NEW DEACONS FOR 2027

We are thrilled to announce the newest members of our 2027 diaconate. These individuals have shown a deep commitment to our community of faith and we are grateful for their willingness to serve in this way. Thank you to everyone who participated in the election process and to all those who continue to support our church. We look forward to all the gifts that each person will bring to this servant role within our congregation. Please join us in congratulating and welcoming our newly elected deacons!

WHITE FLAG NIGHTS AT FBC

First Baptist Church is partnering with Wake County Continuum of Care's White Flag program once again this winter to provide temporary emergency shelter to our unhoused neighbors on very cold nights when temperatures are forecast to be 35 degrees or below. 

This year, we'll be hosting men starting in early December until March 31, when the season ends. When White Flag has been activated, up to 60 guests will arrive at 7pm to spend the night in FBC's fellowship hall, leaving the following morning by 7am. On Wednesdays, guests will arrive at 8pm after evening programs are finished. The county contracts with a local nonprofit to manage White Flag shelters in terms of overnight staffing, supplies, and logistics. 

This season, FBC, in partnership with Community United Church of Christ and Church of the Good Shepherd, will provide volunteer support and meals. Please note that volunteers will NOT spend the night at FBC—the staff handles overnight care. 

Here are the many ways you can help:



1) Help with set-up, 4:30 or 5pm until 5:30 or 6pm (exact times TBD) — set up cots and staff tables, roll sheet and blanket sets, prep the percolator to brew coffee. 

2) Help with "hospitality," 5:45 or 6pm until about 7pm (exact times TBD) — pour brewed coffee and hot water into carafes, place sugar packets, creamer, and cocoa packets into cups; put casseroles in the convection or warming oven to heat up if needed; assist White Flag staff as needed with intake.

3) Help to serve meals, 7–8:30 pm — depending on the meal that evening, retrieve casseroles from the convection or warming oven or sandwich trays from the fridge; set up the serving table with disposable plates, forks, and serving utensils, then serve the food to guests; throw away foil pans, plates, etc., clean serving utensils and break down tables. NOT on Wednesdays 

4)  Morning breakdown, 6:30-7:45am — help White Flag staff to move cots and supplies to the stage in the fellowship hall, break down and move tables, rinse carafes, etc.

5) Form or join a meal team — Church of the Good Shepherd's main role this year, in addition to volunteer support, will be organizing meal teams to provide simple casseroles, sandwich platters or pizza on White Flag nights. They would love help with this, either once or several times! 

6) Donate breakfast or snack items — cereal bars, granola bars or protein bars, fresh fruit or no-sugar-added fruit cups for guests' grab-and-go breakfasts; individually packaged crackers, chips or cookies. 

7) Donate to support the White Flag ministry at FBC by check or online through PayPal. 

If you are interested in volunteering with the White Flag ministry this winter—whether one time or regularly—please fill out this simple form to receive emails when White Flag nights have been declared. Please note that activations are announced several days ahead so you will have planning time. If you volunteered last year, you do not need to fill out the form unless you'd like to form or join a meal team! 

Contact Holly Cook with any questions. Thanks very much for your help! 

STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

I was the only person sitting in the upper left corner of the balcony of FBC Raleigh. That was why I chose that section. It was my first time entering the church in months, and I intentionally sought out the emptiest part of the sanctuary. Those folks one section over might have still been a little too close. 

But I needed to be there. I needed the ritual. I needed proof that some things could be normal even while wearing a mask. I needed to hear music that has been sung for centuries. I needed to hear stories that had challenged minds and lifted spirits for thousands of years. I needed some hope that even in a global pandemic some things were steady. 

Being in our sanctuary for that hour of worship helped me realize that some things had not changed. There is still comfort in those songs. There is still challenge and hope in those stories. Fortunately, because of the financial commitment of generations before us, our church has continued through worse. Our Christian community has endured. 

Now, we have the opportunity to ensure that this place of hope, this sanctuary of peace, and this community of challenge can continue for future generations. Please consider how you can best use your gifts to support our church during this time of stewardship. --Derek Foster

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Stewardship campaign packets for the 2027 budget were mailed on Friday, October 30, and should be arriving in your mailboxes shortly. If you do not receive one in the next week, please let us know (contact Jennie Herrick here) and we will put another one in the mail to you, or you may pick it up in the church office.  Also, this past week, we mailed contribution statements for January 1–October 31, 2026.  If you do not get one to help with your end-of-year giving and 2027 pledge decisions, please contact Kathy Rattie here.

EVENING BELLS ATTEND CAHF

On Saturday, ten from the Evening Bells (our handbell choir) attended the Capital Area Handbell Festival. Along with some 300 + other ringers, they enjoyed a day of learning and rehearsing with the famed handbell clinician and composer Fred Gramann. They also enjoyed a performance by The Raleigh Ringers, always a bonus of this extraordinary festival each year. Our folks rehearse each week and plan for several special times of sharing in worship throughout the year. We are so grateful for the handbell ringers who commit to this unique kind of musical ensemble work. It takes every one of them to make the music happen! Can you spot any of our folks in the picture?

RALEIGH CHRISTMAS PARADE GIVEAWAY

For years, First Baptist has welcomed our neighbors to the Raleigh Christmas Parade with a little something to eat or drink. We've served hot chocolate; handed out biscuits; and this year, we're trying something new: Krispy Kreme doughnuts!

On Saturday, November 21, we'll once again be out at the Hillsborough Street entrance sharing a little hospitality with the thousands of people who come downtown for this annual tradition. It's one of the simple ways we enjoy connecting with our community, and we're looking forward to another year!

If you'd like to join us in handing out doughnuts and spreading Christmas cheer, please email Nancye Gaj.

THE CUTEST CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SALE!

Our Mission Friends, RAs, and GAs are selling Christmas notecards from now until Thanksgiving to help offset the cost of their mission projects. The cards have our children’s artwork on the front, capturing a creative image from the Nativity story, and are blank inside. Each pack has ten cards and envelopes and is priced at $20.

Look for the visual display in the Lewis Lobby — there will be a QR code at the display that links you to the order form and payment options (ie Vanco/Paypal upon ordering or check upon receipt)! We are accepting orders from now until Thanksgiving. Fulfilled orders will be ready to pick up at church the week of December 6. Thank you for supporting children’s missions! If you have any questions, contact Lynn Lingafelt.

THANKSGIVING CARE PACKAGES

As we head into the Thanksgiving season, we will be delivering care packages to our members who may not get out and about as much as they used to. We want to let these members know they are appreciated and uplifted by the church during the Thanksgiving season as well as throughout the holidays. This is a multi-generational project, as FBC children will be including messages and artwork in the packages, and the college Bible study group will be helping with assembly. Anyone interested in helping to deliver the packages to these important and cherished members during the early part of the week of Thanksgiving may contact Will Woodson. Packages will be ready for pick-up in the fellowship hall immediately after the worship service on Sunday, November 22.

TOY JOY THIS SATURDAY!

Toy Joy is happening this Saturday, November 14, and as always, we count on our devoted church members and friends to make this special day happen for our guests. We ask that all volunteers inside the building be at least middle school age. We'll be having a hospitality area in the rear parking lot (offering refreshments to our guests as they finish their shopping) again this year that will be staffed by our elementary- and preschool-age children and their families. If you and your children would like to volunteer for a one-hour slot, please contact Lynn Lingafelt.  

The SignUpGenius link will give you the option of signing up for the morning and/or afternoon session. If you're able to work both sessions, lunch will be provided. If you speak Spanish and can serve as a translator/shepherd, or need to have a job that doesn't require you to be on your feet most of the time, please indicate that in the comments. We will assign you to a specific task and let you know where you'll be stationed a few days before the event. There is also a need for volunteers on November 13 to come in and help set up, so that information will be on the sign-up as well.  

Questions? Please email Anne Cooke.

321 COFFEE AT FBC

We're excited to announce a new partnership with 321 Coffee, a Raleigh-based coffee company with a mission that aligns beautifully with our church's commitment to inclusion, belonging, and meaningful opportunities for all people.

321 Coffee creates meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). With 80% of adults with IDD experiencing unemployment, 321 Coffee is working to change that reality. Their team of more than 60 employees works across their coffee shops, roastery, and mobile coffee cart, with people with disabilities involved in every step of the process—from roasting beans to making lattes. Their mission is simple but powerful: serve great coffee, create meaningful jobs, and build a more inclusive future.

We're thrilled to welcome the 321 Coffee mobile cart to the Lewis Lobby this Sunday, November 15, from 9–11am! They'll return for a second visit on Sunday, December 13, during the same hours. The church is covering the cost of hosting the coffee cart, but we invite you to make a suggested donation in exchange for your coffee to help offset some of that expense.



We hope you'll stop by, enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, meet the 321 Coffee team, and help us celebrate a partnership that reflects our belief in the dignity, gifts, and contributions of every person.

2026 HOLIDAY SERVICE OF

HOPE AND REMEMBRANCE

After sharing a service with Edenton Street United Methodist Church last year, we will hold our own Holiday Service of Hope and Remembrance this year. It will take place on Thursday, November 19, at 7pm in our sanctuary. We will read texts of assurance and pray for all dealing with loss; Music Made in Heaven will play, and we will remember loved ones we have lost, gathering near the front of the sanctuary and lighting candles in memory of these loved ones. Everyone is invited to attend whether you are in need of healing or willing to offer support to others, and it is fine to invite friends who have known loss. Below, Denise Aslett reflects on the impact this service had on her journey with loss, grief, and faith.

HANGING OF THE GREENS

AND RECEPTION

Our 50th annual Hanging of the Greens service will be held Sunday, December 6, at 6pm. We hope you will make plans to join us for this special service of readings and sacred music, as we adorn our sanctuary with greenery for the season of Advent. A reception in the fellowship hall will follow this meaningful service of greens, poinsettias, lights, readings, and music.

As is our custom for this event, we are asking for homemade cookies (2–3 dozen) from our church members and friends. This allows everyone to be involved in this worship experience. If you are interested in bringing cookies, there will be sign-up sheets in the Sunday School boxes. You may also sign up to bring cookies by contacting Sheila Jordan. Please bring them on Sunday morning, December 6, to the fellowship hall so that they can be plated that afternoon before the service. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to Sheila or any member of the social committee.

HONOR A LOVED ONE

DURING THE HOLIDAYS



Our sanctuary is so lovely during Advent and Christmas when it is decorated with candles, fresh flowers, and greenery. This holiday “dress” transformation will occur as members of our music ministry share special musical offerings during the annual Hanging of the Greens service at 6pm on Sunday, December 6. You are invited to honor a loved one by making a donation toward the decorations for the service. With $15 for each honorific or memorial gift, all monies will help defray the cost of the trees, wreaths, fresh flowers, and greenery for the service. An insert in the December 11 bulletin will list the names of all for whom gifts were given. Please submit your request here. Checks or electronic payments should be received no later than Friday, December 2. Forms are also available in Sunday School boxes. Mail checks to: Financial Administrator, 99 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603; please write “Holiday Greenery” on the memo line.

NOVEMBER MISSION PROJECT

For the month of November, we will be supporting King's Ridge, a 100-unit apartment complex in southeast Raleigh that opened at the beginning of 2025. It's geared to folks who are experiencing homelessness and has 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units that come fully furnished, including linens and kitchen items. Residents pay 1/3 of their monthly income as rent and have free access to onsite health care, employment counseling, food pantry, etc. The goal is to reduce Raleigh's homeless population — paying the monthly rent is not always the problem — coming up with first- and last-months' security deposit is often the stumbling block to getting a place to live. More places like this are in the construction or planning stage for our area.

We are collecting jars of peanut butter and jelly (plastic jars only) for their food pantry. You may place your donations in the marked drawer in the cabinet in the Lewis Lobby anytime through the end of November.

HELP OUR NEIGHBORS

STAY WARM

As temperatures begin to drop, our clothing ministry is preparing to help our neighbors stay warm throughout the colder months. Our greatest need right now is coats and hoodies in all sizes for men, women, and children. If you have gently used winter clothing to share, we would be grateful for your donations!

We are especially thankful for the generosity of our congregation and community, which has kept our clothing ministry well-stocked. In fact, our volunteers are currently working through an abundance of women's clothing donations! To give them time to sort and organize what we've already received, we kindly ask that you temporarily hold off on donating women's clothing other than coats and hoodies. Thank you for your continued generosity and for helping us extend warmth, dignity, and care to our neighbors in need. Your gifts make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve!

HELP PROVIDE DINNER FOR OUR COLLEGE BIBLE STUDY

Our newly formed college Bible study group is off to a great start, and we'd love your help supporting these students! The group gathers each Thursday at 6pm in front of the Witherspoon Student Center on NC State's campus for a time of fellowship, conversation, and Bible study. One meaningful way our congregation can support this growing ministry is by providing dinner for the students. Sharing a meal is a simple but important way to extend hospitality, build community, and remind these young adults that they are loved and supported by their church family. Thank you for helping us nurture this new community of college students and extend the hospitality of First Baptist beyond our church walls. If you're interested in helping to sponsor a meal, contact Jennifer Talley. 



Sign up here!

NOVEMBER CENTERPOINT ADULT PROGRAMMING

Join us on Wednesday evenings in November as we gather for opportunities to serve, learn, and connect with one another. Here's what's coming up for our Centerpoint adult programming:

November 11 – Veterans Day panel discussion

In recognition of Veterans Day, we'll hear from Michael Cooke, Alex Harris, John Smith, and LaCount Anderson. Join us as they share their experiences as veterans and reflect on their time in service. Join us via Zoom at the link below!

November 18 – church conference

November 25 – no Wednesday night programming

We wish everyone a restful and meaningful Thanksgiving!



Zoom with us! If you're not able to join us in person, Zoom will be available most weeks, as indicated in the monthly schedule.

Join us via Zoom with this link!

Please note that the Zoom link for all Centerpoint programming will be the same each week; however, we will have a different link for church conference.

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

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 everyone eating Wednesday night supper must check in with our volunteer collection team before receiving their meal. Even if you have pre-paid online, please check-in with our volunteer. We accept cash, checks, or credit cards. Click here to pre-pay for your meal via Paypal.



Ages 0–3: Free

Ages 4-12: $4

Adults (over 12): $8

Family cap: $24

Congratulations to Ike & his wife on the birth of their son! Ike will be away for a short time, and upcoming menus may change.

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

November 11: soup night

November 18: lasagna; vegetarian option: veggie lasagna; kids: meatballs

December 2: taco bar; vegetarian option: veggie tacos; kids: cheese quesadillas

December 9: breakfast for dinner

December 16: hamburger steak and smothered chicken with rice, corn, and cabbage; vegetarian option: mock hamburger steak; kids: chicken nuggets

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.

November

12: Southern Supreme Fruitcake trip—11am tour and shopping; 12:30(ish) lunch at Best Food Cafeteria (220 11th Street, Siler City); meet at FBC at 9:30am to ride in bus

19: Raleigh Police Department: Teddy, therapy dog and Officer Robert Wyrick, handler

26: No meeting 

BIBLE VERSES FOR DAILY USE

• Wednesday, November 11: Psalm 78; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 24:29-35
• Thursday, November 12: Psalm 123; Judges 2:6-15; Revelation 16:1-7
• Friday, November 13: Psalm 123; Judges 2:16-23; Revelation 16:8-21
• Saturday, November 14: Psalm 123; Judges 5:1-12; Matthew 12:43-45
• Sunday, November 15: Judges 4:1-7 and Psalm 123; Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 and Psalm 90:1-8, (9-11), 12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30
• Monday, November 16: Psalm 83:1-4, 9-10, 17-18; Judges 4:8-24; Romans 2:1-11
• Tuesday, November 17: Psalm 83:1-4, 9-10, 17-18; Exodus 2:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18
• Wednesday, November 18: Psalm 83:1-4, 9-10, 17-18; Esther 7:1-10; Matthew 24:45-51

AAWC'S WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Each week, we post And Also with 'Cue's weekly schedule here in Rose Window Weekly as well as on our Facebook page to let you know our lunch schedule and if there will be outside events on the weekend for you to attend.



Week of November 11:

Wednesday lunch — church parking lot,11am–1pm

Thursday lunch — weather pending; we'll update on our Facebook page.

THANKSGIVING PRE-ORDERS

It's time again to place your pre-orders for your Thanksgiving feast from And Also with 'Cue! Let David and his team do your cooking, and visit their website to place your order. Pick-up will be on Wednesday, November 25, in the church parking lot from 10am–2pm. Thank you for continuing to support us and our mission!

AMONG OUR FAMILY

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

Please use your church directory for mailing addresses.



Prayer List • November 10

A NOTE OF THANKS

We want to take a moment to thank our church community for your prayers, words of encouragement, and visits during Royce's recent hospitalization and continued recovery. We are so grateful for all the support we received and the positive energy that lifted and sustained us during this time. Royce continues to improve and regain his strength, and we are optimistic for a complete and full recovery. We are overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness and caring during our time of need! Thank you again!

Blessings,

Royce and Debbie Willmschen