| On Sept 1st, Labor Day Weekend Sunday, I shared from the pulpit the most draining sermon I have given in the 14 months since I moved here. It was draining, because of how important it felt and how long I have been thinking about it. I have been listening and learning so much since the day I got here. There are so many beautiful people here who have shared their stories and lives with us. And yet, at the same time, one very clear observation that has been pounded into me over and over is how disconnected we are as a culture. The culture we live in is not built for community. Our culture is built on a RADICAL AUTONOMY that undergirds so much of who we are and how we navigate the world. As I said in the sermon, the challenge is that this individualist culture rips us apart from each other and leads us to a misunderstanding of what the Church even is and pulls us away from living out our purpose. Our purpose as a body of Christ following believers is to live out our lives together in a way that we mutually share our God given spiritual gifts with one another so that we become a more mature unified body of faith (Eph 4). Frankly, our culture fights against us becoming mature disciples of Jesus. However, the Spirit of God is at work, and the Spirit of God is leading us together. As I’ve shared my hopes for our faith community with the staff, then with the elders and then with the Coordinators (and hopefully more groups in the future) I have sensed that so many of us have a deep yearning in our souls to live deeply with one another. We want to move beyond this false notion that church is what “we do” on Sunday mornings for an hour and move into the deeper path of living our lives (not our one hour) with one another in such a way that we become deeper disciples of Jesus. One clear example of this is that I have noticed a number of small groups popping up all over the place, which I think is a direct response of that desire and stirring of the Spirit. This isn’t the only path of living out of lives together, but it sure is an excellent way to start! If you too want to find that stirring within you, would you reach out to one of us here at the church office so we can have a conversation about what that might look like? joshua@friendswoodfriends.org bobby@friendswoodfriends.org tena@friendswoodfriends.org katelyn@friendswoodfriends.org joyce@friendswoodfriends.org jennifer@friendswoodfriends.org Blessings, Josh |
| Christian Faith and Beliefs |
| Josh is leading a Christian Faith and Beliefs class at the Bunce household on Wednesday nights at 7 PM. This class is open to all adults. Whether you’re new to the faith or a more seasoned follower, this class is for you if you’re looking for a community of people who want to journey together in becoming deeper disciples of Jesus. Josh and Marcy and family live at 1303 Yorkshire Dr in Friendswood. We hope you feel welcome to journey with us. |
| Meet the Friends |
| There will be a Meet the Friends class after the service on September 22nd for anyone interested in learning more about the Friends Church. We would love for us to join us! |
| Women’s Bible Studies |
| Women’s Morning Bible Study meets at 9:00 AM in the Coffee Cafe, and they are studying from Planted, a book over disciplines of Christian Faith. There is a link to purchase the book below. While purchasing the book is highly encouraged, it is not required to participate. There is also a link to “let us know you are coming” which includes a place to sign up for childcare. We look forward to studying together. |
| Purchase Planted Here Let Us Know You’re Coming! |
| Beginning September 18th, Women’s Evening Bible Study returns and will be studying from Epic of Eden: Jonah. This bible study meets at Susan Tam’s home on Wednesday Evenings at 6:30 PM. If you have questions about the study, you can contact Susan by email. There is a link to purchase this book below. |
| Purchase Epic of Eden: Jonah Here |
| Sunday Evening Activities |
| All Sunday Evening Activities have resumed at their normal times and locations. |
| Practicing the Way |
| Tena Roher will be starting a group study on Spiritual Disciplines. This 5 week class will focus on Sabbath and how to un-hurry our lives and walk the pace of Jesus. The study is open to high schools and up. It begins on September 15th at 4:00 PM in the Chapel. |
| Student Ministries Update |
| HS Volleyball Tournament |
| If you’re looking for something fun to do this Sunday, September 15th 7:00-9:30 PM, come out to the gym to watch the Annual HS Volleyball Tournament. |
| Snacks and Drinks |
| Each week at FUSE and CORE, we provide a snack and drink. The next time you are at the grocery store, would you be willing to pick up a case of water, some Capri Suns, individual bags of chips, individual bags of cookies, Cheez-its, Rice Krispie treats, or your students favorite snack to share with our youth group?Donation Sign Up |
| FISD Students |
| Students at FJH and FHS have the opportunity to gather with friends at school for breakfast and devotions led by local youth pastors starting in September. This before-school opportunity is brought to you by Club One! What’s Next | FJH | 2nd & 4th Monday each month | 8:00 AM Right Now | FHS | 3rd Tuesday each month | 8:00 AM Registration through FISD Community Ed is not required to attend but does help ensure that there will be enough breakfast for everyone. Use the buttons below to register for the year! |
| What’s Next and Right Now Registration |
| Save the Date |
| What is Bible Quiz? Junior High Bible Quiz is a fun, challenging, and in-depth way for 7th and 8th-grade students to study and memorize Scripture. Churches in our denomination meet 4-5 times in the spring to compete with one another. Team identity, competition, study, and travel all unite in Bible Quiz to create a tight-knit community between students and adult leaders. Not to mention memories that last a lifetime! |
| Join us for a Parent Informational meeting on Sunday, September 29 in the Friends Center Kitchen area immediately following FUSE at 7:00 pm. |
| Children’s Ministry Update |
| “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 This month in Children’s Church we are learning because God is good, we can trust him even when it’s hard, so each week in September we will be looking at bible stories that focus on what it means to trust the Lord. Our first story is Noah and the Ark! Here are some fun things to do this week with your kids centered on our bible story of the week:While drawing boats or rainbows together, have your child/children retell the story of Noah and the Ark and the promise of the rainbow.Have your kids name animals and discuss all the different traits about each one reminding the children how uniquely and wonderfully they are made.Talk about ways or tell a story of when you had to trust God. |
| Tweens is Back! |
| 5th graders come on over as soon as school gets out on Thursdays! |
| Gym Kids! |
| Gym Kids meets on Friday mornings in Friends Center at 9:00 AM. |
| Fall Potluck |
| There will be Fall Potluck on September 29th after the service. We are excited to gather and share a meal together. There is a link to sign up below, or look for paper sign ups in the Coffee Cafe on Sunday. |
| Potluck Sign Up |
| Bell Friends |
| Bell Friends: Regular rehearsal times are Thursdays 12:30-2:00 PM. |
| There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6 |
