Sunday is coming, and Help is here!
Do you need Help?
Some of our youth and their leaders had the opportunity to help a member of our congregation this week with some yard clean up after the winter storms. It’s always encouraging to see our church family helping one another!
You can find help in all forms if you go looking for it…
-Every website has a “help” page where Frequently Asked Questions are answered.
-Most large employers have a Tech Support Help Desk.
-Look on the back of your Credit Card or your Insurance Card and you will find a number to call for help from Customer Service.
-The Beatles have not 1 but 2 songs about ‘Help.’
We must all recognize that we need some help sometimes …and more importantly, we all need God’s Help!
Jesus tells us that that Help from God is closer than we could have ever imagined – If we believe in Jesus, then God’s Holy Spirit is living in us! There’s no need to call a phone number, log on to a website, or go to a priest. God’s Spirit is Abiding in you!
We’ve been studying what it means to remain or abide in Jesus, the True Vine, as He identifies himself in John 15.
This weekend we will focus on the Holy Spirit who actually Remains in us also!
Jesus says in John 15:26--
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.”
Previously in John 14:16 &17 he said,
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Jesus himself states that it is the Spirit of Truth that He has given us truly lives “with” us and will be “in” us to give us Help from God! When Jesus says the Spirit “lives with you” he’s using the very same Greek word referring to how we are to Remain, Abide, or Dwell in Him, the True Vine.
Just as Jesus says we are to “Abide” in Him, He also states that the Spirit of God “Abides” in us!
Take comfort in the fact that there is nowhere we can go where we are beyond the help of God’s Holy Spirit—the “Advocate” whom Jesus has sent to help us!
In his book, Help is Here, Max Lucado points out that the Spirit overcomes physical restrictions:
“Jesus limited himself to a physical body. He could be only one place at one time. The Holy Spirit, however, is unlimited. He can be everywhere all the time. Jesus was a regional force; the Spirit is a global force. There is no place that he is not!”
Max Lucado then quotes Psalm 139:7-8—
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
The Holy Spirit is always abiding with us, ready to help us, as we also abide in Jesus. What help do you need from God today? He has given us an advocate, a helper, a counselor who is always available and more than able to meet our needs.
This Sunday
We will celebrate Baptism in both worship services this weekend! 3 individuals will be taking this step of faith and publicly declaring their commitment to Jesus:
- Christopher Adams
- Gloria Erickson
- Connie Killinger
Let us pray for them and encourage them as they mark this milestone of faith, and let’s Give God Glory for the wonderful things he is doing in their lives!
To help you prepare your hearts for worship, we’d like to start sharing a glimpse of the worship songs we plan to sing together. Feel free to add them to a playlist or open up the family hymnal at home to contemplate the words we will use to praise our God—
Our 8:30 Music will feature a medley of songs about the Holy Spirit, including a verse or two from a few favorite hymns such as:
-“The Comforter Has Come”
-“Holy Spirit, Thou Art Welcome,”
-“Come, Holy Spirit,”
-“Breath on Me, Breath of God”
The 11:00 Music team will share some Contemporary Worship songs of celebration:
-“Glorius Day”
-“Build Your Kingdom Here”
-“No Longer Slaves”
-“Who You Say I Am”
Women’s Ministry Secret Sisters
The Secret Sister Party is being held this Sunday, February 25, 2024, from 2-4 p.m. in Crossroads Station. All ladies are invited to attend! Even if you were unable to sign up on one of the sign-up sheets, you are welcome to come and participate.
There will be games and light refreshments. Also at the party, any ladies who participated last year will get to find out who their secret sister was this past year, and all the ladies in attendance will get to exchange names and start new secret sisters for this coming year.
To be a secret sister, all you need to do is pray for your secret sister throughout the year, and you may also send cards and give small gifts. Remember, someone will be praying for and thinking about you too!
If you have any questions, contact Glenda Bistline, Deb Booz, or contact the church office.
Men’s Bible Study
Men’s Alliance will be starting a more in-depth Weekly Bible Study on Monday evenings at 6:30 beginning on February 26th in the Annex. All men are welcome to attend (even if they are not involved in MA on Saturdays). The first series will feature the book No More Excuses: Be the Man God Made You to Be by Tony Evans. The study book can be purchased at this link: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/no-more-excuses-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005843170
Senior Ministry Highlights
- The brunch for Widows, Widowers, & Singles (age 50+) that was postponed due to winter weather has been rescheduled for next Saturday, March 2 at 10:30 in the Annex. Come join in for some food and fellowship!
- The annual Good Friday Luncheon provided to Senior Citizens (60+) by the Busch Trust Fund will be taking place in the Cross Roads Station fellowship hall on March 29 at Noon. Sign-up sheets will be located in the Sunday School classes. Please Register in advance for planning purposes.
Outreach Opportunities
On March 3, Next Sunday Afternoon from 2:00-4:00, we have reserved the Gymnasium at Camp YoliJwa for some Kickball! This is open to people of all ages and it would be a wonderful opportunity to invite some friends and neighbors who may not attend worship on Sunday Mornings to get to know some people in our church family in a fun way. Feel free to come and cheer us on, even if you don’t intend to play. It’s also a great opportunity to check out the Camp facilities if you haven’t done so before (summer camp registration will be open soon, and scholarships are available).
Children & Youth
- Our children’s ministry is hosting a night of Kids Bingo Games for children and their families this Saturday (February 24th) from 6-8 in the lower level.
- Our Youth Retreat is taking place at Camp YoliJwa on March 8-10. Registrations are due next Wednesday (February 28th)
Prayer Update
Please add the following to your prayers as they are facing sickness:
-Jim and Sharon Dick
-Dana and Glenda Rotz
Let us Abide in Jesus, knowing that His Holy Spirit Abides in us!
Pastor Rodney Bistline
Shippensburg First Church of God
seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org
Helpful Links:
Online Messages (shipfcog.org)
Care Groups & Sunday School Classes
*Weather Alerts/ Schedule Changes (shipfcog.org)*
Weekly Order of Worship and FYI Newsletter (updated over the weekend)
shipfcog.net/site/shipfcog/shipnews/index.html
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