This morning in worship we begin the second summer sabbatical series, “What Kind of Church.” Pastor Eric will preach the message titled, “The Dangerous Act of Worship.” The sermon text will be Luke 4:14-21. Accompanying passages will be Nehemiah 8:1-10 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. We will celebrate communion and collect a benevolence offering in worship, and enjoy our first Sunday potluck fellowship following worship.
June 30 2024 | Chancel Choir | Hymns of the Presidents: A Service of Music and Worship
The FBCDC Chancel Choir leads worship inspired by hymns of the Presidents. This service includes hymns sung by the Chancel Choir and congregation, accompanied by readings that connect the hymns to the life and service of United States Presidents.
June 23 2024 | Glenn Prince | When Hunger Goes Unmet
We continue the summer sabbatical series, “One True Thing.” Our guest proclaimer is Glenn Prince, who grew up in our congregation. He is delivering the message titled, “When Hunger Goes Unmet.” The sermon text is Mark 11:12-14; 20-22. Accompanying passages will be Psalm 138 and Hebrews 13:7-16.
Reverend Glenn Monteith Prince is the Senior Pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church, and a high school social studies teacher in the historic city of Orangeburg, South Carolina. Reverend Prince accepted Christ at the age of 13 while he attended First Baptist Church of Washington, DC. and accepted his call to the ministry at 17. He was ordained as a Baptist Minister in 1993 and throughout his walk with Christ, Rev Prince has been an educator, author, and community advocate.
Rev. Prince received his Bachelors in History from the University of South Carolina, and Master of Divinity degree from Howard University. He has over 25 years of experience in education as a special education analyst, church health ministry developer and as an organizer, speaker and an adjunct instructor for Claflin University, South Carolina State University and Benedict College. Rev. Prince is an ABD doctoral candidate in Educational Psychology at the University of South Carolina’s School of Education.
Rev Prince moved from Washington, DC to Columbia, SC in 1992. Prior to his current pastorate at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, he served as the Senior Pastor of Shiloh First Independent Church, Dean of Chapel for Benedict College, and as an associate minister where he preached and taught throughout the state.
Rev. Glenn M. Prince is the proud son of Wilma and the late Melvyn Prince, long-time FBCDC members. He is a loving and devoted father of three adult children ages 28, 27, and 21. He is a mentor to many youths and an advocate in the fight against poverty, and for senior care. Pastor Prince loves the Lord and seeks to walk with God each day.
June 16 2024 | Ben Sandford | It Depends on Your Perspective
This week we continue the summer sabbatical series, “One True Thing.” Our guest proclaimer will be Ben Sandford. He will be delivering the message titled, “It Depends on Your Perspective.” The sermon text will be Luke 10:25-37. Accompanying passages will be Deuteronomy 30:9-14 and Colossians 1:9-14.
Chaplain Bennett C. (“Ben”) Sandford, a native of Hampton, Virginia, entered active duty in 2001. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia, and he has earned a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology from Union Presbyterian Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. His prior service includes 6 years in the Navy Reserves as an Intelligence Specialist.
His first assignment was on USS NORMANDY (CG 60) where he deployed for 6 months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002. He then served at CREDO Norfolk from 2003-2006. Transferring to 2D Marine Division, he was assigned to 2D Battalion, 6th Marines, and deployed to Fallujah, Iraq for 7 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon his return, he was reassigned to 2D Combat Engineer Battalion. In January 2009, he reported to U.S. Marine Corps, Special Operations Command, and deployed with the Special Operations Task Force-82 to Herat, Afghanistan for 10 months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Chaplain Sandford completed the Pastoral Care Residency program in 2011, and served at Naval Medical Center-Portsmouth in 2012-2014.
Upon promotion to Commander, he became the Director, Surface Forces Ministry Center in Norfolk, Virginia. Following this tour, he served as Command Chaplain, USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN 75), and deployed as the Carrier Strike Group EIGHT Chaplain during a 9-month deployment to the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Norwegian Sea. He was then assigned as Command Chaplain, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. After selecting for Captain, he was forward-deployed to Okinawa, Japan as Wing Chaplain, 1st Marine Air Wing in November 2019. In 2022, he assumed the duties as Force Chaplain at III Marine Expeditionary Force. Chaplain Sandford became the current Director of Strategic Communication for the Chaplain Corps in July 2023.
Captain Sandford’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), Combat Action Ribbon (two awards), and various unit, campaign, and service awards. He is married to the former Lindsey Matthews, and he has three sons and a daughter.
June 9 2024 | Kasey Jones | God is Faithful
This week we continue the summer sabbatical series, “One True Thing.” Our guest proclaimer will be Kasey Jones. She will be delivering the message titled, “God is Faithful.” The sermon text will be 1 Kings 19:1-10. Accompanying passages will be 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 and Luke 12:22-31.
Rev. Kasey Jones serves as the Associate Coordinator of Outreach and Growth for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s (CBF) global office. The work brings together her organizing and ministry experience to help build God’s kingdom in more inclusive way by providing leadership to CBF’s racial justice and equity work.
Reverend Jones values and understands the importance of collaborative work between individuals and organizations. At her core, she believes both the faith community and local community are at their best when they work together cooperatively. Consequently, she has served on the local and national level for various Baptist bodies. She has served as an officer and national moderator to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The Baptist World Alliance chose her to participate in its Emerging Leaders Network. The Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention invited her to participate in their Pastoral Excellence Program.
Rev. Jones received her Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. and her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Howard University in Washington, DC.
In 2006, she became the first woman and African American to serve as Senior Pastor of National Baptist Memorial Church in Washington, DC where she served for nearly 12-years.
Prior to pursuing a call to ministry, Rev. Kasey Jones worked for more than 15+ years as a community organizer and advocate. She brings this background to her call in the form of expertise in program planning, community service, and advocacy work with both sacred and secular institutions at the local, national, and global levels. In all this work, she most enjoys developing initiatives that cultivate and challenge youth, adults, and seniors to use their individual and collective abilities to transform institutions and communities.
June 2 2024 | Amanda Tyler | Freedom to Love
Today we continue the summer sabbatical series, “One True Thing.” Our guest proclaimer will be Amanda Tyler. She will be delivering the message titled, “Freedom to Love.” The sermon text will be Galatians 5:1, 13-14. Accompanying passages will be Psalm 16 and John 15:9-17.
Amanda Tyler is executive director of BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty), leading the organization as it upholds the historic Baptist principle of religious liberty: defending the free exercise of religion and protecting against its establishment by government. She is the lead organizer of BJC’s Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign and co-host of BJC’s Respecting Religion podcast.
Tyler is the author of How to End Christian Nationalism, which will be published by Broadleaf Books on October 22, 2024.
May 26 2024 | Eric Mathis | One True Thing | Resurrection is Real
Today in worship, we continue the sabbatical sermon series One True Thing. In this sermon series, guest preachers are drawing from biblical texts that have deeply influenced their lives. This week’s preacher is Pastor Eric, preaching a message from Romans 8:31-39, titled Resurrection is Real. Supplemental texts are 1 Corinthians 15:12-22 and Matthew 28:1-10.
May 19 2024 | Pentecost Worship: Chuck Poole | Concerning the Wind of The Spirit
Today is Pentecost Sunday. On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit empowered believers in Jesus to praise God in many languages that they had not learned in the ordinary way. On Pentecost Sunday we celebrate the multilingual, multicultural, multiracial mission of the church—a community in which all peoples are drawn together by God’s love in Christ.
This morning our guest proclaimer will be Rev. Dr. Charles “Chuck” Poole. He will be delivering the message titled, “Concerning the Wind of the Spirit.” The sermon text will be Acts 2:1-21. Accompanying passages will be Psalm 104:24-34, 35b and John 20:19-22.
Dr. Poole is a sought-after preacher and theologian who retired in 2022 from forty-five years of pastoral life, during which he served churches in Georgia, North Carolina, Washington DC, and Jackson, Mississippi. He was the sixteenth Senior Pastor of The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington from 1995-1997.
Chuck has served as a visiting preacher and teacher on the campuses of Mercer University, Furman University, The Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, The Baptist House of Studies at Duke University, The McAfee School of Theology, Campbell University, Mississippi College, Gardner-Webb University and the Wake Forest University School of Divinity. He was the founding teacher of the Wood Street Bible Class in Jackson, which he led for twenty-one years.
The author of nine books, numerous published articles, one gospel song, and the lyrics to three hymns, Chuck has served as a “minister on the street”, and as an advocate for interfaith conversation and welcome.
Chuck and Marcia now live in Birmingham, where Chuck serves on the staff of Together for Hope. Marcia and Chuck have a son, Joshua, a daughter, Maria, and ten grandchildren.
May 12 2024 | The Powerful Pause: Pause to Be
Today in worship, Pastor Julie concludes the sermon series,The Powerful Pause: Reclaiming Your Soul Through Sabbath with a message from Ephesians 2:4-10, titled Pause to Be. As Pastor Julie prepares to step away for her sabbatical, we will commission her and commit ourselves to the work of the church.
Worship, and the sermon, will remind us that who we are before God and who we are becoming before God outweighs and outlasts anything that we do. The invitation to all of us on Sunday will be: “Don’t let your work be your whole life. Be alive to the people around you. Be alive to your own soul. And be alive to God. Let who you are be so much more than what you do.” Supplemental texts are Psalm 23 and Matthew 11:28-30.
Mel Doxie Celebration of Life
May 5 2024 | The Powerful Pause: Pause for Perspective
Today in worship, Pastor Julie continues the sermon series,The Powerful Pause: Reclaiming Your Soul Through Sabbath with a message from Matthew 14:10, 12-23, titled Pause for Perspective.
Jesus showed us the holy rhythm of advance and retreat; of stepping in, then stepping away. Setting aside the time and space for silence, contemplation, and prayer is the source of Jesus’ discernment, freedom from other people’s agenda, and capacity to speak and act in profound ways. Supplemental texts are Psalm 55:1-8 and Ephesians 3:14-21.
April 28 2024 | The Powerful Pause: Pause to Pay Attention
Today in worship, Pastor Julie continues the sermon series,The Powerful Pause: Reclaiming Your Soul Through Sabbath with a message from Exodus 3:1-12, titled Pause to Pay Attention.
In the story of Moses and the burning bush, Moses is willing to see, to pay attention to something that’s inviting him to deviate from his plans. God invites us to be fully present in whatever moment we happen to be. Supplemental texts are Matthew 6:24-34 and Philippians 4:4-9.
April 21, 2024 | The Powerful Pause: Pause to be Free
Today in worship, Pastor Julie continues her new sermon series,The Powerful Pause: Reclaiming Your Soul Through Sabbath with a message from Deuteronomy 5:6, 12-15.
Sabbath gives us the gift of freedom. A day of stopping is a day for us to know that we are in bondage to nothing in this world. When we keep a Sabbath, we’re practicing independence—at least for a day—from the frantic pace set by Wall Street, Washington, Hollywood, Amazon, and the culture around us. Supplemental texts are Luke 13:10-17 and Galatians 5:1-6, 13-14.
April 14, 2024 | The Powerful Pause: Pause Primer
This Sunday in worship, Pastor Julie begins a new sermon series,The Powerful Pause: Reclaiming Your Soul Through Sabbath with a message from Exodus 20:1-17, titled Pause Primer.
How astonishing that weekly rest and worship made it into God's list of Top Ten concerns. God’s good intention is that stopping, resting, and recalibrating be part of the regular rhythm of our living. Supplemental texts are Hebrews 4:1-11 and Mark 2:23-28.
April 7, 2024 | Breathing Out, Breathing In
Today in worship, Pastor Julie will preach the message "Breathing Out, Breathing In." Her message will focus on John 20:19-31. Supplemental texts are Psalm 133 and 1 John 1:1-2:2. In worship, we will take communion together, engage our Ministry Interest Survey, and collect a benevolence offering.
March 31, 2024 | Easter Sunday
Today we celebrate Christ’s resurrection with the flowered cross; the music of choir, organ, and brass; baptisms and communion; and a message of hope from Pastor Julie titled “Stronger Than Death.” Scripture passages are 1 Corinthians 13 and John 20:1-18. Enjoy conversation and refreshments at the after-worship reception on the 16th Street patio.
March 24, 2024 | Palm/Passion Sunday
This Sunday is Palm Sunday, which will mark the beginning of Holy Week. In this Palm Sunday service we will journey with Jesus as he is welcomed in triumph upon entering Jerusalem and then betrayed, rejected, and arrested. Scripture readings will be Matthew 21:1-11, John 18:1-12, and John 18:12-27.
Embedded in worship will be Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, presented as a musical offering by our Chancel Choir, soloists, and organist. While a requiem is a musical setting of texts that are associated with death, dying, mourning, and grief, Fauré's Requiem distinguishes itself from others in that its music is characterized by comfort, serenity, peace, and tranquility. This 30-minute work will help us mark the start of Holy Week and hold space for a range of emotions as we follow Christ into the darkest of places before resurrection morning.
March 17, 2024 | Wandering Heart: The Learner
In Matthew 18:15-22, Jesus teaches about community and repair. Peter, eager to learn, asks him a follow-up question. Jesus gives an expansive answer, emphasizing the abundance of forgiveness. This story shows the importance of asking questions and expanding our faith, especially when we’re comfortable not having all the answers and we’re open to seeing the world in more nuanced ways. Additional Scripture text is Psalm 119:9-16.
March 10, 2024 | Wandering Heart: The Hindrance
Today is the Fourth Sunday in the 40-day season of Lent. As we make our way together toward Easter, we are walking beside Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ most well-known disciples, who also has something of a wandering heart.
In this morning's Gospel text, just moments after Jesus has praised Peter for his faith, saying, “You are the rock on which I’m going to build my church,” Jesus calls Peter Satan! (Ouch.) The text ends with Jesus’ invitation to the disciples and to us to take up our cross and follow the living Christ.
Scripture passages are Matthew 16:21-23 and Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22.
March 3, 2024 | Wandering Heart: The Rock
Today marks the third Sunday in Lent. We will welcome the Furman Singers from Furman University, receive communion, and collect our first Sunday benevolence offering. Pastor Eric will offer a brief meditation in the continuing sermon series “Wandering Heart,” tracing the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most well-known disciples, Simon Peter. This week, Jesus refers to Simon Peter as “The Rock.” Scripture passages are Matthew 16:13-20 and Psalm 19.