The Mission Continues - SFCOG Update for 10/29

Missions Sunday is Coming!

 

 

Our Church Mission continues to be “Loving God, Loving His Family, and Loving our Neighbors.”

This Sunday we will get to hear from a member of our own Church Family who Loves God and is passionate about showing love to young adult Neighbors in the Mid-Atlantic region. As we celebrate Missions Sunday this weekend, Phil Schiavoni will bring an update from CCO ministries and a word from Scripture.

 

To sign up for Phil’s weekly newsletter, visit this link: https://ccojubilee.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=bc4160ba4363a04e3011ab0dd&id=53e59e9dba

 

There will also be a combined Sunday School time in the sanctuary featuring Andrea Myers with “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” and reports from some of our other Compelled to Serve partners. That afternoon, the Cumberland Valley Mission Celebration will be held at the Carlisle First Church of God from 3:00-4:30, followed by a light meal.

 

*Since this is a 5^th Sunday, children will be able to worship with their parents during the second service and learn about our ministry partnership. There will still be nursery available, but no elementary programs at 11:00.

 

It is exciting to be part of a group of believers that desires to see God’s Love and the Gospel of Jesus shared both near and far with people from all backgrounds, in a variety of eternity-changing ways! Join us in worship on Sunday (or online) as we take some time to celebrate what God is doing through our ministry partners.

 

Upcoming Events

 

 

• We will be having two sessions of Grief Share’s “Surviving the Holidays” ministry. This one-time event is designed to support individuals who are facing these holidays without loved-ones who have passed away. The dates are November 2 and December 4, and both sessions will cover the same material. More information can be found in the Gathering Place. Please call the church office to pre-register (717-532-8421).

 

• Our Church Bonfire is next Saturday, November 4 at 5:00 pm. This will be held at Winsome Farm in Newville and there will be something for everyone, including food, activities, and contests. For more information, see the sign-up sheets in your Sunday School class, the Gathering Place or the children’s ministry area.

 

• Congregational Meeting is November 5^th at 6:00pm. Join us to hear exciting updates about Cross Roads Station, the annual budget presentation, and participate in elections. Agendas have been emailed to you, and will also be found in your church mailboxes.

 

• On November 12, at 2:00 on a Sunday Afternoon, we will be having a “Kitchen Shower” to provide furnishings for the new Kitchen at Cross Roads Station. You can help us prepare our new kitchen by taking a “raindrop” from the umbrella located in the Gathering Place. There are many different items in different price ranges that need to be purchased to stock the kitchen. Thank you to everyone who has already participated!

 

Christmas Preparations

 

• Keep packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child so we can reach our goal of 600! National Collection Week will be November 13-20. Our shoeboxes will be dedicated during our worship on November 19.

 

• Poinsettia order forms can be found in the Gathering Place, Sunday School rooms, and near the Childrens check-in area.

 

• Our annual Christmas Market will be held on December 2 from 4:00-8:00 in connection with the Shippensburg Christmas Parade. Vendor spaces are still available!

 

 

Prayer Updates

Thanks to everyone who participated in the special prayer service this past Sunday. It was so good to be together to pray for the needs of our Church Family and our World!

 

Pastor Gary’s procedure yesterday determined that some progress is being made, but very slowly. The area of infection is getting smaller and draining a bit naturally, but more healing is still needed. Pray for continued strength and for the antibiotics to work effectively.

 

Mick Martin returned home from the hospital. Pray for continued recovery as he has had some adjustments to medication, and praise the Lord that his heart and lungs are all good.

 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

    where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

    the Maker of heaven and earth.

-Psalm 121:1-2

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

 

Helpful Links:

Website (shipfcog.org)

Online Messages (shipfcog.org)

Online Giving (shipfcog.org)

Care Groups & Sunday School Classes

 

Weekly Order of Worship and FYI Newsletter (updated over the weekend)

shipfcog.net/site/shipfcog/shipnews/index.html

 

 

November 5th Congregational Meeting Agenda

Church Family,

Attached is the agenda for the November 5^th Congregational Meeting. 

Thanks,

Sonja

 

Church Secretary

Sonja Shively

Shippensburg First Church of God

Email Secretary@shipfcog.org

Office Phone 717.532.8421

 

SFCOG Prayer Update

Good morning Church Family,

Pastor Gary asks for your prayers this morning as he faces another procedure at 10:00. He will learn more details about the results of yesterday's CT scan when they arrive for the procedure. Pray that his infection can safely be resolved and healing can continue.

Thanks for joining us in prayer,
Pastor Rodney

SFCOG Prayer Update

Hello Church Family,

Mick Martin is in Carlisle Hospital facing some tests and procedures to determine the cause of shortness of breath that has persisted for several weeks. He and Dottie welcome your prayers.

Pastor Gary will have a scan tomorrow to monitor the condition of the infection in his pancreas. Pray that it has improved, and pray for continued perseverance and patience.

Thanks for praying,

Pastor Rodney

Special Prayer Time

Hello Church Family,

We would like to invite everyone who can make it to join in a special time of corporate prayer for Pastor Gary, at 12:15 tomorrow (10/22).

We will meet in the sanctuary following the regular morning worship activities. Please join us in person (or wherever you are at that time) to lift Gary up before our Lord. Feel free to pass the word along and invite others to join with us in praying for healing.

"But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds."
-‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73‬:‭28‬

In prayer,
Pastor Rodney

Prayer Update

Good morning, Church Family,

Pastor Gary will face another procedure today. Yesterday's procedure was able to accomplish some of the things the GI doctors had hoped for, but not everything. His family shared that the surgeon anticipates multiple procedures will be needed over the next few months.

They are claiming Psalm 41 as a source of inspiration and encouragement today-

"Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. The Lord protects and preserves them— they are counted among the blessed in the land— he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness…

"Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever. Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen."

-‭‭Psalms‬ ‭41‬:‭1-3, 12‬-‭13‬ 

As a matter of praise, Deb Booz shared that her Nephew's biopsy results came back Cancer Free—Hallelujah!

Joining with you all in prayer,

Pastor Rodney

‭‭

Stillness & Fullness. SFCOG Updates for 10/22

Sunday is Coming!

 

Do you need some more stillness in your life?

 

 

This weekend, we will look at what is perhaps the most famous Psalm, Psalm 23.

 

The 23^rd Psalm is often heard at funerals, when we contemplate the end of life… but really it offers a poetic vision of how to experience the fullness of life here and now. It shows how “Life to the Full” that can be found through Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Central to this, is the theme of quietness and stillness, no matter where the pathway takes us--

 

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 

Consider all the expectations or demands we face in our society—employers expect us to show up, be on time, clock hours, work hard, be productive, have a good attitude, and put on a happy face through it all, even if you’re tired, exhausted, and spread thin… Our schools, neighbors, church groups, friends, & family members may have additional expectations or demands for us.

 

In contrast, what does our Shepherd expect from us?

Well actually, we first see that He is the one that gives us everything we need, we lack nothing, there are no demands!

…the only demand God makes of us, according to Verse 2: “He makes me lie down”

 

Wouldn’t you love to go to work or school and find out that the only item on the agenda was “Nap Time” ??

That’s it, that’s the assignment for today—go lie down in green pastures. That’s your work order—take a nap.

 

The Hebrew more closely says-- “He causes me to lie down” It’s not that God demands it, but He creates the space, the opportunity, and the circumstances where it can happen. In God’s presences, He makes rest possible.

 

Jesus also says in Matthew 11:28,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

 

If we follow Him, Our Lord will lead us to safety and stillness, where we can comfortably rest. Yes, we may traverse dark valleys and pass by enemies along the way, but His Goodness and Love will follow us through it all.

 

In obedience to our King, our Shepherd, we must follow him, and he wants to lead us to quiet places. Verse 3 tells us, “He refreshes my soul.”

 

Do you need refreshed today? I know I do!

 

Join us in worship on Sunday (or online) as we take some time to be refreshed in God’s Presence, reflecting on His Word and His leading.

 

Upcoming Events

 

• On October 29^th, we will celebrate Mission Sunday. Phil Schiavoni will bring an update from CCO ministries and a word from Scripture. There will also be a combined Sunday School time in the sanctuary. That afternoon, the Cumberland Valley Mission Celebration will be held at the Carlisle First Church of God from 3:00-4:30, followed by a light meal.

 

• Our Church Bonfire has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 4 at 5:00 pm. This will be held at Winsome Farm in Newville and there will be something for everyone, including food, activities, and contests. For more information, see the sign-up sheets in your Sunday School class, the Gathering Place or the children’s ministry area.

 

• Congregational Meeting is November 5^th at 6:00pm. Join us to hear exciting updates about Cross Roads Station, the annual budget presentation, and participate in elections.

 

• On November 12, at 2:00 on a Sunday Afternoon, we will be having a “Kitchen Shower” to provide furnishings for the new Kitchen at Cross Roads Station. You can help us prepare our new kitchen by taking a “raindrop” from the umbrella located in the Gathering Place. There are many different items in different price ranges that need to be purchased to stock the kitchen.

 

Christmas Preparations

 

• We will be having two sessions of Grief Share’s “Surviving the Holidays” ministry. This one-time event is designed to support individuals who are facing these holidays without loved-ones who have passed away. The dates are November 2 and December 4, and both sessions will cover the same material. More information can be found in the Gathering Place.

 

• Keep packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child so we can reach our goal of 600! National Collection Week will be November 13-20. Our shoeboxes will be dedicated during our worship on November 19.

 

• Poinsettia order forms can be found in the Gathering Place, Sunday School rooms, and near the Childrens check-in area.

 

• Our annual Christmas Market will be held on December 2 from 4:00-8:00 in connection with the Shippensburg Christmas Parade. Vendor spaces are still available!

 

 

Prayer Updates

• Pastor Gary will face a very involved procedure in Hershey Medical Center this afternoon at 3:00.

Pray for healing, safety, strength, and wisdom for his family and doctors, and that his body will respond well to the procedure. It will still be a very long road to recovery.

 

 

We trust that our Good Shepherd will lead us on the right paths, for His name’s sake, and that his goodness and love will follow us—each of us—until we dwell in his house forever.

Let us find rest in Him today.

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

 

Helpful Links:

Website (shipfcog.org)

Online Messages (shipfcog.org)

Online Giving (shipfcog.org)

Care Groups & Sunday School Classes

 

Weekly Order of Worship and FYI Newsletter (updated over the weekend)

shipfcog.net/site/shipfcog/shipnews/index.html

 

SFCOG Prayer Updates

Hello Church Family,

 

Here are a few praises and updates to some prayer needs that we have been sharing--

 

• Carol Bodah’s was released from the hospital last week without needing to be admitted. Her dizziness resolved and she is feeling gradually better. She is thankful for the prayers of the church family.

 

• Deb Booz said her nephew, Josh, is recovering at home from cancer surgery and awaiting biopsy results. Deb appreciates your prayers for her family! Please continue to pray for healing for Josh, and all those facing cancer treatments.

 

• Pray for Chuck Luzby as he recovers from a leg injury due to a fall. He is appreciative of our prayers.

 

• Pastor Gary will probably be heading back to Hershey today, as his stomach is still not able to keep anything down. He had a follow-up appointment yesterday that indicated that he is still in the acute phase of pancreatitis, but is making some progress, though it will still be a long journey with more procedures to come. His family asks for continued strength and wisdom for planning for all of them, and of course, continued prayer for healing.  Joyce said, “We are so grateful for your continued prayers and love. We have seen His faithfulness over and over.”

 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

-Psalm 23:4-6

 

Praying with you all, and trusting in the goodness and love of our Shepherd,

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

SFCOG prayer updates

Hello Church Family,

Please keep Carol Bodah in your prayers. She is in the hospital to get checked out after a fall.

Pastor Gary may be returning home today, but still has a long road to recovery. He may know more on Monday after a follow up appointment and additional scan.

Thank you for praying,

Pastor Rodney

Fall Bonfire Postponed Due to Weather

Hello Church Family,

The fall bonfire scheduled for this Saturday, October 14^th from 5-9 p.m. has been postponed due to rain in the forecast.  It has been rescheduled to Saturday, November 4^th.  The location (Winsome Farm) and the times (5-9 p.m.) will remain the same.  New sign-up sheets will be placed in the Sunday school classrooms, The Gathering Place, and the Children’s Ministries area.  Even if you signed up previously, the Outreach Committee is asking that you please sign up on the new sheets so they can get a new count of who will be attending and what food item each person or family will be taking. 

Thanks,

Sonja

 

Church Secretary

Sonja Shively

Shippensburg First Church of God

Email Secretary@shipfcog.org

Office Phone 717.532.8421

 

Pastor Appreciation

Church Family,

The month of October is Pastor Appreciation month, and we would like to recognize Pastor Rodney and Pastor Gary on Sunday, October 29th.  You may help us recognize them by giving them cards of appreciation.  However, instead of each person/family giving them the cards individually, we would like to gather the cards from the church family and then present them to the pastors collectively at both worship services on the 29th. If you would like to be a part of this, you may place your cards in the “Church Secretary” mailbox in The Gathering Place, or you may mail them to the church office.   

Thanks so much,

Sonja

 

 

Church Secretary

Sonja Shively

Shippensburg First Church of God

Email Secretary@shipfcog.org

Office Phone 717.532.8421

 

SFCOG Prayer Updates

Hello Church Family,

 

Here are a few updates and additional matters for your prayers today—

 

• Deb Booz requests prayer for her nephew, Joshua today. Joshua will be having a 4-5 hour surgery this morning related to stage two skin cancer.

 

• Ericka Kalp returned home yesterday and is recovering after her heart surgery. She is doing well and resting.

 

• Pastor Gary’s family and doctors are optimistic and hopeful, but his recovery is still a slower process as they see how his body responds to various steps of reintroducing food to his system. Continue to pray for peace and patience.

 

• Continue to remember the workers at Cross Roads Station in your prayers. This has been a very busy week with putting up drywall inside, bricks outside, and many other jobs. It will be exciting to see the process moving towards completion in the next few months! Pray for continued safety and efficiency for the workers.

 

 

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;

    my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,

    for he has been good to me.

-Psalm 13

 

Our all-church Bonfire is scheduled for this Saturday. Our outreach committee is watching the weather and will make a decision tomorrow regarding whether to proceed as planned or postpone the event for another weekend.

 

I encourage you to consider joining us tonight for Community Night if you haven’t done so lately. There’s something for all ages beginning at 6:30!

Shippensburg First Church of God | WEDNESDAY COMMUNITY NIGHT (shipfcog.org)

 

Joining you in prayer,

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

Pray for Pastor Gary at 3:00

Hello Church Family,

Pastor Gary's family shared that Gary will be having a procedure at 3:00 today dealing with some pockets of fluid around his pancreas. They may do some other things during the procedure, but won't know until they see more. Gary would really appreciate if the church family would be praying for him at that time.

Please take a moment wherever you are around 3:00 to remember Pastor Gary in prayer.

Thank you,
Pastor Rodney

SFCOG Prayer Needs

Hello Church family,

It was wonderful to praise the Majestic Name of our Lord Jesus together this morning. We know our Creator God has revealed to us that he is our Heavenly Father who invites us to bring our requests before Him, trusting in His power and goodness to meet our needs according to His will. Here are some needs we invite you to lift up to our Father on behalf of our church Family:

-Pastor Gary Hornbaker is being admitted to Hershey Hospital again due to continuing complications related to pancreatitis. Pray for continued strength and peace, for wisdom for his doctors, and for healing.

-Pray also for Joyce Hornbaker as she continues radiation treatments and has doctors appointments of her own.

-Please pray for Erica Kalp who will be traveling to UPenn Hospital in Philadelphia for heart surgery to correct arrhythmia. Please keep her husband, Joe, and their 4 children, Victoria, Isaiah, Josiah, and Lydia in your prayers also.

-Continue to pray for the many individuals facing cancer at various stages.

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

-‭‭Psalms‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭2‬

Let us remember what wonderful things God has done, and trust that He will do it again, in keeping with His timing and His will. 

Pastor Rodney

Stargazing! SFCOG updates for 10-8

Sunday is Coming and Fall is in the air!

 

There are many things to love about Fall!

Besides the colorful leaves, cozy temperatures, and family activities, one of the things I love most about fall is Stargazing!

 

The upside of earlier sunsets, is that there is more time to look at the starry heavens. I have been interested in the night sky for all of my life. As I learned about the constellations, I used to have a little star chart I would use to try to identify what I was seeing. It took me a while to realize that up in the real heavens, things were much bigger than my tiny map--most constellations in the night sky look bigger than my house! And of course, in reality, the stars are millions of light years apart and many are larger than our own sun! This has made me reflect on how God is so much Bigger than our perceptions.

 

As we continue to think about prayer styles as presented in the Psalms, this weekend we reflect on how God’s Grandness seen in creation can become an avenue for prayer and worship. We will read a famous Psalm, Psalm 8, which connects the beauty of heaven, to the praise of God found on the lips of children, and the place of honor he has given to us mere mortals--

 

1 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.

2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

 

David was a stargazer. I can picture young David, sitting out under the night sky, watching sheep. Maybe counting sheep? To avoid falling asleep, he looks at the Heavens and ponders the stars. He is moved to prayer and worship. And then writes this Psalm-- Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

 

Looking at the stars puts things into perspective—it might make us feel small and insignificant. But it can also cause us to feel reverent, and move our hearts to worship the Creator. And when we know the story of Jesus as revealed in scripture, we are reminded that our Great Big God has noticed us and come to dwell among us!

 

The New Testament writers saw in this Psalm another messianic prediction of Jesus. The writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 2:6-9—

6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? 7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor 8 and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

 

Jesus, the One True Righteous Person, the Messiah, crowned with Glory and Honor, suffered death for us, ”so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Our own Crown of Glory and Honor comes through Jesus, who is the name above every name!

 

As we consider our prayer and worship, let us ponder our Creator, let us enjoy and care for His Creation, let us also humbly “notice” and care for those around us, Let us worship our Savior, and Let us declare Jesus as Lord as we proclaim,

“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

 

 

Upcoming Events and ministry opportunities:

 

• We will be having a Bonfire at Winsome Farm in Newville next Saturday, October 14 at 5:00 pm. There will be something for everyone, including food, activities, and contests. For more information, see the sign-up sheets in your Sunday School class, the Gathering Place or the children’s ministry area.

 

• On November 12, at 2:00 on a Sunday Afternoon, we will be having a “Kitchen Shower” to provide furnishings for the new Kitchen at Cross Roads Station. You can help us prepare our new kitchen by taking a “raindrop” from the umbrella located in the Gathering Place. There are many different items in different price ranges that need to be purchased to stock the kitchen.

 

• Now is the time to start packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. This ministry sends Christmas Presents and the Gospel of Jesus to children all around the world. We have already collected over 200 boxes, but we would love to have you participate. Learn more at the display in the Gathering Place. National Collection Week will be November 13-20.

 

Here are a few prayer concerns and updates:

 

• Pastor Gary had a few difficult days last week, but the past few days have been a bit better. Joyce began her Radiation treatments this week. Continue to keep both Gary and Joyce in your prayers.
• Remember several other individuals from our congregation who are undergoing cancer treatments at various phases.
• Please pray for Janet Walls (sister of Rich Mathna) who has been in the hospital facing gallbladder complications. She had surgery yesterday and is improving.

 

Card Shower for the Hornbakers!

This Month, Pastor Gary and Joyce will celebrate 40 years of Marriage! As they celebrate this milestone, and continue to face health concerns together, we invite you all to shower them with love and encouragement. Cards can be put in their church mailbox or sent to their home.

 

I encourage you to take some time this weekend to prayerfully look up at the heavens, enjoy nature, or cuddle a baby, and consider our Creator in all of his majesty, who has taken the time to notice us!

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

 

Helpful Links:

Website (shipfcog.org)

Online Messages (shipfcog.org)

Online Giving (shipfcog.org)

Care Groups & Sunday School Classes

 

Weekly Order of Worship and FYI Newsletter (updated over the weekend)

shipfcog.net/site/shipfcog/shipnews/index.html