February Sermons
What We Believe - The Articles of Religion of The UMC
Feb 5 - "The Fall"
- Gen 2: 15-17, 3:1-21 Article vII
Feb 12 - "Are People Basically Good?"
- Rom 1:16-32 Article VIII
Feb 19 - "Justified by Faith"
- Rom 5:1-12 Article IX
Feb 26 - "Living the Golden Rule"
- Matt 7:12-23 Article X/XI
Upcoming Events
There will be a Beth Moore Women’s Bible Study entitled Here and Now...There and Then which is the study of Revelation. This will be an 11 Week study which will start February 6th at 6:30pm with orientation. The workbooks are $10. I encourage you to invite your friends and make time for the study of scripture in your new and lasting friendships, which are made, as we reach out to study God's word.
ALL UMYF-Youth Students are invited to The Study of Romans with Pastor Greg. This group meets on Wednesday evenings in the Library from 7-8:00pm. We invite grades 6th-12th and their friends in “doing life together”.
The God of the universe is crazy about you! His love is the most powerful thing in the world and He wants to give it to you, so you can live for Him. If you have made a commitment to follow Christ, then you are encouraged to attend this 12 week study to be reminded and challenged in your walk. Study group will meet on Tuesdays from 7-8:30pm. Book/Workbook Combo $18.
Disciple III-This 16 week transformative bible study will focus on the 13 letters of the Apostle Paul, contained in the New Testament. Class offered Mondays from 7-9pm. Workbook purchase necessary.
*As always, scholarships are available for small group fees. Inability to purchase materials should never hinder your willingness to learn God’s Word. Please contact Pastor Brad if you need assistance.
FOR OUR VETERANS OF THE CHURCH -There will be a 'Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration' on Saturday, March 31, 2012 from 9:00am-4:30pm at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is being hosted by the USO of North Carolina. Tickets are free and friends and family are invited. Several events are planned for the day and the crowd is expected to reach 50,000. If you have any questions or would like to go, please contact Dianne Huffman. Let's give a belated 'WELCOME HOME' to our Vietnam Veterans.
Regular Events:
Sunday Services
Worship - 8:30 & 11:00 AM Sunday School - 9:45 AM
Nursery is provided during both worship services and Sunday School hour.
Youth 6th - 12th grade / Sunday's 6:00 - 8:00 PM
United Methodist Women meet 2nd Wednesday of each month from 7:00-8:30 PM
United Methodist Men meet 3rd Sunday of each month for Devotionals and Breakfast at 7:30 AM
Choir - Tuesdays at 6:30 PM
Praise Team - Wednesdays at 6:30 PM
Charles Beck Memorial Prayer Group - Wednesdays at 6:30 AM
Building to Reach Others for Christ
Mission Challenge
Over a year ago, I challenged Friendship to raise $110,000, or 11,000,000 pennies to provide for the growing facilities needs of our aging church. Since then, you have generously responded, most notably by offering your pennies into a big water bottle that is in the front of the sanctuary each Sunday.
Currently, we have a little over $12,000 in the fund. So far, we have used money from the fund as follows throughout the year:
- 5/30 Painting -$592.00
- 10/2 School Outfitters-$749.01 - Furniture for Sonquest worship.
- 10/23 Safe Harbor Rescue-$500.00 - Donation made in honor of CommScope for furniture received from CommScope for third floor sitting area.
- 10/28 Sidewalk Repair-$875.00 - Funded repair of sidewalk that was crumbling near the back corner of the main building
The fund will be used soon to pay for new chairs and tables for our children's Sunday School class, led by Darlene Poovey and Monica Robinson, which has grown in attendance.
We also anticipate buying new tables and chairs for the Fellowship Hall in the near future.
Thank you for your generosity - your pennies are making a big difference!!
Pastor Brad, on behalf of the Finance Committee, Trustees, and Church Council
The Serving Military
Currently,
It’s that time of year again when we send a piece of home to those military service personnel associated with the church serving overseas.
Currently we are in need of; snacks, goodies, books, magazines etc . If you would like to contribute items for this ministry, the collection area is in the storage room adjacent to the Fellowship Hall on the shelves labeled MILITARY ITEMS.
Monetary Donations to help offset postage can also be made to the church with Military Postage in the memo of your check.
If you would like to send a card of encouragement, their addresses are below:
Michael Pastelak
4th CAB
B Co, 404th ASB
Camp Marmell (MES)
APO AE 09368
GySgt Hermance, Wayne
2D Supply Bn. REIN
Attn: H & S Co.
Unit 73730
FPO AE 09510-3730
Carlos Casanova
B Troop 3-4 CAV
FOB Hughie
APO AE 09310
SSG Charles Dixon
3-82 FA
Joint Base Balad
APO 093981
We believe...
Friendship is a “ Church Committed to Making Disciples for Jesus Christ. ” As always, being a disciple requires concrete action. Jesus says in Matthew 16.24 – “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” I believe there are at least four things that Friendship must do to continue to be faithful to her mission of “making disciples for Jesus Christ”.
1. A Church of Small Groups
We are a church of Small Groups: Sunday School, United Methodist Men (UMM), United Methodist Women (UMW), Men’s Prayer Group, Youth, and Kids on a Mission are just a few of our small groups. We currently have a study on Sunday evenings on the Old Testament, a Disciple III study on Monday night, a small group on Tuesday night on the Psalms, home groups on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and a weekly Bible study on Nehemiah at Abernethy Laurels each Wednesday. It's not too late to participate!! For all who are participating - I pray God will grow you in your walk with Jesus.
2. A Church of Missions, Local, State, National, International
Locally, our Backpacks for Kids is helping feed over 70 children per week at Tuttle Elementary School. On October 16th, many of our members will participate in Crop Walk. The proceeds will fight hunger locally, and globally.
Is there interest in a Costa Rica Mission Trip this year? Please contact Roger DeCato at 828-397- 4028, if you are interested.
We are in the middle of collecting for Samaritan's Purse Shoeboxes! If would like to help or need more information, contact David Sherrill at 828-234-0783.
3. A Church of Caring Ministries
Our Lay Ministry teams and church members call, send cards, provide meals, visit hospitals, homes, and nursing homes of people in need.
4. A Church with Community Ministries of Children and Youth
Rev. Greg Richard has allowed us to engage the community in new and creative ways. Working in conjunction with our Children’s Ministry, our Kids on a Mission and SonQuest programs are forming children as Disciples. Our United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF) continues to grow in faith and service. On October 1st, they will be serving at ECCCM on Community Impact Day.
I hope you will make it a point to be a part of Friendship’s mission with your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Then when someone asks you what we are doing at Friendship, you can say, "We are making disciples for Jesus Christ.”
It is a pleasure to serve you,
Pastor Brad
Upcoming Mission
Please be in prayer for our Costa Rica Missions Team. The team will be traveling in February yet we pray for them in preparation of their trip as well as during their actual travel.
There is much work to be done at Camp Casa Di Cielo and we are asking for your prayers of; heart and mind preparation, safe travel, and that those they meet will truly see the hands of feet of God.
