Weekly Word from Pastor Curry: October 30, 2020
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Hey there Friendship Family,
I pray this communication finds each of you well! This has been an interesting week. Not only are the news stations reporting a spike in COVID numbers, but two fires affected Orange County and surrounding communities. We had some members who had to evacuate, and we are grateful that God has spared their lives and their property. We must PRAY, not PANIC, take PRECAUTIONS, and be PATIENT. Patience is a commodity in the days in which we live. Patience is defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. Lord, have mercy! That’s a WORD right there! Beloved, we can tolerate this! Why? Because Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Verse 10 of Psalm 46 says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” As we continue through this problematic pandemic, we must be PATIENT and be STILL. Brian Courtney Wilson has a new song entitled, “STILL.” Listen to it here. It will bless you and encourage you to be STILL as God is on our side and our help! Be encouraged; we are going to make it!!!
I invite you to join me TONIGHT, Friday, October 30th, for our Monthly Family Prayer Service beginning at 7:30pm-8:30pm via Google Meet. To connect with this prayer service, please follow this link HERE or dial in at +1 (413) 418-4274 and use the PIN 287683504#. I look forward to praying with you, TONIGHT!
Please note that next Friday, November 6th, we will have our Annual Prayer Vigil from 2pm to 3:30pm. Usually, this is a six or 12-hour session, but this year will only be 90 minutes. It will take place via a regular Prayer Line on Google Meets, as noted above.
Saturday, October 31st, is our “Faith-fall Family Amazing Race!” It’s a Family Event, and It’s a Scavenger Hunt! 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. The race will begin @ 2pm at Friendship. It’s not too late to sign up and participate. For more info and to register, go HERE. When all else fails, email or call Rev. Jaron Singley or Sister Tonya Brown in our CYYA offices.
This Sunday, November 1st, is our Drive-in Service at 9am ONLY! Registration is STILL open! Register HERE! We are requesting that all participants stay in their vehicles. We will NOT have outdoor seating! Also, there will be no Curry’s at the Door this Sunday due to the Drive-in Service! Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour Saturday night. We look forward to seeing you at the live service.
I also would like to invite you to participate in our Celebrate Recovery Ministry on Thursdays 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! The large group, the Open share small groups, and the current step study are offered through the virtual platform. On Thursday, November 5th, Rev. Thomas Coulson will be our guest speaker! To participate in this event, please use the link HERE.
VOLUNTEERS are STILL needed in the FOOD BANK and Technology and MEDIA. The food bank REALLY needs Men on Mondays from 9am-11am to help with unpacking the food deliveries from the trucks! If you are available to help, please contact Kito Bell at [email protected] or just show up, and they will put you to work! If you are available to serve in our food bank Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, please contact Rev. Patrick Christian at [email protected]. If you can help with ZOOM TRAINING, CAMERA OPERATING, or VIDEO EDITING, please contact our media department at [email protected]. Also, do you have a heart for people, and are you willing to help NEW members become acclimated to Christ and our CHURCH? If so, we need you as a Shepherd. Please contact Rev. Eric Archer at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!
It’s TIME to vote. Make sure take get your ballot in. I want to suggest that you walk your ballot into a local polling place or certified dropoff location! Remember, as you engage in this election, it’s important that you prayerfully consider your identity as a disciple of Jesus. Pray for one another; pray for the candidates and legislators; pray for those who differ from you; pray for yourself; pray for our nation, and especially for the justice of God and the evidence of God’s presence among us!
Helpful Links for California:
California Voter Information Guide
Vote Safe California
Cal Matters Election Guide
I Voter Guide
Things to remember:
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].
Friendship, I love you, but God loves you, BETTER! Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected!
In His Service,
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Senior Pastor
I pray this communication finds each of you well! This has been an interesting week. Not only are the news stations reporting a spike in COVID numbers, but two fires affected Orange County and surrounding communities. We had some members who had to evacuate, and we are grateful that God has spared their lives and their property. We must PRAY, not PANIC, take PRECAUTIONS, and be PATIENT. Patience is a commodity in the days in which we live. Patience is defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. Lord, have mercy! That’s a WORD right there! Beloved, we can tolerate this! Why? Because Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Verse 10 of Psalm 46 says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” As we continue through this problematic pandemic, we must be PATIENT and be STILL. Brian Courtney Wilson has a new song entitled, “STILL.” Listen to it here. It will bless you and encourage you to be STILL as God is on our side and our help! Be encouraged; we are going to make it!!!
I invite you to join me TONIGHT, Friday, October 30th, for our Monthly Family Prayer Service beginning at 7:30pm-8:30pm via Google Meet. To connect with this prayer service, please follow this link HERE or dial in at +1 (413) 418-4274 and use the PIN 287683504#. I look forward to praying with you, TONIGHT!
Please note that next Friday, November 6th, we will have our Annual Prayer Vigil from 2pm to 3:30pm. Usually, this is a six or 12-hour session, but this year will only be 90 minutes. It will take place via a regular Prayer Line on Google Meets, as noted above.
Saturday, October 31st, is our “Faith-fall Family Amazing Race!” It’s a Family Event, and It’s a Scavenger Hunt! 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. The race will begin @ 2pm at Friendship. It’s not too late to sign up and participate. For more info and to register, go HERE. When all else fails, email or call Rev. Jaron Singley or Sister Tonya Brown in our CYYA offices.
This Sunday, November 1st, is our Drive-in Service at 9am ONLY! Registration is STILL open! Register HERE! We are requesting that all participants stay in their vehicles. We will NOT have outdoor seating! Also, there will be no Curry’s at the Door this Sunday due to the Drive-in Service! Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour Saturday night. We look forward to seeing you at the live service.
I also would like to invite you to participate in our Celebrate Recovery Ministry on Thursdays 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! The large group, the Open share small groups, and the current step study are offered through the virtual platform. On Thursday, November 5th, Rev. Thomas Coulson will be our guest speaker! To participate in this event, please use the link HERE.
VOLUNTEERS are STILL needed in the FOOD BANK and Technology and MEDIA. The food bank REALLY needs Men on Mondays from 9am-11am to help with unpacking the food deliveries from the trucks! If you are available to help, please contact Kito Bell at [email protected] or just show up, and they will put you to work! If you are available to serve in our food bank Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, please contact Rev. Patrick Christian at [email protected]. If you can help with ZOOM TRAINING, CAMERA OPERATING, or VIDEO EDITING, please contact our media department at [email protected]. Also, do you have a heart for people, and are you willing to help NEW members become acclimated to Christ and our CHURCH? If so, we need you as a Shepherd. Please contact Rev. Eric Archer at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!
It’s TIME to vote. Make sure take get your ballot in. I want to suggest that you walk your ballot into a local polling place or certified dropoff location! Remember, as you engage in this election, it’s important that you prayerfully consider your identity as a disciple of Jesus. Pray for one another; pray for the candidates and legislators; pray for those who differ from you; pray for yourself; pray for our nation, and especially for the justice of God and the evidence of God’s presence among us!
Helpful Links for California:
California Voter Information Guide
Vote Safe California
Cal Matters Election Guide
I Voter Guide
Things to remember:
- 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.
- Phone Line for Worship: For our members who may have a tough time connecting to our worship service online 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 9:00a 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 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. Due to the Drive-in Service, there will be NO Curry’s at the Door this Sunday!
- 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#.
- 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].
Friendship, I love you, but God loves you, BETTER! Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected!
In His Service,
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Senior Pastor
Posted in COVID-19