# Hi Friends Family! | Weekly Update 5-3-26 - From: Friends Church | East Richland — Weekly Update - Sent: May 1, 2026 (2026-05-01T22:05:55.070Z) - Web version: https://erfriends.flowforth.co/emails/weekly-update/8221 - More emails: https://erfriends.flowforth.co/emails/weekly-update --- [![Logo](https://churchusercontent.com/api/image-proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fauth.churchspace.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Forganization-assets%2Feb8d7634-c8fd-4e80-9181-5bdb2ca41196%2FFriends_Church_Branding_2024-10_1_2025-12-30T21-22-26-407Z.png)](https://erfriends.com) --- ## Hi Friends Family! Can you believe it's May already!? Are you looking forward to the school year being over? How about all the things summer brings? I absolutely love summer! Long days, warm nights, toads, sunsets, giggles, bubbles, popcicles, campfires, fishing, golfing, backporch swinging.... ok I think you get it :) I know, though, May brings some complicated feelings with it. I cried the whole month of May when my Ally was finishing preschool. She was my last kiddo, and I just was not ready for that sweet season to be over! And then, I feel you parents out there graduating your seniors... that's a whole thing too! And those of you out there in our schools, we applaud all of you counting down the days and looking forward to the pause of summer to reset and refresh. ...Mother's Day has its feels too; depending on your relationship with your own mom or kids, or painful losses and circumstances. ...Memorial Day has its memories. And I know there are those for whom May is just another page on the calendar. Yet, here we all are, walking through life together at Friends Church. Can we pray for each other? Can we celebrate each other's different wins and sympathize with each other's difficult things? This is what we get to do living on mission, valuing the ways of Jesus - we get to see each other, carry burdens when necessary, celebrate the joys, and simply be present as we all live through the different seasons life brings. We learn a bit more of this way of living from Paul's words to the Romans: ...*Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer; share with the saints in their needs...* *rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep...* [(Romans 12:9-21)](https://www.esv.org/Romans+12/). Praying you are blessed in unexpected ways this May as you notice and step into moments to connect with others. See you Sunday, ~ Amy & Your Friends Church Staff Team **Coming up:** **National Day of Prayer** - This Thursday, 12:00pm at the Belmont County Courthouse. **Graduate Sunday** - May 17. Have a senior to celebrate? [Click here to sign up](https://erfriends.churchcenter.com/registrations/signups/3576656). **Royal Family Kids Camp** - June 8-12. See the sign-up below! Or click the give button to support financially. Will you pray with us for all these dear little ones and those giving their time? **Dad Camp** - June 19-20. Details and sign-ups coming soon! **VBS** - June 22-26. Kids' Sign-ups are open! Servant Team sign-ups are growing! What a week it's going to be as we focus on Jesus as the Light of the World! (sign-ups below) **Friends Youth Camp** - July 13-17 at Camp Muskingum for students entering 7th grade through graduating seniors. [Click here to sign up.](https://erfriends.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3602197) --- **If there is suffering or confusion, anchor yourself in the relationship you have in Jesus.** [![](https://churchusercontent.com/api/image-proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fauth.churchspace.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Forganization-assets%2Feb8d7634-c8fd-4e80-9181-5bdb2ca41196%2FUntitled_design_2_2026-05-01T19-23-20-823Z.png)](https://youtube.com/shorts/p43QFFprw3M?feature=share) --- **East Richland Christian School News** Pray for all of our teachers as they close out the year and our school staff as dear friends retire, others take on new roles, and still others join us in new positions. [Click here for the May Newsletter](https://eastrichland.org/newsletters) --- [Weekly Bulletin](https://auth.churchspace.co/storage/v1/object/public/organization-assets/eb8d7634-c8fd-4e80-9181-5bdb2ca41196/May_3_2026_Bulletin_2_2026-05-01T19-24-09-790Z.pdf) [Give](https://erfriends.com/giving/) [Newsletter](https://auth.churchspace.co/storage/v1/object/public/organization-assets/eb8d7634-c8fd-4e80-9181-5bdb2ca41196/May_2026_Newsletter_2026-04-25T14-33-16-505Z.pdf) --- **Watch the livestream** [**here**](https://erfriends.com/live/) **Watch & listen to past messages** [**here**](https://erfriends.com/watch-listen/) **Read Philippians 2:12-30** [**here**](https://www.esv.org/Philippians+2/) --- **If your week wasn’t such a good one,** **or you have a praise to share,** **click the button below;** **we would love to pray for you.** [Prayer Request](https://erfriends.churchcenter.com/people/forms/335412) --- [![](https://churchusercontent.com/api/image-proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fauth.churchspace.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Forganization-assets%2Feb8d7634-c8fd-4e80-9181-5bdb2ca41196%2Fpco-imports%2F2026-03-31T22-21-37-563Z-6ed28666-b961-47ef-a6ea-4d84be785bb4.jpg)](https://erfriends.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3437867) ## Sign up to Serve or Click to Give **Royal Family KIDS** serves children in hard places. These kiddos have often seen the world at its worst. Many carry trauma they didn’t ask for, and struggle to trust adults. Through Royal Family Kids Camp, one week each summer and mentoring throughout the rest of the year, children are paired with committed adults who demonstrate the love of Jesus. **Whether you pray, give, or commit to being a counselor with Royal Family KIDS camp, you make it possible for more children to receive love and build memories that last a lifetime. Thank you!** **When: June 6-12** **Where: TBA** **Requirements for Camp Counselors: Background check & interview with Camp Directors.** Please register by May 1st. [Give](https://erfriends.churchcenter.com/giving) [Serve](https://erfriends.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3437867) --- [![](https://churchusercontent.com/api/image-proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fauth.churchspace.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Forganization-assets%2Feb8d7634-c8fd-4e80-9181-5bdb2ca41196%2Fpco-imports%2F2026-04-17T17-23-54-654Z-c411db3f-c530-40cd-9ed3-1f689cd35249.jpg)](https://erfriends.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3585584) ## VBS Child Registration At **Illumination Station VBS**, kids will explore how the bible reveals who Jesus truly is. Each day points them to the truth that Jesus is the Light of the World–the promised, powerful Son of God who brings forgiveness and hope. **When:** **June 22-26** **8:00am to 12:00pm** **Please sign your child up for the grade that they just completed.** [Sign-up!](https://erfriends.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3585584) [![](https://churchusercontent.com/api/image-proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fauth.churchspace.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Forganization-assets%2Feb8d7634-c8fd-4e80-9181-5bdb2ca41196%2Fpco-imports%2F2026-04-17T17-23-55-137Z-0c8d5316-e93d-4736-a424-4de598f63f68.jpg)](https://erfriends.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3468827) ## VBS Servant Team Signups! VBS is one of the most impactful weeks of our entire year! Whether you love being up front with kids, working behind the scenes, helping create the environment, or supporting with details, there is a place for you to jump in and make a difference. **VBS Week:** June 22–26 | 8:00 AM – Noon **Set Up Days:** June 20–21 **Tear Down:** Friday, June 26 (immediately after VBS) Let’s come together as a church family and serve the next generation with joy, excellence, and purpose. We would love for you to be part of it! [Serve](https://erfriends.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3468827)