Weekly Word from Pastor Curry: August 27, 2021

Greetings, Friendship Family! 

I trust and pray this week’s communication finds each of you “safe and secure from all alarm.” 
That’s a line from the hymn Leaning on the Everlasting Arms!  This phrase is a beloved hymn of the church that offers encouragement to believers. The words are:

Verse 1:
What a fellowship, what a joy divine
Leaning on the everlasting arms
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine
Leaning on the everlasting arms 

Chorus:
Leaning, leaning
Safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning, leaning
Leaning on the everlasting arms

Verse 2:
What have I to dread, what have I to fear
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near
Leaning on the everlasting arms

Chorus:
Leaning, leaning
Safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning, leaning
Leaning on the everlasting arms

Every now and then, I just pick up hymns. They encourage me! May I be transparent with you? I am leaning on the everlasting arms this week! I have leadership fatigue. I have decision fatigue. And yes, I have pandemic fatigued. I know many of you can identify with this. Therefore, I am LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS! 

This hymn was written in 1887 by Anthony Showalter. Showalter wrote this hymn after receiving a letter from two of his former students who had lost their wives. As he wrote back to each of them to console them and to encourage them, he was inspired by Deuteronomy 33:27, “ The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

As you consider the words to this hymn this week, I encourage you to contemplate what it means to find refuge in our heavenly Father’s arms in times of fear and trial and to allow His joy and peace to replace our loneliness and anxiety.

Leaning, leaning
Safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning, leaning
Leaning on the everlasting arms

As you lean, continue to pray, take necessary precautions, don’t panic, and be patient.  Yes, I still believe we are coming out, but it is a slow process! 

As August comes to an end, and next week represents our last full week of Sabbath Rest, I pray that you have rested and are rejuvenated. I also pray you have had the opportunity to grow closer to God! 

Here are this week’s updates… 

First, I would like to apologize for our live stream issues on Sunday during the 8am service. The stream went down about 10 minutes into the sermon. We are still not sure just why. We are working on it. We were able to stream the 11:30am worship service without interruption. Thank you to those of you who toughed it out with us and attended the 11:30am worship service. I appreciate you. Please continue to pray as we make the necessary adjustments to have uninterrupted worship!

KINGDOM WIVES BIBLE STUDY CLASS: This Saturday (TOMORROW), August 28th at 9:00a, the Kingdom Wives will meet and study Sacred Marriage, Sacred Hearts.   If you are not already a member of the class and would like to join, please visit https://wearefriendship.church/wives.

SUNDAY WORSHIP: We are doing everything we can to keep you safe and encouraged doing this season. Unless we are forced to, we will continue to meet in person and online. However you choose to join us, please join us! We still have Ex-Hour for our in-person worshipers and our online participants.  This Sunday, August 29th, I am excited to welcome our very own Rev. Terry Abercrombie as our guest preacher. Rev. Abercrombie is a gifted preacher and a faithful leader. Join us as she preaches both services on Sunday.

VOTE 2021 ~ THE RECALL: On Monday, August 30th, at 7pm, our RHEMA Men’s Ministry is sponsoring VOTE 2021 ~ The Recall! This Town Hall event will take place via Zoom and is designed to help members and guests understand the California Governor’s Recall election that will take place on September 14th. Our own, Deacon James Shirley (Civil Rights Activist and City of San Dimas Senior Citizens Commission Board Member), will discuss the recall election and its implications for California and individual voters. Please register HERE.

SCHOLARSHIP MINISTRY 2021-2022: We are excited to announce the open enrollment for our Scholarship Ministry beginning today through October 4th! We are now accepting applications for students to join for this academic year. The scholarship ministry is available for all students K-12th. Our scholarship ministry is designed to nurture Friendship’s students to be the best scholars and be a meaningful part of our faith community that we believe is a catalyst for faithful ministry and service. Potential applicants and their families can find the application on our website.  Please go to www.wearefriendship.church/scholarship to access the application.  We need all new and returning students to complete the online application.  More information about our “Virtual Kick-Off Meeting” in early October will be coming soon. If you have any questions, please email Rev. Jaron Singley at [email protected].  

REMEMBERING OUR LOST LOVED ONES: Looking ahead, We will have our 2021 Remembering Our Lost Loved Ones Service on Tuesday, October 19th, here at Friendship in the Sanctuary. Yes, we are planning an in-person event that will also stream live. If you would like to remember your loved one in this service, please send their name, relationship to you, and photo to Leigha Carrington in Membership Services at [email protected].  Especially note if your loved one passed away in 2020. You can submit via email or regular mail. The last day to submit this information is Friday, September 24th.

FAMILY PRAYER SERVICE: Next Friday, September 3rd, would be our Friday to have our Monthly Family Prayer Service via Google Meet. Since it is Labor Day Weekend and we know people travel or have weekend plans, we will not have the Family Prayer Service. However, we ask you to set aside some time on Friday, September 3rd, and whisper a prayer for your church family, your pastor, and our worship services on the first Sunday, September 5th.  We will remind you next week as well! 

REVIVAL 2021 CANCELLED: Please note, will NOT have a revival in September. Pastor Curry needs a minute to do more ministry planning. I am considering an event in November to replace Revival entitled “Thankful Thursdays.” I will let you know more in the future!

Here are some things I don’t want you to forget…

• CHILDREN’S MINISTRY VIDEO: Remember there’s a weekly Children’s Ministry Worship Video designed to keep our children connected, encouraged, and worshipping! Rev. Jaron Singley works hard weekly to produce a Children’s worship video. It is available through our website HERE or via the Friendship Youtube Channel HERE. 

• VOLUNTEER CORE: We STILL need volunteers and would love to have you join our volunteer core. We expressly and immediately need volunteers for our Sunday Worship Hospitality Team. We need individuals to help us welcome members and guests on Sundays and various other hospitality-related tasks. If you are willing, please email [email protected].  Also, there is a table in the QUAD you can stop by on Sundays.  I appreciate your consideration in this.

• INTERNS NEEDED: We also need interns in our media ministry. So if you are a student who needs an internship opportunity, we welcome you to be a part of the Media Ministry here at Friendship! To apply for a non-paid intern position, please email Candace Clark at [email protected].  

SERMON BASED SMALL GROUPS ~ PASTOR CURRY’S DISSERTATION PROJECT

• I want to thank those who have answered my appeal for individuals to participate in my research project on sermon-based small groups. 
• I still need more individuals to commit to meeting for 8-10 weeks to discuss the Sunday Sermon and its application to our lives. The goal is to have 40-60 individuals participate. 
• I would love to have one in-home group, two groups on campus, and one or two groups via zoom. If any of these group options appeal to you and you are willing to participate, would you please follow the links and sign up? 
• Also, if you have signed up and would like to modify your sign-up option, you may follow the links and do that as well.
• If you are interested and willing, please sign up HERE. The small groups will commence after Labor Day. Thank you in advance for your help with this.

General Church things to remember:
 

• IN-PERSON EX-HOUR: In-person Ex-Hour meets each Sunday from 10am to 11am each Sunday in the Multipurpose Building. We invite you to stay after the first service or come earlier for the second service to attend Ex Hour in person. 

• EX HOUR: Virtual Ex-Hour meets weekly on Sundays via ZOOM. Join us for class at 10a via this link HERE. 

• YOUTH EX HOUR: Our youth Ex Hour takes place during our designated EX Hour time via Google Meet and in-person. Yes, it’s a hybrid approach! Parents, please encourage your students to join youth teachers for this biblically fun opportunity to learn God’s Word, connect with others, and grow. To join Youth Ex-Hour, follow the link HERE. 

• WEDNESDAY Prayer Day: Join us each Wednesday for Prayer. We pray at 6:30a, 12p, and 6:30p. To connect with our prayer services, please follow this link HERE or dial in at +1 (413) 418-4274 and use the PIN 287683504#. 

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• FBC FOOD BANK OPEN: The FBC Food Bank is OPEN with a new drive-thru system where our clients will receive a pre-packaged food box and a bag of groceries.  The Food Bank’s hours of operation are Tuesday - Thursday 2:30p-4:30p.   

• COVID Recovery Kits:
  We still have Covid Recovery Kits through Providence Health and the Yorba Linda Rotary Club. These kits help individuals who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 and are recovering at home. Each kit includes a pulse oximeter to monitor breathing, a thermometer, a box of masks, and a package of sanitizing wipes in a small canvas bag. If you or someone in your family could benefit from one of these kits, please call the church office and arrange to get one. 

• COVID Membership Assistance Fund: We are STILL accepting applications for the COVID Membership Assistance Grant. If you are experiencing financial distress due to COVID19, we invite you to apply for one of our $500 assistance grants. The guidelines are available HERE, and the application is available HERE.

Well, that’s all I have this week! Thank you for reading!  Thank you for your prayers and support! Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected  God loves you, and so do I! 

In His Service,

Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor