PASTOR’S WEEKLY UPDATE MAY 13, 2022
Hello Friendship Family!
I pray today’s weekly update and announcements find you fairing well! I also pray that you have peace that surpasses all understanding and joy that is speakable and full of God’s great glory!
I don’t know about you, but I have been caught off guard by unforeseen things lately! You know things you weren’t expecting, and they catch you by surprise? Things you did not know were coming! Don’t you just hate that? I know I do! My word of encouragement for us this week is adapted from the devotional Jesus Today by Sarah Young.
Do you feel like you don’t know what will happen tomorrow? That’s okay because God does!
And guess what! He has everything you need to face it. Nothing — absolutely nothing — surprises our great God by surprise. Not surprise parties, not pop quizzes, not accidents, not even the weather.
People want to be able to tell the future. Some even make a lot of money pretending that they can tell the future. But the future belongs to God and God alone. And because it belongs to Him, you and I don’t need to worry about it.
We must simply keep our eyes on Jesus.
Too many people fear what the future may bring; they wonder if they’ll be able to handle it. But that kind of thinking is a waste of time. Remember, Jesus is working in our lives right now. And He will help us deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes because life has no surprises for Him.
Matthew 6:34 in the Message Bible Translation says it this way:
I pray today’s weekly update and announcements find you fairing well! I also pray that you have peace that surpasses all understanding and joy that is speakable and full of God’s great glory!
I don’t know about you, but I have been caught off guard by unforeseen things lately! You know things you weren’t expecting, and they catch you by surprise? Things you did not know were coming! Don’t you just hate that? I know I do! My word of encouragement for us this week is adapted from the devotional Jesus Today by Sarah Young.
Do you feel like you don’t know what will happen tomorrow? That’s okay because God does!
And guess what! He has everything you need to face it. Nothing — absolutely nothing — surprises our great God by surprise. Not surprise parties, not pop quizzes, not accidents, not even the weather.
People want to be able to tell the future. Some even make a lot of money pretending that they can tell the future. But the future belongs to God and God alone. And because it belongs to Him, you and I don’t need to worry about it.
We must simply keep our eyes on Jesus.
Too many people fear what the future may bring; they wonder if they’ll be able to handle it. But that kind of thinking is a waste of time. Remember, Jesus is working in our lives right now. And He will help us deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes because life has no surprises for Him.
Matthew 6:34 in the Message Bible Translation says it this way:
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Keep our eyes on JESUS.
One hymn writer wrote in this way in the hymn Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
One hymn writer wrote in this way in the hymn Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Amen! Keep our eyes on JESUS.!
Well, here are this week’s announcements for you…
58th CHURCH ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY:
This Sunday, May 15th, 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.
SIDE BY SIDE COUPLES MINISTRY:
Tonight the Side by Side Couples Ministry starts 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 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.
HERMENEUTICS CLASS:
It’s not too late to join the Saturday Hermeneutics Class, which began last Saturday, May 7th. This is Part #2 of the Hermeneutics Study. It is a virtual class that meets Saturdays via Zoom taught and is by Rev. Felton Patrick Christian. The course covers all of the New Testament genres and principles of application. I have provided a link so you can register. Once registered, Rev. Christian will email you a pdf copy of the class workbook. 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.
MEN’S DAY 2022:
Brothers, Men’s Day 2022 is coming, and we are excited! Men’s Day 2022 takes place on Sunday, May 29th, at both our 8am and 11:30am services. The Wrecking Crew will be in the house under the direction of our guest director, Brother Greg Jones. Brother Jones will also lead in Praise & Worship on that Sunday! So Wrecking Crew, it’s time to come together and sing! Rehearsals are Saturday, May 21st, at 10am and Wednesday, May 25th, at 6pm. We also need the Men Doorkeepers on the floor and serving with our Hospitality Team. Additionally, our speaker for Men’s Day will be Bishop Jawane Hilton of Brister Baptist Church in Compton, CA.
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. To purchase tickets and to gain more information, please go HERE.
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 claims. 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. Also, HERE is a link to a video regarding the event by our very own Mark Saunders! Check it out!
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.
NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN FELLOWSHIP OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION:
The Southern Baptist Convention will hold its 2022 Annual Meetin in Anaheim, CA, at the Anaheim Convention Center from June 12th through the 15th.
On June 11th, we will host a Crossover Event here at Friendship. A Crossover Event is an evangelistic outreach event designed to share the hope of the gospel with the community. In addition, we will host a block party event, and you are invited to attend and bring your unsaved and unchurched friends. More information will come next week.
Additionally, we will host the National African American Fellowship (NAAF) of the Southern Baptist Convention here at Friendship on Sunday, June 12th. The National President, Pastor Frank Williams, will speak at the 8am, and 11:30am services.
There will also be a 6:30 evening worship that we will host for the National African American Fellowship (NAAF). The guest speaker will be Dr. Tony Evans of the Oakcliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas. We will also have a combined choir that will consist of local area African American Churches, including Friendship, The View Church, St. Stephens, and others. More information is in the update’s written portion, and services are open to the public. I have also provided information and links. I will update you more in the weeks ahead.
For more information, view the flyer HERE. Also, you can visit the NAAF website HERE and the SBC Annual Meeting website 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:
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
Well, here are this week’s announcements for you…
58th CHURCH ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY:
This Sunday, May 15th, 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.
SIDE BY SIDE COUPLES MINISTRY:
Tonight the Side by Side Couples Ministry starts 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 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.
HERMENEUTICS CLASS:
It’s not too late to join the Saturday Hermeneutics Class, which began last Saturday, May 7th. This is Part #2 of the Hermeneutics Study. It is a virtual class that meets Saturdays via Zoom taught and is by Rev. Felton Patrick Christian. The course covers all of the New Testament genres and principles of application. I have provided a link so you can register. Once registered, Rev. Christian will email you a pdf copy of the class workbook. 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.
MEN’S DAY 2022:
Brothers, Men’s Day 2022 is coming, and we are excited! Men’s Day 2022 takes place on Sunday, May 29th, at both our 8am and 11:30am services. The Wrecking Crew will be in the house under the direction of our guest director, Brother Greg Jones. Brother Jones will also lead in Praise & Worship on that Sunday! So Wrecking Crew, it’s time to come together and sing! Rehearsals are Saturday, May 21st, at 10am and Wednesday, May 25th, at 6pm. We also need the Men Doorkeepers on the floor and serving with our Hospitality Team. Additionally, our speaker for Men’s Day will be Bishop Jawane Hilton of Brister Baptist Church in Compton, CA.
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. To purchase tickets and to gain more information, please go HERE.
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 claims. 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. Also, HERE is a link to a video regarding the event by our very own Mark Saunders! Check it out!
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.
NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN FELLOWSHIP OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION:
The Southern Baptist Convention will hold its 2022 Annual Meetin in Anaheim, CA, at the Anaheim Convention Center from June 12th through the 15th.
On June 11th, we will host a Crossover Event here at Friendship. A Crossover Event is an evangelistic outreach event designed to share the hope of the gospel with the community. In addition, we will host a block party event, and you are invited to attend and bring your unsaved and unchurched friends. More information will come next week.
Additionally, we will host the National African American Fellowship (NAAF) of the Southern Baptist Convention here at Friendship on Sunday, June 12th. The National President, Pastor Frank Williams, will speak at the 8am, and 11:30am services.
There will also be a 6:30 evening worship that we will host for the National African American Fellowship (NAAF). The guest speaker will be Dr. Tony Evans of the Oakcliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas. We will also have a combined choir that will consist of local area African American Churches, including Friendship, The View Church, St. Stephens, and others. More information is in the update’s written portion, and services are open to the public. I have also provided information and links. I will update you more in the weeks ahead.
For more information, view the flyer HERE. Also, you can visit the NAAF website HERE and the SBC Annual Meeting website 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 234 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