Shippensburg First Church Of God Blog Site: Hear the Call

Sunday is Coming!

Where are you heading this summer?

My family just got back from vacationing on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, where we had the opportunity to go on a Whale Watch. It was a foggy, rainy day, not too stormy, but with enough wind & waves to make me appreciate the Mystery & Power of the Ocean. When we got out to sea, out of the fog emerged dozens of large humpback whales. It was all quite inspiring yet a little unsettling too.

This weekend will read more about the sea (and a “whale”), but I’m curious if anyone else planning to go to the ocean this summer?

Where else are you heading?

Besides Vacation?

We have several teens and young adults heading on Missions Trips.

Many of you will be serving at VBS.

Some of you are assisting your families and neighbors with special projects and life changes.

Summer brings lots of other unique opportunities as well.

Or perhaps we could consider this question with a different frame of mind…

Does anyone feel like you’re wandering in Confusion? Adrift in the fog? Seeking a new direction? Waiting for a Word from God?

There have been times in my life when I wished God would just plainly tell me where to go and what to do.

Have you ever felt this way? Wouldn’t we all like some clear directions from God?

But truthfully, would we follow God’s directives if we actually had them? Or would we choose to go our own way?

God does give us directions, but we always have choices to make. On Sunday we will begin reading an Epic Tale from Scripture that tells of a man who was given clear directions from God, and instead of following these directions, he turned around and went the opposite way, only to find himself in a stormy sea, confronting a monstrous fish!

I am of course referring to the Prophet Jonah! Let’s jump right into Chapter 1--

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

--Jonah 1:1-3

We will consider many important themes in this book over the next few weeks, but I think there’s a key topic that Jonah helps us to explore: Choice. Free Will. The ability God gives us to decide what to do with our own lives.

God loves us enough to allow us to choose to follow Him, or to choose to go our own way. Jonah reveals what happens when we don’t obey, and also what can happen when we do submit to Him.

Jonah does eventually cry out to God inside of a Huge Fish, and then he obeys God’s directions and goes to Nineveh.

That brings us to one more note about the theme of Free Will in this book:

God declared that He was aware of the wickedness of Ninevah and Jonah assumed this meant God was prepared to destroy them. But in Chapter 3, thanks to the message Jonah preaches to them, the people of Ninevah made the choice to repent—to change their actions and change their behaviors – and God honored their choice, and so He relented from sending calamity upon them.

This was in keeping with God’s Character, which He had revealed to His people throughout history—those who knew him—the Hebrews and their prophets, including Jonah, who himself said,

“you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” — Jonah 4:2

(Compare to Exodus 34:6)

So let’s ask ourselves, how well to we Know God? Do we truly want to experience Him? And do we desire for others to experience Him also?

In many ways, It’s our Choice.

This begins by calling on God, surrendering ourselves to Him. God may be as mysterious and powerful as the Sea, but He has personally declared that He is a gracious and compassionate God Who is abounding in Love.

We must hear the call that God has given to us, and obey Him—not going our own way, or running into the confusing ocean of chaos of our own selfishness, but following the Clear Directions that have been revealed to us in God’s Word by God’s Holy Spirit, and demonstrated through Jesus.

We are all sent to be Prophets! We are Sent by God to share the Gospel!

In the New Testament age in which we live, God’s Word is not limited to prophets like Jonah—God’s Word is available to all people by His Holy Spirit through His Son, Jesus. Jesus has already given Clear Directions to all who would call themselves His Disciples. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus says,

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

As we study the Book of Jonah this summer, we will consider what it means to be “Sent” by God to share His Word with the World. We will also celebrate what God is doing through some people in our church, and through the CGGC ministries in Brazil, and the international ministry of the Gideons.

And let us each listen for the voice of God, who calls us to “go and make disciples” together with Him!

Will you answer the call?

This Sunday

8:30 Traditional Worship

Jesus Calls Us #592

Send the Light #437

So Send I You #440

Take The Name of Jesus With You #235

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

This Is Amazing Grace

What an Awesome God

Grace Alone

Glorious Day

Contemporary Spotify Playlist

We will have a special time of prayer for those who will be serving with VBS and the Youth Mission Trip during both services this Sunday.

*If you have not already done so, Please be sure to prayerfully consider financially supporting the youth who are going on the Mission Trip to Asheville, North Carolina this summer. Support Letters were distributed to church mailboxes and are available on the Welcome Desk if you would like to learn more.

*Next Sunday, June 29^th, will be a 5^th Sunday, which means the Children will join us in worship during the 11:00 service.

Vacation Bible School

We are looking forward to Vacation Bible School next week, June 22-26!

VBS will meet Sunday – Thursday from 6:00-8:00. There will be a meal provided at 5:30 in the Annex for families and helpers.

Please enter the Sanctuary through the Back Doors. Registration will take place in the Gathering Place. Preregistration is also available to speed things along. à You can preregister Children online at this link: myvbs.org/ShipFCOGVBS

Volunteer Clearances

We always welcome new volunteers for our Children & Youth Ministries! We do require training and background clearances to serve in these areas, and we will help you work through this process. Karen Marr is our Child Protection Coordinator. If you have questions concerning clearances for volunteering in church ministry, please contact Karen Marr at ChildProtectionCoordinator@shipfcog.org.

Living Stones Activities

John Winebrenner Tour and Dinner Monday, July 14 10:30AM-7:00PM

Location: Start tour at Best Western Motel, 800 East Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA, 17109

The itinerary will include a visit to Winebrenner’s grave, the Metropolitan Bethel and Salem UCC in Harrisburg, the Union Bethel in Mechanicsburg, and Peace Church where he preached.

Leave Annex (Church van and carpooling) at 10:30 AM and return approximately 7:00 PM

Cost: No cost for the tour. We suggest you pack a lunch to eat in the church van. The actual tour time is

12:00 noon – 5:00 PM. We will then stop somewhere for dinner (your expense) on the way home.

Register: The Gathering Place, Sunday School Classroom, or call the church office by June 29^th. Please indicate if you wish to ride in the church van, carpool from the Annex, or meet us in Harrisburg.

Cowan’s Gap Potluck Picnic and Swimming Tuesday, July 29 10:15 AM

Location: Cowan's Gap State Park, 6235 Aughwick Road, Fort Loudon, PA 17224

Arrive at Annex by 10:15. We plan to return no later than 5:00 PM.

We will use the church van, carpool, and vehicles to haul lawn chairs and food.

Church will provide: Water, sliced cheese, ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, and will grill your meat

What to Bring: meat you would like to have grilled, roll or bread for your sandwich(es), a side dish to share, your drink, lawn chairs (if you desire), and swimming suit (if you wish to swim)

Register: The Gathering Place, Sunday School Classroom, or call the church office by July 20^th. Please indicate what side dish you plan to bring, and if you wish to ride in the church van, carpool from the Annex, meet us at Cowan’s Gap.

Harrisburg Senators Game and Fireworks Friday, August 29 5:00 PM Register by June 29

Location: FNB Park, 245 Championship Way, Harrisburg, PA 17101

Leave Annex (Church van and carpooling) at 5:00 PM. Priority seating for the church van will be for our seniors on a first-paid registration basis.

Cost: $17/Person (all ages) A food voucher (hot dog, chips, and a drink for $7) is an option, but must be requested in advance. (If paying by check, make it payable to the Shippensburg First Church of God.)

Register and Pay Pastor Gary: The Gathering Place, Sunday School Classroom, or call the church office ASAP. We would like to know by June 29^th if possible because we need to order tickets in advance so that we can sit together. This activity is open to all ages. You are welcome to bring your family. Please indicate if you wish to ride in the church van, carpool from the Annex, or meet us at the game.

Summer Bible Studies

Ladies in Step will be having some special activity nights throughout the summer. The next will be Card Making on July 9 from 6:30-8:00 in the Annex. Please RSVP to Joyce Hornbaker to help with planning for materials.

Beginning on July 9^th, there will be a summer Men’s Bible Study and Prayer held at the home of Jerry Underkoffler. This will take place every Wednesday morning at 8:00-9:15 until the end of August. Coffee cake will be served each week with coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Please inform Jerry if you plan to attend.

Serving and Community Partnership Opportunity

Our Outreach Committee is now collecting Toothpaste and Children’s Tylenol for Circle of Love ministries. Donations can be placed in the appropriate place in the entryway of the Sanctuary that is closest to Crossroads Station. In addition, Circle of Love is always in need of financial donations, which can be delivered directly to their location at 150 Reading Road, Shippensburg, PA.

To learn more, contact (717) 372-1112 or circleoflovegiveaway@gmail.com

Communications Updates

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

The June 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