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
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
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
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
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:
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:
Online Messages (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
Hello Church Family,
Please be in prayer for Darrell Barnhart and his wife Debbie. Darrell will be having left shoulder replacement surgery on Wednesday, July 22, 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
Hello Church Family! We’ve had the opportunity to serve many of our community neighbors, and there is plenty of food left! Feel free to stop by Crossroads Station till about 8:00 tonight if you’d like some pulled pork dinners from the Barbecue Machine LLC. We are ready to Serve You! To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to churchnews+unsubscribe@shipfcog.org.
—Pastor Rodney To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to churchnews+unsubscribe@shipfcog.org.
Sunday is Coming!
This weekend we will “gather around the campfire” once again to hear some stories that Jesus told, and some stories about what God is doing within our church family.
Have you ever noticed that many Good Stories are full of Repetition?
Campfire Stories (& songs) are often very repetitive:
“The moose, the moose, swimming in the water, swimming in the water…”
In recent weeks, my younger kids have been singing some campfire songs over & over again in excitement and anticipation as they look forward to their time at camp. VBS songs are also repetitive – I have had the theme from “Illumination Station” on loop in my head on occasion ever since Bible School!
Repetition has value because we often have short attention spans… and sometimes we don’t hear things the first time…
So many stories have familiar lines that repeat to draw in the listener with predictable refrains.
“I’ll huff and I’ll puff…”
“Did Pete Cry? Goodness no!”
“So it goes.”
So, this weekend, we will review a few things about the Kingdom of Heaven that we talked about last Sunday Morning and Sunday Evening at communion, and we will also look back at what God did through our Bible School program, because it all bears repeating.
But first, let’s set this up with another (new) part of Matthew 13 where Jesus explains his use of parables to his disciples, and addresses this matter of our occasional failure to hear things the first time…
The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them…
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
May we have eyes to see and ears to hear the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven and the blessings of the Lord each day!
And my we long to see and to hear that “same old story” even more clearly!
As we study the words of Jesus, we will see that the ultimate power of a “Good Story” is that it can explain huge, abstract, eternal truths in smaller and more understandable ways that also speak to our present moment in time…
C. S. Lewis was an atheist who became a Christian apologist and celebrated storyteller. He explains that often stories speak to the “longings” of our heart in ways beyond our own understanding. In Jesus, all the “myths” or “legends” of the ancient past find their True fulfilment! As Lewis says, when we study the life and history surrounding Jesus, we discover that “The heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact… It happens—at a particular date, in a particular place, followed by definable historical consequences.”
In the true story of Jesus, we find Real Truth that shapes all of the other stories of history past, present, & future, and all of the events in our own day-to-day lives!
*What events in your life right now could God be using to open your eyes & ears to a greater understanding of the story He is telling?
Throughout the pages of our Scriptures, we are reminded of the importance of remembering God’s actions in history, as in Psalm 78:1-4--
1 My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.
Let us remember “the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”
Let us tell the Next Generation! – That’s what we did at VBS, that’s what is happening at Serve Ship, and that is what we do every week as we gather & worship & study. Let us remember again and again “the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”
This Sunday
Both services will include a special time of prayer and commissioning for our Bible Quiz Team!
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 Gave My Life For Thee #675
Take My Life and Let it Be Consecrated #597
Something For Thee #671
We Are an Offering #678
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
Battle Belongs
Build Your Kingdom Here
Christ Our Hope In Life And Death
Death was Arrested
Council Meeting Recap
The SFCOG council met this week for our July meeting. Several matters were discussed, including continual developments for how we can more fully worship God through our services, our various ministries, and in our personal lives in community with one another as we “offer our bodies as living sacrifices” (Romans 12). We approved nominations for the council elections at the fall congregational meeting, and we heard a report from the building committee regarding renovation possibilities for our Children’s Department. Please continue to keep your council in your prayers as we seek the Lord’s direction with you all.
Serve Ship
Serve Ship is returning July 15-17!
Cookies, Baked Goods, & Flowers are Needed!
The Youth Group are doing an “at-home” mission event this week!
Wednesday through Friday, the youth are serving the local community by doing various service projects throughout the community, and hosting a free meal for the community on Thursday, July 16th at 5:30 (while supplies last).
They are inviting you to be a part of this mission as they reach out to our community. Here are some ways you can help--
Happening Tonight:
Bible Quiz Team
Next week on July 22, our Jr. & Sr. High Bible Quizzers will be 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.
“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
Shippensburg Community Fair Vespers
To begin Fair Week, this Sunday Evening (July 19th), our local churches will collaborate to hold an evening worship service at the concert stage at the fairgrounds. The service starts at 7:30, but the Town Band will begin playing music at 7:00. Bring a lawn chair and a heart ready to praise the Lord alongside of other believers from our community!
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:
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:
Online Messages (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
Hello Church Family,
We have learned that Tina, the daughter of Bob and Lewese Peck is in the hospital with an infection that began with a kidney stone.
Please be in prayer for her healing and recovery.
Julie Rosenberry would like to let the church family know how much she appreciates your prayers, loving concern and acts of kindness.
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
Dear Church Family,
We have wonderful news. Beth Jones has let me know that her dad, Bob Diehl’s tumor was benign. Praise and Glory to God.
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
Sunday is Coming!
Summertime reminds me of some very formational moments from my youth. Maybe the same is true for you – What memories come to mind as summer rolls along? Maybe church camps, family vacations, slow days by the pool, or maybe working on the farm? What stories could you tell?
This month, we have been taking our own kids up and back to Camp YoliJwa, and it brings back many of my own fond memories, which I share with my kids—stories of catching snakes & newts around the lake, hiking to Flat Rock, and making new friends that would become lifelong family.
I also remember sitting around the Campfire feeling the conviction that faith was something I needed to make personal. While I was grateful for the influence of the faith of my parents and grandparents, one summer I gradually realized that I had to make it my own.
When I was a teenager and young adult, Summertime was full of opportunities to do exactly that, as I joined with other youth from around our denomination and from within our own church family here in Shippensburg First. I was able to experience a variety of things that helped my faith to grow and make it personal.
Things like Bible School and Summer Camp and Missions Trips and Bible Quizzing – these were things I experienced as a young person, and I am glad to say these are still vital parts of our church ministry today. These are the events that formed me into the person I am today, and what God has used to prepare me to be your pastor. We are going to highlight several of these things over the next few weeks as we pray for & report what God is doing.
As we Tell the Story of what God is currently doing in our church (and our community and our world), we will also reflect on some of the stories (or parables) that Jesus told in the New Testament, and also the Big Story that God is still telling through His Church both near and far, from generation to generation.
In the Bible we see that Jesus was a storyteller, and we are also called to be storytellers! And we have a great story to tell!
We will be reading mainly from Matthew 13 this month. In this chapter, Matthew shares a variety of Parables & Stories that Jesus told to his disciples and the crowds that followed him.
Jesus begins the chapter speaking from a boat on a lake. As it goes on, we can imagine Him talking as He walked with his disciples through the wilderness. We could even picture Him sitting around a campfire with His disciples, telling stories—Stories like these in Matthew 13:31-35—
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”
Here Jesus tells some stories about Small Things that Grow. He says God’s Heavenly Kingdom is like these things— The Kingdom starts small, but it becomes big & powerful over time. Through the ministries of our church, and the little events of our personal lives, season after season, we can also see God’s Kingdom growing!
As we tell some of these stories this summer, my prayer is that we will see in a new way how God’s Heavenly Kingdom is indeed advancing little-by-little around us each and every day. Pull up a camp chair (or a log) and listen in to the Wonderful Story that God is telling!
This Sunday
Both services will include a special time of prayer and commissioning for our Serve Ship Youth Missions Team!
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.
621 Tell Me the Old, Old Story
295 Tell Me the Stories of Jesus
444 I Love to Tell the Story
184 Thy Word
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
From The Inside Out
A Thousand Shores
The Heart Of Worship
Blessed Be Your Name
Communion & Feetwashing
“Poured out for many”
This Sunday evening, July 12th at 6:30, we will have a prayerful and worshipful evening as we remember The Lord’s Supper and the washing of the disciples’ feet. We observe these reminders of Jesus and His service and sacrifice in obedience to His directives found in Scripture. They are regular reminders of the True Story of God’s salvation plan for His creation, and the life of service into which He calls us to follow Him.
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
As part of our worship on Sunday evening, we will also collect an offering for our beneficent fund. This fund helps us to show the love of Jesus as we serve our church family and our neighbors. You may place your offerings in the plates that will be located near the doors as you leave the sanctuary that evening.
Serve Ship
Serve Ship is returning July 15-17!
Cookies, Baked Goods, & Flowers are Needed!
The Youth Group will be doing an “at-home” mission event next week!
Wednesday through Friday, the youth will be serving the local community by doing various service projects throughout the community. and hosting a free meal for the community on Thursday, July 16th.
They are inviting you to be a part of this mission as they reach out to our community. Here are some ways you can help--
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
Shippensburg Community Fair Vespers
To begin Fair Week, our local churches collaborate to hold an evening worship service at the concert stage on Sunday, July 19th. The service starts at 7:30, but the town band will begin playing music at 7:00. Bring a lawn chair and a heart ready to praise the Lord alongside of other believers from our community!
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:
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:
Online Messages (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
Dear Church Family,
Please be in prayer for Denny Hockensmith. He will be having knee surgery on Monday, July 13, 2026 to clean out and repair some knee issues.
Thank you for you prayers.
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
Lisa Dubbs hip surgery went well. She is in a hospital room and plans on being home on Wednesday.
Heartfelt praises !!!
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
We have an opportunity to join the celebration of Lois Breneman’s 90th birthday on July 11th !!!!
Please forward a card to her using her mailbox at church or the following address:
2409 Lindsey Lot Rd
Shippensburg, Pa
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
Dear Church Family,
Please keep Glenn Lytle in prayer as he recovers from a fall.
Please pray for Jen Bistline’s sister Erin Jones as she begins chemotherapy today for a very aggressive and rare type of cancer.
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
