PASTOR’S WEEKLY UPDATE JULY 8, 2022
Hey there Friendship!
How are you doing? I greet you in the Name that is above every Name—the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, and Lord! I pray that each of you is doing well right where you are!
We all recognize how blessed we are to have reached this seventh month of the year 2022. The favor and faithfulness of our God continue to astound us as He blesses our families and our fellowship.
You know, July is a busy month right before August comes when we practice Sabbath Rest. A time when many of our ministry functions go dark. I pray you will actively participate in the various things we offer this month!
Here are your announcements and ministry updates for this week…
SIDE BY SIDE COUPLES MINISTRY
The next Side by Side Couples Ministry class is tonight, Friday, July 8th, at 7pm via Zoom. This Bible study for couples utilizes the book You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity by best-selling author Francis Chan and his wife, Lisa Chan. The topic for this evening is Learn to Fight Well. Should you have any questions, please contact Deacon Hilton McDaniel at (949) 652-1489 or his wife, Sheila McDaniel, via email at [email protected]. To join the session, go HERE. They look forward to you joining the class.
MEN'S MONTHLY FELLOWSHIP
Men, the RHEMA Men's Fellowship Monday, July 11th at 7pm via Zoom. Brother's join us and our special guest Pastor Jaron Singley the Executive Pastor of Ministries. He will motivate us in our theme, "STRENGTH: Men United & Unashamed ~ Knowing Where Our Strength Comes From!" Psalm 46:1 - "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble" and he will give insights into his new role as Executive Pastor. This will be an interactive 60 minute session.
Register HERE.
DISCIPLESHIP BOOTCAMP
Friendship Family, we invite you to join us for Discipleship Bootcamp on Tuesday, July 12th through Thursday, July 14th, from 7-9 p.m. here at the church. This year’s theme is “Claim Your Crown” and is inspired by 2 Timothy 1:5-9.
In this year’s Bootcamp, we’ll learn how God wants us to claim our crown as leaders by examining leaders in the Bible and their demonstration of valuable leadership traits. Our crown is claimed as we grow into the godly leaders God desires us to be for His kingdom.
We will host classes for adults, children, and youth. Please register on the Events page on the church’s website or via the link in the written portion of my email below so we can plan and prepare appropriately. We will provide learning materials and snacks during breaks for all Bootcamp participants; your registration is critical to our preparation. Additionally, all Tuesday - Thursday evening Bible studies are paused for the week of Bootcamp.
We look forward to seeing you for great fellowship, fun, and learning at Discipleship Bootcamp 2022, July 12th-14th. We aim to have 200 children, youth & adults participate. Register HERE.
We need VOLUNTEERS to work with the children & youth during Discipleship Bootcamp. If you are available, would you please contact Pastor Jaron HERE? We thank you in advance for your willingness to assist.
CHURCH PICNIC
Our Annual Church Picnic and 5K Health Walk will take place on Saturday, July 16th, at Ted Craig Regional Park. We are returning to the time before the pandemic, with the foods we enjoy, hamburgers, hot links, desserts, and the famous roasted buttery corn. We will have games, jumpers, and lots of fun for the entire family. More information will be provided in the coming weeks. Volunteers are needed to cook, serve, and set up. Please contact Sharon Preston in the church office to volunteer; you can email HERE. Also, don’t forget about the 5K Health Walk.
5K HEALTH WALK
The 5K Health Walk takes place on the same day as the July 16th picnic at Ted Craig Park and starts at 8am before the picnic. This is an excellent opportunity to exercise and fellowship!
5K HEALTH WALK TRAINING
In preparation for our Annual 5K Health Walk at the Church Picnic, our Healthcare Ministry is offering pre-walk training on Saturdays. The final pre-walk training takes place tomorrow, Saturday, July 9th, at 7:15am. This training takes place on the El Cajon Trail in Yorba Linda. Participants will meet in the parking lot of the St Jude’s Heritage Medical Group at 4300 Rose Drive, that’s just one block from the Ship. The last date for training is July 9th. So join the Healthcare Ministry and have fun walking! Join me there tomorrow!
NEW MEMBERS CLASS:
We are excited about all who have joined our church recently! Our Christian Education Ministry wants you to know that a new session of the New Members class will begin Sunday, July 17th. This 8-week class meets on Sundays at 10am in the Carrington Building, Room 209. This class covers the beliefs, culture, ministries, and organizational structure of Friendship Church. If you have recently joined Friendship or joined but never completed this course, you are invited to sign up using the link HERE or just show up on July 17th at 10:00 am. Let us guide you through getting to know your new church!
WOMEN’S MONTHLY FELLOWSHIP
Ladies, the next Women’s Virtual Monthly Fellowship is Friday, July 22nd, at 7:00p. The special guests are Sister Elona Brown and Sister Sonya Griffin. They will speak on I’m Not Okay, Is That Okay? These two women love the Lord! We invite you to come to learn, be encouraged, and be encouraging! Register today HERE.
YOUNG ADULT EX HOUR:
Ex Hour Live, the Young Adult Edition, is coming! We will launch a new Ex-Hour class for Young Adults ages 18-35 on August 7th. This class will be held in the Carrington Building Room 207 and offers young adults the opportunity to explore the Bible, examine the scriptures, and experience transformation relevant to this stage of their lives. Join HERE to sign up for this class and receive more information before class begins.
STEWARDSHIP MEETING
Our next Church Stewardship Meeting is on Saturday, July 23rd, at 10am. This meeting is open to all members and will be informative, encouraging, and inspiring! Plan to join me as I chart vision, introduce staff, discuss finances, and discuss other matters related to the effective advancement of God’s church! At this meeting, you’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and gain insight regarding various aspects of the church and our ministries. We value your partnership. So plan to join us!
TITHE & OFFERING FINANCIAL UPDATE:
As I said last week, Friendship is not immune to the current difficulties of the economic times, inflation, deflation, and increased fuel cost.
The summer months can be challenging for the church and our budget as we seek to avoid what is known as the summer slump in the church administration world. I prayerfully ask for your partnership and support as we seek to honor God in our giving and avoid the summer slump. Currently, the overall giving level is down. Our revenue is down approximately 10% of our budgeted anticipated giving, equating to about $150,000. I believe we can make up for this shortfall. Thank you in advance for your consideration and partnership!
Don’t forget that there are multiple ways you can give to Friendship: cash (on Sundays) and check (anytime), and also you can give online, via your desktop, laptop, or smartphone at our website or the church mobile app. To give TODAY, please go HERE.
BIBLE READING SMALL GROUPS:
Congratulations to everyone who participated in our Spring Bible Reading Small Groups and completed one of the 5 Bible Reading Plans! Amen! We are excited to share that almost 40 people completed reading one of the 5 Bible plans in 90 days! A special thank you to our Small Group facilitators for guiding each group: Karen Ammons, Shawna Chambers, Bill Jenkins, James Shelby, and Keah Talley. We appreciate your service and willingness to encourage others to read God’s Word. We will offer Bible Reading Small Groups again in the Fall for those who want to complete a reading plan (or a different plan) before the end of the year.
COVID SAFETY UPDATE:
Beloved, since there has been a slight spike in Covid cases, we have decided to return to Praise & Worship Teams only for July & August, meaning we will not have choirs during this time. This is a precaution to keep everyone as safe as possible. We look forward to seeing you in worship each week.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ~ CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & DISCIPLESHIP
Christian Education and Discipleship is preparing to bring back children and youth Ex-Hour in September this year! We are also preparing for the children and youth Discipleship Bootcamp and need volunteers for both areas. If you are ready to see our children back in their age-appropriate bible study groups and are willing to help with teaching, classroom assistance, and administration, please email us here at [email protected]. It takes a village to bring our children back, and we need your help!
Here are a few church office updates…
General Church things to remember:
⚫ 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.
⚫ EX HOUR: Virtual Ex-Hour meets weekly on Sundays via ZOOM. Join us for class at 10am 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.
⚫ CHILDREN’S MINISTRY VIDEO: A weekly Children’s Ministry Worship Video is provided to keep our children connected, encouraged, and worshipped! 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.
Well, that’s all I have!
Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Connected!
God loves you, and so do I!
In His Service,
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor
How are you doing? I greet you in the Name that is above every Name—the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, and Lord! I pray that each of you is doing well right where you are!
We all recognize how blessed we are to have reached this seventh month of the year 2022. The favor and faithfulness of our God continue to astound us as He blesses our families and our fellowship.
You know, July is a busy month right before August comes when we practice Sabbath Rest. A time when many of our ministry functions go dark. I pray you will actively participate in the various things we offer this month!
Here are your announcements and ministry updates for this week…
SIDE BY SIDE COUPLES MINISTRY
The next Side by Side Couples Ministry class is tonight, Friday, July 8th, at 7pm via Zoom. This Bible study for couples utilizes the book You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity by best-selling author Francis Chan and his wife, Lisa Chan. The topic for this evening is Learn to Fight Well. Should you have any questions, please contact Deacon Hilton McDaniel at (949) 652-1489 or his wife, Sheila McDaniel, via email at [email protected]. To join the session, go HERE. They look forward to you joining the class.
MEN'S MONTHLY FELLOWSHIP
Men, the RHEMA Men's Fellowship Monday, July 11th at 7pm via Zoom. Brother's join us and our special guest Pastor Jaron Singley the Executive Pastor of Ministries. He will motivate us in our theme, "STRENGTH: Men United & Unashamed ~ Knowing Where Our Strength Comes From!" Psalm 46:1 - "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble" and he will give insights into his new role as Executive Pastor. This will be an interactive 60 minute session.
Register HERE.
DISCIPLESHIP BOOTCAMP
Friendship Family, we invite you to join us for Discipleship Bootcamp on Tuesday, July 12th through Thursday, July 14th, from 7-9 p.m. here at the church. This year’s theme is “Claim Your Crown” and is inspired by 2 Timothy 1:5-9.
In this year’s Bootcamp, we’ll learn how God wants us to claim our crown as leaders by examining leaders in the Bible and their demonstration of valuable leadership traits. Our crown is claimed as we grow into the godly leaders God desires us to be for His kingdom.
We will host classes for adults, children, and youth. Please register on the Events page on the church’s website or via the link in the written portion of my email below so we can plan and prepare appropriately. We will provide learning materials and snacks during breaks for all Bootcamp participants; your registration is critical to our preparation. Additionally, all Tuesday - Thursday evening Bible studies are paused for the week of Bootcamp.
We look forward to seeing you for great fellowship, fun, and learning at Discipleship Bootcamp 2022, July 12th-14th. We aim to have 200 children, youth & adults participate. Register HERE.
We need VOLUNTEERS to work with the children & youth during Discipleship Bootcamp. If you are available, would you please contact Pastor Jaron HERE? We thank you in advance for your willingness to assist.
CHURCH PICNIC
Our Annual Church Picnic and 5K Health Walk will take place on Saturday, July 16th, at Ted Craig Regional Park. We are returning to the time before the pandemic, with the foods we enjoy, hamburgers, hot links, desserts, and the famous roasted buttery corn. We will have games, jumpers, and lots of fun for the entire family. More information will be provided in the coming weeks. Volunteers are needed to cook, serve, and set up. Please contact Sharon Preston in the church office to volunteer; you can email HERE. Also, don’t forget about the 5K Health Walk.
5K HEALTH WALK
The 5K Health Walk takes place on the same day as the July 16th picnic at Ted Craig Park and starts at 8am before the picnic. This is an excellent opportunity to exercise and fellowship!
5K HEALTH WALK TRAINING
In preparation for our Annual 5K Health Walk at the Church Picnic, our Healthcare Ministry is offering pre-walk training on Saturdays. The final pre-walk training takes place tomorrow, Saturday, July 9th, at 7:15am. This training takes place on the El Cajon Trail in Yorba Linda. Participants will meet in the parking lot of the St Jude’s Heritage Medical Group at 4300 Rose Drive, that’s just one block from the Ship. The last date for training is July 9th. So join the Healthcare Ministry and have fun walking! Join me there tomorrow!
NEW MEMBERS CLASS:
We are excited about all who have joined our church recently! Our Christian Education Ministry wants you to know that a new session of the New Members class will begin Sunday, July 17th. This 8-week class meets on Sundays at 10am in the Carrington Building, Room 209. This class covers the beliefs, culture, ministries, and organizational structure of Friendship Church. If you have recently joined Friendship or joined but never completed this course, you are invited to sign up using the link HERE or just show up on July 17th at 10:00 am. Let us guide you through getting to know your new church!
WOMEN’S MONTHLY FELLOWSHIP
Ladies, the next Women’s Virtual Monthly Fellowship is Friday, July 22nd, at 7:00p. The special guests are Sister Elona Brown and Sister Sonya Griffin. They will speak on I’m Not Okay, Is That Okay? These two women love the Lord! We invite you to come to learn, be encouraged, and be encouraging! Register today HERE.
YOUNG ADULT EX HOUR:
Ex Hour Live, the Young Adult Edition, is coming! We will launch a new Ex-Hour class for Young Adults ages 18-35 on August 7th. This class will be held in the Carrington Building Room 207 and offers young adults the opportunity to explore the Bible, examine the scriptures, and experience transformation relevant to this stage of their lives. Join HERE to sign up for this class and receive more information before class begins.
STEWARDSHIP MEETING
Our next Church Stewardship Meeting is on Saturday, July 23rd, at 10am. This meeting is open to all members and will be informative, encouraging, and inspiring! Plan to join me as I chart vision, introduce staff, discuss finances, and discuss other matters related to the effective advancement of God’s church! At this meeting, you’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and gain insight regarding various aspects of the church and our ministries. We value your partnership. So plan to join us!
TITHE & OFFERING FINANCIAL UPDATE:
As I said last week, Friendship is not immune to the current difficulties of the economic times, inflation, deflation, and increased fuel cost.
The summer months can be challenging for the church and our budget as we seek to avoid what is known as the summer slump in the church administration world. I prayerfully ask for your partnership and support as we seek to honor God in our giving and avoid the summer slump. Currently, the overall giving level is down. Our revenue is down approximately 10% of our budgeted anticipated giving, equating to about $150,000. I believe we can make up for this shortfall. Thank you in advance for your consideration and partnership!
Don’t forget that there are multiple ways you can give to Friendship: cash (on Sundays) and check (anytime), and also you can give online, via your desktop, laptop, or smartphone at our website or the church mobile app. To give TODAY, please go HERE.
BIBLE READING SMALL GROUPS:
Congratulations to everyone who participated in our Spring Bible Reading Small Groups and completed one of the 5 Bible Reading Plans! Amen! We are excited to share that almost 40 people completed reading one of the 5 Bible plans in 90 days! A special thank you to our Small Group facilitators for guiding each group: Karen Ammons, Shawna Chambers, Bill Jenkins, James Shelby, and Keah Talley. We appreciate your service and willingness to encourage others to read God’s Word. We will offer Bible Reading Small Groups again in the Fall for those who want to complete a reading plan (or a different plan) before the end of the year.
COVID SAFETY UPDATE:
Beloved, since there has been a slight spike in Covid cases, we have decided to return to Praise & Worship Teams only for July & August, meaning we will not have choirs during this time. This is a precaution to keep everyone as safe as possible. We look forward to seeing you in worship each week.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ~ CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & DISCIPLESHIP
Christian Education and Discipleship is preparing to bring back children and youth Ex-Hour in September this year! We are also preparing for the children and youth Discipleship Bootcamp and need volunteers for both areas. If you are ready to see our children back in their age-appropriate bible study groups and are willing to help with teaching, classroom assistance, and administration, please email us here at [email protected]. It takes a village to bring our children back, and we need your help!
Here are a few church office updates…
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
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 ESV; Romans 1:16-17 ESV
⚫ JUNE PRAYER FOCUS:
Praying that Friendship Embraces the Grace of God
Eph.2:8-9, Acts 20:32a, Rom. 5:2
Eph.2:8-9, Acts 20:32a, Rom. 5:2
⚫ BIBLE READING
You have 176 days to complete a Bible reading plan, including today. Friendship encourages 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.
⚫ EX HOUR: Virtual Ex-Hour meets weekly on Sundays via ZOOM. Join us for class at 10am 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.
⚫ CHILDREN’S MINISTRY VIDEO: A weekly Children’s Ministry Worship Video is provided to keep our children connected, encouraged, and worshipped! 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.
Well, that’s all I have!
Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Connected!
God loves you, and so do I!
In His Service,
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor
Posted in COVID-19