PASTOR’S WEEKLY UPDATE NOVEMBER 18, 2022
PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY
SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS WRITTEN HERE ARE NOT IN THE VIDEO
SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS WRITTEN HERE ARE NOT IN THE VIDEO
Greetings, my Beloved Friendship Family,
I greet you with Jesus’ joy and godly gratitude for God’s grace & mercy. Additionally, I greet you with thoughtful thanksgiving because I genuinely thank God for everything He has supplied for me!
I am also thankful for all He has supplied each of you. I may not know everything you have, but I know God is a good God. He is a kind God who faithfully provides for His children. So I may not see it, but I know you are blessed! So as we prepare for Thanksgiving next week, we should do so as the hymn writer, Johnson Oatman Jr., encourages in his hymn entitled, Count Your Blessings.
He says,
I greet you with Jesus’ joy and godly gratitude for God’s grace & mercy. Additionally, I greet you with thoughtful thanksgiving because I genuinely thank God for everything He has supplied for me!
I am also thankful for all He has supplied each of you. I may not know everything you have, but I know God is a good God. He is a kind God who faithfully provides for His children. So I may not see it, but I know you are blessed! So as we prepare for Thanksgiving next week, we should do so as the hymn writer, Johnson Oatman Jr., encourages in his hymn entitled, Count Your Blessings.
He says,
Count your blessings; name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God has done;
Count your blessings; name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
Count your blessings, see what God has done;
Count your blessings; name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
The first verse says,
When upon life’s billows, you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
The second verse says
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by
This song offers a good admonishment! Count your blessings! Instead of complaining, count. When you practice counting your blessings, you will be amazed at how many there are. As you are driving along the freeway, walking through the mall, or shopping for groceries, countless blessings are in full view for you to recognize and acknowledge. Count your blessings!
Counting will keep you from complaining. Count your blessings and give God praise for the great and beautiful things he has done, for what He is doing right now, and for the great things he has in store for you in the future. Amen.
THANKSGIVING
Let me wish each of you an early HAPPY THANKSGIVING! May you have a wonderful time of reflective gratitude, family sharing, and hopefully some relaxation! Remember, we will not meet in person on Thanksgiving Day, but we will broadcast our Thanksgiving Day Service and invite you to join us as we celebrate Christ and give thanks for all He has done. The service will air at 10am Thursday, November 24th.
Let me give you a few updates, and we will move on…
GENEROSITY & GRATITUDE MONTH
First, thank you for your generosity in our Generosity & Gratitude Month! This past Sunday, we raised just over $2,000 to support Church Planting Efforts in the United States. We will match what you gave and give the Transformation Ministries $2000 for Church Planting, and we will give the North American Mission Board (the Southern Baptist Church Planting arm) $2000 for a total of $4000 from the Friendship Family! Praise God! Additionally, I want to update you. Our giving to the Nehemiah Project of Los Angeles has increased. Instead of the $2000 I reported, we have raised over $3000 and will now be able to give them over $6000 from the Friendship Family. Praise God! And thank you for your generosity.
This Sunday, we will support World Vision. World Vision International is an evangelical Christian humanitarian aid, development, and advocacy organization. Their focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience the fullness of life. They help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by Christian faith, by equipping them, their communities, and local partners with the tools to address the root causes of violence against children. World Vision believes together we can protect children today and empower them for tomorrow.
So this weekend, we will support World Vision International. Whatever you give, we will match and send one check from Friendship. In addition, we will feature a special video this Sunday! Remember, we have special envelopes and a special giving designation in our electronic giving that is live today entitled Church Planting. So make all checks payable to Friendship!
OVERTIME
As I move on, I invite you to check out this week’s episode of OVERTIME. It is the eighth and final episode since we have completed the Spiritual Disciplines Preaching Series. So join Pastor Rodney, Pastor Jaron, and me as we talk about the last two Spiritual Disciplines of Guidance & Celebration.
Also, don’t forget to read and reflect on Psalms 146 through 150 this week. The goal was for you to read one psalm daily for five days. Hear how the Psalmist encourages us to CELEBRATE God for who He is and for what He has done! That was this week’s post-sermon challenge.
Here are our weekly announcements…
THANKSGIVING FOOD BASKET GIVE-A-WAY
Our annual Thanksgiving Food Basket Give-a-way will occur on Saturday, November 19th, at 11am. We will distribute baskets on a First Come, First Served basis. So, if you or someone you know needs a Thanksgiving Food Basket, you are encouraged to show up Saturday, November 19th beginning at 10am.
CHILDREN’S SUNDAY RETURNS
We are excited to announce that we will reopen in-person Children’s Ex-Hour (Sunday School) from 10:00am-11:00am and Children’s Church at 11:30am service on Sunday, November 20th. Children’s Sunday Services are for children Pre-K (age 3)-5th grade. Additionally, the Mommies with Babies class will return during Ex-Hour (10-11am) for mothers and their babies 0-2 years old. We are excited to have children back in worship and bible study, don’t miss our first Sunday Funday on Sunday, November 20th, when we welcome them back!
HEALTH CARE MINISTRY WALKING CLUB
Attention Friendship Family! The Healthcare Ministry invites you to jump-start your exercise routine by walking with the Healthcare Ministry! They will have a Walking Club meeting on Friday, November 25th (the day after Thanksgiving) and Saturday, November 26th, at 8:15am on both days!
The walk will take place on the El Cajon Trail in Yorba Linda. Our Healthcare Ministry invites you to meet them in the St. Joseph Heritage Medical Group parking lot located at 4300 Rose Drive, Yorba Linda. One block from the church at Bastanchury and Rose Drive.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION: MENTAL HEALTH SEMINAR
Friendship is partnering with Stepping Higher Inc. in presenting another Community Education seminar on Monday, November 28th. Stepping Higher is a community service organization dedicated to restoring, developing, and establishing cultural and personal achievement at all levels of our community. Stepping Higher has been tasked with incorporating Mental Health and Faith-based entities in treating and preventing mental illness. Their focus is Mental Health in the African American & LatinX Communities.
The subject of this seminar on Monday, November 28th, is: “DEALING WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.” They will cover a variety of areas in this seminar. The seminar takes place via Zoom HERE. The Zoom link is provided in the written update. Also, you can contact Rev. Felton Patrick Christian for more information assistance.
2022 CHURCH CALENDAR
Attention Ministry Leaders. We are busy planning the 2023 Church Calendar. All ministry dates and event dates for the 2023 Church Calendar are due by Monday, November 21st. Please send your calendar additions to Leigha Carrington in Membership Services by then. Also, if you need a calendar guide, please get in touch with Leigha for that as well. You may reach her HERE.
MINISTRY ELECTIONS
Also, ministry leaders remember that ministry elections need to occur by November 30th, and results should be sent to Leigha Carrington in the church office as soon as possible. Please advise your Governance Committee Liason if you will not meet the deadline.
General Church things to remember:
We invite you to stay after the first service or come earlier for the second service to attend Ex Hour in person.
Well, that’s it!
I love you, Friendship, But God Loves you BEST!
Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Connected!
In His Service,
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor
Counting will keep you from complaining. Count your blessings and give God praise for the great and beautiful things he has done, for what He is doing right now, and for the great things he has in store for you in the future. Amen.
THANKSGIVING
Let me wish each of you an early HAPPY THANKSGIVING! May you have a wonderful time of reflective gratitude, family sharing, and hopefully some relaxation! Remember, we will not meet in person on Thanksgiving Day, but we will broadcast our Thanksgiving Day Service and invite you to join us as we celebrate Christ and give thanks for all He has done. The service will air at 10am Thursday, November 24th.
Let me give you a few updates, and we will move on…
GENEROSITY & GRATITUDE MONTH
First, thank you for your generosity in our Generosity & Gratitude Month! This past Sunday, we raised just over $2,000 to support Church Planting Efforts in the United States. We will match what you gave and give the Transformation Ministries $2000 for Church Planting, and we will give the North American Mission Board (the Southern Baptist Church Planting arm) $2000 for a total of $4000 from the Friendship Family! Praise God! Additionally, I want to update you. Our giving to the Nehemiah Project of Los Angeles has increased. Instead of the $2000 I reported, we have raised over $3000 and will now be able to give them over $6000 from the Friendship Family. Praise God! And thank you for your generosity.
This Sunday, we will support World Vision. World Vision International is an evangelical Christian humanitarian aid, development, and advocacy organization. Their focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience the fullness of life. They help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by Christian faith, by equipping them, their communities, and local partners with the tools to address the root causes of violence against children. World Vision believes together we can protect children today and empower them for tomorrow.
So this weekend, we will support World Vision International. Whatever you give, we will match and send one check from Friendship. In addition, we will feature a special video this Sunday! Remember, we have special envelopes and a special giving designation in our electronic giving that is live today entitled Church Planting. So make all checks payable to Friendship!
OVERTIME
As I move on, I invite you to check out this week’s episode of OVERTIME. It is the eighth and final episode since we have completed the Spiritual Disciplines Preaching Series. So join Pastor Rodney, Pastor Jaron, and me as we talk about the last two Spiritual Disciplines of Guidance & Celebration.
Also, don’t forget to read and reflect on Psalms 146 through 150 this week. The goal was for you to read one psalm daily for five days. Hear how the Psalmist encourages us to CELEBRATE God for who He is and for what He has done! That was this week’s post-sermon challenge.
Here are our weekly announcements…
THANKSGIVING FOOD BASKET GIVE-A-WAY
Our annual Thanksgiving Food Basket Give-a-way will occur on Saturday, November 19th, at 11am. We will distribute baskets on a First Come, First Served basis. So, if you or someone you know needs a Thanksgiving Food Basket, you are encouraged to show up Saturday, November 19th beginning at 10am.
CHILDREN’S SUNDAY RETURNS
We are excited to announce that we will reopen in-person Children’s Ex-Hour (Sunday School) from 10:00am-11:00am and Children’s Church at 11:30am service on Sunday, November 20th. Children’s Sunday Services are for children Pre-K (age 3)-5th grade. Additionally, the Mommies with Babies class will return during Ex-Hour (10-11am) for mothers and their babies 0-2 years old. We are excited to have children back in worship and bible study, don’t miss our first Sunday Funday on Sunday, November 20th, when we welcome them back!
HEALTH CARE MINISTRY WALKING CLUB
Attention Friendship Family! The Healthcare Ministry invites you to jump-start your exercise routine by walking with the Healthcare Ministry! They will have a Walking Club meeting on Friday, November 25th (the day after Thanksgiving) and Saturday, November 26th, at 8:15am on both days!
The walk will take place on the El Cajon Trail in Yorba Linda. Our Healthcare Ministry invites you to meet them in the St. Joseph Heritage Medical Group parking lot located at 4300 Rose Drive, Yorba Linda. One block from the church at Bastanchury and Rose Drive.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION: MENTAL HEALTH SEMINAR
Friendship is partnering with Stepping Higher Inc. in presenting another Community Education seminar on Monday, November 28th. Stepping Higher is a community service organization dedicated to restoring, developing, and establishing cultural and personal achievement at all levels of our community. Stepping Higher has been tasked with incorporating Mental Health and Faith-based entities in treating and preventing mental illness. Their focus is Mental Health in the African American & LatinX Communities.
The subject of this seminar on Monday, November 28th, is: “DEALING WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.” They will cover a variety of areas in this seminar. The seminar takes place via Zoom HERE. The Zoom link is provided in the written update. Also, you can contact Rev. Felton Patrick Christian for more information assistance.
2022 CHURCH CALENDAR
Attention Ministry Leaders. We are busy planning the 2023 Church Calendar. All ministry dates and event dates for the 2023 Church Calendar are due by Monday, November 21st. Please send your calendar additions to Leigha Carrington in Membership Services by then. Also, if you need a calendar guide, please get in touch with Leigha for that as well. You may reach her HERE.
MINISTRY ELECTIONS
Also, ministry leaders remember that ministry elections need to occur by November 30th, and results should be sent to Leigha Carrington in the church office as soon as possible. Please advise your Governance Committee Liason if you will not meet the deadline.
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
⚫ NOVEMBER PRAYER FOCUS:
Expressing Thankfulness for God’s Grace & Mercy
II Tim 1:9, John 1:16, Titus 2:11, II Cor. 12:9, John 1:14, Eph 2:8-9, II Peter 1:2
II Tim 1:9, John 1:16, Titus 2:11, II Cor. 12:9, John 1:14, Eph 2:8-9, II Peter 1:2
⚫ 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. We now have two adult classes meeting in person on campus, along with a Young Adult Class. They meet as follows:
◯ Adult Class One (Sanctuary): The team teaching in the sanctuary includes Lady Karima Curry, Pamela Jones, Deacon Demetrius Linebarger, Melanie Porter, Vivian Randolph, & Deacon James Shelby
◯ Adult Class Two (Carrington Building Room 217): The team teaching in the Carrington Building Room 217 includes Le Shon Archer, Deacon Rick Archer, Karen Ammons, Gwen Matthews, and Rev. Phil Yoder.
◯Young Adults Class (Carrington Building Rooms 207-208): This class is designed for those aged 18-35.
We invite you to stay after the first service or come earlier for the second service to attend Ex Hour in person.
⚫ NEW MEMBERS CLASS:
If you’ve recently become a member of Friendship or are a member who has never attended the New Members Class, we invite you to attend a new session starting on Sunday, October 2nd. Over eight weeks, this class teaches what we believe about fundamental Christian doctrines, including Salvation, the Trinity, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. In addition, this class provides a good foundation on key doctrines in the Bible. Join us at 10 a.m. on Sundays; we meet on the 2nd floor of the Carrington Building, Room 209.
⚫ 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 worshipping! 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 COVID-19, we invite you to apply for one of our $500 assistance grants. The guidelines are available HERE, and the application is available HERE.
⚫ LOST & FOUND
Have you lost your favorite Bible, glasses, or a personal item while here at the church? If so, please contact the church office at 714-528-0990 or stop by on the 1st floor of the Carrington Building Monday-Friday between 9:00am-5:30pm or Sunday between 10:00am-2:00pm. There is a collection on the blue counter under the TV monitor.
Well, that’s it!
I love you, Friendship, But God Loves you BEST!
Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Connected!
In His Service,
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor
Posted in COVID-19