We are in a season of lots of change! Josh has identified this well in his first few sermons with us, and I’ve been moved by his connection with the stories of the Hebrew people as God walked with them as they were uprooted. The disorientation and re-orientation experiences of God’s people in the exodus, wilderness, promised land, and later in the Babylonian exile taught the Hebrew people that God is with them, God will provide for them, and God will defend them.
There is often suffering with change. These stories remind us that God is also present with us through the suffering and helps to sustain us through to the other side. This Immanuel, God-with-us aspect of God is ultimately seen in the person of Jesus, who suffered alongside us all the way to death on our behalf. We’ve had several from our church in and out of the hospital lately, for various procedures. We’ve had some with relatives who are passing away. We’ve had some mourning the changes around the church or in their own lives. God is with you in your suffering, and we are with you, too.
We’ve also experienced the exciting aspects of change lately. Our church staff has begun working together, and it’s been wonderful to begin meeting and starting work on church programs for children, students, and adults. Josh, Katelyn, Tena, and Jennifer are all doing outstanding work, and it’s clear that God is with us in part by placing the right people here at the right time. Schools are starting, and the uncertainty and excitement of the beginning of a new year are filling the homes of many of our families in the church. God is with us in that excitement, and we are with you, too.
So, what do we hold on to in this time? As “Friends,” we get our denominational name from a great passage in John 15 that is a part of Jesus’ message to his disciples during the last meal with them before he was taken to be crucified. He knew that great disorientation and change were about to grip his disciples, and here’s part of what he wanted to leave them with:
“As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete. This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.”
During this season of new things, both exciting and sometimes suffering, let’s hold on to Jesus and remain in his love. Let’s do so by keeping his commandment to love each other, just as Jesus loved us by laying down his life for us. May we love each other well in this way, and in so doing, may we live true to our name as Friends of Jesus.
God is with you, and we are with you!
Bobby Kirkpatrick
Bay Area Homeschool Academy (BAHA):
BAHA is a community homeschool group that began renting classroom space for kindergarten-5th Grade on Mondays-Thursdays. Their drop-off/pick-up times are 8:30 AM and 1:30 PM. If you are planning on coming to the church office during those times, expect to see increased traffic in front of the Friends Center. Be praying for those teachers and students, and that God will bring his blessing to the BAHA ministry.
Children’s Ministry Check-in System:
It is a blessing to welcome so many children into our services. The sounds of children in the service are a gift. We are thankful for your trust in teaching your children the way of the Lord. We are also thankful for your utilization of the new check-in system and your patience with our learning curve. We believe the process will only get better with time, but if you have questions about the system, please contact Tena Roher, and she will be happy to help.
Sunday Morning Attendance Register:
The Sunday morning attendance register can be found by QR code on the screen during the rolling announcements before the service and on cards on the backs of the pews. We appreciate you registering your attendance weekly. Not only does this allow us to manage church attendance and update contact information, but we also hope that you feel encouraged to include any prayer requests. Our staff will be intentional and specific in praying for these requests throughout the week.
Sunday Evening Weekly Rhythms Continue:
Kidzone: Kids ages 3-5th grade are invited to meet in the Friends Center from 5:00-6:00 PM. Come have fun learning about Jesus and how to be his hands and feet serving our community.
All Church Bible Study: Also, from 5:00-6:00 PM, there is a bible study that will meet in the Coffee Café, led by Josh Bunce and Bobby Kirkpatrick. Don’t worry if you miss a Sunday, this bible study is flexible for any to attend as schedules allow.
FUSE: JH Students meet upstairs in the Friends Center from 6:00-7:00 PM to play games, have snacks, and hear about God from trusted adults.
CORE: For HS Students, CORE meets from 7:30-9:00 PM upstairs in the Friends Center to worship and praise together, play games, and hear about the word of God from fellow students and trusted adults.
Sunday School Continues:
Sunday School has started, but it is never too late to connect with a class at 9:00 AM. Children aged 3 years – 5th grade meet Tena Roher downstairs in the Friends Center. Parents should pick up their children in the Friends Center at 9:45 before heading to worship in the Sanctuary at 10:00 AM. JH and HS students meet Katelyn Sanders upstairs in the Friends Center, while the adults’ class continues to meet in the Brides Room.
Fall Potluck:
Plan to stay after the service on September 10 to enjoy a meal and fellowship at the Fall Potluck in the Coffee Café. If cooking/preparing food is not your gift, but you would still like to participate in providing for the meal, there are plenty of opportunities to help with setting up before the service and cleaning after the meal. Follow the link to sign up electronically or look for the paper sign-up in the Coffee Café.
Meet the Friends:
Meet the Friends is an informational and introductory class for anyone interested in learning about the church’s history, what it means to be a Quaker, or get to know our pastors. It is also a great way to interact with others new to the church family. The next Meet the Friends meeting will take place on September 24th in the Coffee Café after the service. Childcare is provided. We would love to see you there.
So then, with endurance, let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus…Hebrews 12:1-2