SERVICE: SUNDAYS AT 8:00AM & 11:30AM

PASTOR’S WEEKLY UPDATE JANUARY 28, 2022

Well, Happy Friday, Friendship Family! 

Yes, it’s Friday again! I greet you today with appreciation to our GREAT GOD! 

Psalm 48:1 states, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness!” Our God is a GREAT God! When you get a chance, I encourage you to read Psalm 48 in its entirety! The psalm reminds us that we rejoice because God strengthens and defends the church. 

Beloved, the church’s business is gathering together and praising God because God is great and greatly praised. Nowhere is His greatness so richly manifested as in the church, the city of God. Worship is our business, whether in the sanctuary or our homes. We should freely worship our GREAT God. 

Worship is refreshing and comforting. When we think that things are out of control, we should look at what has happened to Christ’s church in history, and then we will understand that God is in control and He will preserve His church forever. A worship psalm like Psalm 48 is refreshing for us in the midst of difficulty! 

OMICRON SURGE CONTINUES: 
Now, Friendship, the pandemic continues still. The Omicron Variant rages still. Yet our God is still on the throne! So remember, we pray, don’t panic, take PRECAUTIONS, and remain patient. Precautions include wearing a GOOD mask, washing our hands, and watching our distance. 

We remain open for Worship on Sundays. Please remember masks are mandatory. We are still under a statewide mask mandate through February 15th, and our policy here is masks for worship until further notice. That means that if the State of California lifts the mask mandate on February 15th, we will still require masks in worship until we are comfortable that it is safe to change our policy. If you are not feeling well, please do not come to worship on Sundays. This is a request and a precaution. We want to do our best to keep everyone safe! 

FREE RAPID COVID TEST KITS
Also, don’t forget to order free rapid Covid test kits through the government. You can place your order HERE. Please note you can order a total of four test kits per household or property address. Additionally, the Biden administration is making 400 million N95 masks available for free to U.S. residents through your local pharmacy. Each individual is eligible to receive three masks. Please get in touch with your local pharmacy for more information on this. 

HOMESTRETCH OF OUR 21 DAY FAST
We are at day 19 of our 21 days of prayer and fasting. Just two more full days. Two more full days of fasting after today and three more prayer calls! As a point of clarity, the fast ends at midnight on January 30th. I will hold the last prayer meeting for us to close this special time on Monday, January 31st, but this is not a FAST DAY. To connect with our prayer services, please follow this link HERE or dial in at +1 (413) 418-4274 and use the PIN 287683504#.

As I have said before, I pray that this time has been beneficial for you: spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally! I pray that you are renewed, refreshed, and revived! 

FRIENDSHIP FAMILY PRAYER IS COMING
Speaking of prayer, please plan to join us next Friday, February 6th, from 7:30p to 8:30p for our MONTHLY prayer meeting on our church prayer line. Join the Prayer Posse and me. This prayer meeting is an open prayer time, so if you feel led to pray, simply unmute your line and PRAY! See you there!

Here are a few announcements for you this week:

LEADERSHIP MEETING
Leaders, we will have our first Leadership meeting of the year tomorrow, Saturday, January 29th, at 10am via Zoom. This meeting is for all current/newly elected presidents, vice president, chairs, and vice-chairs of ministries and their ministry secretaries, Deacons, Trustees, Ministers, Deaconess, Mothers, Governance Committee Members, and Friendship Bible Teachers. To attend the meeting, follow the link HERE.

BIBLE CLASSES 
Don’t forget we have several Bible Studies available for your spiritual growth, including Ex-Hour on Sundays, both in-person and virtual, and classes throughout the week. Please stop by our church website to get more information on classes we offer and classes scheduled to start soon.

Mommies to Mommies
Did you know that FBC offers a Bible class for mothers with young children? If you’re a mother parenting children between the infant age to the age of 12, we welcome and invite you to join us! This class meets twice monthly on the 2nd  and 4th Sunday at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Mothers, this class is designed to offer you Biblical encouragement. It is a wonderful opportunity to connect with a community of mothers who understand where you are, share your experiences,  and support you in your current season of motherhood. Deaconess Celeste Wall and Pamala Ellens facilitate this class. To join the class, please click HERE. We look forward to welcoming new mothers of young children to our community soon.

Precept Study on the book of Mark:
The Precept study on the book of Mark has begun, but it is NOT too late to join. The most critical question you will ever answer is: Who do you believe Jesus Christ is? With all the opinions floating around - He’s a good man, a teacher, a prophet, the Son of God - how can you know who is right? The book of Mark’s account of Jesus’ life gives you the answer. Rather than rehearsing what people said about Jesus, Mark shows you what Jesus did. Facilitated by Dr. Laseanda Wesson, this 10-week Precept course meets at 7:30pm and will be held virtually. If you’re seeking a solid understanding of the book of Mark, we invite you to join this study! Unfortunately, space is limited, and participants need to purchase their own workbook in advance via the Precept site. We look forward to studying the book of Mark together and discovering that Jesus left no doubt about who He claimed to be. To enroll, please go HERE. To order your workbook, please go HERE. Please note for a comprehensive study (approx. 60 minutes of homework), select Precept Upon Precept. If you are pressed for time but still want a solid understanding of the book of Mark, select the In and Out Study (approx. 30 minutes per day).

⚫ On Thursday, February 3rd, at 7pm, our War Room Bible Study class begins and will be held virtually on Thursdays at 7pm. We likely remember and have seen the movie War Room, released in 2015. It was a powerful movie on the power of prayer. It focused on a couple wrapped up in their lives and had become complacent in their relationship with the God who created them for their glory. Sometimes, we, too, become wrapped up in our hectic lives and forget our first Love and the subtle enemy who wants to keep us from Him. Participants will be called to evaluate their spiritual life and growth through this Bible study, uncover their true character, trust in the God of grace, declare victory over the true enemy, and find their identity in their Savior. If you desire to strengthen your prayer life this year, we invite you to attend this study and discover that prayer really is a powerful weapon. This class will be facilitated by Deaconess Celeste Wall and Sister LeShon Archer and will be held weekly starting Thursday, February 3rd. Participants are asked to purchase their own books and may do so via Amazon or Christianbook.com. To enroll in the class, please go HERE.

BIBLE READING SMALL GROUPS
Do you desire to read God’s Word in 2022? Were you among those who recently stood up, expressing a willingness to read the Bible in one of 5 ways this year? If so, we want to help and encourage you! Starting next month, you’ll have an opportunity to join a Bible Reading Small Group. There will be five small groups. Each group will read a different Bible reading plan: OT, NT, Gospels, Pentateuch, and Psalms/Proverbs 3 times. So, for example, if you want to read the OT, you can join a group where others have selected the same reading plan. The same applies to the other four reading options. Each group will complete its reading plan in 90 days! That’s right! You can complete reading at least one plan before summer! 

Groups will meet twice monthly for no longer than an hour. Please note that the group time is intended as a  touch base session, not to teach what was read. Group time is an opportunity for discussion, for readers to share insights on the reading, and encourage one another on their progress. So let’s read God’s Word together in 2022 Friendship! To join a group, please select the appropriate link below:

⚫ Old Testament: Enroll Here
⚫ New Testament: Enroll Here
⚫ The Gospels: Enroll Here
⚫ The Pentateuch: Enroll Here
⚫ Psalms/Proverbs: Enroll Here

CHURCH-WIDE FINANCIAL EDUCATION SESSION
The RHEMA Men’s Ministry is hosting a church-wide financial education session on Monday, February 7th, at 7:00 PM titled, “Keys to Living an Efficient, Consistent Financial Life from Pre-Retirement through Retirement.” Most of us want to enjoy the same, if not better, lifestyle when we retire as we do or did during our working years. Thus, making wise money moves can make a difference.

“ALL” (Men, Women, Young, and Seasoned alike) are encouraged to join us for this church-wide financial education, information, and wellness ZOOM session for all ages. NO PRODUCTS are being offered or sold.  Brother Michael Hempstead, Governance Committee and Former FBC Trustee Chairman, will facilitate this virtual session. To attend, register HERE. We will send you the ZOOM link and supplemental materials for the session in your registration confirmation email.

Subject areas to include:
⚫ Types of Retirement Plans
⚫ Impacts of recent and potential tax law changes
⚫ Income & Wealth Building Strategies
⚫ Social Security / A potential means of wealth building
⚫ Organize your finances / Grow & know your net worth, and more

FRIENDSHIP DAY
Please save the date. Sunday, February 13th, is Friendship Day. This is our first Friendship Day in three years! We will have one service at 10am and an outdoor reception immediately following that service. But, don’t worry, we will be done in time for you to get to your SuperBowl Events! Friendship Day Celebrates who we are as a church. We will feature a special, look-back video along with our Friendship Day festivities.

BLACK HISTORY PRESENTATION CONTEST
The Silver Eagles’ are sponsoring a Black History Presentation Contest. This year’s theme is “Incite Hope, Not Violence.”  Students are encouraged to submit a two-minute or less video presentation on an African American or other person of color from the past or present who inspires them because the individual has made or is making their life count to incite hope, not violence. The contest is open to all children and youth from 1st through 12th grade. Again, submissions are to be video presentations that are 2 minutes or less and submitted by February 13th.  Participants should email their submissions to [email protected] by Sunday, February 13th.  For more info, go to wearefriendship.church/silvereagles. There, you can also see the video from last year’s winners.

FRIENDSHIP GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
I am seeking four individuals to serve on our Governance Committee. Governance Committee members actively develop standardized policies, procedures, and processes for the church. They are committed to Friendship’s vision, missions, and values, realizing that the church’s mission, vision, and values help drive organizational effectiveness and accountability. Governance Committee members strive through their God-centered and Faith guided work to pursue God’s Kingdom with purpose, passion, and patience. If you have a passion for Governance and are willing to serve, would you send me an email? You can email me HERE. Thank you in advance for your consideration!

TRANSFORMATION MINISTRIES CONFERENCE 2022
Don’t forget to register for the Transformation Ministries Conference being held on February 10th  and 11th at South Shores Church in Dana Point. This is the conference we hosted for Transformation Ministries in 2015 here at Friendship. The 2022 Transformation Ministries Conference is built around the theme: Only GOD. We will revisit the book of Acts and look at how the supernatural work of God turned the world upside down. I will speak from the thought, ONLY GOD IS WORTHY! HERE is the link to Transformation Ministries advertisement for the conference this week, featuring your PASTOR. I speak on Thursday, February 10th.

All of you are invited to attend the conference! It is FREE for you to do so as long as you register under Friendship! To register, go HERE. Select “I need to add my name to my church’s registration.”  Then enter Friendship Baptist Church for the church name and enter our church address which is 17145 Bastanchury Road, Yorba Linda, CA 92886. Then enter your contact information under Attendee Information. Let me know if you have a problem by emailing me HERE.

CHURCH OFFICE UPDATES:
I have some things to let you know from the church office. 


We are still having difficulty with our phone system; however, we are working on this and should have a new phone system in place by early next month! We have a backup system in place that is working so you can call the church number, and someone will answer or call you back. If you do not reach someone, please leave a message or contact church staff via email, and they will call you back. We are here to serve! 

Many of you have been waiting for your 2021 CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT. They are being mailed out this week, and you should receive them by Monday or Tuesday of next week. Where we could, we emailed those to your email address. If we did not have your email address or requested a mailed copy, they are on the way! You can still request your 2021 contribution statement HERE.

General Church things to remember:

2022 CHURCH THEME:
United & Unashamed: God’s People United in Mission, Ministry, & Mandate
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 ESV; Romans 1:16-17 ESV

JANUARY PRAYER FOCUS:
Praying for Friendship’s Unified Commitment to the Lord
Prov. 16:3, Ps 37:5-6, Ps 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7

BIBLE READING
It was a joy to celebrate those who read the Word of God in 2021 on this past Sunday. We invite you to do it again in 2022, and we invite those who didn’t participate to join us! You have  338 days to complete a Bible reading plan, including today. At Friendship, we encourage every member to read one of six Bible reading plans in the year. These plans include;

✔️ The entire Bible,
✔️ The Pentateuch (or the first five books of the Old Testament),
✔️ The entire Old Testament,
✔️ The Gospels (or the first four books of the New Testament),
✔️ The entire New Testament, and
✔️ Psalms and Proverbs (3 times)

SOCIAL MEDIA
Make sure to follow us on our social media pages for upcoming content. For Facebook, that’s Friendship Baptist Church. For Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, it’s @wearefriendshipchurch.

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 10am 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.

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 the Friendship YouTube Channel HERE.

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

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 2:30pm-4:30pm.  

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 COVID Membership Assistance Grant applications. 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. Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected!

God loves you, and so do I! 

In His Service,
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lK6ri-mjKfB2sIhmcqg2Hi5NyudCSRNzgARr3Mf2K6eUJbquKsJKTjRH8bwIsoC_hqMxDcBGgvz_iM-bLMT8GRoG7ZyW8HAgJwXEgcNgXaSzgCXTwPnItGvBjZf7eqWKVIIalN7w
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor
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