Shippensburg First Church Of God Blog Site: Instruction Manual

Christmas is Coming!

As you may have heard me say, our family loves Lego models!

Sometimes when our kids were younger and they were given a Lego model for a gift, the grandparents would say something like this: "when I come back again, I want to see the finished project."

There's something fascinating about the way a confusion jumble of parts can be transformed into a big and elaborate model when you follow the directions correctly!

In a similar way, I think Jesus, the giver of all good gifts, says to us: "when come back, I want to see the finished project!"

Jesus has entrusted those who believe in Him with the task of building His Kingdom by the power of His Holy Spirit. But we may quickly realize that this isn't always as simple as following a "step-by-step" instruction manual in a Lego set. Life is complicated and complex. We still face many unforeseen challenges and struggles as we await the return of Jesus.

Advent reminds us of both the first coming of our Savior, and His second coming, and it gives us the opportunity to consider Hope, even amidst the trials of life.

What challenges or decisions are you facing today? Where do you need wisdom? What confusing or surprising situations confront you as you look ahead to 2026?

In keeping with our Advent theme of Hope, we can remember that our Hope is secure because God is With Us!

And this Hope can guide us to change the world, because God is Love!

In the Christmas story, in Matthew chapter 1, Joseph was faced with his own surprising and confusing situation. Joseph appeared to be a wise and righteous man, but he was confronted with a new situation for which his own wisdom and righteousness did not adequately prepare him.

You can read his account in Matthew 1:18-23—

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").

Let's understand the complexity here—Joseph & Mary are engaged to be married, but then suddenly Mary is pregnant, and Joseph is not the baby's father (uh oh). In any relationship, that would be complicated, but in their Hebrew culture, this would have been incredibly scandalous for a variety of reasons…

Joseph didn't have a "step-by-step" instruction manual to follow for this situation. But fortunately for him, he received special instructions directly from an Angel of the Lord about what to do next.

While we may not have angelic messengers telling us what to do each day, we do have the very real presence of God With Us through His Holy Spirit, and we have the guidance of God's Word as well. The Word of God as revealed through Jesus reminds us that God's Love simplifies what the world over-complicates.

Paul, speaking by the Holy Spirit, puts it this way in Romans 13:9-10, evoking the words that Jesus quoted from Leviticus 19:18—Paul says,

'The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not covet," and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.'

According to Paul, Love is the instruction manual!

Love is our theme for the fourth Sunday of Advent. Love simplifies what is complicated. Love fulfills the law. Love motivates us and reminds us that we have work to do, along with God's Holy Spirit. We are meant to live fearlessly for God, receiving the peace of Jesus as we learn from the Holy Spirit, remembering that "There is no fear in Love" (1 John 4:18)

Because God is Love (I John 4:8, 16), and God is With Us, we have Hope for whatever life brings our way, and we can expect Big things from our Big God! Seek Him for wisdom and direction, and let God's Love guide you!

This Sunday -- Fourth Sunday of Advent

8:25 Traditional Worship

We will share our welcome and announcements at 8:25, followed by a musical prelude for a time of quiet reflection before our opening prayer.

Love Has Come! #256

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne #292

I Cannot Tell #354

O How He Loves You and Me #349

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling #648

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

Angels We Have Heard on High #278

Battle Belongs

Revelation Song

Graves Into Gardens

Contemporary Spotify Playlist

*While we love and encourage good conversation and fellowship in the Gathering Place, please remember to quietly respect the worship services as you are entering or exiting near the beginning or ending of the services. Thank You!

Prayer Updates

Thank you for the prayers for my father, Larry Bistline. His procedure yesterday was successful! Please continue to pray for a smooth recovery.

Continue to remember the Fleagle family in your prayers, as they mourn the passing of Arnie's wife, Virginia Faye Fleagle.

Funeral services will be conducted by The Redmon Funeral Home in Stow, Ohio, and the services will take place at Living Vine Church (formerly Stow Alliance Fellowship) at 4460 Stow Road, Stow, Ohio. Visitation will take place on Friday, December 26th, from 5-8 pm. And the Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, December 27th, at 11:00 am. There will be an additional visitation opportunity prior to the service, from 9:30 -10:45 am.

The Committal Service will take place at Air Hill Cemetery in Chambersburg, PA., on Monday, December 29th at 2 pm.

Welcome our Visitation Director, Jessie Duggan!

After a prayerful search process, we have hired a new Director of Visitation – Jessica Duggan.

Jessie comes to us from the Carlise COG, and she also serves part time with the ERC Ministry Training Institute (MTI). She herself has also recently completed this theological training program with our denomination. She brings with her years of experience with providing care to people in a variety of roles—including visiting family and working professionally in retirement facilities, volunteering with a therapeutic riding program, a food pantry, and the GriefShare ministry, and also caring for clients and running her own business for 25 years.

Jessie is looking forward to getting to know our Church family at worship times, at Community Night, and at other special events. She will be available in the Church Office every Wednesday if you would like to meet with her, and will be available for home and hospital visits throughout the week as able and as needed also, serving alongside our other visitation ministry leaders and servants. You can contact Jessie at the Church office (717-532-8421) or by sending her an email at: VisitationDirector@shipfcog.org

Be sure to welcome Jessie and her husband, Frank, as you see them around!

Retirement Celebration

There will be a Retirement Celebration for Pastor Gary on Saturday, December 27 at 5pm. In appreciation of his years of service, we want to invite you all out for an evening of laughter & memories as we share a meal together and celebrate what God has done through the faithful service of Gary & Joyce. We are expecting a great turn out (more than we could comfortably fit in Crossroads Station), so we are partnering with our church family at Greenvillage Church of God to host the event (located right down Rt. 11 at 5164 Philadelphia Ave Chambersburg, PA 17202).

If you haven't already done so, please RSVP to the church office ( secretary@shipfcog.org ) to help us with planning for the meal, and begin thinking of funny or thoughtful stories you'd like to share about your memories with Pastor Gary!

Christmas Event Recap

Last weekend we had some more wonderful opportunities to bring in the Christmas Season with our community friends and neighbors, including the Herald Brass concert and Christmas Caroling! Thanks to everyone who has planned, prepared, and participated in all of our special Christmas Events!

Christmas Eve Services

We want to invite you to our Christmas Eve Services! We will have a contemporary style, family-friendly service at 6:00pm, featuring some special music from our children's ministry kids and a children's message, and our traditional Cantata at 11:00pm, entitled "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly." Both will include candle lighting.

The Cantata will also be available online at our website and our YouTube Channel.

Invite your friends and family and let's celebrate together!

Handicapped Parking Spaces & Overflow Parking

As the holidays approach, church attendance often increases, so let us be mindful of how we can be considerate and hospitable in our parking lot in the following ways:

There are several handicapped parking spaces available in our parking lot located near the handicapped entrance for those with a need and proper handicapped tags. Please refrain from using the handicapped spots along E. Martin Ave. which are intended for the congregation of the Prince Street Church.

In the event of additional parking needs, overflow parking is available at our Annex building across N Prince St. and behind Orrstown Bank, just a short walk up on E. Martin Ave. There are a few spots that have been shared with us behind Weigle & Associates Law Office down S. Gettle Ave. available for Sunday parking as well.

If you are comfortable walking a longer distance, please consider utilizing one of these overflow areas to accommodate our visiting guests and those who cannot walk as far.

Thank you!

Birthday Card Shower for Glenn Lytle

On December 20^th Glenn Lytle Turns 99!

Our family invites you to send birthday greetings to him in his Church Mailbox or at his home (222 East Garfield Street, Shippensburg PA 17257).

Communications Updates

*Be sure to check out our Activities Calendar and the Events page on our website to learn about more upcoming opportunities!

*If you or your small groups, committees, etc., are planning special events involving the facilities, please be sure to communicate with the church office so we can best accommodate your needs and coordinate planning details between various ministries—Thank You!

The December edition of our "FYI" Newsletter is available in the Gathering Place or the center section of the Sanctuary, and December is coming soon! 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.

I am looking forward to worshipping with you in the Sanctuary or Online this Sunday!

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org