PASTOR’S WEEKLY UPDATE MAY 27, 2022
Hello Friendship Family!
I trust and pray that each of you is well this Friday! I have so many things I want to say to you today that I do not even know where to begin.
First, I apologize for scaring many of you on Sunday at the 8am service! Please know that I am well, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I was very dehydrated, and it caught up with me in a way I did not expect. I have received all of your calls, texts, and emails and have tried to respond to them. Thanks for your prayers, love, and support. Again, Pastor Curry is ok. I am healthy. I’ve had a check-up. All is well! By God’s grace, I could preach two more times that Sunday, and I know I was able to push through because all of you were praying for and with me.
I do have some vacation time coming and am looking forward to it. I will also be taking off from the office during the week beginning the month of July and August so I can complete my dissertation. I need about eight weeks of focus to get this done. I must finish this year. Please pray for me! Please pray with me!
Secondly, I am saddened by the shooting on Tuesday in Uvalde, TX. Honestly, my heart is broken. Do you realize that there have been over a dozen mass shootings in the last two weeks? Most of us only know about Buffalo, New York, Laguna Woods, California, and now Uvalde, Texas. But HERE is a link to a map that shows you several more shootings that have taken place across the nation, including two more here in California.
Beloved, this is heartbreaking stuff. Something must be done! There must be universal laws that help to protect everyone. It is not in my heart to politicize anything. I am not a passivist. However, I am concerned and hurt when people see their children off to school in the morning and never see them alive again. I am also concerned when an individual can plan out a mass shooting because he does not like a particular race of people or because they are members of a particular people group. This is evil! I pray that God would turn the hearts of our political leaders and direct them to address gun laws and find a solution for this, and I pray that it works!
Lastly, I am concerned about this rise in Covid case numbers. I am praying. I am also watching and assessing. As your pastor, I ask that you would remain prayerful in your efforts. Be selective in your participation in public events. When in doubt, wear your mask! Please wear a mask in spaces where you are around unfamiliar people, people you don’t know, and people you do not know their Covid vaccination status. While we are not seeing as many severe illnesses and hospitalizations are relatively low, we must remain vigilant against this virus. Having Covid is a nuisance and can be deadly to the most vulnerable. We will remain MASK optional for now, but if there is a recommendation for MASKS, we will change our policy to make things safe for all. Pray with me on this!
Well, here are this week’s announcements for you…
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 TOMORROW, Saturday, May 28th at 5pm. Tickets cost $20per person. 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.
MEN’S DAY 2022:
Brothers, Men’s Day 2022 is this Sunday, May 29th, at our 8am and 11:30am services. Our speaker will be Bishop Jawane Hilton of Brister Baptist Church of Compton, CA. 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! We also need the Men Doorkeepers on the floor and serving with our Hospitality Team. I hope to see you in place! Now, Brothers, the Men’s Day attire is Tan/Khaki colored suits and a white shirt. If you don’t have that, don’t worry about it. Just come and be a part of what God is doing with and through the men! See you Sunday!
OFFICE CLOSED
Please note the Church office is closed Monday, May 30th, for Memorial Day.
COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY EVANGELISTIC OUTREACH
We are partnering with the Southern Baptist Convention to host a Community Block Party on Saturday, June 11th, here at Friendship. This is an evangelistic outreach event designed to share the hope of the gospel with the community. We will have family-friendly fun, including jumpers, fitness boot camps, games, raffles, and food. We are inviting our neighbors and friends, and we need you to invite, share and bring your unsaved or unchurched friends and family members to attend.
Again, this is an evangelistic event. We will have a few planned presentations of the gospel and an invitation to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. We need you to show up and show out in a big way. This is “our” party, Friendship, and as the host, we need to be here! Please come and hang out, chat, play games, and mix and mingle with our neighbors and guests.
Those who have a business and would like to set up a booth to create awareness and get exposure are welcome to do so. We are not permitting any selling, but the distribution of cards, fliers, and giveaways are encouraged. To reserve a spot for your business, email Rev. Jaron Singley HERE by June 3rd.
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.
For more information on the choir, please email Sonya Griffin HERE.
For more information, view the flyer HERE. Also, you can visit the NAAF website HERE and the SBC Annual Meeting website HERE.
If you are willing and able to serve on our Hospitality Team on Sunday, June 12th, please let Deaconess Melissa Hunter know this by stopping by the Hospitality Table on Sunday or email Rikki Taylor HERE in the church office to let her know your willingness and availability.
BABY DEDICATION
On Sunday, June 19th (Father’s Day), we will have a Baby Dedication Service as part of the 11:30am Worship Service. If you are interested in having your child dedicated, please contact Leigha Carrington HERE in the church office.
VOLUNTEERS NEED ~ CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & DISCIPLESHIP
Christian Education and Discipleship is preparing to bring back children and youth Ex-Hour in September of this year! We are also preparing for the children and youth Discipleship Bootcamp and need volunteers for both areas. If you are ready to see our children back in their age-appropriate bible study groups and are willing to help with teaching, classroom assistance, and administration, please email us here at [email protected]. It takes a village to bring our children back, and we need your help!
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.
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!
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:
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
I trust and pray that each of you is well this Friday! I have so many things I want to say to you today that I do not even know where to begin.
First, I apologize for scaring many of you on Sunday at the 8am service! Please know that I am well, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I was very dehydrated, and it caught up with me in a way I did not expect. I have received all of your calls, texts, and emails and have tried to respond to them. Thanks for your prayers, love, and support. Again, Pastor Curry is ok. I am healthy. I’ve had a check-up. All is well! By God’s grace, I could preach two more times that Sunday, and I know I was able to push through because all of you were praying for and with me.
I do have some vacation time coming and am looking forward to it. I will also be taking off from the office during the week beginning the month of July and August so I can complete my dissertation. I need about eight weeks of focus to get this done. I must finish this year. Please pray for me! Please pray with me!
Secondly, I am saddened by the shooting on Tuesday in Uvalde, TX. Honestly, my heart is broken. Do you realize that there have been over a dozen mass shootings in the last two weeks? Most of us only know about Buffalo, New York, Laguna Woods, California, and now Uvalde, Texas. But HERE is a link to a map that shows you several more shootings that have taken place across the nation, including two more here in California.
Beloved, this is heartbreaking stuff. Something must be done! There must be universal laws that help to protect everyone. It is not in my heart to politicize anything. I am not a passivist. However, I am concerned and hurt when people see their children off to school in the morning and never see them alive again. I am also concerned when an individual can plan out a mass shooting because he does not like a particular race of people or because they are members of a particular people group. This is evil! I pray that God would turn the hearts of our political leaders and direct them to address gun laws and find a solution for this, and I pray that it works!
Lastly, I am concerned about this rise in Covid case numbers. I am praying. I am also watching and assessing. As your pastor, I ask that you would remain prayerful in your efforts. Be selective in your participation in public events. When in doubt, wear your mask! Please wear a mask in spaces where you are around unfamiliar people, people you don’t know, and people you do not know their Covid vaccination status. While we are not seeing as many severe illnesses and hospitalizations are relatively low, we must remain vigilant against this virus. Having Covid is a nuisance and can be deadly to the most vulnerable. We will remain MASK optional for now, but if there is a recommendation for MASKS, we will change our policy to make things safe for all. Pray with me on this!
Well, here are this week’s announcements for you…
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 TOMORROW, Saturday, May 28th at 5pm. Tickets cost $20per person. 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.
MEN’S DAY 2022:
Brothers, Men’s Day 2022 is this Sunday, May 29th, at our 8am and 11:30am services. Our speaker will be Bishop Jawane Hilton of Brister Baptist Church of Compton, CA. 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! We also need the Men Doorkeepers on the floor and serving with our Hospitality Team. I hope to see you in place! Now, Brothers, the Men’s Day attire is Tan/Khaki colored suits and a white shirt. If you don’t have that, don’t worry about it. Just come and be a part of what God is doing with and through the men! See you Sunday!
OFFICE CLOSED
Please note the Church office is closed Monday, May 30th, for Memorial Day.
COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY EVANGELISTIC OUTREACH
We are partnering with the Southern Baptist Convention to host a Community Block Party on Saturday, June 11th, here at Friendship. This is an evangelistic outreach event designed to share the hope of the gospel with the community. We will have family-friendly fun, including jumpers, fitness boot camps, games, raffles, and food. We are inviting our neighbors and friends, and we need you to invite, share and bring your unsaved or unchurched friends and family members to attend.
Again, this is an evangelistic event. We will have a few planned presentations of the gospel and an invitation to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. We need you to show up and show out in a big way. This is “our” party, Friendship, and as the host, we need to be here! Please come and hang out, chat, play games, and mix and mingle with our neighbors and guests.
Those who have a business and would like to set up a booth to create awareness and get exposure are welcome to do so. We are not permitting any selling, but the distribution of cards, fliers, and giveaways are encouraged. To reserve a spot for your business, email Rev. Jaron Singley HERE by June 3rd.
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.
For more information on the choir, please email Sonya Griffin HERE.
For more information, view the flyer HERE. Also, you can visit the NAAF website HERE and the SBC Annual Meeting website HERE.
If you are willing and able to serve on our Hospitality Team on Sunday, June 12th, please let Deaconess Melissa Hunter know this by stopping by the Hospitality Table on Sunday or email Rikki Taylor HERE in the church office to let her know your willingness and availability.
BABY DEDICATION
On Sunday, June 19th (Father’s Day), we will have a Baby Dedication Service as part of the 11:30am Worship Service. If you are interested in having your child dedicated, please contact Leigha Carrington HERE in the church office.
VOLUNTEERS NEED ~ CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & DISCIPLESHIP
Christian Education and Discipleship is preparing to bring back children and youth Ex-Hour in September of this year! We are also preparing for the children and youth Discipleship Bootcamp and need volunteers for both areas. If you are ready to see our children back in their age-appropriate bible study groups and are willing to help with teaching, classroom assistance, and administration, please email us here at [email protected]. It takes a village to bring our children back, and we need your help!
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.
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!
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
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
Gal.5:1, II Cor 3:17, Gal 5:13, Eph 3:12
⚫ BIBLE READING
You have 218 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