fIRST FRUITS 2027

THE FIRST YES BELONGS TO GOD

10:00 a.m. Sunday, January 3, 2027
New Unity Baptist Church
2908 Hamilton Avenue | Baltimore, Maryland

“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.” — Proverbs 3:9 (KJV)

A Sacred Beginning

Before the year gathers momentum, before our plans unfold and our calendars fill, we pause to acknowledge the One

from whom every blessing flows.

The first yes belongs to God.

At New Unity Baptist Church, First Fruits is more than a date on the calendar. It is a sacred expression of thanksgiving, consecration, and covenant—a declaration that God receives not merely what remains, but the first and best of what we have to offer.

For more than three decades, this cherished observance has helped shape our spiritual life and our understanding of faithful stewardship.

We begin the year remembering that everything we possess, everything we accomplish, and everything we are becoming rests within the providence and grace of God.

Our Tradition — More Than an Offering

First Fruits at New Unity is a living, embodied expression of worship.

Each year, members bring baskets containing fruits, vegetables, grains, oils, nuts, and other representations of God's abundant provision.

Together, we approach the altar and present these gifts in gratitude, remembrance, and dedication.

What unfolds is more than ceremony.

It is offering, thanksgiving, and doxology woven together.

Our tradition also reminds us that the blessings we receive are never intended for us alone.

In years past, the fruits of our presentation have been shared throughout the congregation, with particular remembrance of our elders, homebound members, and those unable to worship with us in person.

For worship must reach beyond the altar and touch the lives of others.

Even the smallest gift, offered with sincerity and love, bears witness to a generous heart.

The Meaning of First Fruits

First Fruits is rooted in the biblical understanding that what we bring before God represents our gratitude, trust, and acknowledgment of divine provision.

The ancient Israelites brought the first produce of the harvest as an offering of thanksgiving and remembrance.

Their gifts acknowledged that the land, the harvest, and the blessings of life were not merely the products of human effort.

They were gifts entrusted to the people by God.

At New Unity, we continue that sacred principle in our own time.

Our financial contributions are part of this expression of faithful stewardship. They help sustain the work of ministry and our calling to serve others.

But First Fruits is never simply about raising money.

We do not give to purchase God's favor. We give in thanksgiving for God's faithfulness.

We offer not to bargain with God, but to acknowledge the One who has already given so much to us.

Two Sacred Anchors — One Continuing Journey

Two great gatherings help shape New Unity's spiritual rhythm: Holy Convocation and First Fruits.

At Holy Convocation, we gather to listen, discern, and receive direction for the journey ahead.

At First Fruits, we respond through thanksgiving, consecration, and faithful action.

Convocation calls us to hear. First Fruits calls us to answer.

And between these sacred moments, we continue the work of becoming the people God has called us to be.

For faith is not merely what we proclaim.

It is what we practice.

Preparing for First Fruits 2027

As we prepare for Sunday, January 3, we invite the New Unity family and our guests to approach this sacred occasion prayerfully and intentionally.

Consider the blessings of the past year, the challenges through which God has sustained you, and the opportunities before you.

Prepare your offering of thanksgiving, whether through the traditional presentation of First Fruits, financial stewardship, or other meaningful expressions of gratitude and dedication.

Bring your gifts.

Bring your prayers.

Bring your thanksgiving.

And above all, bring yourself—a willing heart, prepared for the work of the Kingdom.

Additional information concerning our traditional presentation and First Fruits offering envelopes will be shared as preparations continue.

First Fruits Is More Than a Sunday

Our First Fruits celebration begins the calendar year, but its meaning must accompany us throughout the year.

We honor God not merely through what we place upon the altar, but through the lives we offer in service.

Through generosity.

Through justice and mercy.

Through faithful stewardship.

Through discipleship and the work of the Kingdom.

The first yes belongs to God.

And every day thereafter invites us to live what we have declared.

Scripture for Reflection

Proverbs 3:9 — Honoring God with our substance and first fruits.

Deuteronomy 26:1–11 — Remembering God's faithfulness through the presentation of First Fruits.

Romans 11:16 — The holiness of the first portion and its relationship to the whole.

2 Corinthians 9:7 — Giving freely, thoughtfully, and without compulsion.

Join Us for First Fruits 2027

10:00 a.m. Sunday, January 3, 2027

New Unity Baptist Church
2908 Hamilton Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21214

Come worship with us as we begin another year of thanksgiving, consecration, and renewed commitment to the purposes of God.

Whether you have participated in this tradition for decades or will experience First Fruits for the first time, you are welcome.

The first yes belongs to God.

And what we offer first helps shape how we live thereafter.

Click Here To READ: A FIRST FRUITS REFLECTION — JANUARY 2026

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