PASTOR'S UPDATE MARCH 31, 2023
Greetings Friendship Family,
Pastor Curry is traveling this week, and I just wanted to give a quick update regarding what's happening for Holy Week. Watch the video and read below for the details and the rest of this week's announcments.
Pastor Curry is traveling this week, and I just wanted to give a quick update regarding what's happening for Holy Week. Watch the video and read below for the details and the rest of this week's announcments.
FAMILY PRAYER SERVICE
Tonight at 7:30 pm is our monthly Family Prayer Service. Join us via Google meet and let's pray together. Let's pray specifically for all that is happening over the next week and that individuals will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Join in on our usual Prayer Line - here.
HOLY WEEK
CHILDREN’S EASTER PROGRAM
This year's Children and Youth Easter Program is on Easter Sunday, April 9th at 10:00 am in the sanctuary. Children who will participate are given an Easter speech in their Ex-Hour or Small Group class during Children's Worship. Teachers are helping students prepare during Sunday class time, so please be sure your child is in attendance.
FUTURE NOW INITIATIVE
We also want to thank those who have already started to give for our FUTURE NOW INITIATIVE. This month (March), we request that you submit your PLEDGE FORM and begin making your pledges.
On the pledge form, please indicate your planned pledge amount and your frequency of giving. Again, if you have the printed form, please put your total pledge amount on the KICK STARTER LINE. Then tell us, on that form, whether you will give your pledge over 12 months or 15 months. Lastly, please tell us the frequency of your giving, whether you will give weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly (as a one-time gift). Also, the form is available online HERE.
LEAD ACADEMY
We are excited to announce the start of our 2023 Leadership Excellence and Development Academy (also known as LEAD), beginning on Thursday, April 20th at 7 p.m.
LEAD Academy is for all existing and aspiring leaders. Of note: We especially desire and welcome young adults to participate. Holding a current leadership role or title within the church is not required for you to participate in this educational offering. Our desire and goal is to develop existing and future church leaders.
This course will offer meaningful discussion, readings, training videos, mentorship, etc., and will be approximately 50% in-person and 50% online. Should you have questions regarding the program, please contact our Christian Education Leadership team, Le Shon Archer (here) or Lady Karima Curry (here).
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT NEEDED
Also, I need an Executive Assistant. I will admit we do not offer the highest salary. Still, we offer a great work environment, medical benefits, a retirement package, and the satisfaction of working in a Christian environment and making a difference for the Kingdom of God. Qualified individuals should be highly organized, have problem-solving capabilities, and be willing to get things done! If that’s you or someone you know, please apply on our website HERE!
BIBLE READING GROUPS
Is it your goal to read God’s Word this year? If so, we invite and welcome you to join a Bible Reading Small Group. Starting next month, we will once again offer several Bible Reading Small Groups. These groups are designed to promote reading a Bible plan in community with others and accountability. As you may recall, we offered Bible Reading Small Groups last year-over 100 members of Friendship informed us they completed at least one of the reading plans. To God be the glory!
Bible Reading Groups will begin on May 1, 2023. We will offer seven reading plans over 90 days. If you are interested in facilitating a small group, please contact Sis. Le Shon Archer here.
MEN NEEDED @ FOOD PANTRY
Attention, Men of Friendship. We need you! We need men to help us pick up donated food from area stores and other sources to serve those with food insecurity. There has been an increase in pick-ups from stores and other sources. We need pick-up drivers on Mondays and Fridays between 8:00am and 10:00am. This does require some mild lifting. Please contact Gloria Banks or Rev. Felton Christian at the church if you can assist during these times. You can reach Rev. Felton Christian HERE.
BEREAVEMENT COMMITTEE
We also need individuals to serve on our Bereavement Committee, assisting bereaved families at funerals during the repast. Losing a family member can be one of the most difficult and painful experiences a person will go through. Having a solid support system of friends and other family members is essential during such devastating times. If you are interested in serving, please contact the church office.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Make sure to follow us on our social media pages for upcoming content. For Facebook, that’s Friendship Baptist Church. For Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, it’s @wearefriendshipchurch.
Tonight at 7:30 pm is our monthly Family Prayer Service. Join us via Google meet and let's pray together. Let's pray specifically for all that is happening over the next week and that individuals will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Join in on our usual Prayer Line - here.
HOLY WEEK
- Sunday, April 2nd ~ Palm Sunday @ Friendship ~ Services at regular times.
- Wednesday, April 5th ~ Holy Week Revival at Christ Our Redeemer ~
- 45 Tesla Avenue, Irvine, CA 92618 ~ 7pm (Pastor Curry Preaching & Friendship Choir Singing)
- Thursday, April 6th ~ Maundy Thursday Service @ Friendship @ 7:30pm
- Friday, April 7th ~ Good Friday Service ~ Christ Second Baptist ~
- 1471 Martin Luther King Jr Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813 ~ 7pm (Pastor Curry Lecturing & Friendship Choir Singing ~ Preacher: Dr. Marcus Cosby (Houston, TX)
- Sunday, April 9th ~ Resurrection Sunday ~ Three Services ~ 5:30am, 8am, & 11:30am
- Friday, April 14th ~ Post Resurrection Sunday Concert ~ Peace Tour (Cinque Cullar) ~ @ Friendship @ 7:30pm
CHILDREN’S EASTER PROGRAM
This year's Children and Youth Easter Program is on Easter Sunday, April 9th at 10:00 am in the sanctuary. Children who will participate are given an Easter speech in their Ex-Hour or Small Group class during Children's Worship. Teachers are helping students prepare during Sunday class time, so please be sure your child is in attendance.
FUTURE NOW INITIATIVE
We also want to thank those who have already started to give for our FUTURE NOW INITIATIVE. This month (March), we request that you submit your PLEDGE FORM and begin making your pledges.
On the pledge form, please indicate your planned pledge amount and your frequency of giving. Again, if you have the printed form, please put your total pledge amount on the KICK STARTER LINE. Then tell us, on that form, whether you will give your pledge over 12 months or 15 months. Lastly, please tell us the frequency of your giving, whether you will give weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly (as a one-time gift). Also, the form is available online HERE.
LEAD ACADEMY
We are excited to announce the start of our 2023 Leadership Excellence and Development Academy (also known as LEAD), beginning on Thursday, April 20th at 7 p.m.
LEAD Academy is for all existing and aspiring leaders. Of note: We especially desire and welcome young adults to participate. Holding a current leadership role or title within the church is not required for you to participate in this educational offering. Our desire and goal is to develop existing and future church leaders.
This course will offer meaningful discussion, readings, training videos, mentorship, etc., and will be approximately 50% in-person and 50% online. Should you have questions regarding the program, please contact our Christian Education Leadership team, Le Shon Archer (here) or Lady Karima Curry (here).
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT NEEDED
Also, I need an Executive Assistant. I will admit we do not offer the highest salary. Still, we offer a great work environment, medical benefits, a retirement package, and the satisfaction of working in a Christian environment and making a difference for the Kingdom of God. Qualified individuals should be highly organized, have problem-solving capabilities, and be willing to get things done! If that’s you or someone you know, please apply on our website HERE!
BIBLE READING GROUPS
Is it your goal to read God’s Word this year? If so, we invite and welcome you to join a Bible Reading Small Group. Starting next month, we will once again offer several Bible Reading Small Groups. These groups are designed to promote reading a Bible plan in community with others and accountability. As you may recall, we offered Bible Reading Small Groups last year-over 100 members of Friendship informed us they completed at least one of the reading plans. To God be the glory!
Bible Reading Groups will begin on May 1, 2023. We will offer seven reading plans over 90 days. If you are interested in facilitating a small group, please contact Sis. Le Shon Archer here.
MEN NEEDED @ FOOD PANTRY
Attention, Men of Friendship. We need you! We need men to help us pick up donated food from area stores and other sources to serve those with food insecurity. There has been an increase in pick-ups from stores and other sources. We need pick-up drivers on Mondays and Fridays between 8:00am and 10:00am. This does require some mild lifting. Please contact Gloria Banks or Rev. Felton Christian at the church if you can assist during these times. You can reach Rev. Felton Christian HERE.
BEREAVEMENT COMMITTEE
We also need individuals to serve on our Bereavement Committee, assisting bereaved families at funerals during the repast. Losing a family member can be one of the most difficult and painful experiences a person will go through. Having a solid support system of friends and other family members is essential during such devastating times. If you are interested in serving, please contact the church office.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Make sure to follow us on our social media pages for upcoming content. For Facebook, that’s Friendship Baptist Church. For Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, it’s @wearefriendshipchurch.
General Church things to remember:
Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV
2 Cor 13:11: Philp 4:6-7; Psalm 4:8; 2 Thes 3:16; Col 3:15
✔️ 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)
Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Connected!
God loves you, and so do I!
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Jaron Singley
Executive Pastor of Ministries
- 2023 CHURCH THEME:
Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV
- MARCH PRAYER FOCUS:
2 Cor 13:11: Philp 4:6-7; Psalm 4:8; 2 Thes 3:16; Col 3:15
- BIBLE READING
✔️ 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)
- WEEKLY HEALTH WALK
- IN-PERSON EX-HOUR: We invite you to stay after the first service or come earlier for the second service to attend Ex-Hour in person. Remember, we have two adult classes meeting in person on campus and 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.
- 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 in-person youth Ex Hour takes place during our designated EX Hour time in the Multipurpose Building. Parents, please encourage your students to join youth teachers for this biblically fun opportunity to learn God’s Word, connect with others, and grow.
- CHILDREN’S EX-HOUR: As stated in previous weeks, our Children’s ExHour is back and meets on Sundays at 10am in the Multipurpose Building. Parents, please note you must check in and check out your children weekly for Ex-hour.
- MOMMIES WITH BABIES: We have our Mommies with Babies class simultaneously during EX-Hour in the Multipurpose Building. Mommies with two years old and younger children are invited to this EX-HOUR class and are encouraged to bring their children with them! Come for encouragement, community, and growth! Amen!
- 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 in at +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.
Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Connected!
God loves you, and so do I!
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Jaron Singley
Executive Pastor of Ministries