“Every Member Engaged in Ministry…” Ministry” Low Sunday Wednesday, March 30 11:00 7:00 Staff Meeting NO WEDNESDAY NIGHT MEAL OR PROGRAM (see page 3-New Book Study...) Bible Study and Prayer in Spanish in the Dawson Room, Rev. Saúl García teaching Saturday, April 2 11-6 12:00 5:00 Building open FBC Basketball Worship: Mosaic/Chapel Sunday, April 3 9:30 10;00 10:45 11:00 12:00 2:00 Church School for all ages Choir Rehearsal/Room 312 Worship-Communion Sermon: Easter People: Facing Forward Text: Luke 9:51-62 Pastor Julie preaching Potluck Luncheon* Worship in Spanish: The Church of the Good News of Salvation, Rev. Saúl Garciá preaching; (Dawson Room on the first floor of the Ed. Bldg.) This coming Sunday, the Sunday after Easter, has been known, especially in the Catholic Church, as Low Sunday—probably for the obvious reason. Last Sunday was the big party. But now the party’s in the rearview mirror. There’ll be more empty seats this Sunday; the Easter lilies are starting to droop; we are starting to droop. Why not call it Low Sunday? Easter’s a hard act to follow. But here’s something for us to consider: For some folks, Easter itself was Low Sunday, too. Many who actually believe in Christ and are, in fact, desperate for some resurrection power, on Easter Sunday just aren’t ready or able to take it in. Maybe there’s too much grief or too much regret, too much anger or fear or exhaustion. Maybe last week you just weren't ready to take it in. And if you felt unprepared for Easter, here’s what I want you to know: It’s perfectly all right. In the Gospels the risen Christ appears to a few people on Easter Sunday morning—the people who are ready for him. There are also people that morning who are not ready. So he comes back. He shows up for others later on, and later still he comes back again and appears to even more, all according to their readiness to see him. (continued on page 2) *Potluck Luncheon This Sunday, April 3 A-J: dessert and fruit K-R: meats S-Z: salad and vegetables Recent Additions To our prayer list: Libby Cain Lulu Hong-Porretta, friend of gini and Paul Nelson Marji Foster, mother of Greg Foster Alice Norfleet, mother of Allen Norfleet Linda Wooten, friend of Ann Bailey Ki Johnson, grandson of Laval Sanks * * * First Sunday Potluck April 3 Children to Present on Heifer International Fill the Ark! The FBC Kids’ Team will have a presentation at the April potluck this Sunday about their project to fill a Heifer International Ark. There will be an information table and display, and the children will talk about Heifer and why this is such an important and worthwhile endeavor. Some members may remember that the Kids’ Team led the effort that filled an Ark in 2002 for FBC’s 200th anniversary. Come find out how you can help do it again! “Getting to Know You” How well, really, do we know each other here at First Baptist? This week, during the First Sunday potluck, Bettie Hastey will lead us in a fun exercise around the tables that will help us learn more about the adults, youth and children who call First Baptist their church home. 1 Your Deacon “on call” for this week This week’s deacon on call is Rob Marus. If you have prayer requests this week, you can reach Rob at 202-276-6836. Low Sunday (continued from page 1) What this means, I believe, is that we don't have to meet Jesus according to the holiday schedule. Christ operates on his own schedule and loves to show up at ordinary times and on low kinds of days, to surprise us with life. Thanks be to God. Blessings, CBS to Air “Faith, Spirituality & the Future” The CBS Religion & Culture documentary special, Faith, Spirituality & the Future, featuring Diana Butler Bass, will begin airing across the country on April 3, 2016. Portions of the documentary were filmed here at First Baptist Church back in February. It will air in New York City on WCBS on April 10 and will also be available to stream online on the CBS website at www.cbsnews.com/religionandculture. The editors hope to know soon the date on which the show will air in Washington and in other cities, and will post the dates on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CBSReligion/ Annual Meeting Scheduled for Sunday, May 15; Annual Reports due April 22 Due to Pastor Julie’s travel schedule, the First Baptist Church Annual Meeting, normally held on the first Sunday in May, has been rescheduled for Pentecost Sunday, May 15. Due to the Administrator’s previously scheduled time away from the office, annual reports are due from committee chairs by COB, Friday, April 22, 2016. The r epor t should be sent as a Word doc in an attachment. If you need a copy of last year’s report, please contact D’O Dillard at [email protected]. The report booklets must be completed by Tuesday, May 3. Season of Prayer Verse: Luke 9:57-62 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has no where to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Read - Reflect - Respond - Rest - Remain 2 The Gift of a Sabbatical At the conclusion of my time as Acting Pastor I was given the gift of a six-month sabbatical. As it is a gift there was not the usual application process or advanced planning in place. However, given six months, there is plenty of time to accomplish purposeful projects and also take time for study and reflection, which are hallmarks of a sabbatical along with rest and renewal. I will begin this sabbatical on April 10, following worship, and be back for worship on Sunday, October 9. I have several projects in mind that are things I have been working on but have been unable to finish due to other duties. I want to get the FBC Children’s Library inventory records in order and do a survey of children’s music to be used by the church and CDC children. I also want to learn to be more efficient and organized with my various electronic devices, including typing all of my Pastoral Prayers from my years at FBC. Something that had already been planned for the summer is the Annual Gathering of the Baptist World Alliance in Vancouver, Canada. Robert and I will attend as we are involved in the work of the various Commissions. I serve as the Chair of the Commission on Baptist Worship and Spirituality and will help to organize six hours of presentations with the other members of the Commission for the meeting this year and the next four years. Robert and I will go on from Vancouver to a vacation in Alaska for some fishing and relaxation. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. Love, Deborah Cochran Girl Scouts Gift of Caring Program: Cookies to our Troops The Girl Scout Troop to Troop Cookie collection at FBC will allow for 25 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to be delivered to the Ft. Belvoir troop families. One hundred dollars was collected. Avani Patel and her mother Evelyn Yee are our connection to the Daisy Girl Scout Troop which is sponsoring the effort to connect with Ft. Belvoir military troop families to show kindness and support. Thank you to all who donated cookies to the effort. Altar Flowers for 2016 Please sign up for the giving of altar flowers honoring or memorializing those you wish to recognize in your life. The cost of flowers is $70.00 for the two large altar arrangements. The sign-up book is on the window ledge on the second floor of the Education building just outside the Church Office. If you have any questions, please call Shirley McBeath at 301-929-9261. New Book Study on Wednesday Nights Begins April 13 After a 2-week break following Lent and Easter, we resume Wednesday activities with a 7-week discussion of Church Refugees: Why People are DONE with church but not their faith, by Josh Packard and Ashleigh Hope. Led by Pastor Julie and other FBC folk; books are available for purchase at a subsidized price of $10. Please see Allen Norfleet, Julie Pascu or Charlotte Straight on Sunday to purchase a book. Join us for dinner at 6 p.m. (please make a reservation for dinner by contacting Administrator D’O Dillard [email protected] or 202-387-2206 x245; cost: $8) and the book discussion at 7 p.m., both in Fellowship Hall. 3 mosaic presents GOD IN BLUE Classical Truths & The Jazz of Life April 2 the man on the sidewalk: helping the poor Benefit Performance in Support of National Center for Children and Families (TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE) 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 p.m. Tickets, including dinner , show, and gr atuity ar e $53 per per son ($10.00 tax deductible). The NCCF (formerly Baptist Home for Children) is a private, non-profit 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. For tickets or donations, please call Bonnie Jorgensen (301-649-4804). FBC “Willing Hands” First Baptist is inviting everyone who calls this church home to get “out of the stands, on the field and in the game” by sharing our gifts and talents both inside and outside of these walls. Are you looking for a way to share your gifts at FBCDC? Copies of the “Willing Hands” list is available in the Narthex (sanctuary lobby) and on the literature table outside the staff offices on the second floor of the “O” Street lobby. Please indicate your areas of interest and return the Willing Hands form to the Church Office, or give it to one of the ushers or pastors after worship today. LifeLine Screening…Protect Your Health…Protect Your Life LifeLine Screening returns to First Baptist on Tuesday, April 12, in Fellowship Hall to provide non-invasive, completely painless screenings using ultrasound technology. Pre-registration is required. Please call1-888-653-6450 or visit www.LifeLineScreening.com/community-partners to register and receive a $10 discount. Information is available in Fellowship Hall, the Narthex, and 2nd Floor Literature Table. New Website Take a look! www.firstbaptistdc.org 4 Our Newest Members Chelsea Clarke Kevin Plovnick April 3 Easter People: Facing Forward Luke 9:51-62 Pastor Julie preaching Wednesday Night Dinner Entrées Vital Signs Saturday, March 26 Mosaic Worship Service project at the Johenning Baptist Center Sunday, March 27 EASTER DAY Church School Attendance Worship Attendance 41 236 4/13 lasagna 4/20 tomato soup 4/27 chicken alfredo Sandwich Making for Martha’s Table Wednesday, April 20, at 5 p.m. We next make sandwiches on Wednesday, April 20, at 5 p.m. in Fellowship Hall, followed by the 6 p.m. dinner and our 7 p.m. book study. All are welcome to join in this outreach service to those in need. For more information call the Church Office at 202-387-2206, extension 251 or email [email protected]. 5 Easter Day... Left to right: Pastor Julie, Wil McBeath, Deborah Cochran and Abigail Adigun. Acolytes were from the FBC Kids’ Team. TUESDAY, April 5 10:30 Woman’s Society in the Meadows Room 6:15 Education for Ministry (EFM) in Room 214 Lectionary Readings for April 3, 2016 WEDNESDAY, April 6 11:00 Staff Meeting/Conference Room Staff Luncheon NO DINNER OR PROGRAM 7:00 Bible Study and Prayer in Spanish in the Dawson Room, Rev. Saúl García teaching Psalm 150 Acts 5:27-32 Revelation 1:4-8 Luke 9:51-62 SATURDAY, April 9 11:00 - 6:00 Building Open 12:00 FBC Basketball/Gym 5:00 Mosaic Worship/Chapel SUNDAY, April 10 Deacon on-call: Steve Netcott 9:30 Church School for all ages 10:00 Choir Rehearsal/Room 312 11:00 Worship Sermon- Easter People: Embodying The Word Text: Deuteronomy 6:1-9 & 2 Timothy 3:10-17 Pastor Julie preaching 12:00 Newcomer Reception/Parlor 12:15 Diaconate/Meadows Room 2:00 Worship in Spanish: The Church of the Good News of Salvation, Rev. Saúl Garciá, preaching (Dawson Room on the first floor of the Ed. Building) 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 [email protected] www.firstbaptistdc.org 6
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