Friends,

Ad Council met Monday and decided our new Sunday morning schedule beginning June 7^th. Drive-in service at 9, adult Sunday School classes at 10, and an inside the sanctuary service at 11. We will provide more details in upcoming communications. For the next 3 Sundays our schedule is the same, the Drive-in service at 10:30.

Pastor Ed

Friends,

Happy Belated Mother’s Day! I hope you moms had a great day yesterday and didn’t have to cook since all sit down restaurants were closed.

Ad Council is meeting tonight to discuss the details of re-opening. Would you pray that we’d have wisdom? If you have input, email me today, especially parents of children. I would like to know how you feel about your children being in Sunday School or Junior Church. We will keep you informed.

As restrictions are lifting, has the Lord been speaking about giving of yourself with real life situations? Circlesashland.org is an effective ministry to families committed to walking out of the cycle of poverty. Current volunteer needs are tutoring for school age children, allies for families, and to cook a meal once a week. Contact coach@circlesashland.org

I will be preaching on the fruit of the Spirit Sunday, this time on patience, the one we all need! James Merritt’s teaching on Tasty on RightNow Media is excellent. He says every time you get impatient you are really being impatient with God because God caused the problem or allowed it. And, it is great to wait knowing God is never late.

1. Problems will try your patience
2. People will test your patience
3. Persistence will toughen your patience.

I pray you have a blessed week walking closely with your God.

Pastor Ed

Friends,

               Times like this demand we seek the Lord as for how He’d want us to reach out and seize this moment for the kingdom.

               How many of you have friendly relationships with your neighbors? It’s friendly, but doesn’t go deeper. They think you’re nice (and you are), but do they know you’re a Christian?

               God has raised up a local ministry tool called “For Richmond.” They are partnering with area churches for anyone to reach out to his or her neighbor with the love of Christ.

               There are 3 levels of involvement:

1. Bronze. You sign up to pray for your street.
2. Silver. You sign up to pray and send an email or postcard. They give you a sample mail and free postcards.
3. Gold. You sign up, identifying your church and you will have access to outreach resources.

               I encourage you to pray about this idea to reach out. Sign up is easy. Just click on this link. Love Your Neighbor

               Let’s not miss out on this ordained time.

               I hope you are viewing/listening to my sermon on our website if you are not able to attend the Drive-In service. April 26th Sermon I also hope you are accessing the RightNow Media parallel study called Tasty by James Merritt. This week’s lesson and sermon is on the third Fruit of the Spirit, peace. James Merritt uses Philippians 4:4-7. He mentions several peace robbers: pressures, problems, people. He discusses a peace that’s real, practical and helpful. This line is a take away for me, “When you truly give God your worries, He totally gives you His peace.”

Pastor Ed

Friends,

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I enjoyed seeing you all at the Drive-In service. We plan to keep doing them until we are back inside. A hard rain could cause us to have to cancel. We are recording the service and if you weren’t there you can watch it (here).

Cathy and I are doing a Facebook Live Chat on our church’s Facebook page. You don’t have to have a Facebook account to watch. Just search Hanover Evangelical Friends Church Facebook and you’ll find it. It is also on our church’s webpage later. (Last Wednesday’s chat)

Several of us are doing a Zoom prayer time Sunday morning at 8:30. If you would like to be a part of that contact the church office or Cathy directly.

Did you watch the “Tasty” video on RightNow Media on love? Check that out. The one for this week is on Joy. Email me if you’d like to dialogue on that or the sermon. Here are a few points to consider. Once I choose Christ, I can always choose joy.

1. Decide to be joyful
2. Desire to be joyful
3. Determine to be joyful

Thank you for your continuous generous giving to the Lord and His church through these hard times. It is a part of our worship to return our tithes to God.

Pastor Ed

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