Worship Tonight @ 7:00 with National Baptist Memorial Church!

Join us tonight at 7pm for worship and fellowship with our friends just up the road as we celebrate with NBMC their 110th anniversary. Alex McKeithen and Lon Schreiber will offer music and Pastor Julie is bringing the message, “Paul, Barnabas and That Crazy Radio Station”.  NBMC is located 2 miles north of First Baptist, at the corner of 16th Street and Columbia Road (1501 Columbia Rd., NW). There is a small parking lot, plus street parking around the church. There is a reception after the worship service.

Alex McKeithen, Soloist (see video of past performance)

Lon Schreiber, Piano (See video of Lon on principle instrument, organ)

Pastor Julie, Preaching

Rev. Kasey Jones, Pastor NBMC
(Led Call to Worship at Pastor Julie's installation service)

Recap of the 9/25/16 Congregational Meeting

Dear Friends,

On September 25, 2016 we gathered in the Sanctuary immediately following the morning Worship Service to hold our congregational Quarterly Business Meeting. I am thrilled to announce several important items that the congregation considered and voted to approve during our meeting. All of these developments represent significant progress for FBC, and each one shows that FBC is taking considerable steps of faith. I am excited about where God is leading us.

First, in response to a motion brought jointly by our Associate Pastor Search Committee and our Personnel Committee, the congregation voted by an overwhelming majority to create the new position of Executive Pastor at FBC. As I explained in my letter to the congregation about a month ago, although the position of Executive Pastor is a new concept for FBC, this role has been around now in Baptist churches for about 40 years. The prevailing mission of an executive pastor is to help the church execute its vision. Vision-casting is not difficult. Execution of the vision is extremely difficult and often never comes to fruition because of the constant, day-to-day administrative and internal needs of the congregation. An executive pastor acts as a “second” to the senior pastor, freeing her or him up for the critical tasks of pastoring, shepherding, preaching and teaching. This new position will be a great addition to our FBC staff.

Second, based on the recommendation and motion of our Search Committee, the congregation voted (again, by an overwhelming majority) to call two new ministerial candidates: Rev. Charles L. Fuller as Executive Pastor, and Rev. Alyssa Aldape as Associate Pastor for Young Adult and Youth Ministries. You can read more information about Charlie and Alyssa here. Alyssa will join us at FBC in early November, and Charlie will start in January 2017. Please join me in welcoming them to our church family!

CHARLES FULLER

ALYSSA ALDAPE

Also, please join me in thanking our fantastic Search Committee (Erik Smith, Chair, Mel Doxie, Ken Ellison, Allen Norfleet, Ellen Parkhurst, and Wilma Prince) for their hard work over the last two and a half years. At last, the work of the Search Committee has come to an end. Praise God! Also join me in thanking Denny Austin, Chair of the Personnel Committee, for all of his assistance with the call process.

Third, the congregation voted to approve the 2016-17 FBC Budget, which was prepared by our Stewardship Committee and our Treasurer, Mike Henson. The 2016-17 FBC budget includes salaries for all of our existing staff and the two new positions described above, includes a 14% increase in giving to missions, and makes some of our previously under-utilized special purpose and memorial funds come alive in a meaningful way. In conjunction with the budget approval, the congregation also voted separately in favor of a resolution brought by the FBC Trustees regarding the use of special purpose and memorial funds. I would like to extend my thanks to Dennis Lambert, Chair of the Stewardship Committee, Mike Henson, and the FBC Trustees (Ken Ellison, Becky Ellison, and Marvin Marceron) for all of their contributions to the budget preparation effort this year.

Fourth, the congregation selected Rev. Paul Clark and Rev. Dr. James Langley as our delegates representing FBC at the DCBC Annual Gathering, scheduled October 27-29, 2016.

Fifth, we heard an exciting presentation from Wil McBeath, Chair of the Property Management Committee, regarding early stage ideas for potential renovations and improvements to our church buildings. Wil’s presentation was a great opportunity to get all of us started thinking about some possible projects that could help us attract new members, make FBC more accessible to the neighborhood, and increase our own productivity and use of our facilities. Please send any thoughts, follow-up questions or feedback on the Property Management presentation via email to D’O Dillard at ddillard@firstbaptistdc.org (and please include “FBC Renovations” in the subject line).

I am very excited about all of these developments and what they mean for us as a congregation. God is with us and continues to lead us forward. I hope you will join me in praying for our church as we continue on this path together.

In Christ,

Lucy Plovnick
FBC Moderator

Budget Proposal for 2016-17: A Bold Challenge for a Bold Vision

The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D. C.
Budget Proposal for 2016-17:  
A Bold Challenge for a Bold Vision

This balanced budget proposal reflects the prayerful collaboration among church officers, committee chairs, the Church Council and our senior pastor.  It proposes appropriate resources to meet our present operating needs, but more importantly it is intentional in moving us forward to be the church that Christ is calling us to become.  It proposes bold approaches to addressing the staffing we need to help us grow and support our congregation. It proposes initiatives to provide lay and ministerial staffing leadership development.  It is a proposal that challenges us.  It is a response to Jesus' call that each of us move courageously into the future.

Some Highlights:

Staffing Needs
Meeting our current and future pastoral needs is the boldest step taken in this budget. The increase in the ministerial staff budget provides:

• Full funding for our senior pastor
  (this position was not funded in last year's budget because it had not yet been filled.)  
• Funding for an Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Adults
  (to begin in the fall of 2016).
• Funding for an Executive Pastor
  (at two-thirds time and salary; to begin January 1, 2017).  
• Funding for our Associate Pastor for Children and Families,
  Deborah Cochran, who will return October 10th on a part-time basis
  (funding for that position has been adjusted accordingly).  

These critical pastoral resources will strengthen our outreach efforts; address the spiritual and life-stage needs of people in our congregation and community; provide strong support for our growing and active group of young adults; and provide essential daily support and continuity for lay and pastoral leadership.

Increased Funding for Missional Ventures
Our missions budget (now listed at the beginning of the budget and titled "Missional Ministries Beyond our Walls") increases by 14% ($8,000).  It provides $3000 in new support to be divided among eight new Baptist organizations and an additional $5000 for the proposed Cuba mission trip in 2017.  These proposals allow FBC to join with a number of Baptist groups addressing the cause of Christ here and abroad. They will open additional avenues of communication and participation for our congregation.

Leadership Development
The budget provides $14,500 in new funding for essential lay and staff leadership development. In addition, $27,790 is provided for ministerial staff professional development, training, participation in denominational events, and other learning opportunities that will strengthen their service to our congregation and the community we serve.

Additionally…
Funds for the Pastor Search Committee have been reduced from $15,000 to $600 because that committee has nearly completed its work. The Space for Ministry line has been eliminated to allow funding for more critical needs. Because Mosaic worship services end on September 24th (see the letter from Sam Hill - http://bit.ly/Mosaic-Transition), related funds have been reduced.

This balanced budget proposal is an act of faith by past members who gave sacrificially to our Special Purpose Accounts and the FBC Foundation.  It is a leap of faith for the current congregation because it challenges us with about a 12% increase in congregational giving. Indeed, it responds to the call that we each put our hand to the plow and look to the future into which Jesus is leading us. 

With anticipation and hope,

Stewardship Committee      
     Dennis Lambert (chair)                            
     Rochelle Howard
     Rob Marus

Treasurer
     Mike Henson

Moderator
     Lucy Plovnick        

Associate Pastor Search Committee Chair
     Erik Smith

Personnel Chair
     Denny Austin

Board of Trustees Chair
     Ken Ellison

Senior Pastor
     Julie Pennington-Russell

Meet Our Two New Ministers

UPDATE: On Sunday September 25th, Alyssa and Charlie were officially called to FBC by congregational vote. They have accepted the call and Alyssa will join us in November as Associate Pastor for Young Adult and Youth Ministries and Charlie will will be on the job in January as our Executive Pastor.  

---

Friday, September 16, 2016

With great excitement and anticipation, we announce to you our Search Committee’s candidates for Associate Pastor for Young Adult and Youth Ministries and Executive Pastor — Alyssa Aldape and Charlie Fuller. Below is biographical information about each, as well as the description of the newly created Executive Pastor position (you can also click here to download it).

This announcement represents seven months of prayer, strategic planning and belief that God is leading us to take bold steps of faith at this moment in FBC’s life. Our Moderator, Lucy Plovnick, prepared the way for this announcement three weeks ago in a letter to the congregation. Please read it here if you haven’t yet seen it. 

On Sunday, September 25, the congregation will vote on these two ministers. Please see the "Call Weekend" itinerary below.

Rev. Alyssa Aldape

Candidate for Associate Pastor for Young Adult and Youth Ministries

Biography

Alyssa is a child of Baptist missionaries and grew up in San Antonio, Texas and Pune, India.  While she lived in India, Alyssa had great opportunities to experience the country's rich cultural diversity through her parents' work with the Banjara people, a nomadic tribe.

Faith

“Hospitality has been a major theme in my faith story. As a child I would see my parents open our home to strangers, I would see them share our table with someone who needed a meal, and countless other subtle actions that made a huge impact on my life. When we moved to India, we were the strangers! And it was our turn to rely on the hospitality of others to welcome us into their community and lives. My years in India showed me the importance of mutual hospitality when it comes to sharing our Christian witness. When we find ourselves in the position of losing some of our power or control, it often makes us open ourselves to something bigger in God's world.”

Education

Alyssa earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama (2011) and a Master of Divinity degree from Mercer’s McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta (2015).

Experience

Every year since college, Alyssa has helped to lead a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship summer retreat for teenage children of missionaries. She has a passion for working with youth and their families as they navigate this time in their lives. During her seminary years, as the youth minister at Northside Drive Baptist Church, Alyssa taught and offered pastoral care for youth and their families, preached and participated in worship leadership and led various church meetings. It was at Northside Drive that she fell more deeply in love with the local church as she learned about liturgical tradition, the beautiful rhythm of the lectionary and the need for a community to worship together, “even when we don't agree on everything.”

Currently Alyssa is a Baptist Joint Committee Fellow and is Secretary of the Religious Liberty Council for the BJC. She also is a leader in the New Baptist Covenant, a movement first convened in 2007 by former President Jimmy Carter to bring Baptists together in our pursuit of unity and justice on the local and national scale.

Alyssa on the Church

“What I love about serving the local church is the tapestry of people around me who come together to worship a loving God. In the midst of a highly polarized world that tells us that if don't agree we are enemies, church is where we practice finding God together and in that quest, peace. What I love about the church is that there isn’t one, single model for doing this, and so together we get to think creatively about what God is up to in our community and dream about the unique ways we can join God in the work.” 

Rev. Dr. Charles L. Fuller

Candidate for Executive Pastor

Charlie and Cindy Fuller

Biography

Charlie hails from Little Rock, Arkansas. A life-long Baptist, he grew up as a part of the Park Hill Baptist Church in North Little Rock. 

Charlie spent all his growing up years in North Little Rock where his 95-year-old mom still lives.  He and Cindy met during their college days at Baylor and have been partners in ministry ever since.  They have two adult daughters who live in Seattle, WA and Plano, TX.  They also have three grandchildren who are all 3 years of age and under who give them incredible joy.

Faith Story

Charlie’s faith story starts with the nurture of a deeply loving church that raised him in faith.  As an adolescent he claimed that faith and began a journey with Jesus that has both informed and empowered a life of ministry.  He is deeply curious and constantly open to new ways of experiencing and expressing his faith.  He has tried to live out a call to ministry since he was young, but is now living out his calling as a “2nd career” minister, a calling that is expressed in his deep love for people and a desire to walk beside them on their own journeys.

Education

Charlie earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor (1979), a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from West Texas State University (1981), a Doctor of Music Arts from Arizona State University (1989), a Master of Divinity from George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor (2010) and a Doctor of Ministry from the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (2015). He has completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education and served as an Oncology Chaplain at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock. He also earned a certificate from The Fund Raising School of Indiana University and holds the Associate Certified Coach credential with the International Coach Federation.

Experience

Charlie spent much of his “first” working life as a teacher and professor of music at high schools and universities in Arkansas, Texas and Arizona, and served for three years as Dean of the School of Fine Arts at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR. In 2010, after completing his M.Div. at Truett Seminary, Charlie joined the staff of Second Baptist Church in Little Rock as Minister for Congregational Life. He also served Second Baptist as Interim Administrative Pastor from 2012-13.

Charlie on the Church

“I love God’s church. I’ve served the church in various capacities since I was 19 years old. The church isn’t a building or an institution.  It’s a movement, the very presence of God moving among God’s creation.”

CALL WEEKEND ITINERARY

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24  

• 11am – 3pm
  Charlie and Alyssa join us for the annual Church Picnic at Rock Creek Park.  
  (Youth: this is a great chance to hang out with Alyssa!)
• 5pm
  Alyssa and Charlie attend Mosaic.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

• 9:30-10:30am
  Congregational Q & A with Charlie and Alyssa in Fellowship Hall.    
• 11am
  Alyssa and Charlie serve as leaders in worship
• After worship
  Church votes on new candidates (as well as the Executive Pastor position and 2016-17 budget) in our quarterly congregational meeting. Lunch will be served. 

Mosaic in Transition

By Sam Hill, Mosaic Coordinator

Week in and week out: doors opened, people welcomed, songs sung, joys celebrated, struggles grieved, prayers offered, sermons preached, questions discussed, meals shared.

For over three years Mosaic has gathered on Saturday evenings to offer spiritual reprieve from busyness of life. We’ve sought to be both welcoming of newcomers while inwardly aware of God’s work within us. We’ve sought a worship experience that engages folks both emotionally and intellectually. We’ve sought to embrace the goodness found in our traditions while discovering new goodness in life today.

In all of this, Mosaic has offered us a grace-filled glimpse into what it means for Jesus-followers to share life together in a challenging place and time.      

Sam Hill, Mosaic Coordinator

But even the most authentic band of disciples is tempted by the structures and strictures that come with “organizational health” and “strategic models”—it’s only natural. It’s easy to forget that worship, beneath the surface, is a simple act of inward listening—the tuning of our senses to the rhythms of God’s grace. It is good, of course, to gather each week to sing, read, pray, discuss, and eat together. But occasionally it is good to step back from the meaningful custom—and just listen.

That’s our plan at Mosaic.

On Saturday, September 24, we will hold our final Mosaic worship service and enter into a new season of reflection and community—asking ourselves, How can First Baptist Church best serve young people in the community? We will continue to pray, share meals, and talk about the challenges and opportunities that come with urban ministry. Soon our congregation will welcome an Associate Pastor of Youth & Outreach to offer fresh insight and creativity.    

As we embark on this next leg of the journey, I offer my deepest gratitude to the First Baptist family for its never-ending encouragement of young people and its support for Mosaic. My challenge to us all, especially now, is summed up by Frederick Buechner: “Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.”

Generous: Fall Sermon Series

FBC Leadership Workshop—Sat, Oct 15

Saturday October 15th, 10am – 3pm in Fellowship Hall

All who call First Baptist “home” are invited to join us on October 15th for this inspiring, informative, empowering event—the first in a series of leadership workshops slated to take place over the next couple of years at FBC. Dr. Geoff Abbott and Mr. Mark Nishan will offer a faith-based version of their successful Intact Team Workshops.

Content

Together we’ll focus on exploring:

• The values that shape who we are as a congregation
• A shared vision for First Baptist
• Some meaningful steps we will take in order to fulfill God’s mission for us during the next several years.

Workshop Leaders

Geoff Abbott and his family have been members of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Woodbridge, VA for over 18 years.  Geoff has been a past chair of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee and member of United Methodist Men.

Mark Nishan and his family have been members of St John Neumann Catholic parish in Gaithersburg for over 19 years. Mark has been lector for all 19 years and does regular readings from the Bible at a number of church services. He and his wife, Mary are lead members of the church’s’ Capital Campaign Committee which recently raised $2.5 million for church improvements and buildings. Mark and Mary also head the parish welcoming committee for new parishioners joining the church.

Light refreshments and lunch will be served.  The event is free and registration will begin soon so that we can prepare enough food for all. 

Use Wufoo templates to make your own HTML forms.

Sept. 24: Fall Fellowship Picnic @ Rock Creek Park

When:  Saturday, September 24, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC, picnic site #24 (directions below)

What: Food, fun and friendship!

FBC will provide hamburgers, hotdogs, veggie burgers and all the fixings, along with water and snacks. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. The picnic site has convenient parking, covered seating, restrooms and playground equipment. 

RSVP:  We want to make sure there’s enough food so please RSVP below by Wednesday, September 21.

If you need transportation from the church to the park, note it on the form below.

Directions: From 16th Street NW, turn in to Rock Creek Park on Morrow Drive NW. Bear to the left for about 100 yards, toward the William H. G. FitzGerald Tennis Center (stadium with blue seats). Picnic site #24 is the first site on the right, across from the Tennis Center. Please park in the adjacent lot. MetroBus Lines S2 and S4 stop at 16 Street NW and Morrow Drive NW.  
(Google maps link)

Online contact and registration forms from Wufoo.

Presentation on Black Sacred Music and the Civil Rights Movement

Baylor University Professor to Speak on Black Sacred Music and the Civil Rights Movement Sunday, Sept. 18 @ 9:30am FBC Sanctuary

"Nothing But Love in God's Water," the two-volume work by Robert F. Darden, follows the rise of black sacred music as protest, from the African-American spirituals through the civil rights movement through the recent surge of democratically inspired protest movements and the #blacklivesmatter campaign. Using previously lost and unavailable music and images, "Nothing But Love in God's Water" graphically shows how a music born in faith and blood not only endured but continually grew in power and impact—from the antebellum American South into an international phenomenon today. Spirituals, gospel songs and freedom songs not only change lives, they transform nations.

Robert F. Darden is professor of journalism, public relations, and new media at Baylor University. He is the director of Baylor's Black Gospel Music Restoration Project, which is the world's largest initiative to identify, acquire, digitize, catalogue, and make accessible the fast-vanishing vinyl of gospel music's golden age. He is the former gospel music editor for Billboard Magazine and author of "People Get Ready: A New History of Black Gospel Music" and "Nothing but Love in God's Water: Black Sacred Music from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, Volume I." He also is also a frequent contributor to Huffington Post on the topics of Black sacred music and the civil rights movement.

Darden’s expertise also includes 20 years as Senior Editor of The Wittenburg Door (the world's oldest, largest, and probably only religious humor and satire magazine). He is the author of more than two dozen books and hundreds of magazine articles. His articles and short stories have appeared in The New York Times, The Oxford American, Southern Arts, Amazing Journeys, The Library of Congress/National Registry of Historic Recordings, and others.

Darden has been interviewed and featured on National Public Radio's All Things Considered, Tapestry (Canadian Broadcasting Corp.), C-SPAN and Fresh Air. 

Darden will be in Washington the weekend of the 18th to participate in some pre-opening events for the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History & Culture, opening on September 24th.

Lucy Plovnick Moderator Letter Re: Assoc. Pastor Search, Budget & Facilities Upgrade

Thursday, August 17 2016
Lucy Plovnick
FBC Moderator

Dear Friends,
I am very happy to share some news with you regarding several important developments for our church. All of these developments represent significant progress for FBC, and each one asks us to take considerable steps of faith. I am excited about where God is leading us.

1. Associate Pastor Search.
Last Sunday, the Church Council heard a report and recommendation from Erik Smith, Chair of the Associate Pastor Search Committee, regarding staffing needs at our church. FBC is at a unique moment in our history. This moment calls us to think not only about our church as we know it today, but to focus also on where God is leading us, and what we aspire to be and do in the future. It is critical that we assemble a staff that enables us to move from Maintenance to Mission; from Preserving to Pioneering for the gospel’s sake. Erik and his committee (Mel Doxie, Ken Ellison, Allen Norfleet, Ellen Parkhurst, and Wilma Prince) challenged the Church Council to step outside the box with them and help bring something new and different to FBC. And the Church Council took action in response.

Based on the recommendation of Erik and his committee, the Council voted unanimously to expand the search committee’s efforts to include a search for two additions to our pastoral staff:  both an Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Adults and the new position of Executive Pastor. The Church Council voted unanimously to create this new position based on the recommendation of the search committee, and subject to the approval of the congregation. These two additional members of our pastoral staff would join our Senior Pastor Julie, and Associate Pastor Deborah Cochran, who will return from her sabbatical in October on a part-time basis, and focus her ministry specifically on children and families.

The position of Executive Pastor is a new concept for FBC, though this role has been around now for about 40 years. The prevailing mission of an executive pastor is to help the church execute its vision. Vision-casting is not difficult. Execution of the vision is extremely difficult and often never comes to fruition because of the constant, day-to-day administrative and internal needs of the congregation. An executive pastor acts as a “second” to the senior pastor, freeing her or him up for the critical tasks of pastoring, shepherding, preaching and teaching.

A more detailed description of these two positions will be provided in next week’s Newsletter.

Erik and his team have specific candidates in mind for both of these positions and will share information about these individuals with the congregation in the coming weeks. It is the search committee’s hope to present the candidates for both positions to the congregation for a vote to call at the regular Quarterly Business Meeting on September 25, 2016. Please continue to pray for the committee as they complete their process, and please be respectful of their need to maintain confidentiality regarding the candidates under consideration while they wrap up important details.

2. 2016-17 FBC Budget
Also on Sunday, the Church Council voted unanimously to approve the FY 2016-17 FBC Budget presented by our Stewardship Committee through its Chair, Dennis Lambert. The 2016-17 budget includes salaries for all of our existing staff and the two new positions described above, includes a 14% increase in giving to missions, and makes some of our previously under-utilized special purpose and memorial funds come alive in a meaningful way. I would like to extend my thanks to Dennis Lambert, Treasurer Mike Henson, and the FBC Trustees (Ken Ellison, Becky Ellison, and Marvin Marceron) for all of their contributions to the budget preparation effort this year. The congregation will be asked to vote to approve the 2016-17 FBC Budget at the next Quarterly Business Meeting, scheduled for September 25, 2016. Copies of the 2016-17 FBC Budget will be made available to the congregation two weeks in advance of that meeting.

As you all know, the development of the budget is a significant work of faith. But just a budget, alone, will not get us anywhere. We as a congregation must also make a renewed commitment to support the budget through our giving and generosity. Beginning on September 11, 2016, our Stewardship Committee will be working with Pastor Julie to launch a Generosity Campaign, including a 6-week sermon series focused on this important topic. More details on the Generosity Campaign in the August 25 newsletter.

3. Possible FBC Facilities Upgrades
Also on Sunday, the Church Council got an early preview of plans for possible building and facilities upgrades that was put together by Wil McBeath, Chair of the Property Management Committee. Wil and his committee continue to work on that project, and hope to be in a position to present more information to the congregation on September 25th.

All of these developments are exciting possibilities for FBC. God is with us!  I hope you will keep all of these projects and the different lay leaders mentioned in this report in your prayers.

In Christ,

FBC Moderator

Donating back-to-school supplies to NCCF

Our annual collection of school supplies for the National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) continues through August; look for the box in the O Street lobby. Your generosity will help to provide items that enable children and youth to have a successful school year. Please make donations from the following list:

• No. 2 pencils
• Pens
• Colored Pencils
• Crayons
• Markers
• Glue Sticks
• Highlighters
• Pencil Boxes and Bags
• Calculators
• Rulers
• Protractors
• Compasses
• Left and Right Handed Scissors
• Notebook Paper
• Spiral Notebooks
• Black and White Composition Books
• Loose-leaf Notebooks
• Folders
• Binders
• Dictionaries
• Thesauruses
• Backpacks

If you prefer to make a monetary gift, please contact our NCCF Board representative, Bonnie Jorgensen, at 240-418-2788. Thank you for caring about the children and youth served by the NCCF.

Operation Christmas Child

Where has the summer gone!  In a few weeks (if not already) children will be gathering their school supplies and choosing clothes for the new school year.  What a perfect time to do some shopping for your Operation Christmas Child shoebox.  Yes, those red and green boxes are ready to be picked up at strategic locations around FBC.

For those of you who are new to the project, it is sponsored each year by FBC’s Woman’s Society.  Last year with the help of FBC Kids, we delivered 50 boxes to the drop off location.  The boxes, which are delivered to over 100 countries, are filled with items for boys and girls ages 2-4, 5-9, and 10-14.  They can include new toys, school supplies, clothes and hygienic items and especially your love and prayers.  (No guns, knives, war-related toys, liquids or medications.)  Each box contains an instruction flyer and you can go online to here for additional information.  Boxes can be returned to Jean or gini or left at the security desk in the O Street lobby anytime through mid-October (sooner rather than later).

Questions?  Contact gini Nelson (giniandpaul@aol.com) or Jean Bell (bjbell1@verizon.net).

DEADLY

August 14
Deadly Conservatism
Matthew 23:1-4, 23-31

August 21
Deadly Liberalism
John 11:47-53; 19:12-16

August 28
Deadly “Me-ism”
Luke 23:6-12

Join Us in Celebrating the Installation of Julie Pennington-Russell as Pastor

The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C.
invites you to celebrate with us the installation of

---

Rev. Julie Pennington-Russell

AS THE NINETEENTH PASTOR OF OUR CHURCH

---

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2016
four o’clock in the afternoon

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SANCTUARY
1328 16th St NW
Washington, D.C. 20036

Reception in Fellowship Hall
following the worship service

Valet Parking Provided

Interfaith Prayer Vigil for the People of Orlando and for Peace

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  The scheduled cookout cancelled tonight @ 6pm so that we may join this interfaith prayer vigil from 6:30pm – 7:30pm at First Congregational United Church of Christ (945 G Street NW, Corner of 10th and G, Washington DC).  Sandwich making for Martha’s Table will take place as usual at 5:00 in Fellowship Hall. Hope to see many of you at the prayer vigil tonight.

Life on the Limb: Lessons from Elijah

Free Diane Bish Organ Concert June 12 at 4 p.m.

Renowned organist and television host Diane Bish will perform a free recital at the First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C., at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 12, in the church’s sanctuary at 1328 16th St. NW.

"Allegro" from Organ Concerto in F Minor "The Cuckko and the Nightingale" Handel Diane Bish, organist Market Church Halle, Germany The Joy Of Music TV series

Bish will perform compositions by Widor and Bach and from her own extensive catalog on First Baptist’s custom-built organ, which comprises more than 6,000 pipes and trumpets in four chambers. The organ console features five manuals and 229 stops, allowing for a wide variety of sound combinations. The organ was built by Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Conn.

In 2016, Bish received the inaugural Distinguished Career Award from the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists for exemplary service to the organ, choral music and related fields.

In 1989, Bish was awarded the National Citation by the National Federation of Music Clubs of America “for distinguished service to the musical, artistic, and cultural life of the nation.” Other recipients of the award include Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Ormandy, Van Cliburn, Robert Shaw, Irving Berlin and Fred Waring.

Since 1982, Bish has hosted The Joy of Music, a television series that combines organ and ensemble performances with an informative, inspirational narrative and extensive world travel.

The concert at First Baptist is part of the church’s long tradition of sharing the gift of music with neighbors and friends in the national capitol area.

Free valet parking will be available, and directions to the church by car or Metro are available on the website, www.firstbaptistdc.org. A free reception will follow the performance.

Church Refugees - Wed Night Conversations April 13 – May 25

Church Refugees: Sociologists reveal why people are DONE with church but not their faith
(How do Easter People respond?) 

April 13 fellowship hall 7pm
The Dechurched as Religious Refugees
Julie Pennington-Russell

April 20 fellowship hall 7pm
Community and Judgment
Chelsea Clarke

April 27 fellowship hall 7pm
Activity and Bureaucracy
Denny Austin

May 4 fellowship hall 7pm
Conversation and Doctrine
Stan Hastey

May 11 fellowship hall 7pm
Meaningful Ministry and Moral Prescription
Brad & Linda Livingstone

May 18 fellowship hall 7pm
Being the Church No One Wants to Leave
Paul Clark

May 25 fellowship hall 7pm
Church for the Dechurched
Julie Pennington-Russell

(Buy Church Refugees at a special price of $10!)

Easter People: Sermon Series

Join us as we keep learning together to live as wide-awake, hopeful people in the power of Christ’s Resurrection.

Good Friday Worship Service, Noon - 1:00 p.m. (Sanctuary)

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” We remember Christ’s suffering and death through music, Scripture and a Good Friday meditation by Pastor Julie, Into Your Hands.