News & Events

Please contact programs@friends-ucc.org to highlight your announcements on this page!

YEAR-LONG BIBLE STUDY: SEPT. 8

Year-Long Weekly Bible Study, Sept. 8: Join us for a 48-week study going through the entire Bible, meeting weekly at Friends Church: Mondays at 11:30am, or Tuesdays at 6:30pm. Whether the midday offering on Mondays or the evening one on Tuesdays fits best with your schedule, you are welcome to attend either. The readings for Week 30 (Sept. 8) are Second Samuel, chapters 11-24; First Chronicles, chapters 20-29; Psalms 32, 51, 93; Second Thessalonians, the whole book; John, chapters 9-10. Note: Due to Labor Day falling on Sept. 7, the Monday class will not be offered this week; only the Tuesday class will meet, 6:30pm, Sept. 8. For more information, contact Pastor Dan.

MENTAL HEALTH WALKS W/ PASTOR BROOKE ON TUESDAYS:

The weekly Mental Health Walks w/ Pastor Brooke will be Tuesdays at 5pm. We meet at Wolf Pen Creek Park in the parking lot next to the playground. For more details, reach out to Pastor Brooke: pastorbrooke@friends-ucc.org.

SUNDAY SCHOOL IS BACK:

Here’s info about weekly faith formation and spiritual development for children, youth, and adults.

Children: grades K-2 — Teachers: Anne Wehrly & Doris Machinski
- Location : First classroom next to kitchen (North side)
Children: grades 3-5 — Teachers: Hannah Alexander & Isaac Montgomery
- Location: Music room next to childcare
Youth: grades 6-12 — Teachers: Mary Howell & Robin Miller
- Location: End of hall by kitchen (North side)
Adults: Social Justice Class — Coordinators: Jodie Robinson & Nancy Bertsch
- Location: Left side of double classroom across from church office
Adults: Morning Manna — Teacher: Trent Williams
- Location: Right side of double classroom across from church office

SOCIAL JUSTICE CLASS

The Social Justice Class is reading The Tears of Things, by Richard Rohr, All are welcome to join in the discussion, whether you've read the book or not

MORNING MANNA

Morning Manna, our adult Bible study class on Sunday mornings, gathers at 10am on the right side of the divided classroom. This fall, we will be studying Rachel Held Evans' book "Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again." We will also weave in Amy-Jill Levine's new book "Genesis: A Beginner's Guide to the Beginning." All are welcome to join us, whether you've read the book or not

NEW MEMBER SUNDAY, SEPT. 20: At Friends Congregational Church, membership is not about joining an institution, but about being a part of a movement of people committed to the Christ-centered work of doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God and one another. If you are interested in joining this community of faith on our next New Member Sunday, becoming a member of Friends Church in either the 9am or 11am service on Sunday, September 20, contact Senior Pastor Dan De Leon at pastor@friends-ucc.org.

SAVE THE DATE: CREATION JUSTICE CHURCH CONGREGATION PHOTO, SEPT. 13:

In celebration of Friends becoming a Creation Justice Church, please stay after the 11 am service on Sunday, September 13th to be photographed with our new Creation Justice Church Banner. We will gather around the fountain directly after the service to organize for a quick photo. This image will be used on our website and may be used in other materials to celebrate and promote our commitment to protecting and preserving God's Creation.

GENDER AFFIRMING SUPPORT GROUP, SEPT. 14

The Gender Affirming Support Group will be held offsite at the Carabiner Collection Library, in the Francesca Building in Downtown Bryan, from 630 till 830 pm.

STRONGER TOGETHER: COMMUNITY HUNGER SUMMIT, SEPT. 22

Brazos Hunger Solutions (of which Friends is a member) will host a hunger-free community summit, Stronger Together: Collective Action for Food Insecurity on September 22nd at the Brazos Center, 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The purpose of this free summit is to bring together the community to identify priorities for a strategic plan, establish action teams, and lay a foundation for future mutually reinforcing activities for systemic change to end hunger in Brazos County. The Brazos Hunger Solutions Board invites you to register here: https://bit.ly/4cJYZHw. Address questions about the summit to Anne Wehrly, board member at awehrly@suddenlink.net.

BE AN ACOLYTE:

All children aged 8 and up are welcome to join us in assisting in church services, brining light and spirit to our worship. Children younger than 8 can participate with an adult partner. Sign up via the sheet in the narthex and online using, https://bit.ly/FriendsAcolytes.

SEEKING MORE SOUL FRIENDS FACILITATORS:

In March, we relaunched our small groups ministry, Soul Friends. Five groups of 8 to 10 people have been gathering twice monthly for guided conversations that deepen our spirituality and our relationships with one another as a church family. It’s going so well that we need additional facilitators to make another group or two possible in the near future. Soul Friends facilitators and/or co-facilitators communicate with the small groups in their care (announce gathering times and locations, provide helpful info and follow-ups) and lead the group’s meetings. Pastor Dan and Pastor Trent provide facilitator training and support. To volunteer to be a small groups facilitator or to get more info, contact Pastor Dan (pastor@friends-ucc.org) or Pastor Trent (pastortrent@friends-ucc.org).

JOIN THE FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE:

The Fellowship committee is a vibrant entity of Friends Church. If you are looking for a place to plug in here at Friends, we would love for you to join us. As there are many fellowship events throughout the year, we would welcome your input. For more information, email Sally at manthei_sally@aol.com.

VOLUNTEER WITH THE FRIENDS CHURCH YOUTH GROUP:

We are looking for folks who are interested in helping with the Friends Church Youth Group, either volunteering at Kairos gatherings on Sunday evenings, providing dinner, joining for off-site activities, or with the garden project. Reach out to Pastor Brooke for more details.