Today in worship, we continue the season of Epiphany and celebrate the first of Christ’s miracles: turning water to wine at the wedding of Cana. Pastor Julie is preaches the message “The First of His Signs” from John 2:1-11. Accompanying scriptures are Isaiah 62:1-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.
Sunday, January 12, 2025 | Baptized and Beloved
Who tells you who you are? Your family? Your friends? Your enemies? Your conscience? Your boss?
This Sunday in worship we continue the season of Epiphany by remembering the baptism of Jesus and the Divine affirmation: “You are my beloved, my own. In you I am well pleased.” To be baptized in Christ is to claim one’s identity: “I am a child of God.”
When we’ve lost our way, become confused or forgotten who we are, it helps so much to go back and look into those waters and see our face reflected there.
Accompanying scriptures are Psalm 29 and Acts 8:14-17.
Sunday, January 5, 2025 | Service of Prayer and Reflection Honoring Jimmy Carter
Sunday, January 5, 2025 | All Things New
This Sunday in worship, we welcome the new year and celebrate Epiphany. Epiphany marks the revelation of the Christ child to the magi who traveled from afar to worship and present gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It reminds us that from the beginning of his life, Jesus shone forth as God’s great reveal to the whole world.
Pastor Julie preaches the message “All Things New” from Isaiah 43:16-21, with the accompanying scripture of Matthew 2:1-12. We will take communion together in worship, and collect the first benevolence offering of 2025. After worship, we will catch up from the holidays with a potluck downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.
Sunday, December 29, 2024 | Lay It Down in Peace
Today in worship we celebrate the season of Christmas in the life of the church. Pastor Julie preaches the message “Lay It Down in Peace” from Luke 2:21-39—the story of old Simeon meeting the Christ child in the temple. The story of Simeon invites us to ask, "What do I need to let go of so I can take hold of something new in the days ahead? What new beginnings will I let God place in my hand in 2025?"
The accompanying text is Isaiah 55:6-13.
December 24, 2024 | Christmas Eve Carols, Candlelight, and Communion
Celebrate Christmas Eve with First Baptist Church tomorrow night. Our worship will include Christmas carols, the music of choir, organ, brass, holy communion, and a Christmas Eve meditation from Pastor Julie. The child and family-friendly service will end with the lighting of congregational candles and singing “Silent Night.”
Sunday, December 22, 2024 | Words for the Beginning: Hope Is Worth the Risk
In today’s Gospel text, the story of Joseph reminds us that the Christmas story has always been—and always will be—for ordinary people living messy, complex lives.
Pastor Julie will preach the message, “Hope is Worth the Risk,” based on Matthew 1:18-25. The accompanying text is Isaiah 7:10-16. FBC's Crossroads Group will light the candle of Love.
Sunday, December 15, 2024 | Words for the Beginning: Do the Good That Is Yours To Do
As you journey through this season, may you find words for beginning again. No matter what you are facing, no matter what this new day brings, love is your beginning.
In this Sunday’s Gospel text, Mary, who is visiting her older cousin Elizabeth, breaks into a sung prayer to God—a prophetic song of praise, judgment, and hope known as the Magnificat. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once called the Magnificat “the most passionate, the wildest, most revolutionary hymn ever sung.” For centuries, Mary’s words have become a rallying cry for the oppressed.
Pastor Julie continues the Advent sermon series with the message, “Do the Good That Is Yours To Do,” based on Luke 1:46-55. The accompanying text is Isaiah 58:9b-12. FBC's young adult group will light the candle of Joy.
Sunday, December 8, 2024 | Christmas Candlelight Carols
66th Annual Christmas Candlelight Carols
Sunday, December 8 | 4:00 p.m.
Capture the joy of the season with this beloved First Baptist tradition featuring organ, brass, and the First Baptist Church Chancel Choir. We will collect a benevolence offering to benefit Ward 2 Mutual Aid, a grassroots, neighbor-led effort to take care of each other and our community.
Sunday, December 8, 2024 | Words for the Beginning: We Can't Go Alone
This Sunday in worship we continue the season of Advent, a time of profound transitions, marking both endings and beginnings.
The embodiment of God in the person of Jesus invites us into fresh ways of living and loving, even as the world around us continues its relentless pace. In our own lives, as we navigate seasons of change, we seek words and images that become steady ground, a path for our feet as we follow Christ on the way.
This Sunday, Pastor Julie will continue the Advent sermon series with the message, “We Can’t Go Alone,” based on Luke 1:39-45. The accompanying text is Ruth 1. We will share communion together and collect a benevolence offering following worship.
As you journey through this season, may you find words for beginning again. For no matter what you are facing, no matter what this new day brings, love is your beginning.
Sunday, December 1, 2024 | Words for the Beginning: You Are a Blessing
This Sunday in worship, we begin the season of Advent and light the Advent candle of Hope. Pastor Julie begins a new sermon series entitled “Words for the Beginning.” Her message is titled “You Are a Blessing,” based on Luke 1:26-38. The accompanying text is Isaiah 43:1-7.
Sunday, November 24, 2024 | Pastor Eric | The Christ Who Gives
Today in worship, Pastor Eric will preach the message “The Christ Who Gives” based on Luke 23:33-43. Accompanying scripture passages are Psalm 46 and Ephesians 1.
In the Christian calendar, which our congregation follows, this Sunday is known as the “Reign of Christ” or “Christ the King” Sunday. The tradition of this particular Sunday began in 1925 to remind Christians that their allegiance was to Christ, their spiritual ruler in heaven as opposed to earthly supremacy.
To 21st century ears, the language of “Christ the King’ Sunday can sound like heavy-handed, hierarchical hold-over from our patriarch dominated past. However, Jesus “kingship” does not involve domination or triumphalism — but the radical, all-powerful compassion and love of Jesus’ seeking justice for all.
Sunday, November 17, 2024 | Pastor Julie | Saying Grace
This Sunday is Gratitude Sunday, a day when, among other things, we celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness in the world and in our lives. Pastor Julie’s message, “Saying Grace,” will invite us to see more clearly God's gift and to answer more honestly and unmistakably with our lives as gift. Accompanying scripture passages are Psalm 95:1-7 and Matthew 6:19-21, 24-34
Sunday, November 10, 2024 | Pastor Julie | For good
Today in worship, Pastor Julie will preach the message “For Good” based on Romans 8:18-30. As we look at Romans 8, we will ask an important question: In a world as broken and violent as ours, what did Paul mean - what do we mean - by the claim, “All things work together for good?” Accompanying scripture passages are Genesis 50:15-21 and Mark 10:46-52.
All Saints Sunday, November 3, 2024 | Pastor Julie | The Myth of Winning
Today, November 3, is All Saints Sunday. We observe a special time of prayer and remembrance both for those who have died in Christ as well as for the upcoming election. We celebrate communion together, and we collect a benevolence offering.
Pastor Julie’s message is titled “The Myth of Winning.” Winning in the kin-dom of God looks radically different than our culture’s narratives about domination, climbing the ladder, and overcoming our enemies. Jesus never said, “Go, be winners,” but rather, “Come, follow me.” The sermon text is John 18:33-38 and accompanying passages are Psalm 23 and Philippians 2:5-11.
Sunday, October 27, 2024 | Pastor Julie | Love’s Undying Heart
Of all the things we chase after, and look for, and think of, and do, and desire, and possess—when we come to the end of life, only three things will have mattered. Only three things will have lasted. Only three things will have helped: Faith. Hope. Love. This Sunday in worship, Pastor Julie concludes her three-week sermon series based on 1 Corinthians 13: Faith, Hope, and Love: These Three.
This Sunday’s message is “Love’s Undying Heart." Accompanying passages are Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26 and Matthew 28:1-8
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Sunday, October 20, 2024 | Pastor Julie | Love's Feet
Of all the things we chase after, and look for, and think of, and do, and desire, and possess—when we come to the end of life, only three things will have mattered. Only three things will have lasted. Only three things will have helped: Faith. Hope. Love. This Sunday in worship, Pastor Julie continues her three-week sermon series based on 1 Corinthians 13: Faith, Hope, and Love: These Three.
This Sunday’s message is “Love’s Feet” and will focus on Hope. Accompanying passages to 1 Corinthians 13 are Psalm 130 and Mark 11:1-11.
Sunday, October 13, 2024 | Love's Eyes
Of all the things we chase after, and look for, and think of, and do, and desire, and possess—when we come to the end of life, only three things will have mattered. Only three things will have lasted. Only three things will have helped: Faith. Hope. Love. This Sunday in worship, Pastor Julie begins a three-week sermon series based on 1 Corinthians 13: Faith, Hope, and Love: These Three.
Accompanying passages are Proverbs 3:1-6 and John 8:1-11.
Sunday, October 6, 2024 | God’s Big Spenders
This Sunday, October 6 is World Communion Sunday. Pastor Julie will preach the message “God’s Big Spenders” from Isaiah 58:1-12. Together, we will ask with the prophet Isaiah how we can claim to worship God if we are not “spending ourselves” on behalf of the poor, the hungry, the oppressed, and the afflicted. Additional texts are Acts 4:32-37 and Matthew 25:31-40. During worship, we will observe communion.
Author Cole Arthur Riley | Saturday, October 5, 2024
Acclaimed author Cole Arthur Riley is the keynote speaker at the annual gathering of the World Student Christian Federation, October 3-6, hosted by FBCDC. Read more about this organization below.
Cole spoke in the FBC Sanctuary on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 1:00 pm. She is the author of New York Times bestsellers This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories that Make Us and Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human.