First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, DC, Washington D.C., DC Videos

Staff Christmas Greeting 2023

Christmas Eve @ 4:00 pm🎄 “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.

Christmas Eve @ 4:00 pm🎄 “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 | Advent 2: Those Who Dream Sow Joy
Today in worship, we continue the Advent series, Those Who Dream. Pastor Julie preaches 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.

Jan Kraybill performs free at 4pm on Sunday, November 12 at FBCDC in the 2023 Dr. Lawrence P. Schreiber Organ Recital. 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. The recital is free and open to the public.

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. The recital is free and open to the public.

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. The recital is free and open to the public.

This Sunday, November 5, First Baptist honors that “great cloud of witnesses” who have gone before us, remembering the loved ones who died in the past year and on whose broad shoulders we stand. All are welcome to reflect and pray with us. ‌ “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4 (NLT)

YOUR BLOOD IS NEEDED. All who come to give Oct. 25 will get a $10 e-gift card to a restaurant merchant of their choice. https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=First%20Baptist%20Church%20of%20DC

Join us in-person at 16th & "O"st NW or via stream to firstbaptistdbc.org & First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, DC every Sunday at 11am.

October 1, 2023 | World Communion Sunday
astor 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 participate in World Communion Sunday to recognize our unity in Christ. We will collect a benevolence offering following communion.

Another update!

July 16, 2023 | The Hilarious Farmer
This Sunday, Pastor Julie will preach the message The Hilarious Farmer based on Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23. Reflecting on this text, also known as The Parable of the Sower, preaching professor Tom Long concludes: "...the church is called to ‘waste itself,’ to throw grace around like there is no tomorrow..."� Additional scripture texts are Psalm 119:105-112 and Romans 8:1-6, 11. The Chancel Choir will sing “The Word Was God” by Rosephanye Powell.

May 28 2023 | Wind, Fire, Flesh | Pentecost Sunday
Based on Numbers 11:24-30; 1 Corinthians 12:12-20; and John 20:19-23 This Sunday in worship we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Christ followers after his ascent to heaven. Pastor Julie will preach the message Wind, Fire, Flesh. The Chancel Choir will sing Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me and the gospel anthem Praise God’s Holy Name.

March 26, 2023 | Seeking: Can these bones live?
This Sunday, Pastor Julie continues the Lenten sermon series “Seeking,” with the message “Can these bones live?” The lectionary passages from Ezekiel 37 and John 11 focus on the stories of the prophet Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones and the raising of Lazarus.��As author and Bible commentator Danielle Shroyer observes: “God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones. Jesus tells those gathered to unbind Lazarus and let him go. This ridiculous, radical hope is ours not only to hold, but to proclaim.” Message Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14

March 12, 2023 | Seeking: Will you give me a drink?
In the John 4 passage, Jesus seeks out connection with a Samaritan woman drawing water from the well. His question to her, “Will you give me a drink?” is an invitation to a new way of life. In their encounter, Jesus challenges Jewish and Samaritan assumptions about cultural and religious boundaries. He also sees the woman fully, and she leaves the well transformed. This week, we might imagine ourselves at the well. Are we willing to let our assumptions be challenged? Are we open to seeking living waters that sustain us all? Are we willing to be changed by an encounter with the living Christ?

February 26, 2023 | Seeking: To whom will we listen?
In order to engage in the spiritual practice of seeking, we must maintain a posture of listening, staying open and curious instead of cautious and closed off. In our focal texts for this week, we see two different examples of listening. Seeking the fruit of the garden, Adam and Eve allow the snake’s manipulative voice to become louder than God’s voice. In the wilderness, Jesus defies the deception of the tempter by listening intuitively—to God, to his inner moral compass, to the teachings of his faith. ��And so, who will you listen to? What sources do you seek for news, information, and media? Whose voices—and what messages—occupy the most space in your head? From the onslaught of messaging we receive, we are invited to choose carefully. Faith practices can help us listen and filter what we’re hearing to discern God’s voice. Message Text: Matthew 4:1-11 Lectionary Texts: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 Romans 5:12-19

February 22, 2023 | Ash Wednesday Service
FBC's Lenten journey begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22. This year's 25-minute Ash Wednesday service will be online only, streamed live from the sanctuary at noon

January 29, 2023 | A Celebration of Life * Edward Raymond Fry
January 29, 2023 | A Celebration of Life Edward Raymond Fry First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, DC