WEDNESDAY NIGHTS ARE BACK!

Join us as we kick-off a new year in Wednesday nights, beginning at 5:30pm tonight with our Block Party!

Next week, September 9, we'll be back in the swing of our normal Wednesday night schedule. We’re excited to gather again for an evening of music, learning, fellowship, and faith formation for all ages! Wednesday nights offer something for everyone in our church family. Children of all ages can take part in music and missions programming, giving them opportunities to sing, learn, serve, and discover more about what it means to follow Jesus. Adults are invited to gather for weekly programming designed to help us grow in faith, deepen our relationships, and engage meaningful conversations together.

Music also continues to be an important part of our Wednesday night rhythm. Adult choir and adult handbells will rehearse throughout the evening as they prepare to help lead our congregation in worship. Whether Wednesday nights have long been part of your weekly routine or you’re looking for a new way to connect at First Baptist, we hope you’ll join us this fall. There is a place for you—and for every generation—to learn, make music, build community, and grow together.

Wednesday Night Schedule:

5pm – Supper line opens

5:40pm – Prayer & children dismissed to their classes

5:45pm – Children's music

• PreK/K choir (ages 4–5) – Rm 131

• Grade School Choir (1st–5th grade) – Rm 311

• Childcare for babies - 2's - Rm 122

6pm – Adult program begins in the fellowship hall, youth meet in the Blue Room

6:30pm – Mission classes

• Mission Friends (3s/PreK/K) – Room 131

• RAs (1st - 5th grade) – Rm 233

• GAs (1st - 5th grade) – Rm 231

6:30pm – Evening Bells

7:15pm – Adult & children's programming finished

7:30pm – Sanctuary Choir practice – Rm 310

CENTERPOINT ADULT PROGRAMS IN SEPTEMBER

Beginning September 9, we're looking forward to hosting a variety of programs for adults that we hope will inspire dialogue, service in our community, and building connections throughout our congregation. More details about each program are coming soon!

September 9 – Speaker: Michael Shley, Wake Interfaith Immigration Network.

September 16 – Speaker: Hayden James, Stephen Ministries

September 23 – Faces in the Pew: Formations class

September 30 – Church conference

SEPTEMBER MISSION PROJECT

For the month of September, we are supporting Toy Joy. The Toy Joy Team has already been hard at work preparing for this year's event on November 14, and as always, the team relies on our church family and friends to make this special day happen for the guests who come to shop for their children. If you would like to donate gently used toys, books, stuffed animals, puzzles, or games, there will be two donation days — Sunday, September 27, and Sunday, October 18, from 9:30am–12:30pm in the fellowship hall. These are the only times that gently used items can be donated—please make sure that all pieces and parts are included and items are in very good condition. Marking puzzles and games as "complete" is very helpful. New items are welcome that day as well, and links to Amazon and Target wish lists can be found below. Both Amazon and Target have the option of shipping your purchases directly to the church. Team members are happy to shop for you if you'd like to make a monetary donation instead (make checks payable to First Baptist, put "Toy Joy" in the memo line, and leave them in the finance office). 

All toys are appreciated, but items for boys of all ages are especially needed—for example, Legos, construction sets, sports balls, and superhero items.

Amazon wish-list

Target wish-list

A sign-up for helping on the day of the event and for the setup day will be coming out around the first of October. If you have any questions, contact Anne Cooke or any member of the Toy Joy Team.

TEAM HOOVER SET

TO CONTINUE

MS BIKE RIDE IN NEW BERN

Put on your helmet and pump up your tires. It’s time to join and support Team Hoover as this group of bike riders participates with others from across the state and beyond in the Bike MS: Historic New Bern Ride on September 19 and 20.

Named after FBC member Chris Hoover, Team Hoover was started in 2011, shortly after he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Felicia Gore Hoover, Chris’ wife, said the FBC Unity Sunday School class started the team as a way to show support for Chris, as he had always loved cycling. “There are several members of our church who have Multiple Sclerosis, and we all came together to raise awareness of MS and to work towards a cure, Felicia said. “The bike ride raises money for research. Tremendous strides have been made in MS research, and a cure will be found.”

There are currently 31 riders signed up as part of Team Hoover this year. Bikers of any level of expertise are invited to race, and you can choose your own route, whether you like gravel or road options. New Bern is also a nice place to ride as it offers many beautiful sites with scenically impressive and historically interesting landmarks. Click here to join Team Hoover. If you would prefer not to ride a bike but want to attend and support the event, there are also volunteer opportunities.

“Team Hoover staffs a rest stop in the town of Oriental every year, and there are 5-20 volunteers there,” Felicia said. “We also have volunteers from our team who help at the start and finish line, photography, bike transport, emergency response, and meal prep.”

Anyone who wants to sign up to volunteer can contact Ride Captain Chase Helms.

If you are unable to participate in the biking experience or travel to New Bern to volunteer, you can also support Team Hoover by making a donation that will go toward MS research. To support Team Hoover through a donation, you can click here! -Will Woodson

BLOCK PARTY — SEPTEMBER 2

Before fall routines settle in, come celebrate the close of summer and the exciting season ahead at our End-of-Summer Block Party & Fall Kickoff! Join us tonight (September 2) from 5:30–7:30pm in the church parking lot for an evening of fun, food, and fellowship.

We’ll have:

• Hamburgers, veggie burgers, and hot dogs (rsvp below!)
• JAM Soft-serve Ice Cream Truck
• Bounce house & obstacle course for the kids
• Face painting
• Cornhole tournament for all ages (sign-up below!)

This is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends, meet new faces, and invite neighbors to connect with our faith community. Come hungry! We'll have hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, and some delicious sides cooked by Ike. The purchase of your meal includes an ice cream ticket for the JAM Soft-Serve truck!

Prices are as follows:

Ages 0-3 - Free | Children (4-12) - $8 | Adults - $12 | Family cap - $40 

Ice cream only - $8 

Please make sure to RSVP here for the meal!

Click here to pay via VANCO Payment

Click here to pay via PayPal

Wyatt Yelverton will be organizing the bracket for our second annual FBC Cornhole Tournament—find a teammate and sign up here! Parking will be available in the front lot (across from the Capitol building), allowing us to reserve our back lot for all the activities. We'll have tables and chairs set up for dinner, but you're also welcome to bring your own chairs. In the event of rain, we'll move everything into the fellowship hall. All are welcome—bring a friend!

GA TACO AND QWIRKLE PARTY

On Sunday, our GAs and their moms (or grandmoms) gathered at Dorothy Holley’s home for our summer gathering. We welcomed our new first grade GA, Savannah, into the fold, played two rousing games of Qwirkle, and feasted on a delicious taco dinner at Ms. Dorothy’s dining room table. We can’t wait for a new year of learning about missions and doing missions! If you know of any first–fifth grade girls (or boys for RAs) who would like to join us on Wednesday nights from 6:45–7:15, we’d love to have them join us. Contact Lynn for more information.

NEW VISITOR TABLE

We now have a gathering place for guests and visitors at FBC! As you leave the sanctuary, you might notice a table with folks gathered around some snacks. This new table is meant to be a gathering place for visitors who are looking to make a connection here at FBC and learn more about the church. Feel free to stop by and say hello—just leave enough snacks for our guests! The table will be placed right outside of the library on the second floor. If you come to worship and find yourself in conversation with a new guest, don’t hesitate to send them over to—or better yet—join them at our new visitor table. We are looking forward to this new way to show hospitality to our visitors on Sunday mornings!  

RISE AGAINST HUNGER

We are looking forward to hosting our annual Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event on Sunday, September 13, from 12–2:30pm. You’re invited to join us for a free pizza lunch in the fellowship hall immediately following worship, and then we'll get to work packaging 10,000 meals! There are jobs for all ages and abilities, so please join us. RSVP by emailing Nancy Moore Phillips.

WHAT'S FOR SUPPER?

We would love for you to join us for a mid-week meal! The supper line is open each Wednesday night, 5–6pm. You may reserve your spot at this link on the website or by calling the church office. Please note that every person eating Wednesday night supper must check-in with our volunteer collection team before getting their meal. Even if you have pre-paid online, please check-in with our volunteer. We accept cash, checks, or credit cards.

Ages 0–3: Free

Ages 4-12: $4

Adults (over 12): $8

Family cap: $24

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

September 2: Block party! hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, sides, and ice cream from the JAM Soft-Serve truck

September 9: Shrimp boil with corn on the cob, potatoes, coleslaw; vegetarian option: veggie boil; kids: fish sticks

September 16: Barbecue chicken with green beans, baked beans, and potato salad; vegetarian option: mock BBQ chicken; kids: macaroni and cheese

September 23: Pasta night

September 30: Meatloaf with mashed potatoes, broccoli, and glazed carrots; vegetarian option: mock meatloaf; kids: meatballs 

THIRTY-NINERS WEEKLY GATHERINGS

Join us Thursdays at 10:30am in the fellowship hall for interesting speakers, mission projects, and occasionally, a program that's a little out of the ordinary.

We also have an outing each month, but mostly we enjoy spending time together, learning something new and useful, and always ending with a meal.

September

3: Welcome back! Dues and fall schedule

10: Move . . . or Stay the Course in the heart of Raleigh—updates on Oaks at Whitaker Glen Candace Holley, Community Relations

17: Monthly mission project—seasonal clothes sorting, FBC clothing ministry

24: Lunch outing–High Park Bar and Grill (625 East Whitaker Mill Road); 11:30 reservations

BIBLE VERSES FOR DAILY USE

• Wednesday, September 2:Psalm 83:1-4, 13-18;Exodus 7:14-25;Matthew 12:22-32
• Thursday, September 3: Psalm 149; Exodus 9:1-7; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21
• Friday, September 4: Psalm 149; Exodus 10:21-29; Romans 10:15b-21
• Saturday, September 5: Psalm 149; Exodus 11:1-10; Matthew 23:29-36
• Sunday, September 6: Exodus 12:1-14 and Psalm 149; Ezekiel 33:7-11 and Psalm 119:33-40; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20
• Monday, September 7: Psalm 121; Exodus 12:14-28; 1 Peter 2:11-17
• Tuesday, September 8: Psalm 121; Exodus 12:29-42; Romans 13:1-7
• Wednesday, September 9: Psalm 121; Exodus 13:1-10; Matthew 21:18-22

AMONG OUR FAMILY

A link to the entire prayer list may be found below.

Please use your church directory for mailing addresses.



Prayer List • September 1

JULY/AUGUST MEMORIAL AND HONORIFIC GIFTS  

Capital Repair and Replacement Fund

In memory of:

Rebecca Wicker Clayton

Carolyn Stevens Crutchfield

Jean Gupton

Carmen Moncla Hiott  

Betty Purser

Johnny M. Shaver

Joe Webb

Church Maintenance Endowment Fund

In memory of:

Carolyn Stevens Crutchfield

Mary Jon Roach

Clothing Ministry Fund:

In memory of Marjorie George

Day Missions Fund

In memory of: 

Rebecca Wicker Clayton

Carolyn Stevens Crutchfield

Everette Miller Friendship class    

In memory of Rebecca Wicker Clayton

Housing All Fund

In memory of Carolyn Stevens Crutchfield

Mike Morris Fellowship Fund

In memory of:

Carolyn Stevens Crutchfield

Jean Gupton