PASTOR’S WEEKLY UPDATE APRIL 15, 2022
Hello Friendship Family!
It’s Holy Week! Holy Week is a string of eight days that allow us an opportunity to reflect upon the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and what it means for us individually and collectively. Holy Week this year began on Sunday, April 10th, Palm Sunday! Palm Sunday reflects on when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem. The week leads us through the Last Supper, His crucifixion, and ends on Easter Sunday with His resurrection. This week is the basis of Christianity!
Christ sacrifice launched the New Covenant God promised, and many had prophesied throughout the Old Testament. Each day of Holy Week should allow us to peek into the heart of our Savior in intensive proximity. His love for us is reflected in every significant step toward the cross, every breath up to the last, and His resurrection. Ultimately we must know this: Jesus came to earth to save humanity by dying on the cross on Good Friday and resurrecting on Easter Sunday. By enduring and defeating death sacrificially for us, He swung open the gates of heaven, making a way for our sins to be forgiven and usher us into the presence of God. Praise the Lord!
I pray that you have enjoyed our Holy Week Revival! How encouraging to know that we can Follow Jesus Closely and not at a distance! How impactful to know we can have an Unstoppable Spirit! Ultimately is how good to know that Jesus is Enough! Thank you, Pastor Weaver, Pastor Dawson, and Pastor Grice, for making yourselves available to Friendship and encouraging our hearts! If you missed the Revival, you could view the services on our website or our Youtube Channel.
It’s Holy Week! Holy Week is a string of eight days that allow us an opportunity to reflect upon the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and what it means for us individually and collectively. Holy Week this year began on Sunday, April 10th, Palm Sunday! Palm Sunday reflects on when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem. The week leads us through the Last Supper, His crucifixion, and ends on Easter Sunday with His resurrection. This week is the basis of Christianity!
Christ sacrifice launched the New Covenant God promised, and many had prophesied throughout the Old Testament. Each day of Holy Week should allow us to peek into the heart of our Savior in intensive proximity. His love for us is reflected in every significant step toward the cross, every breath up to the last, and His resurrection. Ultimately we must know this: Jesus came to earth to save humanity by dying on the cross on Good Friday and resurrecting on Easter Sunday. By enduring and defeating death sacrificially for us, He swung open the gates of heaven, making a way for our sins to be forgiven and usher us into the presence of God. Praise the Lord!
I pray that you have enjoyed our Holy Week Revival! How encouraging to know that we can Follow Jesus Closely and not at a distance! How impactful to know we can have an Unstoppable Spirit! Ultimately is how good to know that Jesus is Enough! Thank you, Pastor Weaver, Pastor Dawson, and Pastor Grice, for making yourselves available to Friendship and encouraging our hearts! If you missed the Revival, you could view the services on our website or our Youtube Channel.
RESURRECTION SUNDAY IS COMING
As we look forward to Resurrection Sunday, remember the following…
As we look forward to Resurrection Sunday, remember the following…
Good Friday Service:
I want to remind you that tonight is our in-person Good Friday Service. The service begins promptly at 7:30pm. Come and hear these seven preachers encourage us in the message of the cross and Christ’s crucifixion. Our preachers will be the Rev. Fredia Travis, Rev. Jaron Singley, Rev. Kathy Scott, Pastor Jeremy Whittington of Prayer Center Church, Rev. Vada Hedgeman of Zoe Christian Fellowship, Rev. Felton Patrick Christian, and Rev. Aubrey Craig. We will also have music from our music ministry. It will be an inspiring time of worship and reflection.
Easter Holiday Food Giveaway:
Our Friendship Food Pantry is having a Holiday Turkey & Ham giveaway on Saturday, April 16th, from 11:00a to 12:30p or until supplies are exhausted. This is for the Friendship Family as well as the community at large. It is first-come, first-serve. Please note there will be one item per car. If you or someone you know could benefit, please feel free to come by and pass this information on. No pre-registration is necessary.
Resurrection Sunday:
Sunday Morning, April 17th, we will celebrate the Resurrection with three services at 5:30am, 8am, and 11:30am. Yes, we will have Sunrise Service at 5:30am.
Well, here are your announcements for this week.
LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AND DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY (LEAD):
As a reminder, we are excited to announce the launch of our Leadership Excellence and Development Academy (also known as LEAD), which starts this coming week on Thursday, April 21st, at 7p.m. Thank you to those who have already enrolled to participate in this new development opportunity! LEAD Academy is for all existing and aspiring leaders. Please note: We especially desire and welcome young adults and those aspiring to lead 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 are 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. Again, we start this Thursday, April 21st, so please: If you plan to participate, we ask that you register so we may ensure we prepare properly in anticipation of your participation. We’re excited! Please get in touch with our Christian Education Leadership team, Lady Karima or Le Shon Archer, if you have any questions. To enroll, register HERE.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION:
The Christian Education Department is pleased to announce two classes starting this month!
LEADERSHIP MEETING IS COMING:
Our next Leadership Meeting is an in-person meeting ONLY. It will take place on Saturday, April 23rd. It begins promptly at 10am in the Sanctuary. After the meeting, we will host an OPEN HOUSE for you to see some of the improvements we have made since 2020 as we prepare to welcome ministries back to campus.
MINISTERS & TEACHER’S CONFERENCE CANCELED
Please note that the 2022 Teacher’s & Minister’s Conference scheduled for Saturday, April 30th, has been canceled. Instead, we welcome and encourage you to consider participating in LEAD, also known as Leadership Education and Development, which starts on Thursday, April 21st at 7 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your flexibility.
KINDOM WIDOWS SPRING LUNCHEON & TEA
The Kingdom Widows Ministry would like to invite all widows and widowers of Friendship to come out and enjoy an afternoon of fellowship at our Spring Luncheon and Tea. This event will be held on April 30th at noon in the Multi-Purpose Building at Friendship. To RSVP, please click go HERE or contact Lady Karima via email at [email protected].
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ~ FOOD PANTRY
We need volunteers! We need willing workers to serve in our Food Pantry on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. We have been severely short-handed in the last few weeks. If you are willing to serve on those days from 1:30p-4:30p, we would greatly appreciate your assistance! You just show up, and Sister Gloria Banks will put you to work. If you prefer to call first, please contact Rev. Felton Patrick Christian at 714-579-7066 or [email protected].
CONGRATULATIONS, DEACON JAMES H. SHELBY:
Congratulations to the Chairman of our Deacon Ministry here at Friendship, Deacon James Howard Shelby, on publishing his new book: Doone’s Detour: A Story of Less Than 1% Chance of Survival.
In this book, Deacon Shelby chronicles his wife’s journey, Lorna Shelby, after suffering a brain aneurysm in 2018. Where doctors told him and his son, Brandon, that she had less than a 1% chance of survival, this book documents their trials, triumphs, and life lessons as they navigated their new reality; trusting that God would lead them through and bring them to exactly where they needed to be. Get your copy HERE.
Congratulations, Deacon Shelby, and thank you for being a model of faith and faithfulness!
Here are a few church office updates…
JOBS AT FRIENDSHIP
We invite you to visit the church website and see the jobs we have posted. We invite qualified candidates to apply. Go HERE to see the job postings.
General Church things to remember:
I really look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we celebrate the Resurrection! I ask that you pray for me as I prepare!
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 want to remind you that tonight is our in-person Good Friday Service. The service begins promptly at 7:30pm. Come and hear these seven preachers encourage us in the message of the cross and Christ’s crucifixion. Our preachers will be the Rev. Fredia Travis, Rev. Jaron Singley, Rev. Kathy Scott, Pastor Jeremy Whittington of Prayer Center Church, Rev. Vada Hedgeman of Zoe Christian Fellowship, Rev. Felton Patrick Christian, and Rev. Aubrey Craig. We will also have music from our music ministry. It will be an inspiring time of worship and reflection.
Easter Holiday Food Giveaway:
Our Friendship Food Pantry is having a Holiday Turkey & Ham giveaway on Saturday, April 16th, from 11:00a to 12:30p or until supplies are exhausted. This is for the Friendship Family as well as the community at large. It is first-come, first-serve. Please note there will be one item per car. If you or someone you know could benefit, please feel free to come by and pass this information on. No pre-registration is necessary.
Resurrection Sunday:
Sunday Morning, April 17th, we will celebrate the Resurrection with three services at 5:30am, 8am, and 11:30am. Yes, we will have Sunrise Service at 5:30am.
- Please note the Sanctuary will be filled from the front to the back; however, if you prefer to sit towards the back, our Ushers will have you wait in the quad or vestibule, and you’ll be seated once the Sanctuary starts to fill up. Seating will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests should encourage everyone in their party to arrive simultaneously to ensure they’ll be seated together. There will be no seat saving allowed. The outer sections will remain socially distant seating. However, we have opened up a few rows in the back of all the middle sections, also known as the cozy sections, where guests will be seated closer together, not shoulder to shoulder, but a bit closer to maximize seating space. Please be flexible, patient, and joyful as you wait to be seated. The Hospitality team will do their VERY best to seat as many people in the Sanctuary quickly and safely.
- Resurrection Sunday Family Event: The Children & Youth Ministry will host a special family event in place of Ex-Hour at 10am in the Multipurpose Building. They need you to pre-register for this event so that they can plan for your participation and have enough supplies. Would you please register HERE?
Well, here are your announcements for this week.
LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AND DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY (LEAD):
As a reminder, we are excited to announce the launch of our Leadership Excellence and Development Academy (also known as LEAD), which starts this coming week on Thursday, April 21st, at 7p.m. Thank you to those who have already enrolled to participate in this new development opportunity! LEAD Academy is for all existing and aspiring leaders. Please note: We especially desire and welcome young adults and those aspiring to lead 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 are 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. Again, we start this Thursday, April 21st, so please: If you plan to participate, we ask that you register so we may ensure we prepare properly in anticipation of your participation. We’re excited! Please get in touch with our Christian Education Leadership team, Lady Karima or Le Shon Archer, if you have any questions. To enroll, register HERE.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION:
The Christian Education Department is pleased to announce two classes starting this month!
⚫ NEW MEMBERS CLASS: On Sunday, April 24th, the New Members class will begin a new eight-week series. If you have joined Friendship and have never taken the New Members class, you are invited to enroll. Enroll HERE.
⚫ BIBLE IN 90 DAYS: Additionally, the Bible in 90 days will begin Tuesday, April 26th, from 7-8:30pm, and will meet weekly online. This study will walk through the entire Bible in 90 days. To enroll, register HERE.
LEADERSHIP MEETING IS COMING:
Our next Leadership Meeting is an in-person meeting ONLY. It will take place on Saturday, April 23rd. It begins promptly at 10am in the Sanctuary. After the meeting, we will host an OPEN HOUSE for you to see some of the improvements we have made since 2020 as we prepare to welcome ministries back to campus.
MINISTERS & TEACHER’S CONFERENCE CANCELED
Please note that the 2022 Teacher’s & Minister’s Conference scheduled for Saturday, April 30th, has been canceled. Instead, we welcome and encourage you to consider participating in LEAD, also known as Leadership Education and Development, which starts on Thursday, April 21st at 7 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your flexibility.
KINDOM WIDOWS SPRING LUNCHEON & TEA
The Kingdom Widows Ministry would like to invite all widows and widowers of Friendship to come out and enjoy an afternoon of fellowship at our Spring Luncheon and Tea. This event will be held on April 30th at noon in the Multi-Purpose Building at Friendship. To RSVP, please click go HERE or contact Lady Karima via email at [email protected].
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ~ FOOD PANTRY
We need volunteers! We need willing workers to serve in our Food Pantry on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. We have been severely short-handed in the last few weeks. If you are willing to serve on those days from 1:30p-4:30p, we would greatly appreciate your assistance! You just show up, and Sister Gloria Banks will put you to work. If you prefer to call first, please contact Rev. Felton Patrick Christian at 714-579-7066 or [email protected].
CONGRATULATIONS, DEACON JAMES H. SHELBY:
Congratulations to the Chairman of our Deacon Ministry here at Friendship, Deacon James Howard Shelby, on publishing his new book: Doone’s Detour: A Story of Less Than 1% Chance of Survival.
In this book, Deacon Shelby chronicles his wife’s journey, Lorna Shelby, after suffering a brain aneurysm in 2018. Where doctors told him and his son, Brandon, that she had less than a 1% chance of survival, this book documents their trials, triumphs, and life lessons as they navigated their new reality; trusting that God would lead them through and bring them to exactly where they needed to be. Get your copy HERE.
Congratulations, Deacon Shelby, and thank you for being a model of faith and faithfulness!
Here are a few church office updates…
JOBS AT FRIENDSHIP
We invite you to visit the church website and see the jobs we have posted. We invite qualified candidates to apply. Go HERE to see the job postings.
General Church things to remember:
⚫ 2022 CHURCH THEME:
United & Unashamed: God’s People United in Mission, Ministry, & Mandate
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 ESV; Romans 1:16-17 ESV
⚫ APRIL PRAYER FOCUS:
Praying that Friendship Walks in the Unity
Ps. 133:1, I Cor 12:12, Eph. 4:13
⚫ BIBLE READING
You have 261 days to complete a Bible reading plan, including today. At Friendship, we encourage every member to read one of six Bible reading plans in the year. These plans include;
✔️ 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)
⚫ SOCIAL MEDIA
Make sure to follow us on our social media pages for upcoming content. For Facebook, that’s @FriendshipBaptistChurch. For Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, it’s @wearefriendshipchurch.
⚫ IN-PERSON EX-HOUR:
In-person Ex-Hour meets each Sunday from 10am to 11am 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. NO EX-HOUR THIS SUNDAY
⚫ EX HOUR: Virtual Ex-Hour meets weekly on Sundays via ZOOM. Join us for class at 10am via this link HERE. NO EX-HOUR THIS SUNDAY
⚫ 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. NO EX-HOUR THIS SUNDAY
⚫ CHILDREN’S MINISTRY VIDEO: 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 the Friendship YouTube Channel HERE.
⚫ 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 +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.
⚫ 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 COVID Membership Assistance Grant applications. 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.
I really look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we celebrate the Resurrection! I ask that you pray for me as I prepare!
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