2024 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

GIVING GENEROUSLY WITH GRATITUDE

Our 2024 stewardship emphasis is taken from Paul’s second letter to Corinthians 9:7 “Each of [us] should give what [we] have decided in [our] hearts to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

The Finance Committee will present a proposed 2024 budget to the diaconate on Sunday, October 22, and present a proposed 2024 budget to the church conference on Wednesday, October 25. During the week of Monday, October 23, pledge cards and a letter from the Stewardship Committee will be delivered via US mail and e-mail. Members of the Stewardship Committee will also visit Sunday School classes on October 29, November 5, and November 12 to provide information about the campaign. “Commitment Sunday” is November 19.

Please prayerfully consider how you can give generously and with gratitude to God through First Baptist Church.

Thanks to each of you.

Your Stewardship Committee,

Jessica Helms, David Kelley, Robert Ponton, Jane Weathers, and Robin Willis

CONNECTIONS

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS 

In the spring, we offered a new Sunday School class which has recently been named Connections. The class chose this name because we strive to connect with God, the church, the community, and with one another. For several months now, couples, singles, young adults, and mid-life adults have gathered in the Connections classroom for fellowship and for studying God’s word together. Regardless of age or life status, if you're looking for a place to connect with fellow church members and be part of thoughtful discussions, please join us. You can find us Sundays at 9:45 am in Room 224. For more information about the class, please contact Tonya and Lin Carter and/or Lou Anne and John Liverman. We hope to see you soon.



THIRTY-NINERS

STATE FAIR DAY

Opening day of the NC State Fair may have included rain, but not for the Thirty-Niners as we experienced the state fair in the fellowship hall. We brought our own entries of basket weaving, culinary items, needlework, painting, pottery and woodwork. Our in-house judges were reluctant, but they persevered under the direction of Sheila Jordan, a past state fair judge of 4H entries. Rose Dammann won the prize for most ribbons received, but we all appreciated and were amazed at the level of talent exhibited in each entry. We watched YouTube videos of the state fair’s 170-year history as well as slides of Sheila Jordan’s family dairy farm and exhibits in the Jim Graham Building. Our time ended with a special lunch of corn dogs, ham biscuits, french fries, apple slices with caramel sauce, and for dessert of course… homemade fudge from Myra Brickell and Howling Cow ice cream. What a fun day for all ages! - Nancy Phillips, Program Planner

Click here to prepay via Vanco+.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

FOR TOY JOY

The Toy Joy team is excited to invite you to volunteer for this year's event on Saturday, November 11, as well as for set-up the day before! On the day of the event, you may volunteer either for a morning session or an afternoon session . . . or both! If you do both sessions, lunch will be provided for you. There are jobs for every age—anyone from middle school students on up can help in the building on November 11. Parents and their children (ages 3–5th grade) may volunteer to help in the parking lot in our hospitality area serving refreshments to our guests after they finish shopping. The handbell choir Music Made in Heaven will be entertaining our guests during the morning session, and we’d like people to sign up to provide vocal or instrumental Christmas music during the afternoon session in 30-minute increments.

Our church family always comes through for Toy Joy— we certainly couldn't do this event without you! Over the years, many of you have invited friends, neighbors, and co-workers to participate and some of these folks continue to return each year. While we hope that the families we serve will be blessed by the gifts they receive, we know that as volunteers, we gain so much more than what we give. It's truly a blessing to be able to help these families have a joyful Christmas.

Click here to volunteer! Email Lynn Lingafelt directly if you're interested in helping with the hospitality area. Email Anne Cooke or any member of the Toy Joy team with questions.

DEACON ELECTIONS

Per the bylaws, the election of deacons will take place during the month of October. Ballots will be available each Sunday and each member may vote for up to eight men and eight women. Ballots are in the library, the Gathering Room, the narthex, and in the Lewis Lobby; you may also obtain an electronic version below. The box for ballots will be on the long counter in the library. If you choose to mail yours in, please do so well before the end of the month. On Sunday, October 29, the tellers appointed by the deacon chair will gather to count the ballots, and the chair and vice-chair will then notify those selected.

Please see the attached deacon election ballot for a current list of deacons

and their spouses who are not eligible based on the bylaws,

as well as others who have asked not to be considered for election.



Please give thoughtful and prayerful consideration as you participate in the deacon election process.

OCTOBER MISSION PROJECT — CROP WALK

The Greater Triangle Area CROP Hunger Walk is our October church-wide mission project and it starts and ends at the First Baptist parking lot on Sunday, October 29. Funds raised support local agencies and the international work of CWS (Church World Service). Go here to see information about each of these agencies. 

And Also With 'Cue, FBC's give-back food truck, will be in our parking lot from noon until 2:30pm on walk day. The church conference approved giving 20% of the sales that day to the CROP Walk. So, whether you walk or not, plan on eating at And Also With 'Cue that Sunday. The fellowship hall will be set up with tables for you to eat at and carry-out will also be available. Click here to place your order for your meal.

You can participate in this month's mission by walking and/or contributing monetarily. Walk day sign-in is at 2pm with the Walk beginning at 3pm. You may join/donate to the FBC church-wide team here. FBC youth have an additional team and you may join/donate to it here. You may also donate through the FBC electronic options. If you prefer to write a check please make it payable to FBC and write "CROP Walk" in the memo line and either place it in the offering plate or mail it to the financial administrator (FBC, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, 27603). Donations for this year's Walk will be accepted through November 30.

If you register to walk, you will receive a free GTA CROP WALK t-shirt and there is a fun activity for children and adults as well to use — the CROP Walk Calendar of Blessings, found here. As you count your blessings each day during the month, you are encouraged to set aside an amount of money for each blessing and then donate it to the CROP Walk at the end of the month!



JOIN THE CHOIR

FOR CHRISTMAS

“Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.”

— Anon

Life weighing you down? Want to lift your spirits? The Sanctuary Choir invites you to fly with them this Christmas season. Weekly rehearsals are on Wednesdays, 7:30–9pm. For questions, please email Warren.

Making music is fun but making Christmas music is divine fun. Wings and halos are handed out at the door. Come and join us—you, too, can fly.



TEACHER NEEDED AT WEEKDAY PRESCHOOL

Interested in working part-time at our Weekday Preschool? We have an opening for a teacher in our Ones Classroom. We're looking for a caring, warm person who enjoys toddlers. The pay is competitive, with plenty of time off for holidays. Lunch is provided and the hours are 9:30am–1:30pm. If you are interested or know someone who is, please email Crystal Bacon.