April 21, 2024 | The Powerful Pause: Pause to be Free

Today in worship, Pastor Julie continues her new sermon series,The Powerful Pause: Reclaiming Your Soul Through Sabbath with a message from Deuteronomy 5:6, 12-15.

Sabbath gives us the gift of freedom. A day of stopping is a day for us to know that we are in bondage to nothing in this world. When we keep a Sabbath, we’re practicing independence—at least for a day—from the frantic pace set by Wall Street, Washington, Hollywood, Amazon, and the culture around us. Supplemental texts are Luke 13:10-17 and Galatians 5:1-6, 13-14.

April 14, 2024 | The Powerful Pause: Pause Primer

This Sunday in worship, Pastor Julie begins a new sermon series,The Powerful Pause: Reclaiming Your Soul Through Sabbath with a message from Exodus 20:1-17, titled Pause Primer.

How astonishing that weekly rest and worship made it into God's list of Top Ten concerns. God’s good intention is that stopping, resting, and recalibrating be part of the regular rhythm of our living. Supplemental texts are Hebrews 4:1-11 and Mark 2:23-28.

April 7, 2024 | Breathing Out, Breathing In

Today in worship, Pastor Julie will preach the message "Breathing Out, Breathing In." Her message will focus on John 20:19-31. Supplemental texts are Psalm 133 and 1 John 1:1-2:2. In worship, we will take communion together, engage our Ministry Interest Survey, and collect a benevolence offering.

March 31, 2024 | Easter Sunday

Today we celebrate Christ’s resurrection with the flowered cross; the music of choir, organ, and brass; baptisms and communion; and a message of hope from Pastor Julie titled “Stronger Than Death.” Scripture passages are 1 Corinthians 13 and John 20:1-18. Enjoy conversation and refreshments at the after-worship reception on the 16th Street patio.

March 24, 2024 | Palm/Passion Sunday

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, which will mark the beginning of Holy Week. In this Palm Sunday service we will journey with Jesus as he is welcomed in triumph upon entering Jerusalem and then betrayed, rejected, and arrested. Scripture readings will be Matthew 21:1-11, John 18:1-12, and John 18:12-27.

Embedded in worship will be Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, presented as a musical offering by our Chancel Choir, soloists, and organist. While a requiem is a musical setting of texts that are associated with death, dying, mourning, and grief, Fauré's Requiem distinguishes itself from others in that its music is characterized by comfort, serenity, peace, and tranquility. This 30-minute work will help us mark the start of Holy Week and hold space for a range of emotions as we follow Christ into the darkest of places before resurrection morning.

March 17, 2024 | Wandering Heart: The Learner

In Matthew 18:15-22, Jesus teaches about community and repair. Peter, eager to learn, asks him a follow-up question. Jesus gives an expansive answer, emphasizing the abundance of forgiveness. This story shows the importance of asking questions and expanding our faith, especially when we’re comfortable not having all the answers and we’re open to seeing the world in more nuanced ways. Additional Scripture text is Psalm 119:9-16.

March 10, 2024 | Wandering Heart: The Hindrance

Today is the Fourth Sunday in the 40-day season of Lent. As we make our way together toward Easter, we are walking beside Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ most well-known disciples, who also has something of a wandering heart.  
 
In this morning's Gospel text, just moments after Jesus has praised Peter for his faith, saying, “You are the rock on which I’m going to build my church,” Jesus calls Peter Satan! (Ouch.) The text ends with Jesus’ invitation to the disciples and to us to take up our cross and follow the living Christ. 

Scripture passages are Matthew 16:21-23 and Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22.

March 3, 2024 | Wandering Heart: The Rock

Today marks the third Sunday in Lent. We will welcome the Furman Singers from Furman University, receive communion, and collect our first Sunday benevolence offering. Pastor Eric will offer a brief meditation in the continuing sermon series “Wandering Heart,” tracing the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most well-known disciples, Simon Peter. This week, Jesus refers to Simon Peter as “The Rock.” Scripture passages are Matthew 16:13-20 and Psalm 19.

February 25, 2024 | Wandering Heart: The Risk-Taker

This Sunday marks the second Sunday in Lent. Pastor Julie continues the sermon series “Wandering Heart,” tracing the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most well-known disciples, Simon Peter. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter we may see ourselves. This week’s scripture passages are Matthew 14:22-33 and Psalm 22:23-31.

As we worship together this Lenten season, you will notice some changes to our usual patterns in worship. In the spirit of adding a spiritual practice, we will add a rhythm of confessing our sins to God. In the spirit of giving something up, we will replace our usual Doxology with an alternative Doxology. These small changes will remind us that we are journeying together through a season that is about adding and subtracting in ways that point us toward familiar and fresh expressions of following Christ.

February 18, 2024 | Wandering Heart: The Skeptic

This Sunday marks the first Sunday in Lent. Pastor Julie begins the sermon series “Wandering Heart,” tracing the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most well-known disciples, Simon Peter. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter we may see ourselves. This week’s scripture passages are Luke 5:1-11 and Psalm 25:1-10.

As we worship together this Lenten season, you will notice some changes to our usual patterns in worship. In the spirit of adding a spiritual practice, we will add a rhythm of confessing our sins to God. In the spirit of giving something up, we will replace our usual Doxology with an alternative Doxology. These small changes will remind us that we are journeying together through a season that is about adding and subtracting in ways that point us toward familiar and fresh expressions of following Christ.

February 11, 2024 | Hush, Dear People, and Just Listen | Guest Preacher Paul Nixon

Today in worship, we welcome guest proclaimer Paul Nixon who will preach the message Hush, Dear People, and Just Listen based on Mark 9:2-9. Other lectionary texts are Psalm 50:1-6.

Paul is author of multiple books on Christian leadership in a fast-changing age. He is president of The Epicenter Group, a coaching and leadership development organization based in Washington DC. Epicenter coaches about 100 church leaders each year in North America and the UK.

Paul grew up in southern California and came to faith there. His work has taken him to 49 of 50 states, and several nations working with a wide array of Christian leaders. Today he serves part time on the staff of UMC of Palm Springs, even as he continues to keep an office presence in Washington DC.

A long-time friend of Pastor Julie, Paul preached at her installation in 2016. Paul’s husband, Justin Kan, will worship with FBC as well.

February 4, 2024 | Holy Rhythm

Do you ever feel as though you’re headed for a crash and burn—as though the pace of your life couldn’t get any faster? In this morning's sermon, Holy Rhythm, based on Mark 1:29-39, Jesus demonstrates this good news: that God made us to live and move to the holy rhythm of stepping in and stepping back, the cadence of advance and retreat. Additional Lectionary passages are Isaiah 40:21-31 and 1 Corinthians 9:16-23.

January 28 2024 | Holy Disruption

This morning in worship, Pastor Julie continues the sermon series, “Holy: Soul-Shaping Moments with Jesus.” Her message this Sunday is Holy Disruption, based on Mark 1:21-28, in which Jesus heals a man possessed by an evil spirit. New Testament scholar Brian Blount asks: will we go with Jesus and help him create the holy chaos he’s initiating, or will we do everything in our power to hinder him so we can maintain the status-quo?

Additional Lectionary passages are Deuteronomy 18:15-20 and 1 Corinthians 8:1-13.

January 21 2024 | Holy Invitation

Pastor Julie continues the sermon series, “Holy: Soul-Shaping Moments with Jesus.” Her message this Sunday is Holy Invitation, based on Mark 1:14-20, in which Jesus issues a holy, life-altering invitation to Simon, Andrew, James and John, to follow him. Additional Lectionary passages are Psalm 62:5-12 and 1 Corinthians 7:29-31.

January 14, 2024 | Holy Affinity

Pastor Julie begins a new sermon series titled Holy: Soul-Shaping Moments with Jesus. Her message this Sunday is Holy Affinity, based on John 1:43-51, in which Nathanael asks about Jesus, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  This story invites us to take up the holy practice of re-examining the assumptions by which we live.

Additional Lectionary passages are Genesis 1:1-5 and 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.

January 7, 2024 | Epiphany Sunday | Those Who Dream Persevere

This morning, Pastor Julie preaches the message “Those Who Dream Persevere,” based on Matthew 2:1-12. Additional Lectionary passages are Isaiah 60:1-6 and Acts 19:1-7.

As is our first Sunday of the month custom, we will celebrate communion together. We will return to our practice of taking the bread and the cup by intinction: dipping a gluten-free wafer into a cup of juice. (Only those serving communion will touch the wafer, and they will sanitize their hands prior to serving.)

We also will be invited to create “star words” or “star gifts,” an Epiphany prayer practice observed by Protestant congregations around the world for some time. The word you choose, or discover in prayer, becomes an intention or guiding word for the new year.

December 31, 2023 | New Year’s Eve | Pastor Eric Preaching

December 24, 2023 | Christmas Eve

“And Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger…” Celebrate Christmas Eve with First Baptist Church. Worship includes Christmas carols, the music of choir, organ, brass, holy communion, and a Christmas Eve meditation from Pastor Julie. The service ends with the lighting of congregational candles.

December 17, 2023 | Blue Christmas: A Service of Consolation

The holidays are marked by celebrations, yet they are often stressful or sad for those experiencing grief of any kind, especially the death of loved ones in the last year. Join us on Sunday, December 17, at 4:00 p.m. for Blue Christmas: A Service of Consolation.

Let the music of the Chancel Choir, the comforting words of Scripture and poetry, and words of hope from Pastor Julie bring peace to your tired soul. The service concludes with the lighting of candles in memory of people who have died, and/or in acknowledgment of other kinds of grief we carry. Please consider inviting and accompanying someone you know who needs some comfort and hope this year.

December 17, 2023 | Advent 2: Those Who Dream Sow Joy

This Sunday in worship, we continue the Advent series, Those Who Dream. Pastor Julie will preach the message “Those Who Dream Sow Joy” from Luke 1:46-55 in which Mary’s song of praise calls us to rejoice in the coming birth of the Savior. Lectionary texts are Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24.

Ultimately, dreams sow joy, even if that joy doesn’t immediately spring forth. Sowing seeds into the soil always feels risky and feeble—how can something so small become something so beautiful, so big, and so nourishing? Like Mary, we are called to tend and nurture the dreams God has woven into us.