Know Christ, Grow in Christ, Go with Christ

Friendship United Methodist Church is more than a church – we are a family!

Friendship is a loving, friendly group of people striving to be a beacon in our community.

We are Christians growing in faith who seek to lead others into a relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

We are friends, family and neighbors reaching out in ministry to those around us. We are willing to cry together and laugh together.

At Friendship, you will find people who are committed to God and willing to serve Him and follow wherever He leads.

GET INVOLVED AT FRIENDSHIP UMC

OUTREACH

House of Agape

Prepare and serve meals

Offer encouragement

Lead in devotions

Bethel Warming Center

Provide supplies

Prepare and serve meals

Knitwits

Project Hope

Hope House assists more than 30 families each day. They provide help with food, medical and utility expenses. How can we help?

Gather supplies

Volunteer

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Meets at 9:45

Classes available for:

Children

Youth

Adults:

Fellowship Class

Genesis Class

Discovery Class – 9:30 in Fellowship Hall

MUSIC MINISTRY

Choir Practice

Wednesday evening 7:00PM

Music Room

email Pam @ pamelabth@live.com

with any questions regarding this ministry

BIBLE STUDY

Deeper Still

First & Third Tuesday @ 10:30AM

Fellowship Hall

Children’s Church

EVENTS

CLANG BUCKETS

Since 1896 Epworth has been a place for children to grow, learn and be loved. Epworth’s goal is to break the destructive cycle of abuse, neglect,and shame to be replaced with an opportunity for each child to live a life of self–respect, responsibility, and productivity. There is the residential care program that you are most familiar with. But they were able to open another step when they purchased more buildings to serve post High School young adults from ages 18–23. Two years ago, they were able to open two buildings to a Foster Care Program to recruit and license qualified foster families for children ages 0–21. The families receive the training and resources needed to provide the same level of transformational care in the cottages. And here is the even better news in April a new hub will be open in Greenville. The Family Care Center is a unique program for mothers with substance abuse difficulties and their children. They live together

while the mom receives addiction treatment. They receive help with parenting skills while providing care for the children and nurturing family bond. And now and even brand–new Center for Counseling providing counseling to children, youth, their families, and adults. We are welcome for coming to tour, to help with monthly birthday parties for the cottages and of course financial gifts. Eighty percent of the money needed to operate comes from churches and folks like us. So, thank you so much for putting into the clang buckets! children are collecting loose change and dollar bills after the children’s sermon.
We collected $102.00 for Epworth Children’s Home for the month of January.
The next clang bucket will be the third Sunday (February 19).
Thank you so much for all you do!

CHOIR

Absolutely no prior experience with music is required; just bring a positive attitude and a willingness to try something new, please
don’t be worried about your musical background! All people with a desire to praise and worship God through music are welcome.
Practice is held Wednesday from 7pm-8pm in the music room.
Please contact Pam at pamelabth@live.com or 803.517.2425 if you have any questions.

MERCY HOUSE

Mercy House opened its doors recently and welcomed a gentleman with end-stage cancer.
He was there for a week before the Lord called him home. It is anticipated that several more individuals will need the
end of life care Mercy House can provide in the next few days. They are desperately in need of volunteers to assist in this ministry. If you
are available or know someone who can volunteer, please contact Donna Williams at 803-984-2734 or Mary Newlin at 803-493-5395.

News from Building Improvement Team

The gathering area created by opening walls from the Duckworth classroom has been completed. The area has new floors, new paint,
the beverage area, new microwave and fridge, as well as new furniture and wall-mounted TV screen. Stop by as you enter the church and
make a cup of coffee and sit and chat with friends. This area also can be used for small group meetings and gatherings.
Construction has begun on a new fellowship hall bathroom. Next, will be modifications to the 2 main level bathrooms. When this project is complete, we will have handicap accessible bathrooms on both levels of the church.

House of Agape

Friendship provides approximately 50 meals the third Thursday of each
month to the meal ministry at House of Agape. To-go boxes are prepared at
Friendship and delivered to the House of Agape for distribution. This ministry not only blesses the recipients, but also all who serve in
some way to make this outreach possible.

Lay Servant Ministry Update

We have as the Rock Hill District Committee of Lay Servant Ministry met and solidified April 29 and 30 at
Cornerstone in Rock Hill, Trinity in York, and St. John’s in Fort Mill.
We are not set for registration yet. When all the leaders are in place, registration will be published online.
More classes will be offered that were not offered previously. We are hoping that a great many of the classes will be
available virtually. Save the date and stay tuned for further details.
Please see Lynne Tyner for questions.

Blessing Box items needed

Peanut butter and meats or stews (dumplings, spaghetti, etc.).
Thank you so much for your donations to this very worthwhile cause!

The Way Forward

Dear Friendship Family,
First, thank you for the way you live out Friendship’s mission to grow together in Christ and go with Christ
wherever He calls us to make disciples. We are the Body of Christ for each other, our community and the world.
You are such a blessing to our Heavenly Father and it brings to mind Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:14,
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill that can’t be hidden.”
Thank you for shining Christ’s light so beautifully.
We are asking you to spend the next 40 Days prayerfully considering our future ministry together in response to the division happening in the greater United Methodist denomination. You might be familiar with what’s happening, but if not, your church is working to provide you
the information we need to make informed decisions. The bottom line is, the time has come when we as a church congregation must evaluate our denominational affiliation pathway based on our core values and theological beliefs.
Through a discernment process we will decide whether we’re to remain in connection with the UMC,
affiliate with a different Methodist denomination, or become independent.
For this reason, your Church Council asks that you join us in this 40-day journey of prayer for God’s guidance,
a study of options and the development of next steps.
A “40 Days of Prayer” resource will provided via email and printed copies will also be available in the Narthex.
It can also be accessed by clicking this link.
40_day_prayer

Let’s begin this time of prayer this Sunday, February 5th.
Thank you so very much.
In Christ,
Pastor Karen and your Finance/Administrative Council Leaders

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Karen Starr

Pastor

A Columbia native, Rev. Karen Starr is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Duke University. In addition, she received training as a hospital chaplain and counselor through the Clinical Pastoral Education Residency program at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Her continuing educational efforts have been focused on the areas of preaching, prayer, and evangelism, and she has attended preaching clinics by Dr. William Willimon, prayer workshops by Terry Tekyl, and four Billy Graham Schools of Evangelism for clergy. She has been a consultant in the development of literature for children and youth; a certified EMT; a Board member of various communities’ Councils on Aging; an active Lions Club member; a volunteer at the “Visiting Vietnam Wall”; a rescue dog owner; a horseback rider; a spectator at events involving children from her congregations; and an avid reader.
ers.”

Pam Chapman

Music Director

I grew up in the Friendship Community, and consider Friendship part of my family. My desire is to help those with gifts in music find place of service at Friendship. What drives me in ministry is the opportunity to help others become contributors in music ministry. Things that bring joy to my heart include: leading and seeing others come to Christ, seeing others use their gifts in ministry, and watching people become worshipers of God through their personal worship times and through lifestyles of worship. I came to know the Lord as Savior at the age of eight in my home. At twenty I came to a personal understanding of Jesus Christ and understood grace. My desire in ministry is to serve the Lord in the local church. I desire to use my gifts to help the church become a place where the music is another way of understanding truths of the scripture and an avenue where the people gathered at the church can worship God in one accord.

Peggy Frese

Secretary

I was born in West Virginia and moved to

South Carolina when I was four years old.

I graduated from Rock Hill High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Winthrop University in Business Administration with emphasis in finance and a minor in mathematics. I married my wonderful husband, Dale, in 2001.

I have two married children, six grandchildren, and am “critter-momma” to two large breed dogs. After working in the telecommunications industry for many years, I retired in 2004 to be

a “nanny” to my middle granddaughter.

I began working at Friendship in May 2009.

In addition, I am a freelance literary editor working primarily for a publishing house based in Queensland, Australia. Being a United Methodist made the transition into the secretarial role easy. I love my “Friendship” family and feel blessed to serve this church.