Please pray!

Dear Family,

 

Thank you for praying for one another.

 

Linda Commerer’s brother-in-law, Jerry McMullen, passed away on Friday.

 

The surgeon was pleased with how Bill Jones’ surgery went today.  He did not find anything concerning, but will send some samples for biopsy.

 

Martha Kelley is in the Chambersburg Hospital and is scheduled to have stents placed in her right leg to improve circulation.

 

Chuck Stine remains in the Chambersburg Hospital.  He had a MRI late this afternoon.

 

Jerry Swope was officially diagnosed with ALS last week.

 

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.”  Isaiah 58:8

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

Please pray!

 

Dear Family,

 

Please continue praying for …

 

Bill Jones as he goes to Hershey early Tuesday morning for his surgery.

 

Dick Killinger as he battles cancer.

 

Chuck Stine who is in the Chambersburg Hospital.

 

The family of Louise Swope.  Her Celebration of Life Service will be in our church sanctuary on Tuesday at 2:00 with a viewing at 1:00.

 

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”  Mark 9:23

 

Have a wonderful Memorial Day!

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

Please pray!

Dear Family,

Today Chuck Stine was taken to the hospital.  He is in ICU and will be staying overnight.

Today is Chuck and Barb's 55th Wedding Anniversary.

Please lift them up in prayer to our Heavenly Father.

In Caring,

Pastor Gary

Free for Freedom - SFCOG updates for 5/26

Sunday is Coming!

 

 

This weekend we will observe Memorial Day, when we remember those in America’s history who have given up their own lives and their own freedom to strive for the freedom of others.

 

Did you know that Memorial Day traces its roots to 1868, following the Civil War? The holiday was proclaimed to honor the Union Soldiers who had died in the conflict. One of the greatest outcomes of the Civil War was the total abolition of Slavery in the USA in 1865. The Union Soldiers literally fought and died so that others could be freed from slavery.  This certainly can remind us of Christ, who gave himself up for us so that we could be freed from slavery to ourselves and to sin. As His followers, we are meant to live sacrificial lives, putting the needs and freedom of others above our own, according to the Scriptures.

 

Paul says in Galatians 5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

 

We’ve been studying the book of Galatians, and we’ve seen how Paul used Greek and Roman metaphors to explain the Gospel to the Greeks and Romans, so it can be fitting to use American metaphors to think about the Gospel as Americans. But we must remember that Freedom is not just an American thing, and it is so much more than the selfish or self-centered thing we often make it out to be… As Christians, let us proclaim that the Gospel is for ALL people, and our Identity in Christ must be the #1 thing that we value above all other personal attributes. It is Jesus who gives true freedom.

 

Part of what it means to wear the “uniform” of a Christian or be “clothed in Christ” (Galatians 3:27) is to realize that as free people, we are also called to strive always for the freedom of others. We must be “others focused” or else we will all become slaves to our own desires…

 

This Sunday we will take one more look at Galatians to consider an important aspect of our Identity in Christ:

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:13-18

 

Notice that central to our Identity in Christ is this truth that we have been set free by Christ, and He has freed us, both for our own good in an eternal future, and also for the benefit of others in the present.    

 

Let us prayerfully ponder true freedom: We are freed by Christ ultimately to experience eternal life –

Everlasting

Never-ending

Perpetual

Full

Abundant life

 

Paul explains clearly in his Letter to the Romans,

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:22-23

 

Freedom from Sin means eternal life, but it also means serving God in this life. And notice there’s another benefit mentioned in there – Holiness. Before we experience eternal life in the age to come, Freedom in Christ also produces Holiness in this life.

 

We are free, not to follow our own wants and desires, but to live in step with the Spirit in obedience to God and for the benefit of others—and this is where we find true life and blessing and freedom!

 

When Paul says in Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free,” does that sound a little redundant?

 

He’s saying that we have been set free so we can live holy lives, working for the cause of freedom. We are freed to set others free.

As Christians, we are called to be liberators!

 

We’ve been talking about being “clothed in Christ” and having the things of Jesus shape our identity. Take note of how Jesus identified himself at the beginning of his earthly ministry, according to Luke’s Gospel. Jesus read these words from Isaiah the prophet, and said that he was their fulfillment:

 

“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

 

We may not all be called to lay down our lives in service to our country for the freedom of others, but we are all called to lay down our lives in service to our Lord, striving with Jesus to proclaim the good news of freedom in every aspect of life, and the favor of the Lord!

 

 

This Sunday

 

8:30 –

              Praise The One Who Breaks The Darkness #293

Grace Greater than Our Sin #344

And Can It Be? #347

Be Strong in the Lord #734

 

11:00 –

              Glorious day

Graves into gardens

Reckless love

This is amazing grace

 

              Contemporary Spotify Playlist

 

*Please Note: the Church offices will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day, and staff availability may be subject to change throughout the week.

 

 

Summer Events!

 

“Ship Serve” Youth Missions Week

June 17-20

A team of young people from our youth group will be serving our community in a variety of ways for a week this summer, including hosting a community meal. You’ll be hearing more about this event, and have an opportunity to give financially on Youth Sunday (June 2), but you can begin prayerfully considering how you could be involved through some of the following ways:

• Prayer Support
• Financial Donations
• Share Service Project Needs and Ideas
• Donating Cookies & Cupcakes
• Providing to-go snacks for work crews

Sign up sheets will be available around the building for various opportunities.

You can also share the free community meal event on our Facebook page to spread the word to our community.

 

 

Vacation Bible School

VBS is coming on June 23-27! This year we will be taking kids on an imaginary trip to the beach to learn about how God’s ‘Rock-Solid Truth’ stands firm in a world of ‘shifting sands!’

You will hear more about VBS from our Children’s Directors this Sunday.

Registration is available online at this link: VBS Registration

 

We are also assembling a team of adults and teenagers to serve together as part of our VBS team. Begin prayerfully considering how you could minister in one or more of the following ways—

• Teachers*
• Helpers*
• Games*
• Crafts*
• Worship & Opening*
• Decorators
• Meal service
• Snack service
• Etc.

*be sure to complete all clearance processes and participate in Mandated Reporter Training if you are interested in working directly with children.

 

Ladies in Step Activities

All ladies are invited to participate and learn about some special activities together, like painting, succulent gardening, card making, and jewelry making. The first activity is June 5, and they will meet every other Wednesday at 6:30 in the Annex through June and July.

Please RSVP to Joyce Hornbaker for planning purposes. Succulent gardening on June 5th will have a cost associated with the materials involved. $15 is a suggested donation per person to cover the cost of these supplies.

 

Men’s Prayer Breakfast

All men are invited to meet at the Greyhound Restaurant from 7:30-8:45 on Wednesday Mornings from July 18-August 6. No RSVP is needed, simply feel free to join some men for fellowship and prayer.

 

 

Communications Updates

The May edition of our “FYI” Newsletter is now available. Look for it at the Welcome Desk or in the center section of the Sanctuary.

If you have information you would like to communicate, communication request forms are available from the church office or in the Gathering Place.

 

 

Let us live as free people, set free by Christ, to strive for the freedom of others!

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

 

Helpful Links:

Website (shipfcog.org)

SFCOG Facebook

SFCOG Instagram

Online Messages (shipfcog.org)

Online Giving (shipfcog.org)

Care Groups & Sunday School Classes

 

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

shipfcog.net/site/shipfcog/shipnews/index.html

 

Please pray !!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Family,

 

It is with joy that I share with you that early this morning God called Louise Swope to her eternal home that He prepared for her.  Especially in the last few weeks, Louise was looking forward to this day.

 

It is also with sadness because Louise will be greatly missed.  Her strong faith and sweet and gentle spirit truly reflected the God that she loved.  Please pray for Jerry and Wilma and their family as they grieve their loss.

 

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants.”  Psalm 116:15  

 

“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” 

John 16:22

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

Artificial Intelligence Presentation

Dear Family,

 

I want to thank Cory Saylor for his presentation on Artificial Intelligence on Sunday.  He shared very informative and helpful information.  If you were not able to attend, or you would like to listen to it again, I encourage you to watch and listen to his presentation.  The link is below.

 

https://shipfcog.net/site/shipfcog/joyseekers/PhilSunday/AIpresentation.mp4

 

You can also access this presentation from our website under Resources/ Sunday School Lessons/ Joy Seeker Sunday School Lessons/ AI Presentation.

 

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

SFCOG prayer request

Hello Church Family,

Dick Killinger is facing stage 4 cancer and his family has requested that we add him to our prayer lists. Thanks for supporting each other in prayer!

Pastor Rodney

Update

Dear Family,

 

I want to begin by making a correction.  Mick Martin’s sister-in-law, Mirian, did not pass away with cancer.  She was dealing with dementia.  Sorry for my error.

 

Louise Swope will remain in Chambersburg Hospital possibly until Tuesday.  The desired plan is for her to go to Sarah A. Todd Memorial Home on Tuesday.

 

Jerry Swope’s cousin, Nancy Richardson, passed away this morning.  Please remember this family in prayer.

 

Thank you for your prayer partnership!

 

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

Are you Zealous? SFCOG updates for 5/19

Sunday is Coming!

 

 

Do you have any pet peeves?

What things really get on your nerves or cause you to get angry or fired up or upset?

Perhaps the sound of nails scraping on a chalkboard?

According to an internet article on parade.com, nails on a chalkboard is #11 on their list. Here’s their top 10:

 

10. Scraping silverware

9. Being on the phone in public

8. Pen-clicking

7. Tapping

6. Chewing noises

5. Cutting in line

4. Spitting

3. Hogging the sidewalk

2. Slurping loudly

1. Gum Chewing  (the article specifies-- “the zealous kind”)

 

There are a lot of things in life that can bother us or cause us to be “fired up” or passionate or zealous…

 

Paul says in Galatians 4:18 “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good.”

 

On Sunday we will consider this key word from Galatians 4- Zeal. Zeal refers to the things we are passionate about--the things that tug at our emotions & desires. In the Bible, zeal can mean an earnest desire to diligently seek after something (such as the cause of Christ), but it can also lead to sins like coveting, envy, or selfishness.

 

Zeal and Passion can be good or bad, but it depends on what your zeal is fixated upon. Another way to think of Zeal is to equate it with the emotions that drive us. Our zeal & emotions can transform us positively or negatively.

 

As we reflect on zeal and passion and emotions, it seems that there is one emotion in our society that is rising to the top—Anger. Have you noticed that a lot of people seem really angry lately? Where is this anger taking us? We might even ask, “what have we become?” why are we so angry? AND are we angry about the right things?

 

I have heard many people talking about the dangers of what has been called ‘Outrage Culture.’  It seems that people get angry about everything--not just “pet peeves.” Think of protest movements, riots, cancel culture, bullying, or spamming negative reviews for products online--anger shows up in a lot of ways in our world today, sometimes this is constructive, but often it is destructive.

 

We might say that anger gets more attention than any other emotion. If you want people to notice you, the quickest way to bring attention to yourself is to get angry (if you know Kids, you know that this starts young).

 

Maybe one of the reasons that the book of Galatians stands out to me is because in various ways, Paul seems pretty fired up, passionate, or even angry about what is happening in the church of Galatia.

 

What we need to consider for ourselves personally, is how emotions can drive us towards good or evil; towards truth or lies.

In Galatians 4, we see that Paul himself was “zealous” in response to the Zeal, Passion, and Emotions that other false teachers were displaying toward the Galatians to lead them estray. This further demonstrates that Emotions can lead towards positive outcomes, or negative.

 

We must also remember that God gave us emotions for a reason—to experience life, to praise and worship Him, to connect to others, etc. (cf Psalms).

We don’t want to devalue them, but the goal is to submit our emotions to the leading of God’s Spirit, and not to be mastered by them or allow them to drive our lives or take us out of step with Jesus, our Savior and Lord.

 

We must ask-- Do we get fired up about the right things?  Or have we been “re-enslaved” to worldly ways of thinking?

This weekend as we consider Paul’s emotional appeal in Galatians 4:8-20, we will confront the issue of stewarding our own emotions, and also testing and challenging the emotional appeals that others are making to us.

 

Paul says, “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good” (Galatians 4:18)

As Christians, we must be discerning, by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  In another letter that Paul wrote to a different church, he said,

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”

(Thessalonians 5:19-22),             

 

May we submit our emotions to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to guide us towards all that is true and good!

 

 

This Sunday

 

We will celebrate all women on this Mother’s Day! Some of the kids from our children’s ministry will be handing out special gifts to every woman as they exit the sanctuary.

 

8:30 –

              518  Satisfied

510  Heaven Came Down

501  Now I Belong to Jesus

568  May the Mind of Christ My Savior

 

11:00 –

              We will be led into worship by a Guest Worship Leader, Gina Baldoni, from Doubling Gap Church of God.

              Our God

              Promises

              Honey in the Rock

              Great Things

 

              Contemporary Spotify Playlist

 

 

This Weekend

• Friday, May 17th, The children’s ministry is having a night of Pizza and Games at the Robert’s House. More info is available through our Children’s Ministry department.

 

• On Saturday Morning, May 18th, we will be providing two training opportunities for our Children & Youth workers in room 209. The first training at 10:00am will share about ways to connect with children & youth, and at 11:00, we will offer Mandated Reporter Training, which is required to be taken periodically by all who serve with Children and Youth. If you are interested in serving at Vacation Bible School or in other ways in the future and have not taken this training, please plan to attend.

 

• We are hosting a Wild Game Dinner on Saturday, May 18 at 5:00 in Crossroads Station. This event is designed as a night of fellowship and outreach for sportsmen (and sportswomen) and will feature door prizes, food from the forests and fields, and a special presentation the by PA Trappers Association. Turkey will be provided, but you are asked to bring a side dish—especially wild game dishes from your own hunting and fishing experiences if you have something to share!
• This Sunday, May 19^th, we will be having a special elective class during the Sunday School time in the fellowship hall in Crossroads station. This class will explore the rise of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and how Christians can think about this and other technological changes in our world. 

 

 

Council Highlights

Our church council convened this week for our May meeting. Here are some highlights to share with you:

• In update was shared about the ERC Annual Conference. It was a time of worship, reflection, training, business, and fellowship. There are some new leaders in place in the local region of our denomination who shared about biblical topics such Discipleship, Joy, and Sabbath Rest. Our conference is confronting many difficult questions presented by our world, and answering them with biblical and prayerful truth that finds its source in Jesus.
• It was reported that the judge approved a disbursement from the Albert Busch Trust Fund to the Shippensburg First Church of God in the amount of $50,000, designated as reimbursement for Crossroads Station improvements, because a portion of those improvements specifically benefited seniors. This will significantly reduce the amount of our loan.
• The updated “Church Facilities Use Policy” and “Church Facility Reservation Request and Agreement form” were approved by the church council. Revisions include details related to using the new spaces in Crossroads Station, and priority considerations to ensure that all of our buildings can be stewarded well and made available for ministry and community outreach opportunities, while also allowing for individual members and attenders to utilize the facilities as appropriate. New forms will be available in the church office and in the gathering place for review and for use.

 

 

Summer Events!

 

“Ship Serve” Youth Missions Week

June 17-20

A team of young people from our youth group will be serving our community in a variety of ways for a week this summer, including hosting a community meal. You’ll be hearing more about this event on Sunday, but you can begin prayerfully considering how you could be involved through some of the following ways:

• Prayer Support
• Financial Donations
• Service Project Ideas
• Donating Cookies & Cupcakes
• Providing to-go snacks for work crews

 

 

Vacation Bible School

VBS is coming on June 23-27! This year we will be taking kids on an imaginary trip to the beach to learn about how God’s ‘Rock-Solid Truth’ stands firm in a world of ‘shifting sands!’

Registration will soon be available for children, and we are assembling a team of adults and teenagers to serve together as part of our VBS team. Begin prayerfully considering how you could minister in one or more of the following ways—

• Teachers*
• Helpers*
• Games*
• Crafts*
• Worship & Opening*
• Decorators
• Meal service
• Snack service
• Etc.

*be sure to attend the Mandated Reporter Training this weekend if you are interested in working directly with children.

 

Ladies in Step Activities

All ladies are invited to participate and learn about some special activities together, like painting, succulent gardening, card making, and jewelry making. The first activity (gardening) is June 5, and they will meet every other Wednesday at 6:30 in the Annex through June and July.

 

Men’s Prayer Breakfast

All men are invited to meet at the Greyhound Restaurant from 7:30-8:45 on Wednesday Mornings from July 18-August 6.

 

 

Communications Updates

The May edition of our “FYI” Newsletter is now available. Look for it at the Welcome Desk or in the center section of the Sanctuary.

If you have information you would like to communicate, communication request forms are available from the church office or in the Gathering Place.

 

 

Let us zealously live for Christ, as we allow him to direct our emotions and passions in line with his Truth and Love!

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

 

Helpful Links:

Website (shipfcog.org)

SFCOG Facebook

SFCOG Instagram

Online Messages (shipfcog.org)

Online Giving (shipfcog.org)

Care Groups & Sunday School Classes

 

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

shipfcog.net/site/shipfcog/shipnews/index.html

 

 

Additional Prayer Requests

Dear Family,

 

Please join us in prayer for the following:

 

 

Josselynn Baker is facing a concerning medical challenge.  Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance for Vicky and her family.

 

 

Mick Martin’s sister-in-law and wife of Kenny Martin, Marian, passed away after a battle with cancer.

 

 

Thank you for partnering with us as we uphold these families in prayer.

 

“Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.” Psalm 6:2

 

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

Please pray!

Dear Family,

 

Please pray for the following:

 

Karli Fogelsanger (Mary Ann’s granddaughter) will probably be in Johns Hopkins for another week.  Everything is not progressing as the specialists hoped.  She has a feeding tube and needs to gain weight before they can operate. She has much pain.

 

Mary Gsell is recuperating at the home of Michael and Lisa Murphy following her surgery.

 

Plans are to move Louise Swope from the Chambersburg Hospital to Sarah A. Todd Memorial Home on Thursday.

 

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:23

 

 

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

What's your Story? SFCOG Updates for 5/12

Sunday is Coming!

 

What’s your story?

 

 

On Mother’s Day, it’s a good time to reflect on where we come from. It is good to know and share our family stories.

 

So, what’s your story?

Where do you come from?

Who is your family?

Who is your mother?

Who is your father?

What is your race or ethnicity and how does that shape your view of the world?

How does your identity as a man or a woman affect your story?

What unique experiences, skills, passions, etc. make you who you are?

how do these details connect you to God & others?

 

This Sunday we will continue our study of Galatians as we consider who we are in Christ. In Galatians 4:4-7, Paul presents Jesus himself as a model for considering our own story, and we also see that through Jesus, our story now connects to God’s Story—

 

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

 

Consider Jesus’ life story:  Paul reminds us that Jesus was born of a woman also, under the law. He was a Jewish male, and details in the Gospels reveal that he was probably from a poor family. He lived as a Hebrew under Roman oppression. Jesus had a family, a heritage, and a history, and he lived and taught from this point of reference.

 

But as much as Jesus was fully human, he was also fully God, and was able to meet the requirements of the law to “redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

 

Paul says because Jesus redeemed us from slavery to sin and death, and filled us with his Holy Spirit, we are adopted into the family of God and can now call God, “Abba, Father.”

 

Consider the Gentile’s Story: When Paul talks about slaves and adoption, he is using two very distinct gentile metaphors. It is quite remarkable that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to use these ‘worldly’ images to explain some profoundly spiritual gospel truths.

 

In a “Big Picture” way, it shows that everyone’s story has elements that can be redeemed and used to tell God’s Story.

 

Now consider our story: As we realize our true identity as children of God, may we see that all of the factors that shape our identity give meaning and purpose to our story, and God can redeem and use all parts of our story to tell His Gospel Story.

 

Through Jesus, we are no longer slaves, but God’s children; and since we are his children, God has made us also heirs. An heir does not merely sit back and do nothing with the family estate and the family fortune--if they do, it might all waste away to nothing. An heir must carry on the good name and the work of the Father—they must carry on “the family business” of loving people as God our Father loves people (thanks to Joyce Hornbaker for reminding me of this concept!)

 

Last week we reviewed how the True Gospel, as Paul calls it, tells us that the only thing we need to do to receive salvation is believe in faith. A child inherits the father’s estate simply by being his child. Nothing else. But if we stop there, that is not the full gospel…

In response to salvation by grace alone as heirs of God, we are entrusted with meaningful and life-giving work to continue passing on the overflowing blessings of the promises of God our Father.

 

Heirs are not slaves—they do not submit to some other authority, but they must use their freedom to make their own choices in line with what is best of the ongoing goodness of the family name. They must manage the father’s house, while also resting in the fact that they have a permanent place in that house, not as a servant or slave, but as a child of the father!

 

Jesus said in John 14:2-3--

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

 

Consider that Jesus has made a place for each of us in His Family. We have our own room!

God loves to bring people in! In response, who do you know that needs to be welcomed in and given their own room? Their own place at the table? Who can you welcome to the family?

 

How can your story connect you to the story of others? 

 

Let us allow God to make all of our stories something great for His Glory!

 

 

This Sunday

 

We will celebrate all women on this Mother’s Day! Some of the kids from our children’s ministry will be handing out special gifts to every woman as they exit the sanctuary.

 

8:30 –

              Happy the Home Where God is There #453

Tell Me the Old Old Story #622

In Christ Alone (contemporary hymn)

Take the Name of Jesus with You #235

 

11:00 –

              God so Loved

              Beautiful Things

Nothing but the Blood

Everlasting God

 

Contemporary Spotify Playlist

 

Upcoming Opportunities

• We are hosting a Wild Game Dinner on Saturday, May 18 at 5:00 in Crossroads Station. This event is designed as a night of fellowship and outreach for sportsmen (and sportswomen) and will feature door prizes, food from the forests and fields, and a special presentation the by PA Trappers Association. Service opportunities are available if you’d be interested in helping, or would like to share some wild game dishes from your own hunting and fishing experiences. See the sign-up sheets in the Gathering Place or Sunday School Classrooms, or reply to this email for more info.
  
  
• Next Sunday, May 19^th, we will be having a special elective class during the Sunday School time in the fellowship hall in Crossroads station. This class will explore the rise of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and how Christians can think about this and other technological changes in our world. 

 

 

Children & Youth Highlights

• Our Youth Ministry is continuing to meet on Wednesday evenings through the month of May. Many of these meetings will be off site. For more information, reply to this email or reach out to our Youth ministry team.

 

• On Friday, May 17th, Children and their families are invited for a night of Pizza and Games at the Robert’s House. More info is available through our Children’s Ministry department.

 

• On Saturday Morning, May 18th, we will be providing two training opportunities for our Children & Youth workers in room 209. The first training at 10:00am will share about ways to connect with children & youth, and at 11:00, we will offer Mandated Reporter Training, which is required to be taken periodically by all who serve with Children and Youth. If you are interested in serving at Bible School or in other ways in the future and have not taken this training, please plan to attend.

 

• Youth Sunday is June 2! Our students will be leading us in worship during both Sunday morning services. We will also celebrate our High School Graduates on this day!

 

 

Greenvillage 50^th Anniversary

50 years ago, members of our own SFCOG congregation followed God’s Leading to plant a new church in Greenvillage, PA. This past weekend, the people of the Greenvillage Church of God celebrated this milestone with a special combined service. You can view this celebration on their YouTube channel, and you might see some familiar faces from the past and the present:

https://youtu.be/cpWtkRzsRVg

 

 

Communications Updates

The May edition of our “FYI” Newsletter is now available. Look for it at the Welcome Desk or in the center section of the Sanctuary.

If you have information you would like to communicate, communication request forms are available from the church office or in the Gathering Place.

 

 

We are Children of God through Christ, who has redeemed us and allowed us to be adopted into the family of our Heavenly Father! Let us serve our Father well and be about the ‘family business’ of showing Love to all people!

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

 

Helpful Links:

Website (shipfcog.org)

SFCOG Facebook

SFCOG Instagram

Online Messages (shipfcog.org)

Online Giving (shipfcog.org)

Care Groups & Sunday School Classes

 

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

shipfcog.net/site/shipfcog/shipnews/index.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please pray!

Dear Family,

 

Please be in prayer for the following:

 

Bonnie Diehl is dealing with some challenges with her heart.

Mary Gsell is recovering at Menno Haven Rehab.

Sally Hershey is undergoing tests in Hershey Hospital.

Bill Jones has an appointment this afternoon with his surgeon in Hershey.

Pam Negley receives her marker today and will have surgery in Hershey on Friday.

Bob Peck will have cataract surgery on Friday.

Louise Swope is continuing to recover in the Chambersburg Hospital.

 

Thank you for partnering in prayer.

 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11:1

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421