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

Weekly Word from Pastor Curry: August 20, 2021

Happy Friday, Friendship!

This week I have spent a lot of time reminiscing. You all know I grew up at Truevine Missionary Baptist Church in Lynwood, CA. We were not the most prominent church, certainly not as large as Friendship, but we weren’t the smallest church either. Everything I know about church, leadership, preaching, and evening pastoring STARTED in that context. Truevine was GREAT for me. At Truevine, we sincerely believed in the power of prayer. Every Sunday, Pastor Hopkins would say to us, “Prayer is the key to the Kingdom, and FAITH unlocks the door.” As an adult, I learned that this saying comes from a Christian song. I always knew it wasn’t scripture, but I have always felt the saying is valid. And perhaps this is why I value prayer as an adult and as a leader!

One of our core values here at Friendship is about prayer! It states,

“We value PRAYING to God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, as a means to communicate with God on behalf of ourselves and others.”

PRAYER is a priority! (By the way, all seven of our core values are available HERE on our website) Now, I mention PRAYER this week because our circumstances are calling us to PRAY!
Delta Variant ~ Pray!
Hospitalizations up ~ Pray! 
Deaths are rising ~ Pray! 
Schools are starting ~ Pray!
Mask Mandates ~ Pray!
Vaccination Requirements ~ Pray!
Booster Shots needed ~ Pray!
Political Strife ~ Pray!
Afganistan crisis ~ Pray! 
Earthquake and Storms in Haiti ~ Pray!
Tragedies ~ Pray! 
Traumas ~ Pray!
Uncertainty ~ Pray!
More Uncertainty ~ Pray!
This week I call to PRAYER! We cannot let up! I know we thought things were getting back to normal! But we see we still have some work to do, and I believe that God allows this so we will stay close to HIM! That’s what our devotional on Wednesday told us! Sarah Young’s devotional for August 18th, Jesus Calling, reminded us that God allows adversity, so we will continue to depend on Him and come to Him. So, Friendship, WE MUST PRAY!

As we pray, I encourage you to remember our guiding principles through the pandemic! We pray, we take necessary precautions, we don’t panic, and we are patient. Yes, I believe in repetition! Again, we are coming out, but it is a slow process! I remind us of our Great God! He is for us, and He is with us! Romans 8:31 tells us, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Remember, He is for us!

Friendship, PRAY, PRECAUTIONS, and remain POSITIVE!

Here’s what I have for you this week…

✔️ SABBATH REST: While we observe Sabbath Rest and enjoy a ministry pause, we still meet for prayer every Wednesday via our prayer line HERE.

✔️ FOOD PANTRY MINISTRY: The food pantry ministry remains open every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and we need volunteers in the mornings (9a-11a) and the afternoons (1:30p-4:30p). Contact the church office if you are available. 

✔️ SUNDAY WORSHIP: We are doing everything we can to keep you safe and encouraged doing this season. Unless we are forced to, we will continue to meet in person and online. However you choose to join us, please join us! My team has assured me that our stream will be better this week! We apologize for the technical difficulties. I am grateful to my team, who have worked to ensure we had something when technology challenged us!  We still have Ex-Hour for our in-person worshipers and our online participants.  This Sunday, August 22nd, I am excited to welcome the Rev. Lester Barrie as our guest preacher. Rev. Barrie is a former pastor and former member of Friendship. 

As we continue in Sabbath Rest, 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 month, 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.

✔️ VOTE 2021 ~ THE RECALL: On Monday, August 30th, at 7pm, our RHEMA Men’s Ministry is sponsoring VOTE 2021 ~ The Recall! This Town Hall event will take place via Zoom and is designed to help members and guests understand the California Governor’s Recall election that will take place on September 14th. Our own, Deacon James Shirley (Civil Rights Activist and City of San Dimas Senior Citizens Commission Board Member), will discuss the recall election and its implications for California and individual voters. Please register HERE

✔️ SCHOLARSHIP MINISTRY 2021-2022: We are excited to announce the open enrollment for our Scholarship Ministry beginning today through October 4th! We are now accepting applications for students to join for this academic year. The scholarship ministry is available for all students K-12th. Our scholarship ministry is designed to nurture Friendship’s students to be the best scholars and be a meaningful part of our faith community that we believe is a catalyst for faithful ministry and service. Potential applicants and their families can find the application on our website.  Please go to www.wearefriendship.church/scholarship to access the application.  We need all new and returning students to complete the online application.  More information about our “Virtual Kick-Off Meeting” in early October will be coming soon. If you have any questions, please email Rev. Jaron Singley at [email protected].   

✔️ REMEMBERING OUR LOST LOVED ONES: Looking ahead, We will have our 2021 Remembering Our Lost Loved Ones Service on Tuesday, October 19th, here at Friendship in the Sanctuary. Yes, we are planning an in-person event that will also stream live. If you would like to remember your loved one in this service, please send their name, relationship to you, and photo to Leigha Carrington in Membership Services at [email protected].  Especially note if your loved one passed away in 2020. You can submit via email or regular mail. The last day to submit this information is Friday, September 24th.

Here are some things I don’t want you to forget…

✔️ RIGHTNOW MEDIA: 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. 

✔️ CHILDREN’S MINISTRY VIDEO: Remember there’s a weekly Children’s Ministry Worship Video designed to keep our children connected, encouraged, and worshipping! Rev. Jaron Singley works hard weekly to produce a Children’s worship video. It is available through our website HERE or via the Friendship Youtube Channel 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]

✔️ VOLUNTEER CORE: 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.

✔️ 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 introduced an agency that may help several of you. This agency is the Inland Empire Resouce 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.

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! Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, 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
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