Saturday, November 7, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, at the home of Hollin Dwiggins and Clarke Thomason. Join the Congregational Care Team for a light dinner and relaxed conversation. RSVP to Hollin at the.hollin@icloud.com.
Second and fourth Sundays of the month, during the 11:00 service. Children can meet Mr. Taylor at the front, and he will take them down to Ms. Chyrlette for age-appropriate activitie
Sunday, November 8, after worship. If you’ve been visiting First Baptist and want to learn more, join us for lunch and hear about our history, mission, and ways to get involved. Lunch is provided. RSVP to Pastor Eric at eric@firstbaptistdc.org.
Sunday, November 15, 5:30 pm, Fellowship Hall. Join us for a celebration dinner with our friends from Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, with music from musicians of both congregations. Suggested donation is $20 per person, with families capped at $45, and you can also cover the cost for a Nineteenth Street member as a gift of welcome. Register below.
Sunday, November 1, after worship. Stay for a potluck lunch, and bring a dish to share if you’re able. All members are invited to the congregational meeting that follows.
We remember the saints who have shaped our lives and share communion together in worship. Stay after for a potluck lunch, and bring a dish to share if you’re able.
On Sunday, September 27, Pastor Julie will return to the pulpit, and we will continue the Reckoning and Renewing journey we began last Spring.
Following worship, we invite you to stay for a light lunch and then to walk with us on a pilgrimage. We will retrace the steps to the site where First Baptist and Nineteenth Street Baptist once worshiped together. This journey is part of our ongoing work of remembering honestly, grieving faithfully, and renewing the bonds between our two congregations.
To walk this ground together is to hold both the weight of our shared history and the hope of what God is still doing among us. We hope you'll join us for this meaningful step forward.
Our Young Adult Fall Kick-Off is Sunday, September 20 at 6:30 pm. We'll spend time together in fellowship, catch up from the summer, and look ahead to the year to come. Whether you've been part of the group for a while or are looking for a place to connect, you're warmly invited. Come join us as we start the season together!
On Sunday, September 20 at 2:30 pm, we will gather on Zoom for a congregational business meeting. Our Ministry Leadership Team and Ministry Action Teams will present the financials for 2025–2026, and walk us through proposed changes to our Constitution and Bylaws.
This meeting is a chance to hear where we have been, to understand what is being proposed, and to bring your questions. These are the ordinary, faithful acts of stewardship that shape our common life, and we look forward to accomplishing this work together. For a copy of the proposed Constitution and Bylaws, email office@firstbaptistdc.org.
Our Sunday morning greeters are often the first face and the first welcome anyone encounters at FBC, and we want to say thank you. The Newcomer Engagement Team invites all who serve as greeters to a lunch on Sunday, September 20, immediately following worship. It will be a time to enjoy a meal together, celebrate the ministry of welcome you offer week after week, and share in some training that will help us extend hospitality even more warmly to those who come through our doors. For questions, reach out to Edwin Vela at edwin.austin.vela@gmail.com. We hope you’ll join us!
Our Compassion and Justice Team invites you to make plans now for Rise Against Hunger. This beloved FBC event will take place on Sunday, September 13, following worship in Fellowship Hall. Sign up here.
The Chancel Choir will begin their 2026-2027 season with a retreat at FBC. We will start with food and fellowship in the Welcome Center and move to the Sanctuary for rehearsal beginning at 9:30am. This is a wonderful opportunity to sing some of the music we will be offering during the program year and give the Chancel Choir a try. Whether you have been singing your whole life or are brand new to choral music, all are welcome. Registration for new members is optional but encouraged. We hope to see you there!
Join Pastor Julie and Lilia Abron for an evening screening of the Emmy-nominated PBS documentary The Girl in the Yellow Scarf.
In 1968, Carol Jenkins — a 21-year-old Black woman — was stabbed to death on the main street of Martinsville, Indiana while selling encyclopedias. The case went unsolved for more than three decades, until an investigative reporter's persistence prompted a stunning break. The documentary follows that journey from murder to reckoning, and asks what it looks like for a community to face its racist past and begin to heal.
From June 22–26, First Baptist youth (completed grades 6–12) are heading to Passport Camp at the University of Richmond! Through Passport Missions, our youth will dive into local mission work, worship, games, and all the good things that come with camp.
Young Adults will gather for a World Cup watch party on the National Mall! We'll meet at 4:30 PM near 7th Street & Madison Drive NW for a picnic — bring a blanket, grab something from the food trucks, and we'll settle in together before heading over. At 5:00 PM we'll walk to the FIFA Fan Zone, aiming to be inside by 5:15 to find a good spot before the crowds arrive.
The evening we have been pointing toward is almost here. On June 18 — Juneteenth Eve — First Baptist will gather for a gala dinner to officially launch our Reckoning and Renewing journey: a night of music, reflection, and commitment as we take an important step together.
The evening will include a jazz vespers service led by vocalist Ruth Naomi Floyd and her quartet — including Mark Prince, who many of you know as a son of First Baptist. Their music will carry our lament, our gratitude, and our prayers.
We will also hear from historian Kristofer Roberts, a scholar of race and religion in the American South, who has researched First Baptist's own slaveholding history. His reflections will be woven into the vespers service itself.
And this is only the beginning. The Reckoning and Renewing team will be on hand to invite you into a summer and fall reading journey — more on that soon.
We ask $15 per person (families, $45 maximum), but please come regardless of your ability to pay. Register now — you can sort out payment later, or skip it entirely. We just need your name so we can set a place for you.
Our First Sunday Potluck and Annual Congregational Meeting are this Sunday, June 7, immediately following worship.
First Sunday Potluck and Communion
More info coming soon!
First Baptist will host the second annual book fair for the DC Baptist Convention from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2, in the community space at the O Street entrance. More than a dozen authors participated in the first book fair in September 2025. The fair is free for authors and attendees. For more information, contact Christi Harlan at charlan757@gmail.com.
After Worship
If you have been finding your way to First Baptist in recent weeks or over the past few months, we'd love to have you stay a little longer — starting with lunch. Join us on Sunday, April 26, immediately following worship, for a Newcomer's Lunch where you can connect with other new faces, hear about First Baptist's history and mission, and explore the many ways to get involved in the life of our congregation. Lunch is provided, and all are welcome — whether you've been here a few weeks or this is your very first Sunday. RSVP to Pastor Eric at eric@firstbaptistdc.org.
6:30 pm
If you're in your 20s or 30s and looking for a community to explore faith, ask hard questions, and do life alongside others, our young adult community might be just what you're looking for. We gather for worship, fellowship, and formation throughout the year — and we'd love for you to find a home here. A great first step is our Sunday Night Fellowship on April 19 — a relaxed, informal gathering to meet the community and see what this community is all about. Sign up and see more details using the blue button below.
With joy and gratitude, Jesse Seales and Clayton Carmon invite the entire FBCDC congregation to celebrate their marriage this Saturday, April 18, at 6:45 pm in the FBC sanctuary.
Throughout Lent, twenty and thirty-somethings are gathering weekly in homes across the city for dinner, conversation, and community. Home groups meet Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and wrap up around 8:30 pm.
This January 1 marked Pastor Julie's 10th anniversary as Senior Pastor of First Baptist – making her our longest-tenured Senior Pastor in almost 35 years. This April, she will also celebrate her 40th anniversary of ordained ministry.
Join us on Sunday, February 1 at our monthly potluck as we celebrate these remarkable milestones and give thanks for Pastor Julie's transformative ministry among us.
You can read the full article celebrating Pastor Julie's decade of leadership at FBCDC. More details about the February 1 celebration will be shared soon!
The Season of Lent always begins with Ash Wednesday. On Wednesday, February 18, we will host an Ash Wednesday service at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. All are invited to this simple, 30-minute service as we enter the season of Lent together.
Begins Sunday, February 8
The Wonder Years class invites you to join them beginning Sunday, February 8, for a thoughtful exploration of Sarah Bessey's Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith. This book offers gentle guidance for those navigating seasons of spiritual change, doubt, and discovery—meeting us where we are with wisdom and grace.
Whether you're in a season of questioning, transition, or simply seeking deeper community, this discussion group provides a welcoming space to explore faith's evolving journey together. The class meets Sunday mornings at 10 am and is open to anyone interested in engaging with Bessey's work and connecting with others on similar paths.
No prior reading required to join—just bring your curiosity and willingness to explore.
Julia and the Youth Crew invite your youth to an 8-week Alpha Youth Course starting January 25th! Alpha is a UK-based program that explores fundamental questions of life and the Christian tradition, welcoming students from all backgrounds and faith experiences. During the Faith Formation hour on Sunday mornings (beginning at 9:45 AM with breakfast), students will dig into big topics like "Who is Jesus?", "Why would someone want a relationship with God?", and "What does real love look like?" This is a safe space for ALL questions, genuine curiosity, and authentic conversation. Alpha offers an opportunity to explore the building blocks of Christianity in a warm, welcoming environment built around hospitality and beloved community. Please pray for our students as they encounter Christ in new ways during this season of exploration. For more information, reach out to Julia at julia@firstbaptistdc.org.
February 13-16
Calling all young adults! Join us February 13-16 for a weekend away at Graves Mountain Lodge, nestled at the base of the Shenandoah Valley.
We'll gather for worship, small groups, and fellowship—with plenty of time built in for rest and play. It's the perfect mid-winter reset to reconnect with God, each other, and ourselves.
Cost is $165 per person or $275 per couple. If money is a problem, you don’t have a problem. Reach out to Pastor Eric for questions (eric@firstbaptistdc.org). Registration deadline is February 1, so don't wait! Sign up using the blue button below.
Iona Pilgrimage with Pastor Julie May 19-27, 2026
Join Pastor Julie on pilgrimage to the Isle of Iona, Scotland, May 19-27, 2026, through the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation.
Office Closed for MLK Holiday
The church office will be closed Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and will reopen on Tuesday, January 20.
Join Area Churches with Cuban-American Theologian and Author Kat Armas
Saturday, January 17
4:00 - 6:00 pm
Join Pastor Eric and friends from area DC churches on Saturday, January 17, from 4:00 - 6:00 pm, to hear Cuban-American theologian, author, and speaker Kat Armas to discuss her newest book, Liturgies for Resisting Empire: Seeking Community, Belonging, and Peace in a Dehumanizing World. Kat provides practical spiritual disciplines, community-building strategies, and theological frameworks that empower readers to resist empire's dehumanizing effects while cultivating spaces of authentic belonging and liberation.
There will be time to hear from the author, as well as question-and-response time. A book signing will be included in the planned programming, and books will be available for purchase, while supplies last. The event will be held at Washington Community Fellowship (907 Maryland Ave NE), and is co-hosted by Christ City Church, Washington Community Fellowship, and the Table Church.
The event is FREE but RSVPs are requested. Please use the blue button below if you plan to attend.
After weeks of waiting and wondering, the light breaks through. Not in the places power expected. Not with the fanfare empire demands. But in a stable, among shepherds, wrapped in vulnerability itself.
Join us for this sacred celebration of Christmas Eve as we gather around the manger and remember: the light that came into the world that night still rises. In every generation. In every dark season. In us.
The service includes Christmas carols, music from choir, organ, and brass, holy communion, and a Christmas Eve meditation from Pastor Julie. We conclude with the lighting of congregational candles.
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 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.
Young adults, mark your calendars! Join us for Friendsmas following Candlelight Carols on Sunday, December 14 at 6:30 pm. Come celebrate the season with food, fellowship, and festive cheer. More details coming soon!
We’re located at 16th and O Streets NW—in the heart of Washington, a mile north of the White House. We are part of the Dupont Circle and Logan Circle neighborhoods. Need more info? Call us or click below.
We look forward to greeting you in person. In the meantime, you can request prayer or ask a question by calling or sending an email.
At First Baptist, giving is the fuel that powers every congregational expression of hospitality, compassion, generosity and justice. First Baptist relies on the congregation for regular, sustainable financial support.
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
