PASTOR’S WEEKLY UPDATE APRIL 22, 2022
Greetings, Friendship Family!
I am still basking in the glory of our tremendous Resurrection Sunday Services! The Lord was undoubtedly kind to us and present with us! Amen!
I want to take the opportunity to thank all of our ministry teams for their hard work over the entirety of Holy Week. Thank you to our Media, Audio, Music, Hospitality, Safety, Parking Lot Team, and the Friendship Staff (both full-time and part-time.) Thank you also to the volunteers who served at the Food Panty Saturday for our Holiday Food Giveaway on Saturday, April 16th. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Trying to articulate a genuine feeling of gratitude and thanks is more challenging than just saying “thank you.” I realize it takes all of us to effectively serve and meet the needs of our church family and others in our community. However, God is faithful as He gifts and equips us to serve Him and those around us according to His purposes and their needs.
As I reflect on our Resurrection Services Sunday, I think of togetherness! We were together!
Remember, the church is not merely four walls, a floor, and a roof! No, the church is you and me together! Together we are the Bride of Christ preparing herself for His return. As we grow together, the Holy Spirit works through us to accomplish His plans and purposes. Together, we are the voice of God reaching the lost. Together, you and I are the church as we sow seeds of faith to the next generation. Ultimately, the church is more significant than our individualism because the church belongs to God, and He has a plan for our church. Yes, we are the church TOGETHER! May we remember that in the coming weeks. We are the church TOGETHER!
Look, I could say so much more, but I have so many announcements! So, here are your announcements for this week.
WOMEN’S MONTHLY FELLOWSHIP
Ladies, tonight is the April edition of our Women’s Monthly Fellowship! You are invited to join the Friendship Women’s Ministry tonight at 7pm for a Virtual Women’s Ministry Fellowship via Zoom. Come and hear the guest speaker, Sister Lynda Beckley, the First Lady of Ecclesia Christian Fellowship, speak on Identity Roots. I have provided a link for you to gain more information. This fellowship will deliver on every cylinder, so join the women and bring a friend! You’ll be glad you did! To join the session, go HERE.
LEADERSHIP MEETING:
Leaders, our next Leadership Meeting is tomorrow, Saturday, April 23rd, at 10am. This meeting is an in-person meeting ONLY. It will take place in the Sanctuary. After the meeting, we will host an OPEN HOUSE for you to see some of the improvements we have made since 2020 as we prepare to welcome ministries back to campus.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION:
The Christian Education Department is pleased to announce two classes starting this month!
FAMILY PRAYER SERVICE:
Please note and plan to attend our next Family Prayer Service is Friday, April 29th, at 7pm via our Prayer Line on Google Meets. We start promptly at 7:30pm and only meet for one hour. Please join the Prayer Posse and me as we pray for our May Prayer Focus and our 2022 Church theme. Remember, this prayer meeting is an open prayer time, so if you feel led to pray, simply unmute your line and PRAY!
MINISTERS & TEACHER’S CONFERENCE CANCELED
Please note that the 2022 Teacher’s & Minister’s Conference scheduled for Saturday, April 30th, has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your flexibility.
KINDOM WIDOWS SPRING LUNCHEON & TEA
The Kingdom Widows Ministry would like to invite all widows and widowers of Friendship to come out and enjoy an afternoon of fellowship at our Spring Luncheon and Tea. This event will be held on April 30th at noon in the Multi-Purpose Building at Friendship. To RSVP, please click go HERE or contact Lady Karima via email at [email protected].
LOVE YORBA LINDA/LOVE PLACENTIA
The Love Yorba Linda and Love Placentia events are BACK! This year they will be combined and will serve Yorba Linda primarily. Love Yorba Linda is a community-wide service day where residents, businesses, city government, faith groups, service groups, schools, and sports organizations unite to make Yorba Linda better. The event takes place on Saturday, April 30th. If you are interested in participating, please go HERE for more information and sign-up!
GOSPEL VOICES OF OC: A JUNETEETH EVENT
The Chapman University College of Performing Arts, in collaboration with the Arts & Learning Conservatory, is happy to announce A Juneteeth Event entitled the Gospel Voices of OC. This staged concert event chronicles African-American lives and artistry through choral works, dance, orchestra, band, theatre, and spoken word. With more than 100 performers, Gospel Voices of OC spans June 19, 1865, to contemporary times. It’s a joyous Juneteeth celebration of Freedom and excellence to inspire people of all ages. Our very own Sonya Griffin will be the vocal soloist for the event.
There is still room for individuals who would like to participate in the choir performance. Youth and Young Adult choir members, ages 10 to 22, have to audition. Auditions are not required for the adult choir members/participants. The next rehearsals are on Saturday, April 23rd, at Friendship. The Youth and Young Adult choir rehearsal begins promptly at 1pm, and the Adult choir begins at 2:30pm.
For more information, view the event advertisement, and purchase tickets, please go HERE. There is also a video announcement HERE.
ATTENTION CLASS OF 2022
Attention Class of 2022! We are collecting the names of all Friendship Members who are graduating from high school or college this year. So, if you are a member of Friendship and are graduating from high school or college or know a student connected to Friendship and that student is graduating from high school or college this year, please let us know by adding their name to the list HERE.
Here are a few church office updates…
JOBS AT FRIENDSHIP
We invite you to visit the church website and see the jobs we have posted. We invite qualified candidates to apply. Go HERE to see the job postings.
General Church things to remember:
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 ESV; Romans 1:16-17 ESV
Ps. 133:1, I Cor 12:12, Eph. 4:13
Well, that’s all I have, and that’s a lot!
Also, please note that we move to MASK OPTIONAL on the first Sunday in May. That’s May 1st! So this Sunday is the last where masks are required.
Would you please PRAY for me? I have a lot before me, and I desire to do my best with it all! Thank you in advance 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
I am still basking in the glory of our tremendous Resurrection Sunday Services! The Lord was undoubtedly kind to us and present with us! Amen!
I want to take the opportunity to thank all of our ministry teams for their hard work over the entirety of Holy Week. Thank you to our Media, Audio, Music, Hospitality, Safety, Parking Lot Team, and the Friendship Staff (both full-time and part-time.) Thank you also to the volunteers who served at the Food Panty Saturday for our Holiday Food Giveaway on Saturday, April 16th. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Trying to articulate a genuine feeling of gratitude and thanks is more challenging than just saying “thank you.” I realize it takes all of us to effectively serve and meet the needs of our church family and others in our community. However, God is faithful as He gifts and equips us to serve Him and those around us according to His purposes and their needs.
As I reflect on our Resurrection Services Sunday, I think of togetherness! We were together!
- We were together in worship!
- We were together in celebration!
- We were together in the same space!
- We were together in the same place!
Remember, the church is not merely four walls, a floor, and a roof! No, the church is you and me together! Together we are the Bride of Christ preparing herself for His return. As we grow together, the Holy Spirit works through us to accomplish His plans and purposes. Together, we are the voice of God reaching the lost. Together, you and I are the church as we sow seeds of faith to the next generation. Ultimately, the church is more significant than our individualism because the church belongs to God, and He has a plan for our church. Yes, we are the church TOGETHER! May we remember that in the coming weeks. We are the church TOGETHER!
Look, I could say so much more, but I have so many announcements! So, here are your announcements for this week.
WOMEN’S MONTHLY FELLOWSHIP
Ladies, tonight is the April edition of our Women’s Monthly Fellowship! You are invited to join the Friendship Women’s Ministry tonight at 7pm for a Virtual Women’s Ministry Fellowship via Zoom. Come and hear the guest speaker, Sister Lynda Beckley, the First Lady of Ecclesia Christian Fellowship, speak on Identity Roots. I have provided a link for you to gain more information. This fellowship will deliver on every cylinder, so join the women and bring a friend! You’ll be glad you did! To join the session, go HERE.
LEADERSHIP MEETING:
Leaders, our next Leadership Meeting is tomorrow, Saturday, April 23rd, at 10am. This meeting is an in-person meeting ONLY. It will take place in the Sanctuary. After the meeting, we will host an OPEN HOUSE for you to see some of the improvements we have made since 2020 as we prepare to welcome ministries back to campus.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION:
The Christian Education Department is pleased to announce two classes starting this month!
- NEW MEMBERS CLASS: On Sunday, April 24th, the New Members class will begin a new eight-week series. If you have joined Friendship and have never taken the New Members class, you are invited to enroll. Enroll HERE.
- BIBLE IN 90 DAYS: Additionally, the Bible in 90 days will begin Tuesday, April 26th, from 7-8:30pm, and will meet weekly online. This study will walk through the entire Bible in 90 days. To enroll, register HERE.
FAMILY PRAYER SERVICE:
Please note and plan to attend our next Family Prayer Service is Friday, April 29th, at 7pm via our Prayer Line on Google Meets. We start promptly at 7:30pm and only meet for one hour. Please join the Prayer Posse and me as we pray for our May Prayer Focus and our 2022 Church theme. Remember, this prayer meeting is an open prayer time, so if you feel led to pray, simply unmute your line and PRAY!
MINISTERS & TEACHER’S CONFERENCE CANCELED
Please note that the 2022 Teacher’s & Minister’s Conference scheduled for Saturday, April 30th, has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your flexibility.
KINDOM WIDOWS SPRING LUNCHEON & TEA
The Kingdom Widows Ministry would like to invite all widows and widowers of Friendship to come out and enjoy an afternoon of fellowship at our Spring Luncheon and Tea. This event will be held on April 30th at noon in the Multi-Purpose Building at Friendship. To RSVP, please click go HERE or contact Lady Karima via email at [email protected].
LOVE YORBA LINDA/LOVE PLACENTIA
The Love Yorba Linda and Love Placentia events are BACK! This year they will be combined and will serve Yorba Linda primarily. Love Yorba Linda is a community-wide service day where residents, businesses, city government, faith groups, service groups, schools, and sports organizations unite to make Yorba Linda better. The event takes place on Saturday, April 30th. If you are interested in participating, please go HERE for more information and sign-up!
GOSPEL VOICES OF OC: A JUNETEETH EVENT
The Chapman University College of Performing Arts, in collaboration with the Arts & Learning Conservatory, is happy to announce A Juneteeth Event entitled the Gospel Voices of OC. This staged concert event chronicles African-American lives and artistry through choral works, dance, orchestra, band, theatre, and spoken word. With more than 100 performers, Gospel Voices of OC spans June 19, 1865, to contemporary times. It’s a joyous Juneteeth celebration of Freedom and excellence to inspire people of all ages. Our very own Sonya Griffin will be the vocal soloist for the event.
There is still room for individuals who would like to participate in the choir performance. Youth and Young Adult choir members, ages 10 to 22, have to audition. Auditions are not required for the adult choir members/participants. The next rehearsals are on Saturday, April 23rd, at Friendship. The Youth and Young Adult choir rehearsal begins promptly at 1pm, and the Adult choir begins at 2:30pm.
For more information, view the event advertisement, and purchase tickets, please go HERE. There is also a video announcement HERE.
ATTENTION CLASS OF 2022
Attention Class of 2022! We are collecting the names of all Friendship Members who are graduating from high school or college this year. So, if you are a member of Friendship and are graduating from high school or college or know a student connected to Friendship and that student is graduating from high school or college this year, please let us know by adding their name to the list HERE.
Here are a few church office updates…
JOBS AT FRIENDSHIP
We invite you to visit the church website and see the jobs we have posted. We invite qualified candidates to apply. Go HERE to see the job postings.
General Church things to remember:
- 2022 CHURCH THEME:
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 ESV; Romans 1:16-17 ESV
- APRIL PRAYER FOCUS:
Ps. 133:1, I Cor 12:12, Eph. 4:13
- BIBLE READING
- 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
- IN-PERSON EX-HOUR: In-person Ex-Hour meets each Sunday from 10am to 11am 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: 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 +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, and that’s a lot!
Also, please note that we move to MASK OPTIONAL on the first Sunday in May. That’s May 1st! So this Sunday is the last where masks are required.
Would you please PRAY for me? I have a lot before me, and I desire to do my best with it all! Thank you in advance 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
Posted in COVID-19