Plan Your Visit
Come As You Are
A place where you can grow spiritually while making a positive impact in the world around you. You are a child of God and you are most welcome here.
What to Expect
First Baptist Church is committed to the regular worship of God, centered around our Sunday morning service. We welcome newcomers to join us!
You will enter the lobby doors under the covered entrance of the Blanton Family Ministry Center facing the Wells Fargo Parking Lot. A greeter will welcome you at the door and hand you a church bulletin outlining the Worship Service. If you need help finding a Sunday School Class or the Sanctuary, they are happy to help. You are welcome to join others just inside the lobby to enjoy a cup of coffee, tea, water, and snacks.
Our congregation is broad and diverse in many ways. You can expect to meet a group of warm, friendly people, who come from many different walks of life in our community.
Children are welcome in our worship services. If you prefer, our nursery is staffed to care for children under 5 years. For people with hearing loss, hearing assistance devices are available for use during the service. Our ushers will assist you with these or any other needs you may have. We are grateful that you are present in worship and want to help make this time meaningful to you and glorifying to God.
Worship at First Baptist is...
God Focused
We recognize that worship is not about us. Authentic worship is about God! To use the metaphor of drama, we seek in worship to be players on the stage of life with God as our audience and benefactor.
Word Centered
We intend for worship to be founded, authenticated, and guided by Scripture. Not only is the Bible the basis of our preaching, it is also read, sung, recited, and prayed in our services.
Liturgical
The root word for “liturgy” in Latin literally means “the work of the people.” Therefore, worship is the work of the whole congregation singing, praying, reading, listening, and giving. Worship leadership is provided not only by our pastors, but also by people from throughout our congregation, young and old, male and female.
Features Excellent Music
The Music Ministry is one of our congregation’s greatest gifts. For over 50 years, First Baptist has provided voice and hand bell choirs for people of all ages. The Music Ministry also provides cantatas, concerts, and other special offerings throughout the year.
Follows the Church Year
We celebrate Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. This annual cycle of biblical themes and readings proclaims God’s wonderful salvation story of which we are a part today. The various colors of the Church Year help emphasize each holy day and season.
Our Beliefs
Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior
We believe in Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son of God, who by the Holy Spirit was born of the virgin Mary, through whom we have deliverance from sin and death and the promise of eternal life.
The Authority Of The Holy Scriptures
We believe in the scriptures as contained in the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God, the sufficient rule for both faith and practice.
Priesthood of the Believer
We believe in the freedom and right of every Christian to interpret and apply scripture under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We affirm the freedom and responsibility of every person to relate directly to God without the imposition of creed, the control of clergy or the interference of government.
Competency Of The Soul In Matters Of Religion
We believe that every person stands as a competent individual before God and is responsible to determine what his or her conscience dictates is right.
Autonomy of the Local Church
We believe that Baptist churches are free, under the Lordship of Christ and guidance of the Holy Spirit, to determine their membership and leadership, to order their worship and work, to ordain whomever they perceive as gifted for ministry, and to participate, as they deem appropriate, in the larger Body of Christ.
Believer’s Baptism
We believe that baptism by immersion is the New Testament model and that it is to be administered upon a person’s profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
Religious Liberty
We believe in religious freedom for all people, regardless of creed.
Separation of Church and State
We believe religious liberty is best protected when church and state are institutionally separated and neither tries to perform or interfere with the essential mission and work of the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we give to the church online?
First Baptist Church is pleased to offer an online giving option. Contributions can be designated to specific funds or sent to the General Budget, which is the default option. Financial gifts can be made one time or can be setup on a recurring schedule. There is also an app-based option. On your smartphone’s app store, download Abundant Giving and then choose First Baptist Church of Marion. Of course, cash and checks are still accepted as the offering plates are passed during worship each Sunday.
Do kids participate in worship?
Of course! Children’s sermons are included every Sunday. There are also special worship bags for children that help them engage more fully in worship. If you prefer, infant and toddler nurseries are provided just down the hall from the Sanctuary.
Does the church have a parking facility?
Parking is provided in the Wells Fargo parking lot, in the church lot behind the fellowship hall, along Main and Fort Streets, and in other adjacent parking lots. Local businesses are closed on Sunday morning and are happy for our worshippers to use their parking.
Do I need to dress up for church?
You’ll find that worshippers at First Baptist Church generally dress very casual and comfortable. These days, we don’t see many suits and ties. However, among our church family, there are some who love to dress up for the Lord. However you choose to dress, please feel free to be yourself. Your attire isn’t our concern. What’s most important is that you are here with us to celebrate Jesus, the Savior of the world!
Liturgical Colors
Paraments are the linens and cloth hangings used on communion tables, altars, pulpits, bible markers, and lecterns. The colors of the paraments reflect the traditional colors of the seasons of the Christian year, and are changed as the seasons of the Christian year change. On special occasions, our ministers also wear stoles reflecting these colors during worship.
Liturgical colors within Christian liturgy signify different seasons and times of year. Each season has its own mood, meaning and type of prayer. Each color has its own meaning and feeling and can be seen worn or hung throughout the church during specific times of year. The primary colors in the liturgical calendar are red, white, gold, violet/blue, green, and black.
Violet
Purple/Blue is the color worn during Advent and Lent. It symbolizes pen-ance, sacrifice, and preparation.
White/Gold
White and/or gold are worn during Christmas and Easter. These colors signify the birth and resurrection of Christ. White is worn during Communion and baptism. White symbolizes purity, light, glory, and joy.
Green
“Ordinary Time”: Green is the color of “Ordinary Time.” Ordinary Time is any time of year between Easter and Advent and between Christmas and Lent. Green symbolizes life, hope, and anticipation.
Red
Red is typically worn during Palm Sunday, and Pentecost. This color signifies the Holy Spirit, God’s Love, blood, fire.
Christian Symbols
IX monogram – the first letter of Jesus (I = iota) and the first letter of Christ (X = chi), using the Greek spellings (Ιησούς Χριστός). The letters are often overlayed on top of each other.
Chi Rho symbol – this symbol is made up of the first two letters of Christ in Greek (Χριστός), X (chi) and P (rho). The letters are often overlayed on top of each other.
Tau Rho symbol – also known as a Staurogram, is made using the Greek letter T (tau) superimposed on the Greek letter P (rho). It’s an abbreviated form of the Greek word for cross (σταυρός), pronounced stauros.
IHS monogram – a shortened form of the Greek name for Jesus: ΙΗΣΟΥΣ. The first three letters, Iota-Eta-Sigma, are transliterated into the Latin alphabet as IHS. Over time, in Western Christianity, IHS was interpreted as a Latin acronym for “Iesus Hominum Salvator,” which means “Jesus, Savior of Mankind”.
Alpha & Omega – the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, a symbol that God is the first and the last, the beginning and the end