February 25, 2024 | Wandering Heart: The Risk-Taker

This Sunday marks the second Sunday in Lent. Pastor Julie continues the sermon series “Wandering Heart,” tracing the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most well-known disciples, Simon Peter. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter we may see ourselves. This week’s scripture passages are Matthew 14:22-33 and Psalm 22:23-31.

As we worship together this Lenten season, you will notice some changes to our usual patterns in worship. In the spirit of adding a spiritual practice, we will add a rhythm of confessing our sins to God. In the spirit of giving something up, we will replace our usual Doxology with an alternative Doxology. These small changes will remind us that we are journeying together through a season that is about adding and subtracting in ways that point us toward familiar and fresh expressions of following Christ.

February 18, 2024 | Wandering Heart: The Skeptic

This Sunday marks the first Sunday in Lent. Pastor Julie begins the sermon series “Wandering Heart,” tracing the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most well-known disciples, Simon Peter. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter we may see ourselves. This week’s scripture passages are Luke 5:1-11 and Psalm 25:1-10.

As we worship together this Lenten season, you will notice some changes to our usual patterns in worship. In the spirit of adding a spiritual practice, we will add a rhythm of confessing our sins to God. In the spirit of giving something up, we will replace our usual Doxology with an alternative Doxology. These small changes will remind us that we are journeying together through a season that is about adding and subtracting in ways that point us toward familiar and fresh expressions of following Christ.

February 11, 2024 | Hush, Dear People, and Just Listen | Guest Preacher Paul Nixon

Today in worship, we welcome guest proclaimer Paul Nixon who will preach the message Hush, Dear People, and Just Listen based on Mark 9:2-9. Other lectionary texts are Psalm 50:1-6.

Paul is author of multiple books on Christian leadership in a fast-changing age. He is president of The Epicenter Group, a coaching and leadership development organization based in Washington DC. Epicenter coaches about 100 church leaders each year in North America and the UK.

Paul grew up in southern California and came to faith there. His work has taken him to 49 of 50 states, and several nations working with a wide array of Christian leaders. Today he serves part time on the staff of UMC of Palm Springs, even as he continues to keep an office presence in Washington DC.

A long-time friend of Pastor Julie, Paul preached at her installation in 2016. Paul’s husband, Justin Kan, will worship with FBC as well.

February 4, 2024 | Holy Rhythm

Do you ever feel as though you’re headed for a crash and burn—as though the pace of your life couldn’t get any faster? In this morning's sermon, Holy Rhythm, based on Mark 1:29-39, Jesus demonstrates this good news: that God made us to live and move to the holy rhythm of stepping in and stepping back, the cadence of advance and retreat. Additional Lectionary passages are Isaiah 40:21-31 and 1 Corinthians 9:16-23.

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.