Sunday is Coming!
Close your eyes and picture yourself sitting by a campfire…
🔥
Maybe you picture yourself at the bonfire at Harvest Party at the fairgrounds next weekend, or at the Youth Group get-together last weekend. Maybe you recall yourself at a week of camp over the summer, or a family camping trip, or an evening in your own backyard. Imagine that it's dark out, and the only thing you can see is what is illuminated by the firelight…
-What do you imagine in the forest beyond the light?
-What is moving in the shadows behind you?
-What is that sound echoing off in the distance?
-What if you look at the people sitting next to you—how do they look different now compared to in the daylight?
-Imagine also looking up at the night sky—what is out there in the starry heavens?
In a setting like this, the world that we see becomes smaller and stranger, while the world that we can't see appears larger and more mysterious, and our minds and our eyes can play tricks on us. There is so much that our eyes can't see clearly and that our minds can't comprehend accurately.
Satirical Fantasy Author Terry Pratchett uses imagery like this, of a "small circle of firelight in a chilly infinity," to illustrate how all that we think we know about this big world by our "worldly wisdom" (including science, philosophy, religion, etc.) is a relatively small amount in this vast universe.
Likewise, if we believe that our God is truly infinite & eternal, we must also realize the limits of our theology.
…and yet, in Scripture, God does reveal Himself! Light is often an image used for the wisdom of God (Proverbs, Psalms, John 1, etc.), which lights up the darkness of the world, a light which is shared with humans.
"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
This weekend we will once again consider how we bring the light of God into the darkness of this world to illuminate our understanding—specifically & practically: we will consider how faith helps us to bring the eternal power of God to the temporary problems in front of us.
The troubles of this world can often make us feel like we are "in the dark" but God's word can guide us.
In Luke 8:10, Jesus says— "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, "'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'"
The 'secrets of the kingdom' are being revealed through Jesus, even when 'all seems lost' and even when things seem dark… Let's allow Jesus in the New Testament to shine light on the Old Testament (and vice versa), and shine light into our present moment as well!
And remember that God is so Big, and we should "expect big things" from our really Big God!
Recall that last week we looked in more detail at the parable of the Generous Farmer and the 4 Soils in Luke 8, where Jesus emphasizes the HUGE POTENTIAL of Good Soil & Receptive Hearts, saying:
"But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."
-- Luke 8:15
When the "Word of God" falls on Good Soil it has the POTENTIAL to exceed expectations and multiply 100 times or more!
But to take this a step further, Jesus goes on in the very next verse of Luke 8 to share another parable or metaphor:
"No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all. So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them."
--Luke 8:16-18 (NLT)
Whether we compare the Word of God to a Seed or a Light, one point Jesus is making is that the Word of God makes the unseen mysteries of the world visible—but we must allow God to "open our eyes" to see it or perceive it. We must allow Jesus to bring truth to His words: "all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all."
Also, this means the Word of God must make our lives look Visibly Different – it must make a difference in how we live in the eyes of the world.
Jesus wants to illuminate the secret wisdom of God for us, if we "pay attention" and "listen to" (i.e. OBEY) his teaching. This also means we better not hide it or keep it to ourselves!
When the wisdom of the Word of God "takes root" or "lights up" the darkness, we can expect big things!
We will connect Luke & Isaiah once more, and consider this hopeful invitation that God extends to a despairing king in Isaiah 7:
"Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."
God can meet our needs in big ways, according to His will, but the Biggest Thing of all is knowing God Himself in all of His Fullness, as revealed more clearly in Jesus Christ.
Do you know Him?
Are we humble yet faithful enough to make our requests known to Him?
Allow me to end with a passage from Paul, found (somewhat ironically) in the middle of Ephesians, which echoes the invitation of God in Isaiah 7--
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
This Sunday
8:30 Traditional Worship
We will share our welcome and announcements slightly before 8:30, and highlight the prelude as a time of quiet reflection before our opening prayer.
God Has Spoken By His Prophets #407
Open My Eyes That I May See #563
Take My Life and Let it Be Consecrated #597
With All My Heart #662
Here I Am, Lord #589
9:45 Sunday School for all ages
Check out our Sunday School classes and other Care Group ministries on our website, or visit the welcome desk to learn more.
11:00 Contemporary Worship
King Of My Heart
Tremble
Revelation Song
This Is Amazing Grace
Missions Sunday
Next Sunday is Missions Sunday! We will have a special guest presentation from Paige Smith about her mission trip to Peru. This will be at both worship services at their normal times. There will also be a Combined Sunday School class at 9:45 in the sanctuary with some other Mission Updates.
Information about our annual Shoebox Collection will be shared at this time as well. Learn more about "Operation Christmas Child" at the following link, and begin praying about how you might want to be involved in this special missions opportunity!
Operation Christmas Child | Shoebox Outreach of Samaritan's Purse
Next Sunday afternoon there will also be a Missions Celebration at the Carlisle First Church of God at 3pm, featuring an update from our CGGC Global Reach director about our ministries in Brazil. Prior to the presentation at 2:45, there will be a missions fair with displays from local ministry groups, and light refreshments will be served.
Council Highlights
The Shippensburg First Church of God Council meet this week for the October meeting. Council actions included discussion of various new and updated policies, and the approval of the ballot and agenda for the November 2nd Congregational Meeting. The 2026 General Fund budget was also discussed, finalized, and approved by council, to be shared with the congregation at the November 2nd meeting.
Congregational Meeting
Our Fall Congregation meeting is November 2. It will feature elections for council positions for 2026, and ministry reports.
The Docket for the meeting will be made available to you this weekend in Church Mailboxes or at the Welcome Desk in the Gathering Place.
Absentee Ballots can be requested from our Church Office if you can not make it to the meeting, but would still like to vote in the Election. Please Contact Secretary Sonja Shively at the office (717-532-8421) to request a ballot.
Beneficent Fund Collection
After our communion service, we had a special collection for the beneficent fund, as is our custom. This fund helps to meet unexpected financial needs for individuals in our church and our community. $1282 was received on Worldwide Communion Sunday, and several additional designated gifts were received prior to Sunday. Praise God for your generosity and His faithful provision! The needs of our community have been increasing, so if you feel led to continue to give towards this special fund, you can use the envelopes in the backs of the pew to designate your offerings. We will also do another special collection the next time we have communion, which will be on the first Sunday of January.
Ministry Fair Recap
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."
--I Peter 4:10
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Ministry Fair last week! Let us continue to praise God together for what He is doing through you all!
Over the next several weeks we will be highlighting some of our ministries by posting their display boards in the Gathering Place.
We encourage you to take a look at the displays each week, and if you are interested in serving, there are sign-up sheets for you to express your interest.
Christmas Cantata Practice
Practices have begun for the 11:00 pm Christmas Eve Cantata. Anyone is welcome to participate in the Cantata (even in you don't normally sing with the choir). Practice is at 6:00pm every Sunday Evening in the Sanctuary until Christmas. See Wayne Brubaker for more information.
Community Harvest Party
On October 24th, we will be joining with Grand Point Shippensburg, the Love Our Town initiative, and several other area churches to bless our community with a Harvest Party Outreach event.
The event will run from 4-8PM at the Shippensburg Fairgrounds (10131 Possum Hollow Rd, Shippensburg) and you are welcome to come & go as you please.
The main event is free and open to the public—invite your friends & neighbors! To help us with planning and estimating, we do encourage you to RSVP on the clipboards in Sunday School Classes or the Gathering place, although preregistration is not required.
What to Expect:
- Chili Cook-Off ($10 to enter; click here to sign up)
- Chili Tasting & Voting ($10/person age 13 & over; $5/person age 5-12, free for ages 4 & under – cash or check collected at the event) – voting ends at 7PM
- Free games, bounce houses, hotdogs & drinks (while supplies last), a bonfire, and lots of family-friendly fun.
- All proceeds from the chili cook-off will be donated directly to a local non-profit, Wheels for Women.
Chili Cook-Off Details
$10/entry – click here to sign up
Amount to bring – Full crock pot (6 to 8 quarts) at the minimum
Chili is to be cooked before the event
Items needed – extension cord & a serving spoon (not a ladle) to distribute samples.
Provided – Sample cups & spoons for admissions.
Display Area – 48 inches x 30 inches (1/2 of an 8 ft rectangle table)
There are lots of other ways to help and participate, such as making and serving snacks, helping with set up & clean up, and welcoming our neighbors who come to enjoy the activities. To get involved, reply to this email!
Learn More: Shippensburg Community Harvest Party
Communications Updates
*Be sure to check out our Activities Calendar and the Events page on our website to learn about more upcoming opportunities!
The October edition of our "FYI" Newsletter is available in the Gathering Place or the center section of the Sanctuary. The FYI contains information about upcoming events, care group opportunities, giving and attendance information, and more.
If you have information you would like to communicate, communication request forms are available from the church office, in the Gathering Place, or online.
Looking forward to worshipping with you in the Sanctuary or Online this Sunday!
Pastor Rodney Bistline
Shippensburg First Church of God
seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org
Helpful Links:
Online Messages (shipfcog.org)
Our Activities Calendar & Events
Care Groups & Sunday School Classes
Weather Alerts/ Schedule Changes (shipfcog.org)
Weekly Bulletin (updated over the weekend)
shipfcog.net/site/shipfcog/shipnews/index.html
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