SERVICE: SUNDAYS AT 8:00AM & 11:30AM

PASTOR’S WEEKLY UPDATE SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY
SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS WRITTEN HERE ARE NOT IN THE VIDEO

Mask Optional protocol for worship returns this Sunday, September 11th
Happy Friday, Friendship Family,

I pray you are well today! This has been a busy week for me, but a good one. Those of you who know me know that I thrive in busyness. Being busy gives me more energy. So to a degree, being busy really is energizing. It stimulates the dopamine-fed drive system and can create adrenaline and cortisol, which in reasonable amounts isn’t bad. But there must be balance. That’s why we had Sabbath Rest, and it’s why I must find moments of rejuvenation. 

Rejuvenation and balance grow out of spiritual development. The way we develop is to grow in God’s grace. That is why I am starting a new preaching series this Sunday entitled the Celebration of Discipline. This is a preaching series that centers on the spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines are ways to maintain a connection with God at all times.
THE NEW PREACHING SERIES BEGINS SEPTEMBER 11, 2022:
Celebration of Discipline
Based on the book of the same name by Richard Foster

Over the next few weeks, we will explore the book Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. In these months – which are strange and unsettling – we want to be a voice that is encouraging and hopeful and one that points to Jesus. This book is a great resource that we can utilize to structure and guide our spiritual growth. I pray that when we get to the other side of this series, we will look just a little bit more like Jesus.
Lasting success in any enterprise or field of endeavor requires discipline. A scholar must be disciplined in her academic research and writing. Likewise, an NBA player must be disciplined in perfecting his craft through lots and lots of practice. The late Kobe Bryant was known not only for his singular talent but also for his tireless work ethic.  

Proper training, discipline, and hard work are indispensable for success in education, athletics, business, public speaking, or any other area. The same is true of the Christian life. A successful Christian life requires discipline in cultivating healthy habits and routines. This series will teach us the spiritual disciplines necessary to be all God has called us to and accomplish all God has called us to accomplish. I pray you will join me on the journey.

Several weeks ago, I challenged us to think through and pray through your planned ministry involvement for the fall. I asked you to consider how you will be discipled, how you will evangelize, and how you will serve. Also, our goal is to grow our church by 5% with individuals who are not saved and have no church experience by next September 2023. That is roughly 100 people and nine people per month over the next year. We can do this for the Kingdom of God! Yes, we can! 

Last week I highlighted the discipleship opportunities. This week, I want to encourage us to share the Gospel (evangelize), and one way we can do that is by actively participating in BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY on Sunday, September 18th.

NATIONAL BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY:
We will celebrate National Back to Church Sunday, September 18th. National Back to Church Sunday Started as a call to action and invitation – action for the church, invitation for the world. A single-day event focused on extending the invitation of love, peace, and hope to our friends and neighbors. A single day to reclaim the true purpose of the Church – exactly as Christ commanded.

Now, more than ever, people need Jesus and a caring community or church where they can belong, grow and flourish. So, this September, we would love for you to be a part of introducing your community to Jesus,  so they can experience His hope and reconnect with others during National Back to Church Sunday! It’s time to love again, serve again, and HOPE again.

Our theme for this day is “Get in the Game!”  As the start of the football season gets underway, we call each of us to action. The attire for the day is your favorite football team jersey. We especially need each member to play their position and run the plays as a member of the Friendship SQUAD! Make the pass - distribute fliers, share our special social media posts and bring others to church. Fliers are available in the Sanctuary foyer after services on Sunday and in the office next week. Take as many as you can to neighbors, coworkers, friends, and others. “Get in the Game!”  

Also, this week we encourage you to share our social media posts! We know many of you have Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Help your church get the word out! We will make “Get in the Game” posts. Will you make the pass? Share, share, share!

Based on the social media algorithms and how many people you follow, you may not see our post in your feed, so please go to our respective pages and like, comment and share

You may also access the virtual card on our church website HERE, along with verbiage that you could include with your post.

Here are our discipleship opportunities…

EX-HOUR
On Sundays, we have Ex-Hour at 10am, where we Explore the Bible, Examine the Scriptures, and Experience Transformation.  We have just started a study through the books of Amos, Jonah, Hosea, and Micah! This Sunday, we start a new Ex-Hour Study where we Explore the books of Amos, Jonah, Hosea, and Micah!

Remember, we shifted last week to offer you more opportunities to learn in smaller groups.  We are DOWNSIZING FOR DISCIPLESHIP. Ex-Hour now offers four adult classes. They are as follows:

⚫ Adult Class One (Sanctuary): The team teaching in the sanctuary includes Lady Karima Curry, Pamela Jones, Deacon Demetrius Linebarger, Melanie Porter, Vivian Randolph, & Deacon James Shelby
⚫ Adult Class Two (Carrington Building Room 217): The team teaching in the Carrington Building Room 217 includes Le Shon Archer, Deacon Rick Archer, Karen Ammons, Gwen Matthews, and Rev. Phil Yoder.
⚫ Young Adults Class (Carrington Building Rooms 207-208): This class is designed for those aged 18-35.
⚫ Ex-Hour Online: Our online Exhour will continue as it has for the last two years, meeting via Zoom.  

We are hoping to add a third teaching team in January! All active in-person Ex-Hour Adult Attendees should have also received an email with this information. Again, please pray and see which class GOD would have you attend regularly.

Additionally, we continue to offer Youth Ex-Hour in a hybrid format where students can attend online and in person. They meet in the Multi-purpose Building.

We invite you to visit https://www.wearefriendship.church/events for links to the online classes.

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDIES
Bible Classes are Back! Having enjoyed a time of Sabbath Rest, Bible classes will resume starting this week! Classes include the following:
⚫ Our Precept Upon Precept class meets on Tuesdays at 10am with a study on 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, & Zephaniah. Sister Joyce Jackson leads this class.
⚫ On Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm, our Men’s Bible Study continues their study in 2 Corinthians
⚫ Both of these classes are virtual meeting online either through Google Meets or Zoom and invite you to join them and welcomes your participation.

Later this month, on Wednesday, September 21st at 7:30 p.m., our Women’s Bible Study will start a new study titled: “Learning Contentment in a Culture of More,” a study on the book of Numbers. Ladies, additional details on this study will be provided soon.
 
We plan to add additional offerings this fall to encourage Bible reading, leadership, and small group ministry. So stay tuned; there’s more to come!
 
SIDE BY SIDE COUPLES MINISTRY
The next Side by Side Couples Ministry class is tonight, Friday, September 9th, at 7pm. 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 the upcoming session is Don’t Waste your Marriage. New couples are ALWAYS welcomed!

Unless otherwise noted, these monthly sessions take place via Zoom on the second Friday of each month. Sessions begin at 7:00p. 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.  
MEN’S MONTHLY FELLOWSHIP:
Brothers, we have our next Men’s Monthly Fellowship on Monday, September 12th at 7pm via Zoom as we plan to return to in-person fellowship sessions in October.

The title of this session is MAN UP, utilizing 1 Kings 2:2, where King David encourages Solomon by saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man…” Our session leader will be Dr. David D. Smith. Dr. David D. Smith returns to Friendship after more than 20 years of walking in God’s purpose for his life. He has a love for the Word and a passion for building up the men of God. David is truly excited to share with the RHEMA Men of Friendship. Go HERE to register and receive the link to the Zoom session.

TEACHER’S MEETING
To all Bible teachers, our 3rd Quarter Teacher’s Meeting takes place on Saturday, September 17th at 10am. We will meet in person. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us; this is our last scheduled meeting for 2022. Our Christian Education department will email you an invitation and reminder within the next few days. We look forward to seeing you and our time together.

MENTOR UP:
Friendship Family, our outreach Ministry, partners with a program called Mentor Up. Mentor Up is a Christian ministry that meets weekly at various locations in Southern California, mentoring boys ages 8 to 18 through the GROUP MENTORING PROCESS! Everything happens in a group setting.

A Mentor Up Group meets here at Friendship and will return on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 – 8:00 PM beginning September 20, 2022. Are you a single parent with an 8 to 18-year-old son in the home? If you are, then we invite you to check out Mentor UP.

We aim to assist single parents with weekly relief by providing a viable outlet for the boys and you for a couple of hours each week. Mentor Up provides meals, games, sports activities, Bible study, or life skill topics/lessons. In addition, we have opportunities for outings to the beach, bowling, movies, miniature golf, etc. Finally, Mentor Up seeks to help single parents who need assistance with transportation by providing a carpool.

To register your son, please contact Chuck Divine at (949) 201-9495 or Houston Williams, a Friendship member, at (714) 318-0014.

SCHOLARSHIP MINISTRY
Parents and grandparents - Prayerfully, your young people are off to a great start in school this year. With the new academic year comes the start of a new year for our Scholarship ministry. The Scholarship Ministry is now taking open enrollment for all First through Twelfth grade students for the 2022-2023 school year. Representatives of the scholarship ministry will be in the quad after services on Sunday. Please visit their table for more information and even to sign up. You may also register HERE.  

We are also looking for mentors for our students. Mentors serve to encourage students and parents throughout the year. You may also inquire about serving as a mentor at the booth on Sunday.

THINGS TO NOTE

✔️ Revival 2022 is canceled this year.
✔️ 2022 So Harvest Crusade is coming to Anaheim Stadium on November 5th & 6th.               More details are coming soon.

STEWARDSHIP MESSAGE
I want to reiterate my heartfelt appreciation for your faithfulness and financial support through giving, and thank you once again for your help in making ministry happen here at Friendship.

Friendship has been incredibly blessed to continue in ministry and grow through the pandemic, and I anticipate greater growth in the future. So much of our growth is due to the generosity of our members who return their tithe and practice over and above giving while keeping the great commission in view!  

Your faithful giving has helps us to do vital ministry work in the community, and with your continued support, we can carry on this legacy. Yes, your contribution will enable us to disciple, evangelize, and serve! So again, thank you for supporting Friendship and helping us to make a difference!

Don’t forget that there are multiple ways you can give to Friendship: cash (on Sundays) and check (anytime), and also you can give online, via your desktop, laptop, or smartphone at our website or the church mobile app. To give TODAY, please go HERE.

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION (CCCU)
Friendship has maintained a great relationship with the Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU) as a trusted faith-based financial partner for many years. Recently, to positively impact our church, CCCU has pledged to donate $50.00 to Friendship Baptist Church anytime one of our members or attendees joins the credit union.

CCCU has a heart for missions and a commitment to supporting ministries such as our church. We encourage you to explore the positive impact Christian Community Credit Union is making by visiting their website www.mycccu.com or by calling our dedicated representative, Michael Antaramian, who is available anytime to answer questions or share more information. He CAN BE REACHED at 1.800.347.2228 extension 6224. Check out THIS link to CCCU as well; it is designed just for the Friendship Family.

COVID SAFETY UPDATE:
This Sunday, we return to a Mask Optional protocol for worship. A safe in-person worship experience is still our priority! Remember our refrain: We pray, we don’t panic, we take precautions, and we remain patient.

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

SEPTEMBER PRAYER FOCUS:
Praying that Body of Friendship is inspired to do the Work of God
Matt. 11;28; 1 Cor. 15:58; 2 Cor. 9:8; Col. 3:23-24.

BIBLE READING
You have 113 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. We now have two adult classes meeting in person on campus, along with a Young Adult Class. They meet as follows:
 Adult Class One (Sanctuary): The team teaching in the sanctuary includes Lady Karima Curry, Pamela Jones, Deacon Demetrius Linebarger, Melanie Porter, Vivian Randolph, & Deacon James Shelby
 Adult Class Two (Carrington Building Room 217): The team teaching in the Carrington Building Room 217 includes Le Shon Archer, Deacon Rick Archer, Karen Ammons, Gwen Matthews, and Rev. Phil Yoder.
Young Adults Class (Carrington Building Rooms 207-208): This class is designed for those aged 18-35.

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 worshipping! 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! I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we start our new preaching series. Also, Sunday is Grandparent’s Day! So, if your grandparents are still with you, you should plan to do something special for them this weekend!  

Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Connected!

God loves you, and so do I! 


In His Service,
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lK6ri-mjKfB2sIhmcqg2Hi5NyudCSRNzgARr3Mf2K6eUJbquKsJKTjRH8bwIsoC_hqMxDcBGgvz_iM-bLMT8GRoG7ZyW8HAgJwXEgcNgXaSzgCXTwPnItGvBjZf7eqWKVIIalN7w
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor