SUNDAY BUILDING SCHEDULE

While the ad hoc safety and hospitality team continues to work on some new recommendations, we want to make sure everyone knows our current practice of having doors opened and locked on Sunday mornings. The Lewis Building doors are opened at 9:15am. Any person or group desiring access before then needs to make arrangements with Wayne Hager in advance. The government lot door is locked at 10:15am while the other Lewis Building doors are locked at 11:05am. The front sanctuary doors (on the Capitol Square) are opened at 10:30am.

This schedule is shaped by our desire to be as hospitable as possible while ensuring the safety of the people who enter our space. Having greeters at every open door helps us accomplish both purposes, and these are the timeframes in which greeters can be present. Please help us spread the word and look for details on further recommendations in the near future.

HOSPITALITY + COMMUNITY

LUKE 14:12-14

First Baptist Raleigh is a place where hospitality and community come to life. Our ministries are sustained by the gifts of members like you. In the past, your support has helped us reach our pledge goals and enabled the church to continue its work in our community.

Over the past couple of months, we’ve seen hospitality in action. On the coldest nights, our church has opened its doors as a White Flag emergency shelter for women experiencing homelessness. A couple weeks ago, one of our shelter guests left a donation—just $1.77. She told the White Flag staff she wanted to show her appreciation for the care and warmth she received, saying, “This is all the money I have.”

Her gift, though small in amount, reminds us that even the smallest contributions carry immense meaning when rooted in love and community. It also reminds us just how important it is that we sustain our ministries.

As of January 30, 136 pledges totaling $1,168,260 have been received for the FY25 budget. The proposed overall budget is $1,738,000. To submit a final FY25 budget, the Finance Committee requires that 80% of the general fund revenue line item be pledged—$1,366,384. We are currently $198,124 short of this goal.

Without reaching this target, we will face difficult decisions about reducing the annual budget, which could limit our ability to serve both our church family and the broader community.

If you have not yet made a pledge for the 2025 budget, we invite you to join us in meeting this challenge. Here are three quick ways you can make your pledge today:

1. Email your name and pledge amount to our financial administrator.
2. Visit our stewardship page to complete the online pledge form.
3. Use the pledge card you received in the mail. If you need another card, email the financial administrator.

All information you send is confidential.

Thank you for supporting the life and ministries of First Baptist Raleigh. Together, we can ensure that stories like the one shared above continue to happen every day through the love and care of our church.



With deep gratitude and hope,

The Stewardship Committee

WEEKEND CHURCH LEAGUE HOOPS

Our girls won the last game of the season, making them an undefeated team. Next comes the tournament game, currently scheduled for Sunday, February 23, 2–3pm at the Trinity Baptist Church gym. Please note: this date may change. Watch upcoming issues of the Rose Window Weekly in case it does. Come cheer us to victory!

SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY

While the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs give it their all on the gridiron on February 9, won't you join us in giving our best efforts in our own Souper Bowl Sunday?

We invite you to bring in cans of soup (and other canned goods) as you come to church between now and February 9. There will be collection wagons in the Lewis Lobby on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings between now and then. These canned goods will be presented during worship as an offering to our community and will be donated to the Urban Ministries food pantry, which provides fresh produce and canned goods for our community neighbors in need. 

Thank you for being a part of this economy of giving — sharing in the abundance of what we have with those in need! If you have any questions, please contact Lynn Lingafelt.

SKI TRIP • FEBRUARY 14-16

Do you love a wintery wilderness wonderland? Then come on the winter retreat with us! From February 14–16 we will be staying in the Pipestem State Park in West Virginia for our winter/ski retreat. This is a retreat open to the entire church. While the majority of folks will be skiing at Winterplace, you do not have to go skiing. If you’d like simply to explore the mountains or have a relaxing weekend away, there are many beautiful state parks full of scenic hiking trails to explore. Or you can simply get away to enjoy the company around the table, find a little mountain town to visit, enjoy the perks of the lodge, or the spa at the Pipestem lodge. Costs vary based on what you’d like to do.

If you want to sign up, follow the QR code on the flyer, or click here. If you have questions or concerns, contact Michael.

MATERNITY LEAVE DETAILS

Our Minister with Community, Leah Reed, had her baby, Merritt Anders, this past Saturday! She will be taking 12 weeks of leave and will begin working from home on Monday, February 3, but you may still get in touch with her via email or cell phone. We thought it might be helpful to list the main lay leaders, ministers, and staff who will be taking over her ministerial duties while she is away. If you do not have contact information for anyone listed, please reach out to the church office. During her maternity leave, she will be checking email sporadically, so please reach out to the following people first with specific questions or concerns that need timely answers.

White Flag - Holly Ivel & Holly Cook

Clothing Ministry - Sabrina Tyndall

Mike Morris Fellowship Fund - LaCount Anderson

Rose Window Weekly - Jennie Herrick

Social Media (Facebook & Instagram) - Michael Hood

Mass emails to the congregation - Jennie Herrick or Wayne Hager

Website - Wayne Hager

First Foundations magazine - Jen Foster

And Also With ‘Cue - David With 

Sunday morning greeters - Mary Powell Rhodes

Community Ministries - Sam Carothers 

THIRTY-NINERS GATHERINGS

Come join us Thursdays at 10:30am in the fellowship hall for interesting speakers, mission projects, and once a month, 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.

FEBRUARY

6 Super Bowl Bingo (FBC member participation)

13 Cardinal Singers performance; Volunteer Women’s Chorus

20 LUNCH OUTING: Meadow Restaurant Seafood Buffet (NC Hwy 50, Benson; meet at FBC at 11:45 to ride in vans)

27 Japanese Ministry and Community (Rev. Jun Matsuzaki, pastor FBC Japanese Ministry)

CENTERPOINT IN FEBRUARY

February 5 - We will conclude our series with Dr. Judy Siker on the role of women in early Christianity and the development of the early church (previously scheduled for January 22).

February 12 - As February is recognized as Black History Month, we will be viewing and discussing a TEDTalk led by Julieanna L. Richardson on the preservation of black history through oral tradition. For those who may want to access the talk prior to, it can be found here.

Julieanna Richardson is the founder of the HistoryMakers, which is the largest national archive of African American video-oral history that exists today.  Richardson shares some of the unknown and incredible legacies of Black America, highlighting the importance of documenting and preserving the past for future generations.

February 19 - We will conclude our programming on Black History Month by looking at a speech given by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who in December of 1964 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his dynamic leadership of the Civil Rights movement and steadfast commitment to achieving racial justice through nonviolent action and advocacy. For those who may want to access the talk prior to, it can be found here.

CHURCH CONFERENCE DATES

Mark your calendar for the following 2025 dates for church conference:

February 26, March 26, May 28, August 27, September 24,

October 22, November 19, and December 17.

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, 5:15–6:15pm. 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 (over 3 people): $24

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

February 5: chicken and dumplings with mixed vegetables; non-meat option: mock chicken and dumplings; kids: nuggets.

February 12: turkey meat hamburger helper with peas; non-meat option: mock hamburger pasta; kids: tater tots.

February 19: chicken bbq with corn pudding and green beans; non-meat option: mock chicken bbq; kids: pizza rolls.

February 26: Mexican night: soft tacos, black beans, rice, and corn; non-meat option: mock beef.