Church staff does community service day
 - this item posted March 21, 2012
Nineteen members of the FBC staff spent a morning pulling weeds, spreading mulch and gravel, and cleaning up the grounds of Holton Elementary School Monday, March 20. More info and pictures...

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Mission trip signup deadline announced
 - this item posted March 21, 2012
April 29 is the deadline to sign up to participate in one of the 2012 FBC mission trips. Teams will travel to Costa Rica, Arkansas, Philippines, Serbia, South Africa, and China this year. Click here for current information...

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Pastor seeks input from congregation
 - this item posted February 19, 2012
Dr. Somerville is gathering information from the congregation to help in determining the church’s values. This is part of a “Values-Based Tactical Planning” process that allows the church to make plans for the future based on what it feels is truly important. Provide your input by filling out two easy, online forms.

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New Americans Ministry needs help with clothing distribution
 - this item posted February 13, 2012
The New Americans Ministry is sponsoring a massive clothing distribution day Saturday, February 18. Helpers are needed to assist the newest arrivals. More details...

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Monument Market accepting vendor applications
 - this item posted February 13, 2012
Monument Market is gearing up for the 2012 season by accepting vendor applications. Richmond's First Baptist Church sponsors the weekly market, on the church's Robinson Street parking lot, Saturday mornings May through August. More details...

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FBC Webcast now available on mobile devices
 - this item posted January 14, 2012
The First Baptist Church webcast is now available on mobile devices, including iPhones, iPads, iPods, Android, Windows, and Blackberry smartphones. The 8:30 & 11 am Sunday morning worship services are webcast live. And the WebClass Bible Study is in session at 9:45 Sunday mornings. View the webcast during those times...

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Six to be ordained as Deacons
 - this item posted January 4, 2012
Six FBC members will be ordained to Deacon ministry this month. They are Gail Broughton, Lorna Brown, Carl Evans, Robert Gray, Ginny Samuel, and David Warner. The ordination service will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, January 15 in the sanctuary. The ordination service is open to the public.

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Operation J.O.Y. brings Christmas to Richmond's needy
 - this item posted December 13, 2011
Operation J.O.Y. (Jesus, Others, You) will provide gifts, food, toiletries, cleaning supplies and other needed items to 300 people this Christmas. In it's 13th year, the Christmas operation is sponsored by FBC's Ministry of Christian Compassion. This year the ministry will help more than 100 Mixteca families (refugees from one of Mexico's poorest states), 13 single mom families, three inmates, ten kids from the Rosey Grier Youth Pavilion, 15 children from Richmond Friends of the Homeless, 120 men and women who are currently homeless, and ten Bhutanese refugee families. The gifts and supplies, and the labor to assemble and deliver them have been provided by FBC members and staff.

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One Accord to sing at Bruton Parish
 - this item posted December 10, 2011
One Accord, the auditioned choral ensemble of Richmond's First Baptist Church, will present a Christmas concert at Williamsburg's historic Bruton Parish Church Tuesday, December 20 at 8 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.

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ChristkindleMarkt second year successful
 - this item posted December 6, 2011
Hundreds attended the second annual ChristkindlMarkt on the church lawn last Saturday, December 3. Read the story and see the photos...

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Christmas and New Year's schedule announced
 - this item posted December 4, 2011
There will be only one Christmas Day worship service at 11 a.m. There will be no Sunday school that day. On New Year's Day, there will be one worship service at 11 a.m. and an intergenerational Sunday school experience in the Dining Hall at 9:45 a.m. The Webclass Bible study will take place on January 1.

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Spirit of giving alive during the Christmas season
 - this item posted December 1, 2011
First Baptist members and friends contributed 50 grocery bags of food to the church's food pantry during a collection at the Thanksgiving worship service November 22. The food filled 10 grocery carts. In addition to the food contributed during the service, some members got together and bought another $10,000 worth of food for the pantry and holiday giving. Between now and Christmas, church members will distribute food and other items to needy persons throughout the Richmond area. FBC will host a breakfast and Christmas celebration for the homeless community December 19. Later that day, members will distribute Christmas packages in the Mixteca community in South Richmond. The following day, single mother families will come to the church and pick up pre-packed gifts and shop in the free Christmas store.

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FBC Hosts CARITAS
 - this item posted November 21, 2011
FBC girls (participants in GA's) packed bags of supplies for CARITAS Wednesday night, November 16. FBC members had contributed underwear, toiletry items, and other supplies. The girls and their leaders sorted and packed bags for each CARITAS guest. The church is hosting 35 men this week as we do each Thanksgiving week. CARITAS (Congregations Around Richmond Involved to Assure Shelter) provides temporary housing for Richmond's homeless men and women during the winter months.

Ways to help those in need this Christmas
- this item posted November 15, 2011
The Ministry of Christian Compassion has listed several ways you can help those in need in the Richmond community this Christmas. More info...

New deacons nominated
- this item posted November 9, 2011
The Deacon Nominating Team is recommending six new and seventeen returning deacons to serve a three-year term on the active deacon board starting January 1, 2012. The congregational will vote on the recommendations at the conclusion of the morning worship services Sunday, December 11. To view the list of candidates please go to Deacons.FBCRichmond.org.

Upward sports registration extended
- this item posted November 8, 2011
Registration is still open for Upward Basketball and Cheerleading. There will be make-Up evaluations Monday, November 14, 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the gym. More information...

$228k given during special offering
- this item posted November 7, 2011
Members and friends of Richmond's First Baptist Church gave $228,515 Sunday and last week in a special offering to catch up on the church budget for the year. Before the offering, we were $146,781 behind in giving to support the church's $3.1 million annual budget. The offering came on high attendance day, with 836 in attendance in Sunday school and 1,045 in the two worship services.

Christkindlmarkt planned for December 3
- this item posted November 2, 2011
The second annual Christkindlmarkt, a European-style community Christmas market, has been planned for Saturday, December 3 on the church lawn at the corner of Monument and Boulevard. Read more...

Budget Team presents proposal for 2012
 - this item posted October 26, 2011
Budget Team Leader Karen Linkous presented her team's recommendation for the 2012 church budget Wednesday night during the quarterly church business meeting. They proposed a budget totalling $3.1 million, the same as the 2011 budget. The presentation is available by clicking here. The congregation will vote on the proposed budget during Sunday morning worship services November 20.

Senior Adults plan Veterans Day celebration
 - this item posted October 24, 2011
Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war Paul Galanti will be the keynote speaker for a celebration to honor veterans at Richmond's First Baptist Church Friday, November 11, 10:15 am - 12:15 pm. The Veterans Day program also includes brunch, music and a Color Guard presentation. You may purchase tickets for $ 5 in the hallways on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Is there life after death?
 - this item posted October 20, 2011
Dr. Jim Somerville, Senior Pastor of Richmond’s First Baptist Church will talk about “WHAT’S NEXT: Is there really life after death?” The three-week series takes place in the church’s Dining Hall, Wednesday evenings at 6:15, November 2, 9 & 16. Session topics include, “Christian Hope, Hopelessness, and False Hopes,” “Some Guidelines for asking the Right Questions,” and “Christian Hope for Individuals and the World.” All sessions are free and open to the public.

FBC to host CARITAS in November
 - this item posted October 17, 2011
Richmond's First Baptist Church will host 80 homeless men the week of Thanksgiving as we participate in CARITAS November 19-26, providing shelter, laundry, clothes and other needs. FBC members and friends are invited to volunteer to help. CARITAS coordinators will have a table set up in the church hallway the next several Sundays and Wednesdays for people to sign up for laundry, Thanksgiving day activities, and to get more info on this year's program. More info...

2012 Church Budget to be presented Oct 26
 - this item posted October 13, 2011
The Budget Team will present the proposed Church Budget for 2012 during the quarterly church business meeting Wednesday, October 26 at 6 p.m. in the Dining Hall. Also on the agenda for the meeting is the report of the Nominating Team.

Men's clothing donations needed
 - this item posted October 9, 2011
The clothes closet is in desperate need of men's clothing. If you can donate good, used clothing, or new clothes (shirts, pants, socks, coats, sweaters, etc.) please bring your donations to the collection bin on the lower level of the church building. For more information, please contact Associate Pastor Steve Blanchard.

"The Physician Within" focuses on bones & joints November 5
 - this item posted September 29, 2011
Richmond’s First Baptist Church is sponsoring a Saturday symposium November 5, dealing with medical issues of the bones and joints. This is part of "The Physician Within" medical series. The sessions will be helpful to people experiencing bone and joint issues, as well as those who want to be proactive in caring for their bodies. Medical doctors will give brief presentations and then answer questions. More info...

World Hunger Sunday is October 9
 - this item posted September 20, 2011
Worldwide, some 925 million people are hungry every day. Richmond's First Baptist Church will observe World Hunger Sunday October 9. Members may donate food to the FBC food pantry, or give money through Baptist World Aid or through Southern Baptist Global Response. Bring food to the church and put it in the carts in the main hallway. Here's a list of what's needed. Give money online or by using your offering envelope.

Upward Sports registration opens
 - this item posted September 15, 2011
Richmond's First Baptist Church will host Upward Basketball and Upward Cheerleading January through March, 2012. Registration is now open. Evaluations are scheduled for November 5. Get more information and register...

Deacon nominations open
 - this item posted September 13, 2011
The deacon nominating team is requesting nominations for new and returning deacons to serve a 3-year term on the active board starting January 2012. Nominations may be submitted using the forms available at the kiosks or online at Deacons.FBCRichmond.org. Submissions are requested by Sunday, October 9.

Webcast Bible Study Class launches October 9
 - this item posted September 6, 2011
Richmond's First Baptist Church will offer a weekly adult Bible study live webcast beginning Sunday, October 9, at 9:45 a.m. FBC member Dr. Michael Harton, a gifted Biblical scholar and educator will teach the class. He will lead participants in a thought-provoking and reflective study of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. Webcast viewers will have opportunity to participate by posting questions and comments and interacting with Dr. Harton throughout the webcast. The class will be available here at www.FBCRichmond.org.

FBC members give for Japan earthquake relief
 - this item posted August 31, 2011
The Baptist World Alliance this week acknowledged gifts totalling $4,601 from First Baptist Church, given through Baptist World Aid for relief efforts in Japan in the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

New Americans Ministry needs household items
 - this item posted July 28, 2011
The New Americans Ministry needs flatware, glasses, towels and sheets for our New American friends who continue to arrive and need our help! More info...

Service of honor and remembrance planned
 - this item posted July 26, 2011
Richmond's First Baptist Church will host a service of honor and remembrance Wednesday, September 7 honoring the men and women of our police, fire, and emergency agencies as we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The one-hour service will start at 6:15 pm in the FBC sanctuary and is open to the community. All Richmond-area police officers, firefighters, EMTs and other first responders are invited.

Elm tree removed
- this item posted July 21, 2011
The 100 year old Elm tree in the courtyard of Richmond's First Baptist Church was removed this week. Read more, see photos & a video...

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Twelve baptized in the James
- this item posted July 21, 2011
A dozen church members were baptized Sunday afternoon, July 17 in the James River during the third annual river baptism. Read more, see photos & a video...

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No Wednesday night dinners in August
- this item posted July 17, 2011
The annual "building cleanup weeks" have been scheduled for the month of August. Many activities in the church building will be limited during that month. There will be no Wednesday night dinners or activities.

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FBC members to talk about "Life in Ministry"
- this item posted June 30, 2011
Several church members will talk about their lives in ministry Wednesday nights in July at 6:15 in the Dining Hall. Speakers are ministers and missionaries who are a vital part of our membership.
July 6 - Jim Flamming
July 13 - Allen Brown
July 20 - Jim Somerville, with John Moreau, Suzanne Shonnard, Len Morrow, and June McKeown talking about what they do to “bring heaven to earth.”
July 27 - Clark Scanlon

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VBS participants "finding hope"
- this item posted June 28, 2011
The 199 children and 110 leaders involved in Vacation Bible School at FBC this week are learning about hope through Bible stories and activities. The theme is "Finding Hope: A Field Trip of Faith." Bible school began Monday morning and continues through Friday. Through daily “field trips”, children are searching for hope through Bible stories, symbols of hope and actual evidence of how hope and love are shown (given) to others through missions right here in the United States. The Kids are enjoying interactive class times as well as music, games, drama, and art. This year's VBS mission project is a book drive of new and gently used books to be distributed to children in our community and Together For Hope communities. We are also collecting an offering to be given to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship for their Together for Hope ministry.

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