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
The Friendship UMW will be hosting a mission study on Haiti on March 24, 2012 called Haiti: Challenges and Hopes. Light morning refreshments and lunch will be served. This mission study invites readers to reflect on how the church can be in mission with the people of Haïti rather than in mission to them.
The study encourages ongoing exchanges of cultural understanding, mutual respect and mission partnership between the people of The United Methodist Church and the people of God in Haïti, offering perspectives on Haïti’s theological history and the need for a clear and vibrant theology of liberation. The cost is $10.00 To register for this event, please see Angela Detter for the registration form. The deadline to register for this event is Thursday, March 8th.
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. Call Pam Rutledge or the church office to register for the study
Belong...
Small gatherings of believers characterized the early church. In Acts 1.13-14 we learn the Disciples and Jesus’ mother and brothers gathered “constantly together in prayer.” In Acts 2.46 the fellowship of believers “continued to meet every day together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together…” What happened in the early Church? The Holy Spirit entered the believers’ lives, and in Acts 2.47 we learn, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” 
Over the past year, great things have happened in our small groups. We have hired a Community Youth and Children’s Minister to minister with our newborn to 18 year olds. Each Sunday night, we have a youth program for grades 6-12 youth. We also offer Young Disciples, for children 2 years old to 5th grade. We are offering a Monday night Book Study, a Wednesday morning Pastor’s Bible Study, and on Monday, we have “Crafters for Christ”, a group of people committed to crafting prayer shawls, afghans, and lap-ghans for those in need. This is in addition to our normal offering of Sunday School, United Methodist Men, and United Methodist Women.
Where do you fit into this picture? I want to invite you again to join a small group for Bible Study, service, and Christian growth. The Tar Heels recent run to the NCAA tournament title is a simple picture of what must be done to succeed. Hard work. Practice. A small group of people dedicated to a common mission. We admired their hard work, appreciated their dedication, and watched it come together on the basketball court, all the way to NCAA Championship (although many of us wished it would have been “our” team.)
The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9.24, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” Make small groups a part of your spiritual growth. There are no shortcuts to NCAA Basketball championships, and no shortcuts to being transformed into the image of Christ. I want to invite you once again to be a part of a small group.
If you have questions about becoming a part of a small group, please call me at (828) 234-3389.
Offered At Friendship
Forty Days of Community
is a follow-up to the Purpose Driven Life, written by the same author, Rick Warren. Now that you have learned "what on earth you are here for," know that you weren't meant to fulfill God's purposes on your own. This is a 7-week study group. Cost: $12 Contact: Pastor Brad at 234-3389
Jesus In The Gospels
focuses on the portraits of Jesus found in the four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This study looks at the way each Gospel writer presents events and teachings and at the picture of Jesus that emerges in each of the Gospels. Similar in format to Disciple, this is a 30-week course. Cost: $40 Contact: Dwin Caldwell 244-9684
Pastor's Bible Study
is held each Wednesday morning at 9:45 AM. This study is open to men and women who want to learn more from God's Word. Currently we are studying the Book of Romans. Cost: $12 Contact: Pastor Brad 234-3389
Financial Peace University
This 13 Week study deals with a different topic that will change the way you think about personal finance. Dave Ramsey teaches about how to save money, live on a budget, communicate about money, eliminate debt, find bargains, and experience the joy of giving!
Peacemaker
Jesus said, “Blessed are the Peacemakers.” All of us encounter conflict in our every day lives – at work, at home, in our communities. Peacemaker teaches biblical, practical ways to help us resolve the conflicts in our lives and experience the inner peace that God desires. This 9 week study group prepares church leaders and adults for peacemaking through education and training.
Friendship Membership Classes
Offered Monthly-No Charge Membership to Friendship encourages personal, spiritual and biblical growth. This class orientates you with the history, structure and belief of affirming our mission statement of being a “church committed to making disciples for Christ” Starts in August.
Friendship Confirmation Classes
Class-offered to our Mid-High (Grades 6th-8th) during Sunday School. Please inquire with the church office for the current schedule and location
Other Small Group Opportunities
Friendship offers a variety of other small group opportunities at various times throughout the year.
Our United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF) is specifically designed to form disciples, 6th through 12th grades. Throughout the year, 20-25 youth and adults gather each Sunday night from 6 - 8 PM for Bible Study, Worship, Service and Fellowship. We gather in our spacious Family Life Center and offer the youth a "safe place" to grow spiritually, offering a light meal and weekly Bible Study. More...
An all ages Sunday School Program each Sunday at 9:45 AM with five different adult classes, five different age appropriate classes for children and youth, and a loving nursery care.
Disciple Bible Studies - 30-34 week studies designed to encourage believers in their Christian life.
Men’s Bible Study – Utilizing Kenny Luck’s materials written specifically for men.
United Methodist Men (UMM) – The Men meet monthly at 7:30 AM on the third Sunday of the month for a devotional, fellowship, and support, and support a variety of mission projects, financially, and with hands on work. More...
United Methodist Women (UMW) – The UMW are all about Mission. The UMW meet monthly on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00. More...
