SAME NAME / PRAYER REQUEST

Church family, the previous email sent out a request for Lorelei Goodhart. The Lorelie Goodhart who is wife of Alan Goodhart IS a different person than the person who had a prayer request made for her. Hope this clarifies the concerns. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. May grace and peace be with all of you. 

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Please be in prayer!!!

Dear Church family, 

Please pray for Lorelei Goodhart who has recently been diagnosed with cancer.  Lorelei is the Aunt of Jon our worship leader at our 11:00 am service. Thank you for your prayers for healing.

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First Impressions - SFCOG Updates for 8/23

Sunday is Coming!

 

Beginnings are important…

 

Today our Shippensburg Area School District is beginning a new school year! Students often give a lot of thought to their “back to school” first day outfits in order to make a good first impression. This might even call for a new pair of shoes…

One of our children found a super-bright-neon-orange pair of shoes this year! That’s one way to make an individualistic first impression. Fortunately, the SASD Dress Code has no prohibitions against brightly colored footwear…

 

Whether you are a student or not, perhaps you’ve experienced the tension that exists in our society between individuality & conformity.

 

We are told that we are free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness in whatever manner we deem appropriate… and yet we are also mindful that there are certain expectations and even some constraints that come with these shared freedoms.

•            Students going back to school are issued a student handbook, and have to agree to a certain code of conduct.

•            When you start a new job, your employee handbook tells you what is expected of you in your new role. You may be told certain values or visions that you are meant to share.

•            When you turn on the news from your chosen media source, the “talking heads” speak to you about other ways to identify yourself. They tell you what causes or concerns you should be interested in or passionate about. The headlines tell you what to think about each world event, or what to be outraged about this week…

•            When you go online, influencers tell us, “Follow me as I get ready to go out – don’t you want to look like me?” Or “Follow me as I speed run through this video game – don’t you wish you were as tech-savvy as I am?”

 

All of these various sources tell us something about who we are or who we are supposed to be.

 

At the center of it all is a simple question that we wrestle with throughout our lives – “Who Am I?”

…but sometimes it can be overwhelming to answer this question!

 

This gets even harder in certain circumstances – when things that you previously used to define yourself have changed…

Who are you when you begin a new chapter of life (new job, new school, etc.)?

Who are you when you lose someone close to you?

Who are you when someone makes you feel like you’re not measuring up to their expectations?

 

It can be even more confusing when we come together as a community and attempt to ask this question together – “Who are WE?”

 

Whether as a family, a church, as citizens of this country, or as one human race, we may all have different answers to this question.

 

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had some sort of handbook or manual that answered this question for us? Some “instructions” perhaps that specified our identity and our purpose? I’m sure you may know where I’m going with this… Every teacher or professor has probably had the experience of being asked by a student a question that clearly had an answer spelled out in the syllabus…

 

**Fortunately, we DO have something kind of like a syllabus or instruction manual or handbook we can turn to in order to answer these questions of identity—but we do need to read it!

 

One of the functions of our Bible is that it helps us to answer the question—“Who are we?”

But it does so in light of an even bigger question – “Who is God?”

 

How we answer the “Who is God” question shapes the answer to questions about our own identity.

 

The entire collection of our scriptures helps us to fully answer these questions, but there is one particular part which really builds a foundation for us, and that is the Pentateuch—the first 5 books in the Old Testament, AKA the Torah. This will be the focus of a new series to begin this new fall season as we “Begin at the Beginning.”

 

The Torah consists of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Tradition says that they were originally written or compiled by Moses and in many ways, they are meant to inform the identity of all those who call on the name of the Lord. These books give us a shared story to understand who we are and where we came from.

 

Fast Forwarding to The New Testament, we see that now through Jesus, the One who fulfilled the Law of Moses and the promises of the First Covenant, all who believe in Jesus can share this common story and this common identity. We are “People of the Book” (as Bryce Pelow shared last week), so it’s important to know what it says.

 

To answer the “who are we” question, Genesis gives us 2 important things to know:

 

1)We are Made in God’s Image (“So God created mankind in his own image”  --Genesis 1:27)

2) God calls us “Good” (“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” --Genesis 1:31)

 

May this lift your spirits today!

 

But perhaps more important than what these books tell us about ourselves, is what they tell us about God! Over the next few weeks, we will study all that together, beginning this week, as we see that our God is a Good Creator!

 

I hope you’ll join us as we Seek Him and Worship Him together!

 

 

This Sunday

 

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.

 

I Sing the Mighty Power of God #128

All Creatures Of Our God And King #63

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty #3

Great is Thy Faithfulness #139

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty #3

 

9:45     Sunday School for all ages.

Check out our Care Groups & Sunday School Classes on our website, or visit the welcome desk to learn more.

 

11:00   Contemporary Worship

Contemporary Spotify Playlist

 

King Of My Heart

              No Longer Slaves

Revelation Song

Glorious Day

 

 

Community Night is Resuming Soon!

Our Wednesday Night ministries will be resuming in about 1 month on September 2. There is something for all ages at Community Night including:

• Children’s Ministry – AWANA
• Teenagers – Youth Group
• Young Adults – “Foundations of our Faith”
• Kinetics – The Continuing Adventures of the Apostles in Acts
• Fresh Start – He Speaks to Me by Priscilla Shirer, Focusing on Prayer
• Ladies in Step – The Gospel in Hard Times by Joni Eareckson Tada

 

Learn More:

Shippensburg First Church of God | Wednesday Community Night

 

 

The Next Generation Needs You!

 

*We are currently seeking team members to serve in AWANA with our Children’s Ministry!*

This is a fun and rewarding way to invest time & talents in the Next Generation! Responsibilities include showing God’s Love to Children, encouraging them to Learn God’s Word as they memorize verses, and working as a team with other caring adults to create a positive learning environment for these young learners.

 

One volunteer who began serving with AWANA last fall said it was the best part of her year!

 

Contact our Children’s Ministry leaders (or reply to the email) to learn more.

 

Bible Adventure is also Seeking a CDL Driver and other helpers.

Let the little children come - to Bible Adventure, formerly known as Bible Released Time.

Established in 1980 by Children's Bible Mission, it has been known as Joy-el Ministry since 2004.

 

The Shippensburg Bible Adventure ministered to over 50 children every Thursday morning last year and is in desperate need of volunteers who love children and who are willing to help them find and memorize verses of scripture. A CDL bus driver with a passenger endorsement is also needed.

Bible Meets at our Shippensburg First Church of God On Thursday mornings 8:30 to 10 and/or 10 to 11 During the school year, starting October 1 Serving:

·       James Burd Elementary

·       Nancy Grayson Elementary

·       Shippensburg Intermediate

Please consider volunteering! To learn more, contact Carol Hunsberger, coordinator, at 223-205-8369.

 

 

Young Adult Fellowship Meals

We are excited to share that our Friday Night young adult fellowship meals will be resuming on September 4th. All young adults (college students, recent grads, career focused, etc.) are invited to come out to the Annex on Friday evenings at 5:00 throughout the semester to enjoy a meal and a time of socializing.

New this year, we are also planning to host a special Sunday Dinner for our college students and all other young adults on September 20th. If you would like to help prepare or serve for this special event, please contact Our Discipleship & Next Gen. Ministry Director, Troy Shively (troy.shively@shipfcog.org )

 

 

Grief Share Training

We are hosting a special round of Grief Share that will focus on training participants to provide care and encouragement to others who are experiencing loss. Many of us know people who have lost loved ones, and we desire to support them as best as we can, but we may not always be sure how. This class will equip you to serve others as Christ-like care-givers to comfort those in times of grief. The class will begin on Tuesday, September 8^th, and will meet every Tuesday morning at 10:00-12:30 in room 108, until October 20^th. To learn more, contact Visitation Director Jessie Duggan. (visitationdirector@shipfcog.org )

 

 

Church Picnic

You are invited to our annual Church Picnic!

The Picnic will be on Sunday, September 13^th at Memorial Park. It begins at 10:00 am with a combined worship service, followed by a meal together, and some activities, games, and fellowship.

We will once again be organizing a cornhole tournament.  Teams, please sign up by 9/6.

See the sign-up sheets in your Sunday School Classroom or in the Gathering Place to learn more and to RSVP, and to register your team for the cornhole tournament. There is also more info in this month’s edition of the FYI Newsletter.

 

 

 

Bible Quiz Team

Join the Team!

Our quizzers recently concluded a successful season with top ranked finishes at the national competition, and now they are looking forward to next season studying the Gospel of John! Teenagers grade 6-12 are encouraged to join in this fun way to learn the Scriptures and meet other young believers. Practice for Jr/Sr High will resume on August 23rd and any interested teens are encouraged to check it out. Final commitments for the season are needed by September 8th. The first quiz of the new season will be October 4th at Camp YoliJwa. To learn more, reply to this email or contact coach Nancy Morton.

 

There is also a Little League division for grades 3-5. Reply to this email or contact coach Jennifer Bistline to learn more.

 

 

 

Online Apparel Shop

Represent SFCOG at work or in the community!

We have partnered with Creative Engravings here in Shippensburg to set up an online apparel shop—you can custom order various shirts with our church logo embroidered on them. Select from 4 different styles (polo, t-shirt, long-sleeve t-shirt & sweatshirt) and several different colors. Items can be purchased online and picked up right here in Shippensburg at the Creative Engravings shop, or you may also reach out to us if you would like us to pick it up and deliver it to your church mailbox for you (select “Store Pick Up” and let us know when you receive notice that it is ready).

 

Visit the store:

Creative Engraving Plus, LLC| Ship First Church of God | CreativeEng&Apparel

 

 

Church Center

We have been gradually rolling out a new database tool called “Church Center.” It will be utilized for scheduling, record-keeping, giving, and many other ministry functions. You will be hearing more about it in the coming months as we implement new aspects of this resource, such as:

• a directory feature,
• an online giving option,
• and upcoming changes to our Children’s Ministry check-in system.

 

You can begin learning more and start exploring it by visiting this page on our website to create your own log-in:

Shippensburg First Church of God | Church Center

 

 

 

Communications Updates

Bulletins and newsletters are available for you as you enter for worship—you can find them right outside the main doorways into the sanctuary on a table or stand for easy access. Some are usually available at our welcome desk also, but we encourage you to keep access to our welcome desk (and our handicapped accessible seating) open and available for those who may need it.

 

*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 latest monthly edition of our “FYI” Newsletter is available in the Gathering Place or as you enter into the Sanctuary. The FYI contains information about upcoming events, care group opportunities, giving and attendance information, and more.

 

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

 

 

Let us continue to worship our Good Creator together in the Sanctuary or Online this Sunday!

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

 

Helpful Links:

Website (shipfcog.org)

SFCOG Facebook

SFCOG Instagram

SFCOG YouTube

Online Messages (shipfcog.org)

Online Giving (shipfcog.org)

Our Activities Calendar & Events

Care Groups & Sunday School Classes

 

Shippensburg First Church of God | Church Center

 

Weekly Bulletin (updated over the weekend)

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

 

 

 

 

AWANA Meeting Tonight

Good afternoon, Church Family,

This is just a quick reminder that there will be an AWANA organizational meeting tonight at 6:30 PM in the Children’s Ministry area.  If you are interested in helping with AWANA this coming year, please come out tonight and learn more.  We still need some adults to help in various areas.  You could serve as a teacher or a listener.  Both roles are important and will give you the opportunity to share God’s Word with the children in our church and community.     

Thanks,

Sonja

 

Church Secretary

Sonja Shively

Shippensburg First Church of God

Email Secretary@shipfcog.org

Office Phone 717.532.8421

 

ShipFallFest

Better Together Fall Festival Shippensburg SHIPFALLFEST.COM ShipFallFest 2026 Ship Fall Fest

shipfallfest

Better Together Fall Festival Shippensburg COMMUNITY FALL FEST WWW.shipfallfest.com 1st Saturday in November at Shippensburg Fair Grounds

Please pray!!!

Donna Rebuck: Donna has been admitted to Penn State Hershey Medical for a few days of testing and procedures so that Doctors can identify all the issues and suggest treatment. Please pray for strength and stamina for Donna and her daughter Bonnie who is staying with her. The family appreciate your prayers. 

Randy Shank: Randy is being admitted to the hospital due to a fall. Please pray for his recovery and his mom Bessie.

Thank you church family.

Jessie Duggan

CM Help Needed

Dear Church Family,

Attached is a letter from our Children’s Ministry leaders about upcoming opportunities where you can help serve in our Children’s Ministry.  Please take a moment to check it out!

Thanks,

Sonja

 

Church Secretary

Sonja Shively

Shippensburg First Church of God

Email Secretary@shipfcog.org

Office Phone 717.532.8421

 

Please Pray- Update with Date for Celebration of Life

The following is information about the Celebration of Life for Margie Fleagle’s sister Linda Crampton.

 

Linda Crampton Celebration of Life

Sunday, August 30, 2026

1pm-3pm

Burnt Mill Countryside Barn

13812 Burnt Mill Road, Shippensburg

 

Please join us to celebrate the life of Linda Crampton with friends and family.

We will begin with an Eastern Star ceremony shorty after 1 pm and then a few people will say some words and remembrances.  Snacks and deserts will be served.  Please stay ad long as you like and share the company of those who knew and loved Linda.

 

 

Grace be with you,

 

Jessie Duggan

Shippensburg Church of God

Director of Visitation

717-532-8421

 

“For with God nothing will be impossible.”  Luke 1”37

 

Please Pray !

 

The following information on about the Celebration of Life for Margie Fleagle’s sister Linda.

 

 

Linda Crampton

Celebration of Life

Location:  Burnt Mill countryside Barn

13812 Burnt Mill road, Shippensburg, PA 17257

 

Please join us to celebrate the life of Linda Crampton with friends and family. We will begin with an Eastern Star ceremony shortly after 1pm.

In addition, a few people will say some words and remembrances.  Snacks and deserts will be served.  Please stay as long as you like and share the company of those who knew and loved Linda.

 

 

Grace be with you,

 

Jessie Duggan

Shippensburg Church of God

Director of Visitation

717-532-8421

 

“For with God nothing will be impossible.”  Luke 1”37

 

Please pray!

Please be in prayer for Kevin Angle. Kevin is home after having a medical procedure done for cancer. Let’s all join in prayer for his healing and recovery. 

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to churchnews+unsubscribe@shipfcog.org.

Please Pray!!

Dear Church Family,

 

Please be in prayer for Donna Rebuck and family.  Donna faces an extensive cancer diagnosis. The family would appreciate prayers for discernment and wisdom for future decisions.

 

 

 

Grace be with you,

 

Jessie Duggan

Shippensburg Church of God

Director of Visitation

717-532-8421

 

“For with God nothing will be impossible.”  Luke 1”37

 

SFCOG prayer update

Dear church family,

I want to thank you all for the kindness, care, and prayerful support we have received as Jen’s sister, Erin Rebecca Reeve Jones, endured a very sudden and aggressive cancer journey. She passed away peacefully in her sleep early Sunday morning, after many loving family and friends had the opportunity to see her. We are glad to know she no longer suffers and is healed in the presence of our Savior. We are grateful for your ongoing prayer support.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice;

mourn with those who mourn.”

—‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭15‬ 

With love,

Pastor Rodney & Jennifer and family

Better than anything, worth everything - SFCOG Updates for 8/9

Sunday is Coming!

 

 

I enjoy cooking over a campfire, do you?

 

It may be slower and less efficient than using an oven or a microwave, and yet it is valuable in its own way.

Cooking over an open flame is even preferred by some—Barbecue anyone? Any man or woman who has learned the art of smoking meat can fill you in on the value of this slow & steady process that does what no microwave or fast-food restaurant could ever do. And any kid who has ever cooked their own hotdogs, marshmallows, or mountain pies on a campfire knows that food tastes the best (or is at least the most memorable) when you cook it yourself outdoors!

 

Campfire Food might not be of the same caliber as a 5-Star Restaurant, but for some, it’s more valuable due to a variety of other factors—the natural setting, the quality time spent with others, the simpler & slower pace, and many other factors make it a worth-while investment in time.

 

This weekend we will conclude our “Campfire” series by considering how things like quality & value are measured differently in God’s Heavenly Kingdom, and how—according to Jesus—God’s Kingdom is worth more than anything in this world. Understanding this can help us to redefine value and success in our own lives also.

 

Even when the world leaves us feeling empty, and even in times when we might feel like a worthless failure, Jesus reminds us that God has a different way of evaluating what matters most.

 

Once again, we turn our attention to some little stories that Jesus shares in Matthew 13:44-46 –

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

 

Are we willing to give our all to go after what will last for eternity?

 

Previously Jesus compared the Heavenly Kingdom to seeds & yeast: two tiny but powerful things that grow and change everything around them.

Similarly, in these two short stories, Jesus identifies two more small things that remind us that value is not measured in size. Bigger does not equal better. A tiny pearl was worth selling everything for the merchant to obtain. The hidden treasure was worth more than the price of the whole field. And the treasures of heaven, though partially hidden for the time being, are actually much closer than we might realize, and much more valuable than we could ever imagine. As Jesus said elsewhere:

“…there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.”

–Matthew 10:26-27

 

Through Jesus, God’s Kingdom is actually within reach! It’s not so far away, it’s close at hand, waiting to be found! But as Jesus shows in these stories, and as He ultimately demonstrated on the Cross, finding God’s Kingdom requires sacrifice – we have to give up some things of lesser value to obtain it.

 

And Jesus teaches us that God’s Kingdom is worth it! It is more valuable than anything else we may possess. Do our priorities in life match the Heavenly perspective of our savior? Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

 

These Kingdom Principles we’ve been reading about in the parables of Jesus can guide us in many areas of our life—including the value we place on relationships, the way we spend our time & talents, how we set our priorities & preferences, the metrics we use to measure success or progress, the patient endurance with which we face hardships, or the grace we show to ourselves and others—having a proper heavenly perspective helps us to know what is really valuable from God’s point of view.

 

And be encouraged: YOU are worth everything to God! God loved the World so much that Jesus was willing to sacrifice His own life to purchase eternal life for all!

In response, it is worth it to seek out the Kingdom with everything God has given us!

 

 

This Sunday

 

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.

 

All Hail King Jesus #103

Thou Art Worthy #100

Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee #90

More Precious Than Silver #88

 

9:45     Sunday School for all ages.

Check out our Care Groups & Sunday School Classes on our website, or visit the welcome desk to learn more.

 

11:00   Contemporary Worship

Contemporary Spotify Playlist

 

Tremble

Who You Say I Am

So Will I

Lead Me To The Cross

 

 

Global Leadership Summit

We will be taking 17 adults and youth from our fellowship to learn more about becoming better servant leaders! The GLS is happening Thursday and Friday and is being simulcast around the world. We will be attending at Grand Point Church in Chambersburg. Keep our participants in prayer as we seek to use what we have learned to further God’s Kingdom in our church, at our places of work, in our schools, our homes, our community, and around the world!

(please note that this will affect staff availability this week).

 

 

Back to School

Next Sunday is “Back to School Sunday” and we will hear a message from Elder and High School Teacher Bryce Pelow.

There will also be a Community Prayer service at the Shippensburg University Spiritual Center from 2:00-4:00 pm. This prayer event is being hosted by the Shippensburg Association of Christian Ministries and will focus on praying for our schools, our town, and many other needs around our world. Christian leaders from around the area will facilitate a time of guided prayer, and all are welcome to attend and worship together as we Seek the Lord as one community.

 

 

Community Night is Resuming Soon!

Our Wednesday Night ministries will be resuming in about 1 month on September 2. There is something for all ages at Community Night including:

• Children’s Ministry – AWANA
• Teenagers – Youth Group
• Young Adults – “Foundations of our Faith”
• Kinetics – The Continuing Adventures of the Apostles in Acts
• Fresh Start – Focus on Prayer
• Ladies in Step – The Gospel in Hard Times by Joni Eareckson Tada

 

Learn More:

Shippensburg First Church of God | Wednesday Community Night

 

*We are currently seeking team members to serve in AWANA with our Children’s Ministry!*

This is a fun and rewarding way to invest time & talents in the Next Generation! Responsibilities include showing God’s Love to Children, encouraging them to Learn God’s Word as they memorize verses, and working as a team with other caring adults to create a positive learning environment for these young learners.

One volunteer who began serving last fall said it was the best part of her year!

 

Contact our Children’s Ministry leaders (or reply to the email) to learn more.

 

 

Church Picnic

Mark your calendars now for our annual Church Picnic!

The Picnic will be on Sunday, September 13^th at Memorial Park. It begins at 10:00 with a combined worship service, followed by a meal together, and some activities, games, and fellowship.

The Outreach Committee will once again be organizing a cornhole tournament.  Teams, please sign up by 9/6. Sign-up sheets will be in the Sunday classrooms and in the gathering place.

 

 

Bible Quiz Team

Join the Team!

Our quizzers just concluded a successful season with top ranked finishes at the national competition, and now they are looking forward to next season! Teenagers grade 6-12 are encouraged to join in this fun way to learn the Scriptures and meet other young believers. Practice for Jr/Sr High will resume on August 23rd and any interested teens are encouraged to check it out. Final commitments for the season are needed by September 8th. The first quiz of the new season will be October 4th at Camp YoliJwa. To learn more, reply to this email or contact coach Nancy Morton.

 

There is also a Little League division for grades 3-5. Reply to this email or contact coach Jennifer Bistline to learn more.

 

 

 

Online Apparel Shop

Represent SFCOG at work or in the community!

We have partnered with Creative Engravings here in Shippensburg to set up an online apparel shop—you can custom order various shirts with our church logo embroidered on them. Select from 4 different styles (polo, t-shirt, long-sleeve t-shirt & sweatshirt) and several different colors. Items can be purchased online and picked up right here in Shippensburg at the Creative Engravings shop, or you may also reach out to us if you would like us to pick it up and deliver it to your church mailbox for you (select “Store Pick Up” and let us know when you receive notice that it is ready).

 

Visit the store:

Creative Engraving Plus, LLC| Ship First Church of God | CreativeEng&Apparel

 

 

Church Center

We have been gradually rolling out a new database tool called “Church Center.” It will be utilized for scheduling, record-keeping, giving, and many other ministry functions. You will be hearing more about it in the coming months as we implement new aspects of this resource, such as:

• a directory feature,
• an online giving option,
• and upcoming changes to our Children’s Ministry check-in system.

 

You can begin learning more and start exploring it by visiting this page on our website to create your own log-in:

Shippensburg First Church of God | Church Center

 

 

 

Communications Updates

Bulletins and newsletters are available for you as you enter for worship—you can find them right outside the main doorways into the sanctuary on a table or stand for easy access. Some are usually available at our welcome desk also, but we encourage you to keep access to our welcome desk (and our handicapped accessible seating) open and available for those who may need it.

 

*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 latest monthly edition of our “FYI” Newsletter is available in the Gathering Place or as you enter into the Sanctuary. The FYI contains information about upcoming events, care group opportunities, giving and attendance information, and more.

 

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

 

 

Let us continue to worship our savior together in the Sanctuary or Online this Sunday!

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

 

Helpful Links:

Website (shipfcog.org)

SFCOG Facebook

SFCOG Instagram

SFCOG YouTube

Online Messages (shipfcog.org)

Online Giving (shipfcog.org)

Our Activities Calendar & Events

Care Groups & Sunday School Classes

 

Shippensburg First Church of God | Church Center

 

Weekly Bulletin (updated over the weekend)

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

 

 

 

Prayer request name correction

Please forgive me. Here is the correct name for the prayer request. 

Please be in prayer for Terry Clough and her daughter Trena. Trena is in the hospital seeking answers to her health concerns. 

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to churchnews+unsubscribe@shipfcog.org.

Pray and Praise

Please be in prayer for Dianna and Mike Gayman. Dianna’s mom is now in hospice. Praise God Dianns’s mom has no pain. Our God is good and full of mercy. 

Trena Clogg the daughter of Terrie Clogg is in the hospital. Please pray for wisdom for her medical care providers to solve her concerns.

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SFCOG Special Opportunities and Updates

Hello Church Family,

 

I missed worshipping with you in person yesterday, but greatly enjoyed hearing Phil Schiavoni on the live stream—he brought a great message!

 

I wanted to send a brief greeting to let you know about some opportunities and changes happening this week.

 

The Men’s Bible Study hosted by Jerry Underkoffler will not be meeting this week. Jerry plans to resume for the remaining 3 weeks of the summer, concluding with the last week on August 26^th.

 

This Wednesday all are invited to an evening of “Mobility, Memory, & Muscle” at a special event we are calling “Movement.” This will be on August 5 at 6-7 in Crossroads Station. “Movement” is being hosted by the Living Stones 50+ group, but it is for people of all ages and abilities who would like to fellowship together and consider how we can keep our bodies in good health to glorify God with our heart, soul, mind, & strength in all seasons of life.

 

Also, please be aware that due to some vacations, appointments, and the Global Leadership Summit at the end of this week, staff availability may be slightly different this week. Feel free to call the office in advance if you need to stop by.

 

Have a great week!

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

https://shipfcog.org/

 

 

Prayer Request

 

 

Dear Church Family

Please be in prayer for Kevin Rickabaugh and his wife Anita and their family. His mother Pat (Patricia) at age 94 passed on July 26, 2026.

Here is the link to her obituary.

https://fcfreepresspa.com/patricia-l-rickabaugh-1931-2026/

 

 

Grace be with you,

 

Jessie Duggan

Shippensburg Church of God

Director of Visitation

717-532-8421

 

“For with God nothing will be impossible.”  Luke 1”37

 

Prayer Request and Praises!!!

Dear Church Family,

 

We have several prayer request:

 

Please be in prayer for Bill and Carmen Jones. Let your prayers be with Bill as he begins new chemo treatments and possible radiation treatment.  They have the pleasure of going on vacation with there children and grandchildren for 2 weeks be in prayer for safety.

 

Please hold Lois Cox the mother of Jill Grove in prayer as she enters the hospital for 10 days for BITE treatment. This begins on Thursday, July 30, 2026.

 

Trena Clough is also in need of our prayers. She is in the hospital experiencing undiagnosed pain. Please pray for wisdom for the medical team.

 

Our God is full of mercy and hears the prayers of our hearts.

 

Grace be with you,

 

Jessie Duggan

Shippensburg Church of God

Director of Visitation

717-532-8421

 

“For with God nothing will be impossible.”  Luke 1”37

 

Praise

Dear Church Family,

 

We praise God for the successful surgery of Darrell Barnhart’s left shoulder.

He is home and recovering.

 

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart. Psalm 86:12

 

 

Grace be with you,

 

Jessie Duggan

Shippensburg Church of God

Director of Visitation

717-532-8421

 

“For with God nothing will be impossible.”  Luke 1”37

 

Controlling the Weeds? SFCOG Updates for 7/26

Sunday is Coming!

 

 

Sometimes, like one evening this past week, we have a little campfire in our backyard in view of our flower beds that are often a mixture of blooms & weeds…

I’ve heard it said that gardening is all about having “the Illusion of Control.” We want to feel like we have mastered the weeds!

 

This may be true for many hobbies. One of my seminary professors brought this to my attention as he speculated that perhaps this is why I enjoy building Lego models—it gives a sense of control.

 

Maybe some things feel a little out of control in your world right now? Jesus reminds us that God is in control!

…but sometimes His ways and His timing are different than ours.

 

This is at the heart of another story that Jesus tells in Matthew 13:24-43. Jesus tells of a field that had a good crop growing in it, which is suddenly discovered to be full of weeds that are growing “out of control.” The servants in the story have a solution:

‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

But the owner of the field tells them,

‘No, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest.

(Matthew 13:28-30)

 

St. Augustine used this parable as the starting point to consider a major Theological Question—

What is the difference between “the Church Visible and the Church Invisible”?

(This has been a topic of conversation at the Men’s Summer Bible study at Jerry’s house, as we have been listening to sermons by R. C. Sproul.)

 

We actually face a similar question in many ways in our everyday lives: inquiring minds want to know—

“Who’s In & Who’s Out?”

 

We ask this in our personal lives in many ways, in our workplace projects, at school lunch tables, in our group chats, in our politics, and in our theological pondering. We love categorizing. This has its place—from membership lists & team rosters, to immigration policies & graduation requirements, or in family sharing plans for your cell phone service or when it comes to passing on your Netflix password to someone else.

 

There are some times when we do need to know who’s in and who’s out for the sake of order. But no matter how you look at it, “Sorting” people can be complicated… especially when thinking about eternal souls.

 

Here again, Jesus takes something extremely complicated, and brings it down to a simple level with a story.

 

Notice a very natural response that is mentioned in the story—the servants want to get to work and pull out the weeds. A logical solution. “Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work” (our Serve Ship team pulled a lot of weeds last week).

 

But when you’re dealing with the hearts of men and women in the Kingdom of Heaven, it is not the same thing. It’s not that straight-forward from an eternal perspective. In fact, according to the owner in Jesus’ story, this could do more harm than good— “while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.”

 

I think we can all admit that we have seen this to be true—when people try to hastily judge people by outward appearances or by our own preferences or our merely human wisdom and insight, a lot of hurt can happen.

 

But with a story, Jesus simplifies this complicated issue – He reveals that we can Trust that God will sort it out in the end…

With this parable, Jesus offers a glimpse that eventually there’s something like a harvest, something like a fire and a day of weeping, but ultimately,

“the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

–Matthew 13:43

And then Jesus says, “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

 

Do we have ears to hear? Let us aspire to live as the righteous “good seed” that is planted by Jesus, the Son of Man. We might not know all the details of weeds & wheat now, but let us have ears to hear Jesus, and keep growing.

 

Keep growing.

 

Foster growth, not destruction. Work for life, not death. Advocate for the things that do less harm and more good.

 

Let us care for the other plants growing around us – not labeling people as weeds to be removed, but as a growing crop that needs to be nurtured and cared for, until the time of the Harvest, about which only God knows. While we wait, we have a part to play in God’s Story! We certainly have much work to do to get ready of the Harvest! And Jesus says it surely is coming!

 

And so, we work and we wait patiently, as Peter reminds us in 2 Peter 3:9 & 15, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance… Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation.”

 

In the meantime, keep your eyes open for the Harvest!

 

 

This Sunday

 

Both services will include a special report from our Youth Group about Serve Ship!

We will also celebrate Christmas in July as we acknowledge 20 years of involvement with Operation Christmas Child!

 

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.

 

Blessed Be The Lord God Almighty #62

What if it Were Today #759

In His Time #681

Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending #754

What a Day That Will Be #762

 

9:45     Sunday School for all ages.

Check out our Care Groups & Sunday School Classes on our website, or visit the welcome desk to learn more.

 

11:00   Contemporary Worship

Contemporary Spotify Playlist

 

Graves Into Gardens

Christ Be Magnified

How Good Is He

I Thank God

 

 

Bible Quiz Team

Today our Jr. & Sr. High Bible Quizzers are heading to the CGGC national championship at Camp Sonrise Mountain in western Pennsylvania. They will enjoy several days of quiz-meet competition against teams from other states in our denomination to determine the Quizzing annual champions. Pray for safe travels, good fellowship, friendly competition, and above all, that God’s word would be internalized in their hearts for a lifetime of following Jesus.

 

 

Serve Ship Recap

Serve Ship was a success! The Youth Group will share more details this weekend about this amazing “at-home” mission event!

Thanks to everyone who gave Snacks, Cookies, Baked Goods, & Flowers as well as Prayer & Financial Donations!

 

 

 

“Movement”

We want to invite you to an evening of “Mobility, Memory, & Muscle” at a special event we are calling “Movement.” This will be on Wednesday, August 5 at 6-7 in Crossroads Station. It is being hosted by the Living Stones 50+ group, but it is for people of all ages and abilities who would like to enjoy an evening of fellowship together as we consider how we can keep our bodies in good health to glorify God with our heart, soul, mind, & strength in all seasons of life. To learn more, talk to Visitation Director Jessie Duggan or Bethany Massara.

 

 

Men’s Summer Bible Study

Jerry Underkoffler will once again be leading a Bible Study for all men on Wednesday mornings, 9:00 -10:15.

Dates: JULY 8 - AUGUST 26

Location: 23 Oak Lane, Shippensburg

Theme: "Thy Kingdom Come"

 

 

Online Apparel Shop

Represent SFCOG at work or in the community!

We have partnered with Creative Engravings here in Shippensburg to set up an online apparel shop—you can custom order various shirts with our church logo embroidered on them. Select from 4 different styles (polo, t-shirt, long-sleeve t-shirt & sweatshirt) and several different colors. Items can be purchased online and picked up right here in Shippensburg at the Creative Engravings shop, or you may also reach out to us if you would like us to pick it up and deliver it to your church mailbox for you (select “Store Pick Up” and let us know when you receive notice that it is ready).

 

Visit the store:

Creative Engraving Plus, LLC| Ship First Church of God | CreativeEng&Apparel

 

 

Church Center

We have been gradually rolling out a new database tool called “Church Center.” It will be utilized for scheduling, record-keeping, giving, and many other ministry functions. You will be hearing more about it in the coming months as we implement new aspects of this resource, such as:

• a directory feature,
• an online giving option,
• and upcoming changes to our Children’s Ministry check-in system.

 

You can begin learning more and start exploring it by visiting this page on our website to create your own log-in:

Shippensburg First Church of God | Church Center

 

 

 

Communications Updates

Bulletins and newsletters are available for you as you enter for worship—you can find them right outside the main doorways into the sanctuary on a table or stand for easy access. Some are usually available at our welcome desk also, but we encourage you to keep access to our welcome desk (and our handicapped accessible seating) open and available for those who may need it.

 

*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 latest monthly edition of our “FYI” Newsletter is available in the Gathering Place or as you enter into the Sanctuary. The FYI contains information about upcoming events, care group opportunities, giving and attendance information, and more.

 

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

 

 

Let us continue to worship our savior together in the Sanctuary or Online this Sunday!

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

 

Helpful Links:

Website (shipfcog.org)

SFCOG Facebook

SFCOG Instagram

SFCOG YouTube

Online Messages (shipfcog.org)

Online Giving (shipfcog.org)

Our Activities Calendar & Events

Care Groups & Sunday School Classes

 

Shippensburg First Church of God | Church Center

 

Weekly Bulletin (updated over the weekend)

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