Pastor's Blog

Our thirteen readers have done well in getting the word out!  We are good to go with the exception of needing five more fruit salads.  Now, do you really want me to go to bed tonight worrying about the lack of fruit salads?  If so, so be it.  If not, I need to hear from five more folks before I retire for the night.  What time will that be?  Varies from night to night so just as long as you respond before you call it a day will be fine.

Otherwise, I will be forced to start calling names  of those who have not responded to this plea to help our senior adults.  I do not want to put folks like Katie Tillman on the spot!  Know what I am saying!

Ok, the response has been great.  Almost there.  At this point, we need no more cakes and no more sweet potato casseroles.  We need nine more fruit salads and six more folks willing to cook a turkey.

If you have already contacted Cecil Guidry and put your name on her list, do not contact me too.  (I did not realize she had a list as well. She sent me what was “left” as far as needs are concerned)  I am thinking Rita Broome & Vera Bosarge were on both lists.  Others?  If so, let me know, please.

I am about to be away from my computer for several hours.  When I return, I hope our list will be finished.

I will get with Cecil later (she is working the polls today) to make sure we have everything worked out numerically.  Thanks!

Let’s do this today!

I feel like the hosts on K-Love radio.  The response to the things needed for the community Thanksgiving meal has been pretty good this morning and I would like to complete the list by the end of the day.  Will you help?

Here is where we stand at the moment:  we need eight more cakes, eight more sweet potato casseroles, and eleven more fruit salads.  But wait, if you contact me in the next five minutes. . . .

K-Love always has those matching sponsors but that is not possible here.  However, someone has volunteered to purchase the turkeys if thirteen (we have one) folks will volunteer to cook them.  Their request is that these twelve additional folks volunteer by noon tomorrow, 11/9.  The turkeys would then be available to pick up tomorrow night through this Sunday.

Remember, we are asking folks under the age of sixty five to do all of this cooking.  At this point, I am refusing to let any of our senior adults help.

Since we only have thirteen blog readers, I need for you to get the word out to those from within the Friendship family who do not read the blog.  Call, text, e-mail, whatever and have them contact me via e-mail – tcturrentine@gmail.com.  Thank you!

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Matthew 25

Miss Mary Jackson did well through her surgery.  I do not know exactly what they did but I am told that she did well.  I will visit her later today.

As far as I know, Judy Hall did well through her surgery too.

Blow Joe Guidry had some tests done yesterday and has more to come.  No results from yesterday’s tests yet.

The results from my dad’s latest scans were good.  They showed something in the lungs that concerned the doctor but there is nothing to do at this point.  He asked dad to come back in four months and dad finally agreed to come back in six months (he was intent on not ever going back!)  So, we are thankful to the Lord!

Tim Knighten sees the doctor today.  Pray that he gets some good news regarding his situation.

Keep praying for those battling cancer.

We had four ladies e-mail me regarding the food for the community senior adults Thanksgiving meal on 11/17.  (This is actually a surprise birthday party for Rita Broome but do not tell her!  LOL!)  So, as of the morning, we need thirteen cooked turkeys; eight sweet potato casseroles; eleven fruit salads; eighteen cakes.  I am calling on all of the ladies and/or men from the 20 – 29, 30 – 39, 40 – 49 and 50 – 59 Sunday School classes to step up by tomorrow and meet these needs.  I know that our senior adult ladies will help but I really want them to be the recipients of these blessings.  E-mail me today or tomorrow or call the church office to sign up.

The “fun day” for Carla Kyser takes place this Saturday, 11/12, from Bryant High School.  Starts at 8:00AM and concludes at noon.  You do not have to stay the entire time.  So, if you are in town, consider joining this great cause.

A big shout out to the men who helped clean the church buildings yesterday.  I am not going to list any names for fear of leaving someone out but I do appreciate their help.  Maria Wainwright turned her ankle really severely last Wednesday and cannot do the cleaning right now.

Also, want to say a big “thank you” to our senior adults for filling the choir loft this past Sunday morning during our 10:30AM service – good job!  Your next call is for Sunday, 1/1/17, in our 10:30AM service which will be our only morning service that day.

Obviously, today is election day.  I encourage you to go vote.  Pray for America.

Young(er) ladies – I need to hear from you regarding the food for the community Thanksgiving meal.  Today would be nice!

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.

We will have “potluck with the pastor” this Wednesday, 11/9, immediately following the morning service.  Lisa and I will provide the roast, the bread and the drinks.  You bring the sides and desserts.  This will serve as our senior adults monthly gathering too.  Please plan to join us and bring others.

If you were present for the service last night then you know that my voice is basically gone.  It is worse today.  Based on past experience, I will not be up to conducting a meeting tomorrow.  Therefore, the meeting with potential student ministry workers set for tomorrow night, 11/8, is being rescheduled to Monday, 11/14.  Please pass the word!  Thank you!

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Matthew 24

Tuesday, November 8 – Matthew 25
Wednesday, November 9 – Matthew 26; Mark 14
Thursday, November 10 – Luke 22; John 13
Friday, November 11 – John 14-17
Saturday, November 12 – Matthew 27; Mark 15
Sunday, November 13 – Luke 23; John 18-19

Judy Hall is scheduled for surgery this morning.  They plan to remove her gall bladder.  It will be an outpatient procedure and she should come home later today.

Miss Mary Jackson is scheduled for a heart cath this morning followed by open heart surgery which will involve valve(s) repair/replacement and by pass(es).  Could be a long day for Miss Mary and her family.

Peggy & Judy Benefield had an Aunt pass away in the Meridian, MS area and the service was yesterday.  Pray for the family.

Also, Peggy’s friend, Darlene Taylor, passed from this life and there will be a memorial service this Saturday, 11/12.

Tim Knighten will see the doctor tomorrow.  I was thinking that he would have a PET scan tomorrow but that may not be the case.  He may see the doctor and then have the scan scheduled for a later date.  Regardless, pray for Tim.

David McElwee is still scheduled to have open heart surgery in Birmingham on Friday.

What a great day in our services yesterday!  Is God good or what!  He is definitely good!  A family talked to me following our 10:30AM service about joining the Friendship family in the very near future.  I believe they are very good folks.  They just recently moved into Grand Bay.

How about the evening service?  God really used Dale & Karla Bosarge (when he is Bryan Drake is she Karla Drake or does she remain Karla Bosarge?) as they did a tremendous job!  Dale clearly presented the Gospel and we had at least one more person give his life to Jesus.  Amen!

John Milton Ladnier, Jimmy Tagert & Jim Chinners did a great job cooking the meat.  (Others helped but I am not sure who that involved)  Hilda Gunter did a great job of coordinating everything.  Tons of folks helped set up and clean up.  You brought some great sides and desserts.  The fellowship was great!  The attendance was strong.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  To God be the glory!

GROW visitation tonight beginning at 6:00PM in the church office.

Prayer time tonight from 5:00 – 7:00PM in the auditorium.  Please use the West door to enter/exit.  We should have a really strong number tonight as we pray regarding tomorrow’s election.

We need some help from folks who are not senior adults.  The annual community senior adult Thanksgiving dinner takes place on Thursday, 11/17.  We need thirteen turkeys, twelve sweet potato casseroles, thirteen fruit salads and nineteen cakes.  If you are under the age of a senior adult and will help, will you contact me via e-mail or call the church office by this Thursday, 11/10?  Let’s do this for our senior adults!

The family fun day for Carla Kyser takes place this Saturday, 11/12, from 8:00AM until noon at Bryant High School.  Everyone invited.

Ok, this entry has been too long but I have to tell you this.  Nanette Brooks Fontenot has pulled out all stops! She knows my wife is out of town.  Yesterday afternoon she had her mother, Marie Brooks, call me on her behalf!  Are you serious!  Do not believe me?  Ask Marie if she called my house phone yesterday.  Folks, this is just weird.  Had I known this then I would not have dated Nanette back in the day!  Is it time for a restraining order?

I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Matthew 23; Luke 20-21

Men’s breakfast this morning beginning at 8:00AM in the fellowship hall.  All men are invited to attend.

Bus workers meet at 8:30AM and then go visiting.  Pray for them.

The wedding ceremony of Brad Morgan and Brandi Wescovich will take place this afternoon at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center 30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort, AL 36527 beginning at 3:00PM.

After I posted the update on Miss Mary Jackson yesterday afternoon, the doctor came in and made a slight change in plans.  They now plan on doing the heart cath on Monday morning and then going into open heart surgery around 11:00AM.

Tim Knighten’s PET scan should take place on Tuesday.

Keep praying for those battling cancer – Becky Sellers has had some tough days, Carla Kyser continues to have some difficulties breathing when she exerts herself, Lisa Thompson is in pain, and Courtney Hubbard continues to have blood pressure issues.  This list is not exhaustive but it does give updates on those I have heard from in recent days.

David McElwee’s surgery is scheduled for Friday morning in Birmingham.

I assume Nadine’s mother should get the results of her scan early this next week.  I do know that my dad is scheduled to get his scan results Monday morning.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning.  Asking our senior adults to fill the choir loft for the 10:30AM service.  We will have two special messages in song during that service.  One by Adrianna Arriola and the other will be someone who has never sang for the Friendship family.

Our evening worship service will take place in the CAB and will feature a fellowship meal.  The church is furnishing the meats (pulled pork, brisket, tube steaks and burgers) and drinks.  You are asked to bring potato salad, baked beans and cole slaw.  Please bring enough for your family plus two.  Who knows?  Maybe we will see more folks saved in this service.  If so, we may just move all of our evening services to the CAB!

Tomorrow is the deadline to “adopt” a child from the angel tree.  Glenda Chinners is the point person for this ministry opportunity.

The run to benefit Carla Kyser takes place next Saturday, 11/12, at Bryant High School.

My computer is dying!  I have had problems for the past several days.  It comes and goes.  It has served me well but the time has come for a new one which I hope to purchase at some point this week.  So, if there is no blog entry early next week know that I am in the process of burying one computer and waiting on a new one.

Lisa, her mom, Deidra, Daphne and Lisa’s sister, Kim, had all headed to the mountains for a few days.  I love the mountains but why would anyone choose to go to Tennessee?  At any rate, Lisa left me to take care of Dana & Gina and I simply said, “girls, fend for yourselves!”  I will make the bed up on Tuesday, pour a little Fabuloso in the sink and let it stand and Lisa will never know the difference because it will “smell” clean!

I pray that you will have a great Saturday with Jesus.

Mary Jackson was admitted to the hospital today.  They will do a heart cath on Monday and it “appears” they will do open heart surgery on Tuesday.  Pray for Miss Mary as she is somewhat concerned.  Pray for her family too.

Somehow, some way I wrote about David McElwee’s situation this morning but then must have mistakenly erased it.  David will be having open heart surgery next Friday morning, 11/11.  Pray for David, Sandra and the family.  They are very grateful to those who have contacted them already assuring them of their prayer support.

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Matthew 22; Mark 12

Miss Mary Jackson will have a heart cath at some point this morning.  Pray that all goes well.  I am praying that surgery can be avoided.

Nadine Holifield’s mother will have a PET scan today.  Ditto for my dad.

Tom Thornton seems to be doing very well following his hip replacement surgery.  He is thinking that he will come tomorrow.

Men’s breakfast in the morning beginning at 8:00AM.  Fellowship hall.  All men invited.

Bus workers’ meet in the morning beginning at 8:30AM.  They meet in the old auditorium.  Pray for this ministry.

Regular schedule on Sunday morning.  I am asking our senior adults to fill the choir loft for our 10:30AM service.

Church wide fellowship meal on Sunday evening from 5:00 – 7:00PM.  This will also be our evening worship time with a special speaker.  The church is furnishing the meat and drinks.  You bring the sides and the desserts.  Come join us for this special time of fellowship and worship.

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.