Shippensburg First Church Of God Blog Site: July 2024

Helpful Links:

Weekly Bulletin & FYI Monthly Newsletter (updated over the weekend)

Contemporary Spotify Playlist

Monday, July 22, 2024

Parking Attendants needed at the Fair

Dear Family,

We received the following request from Jami Burkett, LSW, Shippensburg Community Resource Coalition (SCRC) Coordinator:

Please feel free to sign up if you sense the Lord calling you to serve in this manner.

We are in search of some volunteers to help with parking at the Shippensburg Fair. Proceeds from the parking cost will go towards Hound Packs thanks to Prince Street Church. Please share with anyone in your church or organization who may be interested. Thank you!!

If you have questions, you may call the SCRC office at 717-477-1961.

For His Glory,

Pastor Gary

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Good News, You're Hired! SFCOG updates for 7/21

Sunday is Coming!

"What do you do for a living?"

What is your job or occupation? It's a simple question, but there's an unspoken hint of judgement in it—we often rank or value people based on their profession. Certain honors, criticisms, or prejudices may be given to certain professions.

When people learn what you do for work, does their opinion of you change? What about the other way around? Does your opinion of someone else change when you learn about their job?

Sometimes when people learn that I'm a pastor, their posture towards me might shift. Depending on their experience with church or religion, I might feel that they either give me more respect or attention, or less. They might change other ways that they act around me also—they might clean up their language and stop swearing, or ask me my opinion about current events.

Regardless of what you do for a living (or your social status), I want to challenge each of us to consider whether we are rich or poor—not in the eyes of the world—but in the eyes of our Savior, Jesus.

Jesus must be the One to Define Truth for our identity-- Whether we feel rich or poor, free or imprisoned, blind or able to see, worthy or unworthy, blessed or cursed, loved or unloved, full of everlasting joy or brokenhearted, Jesus has the authority to determine what has value.

This Sunday, will continue to study the context of Luke 4, where Jesus quotes from Isaiah 61:

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted…"

(Isaiah 61:1)

We will consider how different groups respond to the "good news for the poor," including some fishermen in Luke 5, who choose to become poor so that they may experience the "Good News" up close and personal. As a result, Jesus gives them a new occupation— Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people." (Luke 5:10b)

Let us continue to reflect on this Good News for the poor and the broken hearted – regardless of how society might rank you on the scale of jobs and professions, regardless of your Net Worth or how many figures you bring home… regardless of how the world may see your value, regardless of how you see yourself—Remember that Jesus sees your true value and worth.

Jesus wants to reshape how you view yourself, your occupation, your value, and your place in this world. He wants to give you a new job to do: He invites you to follow Him and join him in proclaiming His Kingdom. Consider yourself hired!

Back in Isaiah 61:6-7, we can read about the wealth and riches the Lord has to offer to the poor and brokenhearted who worship him as King, and new job titles as well:

And you will be called priests of the Lord,

you will be named ministers of our God.

You will feed on the wealth of nations,

and in their riches you will boast.

Instead of your shame

you will receive a double portion,

and instead of disgrace

you will rejoice in your inheritance.

And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,

and everlasting joy will be yours.

This Sunday

Prepare your hearts for worship as we come together to Praise or King!

8:30 Traditional Worship

Praise the Name Who Breaks the Darkness #293

Ask Ye What Great Things Ye Know #535

How Sweet the Name of Jesus #123

There's Something About That Name #83

11:00 Contemporary Worship

Ministry Opportunities and Needs

Our Children's Ministry is growing, and more families and children mean the need for Children's Ministry workers is also growing!

Would you prayerfully consider joining this vital team?

Staff Update

We are happy to announce that Debra Pelow has been hired as our new Administrative Assistant. Deb will be serving here in the Church Office alongside our pastoral staff and our secretary to assist in a variety of ways, most notably helping with preparations for our weekly worship services. She will be officially beginning this Monday, July 22^nd and will be in the office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Her email will be adassistant@shipfcog.org, which is the same email used by our previous administrative assistants. Let's all welcome Deb to our Staff!

Living Stones Events

The Living Stones group (ages 50+) will be hosting a Game Night this Friday, July 19 at 6:30 PM in the Annex. Please bring your favorite board games and a snack or drink to share. You can register in The Gathering Place, Sunday School Classrooms, or call the church office. More Living Stones activities are planned for the coming months, see the Gathering Place and upcoming FYI to see dates for other future events.

Upcoming Milestone Events

Get Connected Class – August 4, September 1, (every first Sunday)
New Members Class – September 15
Baptism – September 29
Child Dedication – October 20

Community Worship Opportunities

Shippensburg Fair Vespers

The Shippensburg Fair begins with a Community Vespers service this Sunday, July 21 at 7:30 at the main stage (bring your own chairs). Plan to join with other believers in our community as we worship our God together!

Back to School Sunday and Prayer Service

Survey for Small Groups and Sunday School Classes

REMINDER: We want to hear from you!

The Christian Education Committee would like to know your thoughts and feelings regarding the classes and care groups you participate in. You can fill out a survey at this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdObt6STymIHdHyz1CSxmuVVglA_X-0uLSCZ0CSu054xPLXOg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Paper copies are also available.

The purpose is to get a better idea of how the Christian Education Committee can help improve our small groups, as well as how we can better come alongside our leaders in a supportive way. We ask each person to complete a questionnaire for each Care Group and or Sunday School Class you are a part of.

Communications Updates

The July edition of our "FYI" Newsletter is now available in the Gathering Place, the center section of the Sanctuary, or in your Church Mailbox.

If you have information you would like to communicate, communication request forms are available from the church office, in the Gathering Place, or online. Look for the current edition at the Welcome Desk or in the center section of the Sanctuary.

Looking forward to worshipping with you this Sunday!

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

Helpful Links:

Weekly Bulletin & FYI Monthly Newsletter (updated over the weekend)

Contemporary Spotify Playlist

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Define Truth - SFCOG updates for 7/14

Sunday is Coming!

Who gets to define truth for you?

What does it mean for a prophesy to "come true"?

How do you know if someone is telling the truth?

…and what is "Truth" anyway?

These questions and more are underlying the theme of our new series, which will look at how Jesus introduces himself to the masses in Luke 4, with a quotation from Isaiah 61.

à It matters who we allow to define "Truth" for us

When you are going through difficult circumstances, who do you turn to for advice or comfort? Who do you allow to speak "Truth" into your circumstances?

à It matters who we allow to define "Truth" for us

When you consider the complicated issues facing our world today, whether in politics or entertainment, in global affairs or personal relationships, who gets to shape your opinions?

à It matters who we allow to define "Truth" for us

What do you believe to be true about yourself? How do you define yourself as a person? Whether you feel rich or poor, free or imprisoned, blind or able to see, worthy or unworthy, blessed or cursed, loved or unloved

à It matters who we allow to define "Truth" for us

Who has the power or permission to define "Truth" in your life? Who do you allow to shape your thoughts and values?

This week we begin a series looking at a very important passage of the Gospels where Jesus Speaks Truth about a text from the Old Testament, and it might challenge some things that we assume to be true. If Jesus is our Lord, we must always let His words challenge our thoughts.

We will spend the next few weeks digging into the words and meanings of the passage, but this weekend we will consider the context and the Broader Truth Claim that Jesus makes in this passage in Luke 4:16-21—

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

This passage is from the Prophet Isaiah. The Jews have a few different interpretations of this passage that may place the fulfillment of the prophet's words in the Past, Present, or the Future. From an Old Testament perspective, any of these could be true.

However, Jesus demonstrates His own authority to define Truth--Rather than offer a lengthy interpretation of the passage along these temporal lines, Jesus presents himself as the fulfillment of the passage as "TODAY" in your hearing.

Let that sink in – Jesus speaks with authority as One who determines when a prophesy is fulfilled, and that HE Himself is its fulfillment, in the ears of those who hear him!

'Fulfilled' is a word packed with meaning, and we will consider it together in the next few weeks, particularly how Jesus would answer some of the following questions drawn from the themes in the passage:

What is "Good News?"

What is "Freedom?"

What (and when) is "the year of the Lord's Favor?"

Jesus gives the full meaning to these concepts, and His Truth is the only truths that matters in a world that constantly struggles to understand truth. My prayer is that through this study, we will have a better understanding of who Jesus is, how we are to read His Word, and how this must shape our thoughts and actions as his followers.

à It matters who we allow to define "Truth" for us

This Sunday

Prepare your hearts for worship as we come together to Praise or Savior!

8:30 Traditional Worship

A Child of the King #574

Joy Unspeakable #740

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing #21

Jesus I Come #491

11:00 Contemporary Worship

He Lives

Great Things

Overcome

Grace Alone

Ordinance Service

This Sunday, July 14^th at 6:30 in the evening in the Sanctuary, we will be having a special time of worship to observe the ordinances of communion and feetwashing. This will feature the Lord's Supper and a reflection on serving God by serving others, as Jesus demonstrated in John 13 through washing His disciples' feet. Feetwashing will be demonstrated, and there will be first-floor locations for men and women to participate in the sanctuary classroom and CrossRoads Station. Additionally, we will have handwashing as an accessible option for those who are unable to physically bend or kneel, etc.

Council Highlights and Staff Update

This week the Shippensburg First Church of God council met for the monthly meeting. Various topics were discussed, including the nominating process for our elections, which will be held this fall, and other leadership and ministry opportunities within our church.

We are happy to announce that Debra Pelow has been hired as our new Administrative Assistant. Deb will be serving here in the Church Office alongside our pastoral staff and our secretary to assist in a variety of ways, most notably helping with preparations for our weekly worship services. She will be officially beginning on July 22^nd and will be in the office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Her email will be adassistant@shipfcog.org, which is the same email used by our previous administrative assistants. Let's all welcome Deb to our Staff!

The offering collected for the Gideons this past weekend amounted to $850. Praise the Lord for these generous gifts that will enable the Word of God to be distributed far and wide through this ministry.

Upcoming Events

Tonight (July 11) at 7:00, the outreach team is putting together an evening of volleyball at the outdoor volleyball courts at Shippensburg University. All ages are welcome to participate in some fun, pick-up volleyball!

The Living Stones group (ages 50+) will be hosting a Game Night on Friday, July 19 at 6:30 PM in the Annex. Please bring your favorite board games and a snack or drink to share. You can register in The Gathering Place, Sunday School Classrooms, or call the church office. More Living Stones activities are planned for the coming months, stay tuned for more information, and check the Gathering Place and FYI to see dates.

Community Worship Opportunities

Shippensburg Fair Vespers

The Shippensburg Fair begins with a Community Vespers service on July 21 at 7:30 at the main stage (bring your own chairs). Plan to join with other believers in our community as we worship our God together!

Men's Revival

This Saturday, July 13, 9:00 – 3:00

Shippensburg Township Park, 304 Britton Road, Shippensburg

For questions, contact Bill Lape, 717-816-2396.

Survey for Small Groups and Sunday School Classes

We want to hear from you!

The Christian Education Committee would like to know your thoughts and feelings regarding the classes and care groups you participate in. You can fill out a survey at this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdObt6STymIHdHyz1CSxmuVVglA_X-0uLSCZ0CSu054xPLXOg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Paper copies are also available.

Communications Updates

The July edition of our "FYI" Newsletter is now available!

Looking forward to worshipping with you this Sunday!

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

Helpful Links:

Weekly Bulletin & FYI Monthly Newsletter (updated over the weekend)

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdObt6STymIHdHyz1CSxmuVVglA_X-0uLSCZ0CSu054xPLXOg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Monday, July 8, 2024

Please pray!

Dear Family,

Please be in prayer for the following:

Bonnie Diehl, Darlene Mathna, and Deb Booz will be traveling to Cleveland this week for an appointment on July 11 for Bonnie.

Mike Wingert was transferred to Hospital in Philly on Saturday. He is really struggling.

²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

For His Glory,

Pastor Gary

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

CEC evaluation form (New One)

If you attend multiple small groups, please complete a separate survey form for each different class or group. If you would rather complete a paper survey, forms will be available in your meeting location. Completed paper forms should be returned to Scott Gutshall's church mailbox in the Gathering Place.

We understand that perhaps not everyone will be able to use the google doc with the survey, so we do have hard copies for each group if someone is unable to access it.

You do not have to login to your google account even if it asks you to.

Also if you did this in your Sunday School Class you do not have to do another unless your are in multiple groups.

Here is the link to the survey.

Thank you for responding to this survey.

Sending for Scott Gutshall and the CEC Committee.

CEC evaluation form

The Christian Education Committee is responsible for facilitating quality,
biblically-based Christian education in the church. In order to improve the
ministries provided by our church, the CEC seeks your assistance in
gathering information on the well-being of our Sunday School Classes and
Care Groups. We value your input and appreciate you completing this survey.
If you attend multiple small groups, please complete a separate survey form
for each different class or group. If you would rather complete a paper
survey, forms will be available in your meeting location. Completed paper
forms should be returned to Scott Gutshall's church mailbox in the Gathering
Place.
We understand that perhaps not everyone will be able to use the google doc
with the survey, so we do have hard copies for each group if someone is
unable to access it.

You do not have to login to your google account even if it asks you to.

Also if you did this in your Sunday School Class you do not have to do
another unless your are in multiple groups.

Here is the link to the survey.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdObt6STymIHdHyz1CSxmuVVglA_X-0uLSC
Z0CSu054xPLXOg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Thank you for responding to this survey.

Sending for Scott Gutshall and the CEC Committee.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

SFCOG updates for July 7

Sunday is Coming!

Happy Independence Day!

This email is coming to you short and sweet and early, in light of the special day of celebration tomorrow. I pray you are all able to enjoy some time with family and friends, reflecting on the freedom we have in this nation and the freedom we have in Christ! Remember freedom is always in progress, and in Christ we set free for the cause of bringing freedom to others. Jesus himself, reading the words of Isaiah the prophet, said:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

--Luke 4:18-19

This Sunday we will have a special guest from the Gideons sharing with us during both service times. In the bulletins you will find an insert about the Gideons, and it will include an envelope you can use if you would like to give towards this organization. You can take your gifts to the table that will be set up in the Gathering Place, or use the envelope to mail a donation at a later time.

Upcoming Events

On July 14^th at 6:30 in the evening, we will have a special time of worship featuring the observance of communion and feetwashing.

The Living Stones group (ages 50+) will be hosting a Game Night on Friday, July 19 at 6:30 PM in the Annex. Please bring your favorite board games and a snack or drink to share. You can register in The Gathering Place, Sunday School Classrooms, or call the church office.

The Shippensburg Fair begins with a Community Vespers service on July 21. Plan to join with other believers in our community as we worship our God together!

Survey for Small Groups and Sunday School Classes

We want to hear from you!

The Christian Education Committee will be sending out a survey to the church body to get an idea of your thoughts and feelings regarding the classes and care groups you participate in.

The purpose is to get a better idea of how the Christian Education Committee can help improve our small groups, as well as how we can better come alongside our leaders in a supportive way.

Participants will be able to complete the form digitally via Google Docs or on paper. We ask each person to complete a questionnaire for each Care Group and or Sunday School Class you are a part of. More information will be coming.

Communications Updates

The July edition of our “FYI” Newsletter is now available!

Looking forward to worshipping with you this Sunday!

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

Helpful Links:

Weekly Bulletin & FYI Monthly Newsletter (updated over the weekend)