Weekly Word from Pastor Curry: October 9, 2020

Hey there Friendship,

I pray you have had a productive and pleasant week! While we are still in the middle of some unprecedented times, we must grip tightly to God’s unchanging hand, trusting in His care and concern for us!

I will be honest with you; this week, I feel weary. I am weary IN the PANDEMIC. I am weary FROM the PANDEMIC. I am weary WITH the PANDEMIC and ALL THAT IT BRINGS! I know many of you feel the same way! I am weary with the POLITICAL STUFF. I am weary with the SOCIAL/CIVIL UNREST. I am weary of the division and disunity. I AM WEARY!

So how do I keep going?  So glad you ASKED! I PRAY CONSTANTLY, and I take comfort in the SCRIPTURES. Galatians 6:9 states, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

I am weary, but I am determined not to give up! So my encouraging word to you is DON’T GIVE UP! Friendship, we can not afford to give up. We must solidly place our hands in God’s unchanging hand. In a world of constant change, “Hold onto God’s Unchanging Hand.” Everything is under the control of God’s hand. Let’s, therefore, put our COMPLETE trust in Him.

I look forward to you joining us for worship this Sunday! I will continue our current preaching series on prayer in Matthew 6. Also, Lady Karima and I will host Currys at the Door this Sunday. Hopefully, we will see you! Here’s the link!

Here’s what I have for you this week! 

As you know, the ministry continues at Friendship despite the pandemic, as you have heard me say in the past. With that, we need volunteers to keep the ministry going. We currently need volunteers in the FOODBANK, and we need volunteers to help with TECHNOLOGY and MEDIA. If you are available to serve in our foodbank, please contact Rev. Patrick Christian at [email protected]. Can you help with  ZOOM TRAINING, CAMERA OPERATING, or VIDEO EDITING? If so, we need you.  Please contact either Rev. Eric Archer at [email protected] or me at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!

REMEMBER this SUNDAY, October 11th, EX-HOUR ADULT CLASS MOVES TO ZOOM. To attend the class, please use the link HERE. Also, you may visit our website at www.wearefriendship.church/events to gain access to the class. Again only the ADULT Class is moving to ZOOM. The YOUTH EX-HOUR CLASS will remain on Google Meet. Also, we are out of books! If you have a book, please USE it. If you do not intend to use it, please contact Sister Joyce Jackson to get it to someone who will.

Monday, October 12th, the RHEMA Men’s Ministry of Friendship is hosting VOTE 2020, PART II, where we will discuss redistricting, gerrymandering, and the Electoral College, among other topics. All are encouraged to watch the documentary “All In: The Fight for Democracy” streaming on Amazon. Deacon James P. Shirley will lead this discussion.

We have a NEW WEDNESDAY night Bible Study starting this Wednesday, October 14th, entitled The Greatest Words Ever Spoken (Studying the Words of Jesus.) Our Associate Ministers will teach this class. It will take place via ZOOM on Wednesday at 7pm. To attend the class, please use the link HERE.

Saturday, October 17th, our Women’s Ministry will host their 2020 Women’s Conference Virtually via YouTube from our YouTube. The conference is from 10a-2p and will feature Pastor R. Janae Pitts‐Murdock, Rev. Karen Stewart, Pastor MarQuerita Story, and the Rev. Dr. Debra Haggins. Of course, Radiance will be in the house, and there will be many other exciting surprises. This Virtual Conference is a free event, but you must register. To register, please go HERE.  Ladies, consider inviting your family and friends to be blessed by this event. I believe we can get 500 participants. What do you think? 

Please remain connected and remain engaged! If you need to know what opportunities are available to you, please go to www.wearefriendship.church/events. There you will see all we offer every week! 

Things to remember:

• CELEBRATE RECOVERY meets every Thursday at 7pm via ZOOM! Celebrate Recovery offers an opportunity to worship our God and stay connected as we surrender our hurts, habits, and hang-ups to the Lord! Each week we have praise and worship, reading the CR principles, and a featured weekly speaker. The open share takes place virtually and maintains the confidentiality requirements based on CR guidelines. To participate in this event, please use the link HERE.

• We are so excited that open enrollment for our Scholarship Ministry is here.  Until October 14th, we will accept students’ applications to join the ministry for this academic year. The Scholarship Ministry is for all students K-5th  and 6th -12th. Our Scholarship Ministry is designed to nurture Friendship’s students to be the best scholars they can be. Our prayer is that our students will be a meaningful part of the Friendship Village that is a catalyst for faithful ministry and service. This year, registration has moved on-line to our website. Please go to www.wearefriendship.church/scholarship to access the application.  We need all new and returning students to complete the on-line application.  More information about our “Virtual Kick-Off Meeting” in mid-October will be coming soon. If you have any questions, please email Rev. Jaron Singley.

• Our College and Career Prep Initiative (CCPI) has produced an excellent and comprehensive one-stop virtual academic and education assistance resource for parents and families of  K- through 12 and college-bound students. Click HERE to access our Google Classroom.  Feel free to share with others.

• Due to the pandemic, the pumpkin patch will not be coming this year, and we will not be able to host our traditional Harvest Festival.  However, our CYYA team has planned a fantastic event on October 31st called “Faith-fall Family Amazing Race!” Do you like word puzzles, brainteasers, scavenger hunts, the reality show “The Amazing Race?” Participants of this great adventure race will be led all over the local area by clues that combine word puzzles, visual brain teasers, and city-specific trivia questions and more; according to the event’s co-founder Jaron Singley, “It should be an enjoyable, family-friendly way to explore our area and get out the house safely.” The race will begin @ 2pm on October 31st at Friendship. For more info and to register, go HERE.  See you there!

• Phone Line for Worship: For our members who may have a tough time connecting to our worship service on-line for whatever reason, we are now offering a way for those members to dial in and listen to service over the phone. To access the service via telephone, members and guests need to dial 1 216-930-8774‬ and enter the PIN: 464 267 559‬#. It is live for both the 8:00a and 11:30a worship services.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

• EX HOUR: Ex Hour meets weekly on Sundays, and we are studying Isaiah beginning this Sunday. This study will continue through the end of November. Remember, EX Hour takes place every Sunday through the video conference app, ZOOM. Join us for class on Sundays at 10:15a via this link HERE. Also, there is a YOUTH EX HOUR: Our youth Ex Hour takes place during our designated EX Hour time via Google Meet. 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. 

• AT THE DOOR WITH THE CURRYS: Remember this virtual experience happens after each worship service on Sundays. It is a time for Lady Karima and me to connect with you just like we would at church on Sunday. We hope you will stop in and say HELLO. Meet us HERE.

 

• WEDNESDAY Prayer Day: Join us each Wednesday for Prayer. We pray at 6:30a, 12p, and 6:30p. To connect with our prayer services, please follow this link HERE or dial in at +1 (413) 418-4274 and use the PIN 287683504#. 

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• 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 bag of groceries.  The Food Bank hours of operation are Tuesday - Thursday 2:30p-4:30p.   

• COVID Membership Assistance Fund: We are STILL accepting applications for the COVID Membership Assistance Grant. 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.

We are STILL attempting to support our members with small businesses. If you would like us to feature your small business, please contact Rev. Eric Archer at [email protected].

Remember to PRAY, not PANIC, take PRECAUTIONS, and be PATIENT. Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected!  

In His Holy Grip,

Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Senior Pastorhttps://zoom.us/j/94302586135