Weekly Word from Pastor Curry: August 13, 2021
Happy Friday, Friendship Family!
I have been so busy it is ridiculous, but I thrive in busyness! I am looking forward to vacationing later this week, but currently, I have to keep my hand to the plow. I must keep my hand to the plow spiritually, professionally, and personally. The phrase keeping one’s hand to the plow refers to a focused commitment. I am determined to see all that God has assigned me to through to the end, and you should be determined too. AMEN!
I pray you are being refreshed, renewed, and revived! We are still battling through this global pandemic, but our trust is in God! I am confident He will bring us through! Remember our guiding principles through the pandemic! I have brought them back because we need to FOCUS! We pray, we take necessary precautions, we don’t panic, and we are patient. (I believe repetition is essential!) Again, we are coming out, but it is a slow process!
Remember, the new CDC Guidelines suggest masks for everyone while indoors, even if you are FULLY vaccinated. The Delta Variant is more transmissible, but these proactive efforts have proven to keep people safe while allowing some freedom and flexibility. It is encouraging to know that the vaccination rates are rising! Nevertheless, we must continue to wear our masks, watch our distance, and wash our hands.
Here are a few things to remember this week,
SABBATH REST:
✔️ As we observe Sabbath Rest, please check with your individual Bible Study teachers to know if and when you meet. Most of our classes have paused.
✔️ Also, please remember we still meet for prayer every Wednesday via our prayer line HERE.
✔️ The food pantry ministry remains open every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and we could use volunteers in the morning or the afternoon. Contact the church office if you are available.
✔️ Our in-person worship services continue with Ex-Hour for both our in-person worshipers and our online participants.
KINGDOM WIVES CLASS
This Saturday, August 14th at 9:00a, the Kingdom Wives will meet as they continue studying Sacred Marriage, Sacred Hearts. In this week’s session, the study will explore how marriage teaches us to love as God loves. Despite flaws, differences, and status, the bible teaches us clearly how to love and serve others with joy! Can others tell how much you love God by how you love your spouse? The wives will talk about it this Saturday! In this session, the Kingdom Wives will also hear the testimony of Trials and Triumphs by one of the Real Kingdom Wives, Sis. Maria Jones. You don’t want to miss this meeting. If you are not already a member of the class and would like to join, please visit https://wearefriendship.church/wives.
SUNDAY WORSHIP
✔️ This Sunday, August 15th, I am excited to welcome the Rev. Dr. Ticey M. Brown as our guest preacher. Dr. Brown is the Senior Pastor of the Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.
✔️ We STILL need volunteers and would love to have you join our volunteer core. We expressly and immediately need volunteers for our Sunday Worship Hospitality Team. We need individuals to help us welcome members and guests on Sundays and various other hospitality-related tasks. If you are willing, please email [email protected]. Also, there is a table in the QUAD you can stop by on Sundays. I appreciate your consideration in this.
✔️ As you are on campus, please note that we have 30 minutes between the end of our Sunday worship and Ex-Hour, and we have 30 minutes between the end of Ex-Hour and the start of our 11:30 worship service. This time is designed to create an opportunity for members to fellowship outside. We know that many of you miss each other and haven’t seen each other because of the virus. So we hope you will take advantage of this time to fellowship outside in a safe manner!
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY VIDEO:
✔️ Thank you to the families who tuned in this week for our Children’s Ministry Worship Video. We saw a slight increase in viewership! I pray this blessed your children! Rev. Jaron Singley really does work hard weekly to produce a Children’s worship video. It is available through our website HERE or via the Friendship Youtube Channel HERE.
RIGHTNOW MEDIA:
✔️ Last week I reminded us of our RightNow Media resource. We invite you to utilize your FREE RightNow Media Account. RightNow Media is like the Netflix of Christian Bible studies. With access to 10,000+ Bible Study videos from 150 leading Christian publishers and ministries, you’ll find valuable tools for your personal development in areas of life training like marriage and parenting. As a member of Friendship, you receive a FREE RightNow Media account. To access your FREE account, go HERE.
OPEN POSITIONS
✔️We are recruiting for three full-time positions at Friendship. To learn more, please our website HERE. To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected].
INTERNS NEEDED
✔️ We also need interns in our media ministry. So if you are a student who needs an internship opportunity, we welcome you to be a part of the Media Ministry here at Friendship! To apply for a non-paid intern position, please email Candace Clark at [email protected].
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION UPDATE:
Remember our membership update drive closes on Sunday, August 15th. Thank you for your participation and assistance with this. Please follow the link HERE and update your personal information and all household members?
INLAND EMPIRE RESOURCE CENTER
We recently have been introduced to an agency that may help several of you. This agency is the Inland Empire Resource Center (IERC). The Inland Empire Resource Center provides services to consumers, lenders, faith-based organizations, government organizations, and the community. With the negative impact of the pandemic on the economy, they explicitly work with individuals and families on a wide range of financial services. They provide credit counseling, homebuying counseling, and services for loss mitigation. If you are a homeowner and behind your mortgage and are at risk of foreclosure, they can help! Access their website HERE. Access the flyer they prepared just for Friendship HERE. Rev. Felton Patrick Christian has agreed to serve as our onsite contact through our outreach ministry, and he has an intake form for you HERE. Rev. Christian can also be reached at the church at 714-579-7085 and [email protected].
SERMON BASED SMALL GROUPS ~ PASTOR CURRY’S DISSERTATION PROJECT
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
As we approach August, I want to thank you all for your generous financial support of Friendship. You have been amazing, and we are very grateful to you. August is usually a slow month for us, and honestly, it is historically our slowest month in giving. As you travel and celebrate the summer, I pray you will remember your church and continue your financial support. Your generous contributions have assisted us in our local ministry and mission fields, both near and far. Because of you, we can help spread the word of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
General Church things to remember:
Well, that’s all I have this week! Thank you for reading! Thank you for your prayers and support!
I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday morning, either in person or in the cyber sanctuary at 8am or 11:30am.
Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected God loves you, and so do I!
In His Service,
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor
I have been so busy it is ridiculous, but I thrive in busyness! I am looking forward to vacationing later this week, but currently, I have to keep my hand to the plow. I must keep my hand to the plow spiritually, professionally, and personally. The phrase keeping one’s hand to the plow refers to a focused commitment. I am determined to see all that God has assigned me to through to the end, and you should be determined too. AMEN!
I pray you are being refreshed, renewed, and revived! We are still battling through this global pandemic, but our trust is in God! I am confident He will bring us through! Remember our guiding principles through the pandemic! I have brought them back because we need to FOCUS! We pray, we take necessary precautions, we don’t panic, and we are patient. (I believe repetition is essential!) Again, we are coming out, but it is a slow process!
Remember, the new CDC Guidelines suggest masks for everyone while indoors, even if you are FULLY vaccinated. The Delta Variant is more transmissible, but these proactive efforts have proven to keep people safe while allowing some freedom and flexibility. It is encouraging to know that the vaccination rates are rising! Nevertheless, we must continue to wear our masks, watch our distance, and wash our hands.
Here are a few things to remember this week,
SABBATH REST:
✔️ As we observe Sabbath Rest, please check with your individual Bible Study teachers to know if and when you meet. Most of our classes have paused.
✔️ Also, please remember we still meet for prayer every Wednesday via our prayer line HERE.
✔️ The food pantry ministry remains open every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and we could use volunteers in the morning or the afternoon. Contact the church office if you are available.
✔️ Our in-person worship services continue with Ex-Hour for both our in-person worshipers and our online participants.
KINGDOM WIVES CLASS
This Saturday, August 14th at 9:00a, the Kingdom Wives will meet as they continue studying Sacred Marriage, Sacred Hearts. In this week’s session, the study will explore how marriage teaches us to love as God loves. Despite flaws, differences, and status, the bible teaches us clearly how to love and serve others with joy! Can others tell how much you love God by how you love your spouse? The wives will talk about it this Saturday! In this session, the Kingdom Wives will also hear the testimony of Trials and Triumphs by one of the Real Kingdom Wives, Sis. Maria Jones. You don’t want to miss this meeting. If you are not already a member of the class and would like to join, please visit https://wearefriendship.church/wives.
SUNDAY WORSHIP
✔️ This Sunday, August 15th, I am excited to welcome the Rev. Dr. Ticey M. Brown as our guest preacher. Dr. Brown is the Senior Pastor of the Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.
✔️ We STILL need volunteers and would love to have you join our volunteer core. We expressly and immediately need volunteers for our Sunday Worship Hospitality Team. We need individuals to help us welcome members and guests on Sundays and various other hospitality-related tasks. If you are willing, please email [email protected]. Also, there is a table in the QUAD you can stop by on Sundays. I appreciate your consideration in this.
✔️ As you are on campus, please note that we have 30 minutes between the end of our Sunday worship and Ex-Hour, and we have 30 minutes between the end of Ex-Hour and the start of our 11:30 worship service. This time is designed to create an opportunity for members to fellowship outside. We know that many of you miss each other and haven’t seen each other because of the virus. So we hope you will take advantage of this time to fellowship outside in a safe manner!
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY VIDEO:
✔️ Thank you to the families who tuned in this week for our Children’s Ministry Worship Video. We saw a slight increase in viewership! I pray this blessed your children! Rev. Jaron Singley really does work hard weekly to produce a Children’s worship video. It is available through our website HERE or via the Friendship Youtube Channel HERE.
RIGHTNOW MEDIA:
✔️ Last week I reminded us of our RightNow Media resource. We invite you to utilize your FREE RightNow Media Account. RightNow Media is like the Netflix of Christian Bible studies. With access to 10,000+ Bible Study videos from 150 leading Christian publishers and ministries, you’ll find valuable tools for your personal development in areas of life training like marriage and parenting. As a member of Friendship, you receive a FREE RightNow Media account. To access your FREE account, go HERE.
OPEN POSITIONS
✔️We are recruiting for three full-time positions at Friendship. To learn more, please our website HERE. To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected].
INTERNS NEEDED
✔️ We also need interns in our media ministry. So if you are a student who needs an internship opportunity, we welcome you to be a part of the Media Ministry here at Friendship! To apply for a non-paid intern position, please email Candace Clark at [email protected].
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION UPDATE:
Remember our membership update drive closes on Sunday, August 15th. Thank you for your participation and assistance with this. Please follow the link HERE and update your personal information and all household members?
INLAND EMPIRE RESOURCE CENTER
We recently have been introduced to an agency that may help several of you. This agency is the Inland Empire Resource Center (IERC). The Inland Empire Resource Center provides services to consumers, lenders, faith-based organizations, government organizations, and the community. With the negative impact of the pandemic on the economy, they explicitly work with individuals and families on a wide range of financial services. They provide credit counseling, homebuying counseling, and services for loss mitigation. If you are a homeowner and behind your mortgage and are at risk of foreclosure, they can help! Access their website HERE. Access the flyer they prepared just for Friendship HERE. Rev. Felton Patrick Christian has agreed to serve as our onsite contact through our outreach ministry, and he has an intake form for you HERE. Rev. Christian can also be reached at the church at 714-579-7085 and [email protected].
SERMON BASED SMALL GROUPS ~ PASTOR CURRY’S DISSERTATION PROJECT
- I want to thank those who have answered my appeal for individuals to participate in my research project on sermon-based small groups.
- I still need more individuals to commit to meeting for 8-10 weeks to discuss the Sunday Sermon and its application to our lives. The goal is to have 40-60 individuals participate.
- I would love to have one in-home group, two groups on campus, and one or two groups via zoom. If any of these group options appeal to you and you are willing to participate, would you please follow the links and sign up?
- Also, if you have signed up and would like to modify your sign-up option, you may follow the links and do that as well.
- If you are interested and willing, please sign up HERE. The small groups will commence after Labor Day. Thank you in advance for your help with this.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
As we approach August, I want to thank you all for your generous financial support of Friendship. You have been amazing, and we are very grateful to you. August is usually a slow month for us, and honestly, it is historically our slowest month in giving. As you travel and celebrate the summer, I pray you will remember your church and continue your financial support. Your generous contributions have assisted us in our local ministry and mission fields, both near and far. Because of you, we can help spread the word of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
General Church things to remember:
- IN-PERSON EX-HOUR: In-person Ex-Hour meets each Sunday from 10am to 11am each Sunday 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. We are studying Job & Ecclesiastes.
- EX HOUR: Virtual Ex-Hour meets weekly on Sundays via ZOOM. Join us for class at 10a 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.
- 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 a bag of groceries. The Food Bank’s hours of operation are Tuesday - Thursday 2:30p-4:30p.
- 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 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.
Well, that’s all I have this week! Thank you for reading! Thank you for your prayers and support!
I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday morning, either in person or in the cyber sanctuary at 8am or 11:30am.
Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected God loves you, and so do I!
In His Service,
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor
Posted in COVID-19