaiah 55:10-13 and Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
  • Monday, July 17: Psalm 142; Micah 1:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
  • Tuesday, July 18: Psalm 142; Jeremiah 49:7-11; Ephesians 4:17-5:2
DEACON ON CALL
July 9–15 • Lacey Pegram (919-673-4006)
WEEK AT A GLANCE • July 12–18
Through Thursday, July 13
Passport Kids, St. Andrews University, Laurinburg

Through Friday, July 14
Youth beach retreat to Trinity Center, Pine Knoll Shores

Thursday, July 13
7am Band of Brothers (Zoom)

Saturday, July 15
8pm Senior Night

Sunday, July 16
9:45am Sunday School
11am FBC Worship (S/YouTube)
11am JBC Worship (Rm 226)
Monday, July 17–Friday, July 21
9am Vacation Bible School (building-wide)

Monday, July 17
10am Clothing ministry open
6:15pm Finance Committee meeting (Zoom)

Tuesday, July 18
10am Staff meeting (CR)
10:45am WMU Group 2 (Springmoor)
1pm WMU Group 2 (Independence Village)

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.

Wednesday, July 12–Friday, July 14
Lunch in church parking lot, 11am–1:15pm



AMONG OUR FAMILY

A link to the entire prayer list may be found below.
Please use your church directory for mailing addresses.

A NOTE OF THANKS

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, cards and messages while I mourn my sister Joanne's passing. The love you have shown me has brightened my days.

Shirley Hobson
THE RECORD WE WROTE
As of July 6:
Current Week Revenue: $19,415.28
Month-to-Date Revenue: $19,415.28
Year-to-Date Revenue: $788,116.50
Month-to-Date Expenses: $7,313.87
Year-to-Date Expenses: $787,601.94
Heck-Jones: $702.00
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