Shippensburg First Church Of God Blog Site: What to Expect in 2024? SFCOG Update for 123123!

Sunday’s Coming, and it’s the last Sunday of 2023!

Have you taken note of what the Date for this New Years Eve will be? December 31, 2023 in ‘MM/DD/YY’ format is 12/31/23.

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There’s something beautifully repetitive about that date, while at the same time it’s a date that will never repeat again!

Every Year on New Year’s Eve, we have the unique opportunity to look backwards & forwards. To consider what has repeated, and what has changed. We remember what has happened in the previous year, and we wonder what to expect in the next year. To begin this year, our next sermon series will allow us to think deeply about what the Bible has to say about the passage of time.

As we contemplate the passage of time, we will “Begin with the End in Mind.” There are certainly a number of different books and passages we could consider in the Bible related to this topic— Genesis and Revelation speak of the first things and the last things. Jesus speaks of “what is now and what will take place later.” (Revelation 1:19) Jesus himself is described in John 1 as the Word who was with God at the Beginning. Jesus also had many other things to say about “the end of the age.” At the end of the Bible, Jesus is the one who testifies saying, “Yes, I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:20), to which we respond—“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

We will certainly draw insight from some of these passages over the next few weeks, but our foundational text for January will actually come from right near the middle of our Bible, where we find one unique piece of scripture, credited to the Wisest Person of the Old Testament, who reflects on this topic in profound detail.

I am referring to the Book of Ecclesiastes, an often-overlooked part of our Scriptures that really helps to shape the proper Biblical Worldview of life and the nature of Time and world events, especially when considered in light of how the coming of Jesus Christ drastically changed everything.

Ecclesiastes is attributed to King Solomon, who the Bible describes as the wisest person to ever live. This book contains his reflections on the Human experience, as he nears the end of his life.

Before Jesus came, Solomon alone in all of history was granted complete wisdom from God to understand the nature of life and reality. First Kings 3 relates the account of how God permitted Solomon one request, and Solomon chose to ask God for Wisdom. God said in I Kings 3:12, “I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.”

Based on this passage, we are to understand that Solomon’s insights give us the clearest and truest description of reality as it was before the coming of Jesus. As we will see, it can be a little unsettling at times, but it does speak of what we can expect as we live out our days “under the sun” on this earth.

In a life full of uncertainty, it can be comforting to know what to expect. Solomon reveals that while there are many mysteries in life, there is also a divinely ordained predictability as well. In Ecclesiastes 3, after reflecting on the many different seasons of time, Solomon says this about our God:

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. 15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.

As we anticipate a New Year, we also have the opportunity to “call the past to account” and also anticipate the future. As we reflect back & look forward, we can be comforted because God makes things beautiful according to His designs. Even though we can’t fathom what God has done, we do find a sense of wonder & awe as we reflect on the sense of “Eternity” that we find in our own hearts. This is what leads us to give thanks and worship God.

But there’s one very important thing to remember—Since Christ has Come, all things have been Forever Changed!

The Good News of Christmas is that light has come into the dark world! The seemingly endless cycles of life & death, laughing & weeping, building & tearing down, war & peace have been disrupted, giving way to a future hope of unbroken Life & Laughter, Prosperity & Peace! God himself, “the Alpha & the Omega,” the beginning and the end, is making all things new!

On that note, we will end 2023 by celebrating some of the beautiful things that God has done over this past year! Join us this Sunday Morning to see a year-in-review slide show featuring highlights from across our ministries! God has truly done some “Beautiful Things” this past year!

Christmas Eve Offering

A special offering was collected at both evening services on Christmas Eve to support the “Circle of Love” outreach ministry which helps to share things like food and clothing locally here in Shippensburg. Thanks to everyone who gave as the Lord led them towards this vital cause. The total amount collected was $1657!

Upcoming Events

Community Night will NOT meet on December 27^th or January 3^rd, but we will resume on January 10^th. Community Night is from 6:30-8:00 and features activities for all ages.

Next Sunday (January 7) we will observe Communion as a part of both worship services. Join us as we begin the year at the Lord’s Table.

Beginning on January 19th, we will be offering a Financial Peace University class. This could be a great way to work towards your financial goals in 2024. The class will meet on Friday evenings at 6:30 until the end of March. You can learn more and register online at this link: https://www.fpu.com/3442B7
On January 21, at 9:45, we will be offering our New Member’s Class. This is a chance to learn more about Shippensburg First Church of God and our CGGC denomination, and consider if God may be calling you to make a greater commitment to our church by becoming a Member. You can sign up in the Gathering Place to be sure to receive future communications about the class.

“A Weekend to Remember” is coming to Hershey on February 9-11. This is a wonderful time to strengthen your marriage and experience a weekend away. Now through January 9, Family Life Today is offering a $100 discount. You can register at this link: Weekend To Remember Marriage Retreat - FamilyLife® --When registering, we ask that you use the following code: ShippensburgFirstChurchofGod (no spaces). By using this code, the church receives a free couple registration for every five couples registered.

Praying you all had a very Merry Christmas and looking forward to what God will do in 2024,

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org