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Bruce Salmon
"Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Today, Bruce Salmon will preach the message Find Rest based on Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30. Additional scripture texts are Psalm 45:10-17 and Romans 7:15-25a. The Chancel Choir will sing “Come, Ye Disconsolate” by Terre Johnson.
We share communion today.
Today, Pastor Julie preached the message Interdependence Day based on Hebrews 12:28-13:2. "Keep loving each other like family," says the writer of Hebrews. AND..."Don’t neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels without knowing it."
Additional scripture texts are Psalm 13 and Matthew 10:40-42. The Chancel Choir will sing “Offertory” by John Ness Beck, a lovely musical setting based on Micah 6:8.
This Sunday in worship Pastor Julie preached the message “The Original Handmaid’s Tale,” focusing on the painful story of Hagar and Ishmael in Genesis 21:8-21. The Bible is full of powerful stories about problematic people in messy, complicated situations. The story of Hagar and Ishmael is what Bible scholar Phyllis Trible calls a "text of terror." Womanist theologian Delores Williams says Hagar’s story is a story of "slavery, surrogacy, poverty, rape, exploitation, desperation, homelessness, single parenting, and radical encounters with God."
And...Hagar also is the only person in the Hebrew Bible to give God a name: El Roi—"the God who sees me."
Accompanying Lectionary passages are Romans 6:1b-11 and Matthew 10:26-31. The choir sings the anthem “With a Voice of Singing,” and we commission and bless Education for Ministry graduates.
This Sunday in worship, Pastor Julie will preach the message, Moved with Compassion, based on Matthew 9:35-38. Accompanying texts are Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 and Romans 5:1-8. The choir will sing the anthem, Lord of the Small. Enjoy coffee and conversation with one another in the Narthex before worship.
Sermon Text: Matthew 18:15-20
Scripture Readings: Psalm 133 and Romans 13:8-14
This Sunday in worship, Pastor Julie will preach the message “Facing Conflict in the Spirit of Christ.” Her sermon text will be Matthew 18:15-20, and accompanying texts will be Psalm 133 and Romans 13:8-14. The choir will sing the anthem “Lord, When We Praise You with Glorious Music,” and we will sing a new hymn text and tune “In the Midst of New Dimensions.”
This Sunday is Trinity Sunday. We celebrate God as revealed in three persons - Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. We will gather around Matthew 28:16-20, the familiar passage of scripture known as the Great Commission. Pastor Eric will preach the sermon The Not-So-Great Commission. Additional scripture readings are: Psalm 8 and 2 Corinthians 13:11-13.
We will share communion together in worship and, as is FBC’s custom on communion Sundays, we’ll have an opportunity to give to FBC’s benevolence fund.
Based on Numbers 11:24-30; 1 Corinthians 12:12-20; and John 20:19-23
This Sunday in worship we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Christ followers after his ascent to heaven. Pastor Julie will preach the message Wind, Fire, Flesh. The Chancel Choir will sing Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me and the gospel anthem Praise God’s Holy Name.
Based on Psalm 68:4-10, 19-20, Acts 1:6-11, and Luke 24:46-53
This Sunday in worship we gather around the story of Christ ascending into heaven. Just before he was taken from his followers, Jesus said to them “… you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Jesus called the disciples to bear witness of Christ in the world, and we are to do the same.
In worship we will welcome guest proclaimer Jeff Chu, who will preach the sermon Witnesses.
Based on John 14:15-21
Today in worship we gather around the words of Jesus during his final supper with his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” The Chancel Choir sings two anthems based on the John 14 text. Other Lectionary texts are Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 and Acts 17:22-28.
This Sunday in worship, we gather around the promise that God always, always intends life and invites us—in every moment—to choose life.
We also will share communion and, at the end of worship, you'll have an opportunity to contribute to FBC's benevolence offering. Additional lectionary texts are Acts 10:27-36 and John 12:20-26.
This Sunday in worship, we gather around one of Jesus' seven “I am” statements found in the gospel of John: “I am the gate of the sheep … whoever enters through me will be saved.” Pastor Julie will preach the message, Discerning Love’s Voice. Additional lectionary texts are Psalm 23 and Acts 2:42-47.
Based on Luke 24:13-35
This Sunday in worship, we gather around the story of Jesus appearing to the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Pastor Julie will preach the message, The Breaking and the Burning. Additional lectionary texts are Psalm 19:1-6 and Acts 2:14a, 36-41.
Scripture Readings: Psalm 19:1-6, Acts 2:14a, 36-41
This Sunday in worship, longtime friend and former staff member of FBCDC, Lanny Peters, will preach the message, “Welcoming Belief and Unbelief,” based on John 20:19-31. Additional lectionary texts are Isaiah 25:6-9 and 1 Peter 1:3-9.
Based on John 20:19-31
Lanny served as "Parish Minister" at FBCDC from 1982 to 1989 and is returning to Washington this weekend to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his ordination by First Baptist Church in 1983. Lanny retired from pastoral ministry in 2017 after serving as pastor of Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur, GA, for 28 years. He is married to Karen and they have two adult sons, Thomas and Ashe.
Photo of Group gathering of dear friends of Lanny that followed the service.
Celebrate the resurrection of Christ at FBC and offer hospitality to our community on the brightest day of the Christian year. Bring a flower or two to adorn the flowering cross. Worship at 11am includes the music of choir, organ, and brass; the reading of the Easter story; a message of hope from Pastor Julie; Holy Communion; and an invitation to join the Chancel Choir in singing Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. Cookies and conversation after worship at a reception on the front patio.
Based on John 20:1-18
Remember Christ’s suffering and crucifixion through choral music and the reading of the Passion narratives from Scripture. The sanctuary grows darker as we extinguish a candle after each reading.
This Sunday is Palm Sunday. Pastor Julie will continue her sermon series “Seeking” with a message titled “Where are you headed?” The Gospel passage is Matthew 21:1-11 and the accompanying Lectionary texts are Isaiah 50:4-9a and Philippians 2:5-11.
In the Palm Sunday story, we see simultaneously-occurring parades of Jesus and Pontius Pilate entering Jerusalem. The question for us, essentially, is this: In which parade will we participate?
Message Text: Matthew 21:1-11
This Sunday, Pastor Julie continues the Lenten sermon series “Seeking,” with the message “Can these bones live?” The lectionary passages from Ezekiel 37 and John 11 focus on the stories of the prophet Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones and the raising of Lazarus.
As author and Bible commentator Danielle Shroyer observes: “God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones. Jesus tells those gathered to unbind Lazarus and let him go. This ridiculous, radical hope is ours not only to hold, but to proclaim.”
Message Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Pastor Julie continues the Lenten sermon series, Seeking: honest questions for deeper faith. This week's message is titled “Who Sinned?”
When it comes to faith, sometimes there are unhelpful questions—questions formed by assumptions. Questions that lead to judgment and/or isolation. When Jesus and the disciples encounter a blind man along the way, the disciples ask, “Teacher, whose sins—this man's or his parents'—caused him to be born blind?" (John 9:2). This unhelpful question assumes that illness and disability are the result of sin. It assumes that the man deserves to be born blind. It assumes that physical blindness is a form of failure.
How might this story have unfolded had more helpful questions been asked? This week, with the Spirit's help, let us pay attention to the questions we ask and the assumptions we carry.
Message Text: John 9:1-41
In the John 4 passage, Jesus seeks out connection with a Samaritan woman drawing water from the well. His question to her, “Will you give me a drink?” is an invitation to a new way of life. In their encounter, Jesus challenges Jewish and Samaritan assumptions about cultural and religious boundaries. He also sees the woman fully, and she leaves the well transformed.
This week, we might imagine ourselves at the well. Are we willing to let our assumptions be challenged? Are we open to seeking living waters that sustain us all? Are we willing to be changed by an encounter with the living Christ?
Message Text: John 4:5-30; 39-42
Lectionary Texts: Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11
The story of Nicodemus who asks the essential question: what does it mean to start over? Nicodemus comes to Jesus under the veil of night to ask him big faith questions. As a leader of Jewish law, Nicodemus holds beliefs that no longer align with the kingdom of God Jesus embodies. Jesus invites him to begin again, to learn a new way of knowing and living out his faith. In Genesis, God commands Abram and Sarai to leave everything—their home, their family, their land—to seek the land of Canaan and begin again. At 75 years old, Abram is called to start over, but through this new beginning, God creates a new family and a new nation. Like Nicodemus, what are the questions we ask in the dark? Like Abram and Sarai, how do we follow God’s calling to begin again?
We’re located at 16th and O Streets NW—in the heart of Washington, a mile north of the White House. We are part of the Dupont Circle and Logan Circle neighborhoods. Need more info? Call us or click below.
We look forward to greeting you in person. In the meantime, you can request prayer or ask a question by calling or sending an email.
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The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C.
1328 16th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 387-2206
Office Hours
Sunday 8:30 AM–2 PM
Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM–4 PM
Friday-Saturday Closed
