First Baptist Weekly Calendar
Wednesdays
4:30 p.m. Early Bird Bible Study
5:30 p.m. Fellowship Meal
6:15 p.m. Adult Bible Study, Youth and First Kids, Adult Handbells
7:15 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Sundays
9:15 a.m. Prayer Room and Library Open
9:45 a.m. Bible Study for All Ages
11:00 a.m. Worship Service
4:30-6:30 p.m. First Kids and Youth
The Nursery is available for ages birth to 3 years during both Worship and Bible Study, contact Jamie Higginbotham if you would like to volunteer in the nursery.
New to First Baptist?
Dear newcomers,
We extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to our church family! We're excited to announce the return of our Wednesday night activities, starting on January 10th. Join us for a spiritually enriching Early Bird Bible Study at 4:30 pm, followed by a delightful Fellowship Meal at 5:30 pm. There's something for everyone in the family: Adult Bible Study, First Kids and Youth activities, and Adult Handbells at 6:15 pm, with Chancel Choir Rehearsal at 7:15 pm. If it's your family's first visit, your meal is on us. For subsequent visits, children age 6 and under are FREE, and everyone else is $7. Due to the marked increase in food costs, we have made this change to our pricing. We appreciate your understanding.
Please fill out a reservation card in the church pew, or call the church office by Mondays at noon to make a reservation. Be sure to let Katie know if it is a permanent reservation, or just for that week. We can't wait to share this special time of fellowship and growth with you.
Blessings,
First Baptist Staff
Church Calendar of Events
Please see weekly schedule above for our regular activities, added events are listed below:
May 5 Bridal Shower for Melissa Reynolds
Final First Kids/Youth
May 10 Relay for Life, Wilkes at Rotary Park (West Park)
May 11 Coloring God’s World Community Children's Event 11-1 p.m.
May 12 Mother's Day and Children's Sunday
May 19 Youth & Graduate Sunday
May 21 Wilkes Central High School Choral Concert 7:30 p.m.
May 22 Final Wed. Night before Summer Break Celebrating Mike and Dianna Bullock!
May 23 CareNet Alzheimer's/Dementia Caregiver Support Group 11 a.m.
St. Paul's Volunteers "Team A" serve lunch at Crisis Ministry
Wilkes Central High School Baccalaureate, Book Club 1 p.m.
May 27 Memorial Day, Office Closed
Church Teams, Clubs, and Committee Meetings
Please see weekly schedule above for our regular activities, added events are listed below:
Book Club
The Shelf Indulgence Book Club will meet on Thurs., May 23 at 1:00 p.m. to discuss Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee meets Tues., May 14 at 2:30 p.m.
Executive Committee/First Baptist Diaconate
There will be no Deacon’s meeting or Executive Committee meeting in May.
Alzheimer/Dementia Caregivers’ Support Group
The group meets on the 2nd/4th Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. in Wayland Hall.
This month, May 9 and May 23.
Knitting Team
Knitting Team will meet Thurs., May 2 at 1 p.m.
Little Free Pantry
Our Deacons In-House Missions Team has created a sign up link so that we can keep our Little Free Pantry stocked each week. It is clear that this important ministry is being utilized by the community, and we want to be sure there is food available if someone should have a need. You may sign up using this link. Thank you, church family, for your care and compassion. There is a link at the top of this page, or click here: https://volunteersignup.org/XK7JT
Library News--Celebrate a special mother in your life! Enter her name in the library to win this mug. Drawing will be held Mother’s Day after Sunday School.
New fiction has arrived in our library and are located to your right as you enter the library. One of the books "Night Bird Calling" by Cathy Goelke, is based in Wilkes County. This fictional account describes the life of Lilianna Swopes, who flees an abusive husband in Pennsylvania, to come to her great aunt Hyacinth Belvedere for protection during the 1940's. In the author's acknowledgements, she gives credit to Etta Idol (former teacher at West Wilkes High School and prominent Wilkes Countian) for her friendship and stories of her childhood home.
Other books are available and we hope you will stop by on your next visit to church. Support your local church library!
Children's Ministry
Jamie Higginbotham, Children's Director
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May 11,
New Date ---->
Food plates for purchase
Coloring God’s World event has been rescheduled to MAY 11th 11-1 p.m.
May has MANY opportunities for our First Kids to enjoy and celebrate God's love! We start with Coloring God's World on May 11th from 11-1pm, exploring MANY different ways to use the colors and imagination God gave us. This event is for the entire family, friends, neighbors, grandchildren, and grandparents alike, and truly anyone who would like to join us! We will have lunch plates available for purchase which include a hot dog, chips, cookies, and a drink for just $5. Donations for two activities will be requested.
On Sunday, May 12th, is our Children's Sunday. Our theme is "I Want to Be the One." First Kids will be taking over the Worship Service! Children who would like to participate in this special day, are asked to attend Sunday evenings and Sunday School to prepare and practice for this very special day. Please help your child by bringing them on Sunday evenings from 4:30-6:30 the next two Sundays and to Sunday School.
Our last Sunday evening of the school year is Sunday, May 5th. Our last Wednesday night for the school year is May 22nd.
Last but not least, we are preparing for VBS which will be June 9th-11th this year. Much earlier than previous years, however, we believe, it will start our summer off just right!
Please be in prayer for all of these events and for each of our First Kids as they see their church family sharing the love of Jesus with them and their community and travel their own Jesus Journey.
We are in need of volunteers for the nursery in June and July. If you have a love for babies and want to share this love with our littlest FBC faces, we welcome you to help with this very important ministry. If you have never served with our children's or youth ministry, you will need a simple background check. Once you sign up to volunteer, CIA (Clear Investigative Advantage) will send you a link to complete the background check. Jamie Higginbotham will receive the completed report. Sign up below!
First Baptist Youth
Reverend Patricia Turner
Associate Pastor
Thank you to all volunteers, and especially Mickey Leapley, for helping make our MerleFest Parking Fundraiser a success. We were able to raise $7200 that will go toward Youth Missions and Ministry!
May brings many things to FBCNW Youth Ministry. On May 5 we will assist Aurora Higginbotham with her senior project which includes a party for the children of Ebenezer Children's Homes. We assisted Grace Dorsett last semester with her project by singing as a group. We are excited to celebrate these two seniors during the months of May and June. We are glad they included their church in their senior projects.
Sunday, May 19 all youth will be leading us in worship. Pray for our youth as they prepare and be in worship with them as they lead. We will also celebrate our graduates that Sunday during worship and with lunch and fellowship. Our two graduates are Aurora Higginbotham and Grace Dorsett. If you would like to give cards of encouragement to them as they begin this next journey I encourage you to do so. We cannot support our graduates enough on this next journey in their life. Think back to your journey and remember how difficult it was. Well in today's world it is even more difficult with all the pressure they face. Please pray for them during this time of celebration and transition.
May also bring exams for our youth. Please remember all our youth in your prayers the month of May as they take exams! Offer words of encouragement to them as you see them. Exams are hard and the youth feel the pressure.
Finally, we will be planning some Sunday summer get-togethers for the youth once a month. If you are willing to host the youth at your house after worship for a time of lunch and fellowship please let Patricia know. These times of learning more about our church members and fellowship are so important in our lives. Wednesdays will include mission projects and fun activities. If you wish to help plan any of these activities or be involved please let Patricia know.
Thank you for your support and prayers for our youth ministry. You are a vital part of our family.
Mark Your Calendars
Sunday, May 19 - Youth and Graduate Sunday
Youth will lead the entire worship service and we will recognize our graduates!!
Lunch and fellowship time for the graduates and their families as well as all youth will be held after worship!!
Vacation Bible School - June 9-11
If you can help please let Patricia or Jamie know.
Youth Ministry Need: The Youth Ministry is in need of a couple good, used couches. If anyone knows of any, please let Katie or Patricia know.
Crisis Ministry Volunteers Needed (**See UPDATE BELOW!)
If you would like to help prepare and serve meals at the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Crisis Ministry with which our church has partnered, Deacons Local Missions Team invites you to an informational and planning meeting on Wednesday, January 17, at 11:00am in the Wayland Hall. At this meeting, we will discuss the role our volunteers will play, talk about menu options, as well as sign up for dates to serve.
We are scheduled to provide lunch in the St. Paul’s Parish Hall on Thursdays from 11:30am—12:30pm.
January 25
February 22
March 28
April 25
May 23
June 27
What a great opportunity to serve others in the name of Jesus and have a wonderful time doing it! If you have questions, contact Bert in the church office.
**UPDATE!
On the two Wednesdays prior to our St. Paul's meal, we will be taking up baby items, such as diapers, wipes, baby wash, as well as adult toiletries. You may bring these items to the Wayland Hall on Wed. nights. Thank you, church for your generous donations thus far!