PASTOR’S WEEKLY UPDATE JUNE 10, 2022
Greetings, Friendship Family!
As I announced Sunday, I am away this week at the Hampton University Minister’s Conference in Hampton, Virginia, so I asked Deacon Charles “Chuckie” Owens to stand in for me, and he did a great job. So make sure you check out the video announcements! Thank you, Deacon Chuckie!
Since there are so many announcements, I try to jump right in. So, let’s go!
STEPPING HIGHER MENTAL HEALTH SEMINAR
Stepping Higher Inc., a non-profit community service organization, is presenting a Community Education Seminar and has asked Friendship Baptist Church to be a partnering host. The topic of this seminar is: “Dealing With Mental Health & Spiritual Wellness.” Stepping Higher Inc. has been tasked with incorporating Mental Health and Faith-based entities in treating and preventing mental illness while targeting African American & Latinx Communities. Topics to be covered include:
This virtual one-hour seminar will take place TODAY, Friday, June 10, 2022, via Zoom from 12:00p to 1:00p. To attend the session, please go HERE. No pre-registration is necessary!
SIDE BY SIDE COUPLES MINISTRY
The next Side by Side Couples Ministry class is scheduled for tonight, Friday, June 10th, at 7pm via Zoom. This Bible study for couples utilizes the book You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity by best-selling author Francis Chan and his wife, Lisa Chan. The topic for tonight’s session is Pursue the Perfect Marriage. Should you have any questions, please contact Deacon Hilton McDaniel at (949) 652-1489 or his wife, Sheila McDaniel, via email at [email protected]. To join the session, go HERE. They look forward to you joining the class.
COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY EVANGELISTIC OUTREACH
Remember, we are partnering with the Southern Baptist Convention to host a Community Block Party here at Friendship on Saturday, June 11th. 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 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. We need several more choir members from Friendship to participate if you feel comfortable participating. A choir rehearsal occurs on Sunday, June 12th, at 4pm. For more information on the choir, please email Sonya Griffin HERE.
Services are open to the public. For more information, view the flyer HERE. Also, you can visit the NAAF website HERE and the SBC Annual Meeting website HERE.
WOMEN’S MONTHLY FELLOWSHIP
Ladies, the next Women’s Virtual Monthly Fellowship is on Friday, June 17th, at 7:00p. The special guests, Rev. Kathy Scott and Rev. Keturah Washington, will speak on Springing Up From The Ashes from the book The Well-Watered Woman: Rooted In Truth, Growing In Grace, Flourishing In Faith by author Gretchen Saffles. These two women love the Lord! We invite you to come to learn, be encouraged, and be encouraging! Register today HERE.
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 in the church office 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!
YOUTH DAY IS COMING
Sunday, June 26th, will be our ANNUAL YOUTH DAY. On this day, we will celebrate the children and youth of our church. In preparation for this Sunday, the Children and Youth Day Choir have rehearsals on Wednesday, June 15th and 22nd at 6pm. Rehearsal will take place in the Multi-Purpose Building. For more information on the choir, please email Sonya Griffin HERE.
2022 BACCALAUREATE SERVICE
Our Baccalaureate Service will take place on June 26th at the 8 am service. All graduating High School seniors are encouraged to participate. An email with the details will be sent to all who have submitted their names. If you have not submitted your name or your graduate’s name yet, you may do so HERE. We will also recognize college graduates that day.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARD CEREMONY
Our Scholarship Award Ceremony will also take place on June 26th at 10am. Join us as we celebrate the success of those in K-5th Grade and 6th - 12th Grade.
CHURCH PICNIC
Our Annual Church Picnic and 5K Health Walk will take place on Saturday, July 16th, at Ted Craig Regional Park. We are returning to the time before the pandemic, with the foods we enjoy, hamburgers, hot links, desserts, and the famous roasted buttery corn. We will have games, jumpers, and lots of fun for the entire family. More information will be provided in the coming weeks. Volunteers are needed to cook, serve, and set up. Please contact the church office to volunteer and don’t forget about the 5K Health Walk.
5K HEALTH WALK TRAINING
In preparation for our Annual 5K Health Walk at the Church Picnic, our Healthcare Ministry will offer a pre-walk training on Saturdays beginning Saturday, June 25th at 7:15am. This training will take place on the El Cajon Trail in Yorba Linda. Participants will meet in the parking lot of the St Jude’s Heritage Medical Group at 4300 Rose Drive, that’s just one block from the Ship. The other dates for training are July 2nd and July 9th. So join the Healthcare Ministry and have fun walking!
VOLUNTEERS NEED ~ CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & DISCIPLESHIP
Christian Education and Discipleship is preparing to bring back children and youth Ex-Hour in September 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!
ACTIVE SHOOTER INFORMATION
I know many of you are concerned about active shooter protocols. Please know we are addressing this concern and plan to bring more information to your attention very soon. HERE is some active shooter information to help us all. Take a moment to view the video HERE as well.
Here are a few church office updates…
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
As I announced Sunday, I am away this week at the Hampton University Minister’s Conference in Hampton, Virginia, so I asked Deacon Charles “Chuckie” Owens to stand in for me, and he did a great job. So make sure you check out the video announcements! Thank you, Deacon Chuckie!
Since there are so many announcements, I try to jump right in. So, let’s go!
STEPPING HIGHER MENTAL HEALTH SEMINAR
Stepping Higher Inc., a non-profit community service organization, is presenting a Community Education Seminar and has asked Friendship Baptist Church to be a partnering host. The topic of this seminar is: “Dealing With Mental Health & Spiritual Wellness.” Stepping Higher Inc. has been tasked with incorporating Mental Health and Faith-based entities in treating and preventing mental illness while targeting African American & Latinx Communities. Topics to be covered include:
- What is Stigma and How to Reduce it
- Contributing Factors to Mental Illness
- Mental Health Myths and Facts
- The Process for Reaching Spiritual Wellness
This virtual one-hour seminar will take place TODAY, Friday, June 10, 2022, via Zoom from 12:00p to 1:00p. To attend the session, please go HERE. No pre-registration is necessary!
SIDE BY SIDE COUPLES MINISTRY
The next Side by Side Couples Ministry class is scheduled for tonight, Friday, June 10th, at 7pm via Zoom. This Bible study for couples utilizes the book You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity by best-selling author Francis Chan and his wife, Lisa Chan. The topic for tonight’s session is Pursue the Perfect Marriage. Should you have any questions, please contact Deacon Hilton McDaniel at (949) 652-1489 or his wife, Sheila McDaniel, via email at [email protected]. To join the session, go HERE. They look forward to you joining the class.
COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY EVANGELISTIC OUTREACH
Remember, we are partnering with the Southern Baptist Convention to host a Community Block Party here at Friendship on Saturday, June 11th. 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 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. We need several more choir members from Friendship to participate if you feel comfortable participating. A choir rehearsal occurs on Sunday, June 12th, at 4pm. For more information on the choir, please email Sonya Griffin HERE.
Services are open to the public. For more information, view the flyer HERE. Also, you can visit the NAAF website HERE and the SBC Annual Meeting website HERE.
WOMEN’S MONTHLY FELLOWSHIP
Ladies, the next Women’s Virtual Monthly Fellowship is on Friday, June 17th, at 7:00p. The special guests, Rev. Kathy Scott and Rev. Keturah Washington, will speak on Springing Up From The Ashes from the book The Well-Watered Woman: Rooted In Truth, Growing In Grace, Flourishing In Faith by author Gretchen Saffles. These two women love the Lord! We invite you to come to learn, be encouraged, and be encouraging! Register today HERE.
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 in the church office 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!
YOUTH DAY IS COMING
Sunday, June 26th, will be our ANNUAL YOUTH DAY. On this day, we will celebrate the children and youth of our church. In preparation for this Sunday, the Children and Youth Day Choir have rehearsals on Wednesday, June 15th and 22nd at 6pm. Rehearsal will take place in the Multi-Purpose Building. For more information on the choir, please email Sonya Griffin HERE.
2022 BACCALAUREATE SERVICE
Our Baccalaureate Service will take place on June 26th at the 8 am service. All graduating High School seniors are encouraged to participate. An email with the details will be sent to all who have submitted their names. If you have not submitted your name or your graduate’s name yet, you may do so HERE. We will also recognize college graduates that day.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARD CEREMONY
Our Scholarship Award Ceremony will also take place on June 26th at 10am. Join us as we celebrate the success of those in K-5th Grade and 6th - 12th Grade.
CHURCH PICNIC
Our Annual Church Picnic and 5K Health Walk will take place on Saturday, July 16th, at Ted Craig Regional Park. We are returning to the time before the pandemic, with the foods we enjoy, hamburgers, hot links, desserts, and the famous roasted buttery corn. We will have games, jumpers, and lots of fun for the entire family. More information will be provided in the coming weeks. Volunteers are needed to cook, serve, and set up. Please contact the church office to volunteer and don’t forget about the 5K Health Walk.
5K HEALTH WALK TRAINING
In preparation for our Annual 5K Health Walk at the Church Picnic, our Healthcare Ministry will offer a pre-walk training on Saturdays beginning Saturday, June 25th at 7:15am. This training will take place on the El Cajon Trail in Yorba Linda. Participants will meet in the parking lot of the St Jude’s Heritage Medical Group at 4300 Rose Drive, that’s just one block from the Ship. The other dates for training are July 2nd and July 9th. So join the Healthcare Ministry and have fun walking!
VOLUNTEERS NEED ~ CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & DISCIPLESHIP
Christian Education and Discipleship is preparing to bring back children and youth Ex-Hour in September 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!
ACTIVE SHOOTER INFORMATION
I know many of you are concerned about active shooter protocols. Please know we are addressing this concern and plan to bring more information to your attention very soon. HERE is some active shooter information to help us all. Take a moment to view the video HERE as well.
Here are a few church office updates…
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
⚫ JUNE PRAYER FOCUS:
Praying that Friendship Embraces the Grace of God
Eph.2:8-9, Acts 20:32a, Rom. 5:2
⚫ BIBLE READING
You have 204 days to complete a Bible reading plan, including today. Friendship encourages 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: A weekly Children’s Ministry Worship Video is provided to keep our children connected, encouraged, and worshipped! 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