Update, 030216.pub - The First Baptist Church Washington DC

“Every Member Engaged in Ministry…”
Joy and Hope
Wednesday, March 2
6:00
7:00
7:00
Dinner (entrée: spaghetti)
Lenten Worship Service/Sanctuary
Sermon: “The Scarlet Ribbon”
Text: Joshua 2:14-21
Paul Clark preaching
Bible Study and Prayer/Dawson Room,
(Room 103), Rev. Saúl García teaching
Saturday, March 5
11-6
12:00
5:00
Building open
FBC Basketball
Worship:Mosaic/Chapel
Sunday, March 6
9:30
10:00
11:00
12:00
1:00
2:00
Church School for all ages
Choir Rehearsal/Room 312
Worship
Sermon: “W hat if I Can’t
Forgive?”
Text: Matthew 6:5-15
Pastor Julie preaching
Potluck luncheon/Fellowship Hall
“Stepping on Out” program by
Dr. Dudley F. Rochester/
Fellowship Hall
Church of the Good News of
Salvation/Dawson Room
(Room 103), Rev. Saúl
Garciá preaching
Recent Additions
To our prayer list:
Mel and Sadye Doxie and family in the
death of Myron Doxie, brother of Mel
Doxie.
Richard Turner and family in the death of
Martha Anne Turner, his mother, and
the grandmother of Matthew Turner.
Libby Cain
Kitty Janson
Grey Rodriguez
Juanita Wright
Mary B. Stephens, family of Julie and
Dan Pascu
Marji Foster, mother of Greg Foster
On December 7, 1965, the Second Vatican Council, in its final session,
adopted the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern W orld. Its
tone differed significantly from other major documents of years past.
Whereas previous councils had looked at the world and seen it as a place
of sin and corruption that they felt compelled to condemn, Vatican II abandoned this negative mentality about the world outside of the Church. A
persistently positive attitude toward that world, and an earnest desire to
enter into dialogue with it, make this document unique in the history of
Vatican council documents.
The title of the pastoral constitution is “Joy and Hope” (in Latin, Gaudium
et Spes) and it begins with this sentence: “ The joys and hopes, the grief
and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or
afflicted, are the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the followers of
Christ as well.”
I’ve been thinking a lot about joy and hope lately. I’m convinced that the
people who enter our sanctuary doors each Sunday are, for the most part,
searching—perhaps even desperate—for these.
Our worship is blessed with a variety of moments each Sunday for quiet
reflection and prayer (the Prelude, Introit, Gradual, Pastoral Prayer and
Offertory). Lon Schreiber and I have been talking together about how our
Sunday liturgy might embody and encourage even more joy, hope and
strength in the lives of all who worship with us.
And so, beginning on Palm Sunday (March 20), we’ll be including a new
feature at the end of our worship service each week. Rather than finishing
with a time of quiet reflection during the postlude, we’ll conclude with a
grand congregational hymn while the choir recesses back up the center
aisle and surrounds the congregation at the side aisles as they sing a descant on the final verse of the hymn. After the words of dismissal, Lon will
play a typically beautiful postlude while we all move to greet one another
(and especially newcomers). And of course, anyone is welcome to remain
seated through the postlude, if he or she desires.
“You shall go out with joy…” said the prophet Isaiah to the weary children of God in captivity (Isaiah 55:12). ‘The mountains and the hills shall
break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field will clap
their hands.” May we go out with joy and hope and strength in the days
and years ahead, to love and serve our world in the way of Jesus.
Blessings,
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Your Deacon “on call” for this week
This week’s deacon on call is Marvin Marceron. If you have prayer requests this week, contact Marvin at 703-978-9254.
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering
Here am I, send me. “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the
midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon
my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard
the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I send me.”
The theme for this year’s Annie Armstrong Easter Offering are the familiar words from Isaiah’s heavenly vision, “Here
am I, send me.” Annie Armstrong, who had a heart for missions, was a pioneer in the early formation and success of
the missionary movement in North America. As a young woman, she responded to God’s call just as did Isaiah. We,
who are not called to the mission field, are called to support our missionaries prayerfully and financially. Their success
in their calling depends largely upon the success of financial contributions from member churches. Don’t miss the opportunity to help provide the necessities our missionaries need to change lives by teaching the gospel, and by giving
hope to the countless people who are living without hope.
The week of prayer is March 1 through March 8. Information in the form of bulletin inserts and an offering envelope is
available in the bulletin on March 6. Our goal this year is $3,000.
—Jean Bell
Dinner Reservations during Lent
During Lent, please make a reservation if you are planning to join us for dinner on
Wednesday (or Maundy Thursday). Please e-mail or call Administrator D’O Dillard at
[email protected] or at 202-387-2206, x245 by 5 p.m. on the preceding Monday.
Cost: $8.
Vital Signs
Saturday, February 27
Mosaic Worship
Sunday, February 28
Church School Attendance
Worship Attendance
Wednesday Night
Dinner Entrée
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03/02 spaghetti
Season of Prayer Verse: Matthew 6:14-15 (New Living Translation )
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Read - Reflect - Respond - Rest - Remain
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New Guest-Friendly Sunday Morning Parking Protocol
Begins March 20
As we lean in together toward the value of offering maximum hospitality to newcomers at First Baptist, we are initiating
a new parking plan on Sunday mornings, starting March 20, that will provide a more positive, less complicated first experience for our guests (and even the “regulars” at FBC).
Beginning March 20 (Palm Sunday), we will begin advertising the breezeway on O Street as the main entrance for vehicles headed to the parking garage, rather than directing people to the alley entrance on 17th Street. For this reason, Starting March 20 we ask that the breezeway be left free of parked cars on Sundays (except for the one marked handicapped space to the side of the breezeway). There are additional handicapped spaces in our parking garage, with elevator access to the church building.
Benefits of this new parking plan:
A smoother, friendlier first experience for our guests. Our valet and several FBC greeters will be stationed at the O
Street entrance each week to greet people as they arrive, and to direct newcomers and/or walk with them to their
desired destinations.
Easy drop-off capability. Our valet will be happy to park your car in the garage and retrieve it again after worship,
or you may self-park. Either way, families with small children, especially, as well as those with mobility issues,
will find it much easier to unload passengers under the cover of the breezeway.*
*Because the alley is a two-way street, you may still access the parking garage from 17th Street, if you desire.
Potluck Luncheon on March 6
On Sunday, March 6, our next potluck luncheon will be held in the Fellowship Hall following worship. Please bring
family members, friends, and co-workers to worship with you, and bring enough food to share with our many guests.
A through J: salad and vegetables; K through R: dessert, rolls, fruit; S through Z: meats
Stepping On Out: Being Intentional About End-of-Life Decisions
This Sunday, March 6, following our potluck lunch, retired physician and medical researcher Dr. Dudley F. Rochester will present his "Stepping on Out" program. Dr. Rochester's presentation outlines important end-of-life decisions
for seniors and their families. Among the steps Dr. Rochester will address are these critical issues and decisions:

Although Americans are living longer and healthier, in their last few years most seniors will become increasingly frail and subject to a number of diseases.

Examining levels of care available and working with your physician and other health care professionals in
making choices appropriate to you

Creating an Advance Medical Directive and practical advice on implementing the steps necessary to insure
that your wishes are followed
Making these decisions in advance of need is urged for all seniors and for those who will care for them. Dr. Rochester's presentation provides the information needed to make this sensitive task easier.
All are invited to lunch and to stay for the presentation which will take about an hour. Related handouts will also be
available. For more information contact Dennis Lambert at [email protected].
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Benefit Performance
in Support of
National Center for Children and Families
Please help to support the National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) while
enjoying a wonderful dinner and performance of “Peter Pan” to benefit the youth in
the Greentree Adolescent Program (GAP) on Sunday, May 1, at Toby’s Dinner
Theatre of Columbia, MD at 5:00 p.m. Tickets, including dinner , show, and
gratuity are $53 per person ($10.00 tax deductible). The NCCF (formerly Baptist Home for Children) is a private, nonprofit agency serving the national capital area. The residential programs serve homeless families, victims of domestic
violence and vulnerable adolescents. Other programs include treatment, foster care, social services for family reunification, parenting education, independent living, and stabilization of families in the community. If you cannot attend, but
would like to make a contribution so that the youth from GAP may attend as our guests, we would be very grateful.
Checks should be made payable to the Board of Church Representatives, NCCF. It would be greatly appreciated if reservations or checks could be received by March 20. For tickets or donations, please call Bonnie Jorgensen (301-6494804).
Breakfast at Christ House
A hot breakfast with a warm smile is the best start to a Sunday morning. Join us at
Christ House in the nearby Columbia Heights neighborhood on the second Sunday of
each month starting at 7 a.m. to prepare and serve breakfast and join the group for
prayer. Christ House provides support and residential healthcare to homeless men and
women. You'll be finished in plenty of time to attend a Church School class and worship. Please email Dinh Tran at [email protected] if you have questions, or if you
would like to volunteer.
Call for Additional Welcomers on Sundays
Are you looking for a meaningful way to serve at First Baptist? Do you love making people, especially newcomers, feel
welcome? Based on the number of entry points in our facilities, we need at least 10 people every Sunday between
10:40 and 11:10 to help us give a warm and personal welcome to the guests whom God is leading our way. If you
would like to be a part of our expanded welcoming effort on Sundays—whether once a month or even more often—
please contact Allen Norfleet at [email protected].
Corrections to End-of-Year Contributions Statements
If you contributed to either the Haiti church project or the fund for Liberian students in 2015, the contributions statement
you received recently erroneously shows your money going to Oklahoma tornado relief. I want to assure you that this
was only an error with the account title and that your contributions did go to the correct missions. I will ask our accounting firm to prepare corrected statements which we will send to you.
I apologize for this confusion and for the concern it caused to some of you. I know how important it is that all contributions for our missions projects go to the correct groups.
Mike Henson
Treasurer
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Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 13. Please turn your clocks
ahead one hour on Saturday night, March 12!
Happy 214th Anniversary FBC!
On March 7,1802, The First Baptist Church was founded with a vision to create a "spiritual home for Baptists moving to the new federal city." Now 12 years into our third century we continue to welcome
people from near and far to worship and fellowship in the name of
Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God for His faithfulness to us.
The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C.
Easter Lilies
Contributions for EASTER LILIES must be submitted by Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Each lily is $12.00 and has 5 to
7 blooms on a single stem. PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY.
[Circle one] IN MEMORY or IN HONOR of (name of person):___________________________________________
Given by:_________________________________________________________ Amount Enclosed: $____________
Email address or phone number_____________________________________________________________________
Will you pick up the plant following the Easter service on March 27?
Yes
or No
Please make check payable to FBC (Memo: Easter Lily) and drop this form and check in the offering plate or send to the
Church Office by Wednesday, March 16. For additional information, contact Jean at the Church Office at 202-387-2206,
ext. 251 or [email protected].
The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C.
1328 Sixteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
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Sandwich Making for Martha’s Table on March 16
Sandwiches will be made on Wednesday, March 16, at 5 p.m. in Fellowship Hall, followed by
the 6 p.m. dinner and our 7 p.m. Lenten worship service. During Lent, please make a reservation if you are planning to join us for dinner on Wednesday (or Maundy Thursday).
Please e-mail or call Administrator D’O Dillard at [email protected] or at 202-3872206, ext. 245 by 5 p.m. on the preceding Monday. Cost: $8. For more information regarding
the Sandwich Making outreach, call the Church Office at 202-387-2206, extension 251 or email
Jean Weber at [email protected].
Jacmel Baptist Church, 2016
The long shadow of FBC’s successful missions programs has again been lengthened. The photos accompanying this article of a completed Baptist church in Jacmel, Haiti, to which we substantially contributed, show us the end result of a vision held by those Jacmel Baptists, who lost their church in the 2010 earthquake. We share the joy felt by those Jacmel
Baptists upon completion of their new church building, Our prayer for them is that God will strengthen their church, increase the number of believers, and fill their lives with the living water that flows endlessly. Our prayer for FBC is that
missions will continue to be an integral part of church life, and by extension, ensure that the long shadow of missions
will continue to grow.
—Jean Bell
Fall Fellowship Picnic
Save the Date
Mark your calendars. The Fall Fellowship picnic is Saturday, September 24,
at Rock Creek Park. We will share more details as the date approaches.
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Sunday at FBC…
Pictures from the First Thing Centering Prayer
Church School class and
from the worship service.
February 28, 2016
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Those who served...
Pictured top left:
Deborah Cochran, Mary Lou and Ed Fry and
Pastor Julie.
Bottom left::
Pastor Julie, Joey Burns, Rachael Bevill and Ed Fry.
TUESDAY, March 8
6:15 Education for Ministry (EFM) in Room 214
Lectionary Readings
for
WEDNESDAY, March 9
11:00 Staff Meeting/Conference Room
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Lenten Worship Service/Sanctuary
Sermon: “The Tomb-Dweller”
Text: Mark 5:1-20 (Common English Bible)
Pastor Julie preaching
7:00 Bible Study and Prayer/Dawson Room,
Rev. Saúl García teaching
March 6, 2016
4th Sunday in Lent
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Matthew 6:5-15 (New
Living Translation, NLT)
SATURDAY, March 12
11:00 - 6:00 Building Open
12:00 FBC Basketball/Gym
5:00 Mosaic Worship/Chapel
SUNDAY, March 13
7:30 Serving breakfast at Christ House
9:30 Church School for all ages
10:00 Choir Rehearsal/Room 312
11:00 Worship (5th Sunday in Lent)
Sermon: “What if I Can’t Believe?”
Text: Mark 9:14-29 (Contemporary English
Version, CEV) Pastor Julie preaching
12:00 Newcomer Reception/Parlor
12:15 Diaconate/Meadows Room
2:00 The Church of the Good News of Salvation,
(Spanish Language) with Rev. Saúl Garciá,
Preaching/Dawson Room (Room 103)
CHURCH STAFF:
Julie Pennington-Russell, Pastor, [email protected]
Deborah Cochran, Associate Pastor, [email protected]
Lawrence P. Schreiber, Organist-Choirmaster, [email protected]
D’Oniece Shaw Dillard, Church Administrator, [email protected]
Jean Weber, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]
Stephen Hunter, Building Engineer, [email protected]
Carolyn B-Roebuck, CDC Director, [email protected]
1328 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-387-2206
www.firstbaptistdc.org
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