Luke 2:8-20
"To you is born this day…a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!"
Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with First Baptist Church. Worship includes Christmas carols, the music of choir and organ, and a Christmas Day meditation from Pastor Julie.
December 18, 2022 | Blue Christmas: A Service of Consolation
The holidays are marked by celebrations, yet they are often stressful or sad for those experiencing grief of any kind, especially the death of loved ones in the last year. Let the music of the Chancel Choir, the comforting words of scripture and poetry, and words of hope from Pastor Julie bring peace to your tired soul. The service concludes with the lighting of candles in memory of people who have died, and/or in acknowledgment of other kinds of grief we carry.
December 18, 2022 | Seeing God in Each Other
Isaiah 12:2-6 | Luke 1:39-55
This week in worship we return to Mary's experience found in Luke 1:39-55. After receiving the news from the angel, she retreats to her cousin Elizabeth’s house. When Mary arrives, Elizabeth doesn’t just welcome her—she is filled with the Holy Spirit and speaks a blessing upon Mary as her own child leaps and kicks within her womb. She sees how God is at work and names it out loud. In this moment of profound solidarity, Mary and Elizabeth see the divine in one another.
From generation to generation, we can see how God is at work in our relationships. The way we see the divine in each other impacts how we live and move in the world. When we view every human being as a child of God, we generate a different world.
December 11, 2022 | 64th Candlelight Carols: Veiled in Flesh
Capture the joy of the season with a beloved First Baptist tradition featuring the First Baptist Chancel Choir, 6,000-pipe Austin organ, and brass and timpani. A love offering will be collected in support of Charlie’s Place, a local organization serving unhoused and underserved populations in the neighborhoods of Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights.
December 11, 2022 Worship | Choosing a Better Way
Matthew 1:18-25 | Isaiah 35:1-10
This week, we continue with the season of Advent and our theme “From Generation to Generation.” In worship, we will focus on the story of Joseph with scripture passages from Isaiah 35:1-10 and Matthew 1:18-25.
As far as Joseph knows, his new wife has been unfaithful to him and broken their marriage contract. And yet, instead of punishment, he chooses not to publicly disgrace or humiliate her. This interruption in his life becomes a holy invitation when the angel comes to him in a dream and says, “Do not be afraid.” When he awakes, Joseph once again has the courage to choose a better way. He chooses to stay with Mary, to become an adoptive parent. He chooses peace over violence, grace over condemnation.
When have our ancestors also chosen a better way, and when have they not? Isaiah 35 is a vision of what happens when we choose a better way: the wilderness blooms, water breaks forth in the desert, eyes are opened, ears are unstopped, sorrow and sadness flee away. A highway shall appear and it will become a holy way.
December 4, 2022 Worship | God Meets Us in Our Fear
This week, we continue with the season of Advent. Our central scripture passages this week are Luke 1:26-38 and Isaiah 11:1-10. They remind us that God meets us in our fear. When the angel Gabriel comes to Mary, she is perplexed and confused—and no doubt, afraid. And yet, the angel’s news is: “Do not be afraid.” We hear this refrain all throughout the Christmas story and remember it is the most common phrase in all the Bible.
From generation to generation, God shows up in the midst of our fear and uncertainty and confusion. From generation to generation, faithful people have said “yes” despite apprehension. From generation to generation, our ancestors in faith have accepted the invitation. The prophecy in Isaiah paints a vision of what we work toward when we say “yes”: righteousness and equity reign, the wolf lives with the lamb, no harm or hurt shall destroy the earth, a child shall lead the way.
November 27, 2022 Worship | Room for Every Story
On Sunday, November 27, we gather around the scripture passages of Isaiah 2:1-5 and Matthew 1:1-17. As Pastor Julie preaches and we begin singing familiar Advent music, we begin the journey toward Christmas remembering that there is room for everyone’s story.
November 20, 2022 Worship | More Than Enough | Gratitude Sunday
Gratitude Sunday
November 20, is Gratitude Sunday. As part of a special offering, all worshipers will be invited to bring forward their pledge cards for the Give It Forward capital campaign for our new community building.
Pastor Julie will preach the message “More than Enough,” and the Chancel Choir, brass quartet, and organ will lead us in worship.
Scripture Readings:
Psalm 145:1-10
Colossians 3:12-17
Luke 1:68-79
November 13, 2022 Worship | The Prescription for a Crumbling Foundation | Joel Campbell
This week in worship, Pastor Joel preaches “The Prescription for a Crumbling Foundation,” and we gather around Jesus’ teaching that foreshadowed the destruction of the Temple.
The Gospel reading is Luke 25:1-19. Other Lectionary readings are Isaiah 65:17-25 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13.
The Chancel Choir will sing “Blessed Quietness” arranged by Dr. Schreiber for the 50th anniversary of the First Baptist sanctuary. We will also welcome 13-year-old organist Storeé N. Denson, a student of Dr. Schreiber, who will play the postlude.
November 6, 2022 Worship | The Making of a Saint | All Saints Sunday
ALL SAINTS SUNDAY (Observed)
Sermon Text: Luke 22:54-62
Message: The Making of a Saint
Lectionary Texts: Psalm 90:1-6, 10, 12, Ephesians 1:11-23
This week in worship we celebrate All Saints Day. We will celebrate the lives of FBC members who have died in Christ—Charlyne Stadel, Melvyn Prince, and Ivie Davis—and others, and we will give thanks for those great witnesses who are living in our midst today. We also will share Communion together.
October 30, 2022 Worship | Pursuing Love
This week in worship, we gather around the story of Zacchaeus, a ruler among tax collectors. Pastor Julie will preach a sermon entitled “Pursuing Love,” reminding us of the pursuing love of Christ.
Sermon Text: Luke 19:1-10
Message: Pursuing Love
Lectionary Texts: Psalm 119:137-144, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
October 23, 2022 Worship | My People Shall Never Be Ashamed: Abundance, Loneliness, the Finished Race and the Good Fight.
In worship this week, we welcome Fall Forum guest Dr. Sarah Willie-LeBreton to the pulpit. She will preach the sermon titled “My People Shall Never Be Ashamed: Abundance, Loneliness, the Finished Race and the Good Fight.”
We will gather around the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14 and other Lectionary texts from Joel 2:23-32 and 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18.
October 16, 2022 Worship | The Gift of Ruined Assumptions
This Sunday in worship, Pastor Julie will be preaching as we gather around the parable of the persistent widow from Luke 18:1-8. Luke says Jesus told this parable to encourage the disciples to pray continuously and not be discouraged. Other Lectionary texts are Jeremiah 31:27-34 and 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5.
October 9, 2022 Worship | One in Ten
This week in worship, Pastor Julie will preach the message, One In Ten. We gather around the story of the Ten Lepers. One of the ten defies orders and comes back to say thanks, and calls us to examine the relationship between gratitude and wholeness.
Lectionary Texts
Luke 17:11-19
Psalm 66:1-12
2 Timothy 2:8-15
October 2, 2022 Worship | Just Do It
On World Communion Sunday - Baptists, in conjunction with other denominations and believers worldwide, participate in communion to recognize our unity in Jesus Christ. We will gather around the table and Jesus’ teaching on faith the size of a mustard seed. Faith is not a recipe, or incantation, but an invitation to go and live according to what you have seen, heard, and know. We will collect a benevolence offering after worship, and enjoy a potluck together in the fellowship hall.
Sermon Text: Luke 17:5-10
Lectionary Texts: 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Psalm 37:1-9