Upcoming Events
July 16
The annual Strawberry Festival, put on by the Women’s Fellowship, will be held in the church vestry at noon on Saturday, July 16.
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Strawberry Festival
The annual Strawberry Festival, put on by the Women’s Fellowship, will be held in the church vestry at noon on Saturday, July 16 during Exeter’s Revolutionary War Days celebration in downtown Exeter. The Women’s Fellowship is sponsoring the festival which will feature delicious shortcake and an assortment of strawberry dessert
August 13
A Blueberry Festival, also put on by the Women’s Fellowship, will be held in the church vestry at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 13.
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Blueberry Festival
A Blueberry Festival, also put on by the Women’s Fellowship, will be held on Saturday, August 13 in the church vestry beginning at 11:00 AM. There will be homemade pies and many varied blueberry desserts to enjoy on premises or to bring home.
September 11
The Fall schedule will be underway with Sunday morning worship services returning to the 10:30 AM time, and adult Sunday School beginning at 9:00 AM.
September 20
Rev. Dr. Dee Johnson Swilling will be offering an Old Testament Survey Course
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Old Testament Survey Course
Rev. Dr. Dee Johnson Swilling will be offering an Old Testament Survey Course to the community in the Fall (Genesis – Esther). It is an Evangelical Teachers Association course, and there is potential for students to receive class credit towards a teacher training certificate from that organization.
TODAY & EVERY DAY
Simply good Deeds.
An opportunity to do good deeds and expect nothing in return.
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National Day of Prayer
Do you ever get frustrated by how complicated the world seems? Or by how hard it often seems to simply do a good deed, to expect nothing in return except for the feeling of accomplishment in doing good?
A good deed can change the world -- but far too often we lack the energy, the focus, the understanding of the need, or the potential of the difference we can make, to simply do a good deed! The urgency of the day, everyday, rushes into our time and the day is past, used up, gone. Gone is the opportunity of that day to do good. We end our days as we began them, rushing from one thing to another. We end up tired, worn out, retire to rest so that we can begin all over again on the next day.
We miss out on the privilege that it is to share with others, our gifts, skills, abilities, to share that which reminds us that we are each a special creation in God's eyes. Good deeds do not take money, they take willing hearts.
To help each of us to simply do a good deed we are forming a team... called... "Simply Good Deeds!" There will be very little structure, no regular meetings, no money is involved, (nor will any be given out), there is no need to be involved in any good deed unless you want to be. We will not keep a list of the skills of the team, all skills are self-assessed and all responsibility for the task performed is on the individual performer. All communication will be by email.
The process will be simple:
1) Visit our Contact Page and submit our the short online form. Fill out the appropriate fields and type "National Day of Prayer" in the subject line then press submit. Church membership and/or attendance is not needed. Family members, members from other churches, and/or those who do not attend church are warmly welcomed to join in. This is a great opportunity to model to kids, grand kids, friends’ kids, and remind the kid in each of us, the joy it is to give.
2) You will be put on a list of other kindred spirits and notified when needs are presented, you may be asked to respond if a specific number of people are needed.
3) As you go about your daily life, watch for someone who has a need, that you &/or others can fill. We are looking for simple tasks that can be accomplished in a 3-hour or less block.
4) In addition, we are asking that each one share the joy they discover they have performing, "Simply Good Deeds!" in their daily life. If you helped a neighbor put in a mail box, let us know, it will remind the rest of us to take a look at our neighbors and perhaps discover that they too could use some help! If you walk a convalescing friend's dog, let us know and remind us that our friend may need a friendly dog walker too!
Life is too short to not share the joy that is found by doing "Simply Good Deeds!" Sign up today, and start giving... there is joy to be found!
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Summer Schedule
Sunday
Choir Rehearsal - 9:00 AM
Morning Worship - 9:30 AM
Sunday School for Children - 9:30 AM during church
Tuesday
Bible Study - 10:00 AM Info
Friday morning bible study is for young mothers and will be conducted by our Pastor, Dr. Deanna Swilling, using the “Beth Moore Series”.
Wednesday
Evening Prayer - 6:00 PM
Thursday
Choir Rehearsal - 6:30 PM (every other Thursday)
(The above activities at First Baptist Church, Exeter are open to members and friends of the greater Exeter community; and all are welcome to attend)
Office Hours
Tuesday & Wednesday
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Bible Study
Tuesday - 10:00 AM
Prayer Meeting
Wednesday - 6:00 PM
Kids Corner Shop
Wednesday & Saturday
8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
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About Our Pastor
Exeter First Baptist Church welcomes you to join us on Sunday mornings and meet Rev. Dr. Deanna J. Swilling
Pastor Dee brings Joy and Many Gifts of Ministry
Rev. Dr. Deanna J. Swilling known to us as "Pastor Dee" began her ministry at FBC Exeter in 2008 and brings many gifts to us. She is eager to be involved with church and community.
Rev. Dr. Deanna Swilling has a wide range of education and experience in pastoral ministry, teaching and writing. Before entering the Christian ministry, Rev. Swilling also had experience as a registered nurse. She has more recently been the Coordinator of Admissions for the Doctor of Ministry Department at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Hamilton and Boston, Massachusetts. She and her husband, the Rev. Dr. William Swilling of the Baptist Church of Salem, NH, have three grown children and one granddaughter. Together, they have been a ministry team having served for many years in Newburyport, Massachusetts among other locations in the greater Boston area.
Rev. Deanna Swilling earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1989 from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA, graduating Magna cum Laude and having been awarded the President’s Scholarship. She then earned her Doctor of Ministry Degree is 2001 from Gordon-Conwell of South Hamilton. Rev. Deanna Swilling has extensive writing accomplishments having developed “The Connection”, a national newsletter of the American Baptist Churches of the USA in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. She has written articles, books, and group study and Adult Discipleship materials for various churches including Grace Chapel of Lexington, Massachusetts. She is presently seeking publication on a book on church leadership based upon her doctoral study focus on “Ministry in the New England Context”.
The Rev. Dr. Deanna Swilling brings to Exeter a joyful spirit and a joyful heart and describes her calling to Exeter First Baptist Church, above and beyond her many accomplishments and skills, as simply “being a “Pastor”. The church is located downtown Exeter on the corner of Front Street and Spring Streets. Visitors are always welcome to attend.
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History of FBC Exeter
Church Property
During the more than 200 years of proud history, there have been several houses of worship to serve members and friends of Exeter First Baptist. The church was formed in the year 1800 in a home with a dozen members. Following this, there was a small church building located on lower Water Street. Then, as the membership grew, a larger building was built on Water Street which is now the site of a historical site in downtown Exeter. In 1871, plans were underway to purchase the present lot on the corner of Spring and Front Streets, and our present brick church building facing Front Street was completed in 1876 and dedicated in June of that year. Read More
The attractive church sanctuary with a traditional rear balcony seats now about 500 people without using the balcony. A church library is located on the sanctuary level which can be used for meetings and adult Sunday School in addition to maintaining and referencing Christian reading materials. Years ago, this used to be the Pastor’s Office. Now the Pastor’s Office is located on the lower level next to the Church Secretary’s Office. There is a convenient access to these offices from Spring Street.
The versatile church vestry is located on the lower level and can also be accessed from Spring Street. The vestry area seats a large number for dinner and program activities, is maintained in excellent condition, and is adjacent to a full service, well equipped kitchen. The church vestry can and has been used for Sunday morning worship when it might be either too hot in the summer or too cool in the winter for comfortable worship in the large sanctuary. For Church School Sunday School classes, there are four available rooms located on the lower level with a small room available for the nursery as well. Also, the church vestry itself or sections of it can be used for church school or opening sessions of the church school. The upstairs church Library has been used for the adult class in recent years.
Ministers in the History of First Baptist Church, Exeter
Twenty-seven ministers have been called to serve to Exeter First Baptist Church since the year 1818 when its first pastor, the Reverend Ferdinand Ellis was called. Following are those ministers who have served:
1800-1818 - Laity
1818-1828 - Rev. Ferdinand Ellis
1828-1832 - Rev. John Newton Brown
1833-1834 - Rev. John Cannon
1834-1837 - Rev. J.G. Naylor
1837-1838 - Rev. Noah Hopper
1840-1845 - Rev. T.H. Archibald
1848-1850 - Rev. E.J. Harris
1851-1853 - Rev. James French
1854-1856 - Dr. Franklin Merriam
1856-1861 - Rev. James J. Peck
1861-1871 - Rev. Noah Hopper
1871-1894 - Rev. John N. Chase
1895-1914 - Rev. Ansley E. Woodsum
1914-1917 - Rev. Herbert F. Cawthorne
1918-1920 - Rev. S Walter Schurman
1921-1934 - Rev. John. L Clark
1935-1945 - Rev. Howard P. Weatherbee
1946-1953 - Rev. Edwin H. Shuman
1954-1954 - Rev. William Norman
1955-1960 - Rev. Donald B. Morris
1960-1969 - Rev. Harry G. Ford
1970-1975 - Rev. Everett R. Scruton
1975-1985 - Rev. Jerry Miller
1986-1996 - Rev. Walter T. Steenson
1997-1998 - Rev. Richard Hyman
1999-2008 - Rev. Jamie S. Moynihan
2008-Present - Rev. Dr. Deanna J. Swilling
We are further grateful for interim and supply ministers and ABCVNH region Executive Ministers who have faithfully served our church in recent decades including Rev. Edward Cuthbert, Rev. Dr. Robert W. Williams, and Rev. Dr. Louis A. George.
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