Friends,

I loved our drive-In service on Sunday! I’d like you to read what Donn Irvin wrote:

“To Pastor, praise team, ushers, and all those that park the cars and made our awesome open air church service.

Also to all my brothers and sisters who were there today.

It was amazing. Thank you all so very very much for all that you did to make this happen.

Yes, very different but in the beginning it was open air meetings and a good reminder that the building is not where God dwells but God dwells within all believers, so therefore; the Holy Spirit was very present today even though we each sat in our own car. His presence was there because he lives inside of each one of us individually. So wherever you and I are, there the spirit of God is.

So, if we came today and didn’t feel the spirit moving and working then it’s time for us each individually to check our lives because the Holy Spirit was present but it’s up to us with whom he dwells to let him have full reign and move.

Don’t know about the rest of my brothers and sisters, but what I do know for me HE was there and he had full reign and I am forever grateful for everyone that did the hard work to give us this opportunity today to come together corporately and to praise and worship God together, to listen to the word of God be preached, and then the icing on the cake, to take communion together.

Yes He is alive

Yes He has risen

Yes He is seated at the right hand of the father

Yes we are the temple of God and he dwells within us.

Yes this world is not our home

Yes we are seated with Him in the heavenlies

Yes It is finished

Yes He is coming for his bride

Yes He is coming again to save his chosen people and to rule and reign on the throne of David

Yes His bride will come with Him in our glorified bodies.

Amen Amen Amen

Love you all”

Let’s do it again this Sunday at 10:30.

Sunday’s service is on our website (https://www.friendlychurch.org/sermons/resurrecting-broken-worlds/) and Facebook page if you weren’t able to attend Sunday, as well as the Wednesday chats.

This week I am beginning a new sermon series based on the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. The sermon series will be paired with a RightNow Media teaching called, “Tasty” by Pastor James Merritt. I encourage you to watch that this week and ask yourself:

1. Am I motivated by love? (1 Cor. 13:1-3)
2. Am I marked by love? (1 Cor. 13:4-6)
3. Am I mastered by love? (1 Cor. 13:7-8)

The first sermon is on Love, “Keep Love Alive.”

I asked Jo Twigg and Jim Trusty to provide testimonials as to how they are using RightNow Media to enhance their walks with Christ. Listen to what they say:

Jim Trusty says, “RightNow Media is the ultimate shopping place for personal Bible study because of the amount of resources it has. It totally channels my thinking on a daily basis. I can access it anywhere, anytime and when I’m on-the-go I can even listen through my bluetooth. When something has been heavy on my heart, I go to it and search topically to learn more. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” and the more you pour the Word into you, the easier it is to be prepared to give an account for the hope that I have as it tells us in 1 Pet 3:15. This has been a great tool to continue pouring the Word in me in between church services. I’m always learning something so I can “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18.”

Jo Twigg says, “Here is the testimony from our Life Group…

When Right Now Media was first introduced to our congregation, I considered it just a source of information should I need it…after scanning through the content, I knew that I had other resources which were more helpful to me as a Children’s Director for a large bible study group.  I maybe would scroll through the children’s resources at times and actually was not super impressed.  In March of this year before covid-19 restrictions, I again browsed through the children’s resources and this time, discovered so many new options of resources offered.  I kept searching and searching and…for such a time as this…discovered a wealth of faith-growing options…not only for children, but for our young millennials and for our Life Group.   Our Life Group began a study in Revelation last week (we have Zoom meetings) and we are currently using David Platt’s video and notes as a point of reference for our bible reading which we can project on-screen in our zoom meetings.  Carl and I have also downloaded RightNow Media on our Smart TV to view and also search through Right Now Media’s many options of study which is totally awesome when you can view it on big screen.  I have also further enhanced my quiet time with Right Now Media’s many options even as I do my exercises.  We have encouraged our Life Group members to take advantage of this resource for their whole family and have received very positive comments.”

Jesus is risen from the dead today! And tomorrow! And the next day! We live by His resurrection power (Ephesians 1:19-20). Have a good and safe week. See you Sunday for the Drive-in service!

Pastor Ed

Friends,

You are sitting at home, right? Feeling a bit bored? Instead of watching the news on TV or playing another video game, watch a Christian video on RightNow Media and build yourself up in your faith!

You received in an email a “how to” to get connected to RightNow Media. If you have any questions about this, call Lisa in the church office (730-9512) and she will assist you.

I will be asking every church member/attender who is online to join together in doing a RightNow Media study called “Tasty” by James Merritt. I will be doing an online preaching series on the Fruit of the Spirit beginning April 19^th, which will pair with the RNM study. We will immerse ourselves in the work of the Holy Spirit through these character traits!

Have you listened/watched the past two sermons on our website? If you haven’t, please do so. There is strong encouragement in God’s Word for how you can deal with what is happening in our world. I will be preaching on the Miracles of Palm Sunday this Sunday. We are planning a Drive-In service for Easter at our church in our cars. Stay tuned for details!

I am chatting on Facebook Live Wednesdays at 7pm. View replaces at our live stream page. You can find that video chat and much more on our website, friendlychurch.org.

I miss seeing and being with you. God will help us get through this as we keep our eyes on Him. Technology exists to help us spiritually, like RightNow Media. Take advantage of these tools so you stay sharp spiritually.

Friends,

I trust you are doing well today. God is still on the throne and He is with you. Give Him your loneliness, worry, temptations and discouragement. Are you tuned in to Him through the Scriptures and prayer?

I hope you’ve listened to my sermon which is up on our website. It not, I encourage you to do so. As always, they will be on there. This Sunday we may try to do it “live” either on Facebook Live or Youtube Live or another platform. At the very least, the sermon will be available in audio form on the website.

I plan to have a 5-10 minute chat on Facebook Live this Wednesday at 7 PM, if I get it up and running. That is something I would like to do until things get back to “normal.” (A new normal).

For info on the coronavirus, consult the CDC website. On the Drudge Report, there is a “sick map” of up to the minute states worldwide. By all means, follow best practice safety measures if you need to be out and about.

There are no church ministries happening this week except food ministry. We will access the situation next week and determine what we can do together if anything. To clarify, we won’t be meeting for church this Sunday.

Psalm 38:11 – “My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds (Virus): My neighbors stay far away.” (6-foot safe space) Who says the Bible isn’t relevant? The Pharisees chided the Disciples for not washing their hands. Come on guys, wash those hands!

Pastor Ed

Friends,

On Saturday you will receive an email from Lisa which is the pastoral renewal survey. Click on the link that says congregation. You will be asked to fill in the church name and if you are a member or regular attender. There are 5 questions. Click the answer you feel best answers the question. After the questions is a comment box. Write all you want as the box will expand. This is optional, as is your contact information. Then click submit and you are finished! I will complete a separate survey as will our elders and staff. We have from Sunday March 1^st through Sunday March 8^th to complete the surveys. A written survey is available for non-computer users. You can also come in to the church during business hours and Lisa will help you fill it out.

We had a baptismal service Sunday after church at Compass Christian Church just down the street. Three children were baptized: William Meadors and Ivy and Kai Trusty. Congratulate these children on their commitment to follow Christ.

Pastor Ed

Friends,

My 3-year call to be the pastor at Hanover Evangelical Friends Church ends June 30, 2020. I feel led to continue as pastor. Cathy and I love you all and feel the desire to be with you doing the Lord’s work. So, my call needs to be renewed.

In the past, unless the pastor had tenure, the congregation would meet in March and vote whether to extend the call or not. There is a new process, and you will be one of the earliest congregations to do it.

From March 1^st through March 8^th you will be able to click on a link from an email you will be sent by our Church Secretary, Lisa Workman, on February 29th. The survey is super easy to complete, just 5 questions. You need to be a member or regular attender to fill it out and you will be prompted to respond to that question. Questions ask you to respond on a scale ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. There is a box for comments which is optional. It is also optional if you want to include personal information.

I have a survey to complete, as does the staff and elders. Each of those surveys are slightly different but very similar. After March 8^th, the time to complete the survey will end. The Church Health Team Director, Ed Walsh, will tabulate the results and give a written report to me and the elders. We will inform you from there. The call is now 4 years.

If you don’t have a computer, you can stop by the church Monday – Thursday 9-3 or Friday 9-2, and Lisa will help you fill it out. You also can do it while you are at church on either Sunday the 1^st or 8^th. Someone will be at the church computer to help you. Another option is to fill out a copy of the survey by pen and Lisa will put it online for you.

I will be explaining the process Sunday night, the 23^rd at 5 PM at the Town Hall/Congregational business meeting. I hope you all will come as we will also be discussing possibly selling some unused land to pay off church debt.

Pastor Ed

Friends,

In my sermon I mentioned a quote by William Barclay on Roman adoption. I think Paul had this in mind in describing God the Father’s adopting of us. Let me quote Barclay here for you to consider.

There were 4 parts of the adoption process.

1. The adopted person lost all rights in his old family and gained all rights of a legitimate son in his new family. In the most binding legal way, he got a new father.
2. It followed that he became heir to his new father’s estate. Even if other sons were afterwards born, it did not affect his rights. He was inalienably co-heir with them.
3. In law, the old life of the adopted person was completely wiped out; for instance, all debts were cancelled. He was regarded as a new person entering into a new life with which the past had nothing to do.
4. In the eyes of the law he was absolutely the son of his new father.

The adoption ceremony was carried out in the presence of seven witnesses. If someone in the future disputed the inheritance, and the father had died, one of the witnesses would confirm the adoption. It is the Holy Spirit who confirms God is our new Father!

Barclay says, “Once we were in the absolute control of our own sinful nature; but God, in his mercy, has brought us into his absolute possession. The old life has no more rights over us; God has an absolute right. The past is cancelled and it’s debts wiped out; we begin a new life with God and become heirs of all his riches.”

Pastor Ed