Week of April 21st, 2024
Please join us this Sunday
As Pastor Jenny Continues her Sermon Series, “In the Fire: The Book of Daniel“
Text: Daniel 3
      If you have any Prayer Requests, Praises, or Updates you'd like added to the newsletter, please email us at officemanager@friendlystreetchurch.org
so we can add them. Or you can call the church phone 541.345.6553 to contact staff.  
  Thank you!

Small Group: Weekly on Wednesdays at 10 am: in the Church Library. They are continuing their study of the Psalms.
One Hope Community Worship and Prayer: Sunday, May 5th at 6 pm, at First Baptist Church
Week of Prayer: Sponsored by One Hope, May 6th - 10th-- More information below
Mother's Day Slide Show: Please send your favorite photo of your mother/ grandmother/ mother figure to Hannah. She'll be preparing a special slide show to commemorate our mothers.
Welcome Summer Meal: Sunday, June 2nd. Laurie K. is coordinating plans.
Men's Breakfast: Saturday, May 4th
Corporate Communion: Sunday, May 5th
One Church One Day: Sunday, May 12th is Our day to pray for 24 hours.
Game Night: Tuesday, May 21st. Theme TBD
Save the Dates:
FAN Picnic (Root Beer Float Giveaway): July, Date TBD
Preacher Swap Sundays: returning this August.
One Hope (Backpack Giveaway): August 24 & 25th.
Women's Retreat: Sept 20th - 22nd at Camp WhiteBranch. Pastor Jenny is speaking. More details to come.

My puggle, Jasmine had her teeth cleaned on Monday. Teeth cleaning for a dog is a little more complicated than a human dental appointment. They have to sedate the dog, which means no food or drink beforehand. There can also be an increased risk for the dog.
I dropped Jasmine off at the vet at 7:45 am and waited to hear back from the vet. I go the call at 4:30 that she was waking up and I was able to pick her up at 5 pm. The vet handling surgery that day— because of the anesthesia, doggy dental cleanings count as surgeries— looks at the list of surgeries for the day, once all the animals have arrived, and then arranges their schedule accordingly. They like to get the simple and routine surgeries done first and save the more complicated ones for later in the day. They don’t know how difficult a dental cleaning will be until after the dog is sedated, when they can look at X-rays and such.
All of that means that I spent most of Monday feeling mildly worried about Jasmine. I knew she was in good hands, and I knew I wouldn’t hear back until the afternoon. But the later it got, the more worried I got. If I hadn’t had trust in the veterinarian, or if I hadn’t known that Jasmine’s procedure would be later in the day, I would have been very stressed out. In the end, I got my dog home safely, and cuddled with her all evening, for my comfort as much as hers.
My faith life is very similar, now that I think about it. I trust Jesus, who died for my sins, and I have faith that God has a plan for my life. From reading the Bible and listening to gifted pastors, I know that God is in control, and His perfect timing will bring His plans to fruition at just the right time. I might be a little worried about how things will work out, but I still know that He will take care of me, no matter what.
If I didn’t have that foundation of faith, I’d be like a pet owner, worrying about her dog with no idea when she might hear back from the vet. Just imagining that stresses me out.
Psalm 41:3 says, “He nurses them when they are sick and soothes their pains and worries.”
I have spent the past two days taking care of Jasmine— making her soft food, giving her cuddles, and taking her back to the vet for nausea medication when she wasn’t able to eat or drink.
That’s what God wants to do for me. All I have to do is let him.
~susan~

Week of March 17th, 2024

Please join us this Sunday

as Pastor Jenny begins our Easter sermon series, with a Lesson on Good Friday.
Text: 16:33; Colossians 1:13–14; 2:13–15

Topic(s): Good Friday, Overcome, Evil, Cosmos

As we continue our focus on prayer fasting, Pastor Jenny wanted to share the following as a focus prayer for the week:

WEEK FOUR:
"Lord, thank you for your constant presence in our lives. Thank you for giving us forgiveness through Jesus, and guidance through your Holy Spirit. We ask for a continued, deeper desire to say “no” to distractions in our lives so that we choose to say “yes” to you. Lead us to trust in you as we serve others in our lives. Place people in our paths that we can share the love of Jesus with by our words and by our humble actions. May we seek for ways to give, trusting that you will provide. Help us to not make up excuses when opportunities to serve arise. May you be seen in the way we serve. May you be given all glory in our hearts of service. Amen.”

        If you have any Prayer Requests, Praises, or Updates you'd like added to the newsletter, please email us at officemanager@friendlystreetchurch.org
so we can add them. Or you can call the church phone 541.345.6553 to contact staff.  
  Thank you!

Small Group: Weekly on Wednesdays at 10 am: in the Church Library. They will begin a 6-week study coordinated with Pastor Jenny's sermon series.
Bible Study at Kevin & Laurie King’s – Wed, Feb 21st, at 7 pm - Wed, March 27, This is a 6-week Bible Study that goes with Pastor Jenny's sermon series.
Church WorkDay: Saturday, March 23rd. We'll be working to get the Church ready for Easter, inside and out.l Please come if you are able. There will be snacks available.
Maundy Thursday: Special service with Communion and Footwashing for those to choose to participate.
Easter Sunday: March 31st. Free Breakfast, Egg Hunt and a Special Service.
Mother's Day Slide Show: Please send your favorite photo of your mother/grandmother/mother figure to Hannah. She'll be preparing a special slide show to commemorate our mothers.
Little Hoots Yard Sale April 13th: Little Hoots is planning a fundraiser Yard/ Garage Sale to raise funds for new playground equipment. Stay tuned for more information.
Preacher Swap Sundays: returning this August.

Last week, I was on my way to church, a little later than I’d meant to leave. Every traffic light I came to turned red— or so it seemed anyway. I started to get frustrated, but then I had a thought. This was God’s way of forcing me to slow down. If I’d hit all those lights green, I would have kept going faster, and getting a little more reckless with every intersection I went through.

Instead, I had time to think at every intersection I stopped at. And I reminded myself that the church will still be there, and the people there will either wait for me or start without me. And either way, things will go as God intends.

The past week or two I’ve found myself feeling very cranky. I’m not finding joy in life like I usually do. I have just finished a very busy time at work, and it feels like I’ve been working non-stop for weeks. Now I’m having to readjust my schedule to something more balanced. It should feel like a relief, but sometimes, I find it stressful. Some part of me keeps wondering what I’m forgetting to do. There is an adrenalin boost when I’m working under a deadline, and it’s so satisfying when I finish up the last of a big project. I get a big feeling of accomplishment.

But after that, there’s a bit of a let-down. So maybe that’s what I’m experiencing right now. I’ve gone from doing all the things all at once, to not wanting to do anything at all. Neither one is a healthy way to live. So I am now focusing on finding balance in the things I do.

One thing I haven’t been doing well at is the daily Bible readings. I know there’s a lot to be learned from that, but I just haven’t found the motivation. Which also means I haven’t been praying like I should, or I would feel motivated. And it’s hard to start again when I am behind. The guilt nags at me, and I want to ignore it—by also ignoring my Bible and prayer time. But Pastor Jenny has given us good advice. “If you are behind,” she reminds us, “Don’t try to catch up. Just start with today’s reading and go from there.”

I have read part of today’s Bible reading. But I also picked up my Bible and asked the Lord to give me a verse to combat my crabbiness. I let it fall open, closed my eyes, and pointed at a random verse: Isaiah 41:18 “I will open rivers on the bare heights, And springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land fountains of water.” (NAS)

That is a verse taken out of context, but the words resonated with me. God will bring water to the dry and barren lands, and He will also bring back the joy and enthusiasm I am craving. All I have to do is open my heart, open my Bible, and pray.

~susan~

Week of October 29th, 2023
Please join us this Sunday, as Pastor Jenny begins a new
Sermon Series: “Thanks + Giving”.
This three-week Thanksgiving series addresses how we can develop a heart of
gratitude to God, which in turn leads to generous giving.
Thankfulness is not an occasional act, but a lifestyle of intentional and spontaneous appreciation that leads us into the presence of God, empowers us to be grateful in all circumstances, and generates an overflow of generosity.  Week 2 Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Church Work Day This Saturday! We'll be doing some work on the Live Nativity Sets and clearing out the Storage Shed. We'd also like to do some sprucing up around the church in preparation for an upcoming Memorial Service


        If you have any Prayer Requests, Praises, or Updates you'd like added to the newsletter, please email us at officemanager@friendlystreetchurch.org
so we can add them. Or you can call the church phone 541.345.6553 to contact staff.  
  Thank you!

Small Group: Weekly on Wednesdays at 10 am: At the Church Library. They are currently doing a study of Psalms.
Set Rebuild: Saturday, Nov 11th. A work day to do some work on Live Nativity sets and do some cleaning up and work around the church.
One Church One Day: Sunday, November 12th. Our day to pray for 24 hours. *Absentee Ballots will be available.
FREE Karl Vater Small Church Conference: Nov 17-18 @ Oak Park Church of God in Salem
Annual Business Meeting: Sunday, Nov 19th, immediately following the service.
Thanksgiving Meal Box Pick-up: Tuesday, Nov. 21st, 3 -6 p.m.
Thanksgiving Potluck: Thursday, Nov. 23rd in the Fellowship Hall. Details TBD.
Live Nativity Set Revamps: November 11th. 9 am
Hanging of the Greens: Tentatively, Dec 2nd
Giving Tree Tags: Available: Early December
Live Nativity: Sat & Sun, December 16th & 17th.
Christmas Eve Candles & Carols: Tentatively, Sun Dec 24th.

Today, I have a writing prompt about crossing a body of water. Which made me think about what it must have been like to be with the Israelites, escaping from Egypt.
The Bible talks about Moses’ perspective and a little about the Pharaoh's thoughts on the matter. But what would it have been like for the average Israelite?
Egypt was a pretty scary place to live in in those days, what with the plagues and the locusts and and all. Did they even know it was God sending the plagues? I suppose that would be a strong incentive for leaving Egypt. And so they packed up and headed out—in the middle of the night in case Pharaoh changed his mind, again.
And then they got to the Red Sea, they were being pursued by the Pharaoh's armies. The was this sea in front of them, and nobody had a boat.
They probably thought they were done for. But then God spoke to Moses, and then suddenly the waters parted. All they had to do was walk across. If I was there, I’d be looking around nervously and trying to get the person in front of me to hurry up!
Sometimes, God works in slow, subtle ways in our lives. That is mostly how it works for me. I go through a very difficult time, and I feel like I am barely making it. When I get through it, I look back and see how God was using that situation to help me grow.
I tend to over-think things and I stress out, and my mind makes a list of everything that could possibly go wrong. And then I panic and I get angry, and I start blaming everyone and myself. When I get all freaked out, I keep wanting to push and solve the problem. That’s when I have to make myself take a step back. I take a walk, or I wash some dishes. Sometimes, not often enough, I remember to pray. And that gives me time to calm down and approach the problem calmly. Usually, I can find a solution. Or I remember that I can ask for help. When I’m really on a roll, I ask God for help. Because God is powerful enough to do amazing things, if I let Him.
Like it says in Exodus 14:14, “You will not have to do anything but stay calm. The Lord will do the fighting for you.”

~susan~

Week of October 22nd, 2023
Please join us this Sunday, as Pastor Jenny shares a special message:"Give Thanks". Looking at Paul’s instructions to the Philippians on rejoicing and thanksgiving, this message reminds us that our perspective determines our joy level, and we can choose gratitude despite our circumstances.
This week, the big idea will be: Choosing an attitude of thanksgiving leads to peace and joy. Text: Philippians 2:14–18; 4:4–7.

        If you have any Prayer Requests, Praises, or Updates you'd like added to the newsletter, please email us at officemanager@friendlystreetchurch.org
so we can add them. Or you can call the church phone 541.345.6553 to contact staff.  
  Thank you!

Small Group: Weekly on Wednesdays at 10 am: At the Church Library. They are currently doing a study of Psalms.
Trunk-or-Treat: Tuesday, October 31st @ Willamette Christian Center 5:30 - 7 p,m.
Church Breakfast: Canceled for November 4th, so people can attend the Camp White Branch Anniversary.
Camp White Branch 65th Anniversary: Nov 4, 11am-5pm @ Camp White Branch.
Corporate Communion: Sunday, November 5th
One Church One Day: Sunday, November 12th. Our day to pray for 24 hours. *Absentee Ballots will be available.
FREE Karl Vater Small Church Conference: Nov 17-18 @ Oak Park Church of God in Salem
Annual Business Meeting: Sunday, Nov 19th, immediately following the service.
Thanksgiving Meal Box Pick-up: Tuesday, Nov. 21st, 3 -6 p.m.
Thanksgiving Potluck: Thursday, Nov. 23rd in the Fellowship Hall. Details TBD.
Live Nativity Set Revamps: November, times and dates TBD
Hanging of the Greens: Tentatively, Dec 2nd
Giving Tree Tags: Available: Early December
Live Nativity: Sat & Sud, December 16th & 17th.
Christmas Eve Candles & Carols: Tentatively, Sun Dec 24th.

Today is my birthday. I wanted to keep it low-key this year. For a number of reasons, I was just not feeling the need for an elaborate celebration. But I woke up this morning feeling a little down about it. There’s a lot going on that just makes me sad. But I picked up a birthday coffee, and I went to a Bible study, and then out to lunch with my sister. And I felt a lot better about my life.
After lunch, I was invited to a friend’s house, where we had cake, carved pumpkins, and played games. My friend, who is not fond of cooking, made me a special cake. And it was delicious. We had fun and laughed together, and I had a good time, even though I lost all the games.
It’s easy, sometimes, to forget that God loves me and cares about everything in my life. But He does. It’s easy to feel insignificant, and that nothing I do matters. But it does.
I have dozens of online birthday greetings, and the joy of spending time with friends and family. I appreciate that so much. I don’t need a big blowout celebration, but I did need what I got today. Time spent with people I care about, and people who care about me.
Isaiah 54:10 says, “Though the mountains move and hills shake, my love will not be removed from you and my covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says your compassionate Lord.” (CSB)
It’s a good reminder that no matter what goes on in the world, or even inside my brain, God’s love and peace will still be there.

~susan~

Week of October 15th, 2023
Please join us this Sunday, as Pastor Jenny continues our sermon series: Criticism of Jesus: The Words of Jesus.This week, the big idea will be: Jesus shows us that the law should encourage us to treat others well. Text: Mark 2:23–3:6.

        If you have any Prayer Requests, Praises, or Updates you'd like added to the newsletter, please email us at officemanager@friendlystreetchurch.org
so we can add them. Or you can call the church phone 541.345.6553 to contact staff.  
  Thank you!

Here are the main plans we have for Fall and Advent activities. Other events may be added, as we continue planning.
1. Trunk-or-Treat
If you'd like to assist with the Trunk-or-Treat at Willamette Christian Center, you are welcome to do so. Volunteers and candy donations are always needed. This is a great way to provide a safe place for families to go on Halloween as well as partner with other area churches. Here is he link
https://willamettechristian.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/615/responses/new

1.  Meal Boxes
   The need for Thanksgiving meal boxes is expected to be greater at Adams Elementary. We will plan to collect offerings toward this and will give these to Adams Elementary families the week of Thanksgiving, on Tuesday, Nov 21 from 3-6 pm. You can designate your gift by writing "meal boxes" on your check or envelope, and  this is an option within our Online Giving.
2. Thanksgiving Dinner:
   Through much prayer and discernment, we have decided we will not hold our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner this year in the same way we have done in the past. We are currently looking at ways for people to volunteer from our congregation with a different community resource if they choose to do so, and looking at ministries we can support throughout the year for the unhoused instead.
   Note: There are tentative plans to hold a church potluck dinner at the church on Thanksgiving Day for those who don't have other plans. Stay tuned for more details on that. We don't want anyone to be alone on the holiday.
3. Giving Tree and Living Water:
   We will be doing the Giving Tree again this year. We will be partnering with Adams Elementary to meet the specific needs of some families at the school. This is yet another way we can have a lasting relational impact on the Adams community. Tags will be available in early December.  We will also be giving toward Living Water International.
4. Live Nativity:
   We will be doing Live Nativity again this year for two days, Saturday, Dec 16, and Sunday, Dec 17, partnering again with Springfield Church of God. Some of the scenes will be updated structurally and there will be work days both in November and December to fully prepare for it. We will also need help with other things: Costumes, Makeup, Actors, Kitchen, and Hospitality. Please let us know if you are interested in helping.

Small Group:  Weekly on Wednesdays at 10 am: At the Church Library. They are currently doing a study of Psalms.
Church Breakfast:  Saturday, October 7th, 9 am. All are welcome to attend.
One Church One Day: Sunday, October 9th. Our day to pray for 24 hours.
Game Night:  Tuesday, October 17th. Theme Ham.
Camp White Branch 65th Anniversary: Nov 4, 11am-5pm @ Camp White Branch.
FREE Karl Vater Small Church Conference: Nov 17-18 @ Oak Park Church of God in Salem
Fall Ministries: Stay tuned for details.
Service for Jo Bray:  There has been an illness in the family, so plans for the service are currently on hold.

Sometimes, it seems like the things I do don’t matter much.  I wash the dishes, they get dirty again.  I go to work, but I never seem to have any money.  I sleep, but I still get tired.  
I write, but I never seem to finish anything.  I pray, but it seems like my prayers never get answered.
I was pondering what to write about tonight, as usual, when I glanced over and saw my marble jar.  The marbles are a tradition started years ago for a writing group I am a part of.  It started as a joke that writing makes us lose our marbles, so whenever we attend a writer’s group meeting, we get a marble.  That way, we can replace the marbles we lost.
Over time, it’s become more than a joke.  It’s an incentive for people to come to the meetings, and it’s a way to track how many events we’ve attended.  
Now, a single marble is a small thing on its own.  But as I’ve attended these meetings, I’ve filled up my jar.  I’m not sure how many are in there now, but that’s a lot of marbles.  Plus, by attending those meetings, I learn from my fellow writers.  I get new perspectives, and I’ve become a better writer as a result.
It can be easy to look at my prayer life and feel like nothing’s happening, or that things I try to do for my faith aren’t working.  But really, it’s like the marbles.  God makes small changes in our lives, so gradual that we don’t really notice until it’s done.  Like the marbles in my jar, these things get bigger over time.
So maybe I should start awarding myself a marble or a sticker for every time I pray?  Or when I attend a church service?  I am picturing the old attendance charts we used to have when I was a kid.  The ones with the little star stickers.
Would people attend church more regularly if they got a sticker for doing so?  Maybe. It would be one way to know who was missing, so we can check on them.
But the real point is, big things are made up of little things.  So we shouldn’t be discouraged when all we can do are little things.  God can put all those little things together, and turn them into a miracle.
Matthew 17:20 says, “It was because you do not have enough faith,” answered Jesus.  “I assure you that if you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this hill, ‘Go from here to there!’ and it will go.  You could do anything!” (GNT)
Let’s strive to have just a little bit of faith.  God can work with that.


~susan~

Week of October 1st, 2023
Please join us this Sunday, as Pastor Jenny continues our sermon series: Criticism of Jesus: The Words of Jesus.This week, the big idea will be: Jesus is God in the flesh.. Text: John 5:1–18

        If you have any Prayer Requests, Praises, or Updates you'd like added to the newsletter, please email us at officemanager@friendlystreetchurch.org
so we can add them. Or you can call the church phone 541.345.6553 to contact staff.  
  Thank you!

This Sunday, we shared Corporate Communion. We do this once a month, usually on the first Sunday. This is one of the most important traditions in the Church of God. Sometimes it’s easy to just eat the cracker, and swallow the juice, and go on with the rest of the service.
But it’s not a mindless tradition— at least, not when it’s done as intended. It’s a time of quiet reflection. We should take a few moments, and just really think about the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.
The bread and wine— or wafers and grape juice—are symbolic, but they are symbols of Jesus sacrificing his life and his blood for us. That’s the most important part of our faith. So it’s important that we remember that.
It was not a simple or easy sacrifice for Jesus to make. We can only imagine what he went through. And the physical pain was the least of it. The worst part was the moment when God turned away from Jesus. That is something none of us will ever have to experience. Thanks to Jesus, we live our entire lives with God watching over us in love.
It’s also a time to think about sins in our lives, and to seek forgiveness for wrongs we’ve done. When we take communion, we are meant to do so with a clean conscience and a pure heart. 1 Corinthians 11:28 says, “With this in mind, individuals must determine whether what they are doing is proper when they eat the bread and drink from the cup.” (GW)
It’s a serious moment, but it’s also a joyful moment. Because Communion is also a reminder that our sins have been forgiven. There is no better good news than that.

Small Group:  Weekly on Wednesdays at 10 am: At the Church Library. They are currently doing a study of Psalms.
Church Breakfast:  Saturday, October 7th, 9 am. All are welcome to attend.
One Church One Day: Sunday, October 9th. Our day to pray for 24 hours.
Game Night:  Tuesday, October 17th. Theme Ham.
Camp White Branch 65th Anniversary: Nov 4, 11am-5pm @ Camp White Branch.
FREE Karl Vater Small Church Conference: Nov 17-18 @ Oak Park Church of God in Salem
Fall Ministries: Stay tuned for details.
Service for Jo Bray:  There has been an illness in the family, so plans for the service are currently on hold.

Today, I am starting with a photo of a prayer plant. I had set the pot outside in a larger planter all summer, so it could get better light. When I picked up the small pot, the roots had grown through the drain holes and into the potting soil in the larger planter. I guess it really enjoyed the sunshine.
I’d like to focus on gratitude this week. I know it’s traditionally celebrated in November, but any day is a good day to be grateful. We, especially here in the U.S., live our lives surrounded by blessings.
Even the fact that I just bit the inside of my cheek—twice— is a reminder to be grateful for the dental care I have received, that allows me to have those nice strong teeth that are making my cheek feel really bad. I’m also grateful for the insurance I have, and the job that provides that insurance. And, although I do not enjoy visiting the dentist, I am glad to have the dentist I go to. Their office treats the issues that need treating without pushing me to get cosmetic procedures that aren’t necessary.
I am thankful for my dogs that give me a reason to get out and walk. I get a little exercise, breathe fresh air and sometimes see the sun. Sure, they sometimes interrupt me when I’m trying to get things done, but to be honest, it’s usually when I need to take a break anyway.
I am grateful for my freezer, fridge, and cupboard full of food. Sometimes I don’t know how to put any of it together to make a meal, but I have more than enough to eat. I am grateful for my job, although there are day’s I’d rather just sleep all day.
I am saddened by my Aunt’s passing, but I’m also glad that she is safe in God’s hand now, and free of the pain and stress she’s been suffering.
Psalm 107:1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good; his love is eternal!” (GNT).
I find that if I look for reasons to be angry and upset, I can find them. In the same way, if I look for reasons to be grateful, I can find those, too.
So remember, Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.” (CEV)
That is a verse to live by, in my opinion.

~susan~

Week of September 17th, 2023
Please join us this Sunday, as Pastor Jenny returns from California to share a special message.

        If you have any Prayer Requests, Praises, or Updates you'd like added to the newsletter, please email us at officemanager@friendlystreetchurch.org
so we can add them. Or you can call the church phone 541.345.6553 to contact staff.  
  Thank you!

Special Gifts of Friendly Street
Friendly Street Church is blessed to have members with great gifts. This week, we got to hear Dan N. share a message on Romans chapters 5 & 12. The video isn’t available to post online yet, but I will get it uploaded as soon as possible, for anyone who missed seeing it in person. It is always interesting to hear a different perspective, even on a text we’ve heard about multiple times. So, we thank Dan for sharing his gifts with us this Sunday. I know I learned something new
Another gift is prayer. I lost my glasses on Saturday— new prescription bifocals with the line-free lenses. I’d only had them for a couple of weeks, and they fell out of my backpack when I went to meet my sister. I searched my bag, my car, and my apartment multiple times. I even checked the recycling bin, with no success. So when I got to church, I asked Carol Z. and Sally M. For help. Carol led a prayer, and Sally said she would look for the glasses and ask around to see if anyone has spotted them. Sally is my sister’s roommate.
After church, Carol and I went to lunch, and not long after we sat down, I got a text from Sally that she had found my glasses. We all praised God.
This might seems like a small thing. I did have my glasses from last year that worked just fine, but it was a big thing to me. Carol could have laughed at me when I asked her to pray. She might have, just a little bit. But she called several people together and they prayed with me, and that prayer was answered.
We shouldn’t be ashamed to ask for prayer— in small things and big things. I prayed on my own, but it felt different when my church family joined me in that prayer. I felt comforted and loved. So let’s remember that, and share our prayers with each other, so we can lift each other up. This is another gift God has given to Friendly Street Church.

Small Group: Weekly on Wednesdays at 10 am: At the Church Library. They are currently doing a study of Psalms.
Game Night: Tuesday, October 17th. Theme TBD
Leadership Retreat: Sept. 22nd & 23rd-- Please be praying.
Baby Dedication: Steve and Shar's son Dale will have his baby dedication during the service on Sunday, Sept. 24th:  Corporate Communion: Sunday, October 1st.
Men's Breakfast:  Saturday, October 7th, 9 am. All are welcome to attend.
One Church One Day: Sunday, October 9th. Our day to pray for 24 hours.
Game Night: Tuesday, October 17th. Theme TBD
Friendly Street Prayer Walks: We are hoping to add one more Prayer Walk near the Church soon. Stay tuned for an update there.
Service for Jo Bray: There has been an illness in the family, so plans for the service are currently on hold.

Yesterday, I started my day off feeling very sad and depressed. All I wanted to do was go back to bed and hide my head under the covers. But I sat at my computer and I did some journaling. Looking back at what I wrote, I then see, “And then I saw a squirrel walk across my patio. And he had cute little squirrel ears.” That made me smile and suddenly, I felt better.
When I am in a bad mood, I sometimes find myself wallowing in it. I want to be grumpy, or I want to be sad. Sometimes, I want to be angry at the world. I don’t think that’s entirely a bad thing. God created us with a whole range of emotions, and sometimes we need to give ourselves space to experience those emotions.
But what tends to happen is that I want to stop feeling grumpy, or sad, or angry, and I can’t make that shift on my own. This only seems to happen with negative emotions for some reason. Maybe because I never want to stop feeling cheerful or happy. That would be really weird.
The longer I am stuck in that negative emotional loop, the harder it gets to break out of it. And then something happens, like seeing the squirrel yesterday. And suddenly I’m able to regulate my emotions again. And it’s such a relief when that happens.
I don’t think that squirrel crossed my patio by chance. I believe God sent that squirrel to help me out of the sad mood I was stuck in. God does that a lot, I think. Someone will call me just at the right time, or I’ll get an email with a praise after a prayer request. Sometimes, I get the urge to call or text a friend, and they tell me, “I’m so glad you reached out! I needed that today.”
It goes both ways. So I should be listening for those nudges. I feel really awkward doing things like that, but that’s how I know it’s God, not me.
I know I’m not alone in feeling negative at times. It happens to all of us, at some point. Even King David had moments of feeling lost and alone.
Take Psalm 22, for example. David starts off in verse one with, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?”
That’s definitely not a happy start. But by verse 26, his attitude has shifted. “The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him—may your hearts live forever!”
David started off whining and complaining, and by the end of the Psalm, he was rejoicing and praising God. God isn’t afraid of our grumbling. He is not intimidated when we question him. He wants us to turn to him, even when we’re angry and accusing Him of causing our problems.
David turned to God, and because he did so, God was able to comfort him. David found peace in his relationship with God, even though his problems hadn’t been miraculously solved.
So, I guess that squirrel is really a reminder that I should turn to God, no matter how negative I’m feeling.
~susan~

Week of  July 2nd, 2023

   Please join us this Sunday, as Jenny resumes her Series on Freedom.
        If you have any Prayer Requests, Praises, or Updates you'd like added to the newsletter, please send us an email atfriendlystreetchurch@gmail.comso we can get them added. This email and the church phone 541.345.6553 will continue to serve as the primary ways of contact for staff.     Thank you!

Exciting News!  The new Friendly Street Church app is now available.  You can find it on Google Play or iTunes.  and here is a link for easy access.  Please remember, it is still a work in progress so please be patient as we complete the set-up process and get everything situated.
Friendly Street Church of God app: https://subsplash.com/friendlystreetchurchofgo/app

Due to some technical difficulties and confusion about the process, our website is currently unavailable, but we hope to have that transitioned in the next week or so.  Again, thank you for your patience as we work out the bugs.

Topic: FSCOG Sunday Morning
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
https://lanecc.zoom.us/j/93890452996
Meeting ID: 938 9045 2996
We will continue to provide ZOOM each Sunday, record, and upload the services to our new App , and on the website, once we work out the new logistics

Preschool Ministry programming for ages 0-5 is available during the morning worship.
Grade school programming (K-5th) is also available as needed.
Activities Bags are available for all children if they choose to be in service instead.
Donations of prepackaged snacks and juice boxes would be welcome.

Exciting news: we are moving from Faithlife to Subsplash as our main communication platform!
This also means Giving on Faithlife will no longer be available after June 16. You can now give online at https://secure.subsplash.com/ui/access/GHMX5H/ 

It’s easy, fast, and secure, and a great way to designate gifts, such as to give for a camper to attend Camp White Branch or to give toward Project Hope Backpacks.
If you’re able, we also encourage you to set up recurring giving. 
Thank you for faithfully giving as the Gospel message is shared with our community.

Small Group: Weekly on Wednesdays at 10 am: At the Church Library. They are currently doing a study of Psalms.
Men's Breakfast: Men's Breakfast will be this Saturday, July 15th at 9 am. All are welcome this month, including ladies. If you are able to help with meal preparation, please let Richard Pruett know.
Game Night: Tuesday, July 18th. 5:30 - 7:30 pm. The theme is Spaghetti. Please plan to bring a dish to share, and invite a friend.
Friendly Street Prayer Walks: The next Prayer Walk is scheduled for Wednesday, July 26th at 11:30 am. We will meet at the Oakway Shopping - Center Court.
Coming up in August:
Preacher Swap Sundays:
Pastors from our local Church of God Congregations in Eugene, Springfield, and Cottage Grove will be rotating to share messages at all three churches. We will celebrate together with an evening Worship and Prayer Service in Cottage Grove.
Ladies' Dinner on the Deck:The next Dinner on the Deck on Tuesday, August 9th. We need to confirm a host. If you do not have a Deck, you can host at the Church. Please let Susan know if you would like to do so. If your last name starts with A-L, please bring a salad, M -Z please bring a Dessert. 
Afternoon Baptism and Dessert:
Sunday, Aug 13 - We will have a special afternoon baptism with dessert on the river. Location TBD. If you would like to have a conversation about baptism, please contact Pastor Jenny before Aug 6. Pam Rossetter will also be baptized at this time.  More details to come.
August 22nd: Project Hope Volunteer Training- Willamette Christian Center. 6:30 pm.
August 26th & 27th: Project Hope Backpack Set Up and Giveaway. ATA Middle School.

**If you have shared a prayer request, please remember to share any updates, so we can continue to support you**
New and Urgent Unspoken Requests: Please remember to pray for each other, even when we don't know the specific needs.
Wisdom for Friendly Street's Leadership, including the new members, Planning for our Summer Ministries and that God will lead us to the Lead Sunday School Teacher and Worship Pastor He has prepared to join our staff.
Patrick & Jamie Nachtigall-- The missionary couple we support
Unsaved Family members. We all have at least one
The homeless population in Eugene: Wisdom for city officials on how to handle this complex issue. Resources for nonprofits in designing programs to assist the unhoused. For all of us to look at them with God's eyes-- with love and compassion.
Adams Elementary
Our national and local leaders
War in Ukraine - Churches throughout the region. More information on how to help those in need in Ukraine through prayer and financial contributions can be found at:
https://www.jesusisthesubject.org/disaster-relief/

We are blessed to be in close proximity to other Church of God congregations. Last year we had volunteer help from Cottage Grove and Springfield congregations for our fall ministries. As we continue to collaborate with each other, we look forward to 3 special Sundays in August where the Lead Pastors will preach at each of the congregations, joining each other on the sermon series "Downtime: Practicing Sabbath, Solitude, and Simplicity." Each congregation will hear from each pastor within three Sundays. 
Here is the schedule:
Sunday, Aug 6: Jenny preaches "Simplicity" at Friendly Street
Sunday, Aug 13 Andrew Loyd - Lead Pastor for Riverside Church of God in Cottage Grove will preach at Friendly Street (Jenny will be preaching at Springfield)
Sunday, Aug 20 Jason Mitchell - Lead Pastor for Springfield Church of God will preach at Friendly Street (Jenny will be preaching at Cottage Grove) 
We are better together and building relationships with the congregations is encouraging and needed. We will celebrate greater connectivity with a special worship and prayer night at Riverside Community Church of God with all three churches together on Sunday, Aug 20th at 6 pm in Cottage Grove. More details to come!
Pastor Jenny

Well, it is Wednesday again, time to write something for the Newsletter. It has been an unexpectedly hectic day for me, creating numerous detailed reports and responding to email requests for explanations of documents and such. I’m also still working out how things should work with the new app and our website.
It makes it challenging to sit down and be calm. I tend to keep pushing myself to just get it all done. That doesn’t work out well for me.
Yesterday was our July Dinner on the Deck. I wanted to bring something special, so I decided to bake an apple pie. And then I was busy on Monday, and didn’t get it made, and I was really busy on Tuesday, too, and got distracted. So Tuesday afternoon, I put the pie in the oven with just enough time for it to bake before I had to leave.
I thought to myself, I should not be trying to do this. I don’t have enough time. But as usual, I pushed myself to do it. I didn’t want to show up to dinner with empty hands.
If you know me, you probably know where this is headed. I pulled the pie out, put it on a metal tray since it was still HOT! And wrapped it in tin foil and kitchen towels so I could carry it without burning myself.
I got about fifteen feet from my door, and the wind blew the foil off. I tried to grab it, and the pie I’d worked so hard to make shattered on the sidewalk, in a mess of hot apple filling pie plate shards.
I couldn’t even clean it up properly, because it was too hot to handle. So I scraped up as much as I could using the tray and larger pie plate pieces.
So I arrived at the dinner with nothing but the pie server, which I’d tucked in my purse.
And it was fine. No one was upset or angry with me. There was plenty of dessert to share, and everyone still loved me. The ladies were sympathetic, though I did get teased a little. It was all in good fun.
But it’s also a reminder for me to set more realistic goals for myself. I knew I was too busy and too tired to be making that pie, but I tried to do it anyway. And then I was in a rush, and it all went to waste anyway. I could just as easily have left a little early and picked up something quick from the grocery store on the way to the dinner.
So tonight, I ask myself the serious question, “Why?”
On Monday, I was stressing about the website, I told myself, “This is God’s website.”
That changed my perspective. Friendly Street is God’s church. Our website is His website. Our App is His App. And that apple pie was God’s apple pie.
When I think of it that way, I can relax and leave it all in God’s hands. The reason I was stressing was because I was focused on myself, not on God.
Colossians 3:2 says, “So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.” (MSG)
I like that translation or interpretation of that verse. Going forward, I will do my best, with the Lord’s help, to look at everything from His perspective. Perhaps if I think of those reports as His reports, I’ll feel more motivated to complete them.
As I said to my supervisor earlier today after making my third mistake on one report, “Thank you for being patient with me.” I am praying those same words to the Lord right now.
And the next time I bake an apple pie for the Lord, I’ll make sure to allow plenty of time for it to cool.
~susan~

UPDATE:  The webiste is now working, with a proper security cerficate.  Praise the Lord!

Week of  July 2nd, 2023

    Please join us this Sunday, as Dan Newell acts as our Guest Speaker.  He alway has something special to share, so we look forward to hearing what God has shared with him.
    *Zoom Attendees-- We have now set up Zoom as a recurring meeting, so you can use the same link every week*
    If you have any Prayer Requests, Praises, or Updates you'd like added to the newsletter, please send us an email at friendlystreetchurch@gmail.com so we can get them added. This email and the church phone 541.345.6553 will continue to serve as the primary ways of contact for staff.     Thank you!
We will continue to provide ZOOM each Sunday, record, and upload the services to our website and Faithlife.

Exciting News!  The new Friendly Street Church app is now available.  You can find it on Google Play or iTunes.  and here is a link for easy access.  Please remember, it is still a work in progress so please be patient as we complete the set-up process and get everything situated.
Friendly Street Church of God app: https://subsplash.com/friendlystreetchurchofgo/app

Due to some technical difficulties and confusion about the process, our website is currently unavailable, but we hope to have that transitioned in the next week or so.  Again, thank you for your patience as we work out the bugs.

Topic: FSCOG Sunday Morning
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
https://lanecc.zoom.us/j/93890452996
Meeting ID: 938 9045 2996

Preschool Ministry programming for ages 0-5 is available during the morning worship.
Grade school programming (K-5th) is also available as needed.
Activities Bags are available for all children if they choose to be in service instead.
Donations of prepackaged snacks and juice boxes would be welcome.

Exciting news: we are moving from Faithlife to Subsplash as our main communication platform!
This also means Giving on Faithlife will no longer be available after June 16. You can now give online at https://secure.subsplash.com/ui/access/GHMX5H/ 

It’s easy, fast, and secure, and a great way to designate gifts, such as to give for a camper to attend Camp White Branch or to give toward Project Hope Backpacks.
If you’re able, we also encourage you to set up recurring giving. 
Thank you for faithfully giving as the Gospel message is shared with our community.

Small Group Wednesdays at 10 am:  At the Church Library. They are currently doing a study of Psalms.
Ladies' Dinner on the Deck:  The next Dinner on the Deck on Tuesday, July 11th. It will be held at Linda Collin's home.  If your last name starts with A-L, please bring a dessert, M -Z please bring a salad.  This will also be a Baby Shower for Shar, Steve and young Dale.
Game Night:  Tuesday, July 18th. 5:30 - 7:30 pm. The theme is TBD. Please plan to bring a side dish to share, and invite a friend.
Friendly Street Prayer Walks:  The next Prayer Walk is scheduled for Wednesday, July 26th at 11:30 am. We will meet at the Oakway Shopping - Center Court.
Project Hope Donations Due:  Thursday, July 13th. Please bring your donation to the church by Sunday, July 9th, so we have time to turn them in.  You can alos donate online.
FAN Picnic and Root Beer Floats:  July 30thWe will need volunteers between 4 and 7 pm, to help with set up and clean up. cups, straws, etc will be provided, so all we need to do is scoop and pour.
August 22nd: Project Hope Volunteer Training- Willamette Christian Center. 6:30 pm.
August 26th & 27th: Project Hope Backpack Set Up and Giveaway. ATA Middle School.

**If you have shared a prayer request, please remember to share any updates, so we can continue to support you**
New and Urgent Unspoken Requests: Please remember to pray for each other, even when we don't know the specific needs.
Wisdom for Friendly Street's Leadership, including the new members, Planning for our Summer Ministries and that God will lead us to the Lead Sunday School Teacher and Worship Pastor He has prepared to join our staff.
Patrick & Jamie Nachtigall-- The missionary couple we support
Unsaved Family members. We all have at least one
The homeless population in Eugene: Wisdom for city officials on how to handle this complex issue. Resources for nonprofits in designing programs to assist the unhoused. For all of us to look at them with God's eyes-- with love and compassion.
Adams Elementary
Our national and local leaders
War in Ukraine - Churches throughout the region. More information on how to help those in need in Ukraine through prayer and financial contributions can be found at:
https://www.jesusisthesubject.org/disaster-relief/

Yesterday was Independence Day for the United States, as I’m sure you were all aware.  It’s a time for us to celebrate as a nation, to take time to appreciate the freedoms that we have in our country, and to remember those that fought—literally and figuratively— to help us gain those freedoms.

The meaning of this day, like many holidays, tends to get obscured by traditions.  It becomes about picnics and barbecues and fireworks and parades.  There’s nothing wrong with those things, but sometimes we forget that they’re just ways to celebrate.  Sometimes it seems like the picnics and the fireworks are the reason for the holiday.

Our country is not perfect.  It was made by human men and women.  I include women, because even though the Declaration of Independence was only signed by men, there were women involved in the process.  These people had the best of intentions and they did their best to set up a system that would be fair, moral and long-lasting.  They wanted to protect the freedoms and ideals that they were most devoted to.   They did the best they could, during the time they lived in, and they created the framework that the U.S. has built upon for the past two hundred and forty-seven years.  

But our country is not perfect.  Because our laws are created by humans, there is always division, because humans like to argue, and we can’t satisfy everyone.  And we, as humans, are  victims of our own bias, whether we realize it or not.  So, we can’t be truly impartial.  We argue about the smallest of things— like whether mustard or ketchup is the perfect topping for a hotdo— and whether we should be eating hotdogs at all.

The kingdom of Heaven is ruled by God.  Only God can truly be just, because only God can see into our hearts and truly know us.  And only God can truly show mercy, because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  Accepting that sacrifice gains us a pardon that covers all the punishment for all the sins we will ever commit.

The Fourth of July is when Americans celebrate their Independence from England.  And Easter is when Believers in Christ celebrate our freedom from sin.  Both of these days are full of joy and sadness, as we acknowledge the sacrifices that were made for us.  But we also celebrate the freedom we have been given.

Galatians 5:1 says, “So stand strong for our freedom!  The Anointed One freed us so we wouldn’t spend one more day under the yoke of slavery, trapped under the law.”  (VOICE)

Yesterday, I celebrated with my sister.  We had a simple lunch with hot dogs and cheese poofs.   She said to me, “Cheese poofs look like smiles.”  And she is right.  

I took a photo to remind myself to enjoy my freedoms.  Even small ones, like happy cheese poofs.
~susan~

Week of  June 11th, 2023

    Please join us this Sunday, as Pastor Jenny concludes our sermon series, "To My Friend Who Left the Faith", based on a book by the same name written by Wade Bearden. This week's theme is Suffering - How can a good God allow so much pain?
Be sure to look through the whole newsletter, as we have a lot of updates and information about our ministries.
    *Zoom Attendees-- We have now set up Zoom as a recurring meeting, so you can use the same link every week*
    If you have any Prayer Requests, Praises, or Updates you'd like added to the newsletter, please send us an email at friendlystreetchurch@gmail.com so we can get them added. This email and the church phone 541.345.6553 will continue to serve as the primary ways of contact for staff.     Thank you!
We will continue to provide ZOOM each Sunday, record, and upload the services to our website and Faithlife.

Preschool Ministry programming for ages 0-5 is available during the morning worship.
Grade school programming (K-5th) is also available as needed.
Activities Bags are available for all children if they choose to be in service instead.
Donations of prepackaged snacks and juice boxes would be welcome.

Exciting news: we are moving from Faithlife to Subsplash as our main communication platform!
This also means Giving on Faithlife will no longer be available after June 16. You can now give online at https://secure.subsplash.com/ui/access/GHMX5H/ 

It’s easy, fast, and secure, and a great way to designate gifts, such as to give for a camper to attend Camp White Branch or to give toward Project Hope Backpacks.
If you’re able, we also encourage you to set up recurring giving. 
Thank you for faithfully giving as the Gospel message is shared with our community.

Small Group Wednesdays at 10 am:  At the Church Library. They are currently doing a study of Psalms.
Game Night:  Tuesday, June 20th. 5:30 - 7:30 pm. The plan is Tri-tip. Please plan to bring a side dish to share, and invite a friend.
Friendly Street Prayer Walks:  The next Prayer Walk is scheduled for Friday, June 23rd at 8 am. We will meet at the Alton Baker Park Duck Pond.
Ladies' Dinner on the Deck:  The next Dinner on the Deck on Tuesday, July 11th. It will be held at Linda Collin's home, but Carol Zorn will act as the hostess.
Project Hope Donations Due:  Thursday, July 13th. Please bring your donation to the church by Sunday, July 9th, so we have time to turn them in.
FAN Picnic and Root Beer Floats:  July 30thWe will need volunteers between 4 and 7 pm, to help with set up and clean up. cups, straws, etc will be provided, so all we need to do is scoop and pour.
August 22nd: Project Hope Volunteer Training- Willamette Christian Center. 6:30 pm.
August 26th & 27th: Project Hope Backpack Set Up and Giveaway. ATA Middle School.

**If you have shared a prayer request, please remember to share any updates, so we can continue to support you**
New and Urgent Unspoken Requests: Please remember to pray for each other, even when we don't know the specific needs.
Wisdom for Friendly Street's Leadership, including the new members, Planning for our Summer Ministries and that God will lead us to the Lead Sunday School Teacher and Worship Pastor He has prepared to join our staff.
Patrick & Jamie Nachtigall-- The missionary couple we support
Unsaved Family members. We all have at least one
The homeless population in Eugene: Wisdom for city officials on how to handle this complex issue. Resources for nonprofits in designing programs to assist the unhoused. For all of us to look at them with God's eyes-- with love and compassion.
Adams Elementary
Our national and local leaders
War in Ukraine - Churches throughout the region. More information on how to help those in need in Ukraine through prayer and financial contributions can be found at:
https://www.jesusisthesubject.org/disaster-relief/

Have you ever been in a discussion with someone and they have a point they just keep repeating? It gets to the point where you just want to let it go and talk about something else, but they won’t drop it.

I was thinking about Sunday’s sermon on hypocrisy, and the quote from Wade Bearden that sometimes religious people point out other people’s flaws to try to make themselves feel better. He said the reason they do that is because they aren’t confident in God’s love and forgiveness.

That made me think about bullies. Bullies often pick on others to convince themselves that they are strong and important. Often, they have a difficult home life, and project that on others.
The people in churches with the mentality of “Everyone but my very specific group of believers is going to hell.” Are essentially bullies. That is difficult for me to understand, because I know I’m just as much of a sinner as anyone else on the planet. And I know that my sins aren’t always obvious. And I’ve known terrible people who have also done good things. 

But the idea that these people are insecure. That makes a lot of sense to me. It’s very difficult to wrap my head around the idea that a perfect God loves me enough to die, so that I don’t have to be punished for all the stupid petty stuff I do. So I can better empathize with them.  

Which doesn’t exactly help when talking to people who have been hurt by hypocrisy in the church. Except for this. We can’t undo the hurt others have done by words and arguments. We can help heal the hurts with our actions and our attitudes.

I can’t argue someone into sharing my faith. But I can listen, and empathize, and perhaps give them a different perspective of what faith should look like.

John 8:10-11 says, “Then Jesus stood up and asked her, “Dear lady, where are your accusers? Hasn’t anyone condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she replied.
Then Jesus said, “I don’t condemn you, either. Go home, and from now on don’t sin anymore.” (ISV)

True believers should be like Jesus (aside from writing people’s sin in the dirt), and not like the accusers. We shouldn’t point out someone else’s sins, knowing we are sinners, too. Instead, we should not condemn our fellow sinners, but speak to them with love. And this includes the hypocrites.
~susan~