ISSUE SEVENTEEN OF

FIRST FOUNDATIONS

The new issue of our First Foundations magazine is hot off the press, and ready for you to read! Magazines are currently available in the Lewis building lobby by the elevators. There are also copies of the magazine located at all entrances to the sanctuary for you to grab on your way out of worship. Feel free to get an extra copy for a neighbor who might like to know more about who we are, as we continue to reach beyond our walls. We are so grateful for all of our contributors (in order of their articles) — Anne Bullard, Michael Hood, Stan Crocker, Philip Lingafelt, Claire Willmschen, Holly Ivel, Carolyn Dickens, and Mary Hauser. A special thanks to our First Foundations magazine team that makes every publication come to life — Jen Foster, Anne Bullard, Claire Willmschen, Ginger Graves, and Leah Reed. You may access this issue on the church website, along with previous issues of our magazines. If you would like to receive a copy of First Foundations in the mail, please email Deborah. We hope you enjoy reading about Home from a wide range of voices from our community of faith!

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

This Sunday, December 15, at 11am, our Sanctuary Choir and Wind Ensemble will share A Joyful Feast of Carols and Anthems. Come hear a celebratory presentation on this third Sunday of Advent (Joy) as the choir presents seasonal music both classical and popular, reflective and resplendent, culminating in the carol suite, The Many Moods of Christmas, by Robert Shaw & Robert Russell Bennett.

A NOTE OF GRATITUDE FROM THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE

The 48th Hanging of the Greens and reception is now history, but the Social Committee would like to thank the many church members and friends who provided cookies for the reception. Your response to our request was greatly appreciated and helped to make the evening so enjoyable. We would also like to thank the church members who agreed to serve the punch and get it from the kitchen to the silver punch bowls. We especially want to thank the staff (Rodney Mobley, Alex Harris, Troy Dye, and Ike Uzoma) who assisted with getting the room set up and preparing the food for the reception. Finally, we want to thank Mary Burnette, Anne Cooke, and Dawn Wade for stepping in and joining the social committee for this event. Their input and work helped to make the event successful. It is obvious that it takes a village to make the reception happen and the Social Committee is most appreciative of everyone’s efforts.

CLOTHING MINISTRY DONATIONS PAUSE

As usual, our church and community have responded quickly and with care to help us restock our supplies for men's clothing and coats across our department! We are grateful for these continued donations throughout the season to help us meet the needs of those whom God brings to our door each week, so thanks to each of you for continuing to support this vital ministry.

As we look to the holidays, our last day serving guests this year will be Monday, December 16. We will also close to donations from December 18 through January 5 in order to give our volunteers a break for the Christmas season, and take time to reset and plan for the upcoming year. We appreciate your help with this as our storage spaces are currently quite limited.

If you have any questions, please contact Sabrina Tyndall.  

A MESSAGE FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

Dear Members of the First Baptist Church Congregation,

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. As our thoughts turn to Advent and the Christmas season, and as we look forward to the Hanging of the Greens celebration on Sunday, I am writing to ask that you prayerfully consider including the church in your end-of-year giving plans.

On behalf of the Finance Committee, I want to thank all of you for your dedicated support of our church through your giving. Our prayers are that you will continue that strong support in December to help our church end the year in a strong financial position. We deeply appreciate those who have faithfully pledged their support during our 2024 stewardship campaign. The outstanding pledges totaling $120,657.33, as of October 31st, will be instrumental in helping us meet our budgetary goals. We eagerly anticipate receiving these contributions. Your end-of-year gifts will help us to continue to provide vital ministries and programs for our congregation and community. We are committed to using your gifts wisely and responsibly to make a difference in the lives of others

As we look towards Christmas and then on to a new year, the Finance Committee is heartened by the congregation's response to the 2025 Stewardship campaign. We are grateful for the generous support that so many of you have already given. As of December 5th, we have received 78 pledges totaling $704,680. This is a wonderful start, but we still need your help to reach our goal of 80% of the proposed budget.

If you have not yet made a pledge, I encourage you to do so today. Every gift makes a difference and helps us plan the Church’s budget for the new year.

Thank you for your continued support of First Baptist Church.

Sincerely,

Ryan Willis

Chair, Finance Committee

CHILDREN'S

CHRISTMAS STORY

Please join us this Sunday, December 15, at 5pm, when the children of our church will share the story of Jesus’ birth by becoming the characters in the nativity story!  They’ll build the scene as scripture is read and familiar Christmas hymns are sung. We encourage you to bring gifts of warmth (gloves, toboggans, scarves, blankets); these will be a part of our offertory during the service and will be given to the clothing ministry to share with clients this winter. We’ll conclude with a little Birthday Party for Jesus reception (ie cake and ice cream) in the fellowship hall.

If you have preschool or elementary children in your family or community who would like to participate, please contact Lynn and she’ll get them more information!  We’d love to have them join us in this very child-friendly service to center us this season!

VOLUNTEERS FOR MEALS ON WHEELS NEEDED!

These are such busy times with so many activities at FBC! This past week at our Thirty-Niners' meeting, our program was led by a volunteer and board member of Meals on Wheels, Mr. Sid Jones. He reminded us that Meals on Wheels of Wake County was created 50 years ago with the goal being that our homebound neighbors not be left alone and hungry as they grow older. Mr. Jones explained that there are 2500 seniors who are frail and hungry who need our help, even though Meals On Wheels delivers 380 meals daily. There are 11 cafés around the county for seniors to go to and participate in programming to meet their needs as they enjoy their meal. For those unable to go to a designated café, volunteers deliver their meals to their homes.

Volunteers are divided into 25–30 teams of two. Perhaps you would want to invite a friend or neighbor to be your partner—one of you would drive and the partner would give directions. Directions are outlined and printed out for you to take with you, and they are also available on a phone app. Our FBC Circle participates in this opportunity with 5–6 teams on the fifth Monday of the month. We need more FBC teams! Some of our members go twice weekly. OUR SENIORS NEED US! The opportunity is yours as Wake MoW invites you to volunteer, donate, visit a senior in the program or some elderly person that lives near you. If you would like to participate, please contact Margaret Clary or Nancy Phillips or contact the FBC office for more information.

HOSPITALITY + COMMUNITY

LUKE 14:12-14

Dear Church Family,

At FBC, hospitality is at the heart of everything we do. We strive to create a warm and welcoming space each Sunday, where our worship is filled with love and openness. We offer meaningful activities for families, connecting the youngest to the oldest in fellowship that strengthens our bonds with one another.

And our commitment to serve extends beyond our walls.

Through ministries like And Also With ’Cue, we feed those who are hungry, offering more than just a meal but also friendship and care. Our clothing ministry ensures that everyone has the dignity of clean, warm clothing regardless of their circumstances. We are proud that Toy Joy continues to make Christmas brighter for families, and when lending a hand on Habitat for Humanity homesites, we are helping create homes and hope for those in need. And when our youth participate in mission trips and the annual CROP Walk, we are passing on this tradition to the next generation.

Your past gifts make these ministries and many others possible.

In Luke 14:12-14, Jesus teaches us the importance of inviting all to the table—especially those who cannot repay us. This call to hospitality mirrors what we aim to do at FBC. Every act of service, every welcoming hand, is a reflection of our collective commitment to follow Christ’s example and embrace all who seek Him.

This year, our stewardship campaign theme reflects these values of community and hospitality. This fall, our youth choir sang “Crowded Table” by The Highwomen on World Communion Sunday. Like the song says, we envision a church that makes space for everyone. We believe in a table where everyone is welcome, where there’s plenty of love and fellowship to go around, and where we serve our neighbors together in faith.

But we need your continued support for this vision to become a reality.

Our approved 2024-25 budget is $1,738,000. With your pledge, we can confidently move forward, ensuring we have the resources to continue serving one another and our broader community. Your generosity allows us to provide a space for worship, growth, and outreach—where all are truly welcome.

We invite you to prayerfully consider your pledge for the coming year. Every gift helps deepen the roots of our church, allowing us to grow in our ministry and impact. Please return your pledge card by November 30, or you can easily pledge online.

Thank you for being a vital part of this community. With your continued support, we can ensure that FBC Raleigh remains a place where all are invited to the table and God’s love is shared in word and deed.

With deep gratitude and hope,

FBC Raleigh Stewardship Committee

**As of December 5, we have received 78 pledges totaling $704,680.



THIRTY-NINERS RESUME WEEKLY 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. Come check us out before you are “too old” to get here.                            

DECEMBER 

12 Baptists on Mission Disaster Relief and More with Richard Brunson, executive director 

19 Thirty-Niner family Christmas luncheon: bring a gift for White Elephant exchange 

26 NO MEETING (CHRISTMAS)

JANUARY

2 NO MEETING (NEW YEARS)

DECEMBER CENTERPOINT

The program on December 11 will be led by the Reverend Vance E. Haywood, Jr., who is the senior pastor of St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church and chairperson of the Homeless Emergency Response Committee of Wake County which oversees, along with St. John’s, the White Flag Shelter program we have just joined. Vance will provide some history on the program, information about current needs and challenges, and an overview of the population served.   

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

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 (over 3 people): $24

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

December 11: shrimp and grits with Texas toast and fresh fruit; non-meat: cheesy grits. 

December 18: vegetarian chili with cornbread

AAWC CHRISTMAS PREORDERS

And Also with 'Cue is now accepting preorders for Christmas. Skip the long lines at the grocery store and countless hours in the kitchen and let David With cook for you!

All preorders are available on their website where you can select from Boston butt, brisket, BBQ, ham, ribs, and sides too. Orders will be accepted through Saturday, December 21; you may pick up your food in the FBC parking lot on Thursday, December 24, between 10am-2pm.