Reflections on our Cuba Trip

Becky and our translator, Kim Christman (left).

By Becky Waugh, shared in worship on February 22, 2026.

As many of you know, six of us traveled to Cuba on January 15th and returned on the 22nd — just a couple of weeks after our government invaded Venezuela and began to threaten Cuba with circumstances even more difficult than those they were already facing.

Our group went with expectations that there would be significant challenges, but also with the knowledge that our sister church was eager for us to come and ready to embrace us.

I want to share a few things about the situation on the ground and about our time there. But first, let me set the stage with a quote I came across a couple of decades ago. I'm not certain of its origin, but I have found it to be profoundly true:

What you focus on expands.

You have probably experienced this. When you become interested in something, suddenly you notice opportunities, books, classes, and conversations related to it everywhere — things you might not have noticed before. The reverse is equally true. When something annoys you, it seems to multiply. One of my own pet peeves is the phrase "and it was, like …" used in place of "and I said" or "and she said." I once found myself on a sidewalk counting how many times someone just ahead of me used it in a single conversation. That principle — what you focus on expands — says something about what we experienced with our sister church in Cuba.

The Situation on the Ground

The situation in Cuba is dire and steadily worsening. Our government is choking off what few oil supplies were still reaching the island, and predictions at the time of our visit suggested that by mid-March, virtually no fuel would be available in Cuba.

The consequences of this are sweeping. In Havana, where we stayed, residents considered themselves fortunate to have power ten to fourteen hours a day. In more rural parts of the island, people found themselves with electricity only one or two hours a day. Without fuel, there is no heat, no cooking, and no refrigeration. Food spoils. Transportation fails. Life becomes an exercise in endurance.

We were fortunate that our accommodations at the church, located near five hospitals, maintained consistent power. At that point, the government was rationing electricity in ways that prioritized areas with major health facilities. We were grateful for that.

Beyond the fuel crisis, Cuba is in the grip of a severe economic crisis. Inflation is rampant. A retired person living on a government pension may receive 1,500 to 1,800 Cuban pesos per month — the equivalent of roughly five to seven US dollars. That is often all they have, particularly given that more than a million younger Cubans have left the island in recent years due to the desperate conditions. To put the inflation in stark terms: a single pound of chicken costs 2,800 pesos — more than an entire month's pension.

There is also a health crisis. Four viruses were surging on the island in the fall as we were planning our trip. By January, most were waning with the change in season, but chikungunya had already swept through the population. An estimated 70 percent of Cubans contracted it. With no diagnostics and no medicines available to treat it, people were left to endure severe joint pain and swelling on their own. The illness became so common that Cubans gave a name to the hobbling gait it caused — they call it "the chicken walk." Our host pastor was still barely able to get around during our visit.

The pharmacy shelves we passed were empty. Hospitals had depleted their medicine supplies. We were deeply grateful that this congregation made it possible for us to bring approximately $4,500 worth of medicines with us — resources that are now being shared with the church community, local hospitals, and community health workers. It is not a lot, and it will not last long. But it was something, and the gratitude we received was overwhelming.

Underlying all of this is a crisis of confidence. The government has failed its people. The needs of ordinary Cubans are not being prioritized.

What We Found

Given all of that, I think we all expected to encounter people who were depressed, grieving, and eager to tell us how hard things were. That is not what we found.

Instead, we found a thriving little church that could hardly have been more generous or more joyful.

Welcome notes were waiting on our beds when we arrived. Our first evening, the congregation hosted what they called a pechanga — a celebration that lasted several hours. One church member after another stepped forward to offer something: a game, a song, a moment of shared delight. One woman arrived in full operatic garb, fan in hand, and sang beautifully. Others led silly games. All of it was offered with the singular purpose of making us feel welcome and loved.

Young people from the congregation — some with small children — served as our translators, cultural guides, and historical guides throughout the week. Older adults, most of them retired professionals — a lawyer, a doctor, a businessperson — spent entire days in the kitchen cooking for us, and were genuinely happy to do so.

In countless ways, this church embraced us and celebrated what it means to be a sister church.

I want to be clear: they are not in denial. One young woman said to me quietly, "We are almost out of air, and it won't be long until the little bit of air we have is gone." They know how close to the edge their situation is. They cannot imagine how things will break apart on the other side, or how things could possibly get any worse. But in the face of all of that, they have made a choice — a choice about what to focus on.

They are focusing on the gifts of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness. They are trusting in God and loving one another — and us — exuberantly, come what may. Somehow they know, in an unshakable way, that God is bigger than all of it.

And it was infectious.

Let us hold them close. Let us hold our government accountable. And let us fix our focus on the resources and opportunities we have to work for justice and peace in Cuba — inspired by the undaunted courage and joy of our brothers and sisters there.

~ Becky Waugh

A Feather on the Breath of God

Celebrating Pastor Julie — Ten Years at FBCDC
Forty Years of Ordained Ministry

I thank my God every time I think of you. In every prayer I utter, as I plead on your behalf, I rejoice at the way you have all continually helped promote the Good News from the very first day. And I am sure of this much: that God, who has begun the good work in you, will carry it through to completion, right up to the day of Christ Jesus.

— Philippians 1:3–6

Anniversary Celebration

Pastor Julie Through the Years

Pastor Julie came to Washington, D.C. with a calling that had been shaped over the decade prior to her arrival – and now over four decades. From the wind-swept San Francisco Bay, to the wide-open Texas skies over Waco, through the magnolias of Decatur, Georgia, she carried with her a north star she had drawn from the mystical writings of St. Hildegard of Bingen: to be a feather on the breath of God.

That image has come to define not only her vocation, but the congregation she has companioned into being.

A MINISTRY OF FIRSTS

From San Francisco to Washington

Ordained in 1986, Julie Pennington-Russell began her ministry at Nineteenth Avenue Baptist Church in San Francisco, where she served for thirteen years. In 1998, she was called as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, Texas — becoming the first woman to serve as senior pastor of a Baptist congregation in the state. In 2007, she was called to First Baptist Church of Decatur, Georgia, where she served until 2015, before answering the call to The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington in January, 2016.

Each of these calls was historic. Each also drew opposition. She accepted both as part of the same vocation, never letting either determine what faithfulness required.

By the time she arrived in Washington, the path was more worn. What had once required courage to simply name was a given in this city and congregation. A woman could stand in the pulpit, open scripture, and lead God’s people. She had helped build that freedom for herself, and she had widened the path for every woman who would follow.

Through these decades of ministry, Julie and her husband Tim built a life and family with Taylor and Lucy — and like all ministry families, Taylor and Lucy learned something about what it gives, and what it costs, to share your parent with a congregation.

Along the way, the P-Rs have shared their home with a succession of beloved dogs. Most recently, this has been Charlie, a Great Dane who has been known to add her own voice to Sunday worship and make unscheduled cameo appearances on Zoom — a reminder that in this family, no one stays on mute for long.

TEN YEARS AT FBCDC

How These Ten Years Have Shaped Us

When Pastor Julie arrived in January 2016, she brought with her not a program, but a presence. What she has given to our congregation cannot be captured in a list, yet the fruit of her faithfulness is visible everywhere we look.

We voted to become an explicitly welcoming and affirming community, living into our baptismal conviction that all people are beloved children of God.

We deepened our partnership with Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, leaning into truth-telling and earnest seeking of forgiveness from our Black siblings rooted in honesty about our past, friendship, and the long work of mutual understanding.

We completed a comprehensive building reboot. In 2022 we completed a sanctuary renovation, and in 2025, we opened and dedicated our new community building. This space is now buzzing with spiritual formation gatherings on Sundays and community groups from across our city and nation throughout the week.

We engaged in an 18-month strategic planning process with Ministry Architects, reimagining our mission, vision, and governance to position ourselves for faithful witness in a changing world.

We have seen our young adult community grow from a small gathering into a vibrant, multigenerational movement of people seeking to follow Jesus together.

These are not simply institutional achievements. They are the fruit of a pastor who has taught us that showing up as we are, in the world as it is, trusting God’s presence, is itself a spiritual practice.

GRATITUDE AND BLESSING

With Joy and Gratitude

“Here I am, as I am, in the world, as it is. Supported by grace, open to God’s love, present to my life in Christ.”

We have learned this mantra and repeated it until it has settled into our bones. It is, in many ways, the gift of her entire ministry: not certainty, but presence. Not performance, but surrender. Not a closed door, but a table with room.

Pastor Julie, we thank God in all our remembrances of you. You have helped us become more fully who God has called and is molding us to be: a loving and active community shaped by the Spirit of Christ.

Happy Anniversary. We love you beyond measure.

A Decade of Transformative Ministry: Celebrating Pastor Julie’s 10 Years at FBCDC

On January 1, 2026, Rev. Julie Pennington-Russell – "Pastor Julie" to most of us – marked a remarkable milestone – ten years of ministry as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, DC. This makes her the longest-tenured Senior Pastor our congregation has had in almost 35 years – a testament to the depth and vitality of her leadership.

This anniversary is made even more significant as it coincides with another milestone: in April of this year, Pastor Julie will celebrate her 40th anniversary of ordained ministry. These anniversaries together invite us to pause and reflect on a decade that has not only transformed our congregation but has deepened our witness as a community of radical inclusivity and contemplative faith.

Pastor Julie arrived at FBCDC as a nationally recognized trailblazer among Baptist women in ministry, having shattered stained glass ceilings as the first woman senior pastor in multiple congregations, including becoming the first woman to serve as senior pastor of a Baptist church in Texas. Yet what has defined her tenure here is not merely her prophetic "firsts," but her profound ability to companion us – as individuals and as a congregation – into deeper authenticity and spiritual courage.

Under Pastor Julie's leadership, our church has experienced genuine transformation. We voted to become an explicitly welcoming and affirming community, living into our baptismal conviction that all people are beloved children of God. We strengthened our partnership with Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, and leaned into racial reconciliation rooted in honesty about our past, friendship, and mutual understanding. We completed a comprehensive sanctuary renovation in 2022, and in 2025, we opened and dedicated our new community building – a space now buzzing with our spiritual formation gatherings on Sundays and community groups from across our city and nation during the week. Through an 18-month strategic planning process with Ministry Architects, we reimagined our mission, vision, and governance structures, positioning ourselves for faithful witness in a changing world.

"Here I am as I am,
in the world as it is.
Supported by grace,
open to God's love,
present to my life in Christ."

Yet perhaps Pastor Julie's greatest gift has been that of presence. Whether through texts, phone calls, emails, meals, or visits, she has consistently shown up for important moments in our lives, assuring us that God is there, too. Her model inspires and teaches us to do the same: to show up for our lives and the lives of others with honesty and openness, trusting in the presence, love, and goodness of God.

With her joyful, humorous, and delightfully whimsical spirit, she invites us to breathe together mantras that we repeat three or four (or five!) times until they settle into our bones. "Here I am as I am, in the world as it is..." is one we have come to love and carry with us. Her own mission, drawn from the mystical writings of St. Hildegard of Bingen, is to be "a feather on the breath of God." Using this as her north star, she has taught us a spirituality that embraces both vulnerability and trust, inviting us into practices that attune us to the Spirit's movement in our own souls.

As co-director of the Shalem Institute's Clergy Spiritual Life and Leadership Program (2020-2025), co-leader of Shalem’s Iona Pilgrimage, and a spiritual director herself, Pastor Julie has woven contemplative formation into the very fabric of our congregational life. Her warm, maternal presence has created space for us to encounter both the comfort and the challenge of the Gospel: to practice radical love while pursuing justice, and to sit in silence while raising our voices for the marginalized.

Pastor Julie, thank you for these ten years of faithful companioning, prophetic preaching, and transformative leadership. You have helped us become more fully who God has called and is molding us to be – a community where all are welcome, where contemplation and action dance together, and where we show up, again and again, as we are, trusting the breath of God to carry us forward.

Happy Anniversary, Pastor Julie.
We love you, and we are grateful for you beyond measure.

Join Us in Celebration

Our Personnel Ministry Action Team and Ministry Leadership Team invite the entire congregation to join us on Sunday, March 1, as we celebrate Pastor Julie's 10th anniversary at our monthly potluck with cake and opportunities for reflection and gratitude.

A Temporary Alternative World: Young Adult Retreat Reflections

February 2026

In The Art of Gathering, Priya Parker writes that the best gatherings create temporary alternative worlds. Places where different rules apply, where people can say things they can’t say anywhere else, where genuine connection becomes possible.

“I think of gatherings as the creation of a temporary alternative world that anyone can build. And by bringing people together in a specific way we create the wild possibility of actually altering each other.” -Priya Parker

That’s what retreat is. Or, that’s what retreat was.

Over President’s Day weekend, twenty-six of our young adults loaded into vans and made the now familiar two-hour pilgrimage outside the city to Graves Mountain Lodge in Syria, Virginia. A mixture of twenty and thirty-somethings — singles and couples, longtime members and first-timers — arrived under the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains and stepped, however briefly, into a temporary, alternative world.

This year’s retreat theme was Practices for a Storied Faith: Rekindling the Gift of God Within You. We anchored ourselves in Paul's words to Timothy. ”I am reminding you to rekindle the gift of God within you" (2 Timothy 1:1-7). We spent the weekend not acquiring something new, but returning to something old. Something true. Something that had perhaps been buried under the noise of our ordinary, sometimes chaotic lives.

Our guide for the weekend was Josh Hilburn, founding and lead pastor of Gather Houston, and I’m glad to say my dear friend. Gather is an ecumenical, inclusive Christian community near downtown Houston. Josh has spent a decade making space for people who have been hurt or excluded by traditional religion, and his teaching comes with a disarming winsomeness and particular tenderness of someone who knows what it is to help people find their way back to God.

During the weekend, we moved through four times of worship and small group conversations, each one an invitation to slow down and pay attention. We talked about honoring our stories and honoring where we came from. And, we engaged about a half dozen spiritual practices that made space for all of this to land — not just in our heads, but in our bodies, our breath, our being.

Of course, retreat is never only what happens in worship and small groups.

It’s what happens around the fire pit after dark, where conversations drift from theology to life to silly TikTok reels, and back again. It’s what happens around the fireplace at the Lodge where the hour gets late and no one wants to leave. It’s the unexpected joy of sledding down a long hill behind the lodge, some for the first time since childhood, careening downhill with pure delight.

The staff at Graves Mountain, who have become something like family, welcomed us with their characteristic warmth and hospitality. And then there was Nugget, a baby goat who appeared to have full run of the property and absolutely no regard for anyone’s theological reflection. Some gifts arrive unannounced.

What I keep returning to, now almost one week later, is this: A temporary alternative world is still a real world. The things that happened at Graves Mountain were real. The stories told, the truths spoken, the moments of recognition when someone said I see God in that. The connections formed between people who had never met before arriving on Saturday morning were real. The rekindled gift, whatever form it took for each person, was real.

We returned to the city carrying what we’d been reminded to carry: that God can still be found here. In my story and your story. In the person sitting across from me and from you. In the ordinary moments when someone dares to tell the truth about their life, and someone else dares to lean in.

That’s what our young adults experienced last weekend. And it would not have been possible without your prayers and this congregation’s generous financial support.

Thank you for making the temporary alternative world possible.

With great hope,




Pastor Eric

A Week of Contrasts in Cuba

Dear FBC Family…

Our Cuba pilgrimage is still taking root in me. It was a week of contrasts—beauty and brokenness, scarcity and abundance, despair and unshakable faith. I want to share some of what we learned and experienced with our beloved partners at William Carey Baptist Church."

Pastor Amós Lopez

Pastor Sarahí Fernandez

Kim Christman

Daniela & Yasmani

Pastors Sarahí Fernandez and Amós Lopez welcomed us with open arms.  And our translator, Kim Christman, who serves in Cuba with her husband Stan Dotson through the Alliance of Baptists—was a Godsend every day.

The resilience, ingenuity, humor and radical generosity of the Cuban people are undeniable.  And the faith and love radiating from our brothers and sisters there is something I wish our whole congregation could see.

At the same time, like the majority of Cubans, the people of William Carey lack most of the basic necessities: food, money, electrical power, adequate healthcare, transportation. The government-run sanitation systems stopped picking up garbage in Havana months ago. Many are low on hope, especially the young adults I talked with. "I see no future for Cuba," one young man said to me. "Something must change."

On our third night in Cuba, we took a group of 16 church members to a nice restaurant in Old Havana—an experience some hadn't enjoyed in years. For two hours we laughed, told stories, and savored delicious food together. The bill for 22 people—including drinks, mains, desserts, and coffee—came to $161. We marveled at spending just $7.50 per person. Then we learned that the monthly pension for a retired government worker in Cuba is $5. Our delight at the “bargain” suddenly felt very different."

I was so proud of First Baptist DC while we were there. Signs of your generosity were everywhere. In addition to a gift of a little over ten thousand dollars that will help William Carey care for their community and congregation, we brought five suitcases full of prescription medicines that Becky Waugh spent months organizing through an organization called Blessings International—antibiotics, prescription medicines for diabetes, blood pressure, migraines, and on and on.

And remember the shipping container we helped to fill last summer? Your generosity was everywhere—from the sheets we slept on and towels we dried ourselves with, to the spices in the food we ate and the pots and pans in the kitchen. A young adult woman named Esther told me that receiving the contents of the container last summer felt like Christmas.

Worshiping together on Sunday was pure delight. The children of WCBC sang, as did the adult choir (one of the songs in English!). Becky Waugh shared a beautiful testimony. Our group sang Christ Be Our Light and taught the congregation the chant we sometimes sing here: Be Still and Know. We presented banners and paraments that have hung in our sanctuary in the past. And we gave them signed copies of Christi Harlan’s books about President Jimmy Carter’s time at FBCDC. You can read my sermon, Discovering the Unshakable, here.

Pastor Ideal Montero Pacheco

Ebenezer Baptist Church in Havana

During the week we visited Ebenezer Baptist Church in Havana, where we met with their pastor, Ideal Montero Pacheco, before he gave us a tour of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Center next door. The place was alive with children and adults visiting, playing, welcoming guests.

On our next-to-last day in Cuba we drove 65 miles from Havana to the town of Matanzas, where we toured the Matanzas Seminary, the only ecumenical seminary in Cuba, which serves some 200 students from 13 denominations. Pastor Amós from William Carey also serves as Dean of the Seminary.

We also dropped in on First Baptist Church of Matanzas, which is led by Pastor Orestes Roca. FBC Matanzas provides vital services to the Matanzas community, and they founded the Kairos Center for Art and Liturgy. We received a warm welcome and tour from the center's director, Wanda Hernandez Murga.

Both Ebenezer and FBC Matanzas were two of the first Baptist Churches in Cuba to become open and affirming of the LGBTQIA community.

Our pilgrims—Becky, Joel, Al, Tim and Taylor—outdid themselves in showing honor and care for the sisters and brothers of William Carey. In just seven short days, the bond between our congregations grew stronger and deeper.

Wanda Hernandez Murga

I'm glad and grateful to be in this ministry of accompaniment and friendship with our dear friends in Cuba. Before we left, we promised to begin exchanging prayer lists between our two churches so we can know each other better through prayer as we entrust one another to God.

Yes, they need us. And…we need them.

Returning to DC just before the snow emergency was an eye-opener for me. The "empty shelves" at our Trader Joe's still held more abundance than anything our Cuban friends can find or afford. And yet, they persist. They worship. They love God. They love their children. They sing and praise and care for one another and their community.

I hope this has given you a taste of what our week in Havana was like. Again, thank you for your prayers. Joel, Al, Becky, Tim, Taylor and I felt them every day—as did our William Carey friends.

And many, many thanks to the Cuba Planning Team: Katie Cantone-Hardy, Terry Provance, Becky Waugh, and Pastor Eric. The months of logistical and informational preparation they invested paid off beautifully. From visas to medicines to cultural briefings, every detail was thoughtfully considered. Their work freed those of us in Cuba to focus entirely on building relationships and deepening our partnership with William Carey.

In a place where hope seems scarce, we witnessed hope that refuses to die. That's what resurrection looks like—faith that persists, love that endures, praise that rises even in the hardest circumstances. I'm grateful—for the journey, for your support, for our Cuban family, and for a partnership that feels more vital than ever.

Paz y bendiciones,





 

 

 

Christ-Soaked: Divine Love Saturating Everything

The Epiphany story begins with light—a star leading seekers to Christ. In this new sermon series we reach back even further, to Creation itself, when God's presence first permeated all things. Richard Rohr calls this a "Christ-soaked world."

We'll trace Divine Love, embedded in everything, revealing itself through Jesus' life and teaching, moving from cosmic wonder to personal encounter. John's Gospel traces our story to Creation—when Divine presence first permeated everything. We live in a "Christ-soaked world" where God's love has been embedded from the beginning. This Epiphany, we receive an invitation to open ourselves to the Light shining in darkness that can't be extinguished.

Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025 | Sabbath At-Home

Sabbath at Home

There is no in-person worship December 28. Instead, we invite you to observe a Sabbath at Home—a day to rest, breathe, and notice where God has been present in these in-between days.

We've created a worship liturgy, gathered all our 2025 Breath Prayers, and recorded a short video introducing the Daily Examen—an ancient practice of prayerfully rummaging through your day to find God in the details.

Take this gift of time. Rest. Renew. Reflect with those you love.

We'll gather again next Sunday, January 4 for First Sunday Communion and Potluck.

view at-home worship guide
Breath Prayers at FBCDC 2025

Advent 2025 Light Rising: An Advent of Stubborn Hope

Advent begins on Sunday, November 30. This year's Advent theme is "Light Rising: An Advent of Stubborn Hope."

In a year marked by war, division, and democracy under strain—not unlike the world into which Christ first came—we turn to those who first bore witness to the light. Isaiah saw it coming, John proclaimed its arrival, Mary carried it within her, and Joseph protected its fragile beginning. These ordinary people from the margins became light-bearers, tending flames of justice and joy until dawn broke. This Advent, their witness calls us to discover the light that's already rising, even when we can barely see.

Welcome Our Newest Member: Juan Carlos Aviles

We are delighted to welcome Juan Carlos Aviles to our First Baptist family! Juan Carlos just completed a 25-year career in federal public service, where he helped families access higher education and healthcare while supporting children, refugees, and communities in need. He recently began an exciting new chapter as U.S. Programs Communications Manager at Habitat for Humanity International, continuing his commitment to ensuring every family has a safe and healthy place to call home.

Juan Carlos and his husband Joe have been together for 11 years. He finds peace in his garden, joy in time with nieces and nephews, and meaning in the quiet conversations with God that have sustained him through life's journey. He shared with us that he's drawn to FBC by kind voices, people, and the voices and songs of the choir.

When asked what makes his heart sing, Juan Carlos offered a beautiful poem (which he worked on for the better part of a week, with a little AI assistance). 

I enjoy good music, soft and with rhythm,

Like plants and blossoms swaying in the light.
In my garden, my hands find peace,
Among all plants, worries paused.

My heart sings loud, both full and true,
Even though out of tune...
I laugh at myself with a loving lens.
And from the young I knew—
My nieces and nephews, playful and free,
Their joy charges my soul and gives me hope.
We play, we laugh, we sing our hearts away!

I love my husband, family, and friends so near, smart, funny, and kind
They make me happy, bring me cheer.
In every smile, in every part,
They hold a sacred place in my heart.

I like conversations with God above,
A quiet exchange of grace, concerns, but still faithful love.
In my whispers, I pray, I try to find my way,
A steady light through night and day.
And, with my grandmother's prayer tattooed in my heart,
I reference it as a fond memory and guiding light.

What else makes my heart sing?
I find delight in helping hands,
In lifting others where they stand.
Good food, sweets, and small libations delight my palate.
And shopping trips and travel? I love them all.
My spouse will tell you, Ha!

But most of all, my soul takes flight
When happiness is shared in sight.
Surrounded by others that also shine,
 Life fills my heart with great delight.

Please join us in extending a warm FBC welcome to Juan Carlos as he joins our community of faith, bringing his compassionate spirit, thoughtful faith, and commitment to service.

SERMON SERIES | LETTERS FROM THE ROAD | Wisdom from a life on the move

The Apostle Paul wrote his letters from dusty roads, crowded cities, and even prison cells —circumstances that deepened his understanding of what it means to live in Christ. His words speak with startling relevance to our modern battles with comparison, failure, anxiety, community, and fulfillment. Join us as we discover how these letters, tested by hardship and refined by experience, offer Christ-centered wisdom for living with purpose and grace.

Going Deeper: New Contemplative Group

Led by Pastor Julie - Starts in September

  • Does the velocity at which you are living prevent you from being fully present with the people in your life?

  • Do you want to learn practices that will help you live and act from a more grounded place?

  • Do you want to be more aware of God’s presence in your daily life?

  • Do you want to learn to listen for the Spirit's voice in the company of other spiritual pilgrims?

If so, this contemplative journey from September to May 2026 may be just the thing your soul needs most.

Group is limited to 8 participants.

Sign up today! Contemplative group alumni welcome...preference given to newcomers.
Deadline to sign up: August 22.

Basics:

  • Group is limited to 8 participants 

  • We’ll meet one Saturday morning per month for 2.5 hours, Sept.-May (first gathering lasts 3 hours; dates to be determined by the group) 

  • We’ll gather in group members’ homes (hosting isn’t a requirement to join) and share a light breakfast together 

  • No prior contemplative experience needed, just an open heart, a willingness to commit to the 9-month journey, and a desire to be more fully present with God and your “one wild and precious life,” as the poet Mary Oliver put it. 

Monthly themes include: 

  • personal presence in God

  • practicing personal and group discernment

  • addressing conflict prayerfully

  • sacred activism from the contemplative heart

  • and more…

If you want to talk with Pastor Julie, reach out to her at jpr@firstbaptistdc.org. 

Sign up here. Deadline is August 22.

sign up now

Urgent Appeal for Cuba

Dear FBC Family,

2017 FBC At William Carey Baptist Church

The Compassion and Justice Team invites you to join us in a vital effort to support our sisters and brothers in Cuba, particularly our sister church, William Carey Baptist Church in Havana. They, along with many other Baptist congregations across the island, are facing immense challenges: daily blackouts, severe shortages of food and medicine, an exodus of young people, and relentless inflation. 

How We Can Make a Difference

We have a unique opportunity to send much-needed supplies directly to Cuba. We're working with the Alliance of Baptists and Northminster Church in Monroe, Louisiana, to fill a shipping container with essential items.

William Carey Baptist Church has provided us with a list of their most pressing needs, including a wide range of items from food and linens to computers. To ensure these supplies reach them in time, we've determined the most effective way for our congregation to contribute is financially.

Please make your donation through the
FBC website by Sunday, June 1.
Our goal is $3,500.

Give to Cuba Relief Now

Our staff and compassion and justice team will take funds from the love offering to purchase and send supplies on behalf of our congregation on June 2, ensuring they arrive at the Miami assembly point by June 10, when the container will be loaded for Cuba.

More Than Just Supplies: A Message of Hope

Your financial support isn't just about sending supplies; it's about sending a powerful message of kinship and solidarity. It's about letting our friends at William Carey know that we stand with them in their struggle, and that they are not alone in these difficult times because the love of Christ connects us across borders.You can ​offer a tangible sign of hope and love by donating today.  You may do so via Tithely by choosing the drop down menu for Cuba Relief.

In Christ,

Marlan Golden, Megan Golden, Clayton Carmon & Jesse Seals
(Compassion and Justice team)

May 4 Community Building Dedication and Celebration

Brochure

A Shepherd Among Us: Remembering Pope Francis

Francis. Even his chosen papal name signaled a different kind of shepherd. Electing to honor the humble saint of Assisi, known for his devotion to the poor and creation, Pope Francis signaled a papacy marked by compassion. This past Easter Monday, at 88, we mourned his passing, a loss felt far beyond the Catholic Church.

For twelve years, Francis offered spiritual leadership rooted in humility, peacemaking, and a profound love for all God’s creation, especially the marginalized. He chose simplicity, residing in the Vatican's guesthouse rather than opulent papal apartments, a living testament to his values. He knelt and kissed the feet of South Sudan's rival leaders, imploring them to make peace. He washed the feet of prisoners and laughed with children. He possessed a rare ability to connect, to see and be seen.

Francis’ 2015 visit to Washington D.C. captivated the nation. I recall watching from our house in Atlanta as he addressed Congress, a historic moment. His gentle spirit, calling them “dear friends,” and his heartfelt advocacy for immigrants and refugees, social justice, and environmental stewardship moved me to tears.

Pope Francis's engagement with global issues flowed from a deep, personal faith in Christ. He sought to make Christ's love tangible, particularly for those on the peripheries of society. His was a ministry of presence, of walking alongside those who often felt unseen.

Interestingly, while his emphasis on mercy and pastoral accompaniment resonated deeply with many outside the Church, it sparked debate within. Some questioned whether his approach risked doctrinal ambiguity. This tension, between mercy and law, between pastoral application and doctrinal clarity, is a familiar one, mirroring the very theological polarizations Baptists have grappled with for decades.

Pope Francis, in his own way, wrestled with these questions, seeking to embody the mercy of Christ in a world often marked by division and despair. He reminded us that we are all part of a larger flock, a global family bound by our shared humanity.

Let us remember Pope Francis with warmth and gratitude. May his legacy of love and service inspire us to reflect Christ's light in a world longing for mercy.

Thank you, Francis. Rest in Christ’s loving embrace.




Holy Week Photos

Palm Sunday & Parade

Holy Monday

Maundy Thursday with 19th Street Baptist Church

Good Friday

Photo :Julie Pennington-Russell

Easter Sunday

Photo : Doug Duval

A Holy Week Letter from Pastor Julie

My Beloved FBC Family,

As we walk through this sacred Holy Week, my heart is deeply intertwined with yours. I carry a profound ache within me, mirroring the anxieties and griefs I know many of you carry. The state of our nation and its reverberations across the globe weigh heavily on our collective spirit.

I am acutely aware of the concerns that ripple through our congregation, concerns that echo my own. The uncertainty surrounding jobs, livelihoods and retirement plans casts a long shadow. The fear for our neighbors, for our Black and Brown siblings, for the lives of immigrants, for our LGBTQ+ family, and for our poor and marginalized communities is palpable.

We witness with dismay the disregard for due process, the pain of unlawful deportations, the chilling effect on free speech, and the erosion of the very principles of law we have cherished. The silence and capitulation of those who know better amplify our feelings of helplessness.

And perhaps most heartbreaking of all is the daily grief of witnessing millions who profess the name of Christ actively celebrating these developments, a stark contradiction to the very essence of the gospel we embrace. This dissonance can leave us feeling isolated, helpless and afraid.

In the face of such heavy realities, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, lost in a sea of anxiety and despair. And yet…it is precisely in this darkness, in this profound sense of human frailty and societal brokenness, that the unwavering light of Holy Week shines most brightly.

Because this week reminds us that even Jesus, the Christ, walked through the valley of the shadow of death, experiencing betrayal, abandonment, injustice, and the crushing weight of the world’s sin. Jesus knew fear, sorrow, and the agonizing silence of those who should have stood by him.

But thank God, the story doesn’t end there. The darkness of Good Friday gives way to the radiance of Easter Sunday. The tomb, meant to be the final word, becomes the beautiful testament to the unfailing, unshakable love of God. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a living, breathing promise that death does not have the final say. Injustice does not have the final say. Fear does not have the final say.

This Holy Week, let us all draw closer to the heart of Jesus. Let us lament the brokenness we see, both within ourselves and in the world around us. Let us acknowledge our fears and our feelings of helplessness.

And…let us also cling fiercely to the unwavering truth of God’s love, a love that conquered death itself. And let us open ourselves to the tender, transforming presence of Holy Spirit, who empowers us to be instruments of God’s peace, agents of God’s justice, and channels of God’s love in a world desperately in need of these.

Friends, may this Holy Week be a time of both honest reflection and profound renewal for each of you. Know that you are deeply loved, and that we walk this journey together, held in the embrace of a God whose love never fails.

With deep love and gratitude for you,




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The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C.
1328 16th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 387-2206

Office Hours
Monday-Thursday 10 AM–4 PM
Friday-Saturday Closed