PASTOR’S WEEKLY UPDATE MAY 6, 2022
Hey there Friendship Family!
It was great seeing so many of you here this past Sunday!
Exciting things are happening here at Friendship! However, we know that there are many reasons why someone may not be able to participate as an active member of the church. Still, we would like to encourage you to come experience worship here on Sundays and get involved in a Bible Study, Small Group, or attend the special events offered by our Men’s Ministry and our Women’s Ministry!
I will go through what’s going on at your church in a few minutes! I invite you to take advantage of the opportunities and jump in! The Bible teaches us that there is power when the saints gather together. Matthew 18:20 tells us that where two or three come together in His name, He is there with us!
So I invite you to jump in and be encouraged. I am participating in 90 Day Bible Reading Class. It is so encouraging to be a part of this group with others and simply grow and not have to lead! I am being fed as I read and hear others share what encouraged them in God’s word! You can experience the same! Jump in!
So here are this week’s announcements for you…
MOTHER’S DAY & HAT DAY THIS SUNDAY:
This Sunday is MOTHER’S DAY! We are excited to celebrate with all of the mothers. Whether you are a spiritual mom, a foster mom, a single mom, or a mom of 10, the way you disciple and lead your children matters - and we want to honor you! So join us this Sunday, May 8th, at either of our services as we take intentional time to celebrate the incredible mothers in our church family.
Additionally, our Church Mother’s or the Mother’s Board, as they are known at some churches, have called a HAT DAY for Sunday, May 8th. Ladies, you are invited to wear a church hat this Sunday to celebrate the Black Church Ladies Hat Tradition. There’s no doubt that church hats have impacted black church culture and expression over the years. Don’t worry about it if you don’t have a hat, just still come to church!
HERMENEUTICS CLASS:
Please note that the Saturday Hermeneutics Class resumes tomorrow, May 7th, at 10:30am. This class is Part #2 of the Hermeneutics Study. It is a virtual class that meets via Zoom and is taught by Rev. Felton Patrick Christian. The course will run for ten to twelve weeks and covers all of the New Testament genres and principles of application. If you were unable to attend part #1, it’s ok. You can still attend this session. There will be a comprehensive review on the first day of this session. The class is designed so that you will be able to pick up just as if it were the beginning of a brand new class. To register, go HERE. Once registered, Rev. Christian will email a pdf copy of the class workbook to you. For more information, email Rev. Christian HERE.
SIDE BY SIDE COUPLES MINISTRY
The Side by Side Couples Ministry is pleased to announce a new seven-session Bible Study series based on the book You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity from best-selling author Francis Chan and his wife, Lisa Chan. These sessions will occur via Zoom on Friday, May 13th, beginning at 7:00 pm. The topic for this class is Marriage isn’t that Great. Should you have any questions, contact Deacon Hilton McDaniel at (949) 652-1489 or Sheila McDaniel via email at [email protected]. To join the session, go HERE. They look forward to you joining the class.
RHEMA MEN’S FELLOWSHIP
Brothers, our RHEMA Men’s Ministry invites you to join us for a virtual men’s gathering via Zoom on Monday, May 9th, as we discuss the topic of “STRENGTH.” In the midst of everything men are going through, we must remember where our “STRENGTH” comes from. While we are limited in our own power, God is not. God is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1). This year, the Men’s Ministry theme is Men United & Unashamed in Knowing Where Our Strength Comes From, utilizing Psalm 46:1. Being unified helps remind and encourage us of this. Deacon Charles Owens will facilitate this session. Please plan to participate by registering HERE. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link to join the session.
COMEDY NIGHT AT THE SHIP XII ~ SAVE THE DATE
RHEMA Men’s Ministry is planning and presenting Comedy Night at the Ship XII. This event will take place on Saturday, May 28th at 5pm. Tickets will cost $20. This comedy show will be a live, in-person event that takes place at Friendship. It will not stream. We will not have food service, and we will not have childcare available. More information will come on Sunday and/or in next week’s update. Also, look out for push notifications on this.
VETERANS MINISTRY
Armed Forces Day is coming on Saturday, May 21st. The Friendship Veterans Ministry will commemorate this day by having its first in-person workshop from 11am to 1pm in the Multi-Purpose Bldg at Friendship. This event will feature great information for Veterans on VA Home Mortgage Loans and Veteran’s Benefits Administration Los Angeles (VBALAX), specifically how veterans can file a claim. In addition, presenters will answer critical concerns you may be having with the VA. Dependents, caretakers, and supporters of Veterans are also welcome to attend. Water and light snacks will be provided, along with a complimentary gift. Our presenters need to know how many people will attend so they can send the appropriate number of subject matter experts. Please RSVP to Mark Saunders via email HERE.
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. The event takes place on Sunday, June 19th. It is a staged concert event that 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.
For more information, view the event advertisement, and purchase tickets, please go HERE. There is also a video announcement HERE.
JOHN P. KEE CONCERT
The Inland Empire presents a night with John P. Kee on Thursday, May 12th, at 7pm. Bishop Kenneth Wells and his wife, gospel artist, Shervonne Wells, will host this event. The concert takes place at Mt. Rubidoux Seventh Day Adventist Church in Riverside. For ticket information, go HERE. To view the concert announcement and advertisement, go 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.
58th CHURCH ANNIVERSARY:
Friendship Family! On Sunday, May 15th, the third Sunday, we will celebrate our 58th Church Anniversary. Yes, Friendship is turning 58 years old. While we will not have a vast Celebration service as we have in the past (WE NOW CELEBRATE BIG EVERY FIVE YEARS), we will commemorate the day!!
To commemorate and celebrate our 58th birthday, I ask each member to give a $58 birthday gift to the church above your tithe and offering. This gift is per individual member! There are no special envelopes. You can use the regular church envelope, or if you want to give online via the church website, you can, and there is a designation for giving your special gift. To give online, go 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:
Well, that’s all I have!
Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Connected!
God loves you, and so do I!
In His Service,
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor
It was great seeing so many of you here this past Sunday!
Exciting things are happening here at Friendship! However, we know that there are many reasons why someone may not be able to participate as an active member of the church. Still, we would like to encourage you to come experience worship here on Sundays and get involved in a Bible Study, Small Group, or attend the special events offered by our Men’s Ministry and our Women’s Ministry!
I will go through what’s going on at your church in a few minutes! I invite you to take advantage of the opportunities and jump in! The Bible teaches us that there is power when the saints gather together. Matthew 18:20 tells us that where two or three come together in His name, He is there with us!
So I invite you to jump in and be encouraged. I am participating in 90 Day Bible Reading Class. It is so encouraging to be a part of this group with others and simply grow and not have to lead! I am being fed as I read and hear others share what encouraged them in God’s word! You can experience the same! Jump in!
So here are this week’s announcements for you…
MOTHER’S DAY & HAT DAY THIS SUNDAY:
This Sunday is MOTHER’S DAY! We are excited to celebrate with all of the mothers. Whether you are a spiritual mom, a foster mom, a single mom, or a mom of 10, the way you disciple and lead your children matters - and we want to honor you! So join us this Sunday, May 8th, at either of our services as we take intentional time to celebrate the incredible mothers in our church family.
Additionally, our Church Mother’s or the Mother’s Board, as they are known at some churches, have called a HAT DAY for Sunday, May 8th. Ladies, you are invited to wear a church hat this Sunday to celebrate the Black Church Ladies Hat Tradition. There’s no doubt that church hats have impacted black church culture and expression over the years. Don’t worry about it if you don’t have a hat, just still come to church!
HERMENEUTICS CLASS:
Please note that the Saturday Hermeneutics Class resumes tomorrow, May 7th, at 10:30am. This class is Part #2 of the Hermeneutics Study. It is a virtual class that meets via Zoom and is taught by Rev. Felton Patrick Christian. The course will run for ten to twelve weeks and covers all of the New Testament genres and principles of application. If you were unable to attend part #1, it’s ok. You can still attend this session. There will be a comprehensive review on the first day of this session. The class is designed so that you will be able to pick up just as if it were the beginning of a brand new class. To register, go HERE. Once registered, Rev. Christian will email a pdf copy of the class workbook to you. For more information, email Rev. Christian HERE.
SIDE BY SIDE COUPLES MINISTRY
The Side by Side Couples Ministry is pleased to announce a new seven-session Bible Study series based on the book You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity from best-selling author Francis Chan and his wife, Lisa Chan. These sessions will occur via Zoom on Friday, May 13th, beginning at 7:00 pm. The topic for this class is Marriage isn’t that Great. Should you have any questions, contact Deacon Hilton McDaniel at (949) 652-1489 or Sheila McDaniel via email at [email protected]. To join the session, go HERE. They look forward to you joining the class.
RHEMA MEN’S FELLOWSHIP
Brothers, our RHEMA Men’s Ministry invites you to join us for a virtual men’s gathering via Zoom on Monday, May 9th, as we discuss the topic of “STRENGTH.” In the midst of everything men are going through, we must remember where our “STRENGTH” comes from. While we are limited in our own power, God is not. God is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1). This year, the Men’s Ministry theme is Men United & Unashamed in Knowing Where Our Strength Comes From, utilizing Psalm 46:1. Being unified helps remind and encourage us of this. Deacon Charles Owens will facilitate this session. Please plan to participate by registering HERE. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link to join the session.
COMEDY NIGHT AT THE SHIP XII ~ SAVE THE DATE
RHEMA Men’s Ministry is planning and presenting Comedy Night at the Ship XII. This event will take place on Saturday, May 28th at 5pm. Tickets will cost $20. This comedy show will be a live, in-person event that takes place at Friendship. It will not stream. We will not have food service, and we will not have childcare available. More information will come on Sunday and/or in next week’s update. Also, look out for push notifications on this.
VETERANS MINISTRY
Armed Forces Day is coming on Saturday, May 21st. The Friendship Veterans Ministry will commemorate this day by having its first in-person workshop from 11am to 1pm in the Multi-Purpose Bldg at Friendship. This event will feature great information for Veterans on VA Home Mortgage Loans and Veteran’s Benefits Administration Los Angeles (VBALAX), specifically how veterans can file a claim. In addition, presenters will answer critical concerns you may be having with the VA. Dependents, caretakers, and supporters of Veterans are also welcome to attend. Water and light snacks will be provided, along with a complimentary gift. Our presenters need to know how many people will attend so they can send the appropriate number of subject matter experts. Please RSVP to Mark Saunders via email HERE.
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. The event takes place on Sunday, June 19th. It is a staged concert event that 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.
For more information, view the event advertisement, and purchase tickets, please go HERE. There is also a video announcement HERE.
JOHN P. KEE CONCERT
The Inland Empire presents a night with John P. Kee on Thursday, May 12th, at 7pm. Bishop Kenneth Wells and his wife, gospel artist, Shervonne Wells, will host this event. The concert takes place at Mt. Rubidoux Seventh Day Adventist Church in Riverside. For ticket information, go HERE. To view the concert announcement and advertisement, go 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.
58th CHURCH ANNIVERSARY:
Friendship Family! On Sunday, May 15th, the third Sunday, we will celebrate our 58th Church Anniversary. Yes, Friendship is turning 58 years old. While we will not have a vast Celebration service as we have in the past (WE NOW CELEBRATE BIG EVERY FIVE YEARS), we will commemorate the day!!
To commemorate and celebrate our 58th birthday, I ask each member to give a $58 birthday gift to the church above your tithe and offering. This gift is per individual member! There are no special envelopes. You can use the regular church envelope, or if you want to give online via the church website, you can, and there is a designation for giving your special gift. To give online, go 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:
United & Unashamed: God’s People United in Mission, Ministry, & Mandate
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 ESV; Romans 1:16-17 ESV
⚫ MAY PRAYER FOCUS:
Praying that Friendship Walks Freedom of God
Gal.5:1, II Cor 3:17, Gal 5:13, Eph 3:12
⚫ BIBLE READING
You have 241 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 @FriendshipBaptistChurch. For Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, it’s @wearefriendshipchurch.
⚫ 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!
Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Connected!
God loves you, and so do I!
In His Service,
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor
Posted in COVID-19