PASTOR'S UPDATE SEPTEMBER 29, 2023
Hey there Friendship Family, it's Pastor Curry!
I want to give you a quick update for this week as we’re ending one month and starting another. Today is Friday, February 29th and Sunday will be October 1st and so we want to give you some information as we get ready to start a new month.
Before I get into announcements, I want to say “Thank You!” from the bottom of my heart on behalf of lady Karima and I thank you, thank you, thank you. Friendship, we are so appreciative of your kindness and your love and support of us as Pastor and First Lady and we want you to know that. I thank God for the last 10 years for the opportunity to serve you, but ultimately, I thank God for the 22 years that I’ve had to serve at Friendship Baptist Church. It has been a great time - It’s not been without its own trials, but I thank God and as the songwriter says, “my good days outweigh my bad days so I won’t complain.”
Beloved, Thank you, thank you, thank you Guardian Angels, staff, volunteers, ministries, everybody - we will all work hard to get thank-you cards out before the end of October, but we just want to say thank you to you as quickly as possible and pray that you will continue to hold up the blood-stained banner with us as we serve Friendship to the best of our ability.
Now on to a few announcements...
FAMILY PRAYER MEETING TONIGHT
Join us tonight for our monthly prayer gathering. It will happen virtually via Google meet on our prayer line. We had originally planned to come together in person but we will be online virtual tonight from 7:30 to 8:30 PM via Google Meet.
Our prayer focus for the month of October is Walking in the Wisdom of God. That is being able to apply knowledge in the right places and in the right time - that’s what wisdom is. Our Prayer Posse will be there to lead us with our prayer leader Melanie Porter giving leadership there and we hope to see you tonight. To join in at 7:30 pm, CLICK HERE.
COMMUNION SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1ST
Don’t forget Sunday is the first Sunday, October 1 and we will have communion. Our mass choir will be singing and it will be a great time. This is not a “High Church” Sunday we moved that from October 1 to November 5 that is the first Sunday of November when prayerfully we will introduce some new mothers to be presented with our mothers ministry, we’re looking forward to you joining us then. We invite those of you who worship at home virtually to have your communion prepared.
I want to give you a quick update for this week as we’re ending one month and starting another. Today is Friday, February 29th and Sunday will be October 1st and so we want to give you some information as we get ready to start a new month.
Before I get into announcements, I want to say “Thank You!” from the bottom of my heart on behalf of lady Karima and I thank you, thank you, thank you. Friendship, we are so appreciative of your kindness and your love and support of us as Pastor and First Lady and we want you to know that. I thank God for the last 10 years for the opportunity to serve you, but ultimately, I thank God for the 22 years that I’ve had to serve at Friendship Baptist Church. It has been a great time - It’s not been without its own trials, but I thank God and as the songwriter says, “my good days outweigh my bad days so I won’t complain.”
Beloved, Thank you, thank you, thank you Guardian Angels, staff, volunteers, ministries, everybody - we will all work hard to get thank-you cards out before the end of October, but we just want to say thank you to you as quickly as possible and pray that you will continue to hold up the blood-stained banner with us as we serve Friendship to the best of our ability.
Now on to a few announcements...
FAMILY PRAYER MEETING TONIGHT
Join us tonight for our monthly prayer gathering. It will happen virtually via Google meet on our prayer line. We had originally planned to come together in person but we will be online virtual tonight from 7:30 to 8:30 PM via Google Meet.
Our prayer focus for the month of October is Walking in the Wisdom of God. That is being able to apply knowledge in the right places and in the right time - that’s what wisdom is. Our Prayer Posse will be there to lead us with our prayer leader Melanie Porter giving leadership there and we hope to see you tonight. To join in at 7:30 pm, CLICK HERE.
COMMUNION SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1ST
Don’t forget Sunday is the first Sunday, October 1 and we will have communion. Our mass choir will be singing and it will be a great time. This is not a “High Church” Sunday we moved that from October 1 to November 5 that is the first Sunday of November when prayerfully we will introduce some new mothers to be presented with our mothers ministry, we’re looking forward to you joining us then. We invite those of you who worship at home virtually to have your communion prepared.
LEADERSHIP MEETING
Saturday, October 7th from 10:00 am - Noon in the Sanctuary.
We look forward to seeing you all there.
Saturday, October 7th from 10:00 am - Noon in the Sanctuary.
We look forward to seeing you all there.
RHEMA MEN'S FELLOWSHIP
Monday October 11th, 7pm in-person in the multipurpose building on campus.
Title: Moving from Discipleship to Evangelism Session 3. Our series on Evangelism is engaging and practical as we continue to look at applying the "BLESS" model. If you're not hip to the "BLESS" model for evangelism, we encourage you to come see what it's all about and how you can apply it. Our session leaders are Deacon Allen Gobert, Brother Erwin Cross, Dr. David Smith, Rev. Patrick Christian and Deacon Charles Owens.
We look forward to seeing each of you in the house. All men are welcome and encouraged to come out. Food will be provided, so come on out for the camaraderie and join in on an interactive, action packed session, oh yeah and BRING A FRIEND!
Monday October 11th, 7pm in-person in the multipurpose building on campus.
Title: Moving from Discipleship to Evangelism Session 3. Our series on Evangelism is engaging and practical as we continue to look at applying the "BLESS" model. If you're not hip to the "BLESS" model for evangelism, we encourage you to come see what it's all about and how you can apply it. Our session leaders are Deacon Allen Gobert, Brother Erwin Cross, Dr. David Smith, Rev. Patrick Christian and Deacon Charles Owens.
We look forward to seeing each of you in the house. All men are welcome and encouraged to come out. Food will be provided, so come on out for the camaraderie and join in on an interactive, action packed session, oh yeah and BRING A FRIEND!
W.O.R.D. WOMENS CONFERENCE
Kingdom Women, IT'S TIME - Join us for our first, post-pandemic, “In-Person” Women of Radiant Design (W.O.R.D.) Conference! The date is Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and it is here at Friendship!
The theme for this year’s conference is Kingdom Women: Created and Called According To God's Kingdom Purpose. We are excited and waiting with tip-toe anticipation as our special guests and beloved sisters in ministry join us with a Timely Word and Timely Teaching.
To REGISTER for the conference, CLICK HERE.
And That's Not All! Be sure to join us on Sunday, October 22nd as we celebrate Women’s Day - Praise In Pink at Friendship. Our guest speaker, Pastor Connie Jackson, will deliver a powerful Word at the 8:00 and 11:30 a.m. services. We invite FBC members and our guests to wear something pink in honor of breast cancer survivors and to honor the memory of those we lost to the disease.
Ladies, you don’t want to miss out on this Wonderful Women’s Weekend! More information and updates can be found on the church website located at www.wearefriendship.church.
Don't Delay…Register Today and Be Sure To Invite A Friend!
We look forward to seeing YOU soon!
FLU SHOTS ON CAMPUS HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
ANGEL TREE
We are in need of 3 more sponsors.
The Outreach Department has been sign-ups for the Angel Tree projects. Angel Tree mobilizes local churches like ours to minister to hundreds of thousands of children by delivering a gift, the Gospel message, and a personal message of love on behalf of their mom or dad behind bars.
If you are interested in participating, please complete the interest form HERE. Or Email Rev. Felton Christian HERE.
Kingdom Women, IT'S TIME - Join us for our first, post-pandemic, “In-Person” Women of Radiant Design (W.O.R.D.) Conference! The date is Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and it is here at Friendship!
The theme for this year’s conference is Kingdom Women: Created and Called According To God's Kingdom Purpose. We are excited and waiting with tip-toe anticipation as our special guests and beloved sisters in ministry join us with a Timely Word and Timely Teaching.
To REGISTER for the conference, CLICK HERE.
And That's Not All! Be sure to join us on Sunday, October 22nd as we celebrate Women’s Day - Praise In Pink at Friendship. Our guest speaker, Pastor Connie Jackson, will deliver a powerful Word at the 8:00 and 11:30 a.m. services. We invite FBC members and our guests to wear something pink in honor of breast cancer survivors and to honor the memory of those we lost to the disease.
Ladies, you don’t want to miss out on this Wonderful Women’s Weekend! More information and updates can be found on the church website located at www.wearefriendship.church.
Don't Delay…Register Today and Be Sure To Invite A Friend!
We look forward to seeing YOU soon!
FLU SHOTS ON CAMPUS HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
ANGEL TREE
We are in need of 3 more sponsors.
The Outreach Department has been sign-ups for the Angel Tree projects. Angel Tree mobilizes local churches like ours to minister to hundreds of thousands of children by delivering a gift, the Gospel message, and a personal message of love on behalf of their mom or dad behind bars.
If you are interested in participating, please complete the interest form HERE. Or Email Rev. Felton Christian HERE.
FAITHFUL GIVING
Lastly, in the last several weeks, I have told the congregation we are in a $200,000 deficit. Our deficit continues, and my team and I are concerned. We need ALL members to continue to be faithful and generous, and we also need you to help encourage the others in our membership and fellowship to do so. We must try and close the gap and raise the budgeted amount by the end of the year. We must raise essentially $1.2M by December 31st. We have a tremendous amount of work to do. You may give HERE.
FUTURE NOW INITIATIVE
Also, please continue to pray for the Future NOW Initiative. God is up to something!
Also, please continue to pray for the Future NOW Initiative. God is up to something! Plans are being reviewed and we are making progress! Prayerfully, we can start sometime in November. Pray!
On the pledge form, please indicate your planned pledge amount and your frequency of giving. Again, if you have the printed form, please put your total pledge amount on the KICK STARTER LINE. Then tell us, on that form, whether you will give your pledge over 12 months or 15 months. Lastly, please tell us the frequency of your giving, whether you will give weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly (as a one-time gift). Also, the form is available online HERE.
General Church things to remember:
Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV
Hebrews 10:24-25; Rom 8:1-3; Heb 13:1-3; Jam1:7; Mark 2:17
October - Walking in the Wisdom of God
Col.2:2-3; James 3:17; 1 Cor 1:30; James 1:5; Prov.2:6
✔️ 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)
BLESSINGS FRIENDSHIP FAMILY!!!
In His Service,
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor
Lastly, in the last several weeks, I have told the congregation we are in a $200,000 deficit. Our deficit continues, and my team and I are concerned. We need ALL members to continue to be faithful and generous, and we also need you to help encourage the others in our membership and fellowship to do so. We must try and close the gap and raise the budgeted amount by the end of the year. We must raise essentially $1.2M by December 31st. We have a tremendous amount of work to do. You may give HERE.
FUTURE NOW INITIATIVE
Also, please continue to pray for the Future NOW Initiative. God is up to something!
Also, please continue to pray for the Future NOW Initiative. God is up to something! Plans are being reviewed and we are making progress! Prayerfully, we can start sometime in November. Pray!
On the pledge form, please indicate your planned pledge amount and your frequency of giving. Again, if you have the printed form, please put your total pledge amount on the KICK STARTER LINE. Then tell us, on that form, whether you will give your pledge over 12 months or 15 months. Lastly, please tell us the frequency of your giving, whether you will give weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly (as a one-time gift). Also, the form is available online HERE.
General Church things to remember:
- 2023 CHURCH THEME:
Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV
- PRAYER FOCUS:
Hebrews 10:24-25; Rom 8:1-3; Heb 13:1-3; Jam1:7; Mark 2:17
October - Walking in the Wisdom of God
Col.2:2-3; James 3:17; 1 Cor 1:30; James 1:5; Prov.2:6
- BIBLE READING
✔️ 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)
- WEEKLY HEALTH WALK
- IN-PERSON EX-HOUR:
- 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.
- EX HOUR: Virtual Ex-Hour meets weekly on Sundays via ZOOM. Join us for class at 10:00 am via this link HERE.
- YOUTH EX HOUR: Our in-person youth EX-Hour takes place during our designated EX Hour time in the Multipurpose Building. Parents, please encourage your students to join youth teachers for this biblically fun opportunity to learn God’s Word, connect with others, and grow.
- CHILDREN’S EX-HOUR: As stated in previous weeks, our Children’s EX-Hour is back and meets on Sundays at 10am in the Multipurpose Building. Parents, please note you must check in and check out your children weekly for Ex-Hour.
- MOMMIES WITH BABIES: We have our Mommies with Babies class simultaneously during EX-Hour in the Multipurpose Building. Mommies with two years old and younger children are invited to this EX-HOUR class and are encouraged to bring their children with them! Come for encouragement, community, and growth! Amen!
- WEDNESDAY Prayer Day: Join us each Wednesday for Prayer. We pray at 6:30 am, 12:00 pm, and 6:30 pm. 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, 2:30 pm-4:30 pm.
BLESSINGS FRIENDSHIP FAMILY!!!
In His Service,
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor
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