At Friendship Church, children are a vital part of our ministry. We feel children are a gift from God and feel honored to be able to teach and care for them.

Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

Friendship Church connects with children and youth in many ways, not only through our Sunday School programs but also through several music ministries tailored for several different age groups. Special child-friendly programs are held throughout the year, especially at Christmas and Easter. Vacation Bible School highlights our summer programs, not only for our Friendship children but also for children in our Bolingbrook community.

First Friends Christian Preschool

As part of Friendship Church’s ministries, First Friends is a non-denominational Christian Preschool located in Bolingbrook, Illinois. The preschool strongly advocates and supports the Christian values of caring, sharing, and loving. The Christian aspect of the program is visible daily with Bible stories, simple prayer, and song. Religious holidays are observed with explanations and celebrations. For more information, click here.

Sunday School

Sunday School is available during worship to all children from pre-school through Middle School. Children are divided into age appropriate groups and curriculum is taught specific to each child’s ability. Singing, crafts, and Biblical teaching by dedicated and enthusiastic teachers create a spiritual environment for our children as they begin or continue on their faith journey.

Children’s Nursery

The nursery is available for children newborn to age 2. Our mission is to provide a safe, secure environment where our infants and toddlers can be cared for in Christian love as they explore and play. The nursery coordinator and attendants will be available for you to drop off your child fifteen minutes prior to the worship services.

Safe Sanctuary

Safe Sanctuary is implemented in all programs involving children at Friendship Church. All those working directly with children have been screened and have taken the United Methodist Church’s Safe Sanctuary program.

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School will be held in July for kids 4 years old to fifth grade. Stay tuned for more details for the 2023 program.

For more information regarding our Children’s Ministry programs, please contact Theresa Manning-Donahue, Director of Children & Family Ministries, at 630-972-1011 or via email.

Friendship Church Youth Ministries encompass Sunday School, Youth fellowship, and Confirmation. Friendship Youth Fellowship participates in retreats, mission trips, and other service projects throughout the year as well summer outreach activities.

Confirmation

Confirmation Classes is held September through May for 8th graders (or older youth if not already confirmed). Confirmation classes provides the youth the opportunity to learn United Methodist teachings, history, and tradition. Confirmation leads to the opportunity for each youth involved to profess their faith and become members of Friendship Church.

The Scripture that Friendship Youth Ministries strives to live out is 1st Timothy 4:12: “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for other believers in your speech, behavior, love, faithfulness, and purity.”

For more information, please contact the church office at 630-972-1011 or info@friendshipbolingbrook.org.

The purpose of the Faith Formation Ministry is to provide a roadmap for adults, youth, and children to grow as disciples through an Intentional Discipleship System (IDS) and provide spiritual growth options on how to grow in the options provided. Our motto is, “To grow disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of self and the communities we serve.” We are responsible to Christ, Pastor, Church Council, and church attendees who seek to grow as disciples.

Prayerfully and through spiritual discernment, we provide a clearly understood roadmap of the most important spiritual practices to grow in understanding and practices to grow closer to Jesus. Each spiritual practice will have options of what to do to grow as a Christian. Options provided will be personal and solo, and group opportunities. Through self-reflection and awareness, each person will determine where they are and what spiritual work they need to do.

Click here for FUMC Discipleship System

Click here for Definitions of Discipleship

The opportunities to express your musical talents at Friendship Church are many! Make a joyful noise unto the Lord through these many music opportunities.

Friendship Praise Band

Friendship’s Praise Band is a contemporary music ensemble that leads Friendship Methodist Church’s contemporary service worshipers in music. The Band consists of a leader and band members who play keyboard, guitar, electric bass, drum set, and singers. Rehearsal time is one hour before Sunday service each week. The Band supports contemporary worship throughout the year. New members ages 13 and up are always welcome! Rehearsals are Mondays at 7:00 p.m.

Friendship Chancel Choir

Rehearsals are Mondays at 7:00 p.m. in the choir room. The choir sings almost every Sunday from September through May and performs a wide variety of music from contemporary to gospel. No previous musical experience is necessary, just the desire to sing and have fun doing it! Come join in the fun while singing praise to the Lord!

Adult Bell Choir

Any person, 8th grade and older, is invited to come be in the Adult Bell Choir. You do not have to be able to read music; just have the desire to ring bells. If you aren’t sure if playing bells is for you, come and try it out.

Negro Spirituals Project

Let's show our support for black music and musicians with money collected each and every time we sing a Negro Spiritual in our worship service. We will "pay respect where respect is due" with our offerings and "royalties" to be given for financial assistance and scholarships for black music students. Donations may be placed in the Sanctuary basket or by giving online.

If you have questions regarding our Music Ministries, please contact John Douglas, Director of Music, via email.

Praying

Praying for your loved ones, family, friends is powerful and provides spiritual uplift. Contact the church office at 630-972-1011 or info@friendshipbolingbrook.org if you would like us to be in prayer for you.

Caring Christians

Caring Christians is a group formed to support our church’s members and friends in times of both celebration and concern. Many hearts and souls are touched by the care offered through this ministry. One aspect of the group is a card ministry. Our Card Ministry group remembers members and friends during happy, sad, or difficult times. A special card is a gentle reminder that one is never alone. Caring Christians is also available for hospital visitation, hosting funeral receptions, giving rides to medical appointments or emergencies for those who are unable to drive themselves, providing meals to those ill or recovering from surgery or childbirth and providing telephone ministry. Another offshoot of Caring Christians provides a “handy-person” service to our seniors. Caring Christians motto: “We are only a phone call away. We are there when you need someone. Please feel comfortable to allow us to help you, if needed. We care!”

The mission of the United Methodist Church is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” We do this through servant leadership in the following ministries. The Outreach & Missions Committee of Friendship United Methodist Church strives to transform that part of the world that Christ has honored us to be in. We are servants of Christ who are seeking to have a positive and productive impact locally, nationally, and globally.

We welcome your input, volunteerism, and support as we seek opportunities to serve and grow in missions.

Daybreak Food Ministry

Join us in serving Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast on the 3rd Friday to Saturday of the month. Email Richard Guzman at rrguzman@comcast.net for questions, donations, and serving.

Operated by Catholic Charities the Daybreak Shelter in Joliet, IL, provides food, shelter and counseling to the homeless and those in need. 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 insure all the food required has been provided. Church members and volunteers are scheduled to serve two meals on the third Friday evening and Saturday morning of each month serving at each meal an average of 50-60 people.

Learn more about Daybreak by viewing a video here

Micro Food Pantry

The Micro Food Pantry is available 24/7 at the church’s north entrance. With the spirit of “Take what you need, leave what you can,” this neighbors helping neighbors ministry started in 2020. Please drop off your donations under the Micro Pantry. Current most needed items are peanut butter, cereals, and canned fruit.

West Suburban Food Pantry

Please drop off your donations in the West Suburban Community Pantry donation basket at the Information Station. Most needed items: laundry detergent, paper towels, and toilet paper.

J.E.D.I. (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion)

Join us on the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. (Please contact the church office for meeting ID and password.) We seek to help our church become the Beloved Community by doing justice, seeking fairness, embracing diversity and inclusion, and growing closer to God and each other.

The goals of this ministry are to learn more as ministry members about the history and meaning of the fight for greater justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, to help deepen the faith understanding of our congregation and community about what it means to love each other and all our neighbors, and to take action steps to increase conditions of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in our society, and to stand against those things that decrease them.

Friendship Church is involved in the local community by participating, sponsoring, and facilitating local organizations and groups.

Community Prayer Walk - “Building Our Faith, Caring for Our Community“

Join us for our next Community Prayer Walk. We try to gather once a month after worship (May through September) and walk in communities surrounding the church. We put a sign up at the entrance of the community the week before we walk to let residents know what we plan to do. Everyone (member or attendee of the church or anyone in the community) is invited and welcomed to participate. We walk around and stop periodically and pray for the residents of the community. If someone approaches us, we will stop and pray with/for them. We are striving to be a community church where residents know who we are and feel comfortable coming to our church. We also believe in the power of prayer and pray that something that we say or do will encourage those who may see us or that we have an opportunity to talk to. Please dress comfortably and wear comfortable walking shoes. For more information and questions, please contact Amania Drane via email.

PFLAG

Join us for Meetings are every 2nd Sunday of the month at 2:00PM at Friendship Church. The missions of PFLAG is to envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. We hope to unite people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) with families, friends, and allies. Learn more at www.PFLAGIL.org or info@PFLAGillinois.org.

Alcoholic Anonymous

Friendship Church provides meeting facilities for a local Alcoholic’s Anonymous group. Meetings are on Saturdays mornings at 9:00 a.m. Contact the church office for more details.

Gamblers Anonymous

Friendship Church provides meeting facilities for a local Gamblers Anonymous group. Meetings are on Friday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Contact the church office for more details.

Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts

Friendship Church sponsors two local troops for both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The groups include members of Friendship Church and those in our Bolingbrook Community. Service projects are done by both organizations and the church building, both outside and inside, have benefited by the exemplary work done by our Scouts. During the year, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are honored in worship on their respective Scouting Sundays.

United Methodist Women ~ United Women in Faith

Our United Women in Faith ministry shows special attention to the needs of women, children, and youth around the world and works to improve their lives. We are advocates for social justice issues and also gather for faith and fellowship. United Women in Faith is “faith, hope and love in action!” Participation in UMW/UWF is open to all women!

A recent UWF video directs us to act boldly! It says, “Acting boldly means having the faith, strength and grace to change the world. It means working together to improve lives. It means standing up for social justice and working to make changes that will last when we put our love into action, together!” This is what our UMW/UWF works to do here at Friendship Church. Listed below are some of our most important ongoing mission projects.

Friendship Micro-Pantry

Our micro pantry provides immediate food assistance 24/7 for anyone who needs it. It is a community mission project. The motto of micro pantries is “Take what you need, leave what you can.” No questions asked! Our pantry is located outside the north side church entrance door.  Non-perishable food item donations are welcome 24/7. Just leave your donations in or under the pantry.  Our pantry managers come daily and will then take care of getting items into the pantry. The most needed items are hearty canned soups/pastas and canned meats/tuna although any donation is welcomed! Personal hygiene items and household cleaning items are also needed and welcomed!  

Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project

We host and provide volunteers for Citizenship Workshops each year for SSIP, located in Bolingbrook. These workshops are the first step in the process for immigrants to become U.S. citizens. SSIP volunteers are always needed and training is provided. We also host and promote other SSIP activities during the year as we partner with SSIP. Our immigrant population is important to us!  

Valley View School District

Food and clothing needs for homeless and needful students and families in our community schools are continuous. Look for opportunities during the year to donate and volunteer to help in our church announcements. When our school district has specific needs we are asked to help and we are ready to help! Whether it is food assistance, clothing items, or warm winter hats and mittens it is our mission to support students and their families to help get them back on their feet following tough times in their lives. This is one of our most important mission projects.  

Equal Exchange Fair Trade Products and UMCOR Coffees

Sales of these delicious fair trade products support small farmers all over the world as they build a better future for themselves and their families. Our main items include coffees, teas, and chocolate items such as cocoa and candy bars. You may purchase items, and there are many more, any time in the church hallway cabinet across from the sanctuary doors. The full range of Equal Exchange items may also be purchased on Sunday mornings before and after the worship service several times each month! The money we collect from our fair trade sales goes to support other social justice ministry projects in our church, our community and around the world through United Women in Faith.

Social Events and Activities

We share our stories, have small group patio chats, and other fun activities each year to have fellowship with other women at Friendship Church and beyond! All women are invited to participate in any activity United Women in Faith provides. Our goal is to get all women involved and build new and stronger relationships with our friends in faith! Find our fellowship activities throughout the year publicized on our church website and in our church announcements.

We will be glad to answer any questions and provide more information for any of our ministries! Please contact Jane Pierce via email or Dena Byrd via email.

Senior Luncheon

Senior Lunch has returned! The Senior Lunch Ladies are back in business! Every third Thursday (unless it’s a holiday) our cooks will create a lunch and deliver it to your front door, or you can drive up to the church for curbside pickup. No contact necessary! All food will be prepared with CDC guidelines. Call the church office at 630-972-1011 to reserve your meal. You can let them know at that time your preference of curbside pickup or delivery. We are so excited to offer this program again. We wish we could be together at Friendship but for now, we send our blessings for good health!

Women’s Bible Study

All women are welcome to attend on Wednesdays at 10:45AM for an informal, casual discussion of Christian literature, the Bible, or topics of general interest. Women’s Bible Study requires little preparation but much discussion, sharing, fun, and food. If interested, please sign up at the Information Station. For more information, contact the church office.