Pastor's Blog

Phyllis Butler Michalski, born on November 26, 1958, passed away on Friday July 30, 2021. She was born in Norwich, Connecticut and resided in Grand Bay, Alabama. She was preceded in death by her father Maurice Butler, mother Elsie Greenman Butler and sister Ila Jean. She is survived by her husband Robert Michalski of 38 years, children Kim Wood (Shawn) Molaison, Tammy Snyder, Marci Ann (Lenny) Silva, grandchildren Victoria (Bill) Page, William (Gracie) Page, Twylia Wood, Austin (Brianna) Verrett, Troy (Taylor) Verrett, Alexis Verrett and several step grandchildren, great grandchildren Christian Page, Cameron Sprinkle, Brooklyn and Braxton Verrett, siblings Karen (Chris) Blanchette, Maureen (Bill) Arbo, Joe Butler, Arlo (Dianna) Butler, nieces, nephews and many friends which were family to her also. She was a big hearted lady with so much love for her family, friends, and her fur babies. She enjoyed time with family and friends and going to eat at Time To Eat restaurant. She loved working in her yard, collecting candles, elephants, frogs and brass figures. She also loved to cook, bake, and barbeque for everyone. No one could leave her house hungry. Funeral service will be held from the chapel of Serenity Funeral Home on Monday August 2, 2021 at 11AM. Visitation will be from 10AM until service time. Interment will be in Serenity Memorial Gardens.

Pray for Phyllis’ family during their time of loss.

The following comes from Elizabeth Westbrook:

This is what we still need for our school supplies – due no later than Wednesday!

51 packs of pencils
46 scissors
43 spiral notebooks
20 folders
16 packs of markers
35 packs dry erase markers

Lee Sessions remains at the top of our prayer list.  He is in ICU and will be there for a couple of days before moving to a regular room for several more days.  He will then be on IV at home for six weeks.  Keep praying for Lee, Elizabeth & family.

Katie Tillman’s parents are “better” but still have a ways to go.  Keep praying.

I spoke to Miss Vinnie yesterday afternoon and she said her son, Buddy, is doing good.  He has a couple of tests this coming week.  Keep praying!

Aninha Barrett’s nephew was taken to the emergency room with chest pains yesterday.  This is the same nephew whom we prayed for on Wednesday night because of his diabetes.  Keep praying!

I have not heard from Sam Schjott since yesterday.  Pray for Sam!

I learned last night of several folks in the South Mobile County area who are presently battling the virus.  As far as I know, we have one family from within the Friendship family who are in that number.  Pray for all of these folks.

Bro. Abel and crew left this morning at 3:00AM heading to Six Flags Over Georgia.  Pray for traveling mercies.

I appreciate all of the senior adults who emailed their intentions of going to Loaves and Fishes this coming Thursday, August 5.  The bus leaves at 10:15AM sharp.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

Deacons meeting tomorrow afternoon at 4:00PM.

Discussion meeting about the land purchase begins at 5:00PM tomorrow in the auditorium.

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

“FYI, I’m at the ER with Covid. I sat at urgent care for 3 hours this morning and tried to get the antibody infusion but it was one cluster after another. Then when they finally went to do it, my 02 sats had fallen and they wouldn’t do it. They sent me straight to the ER. They put me on oxygen and just did a chest X-ray. Doc says they will probably admit me. I’ll try to keep everyone posted. Please pray!”  (From Sam Schjott)

“Lee is in recovery right now and did well in the surgery. His aortic valve was replaced due to infection which we think came from E. Coli that he contracted while on-the-road. This infection wreaked havoc in his body by causing excruciating back pain and partial paralysis in his legs, vertigo, and fever. He also burned himself with the heating pad on his back and had blisters that got infected. After the 5th ER visit and 4 Dr. visits by then he had developed a heart murmur and was admitted. He will be in ICU for a couple of days then a regular room for a while. When he comes home he will be on IV antibiotics for 6 weeks. He has a long row to hoe but God’s got this and we have realized we might better slow down a bit. Take care, Elizabeth”

Lisa’s parents, Charles & Ann Clark, are celebrating their sixty fourth wedding anniversary today, 7/30/21.  Happy anniversary to Charles & Ann!

Lee Sessions is scheduled to have heart valve replacement surgery this morning.  Plans are for him to be in ICU for a couple of days followed by four or five days in the hospital.  He will then be on IV at home for six weeks as he battles infection.  Elizabeth will be allowed to see Lee for a few minutes prior to surgery.  Pray for Lee, the surgeon and the rest of Lee’s family.

Katie Tillman’s parents both have the virus and her dad is in the hospital.  Her mother had an infusion on Wednesday.  Her dad has the infusion a few days ago but it did not work.  He now has pneumonia and is on oxygen.  Her mother is home alone.  Pray for Scott & Diane!

Keep praying for Miss Willie Roberts.  Such a sweet lady.

Also, continue to pray for Miss Vinnie’s son, Buddy Brewer.

Keith & Aninha Barrett are traveling over the next two days.  They began their travels yesterday.  Pray for them to have safety.  Why are they traveling?  Helping others.  What a great couple!

Senior adults, we are on for lunch at Loaves & Fishes Restaurant in Tanner Williams next Thursday, August 5.  We will take the travel bus and will leave the church campus at 10:15AM.  This is a free lunch!  Sign up this Sunday or, better yet, send me an email at pastor@friendshipfamily.net to sign up.  That is the best way and it can be done right now!

Friendship family, there will be a meeting this Sunday, August 1, beginning at 5:00PM to discuss the possible purchase of around twenty acres of land which adjoins our existing almost twenty acres.  We will then vote during the 6:00PM service with no further discussion.

Our deacons will meet this Sunday, 8/1, beginning at 4:00PM.

The “midnight express” leaves tomorrow (Saturday) at 3:00AM and is set to return around 11:00PM.  Oh my!  Pray for Bro. Abel and those going with him.  Oh to be young again!  (Not really)

I had the privilege of speaking via the phone to Missionary Mark Mast last night.  Pastor Mark is as good as they come!  What a great guy and what a great friend.  I am proud that we have him and his ministry in our church budget.

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.  (Entry posted before 5:15AM just for Celeste!)

Good morning from blog central.  Trying feverishly to beat the 5:15AM publication time set by the lovely Elizabeth Westbrook!

On a very serious note regarding prayer needs – Lee Sessions has been in the hospital since Monday after several trips to the emergency room in the days prior to Monday.  His physical condition has deteriorated and he is most likely facing heart valve replacement surgery.  Lot of stuff going on in his life.  Pray for Lee, Elizabeth and the family.  Pray diligently!

Keep praying for Buddy Brewer.  Pray for Miss Vinnie.  Miss Vinnie is simply one of the best followers of Jesus that I have ever known.  I put her in the class of Miss Kathryn Edwards and Miss Mary Sue Thompson which know one at Friendship, with the exception of Sonny Bates, understands but believe me when I say that is a very, very good class!

Good attendance in yesterday morning’s service.  Not nearly as good in the evening.  However, the spirit in both services was excellent.

There will be a meeting to discuss the proposed land purchase this Sunday afternoon at 4:00PM in the church auditorium.  Larry Whitehurst is the point man on this matter.

Senior adults, a final determination will be made today as to our “field trip” for next Thursday, August 5.  Stay tuned!

Elizabeth Westbrook shared some news with me yesterday that stunned me!  Oh my!  (Triplets, really?)

It is 5:15AM.  Hope you have a great Thursday with Jesus.

I am amazed that it is already July 28, 2021!  I may get the Christmas decorations from the attic today as tomorrow will be Christmas Day.  (Actually I do not do Christmas decorations, Lisa does, but it sounds good!)

Regular schedule on our campus this morning (10:00AM) and evening (6:30PM).

No new updates on the folks I listed yesterday as needing our prayer support.  Keep praying!

Ok, let me be honest.  I went a week or so without any blog entries.  Why?  Two words – Elizabeth Westbrook!  What?  As I remember it, she told me that if I cannot have an entry posted by 5:15AM then just not to post anything at all.  Well, Guatemala is an hour behind Alabama so that meant having it posted by 4:15AM which meant being up by 3:30AM.  Could not do that every day so I just followed Elizabeth’s mandate.  Now you know the “rest of the story” and I feel much better!

Rex Looney celebrated yesterday’s blog entry by having lunch at Big Bob’s in Decatur!  Are you serious?

There are two things that Dr. Rex does not know.  First, Brad & Daphne were in North Alabama over the weekend and they brought me sandwiches from Southern Hickory BBQ.  Best bbq sandwiches ever!  I prefer them over Big Bob’s!

Second, Jennifer Davis cooked chicken and dumplings yesterday and I was the recipient of some of those – oh my!  I do like bbq but if had to choose a last meal between bbq and Jennifer’s dumplings then the dumplings win hands down.  (Please do not tell her this as I do not even like her.  I do like Pastor Shirlon!).

To my Yankee friends – I sent you guys an invitation and asked for a rsvp.  Some far it has basically been crickets!  For weeks you have blown my email up and now you go silent!  Typical Yankees!  LOL!

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

Happy birthday to my sister-in-law, Sue!  How old?  Yes!  I am very thankful to the Lord for Sue as she is an excellent daughter-in-law to my mama.  No one could be any better than Sue has been/is to mama.  Thank you Sue!  I hope her birthday is the best!

A blog entry from me?  Are you serious!  I am!  Where have I been?  Exactly!

Miss Willie Roberts has been in the hospital for the past few days.  I spoke to her son Sunday night and she is improving.  Pray for Miss Willie.

Miss Vinnie’s son, Buddy, is waiting on a PET scan so the doctors can determine which direction to take in treating him.  Keep praying for Buddy, Miss Vinnie and the family.

Aninha Barrett’s nephew is a diabetic and recently had surgery on his foot.  The situation is more dire than originally thought.  Pray for Aninha’s nephew.

Katie Tillman’s family has been hoeing a tough row in recent days.  Pray for them!

As far as I know, we have nine folks in the Friendship family who have been battling the virus recently.  No one was hospitalized but one had to have an infusion.  Pray for these folks that each of them will make a quick and complete recovery.  If my numbers are correct, we have now had sixty seven folks within the Friendship family who have had the virus at some point since March of 2020.  Of that number, one was in the hospital when diagnosed and one other had to be admitted to the hospital due to breathing issues.  Three or four folks had to have the infusion.  So, we have been blessed.

How did the mission trip go?  Glad you asked.  A total of thirteen houses were built, around forty widows were treated to a meal at the mission house and received a bag of food, three or four food distributions took place, the children/young people in our feeding center were provided with two hot meals per day, relationships were built, relationships were renewed, a pulpit was built as was a chicken coop, et cetera.  God proved Himself faithful!

We are on a regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.

Bro. Abel will take the “midnight express” to Six Flags over Georgia this Saturday, 7/31.  Pray for him and the forty folks going with him – bless them!

We will hear from the ad hoc committee regarding the land purchase this Sunday, 8/1.  As I understand it, the church will be asked to take action.  Make this a matter of prayer, please.

Senior adults, keep Thursday, August 12, open.  Details coming!

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