November Sermon Series
Christ calls us, and the Holy Spirit empowers us, to live wholly generous lives, giving our money, time, possessions, attention, aid, encouragement, emotional availability…and whatever else is ours to give.
FBC Operations Administrator Zena Aldridge Moving to Eastern Shore
Late this summer, our Operations Administrator Zena Aldridge shared with the Personnel Team and staff that she has made the decision to step away from her role after six years of service to our church. Zena will complete her tenure on our staff November 19.
In recent months, Zena and her family have discerned that this December is the right time to make a move to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Those of you who know Zena are aware she and her family have been considering this move for some time. Characteristic of Zena, she has been concerned about how this timing impacts the church in the midst of a busy season. We have assured Zena that we will both feel her absence, and that we also support her in this decision.
The Personnel Team has been working diligently with the staff to pave the way for a seamless transition and make the best plan for the church’s future. This includes assessing our past, present, and anticipated needs, while making sure essential duties and tasks are covered in an interim. We will communicate that plan with you in the days ahead.
In the meantime, we want to make the most of the time we have remaining with Zena. We will celebrate and thank Zena for her faithfulness, friendship, and excellent work in worship on Sunday, November 19. Part of our gift to her will be a love offering. You can contribute to this love offering online via the church website. Please choose “Make a donation” at the bottom of the page, and select Zena Aldridge Love Offering from the drop-down menu. You can also designate your gift in an envelope and placing it in the offering plate or dropping it off at the church office.
Please send Zena, Ron, and family your prayers and support, and please do the same for our church as we prepare for this transition.
Jan Kraybill Organ Recital Sunday Nov. 12 4pm
The 2023 Dr. Lawrence P. Schreiber Organ Recital features Jan Kraybill on Sunday, November 12 at 4:00 pm.
The recital is entitled, “A Community of Voices.” Dr. Kraybill writes: “Each of the pipes in an organ can speak at only one pitch, one volume, and one tone color. Differences in pipes’ sizes, shapes, and materials create varied sounds—each one is unique. By definition, then, a pipe organ is a community of voices. This program is designed to celebrate the rich variety of voices in this Austin pipe organ.” Musical selections are from well-known composers such as Bach, Gounod, Sibelius, and Widor as well as contemporary composers: Gunnar Idenstam, Mary Beth Bennett, Geoffrey Wilcken and Ralph Simpson.
Dr. Jan Kraybill is a musical leader, dynamic speaker, performer, educator, organ consultant, and enthusiastic advocate for the power of music to change lives for the better. In addition to maintaining a very active concert schedule, in the Kansas City metro area she is Organ Conservator at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Organist-in-Residence at Community of Christ headquarters, and organist at Village on Antioch Presbyterian Church.
The recital is free and open to the public. A reception will follow in Fellowship Hall.
Throughout her career Jan has performed as both a solo and collaborative musician, taught workshops on a variety of topics, and inspired audiences and congregations. While in high school in Colby, Kansas, she was invited to play her first European piano recital in Andover, England. Since then she has performed in many venues in North America and Europe, as well as in Australia, Russia, South Korea, and Tahiti. In 2015, she designed and led a hymn festival at the International Gathering of Hymn Societies at Cambridge University.
She has been a featured artist and presenter at regional and national conventions of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), the Hymn Society in the U.S. and Canada, the American Choral Directors Association, and other musicians’ organizations, and on American Public Media’s Pipedreams and other broadcasts. Several solo and collaborative recordings are available, including her Grammy-nominated album The Orchestral Organ, released by Reference Recordings in 2019 and nominated as Best Classical Instrumental Solo and in two other categories in 2020. Her most recent solo disc is Marked for Grace, released by Naxos in 2021.
Dr. Kraybill has degrees in music education and piano and organ performance. She attained the AGO’s Fellow certificate, organists’ highest certification level, in 2010. She has served in local, regional, and national roles in the AGO and other non-profit organizations. Her extra-musical interests include lacemaking, painting, and riding her Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
The recital is free and open to the public. A reception will follow in Fellowship Hall.
Angel Tree Adoption Party
THIS SUNDAY: Angel Tree Adoption Party
Sunday, Oct. 22 after worship
First Baptist DC is sponsoring 25 children in need through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. Join Santa’s elves in picking Angels from the Angel Tree this Sunday, October 22, right after worship in the Narthex.
Susan Lucas
If you can’t make the kickoff party, please contact a co-chair and they will select a child for you. This year’s co-chairs are Susan Lucas and Linda Salmon; reach out to Susan or Linda with any questions - Susan: lucas100@comcast.net or Linda lfsalmon@verizon.net.
Linda Salmon
Angel Tree is a unique holiday assistance program that connects an individual or group sponsor with a deserving child (‘angel’) in need. The Salvation Army has been running this program for over 40 years to ensure that these children have a wonderful holiday season with their families. Last year over 12,000 children in the National Capitol Area received new gifts from the Angel Tree Program and our congregation sponsored 25 children.
The kickoff party allows sponsors to be matched with their angel and is a great time to get in the holiday spirit with your friends at FBCDC! The party is typically 30 minutes long and we’ll continue the tradition of corny holiday jokes (including some for Halloween!). Sponsors will be provided the first name, gender, age, clothing sizes and 3 wish list gift items of their child. Suggested spending for each angel is $80-$150; feel free to join with a group in providing for a child. There are two ways to deliver gifts and clothing:
Traditional: Bring items to the church building and they will be gathered and delivered to local Salvation Army warehouse.
Contactless: Order gifts online and have items delivered to local Salvation Army Warehouse.
Deadline for delivery is December 1.