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This page is still in the process of being updated
to reflect our current programs. Some information may be out of date or
incorrect. Please contact the church office at 630-972-1011 for more
information.
Education
Friendship Church has a very active Christian education program. That includes Sunday
School at both 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. on Sundays. Senior High and adult classes meet
only at 9:00 a.m. In addition, there are many short-term study groups on the Bible and
special themes like parenting, marriage enrichment, etc.
Missions
Updated
12-16-2001 Detailed
Information about our Missions programs
Friendship Church has an active Missions
program that supports a number of activities here in the United States and
around the world. Detailed information is available on our Missions
page, but a brief listing is shown below:
- Connecting Congregation in Kenya -- We
help support an African church in Karandi, Kenya. We have given
financial support to this church since 1997.
- Our Missionaries in Senegal, Africa --
We help support Mavis and Al Streyffeler, Methodist missionaries in a
country that is primarily Muslim.
- Mission Trips -- For several years we
have had mission trips to Red
Bird Mission in Kentucky. In 2001, our youth also participated
in a mission trip to Ft. Washakie, Wyoming.
- Bruce Inglis' Russian Ministry -- We
assist Friendship member Bruce Inglis as he spends several months each
year helping to start new churches in Russia.
- Funds for Disasters -- We support the
denomination wide One Great Hour of Sharing, other UMCOR
(United Methodist Committee on Relief) needs, and this year also
raised funds in the aftermath of September 11th.
Community Outreach
Updated 12-16-2001
Community Outreach efforts
come from two different committees at Friendship Church, our Church and
Society team and our Health and Welfare team.
Health and Welfare sponsors the following:
- Friendship Church runs blood drives twice a year to provide medical help to
those who need blood. We are an active part of the LifeSource
blood program.
- A Senior Luncheon is
provided on the 3rd Thursday of each month along with a Bible study and activity. Volunteers
prepare and serve the meal and coordinate an activity such as a craft,
game, or entertainment.
- A van
ministry provides rides for Senior citizens to Sunday morning worship. The
van is also available to church groups for their use.
Church & Society continues its mission of providing assistance, donations and love to our community through the efforts of many volunteers and contributors from the congregation. The activities of the many areas of charitable service are as follows:
- Daybreak Shelter
The Daybreak Shelter in Joliet provides food, shelter and counseling to the homeless and those in need. We provide two meals on the third Friday evening and Saturday morning of each month and serve an average of 50-60 people at each meal.
Members of the congregation donate the food required for the meals
based on a menu provided by the Daybreak Coordinator. Volunteers prepare and serve the food and also
insure all the food required has been provided. We thank Randy Mink
for his several years of service as our Daybreak Coordinator. Nedra
Groggins-Perry is the Daybreak Coordinator. Sign-up sheets for food
and service are in the Information Center in the church lobby.
- Newborns in Need
More
information about Newborns in Need is available at their website
Newborns in Need provides clothing and other items to premature babies and newborns from families with financial need. Laura Hilb coordinates the volunteers who meet on the second Saturday of every month and who also work at home to sew, knit and crochet for the babies. They then distribute the clothing to several agencies in the area free of charge. All of the clothing and material needed is provided by donations or purchased with funds raised from the congregation. Our Friendship Fund donated $250 in February, and a love offering in August raised $461. Over 4000 clothing items have been donated in the past year.
- Living Alternatives (Crisis Pregnancy Center)
Living Alternatives is a crisis pregnancy center in Bolingbrook that offers counseling and resources for those in need. Nancy O'Gara coordinates the donations of baby items and offerings from our congregation, as well as giving many hours of service at their facility. Many baby items such as formula and diapers are donated during the FISH/Crisis Pregnancy Center weekend every month. Our Friendship Fund donated $250 in February and a love offering in July raised $253.
Living Alternatives ministers by providing diapers, food, formula,
clothing, furniture, baby beds, high chairs and blankets to children
who do not have them. The center sees many women who otherwise would
not have a warm blanket or food to feed her child. The services are
free, and given with Christ's love. The only requirement is that they
have a baby and have a need. The Crisis Pregnancy Center also offers
free pregnancy tests and counseling is available when needed.
The center is located at 595 Pinecrest Road in Bolingbrook and can be
reached by phone at (630) 739-6684.
- Learning Friends
Learning Friends is a tutoring program designed to match those in need of educational help using volunteer members of our congregation with the talent for teaching. Debbie Prouty currently coordinates this effort, matching the student's needs with the appropriate volunteer tutor and setting up the time and location to meet. We are currently looking for a new Learning Friends coordinator for 2002 and we thank Debbie for her devoted work the past several years.
- Crisis Meals
Crisis Meals offers meals to those in need of assistance due to sickness, new births or family emergencies. There are currently three coordinators who decide if the requests meet the program's criteria for assistance and then call on a list of volunteers to make and deliver the meals. Lynn Shimkus directs the program as well as organizes the coordinator's schedule.
- Bereavement Meals
Bereavement Meals provides and serves light refreshments or a meal for the family and friends after a funeral service. Amy Henry is the current coordinator, serving as a liaison between the church pastor and the family to determine the family's needs at the time.
- FISH
More information about FISH in Bolingbrook
Friendship Church supports this ecumenical organization which helps the needy in our community with emergency food, clothing, money and other items as they are donated by our church as well as other denominations in Bolingbrook. We also have several volunteers from this church who help answer phones, deliver food and provide other transportation as needed.
Music Updated
8/13/2008 Detailed information on the Music program
- Friendship Church provides a rich music ministry in worship.
- Choirs include
the Chancel Choir for adults and high school students, and the Children's
Choir for younger ages. Both women's and men's ensembles sing regularly as well.
In addition, the congregation has many soloists.
- The Praise Band is a contemporary vocal and instrumental praise
ensemble that provides leadership at Sunday 9:00 a.m. services during
September through May and for our combined Summer services at 10:00 a.m..
- Children's and Adult Hand Bell choirs are also available.
Drama
Friendship Church has an active drama ministry both for worship services as well
as full plays.
United Methodist Women
Updated 12/16/2001
The United Methodist Women's
organization at Friendship Church offers women an opportunity to join
together in fellowship and mission.
For more information about the United
Methodist Women, contact the church office at 630 972-1011.
United Methodist Men
The United Methodist Men have a Bible study and breakfast on the first Saturday
of each month. In addition, they bring troubled youth from Chicago to Bolingbrook for
bowling, pizza, and Bible study as an outreach ministry.
Youth Ministries
Updated 12-17-2001 Detailed information about our
Youth Program
Friendship Church has both a Junior and Senior Youth fellowship. Each meets for
Bible study at 7:30 on Tuesday evenings. The Junior YF meets on Sundays at
4:00 to 5:30
p.m. while the Senior YF meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Youth have retreats throughout the
year as well as camps during the summer. Our Youth Ministries Program is under the
direction of Amy Sides, our Director of Youth Ministries. For more information, contact
Amy at the church office at 630-972-1011. Our Youth also maintain
their own Youth Pages
on the website.
Childcare
Friendship Church has nursery care at all worship services. The nursery is
clean and well maintained.
Social Life
Friendship Church believes that God wants Christians to have fun. Accordingly, an
annual church picnic is held in September, an all-church Thanksgiving dinner in November,
a Valentine dinner dance in February, as well as other periodic activities. Shaker
dinners for small groups of diners are made available to the congregation from September
through May.
Sports
A softball league is organized during the summer. Occasional bowling, and golf outings are
also provided.
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