January 28 2024 | Holy Disruption

This morning in worship, Pastor Julie continues the sermon series, “Holy: Soul-Shaping Moments with Jesus.” Her message this Sunday is Holy Disruption, based on Mark 1:21-28, in which Jesus heals a man possessed by an evil spirit. New Testament scholar Brian Blount asks: will we go with Jesus and help him create the holy chaos he’s initiating, or will we do everything in our power to hinder him so we can maintain the status-quo?

Additional Lectionary passages are Deuteronomy 18:15-20 and 1 Corinthians 8:1-13.

January 21 2024 | Holy Invitation

Pastor Julie continues the sermon series, “Holy: Soul-Shaping Moments with Jesus.” Her message this Sunday is Holy Invitation, based on Mark 1:14-20, in which Jesus issues a holy, life-altering invitation to Simon, Andrew, James and John, to follow him. Additional Lectionary passages are Psalm 62:5-12 and 1 Corinthians 7:29-31.

January 14, 2024 | Holy Affinity

Pastor Julie begins a new sermon series titled Holy: Soul-Shaping Moments with Jesus. Her message this Sunday is Holy Affinity, based on John 1:43-51, in which Nathanael asks about Jesus, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  This story invites us to take up the holy practice of re-examining the assumptions by which we live.

Additional Lectionary passages are Genesis 1:1-5 and 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.

January 7, 2024 | Epiphany Sunday | Those Who Dream Persevere

This morning, Pastor Julie preaches the message “Those Who Dream Persevere,” based on Matthew 2:1-12. Additional Lectionary passages are Isaiah 60:1-6 and Acts 19:1-7.

As is our first Sunday of the month custom, we will celebrate communion together. We will return to our practice of taking the bread and the cup by intinction: dipping a gluten-free wafer into a cup of juice. (Only those serving communion will touch the wafer, and they will sanitize their hands prior to serving.)

We also will be invited to create “star words” or “star gifts,” an Epiphany prayer practice observed by Protestant congregations around the world for some time. The word you choose, or discover in prayer, becomes an intention or guiding word for the new year.

December 31, 2023 | New Year’s Eve | Pastor Eric Preaching

December 24, 2023 | Christmas Eve

“And Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger…” Celebrate Christmas Eve with First Baptist Church. Worship includes Christmas carols, the music of choir, organ, brass, holy communion, and a Christmas Eve meditation from Pastor Julie. The service ends with the lighting of congregational candles.

December 17, 2023 | 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. Join us on Sunday, December 17, at 4:00 p.m. for Blue Christmas: A Service of Consolation.

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. Please consider inviting and accompanying someone you know who needs some comfort and hope this year.

December 17, 2023 | Advent 2: Those Who Dream Sow Joy

This Sunday in worship, we continue the Advent series, Those Who Dream. Pastor Julie will preach the message “Those Who Dream Sow Joy” from Luke 1:46-55 in which Mary’s song of praise calls us to rejoice in the coming birth of the Savior. Lectionary texts are Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24.

Ultimately, dreams sow joy, even if that joy doesn’t immediately spring forth. Sowing seeds into the soil always feels risky and feeble—how can something so small become something so beautiful, so big, and so nourishing? Like Mary, we are called to tend and nurture the dreams God has woven into us.

December 10, 2023 | Advent 2: Those Who Dream Prepare the Way

This Sunday in worship, we continue the Advent series, Those Who Dream. Pastor Julie will preach the message “Those Who Dream Prepare the Way” from Mark 1:1-8, in which John the Baptist calls the crowds (including us) to the journey of repentance and transformation. Lectionary texts are Isaiah 40:1-11 and 2 Peter 3::8-15.

Those who dream prepare the way for God’s message of love and liberation to be shouted, heard, and received. Those who dream lay the ground for righteousness and peace to join hands—for faithfulness to spring up from the ground (Ps. 85:10-11).

December 3, 2023 | Advent 1: Those Who Dream Keep Awake

In worship we light the Advent candle of Hope, and Pastor Julie will preach the message “Those Who Dream Keep Awake.” Lectionary texts are Mark 13:24-37, Isaiah 64:1-9, and 1 Corinthians 1:3-9. We will also observe communion and collect a benevolence offering.

November 26, 2023 | “Your Lips Say Yes, But …”

This morning in worship, we celebrate the reign of Christ Sunday. Pastor Julie will preach the message “Your Lips Say Yes, But …” from Matthew 21:23-32. Additional lectionary readings are Psalm 100 and Ephesians 1:15-23. The choir will sing the anthems “Christus Paradox” by Fedak and “The Old 100th Psalm Tune” by Vaughan Williams.

November 19, 2023 | Wholly Generous: On Not Playing It Safe

The Wholly Generous sermon series concludes this Sunday with Pastor Julie’s sermon, On Not Playing it Safe, based on Matthew 25:14-30. Other readings are 1 Chronicles 29:10-14 and Ephesians 3:8-9, 14-21.

November 12, 2023 | Wholly Generous: Unclenched

This Sunday in worship, Pastor Julie continues the “Wholly Generous” sermon series with the message, Unclenched, based on Luke's telling of the story of the impoverished widow who gave away all she had to live on (Lk. 20:45-47 – 21:1-6). Other scripture readings are Psalm 90 and 1 John 3:1-3.

November 5, 2023 | Exceeding Expectations for God’s Church | Rev. Dr. Aqueelah Ligonde Preaching

This Sunday in worship, we celebrate All Saints Day and begin a new series: Wholly Generous. One of our consultants from Ministry Architects, Rev. Dr. Aqueelah Ligonde, will be preaching the message, Exceeding Expectations for God’s Church, based on Matthew 23:1-12, Hebrews 12:1-3, and 2 Corinthians 8:1-15.

October 29, 2023 | The God Who Keeps Faith

The sermon series God on the Move concludes today with Pastor Julie preaching the sermon, The God Who Keeps Faith, based on Deuteronomy 34:1-12. Other scripture readings are from 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 and Matthew 22:34-40.

October 22, 2023 | The God Who Gives Grace | Pastor Eric Preaching

This Sunday in worship, we continue the sermon series “God on the Move.” Pastor Eric will preach the message “The God Who Gives Grace” from Exodus 33:12-23. Additional scripture readings are 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 and Matthew 22:15-22.

October 15, 2023 | The God Who Relents

This Sunday in worship, we continue the sermon series God on the Move, journeying with the Israelites from slavery to freedom. Pastor Julie will preach the sermon The God Who Relents, based on Exodus 32:1-14. Accompanying scripture readings are Matthew 22:1-14 and Philippians 4:1-9.

October 8, 2023 | The God Who Commands

Today in worship, we continue to gather around the book of Exodus. Pastor Julie will preach the sermon The God Who Commands, which centers on the story of God giving Moses the Ten Commandments, in Exodus 20:1-4, 7-10a, 12-20. Accompanying scripture readings are Philippians 3:4b-14 and Matthew 21:33-46.

October 1, 2023 | The God Who Provides | World Communion Sunday

Pastor Julie continues preaching from the sermon series, “God on the Move” with a sermon based on Exodus 17:1-7 entitled, The God Who Provides. Additional lectionary readings are Philippians 2:1-13 and Matthew 21:23-32.

In conjunction with other Christian communions and believers worldwide, we celebrate World Communion Sunday to recognize our unity in Christ.

September 24, 2023 | God on the Move: The God Who Feeds

Today in worship, Pastor Julie preaches the message, The God Who Feeds, based on Exodus 16:2-15, a story of grumbling and grace, as God feeds the wandering, complaining Israelites with enough food for their daily need. Additional Lectionary texts are Philippians 1:21-30 and Matthew 20:1-16.