Thank you and prayer request

Dear Family,

 

I received the following text from Bernie Eiswert concerning his sister, Kathy’s, surgery today, “surgery was more involved than they thought, but surgeon doesn't expect complications. Praise and thanks to God, and thank you to our entire church family for all their prayers.” 

 

Please join us in praying for healing for Deb Pelow who is hospitalized at least overnight with pneumonia.

 

Thank you for partnering with us.

 

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”   Isaiah 40:29

 

 

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 be in prayer for Bernie Eiswert’s sister, Kathy, who is scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning at Johns Hopkins.

 
Thank you for partnering in prayer!

 

"Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me."  Psalm 30:2

 

In Caring,

 

Pastor Gary 

 

Praises and Prayer Request

Dear Family,

 

We are praising God for an encouraging and uplifting experience that Pastor Rodney, Joyce Hornbaker, Liam O’Hagen, Troy Shively, myself and many others participated in at the annual Eastern Regional Conference these past two days at Camp Yolijwa. 

 

I am grateful for the fifteen church members who attended Reggie MeNeal’s “Resilience in Leadership” Seminar Sunday evening.  Pray that we apply in our personal life the things we learned and that we would lead well those that God has placed around us.

 

Praise God for carrying Mark Zimmerman, Mike Gutshall’s nephew, through yet another surgery.  Please pray for complete healing and recovery for him in this hard journey.

 

Thank for celebrating what God is doing and for God’s touch upon each of us according to our need.

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”   2 Corinthians 3:3-4

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

5 Tickets remain for "The Innocent" at Christian Life Assembly

Dear Church Family,

 

The Living Stones has five tickets available for anyone 50 years old or older who would like to join us on Saturday, April 5 to see “The Innocent” Easter Drama at Christian Life Assembly in Camp Hill.  Following the drama, we will eat dinner at the Peppermill Restaurant.

 

We will meet at the Church Annex and leave from there at 12:15 p.m. unless you make other plans in advance and inform me.

 

The cost of the drama is $15, and the dinner is your cost as well.

 

If you would like to attend, please inform me.  You are welcome to invite friends that are not part of our church.  The tickets are to the first five who reply.

 

May God bless you with a wonderful weekend!

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

Update

Dear Family,

 

I have several encouraging things to share.

 

Gloria Erickson received very encouraging news from her biopsy … no cancer!

 

Larry and Kathy Russell wishes to thank everyone for your prayers.  Larry is recovering from his heart procedure last evening.  God had Larry at the right place at the right time!

 

“Do not be afraid, O land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things.”  Joel 2:26

 

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 Updates

Hello Church Family,

 

Larry Russell is now being flown to York hospital as he is facing some significant heart blockages. Kathy welcomes as many prayers as possible.

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

--Philippians 4:6-7

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

Please be in prayer!

Dear family,

 

Please be in prayer for healing for Larry Russell who went to the hospital this morning and is waiting for a room to be admitted.

 

"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases."  Psalm 103:2-3

 

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

Terry Helm Celebration of Life 3/22

Hello Church Family,

The family of Terry Helm would like to inform you that his memorial service will be held at the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home tomorrow, Saturday March 22, at 3:30. There will be a viewing at 2:30 prior to the service. 

Terry Lee Helm Obituary March 20, 2025 fogelsanger-brickerfuneralhome.com

Please continue to remember the family in your prayers.

—Pastor Rodney

SFCOG Prayer Requests

Hello again, Church Family,

 

This morning, Terry Helm went to be with his Lord and Savior. Please remember his Daughters Karen Reed & Leah Schmitz and their families in your prayers as they mourn his passing.

 

Also early this morning, Nelson Poe, the Brother of Joyce Hornbaker, went to be with Jesus. Remember Joyce & Pastor Gary and their whole family in your prayers as well.

 

 

Connie Heberlig would welcome your prayers as she is hospitalized at this time.

 

 

On this first day of Spring, let us join our hearts to remember the hope of New Life that we have in the Lord, our Good Shepherd, even as we grieve with those who face sickness and loss.

 

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.’”

--Ezekiel 34:11-12

 

“I, even I, am he who comforts you.”

--Isaiah 51:12

 

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

Please pray!

Dear Family,

 

Please be in prayer for Carolyn Killinger’s brother-in-law, Jim, who is 85 years old, is battling cancer, and has surgery tomorrow at 1:00.

 

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”   Psalm 62:5-6

 

Thank you for partnering in prayer!

 

For His Glory,

 

Gary

Please pray!

Dear Family,

 

Please be in prayer for healing for Dave German who recently suffered a stroke.  Dave is a friend of Mick and Dottie Martin.

 

Thank you for partnering in prayer.

 

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 be in prayer for a friend that they would sense God’s presence, love, and guidance in the days ahead following some really hard news yesterday.

 

Please continue praying for Wilma Swope, her family, and friends as they grieve the passing of Jerry.

 

Jerry’s Celebration of Life Service will be in the church sanctuary on Saturday at 2:00.

 

Please be in prayer for Terry Helm and his family during this difficult time of health challenges.

 

There are many others in our church family that are dealing with heavy things.

 

Thank you for partnering in prayer!

 

"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."  Ephesians 3:20

 

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 be in prayer for the following individuals and their family:

 

Mike Gayman is scheduled for back surgery late tomorrow morning.

Terry Helm has been transferred to Laurel Lakes in Chambersburg for rehabilitation.

Bill Jones will soon begin his second round of chemo treatments.

 

Thank you for partnering in prayer!

 

“’But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord,”  Jeremiah 30:17

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

Update and please continue to pray!!!!

Dear Family,

 

We are praising God for a service of hope and celebration today as we remembered Anna Wiser and the person she was/is, even in the midst of our sorrow and loss.

 

Amy Culbertson’s grandmother went home to be with Jesus yesterday afternoon. Services will probably be next week in Allentown.

 

Randy Shenk came home from the hospital on Saturday.

 

Heidi Coy’s son, Bennett, came home from the hospital yesterday.

 

Vonnie and Dave Cressler’s great granddaughter, Cora, is no longer intubated.  The MRI did not show any brain damage, which was extremely encouraging.

 

Terry Helm remains in the hospital. 

 

Please pray for continued healing, comfort, and guidance for each of these families. 

 

Thank you for caring and for partnering in prayer.

 

^“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.   For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”  2 Corinthians 1:3-5

 

 

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 be in prayer for Terry Helm who is in the hospital with pneumonia.

Thank you for partnering with us in prayer.

For His Glory,

Pastor Gary

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Prayer Request

Dear Family,

 

Amy Culbertson shared the following and asked us to join her in praying:

 

“Please pray for my family in the coming days as my grandma, Julia Holman, has been declining, and hospice staff has been called in. She lives in a nursing home in Allentown.  She is 101.   My grandma helped to raise me and is very special to me.” 

 

Thank you for joining us in prayer!

 

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”  Psalm 23:4

 

 

 

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 Update

Hello Church Family,

 

Please join me in praying for the family of Anna Wiser, who went home to be with her Lord and Savior on February 18^th at the age of 93. She was a longtime member of our church, and involved in various ways around our community, such as with the Cumberland County Farm Women and their refreshment stand at the Shippensburg Fair, and owning and operating a Tropical Fish Store for 25 years.

 

Her obituary can be found here: Anna M. Wiser Obituary February 18, 2025 - Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home and Crematorium, Inc.

 

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”

--Revelation 21:5-7

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

Please pray!

Dear Family,

Please pray for Randy Shenk who was taken to the hospital this afternoon with pneumonia.

Thank you for partnering in prayer!

In Caring,

Pastor Gary

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Please pray!

Dear Family,

 

Mick Martin asks that we would pray for healing for his nephew, Beau Martin, who lives in NC.  Beau fell off a roof while on a job assignment.

 

“Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.” Psalm 30:2

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

Living Stones visit to Celebration Villa is postponed

Dear Family,

The Living Stones planned visit to the residents at Celebration Villa this week has been postponed due to residents' illness.  Another date will be scheduled in March and shared once determined.

Please pray for all who are battling illnesses.

Thank you!

For His Glory,

Pastor Gary

Please pray!

Dear Family,

Please pray for Cora Wren Rutledge who was born Saturday, February 8, 2025.  She is the daughter of Grant and Shyann Rutledge, granddaughter of Brian and Julie Kane and great granddaughter of Dave and Vonnie Cressler.  Cora Wren has been diagnosed with a form of Acidemia, an inherited metabolic blood disorder and is currently in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

 

Thank you for partnering in pray!

 

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3 John 1:2

 

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

Praise and Prayer Requests

Dear Family,

 

We praise God for the birth of Bennett Lee Kaiser (4 lbs. 13 ozs., 18’ long) yesterday to Heidi Coy.  Both mom and baby are doing well.  Greg and Kathy Coy are the proud grandparents.

Please pray for:

healing and comfort for Dave Bodah who had teeth removed today and is experiencing pain.

healing and discernment for Bill Jones as he has two doctor appointments next week.

healing and strength for Lewese Peck as she recovers from hand surgery.

strengthening for Margie Shoap as she rehabs at Cumberland Crossings after a hospital stay.

peace and comfort for Claire Gutshall who is scheduled for a tonsillectomy tomorrow.

 

““See now that I myself am He!  There is no god besides me.  I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.” Deuteronomy 32:39

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

Community Night Cancelled 2/12

Hello Church family,

 

Due to the Winter Weather Advisory and the potential timing of snow and sleet, we will be cancelling our Community Night activities this evening (Awana, Youth Group, Young Adult Group, Adult Bible Studies, and Choir Practice).

 

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

    he enables me to tread on the heights.

--Habakkuk 3:18-19

 

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

Paise and Prayer Request

Dear Family,

 

Let us celebrate with Matt and Erin Hower as God blessed them with a granddaughter this morning.  Their son and daughter-in-law live in VA.

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.”  Psalm 127:3

 

We also celebrate the homegoing of Lane Stern’s dad, Herbert, who went home to be with his Heavenly Father, Lord, and Savior.  Herbert was a man of God who lived his life well for Jesus.  We ask that you pray for the Stern family as they grieve their earthly loss.

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

 

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 services cancelled 2/9

Hello Church Family,

Unfortunately the church parking lot and many of our side streets are completely icy and the temperature forecast does not indicate that things will thaw very soon, so we have made the decision to cancel services this morning. 

I pray you will take some time in the word, perhaps reflecting on Habakkuk and the waiting on the Lord in worship. 

"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

—Habakkuk 2:3

Blessings,

Pastor Rodney 

Correction

Dear Family,

 

Rob Weber’s appointment on Monday was with his medical team at York, not Hershey as I previously mentioned.  Sorry for my error.

 

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 join us in praying for the following:

 

Kevin Breneman’s Celebration of Life Service was yesterday.  Pray for comfort for John and Lois and the family.   John and Lois would appreciate visits and

you are welcome to share a meal with them as well.

Heidi Coy (Kathy and Greg’s daughter) as she progresses through her final weeks/days of pregnancy.

.
Bill Jones has a biopsy tomorrow in Hershey.

Barry Negley, Shirley’s brother, is home from the hospital and is recovering.

 

Lewese Peck fell down basement steps.  She is sore and is scheduled for surgery on her right hand on Tuesday.

 

Rob Weber is being challenged by fatigue and other concerns.  He had a follow up appointment with his medical team at Hershey on Monday.

 

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

 

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 Update

Hello Church Family,

 

Kevin Brenneman, son of Dr. John and Lois Brenneman, passed away this morning and is now with Jesus. Please remember John and Lois and their whole family in your prayers.

 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

    for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

    for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

    for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

--Matthew 5:3-10

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

Please pray!

Dear Family,

 

Jerry Underkoffler’s 84 year old sister, Linda Crider, in Souderton will be having aortic valve surgery early tomorrow morning. It will be the second time in her life that she has had this surgery.

 

Thank you for partnering in prayer! 

 

“And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’” Luke 8:48

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421