What do you see? SFCOG updates for 4/28

Sunday is Coming!

 

 

What do you see in this artwork?

A butterfly? Flowers? Snakes? Something else? We might all view something like this differently.

 

However, since this was created by one of my own children, regardless of what it resembles, I see it with eyes of love as something beautiful.

 

As Christians, we are called to see the world differently, through eyes of Love, just as God sees us.

 

This month, we've been reviewing our mission as a church --  "Loving God, Loving His family, & Loving Our Neighbors."

We've considered how we are seen and loved by our God, and because of this, we can allow God's love to overflow into the world around us.

We've been talking about how the first step to loving others is seeing them as God sees them.

 

This weekend we will focus on how we see and love our neighbors – this is all about how we serve our community & our world both as individuals and collectively as a church. We might refer to this with a lot of different terms, like "evangelism" or "missions" or "outreach" or "benevolence" --all of these can fall under the category of "loving our neighbors."

 

This must all be rooted in seeing people and loving people the way that Jesus sees and loves.

 

Reading the Gospels, it becomes apparent that Jesus sees people differently. He views the world differently than us.

 

As his disciples, we want to learn to see the way that our savior sees. This takes spending time with Jesus our savior, observing him as he interacts with others—we can do this by reading about him in Scripture. On Sunday we will look at a passage from Matthew's Gospel that is full of little "snapshots" of how Jesus views others.

 

Our starting point will be the end of chapter 9 which is a familiar passage often used when discussing "evangelism" or the "theology of missions" – That's a fancy way of saying it offers a great summary for us of how Jesus sees others:

 

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

--Matthew 9:35-38

 

Ponder today: Do we see the needs around us? Do we see the crowds with compassion? Do we see the harvest? Do we pray for workers?

 

This passage is even more remarkable when you look at what has happened in the chapter prior to this. About 9 times in Matthew 9, Jesus sees a need and responds, and then ends with this summary of Jesus seeing the crowds with compassion.

 

We will consider some principles we can learn from Jesus about how to engage our world, both collectively as a church, and also as individuals. We will be challenged with the knowledge that if we call ourselves disciples of Jesus, he is sending us out as workers in the harvest field. Jesus will also grant us power and authority to help meet both spiritual and physical needs in the world around us, proclaiming 'The kingdom of heaven has come near' (Matthew 10:7).

 

As Jesus says, "Freely you have received; freely give" (Matthew 10:8).

 

 

This Sunday

 

Both services will have a brief update about Camp YoliJwa by the new Program Coordinator, Luke Britcher.

 

8:30 –We will Praise the name of our Savior

Praise The One Who Breaks The Darkness #293

How Sweet The Name Of Jesus Sounds #123

At the Name of Jesus #766

O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing #21

 

11:00 –We will Magnify our Savior with some favorite songs of worship

Be sure to give a listen to our Contemporary Team Spotify playlist to prepare your hearts for worship:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7E8YRF1NCIGbFoMNYNPn9K?si=ZivXqX5MRWe3nIDG1nx_qw&pi=u-Y90v2ygGSTKK

 

 

Photo Highlights from this past Week

Shippensburg University Choir & Madrigal's Concert

 

Community Night Closing Program

 

Youth Group '9 Square' in CRS

 

 

Spring Congregational Meeting

May 5, 2024 at 6:00

Plan to join us for a celebration of the growth we have been experiencing, a financial update, and a report on council actions since the November Congregation Meeting.  The meeting agenda was posted on April 21, in accordance with our Constitution and Bylaws. Minutes and Agendas will be available in your church mailboxes and at the meeting.

 

 

Upcoming Opportunities

 

• Even though Community Night is ending, there are a lot of opportunities to stay connected through our Sunday School Classes, Bible Studies, and Care Groups. Our youth will be meeting in some different ways, and our Children's Ministry is already looking ahead to VBS in July 23-27. See the FYI newsletter for more information about many of these activities.

 

• This Wednesday, May 1, at 6:30 in the Annex, we will be starting a special seminar to help you discover your SHAPE!  SHAPE is an acronym for Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. This special 4-part class will help participants learn how God has uniquely designed each of us to serve the world for His purposes! Sign-up sheets are located around the building. *Childcare is available, but prior sign-ups will be appreciated to help us properly prepare.

 

• We are planning a Wild Game Dinner for Saturday, May 18 at 5:00 in Crossroads Station. This event is designed as a night of fellowship and outreach for sportsmen (and sportswomen) and will feature food from the field and some interesting programming and giveaways.

 

 

Communications Updates

The May edition of our "FYI" Newsletter will be available this weekend. Look for it at the Welcome Desk or in the center section of the Sanctuary.

 

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

 

We are now on Instagram! Follow us @ShipFirstChurchofGod

 

 

Let us continually worship our Savior who Sees us!

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

 

Helpful Links:

Website (shipfcog.org)

SFCOG Facebook

SFCOG Instagram

Online Messages (shipfcog.org)

Online Giving (shipfcog.org)

Care Groups & Sunday School Classes

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please pray!

Dear Family,

 

Please pray for Pam Negley as she goes to Hershey for a Scan this afternoon.  Thank you!

 

 

“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

 

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

Please pray!

Dear Family,

 

Please pray for the following.

 

I received the following email from Lisa Murphy, “Mary Gsell's knee replacement surgery is scheduled for April 30. She is currently experiencing a great of upper respiratory symptoms. She has been seen at urgent care on Sunday & today by her PCP as she's not showing much improvement. Our prayer is that her symptoms subside enough that she can still have her surgery next week. Her surgery was rescheduled once before due to a fall that resulted in a broken rib. She had to wait 3 more months for it to be scheduled that time. We really don't want her to have to wait another 3 months as she has been in extreme pain for quite a while and unable to ambulate much at all.” 

 

Wes and Mikki Swartz as Wes is dealing with health challenges and now additional medical issues that are making the situation more challenging.

 

Thank you for partnering in prayer!

 

“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;”  Psalm 34:19

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

Love Songs - SFCOG updates for 4/21

Sunday is Coming!

 

 

Have you ever tried to write a love song? I was never quite sure how to begin… It’s hard to get the words just right to express something as profound and important as love.

 

Our church mission statement is all about Love - “Loving God, Loving His family, & Loving Our Neighbors.”

 

Before we can properly see and love others, we must realize that we are seen and loved deeply by God.

 

This weekend, we will read Psalm 139 which is a wonderful description of God’s Love.

It is kind of like a “Reversed Love Song” –It’s not about how much the singer loves someone else, but how much someone loves them. That might sound a little self-centered, but David is singing about how much God loves him. We must remain God-focused, not self-focused, but it is so important to know how Much God loves us, so that we can allow the Love of God to overflow to others, as Jesus our Savior taught and modeled for us.

 

Psalm 139 is written in a way that you can put yourself into it. It is fitting to put yourself in David’s place. Consider these words today as a love song written to you, telling of our God who LOVES you so much!

 

Psalm 139

1 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.

5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

 

Which part stands out to you today? Pause and consider…

 

Recall that last week we learned that our God is El Roi, “the God who Sees.”

David declares in this poem that God’s Spirit sees us every waking and sleeping moment of the day and night. God sees us every day, from even before we were born, and every day is already known by God, as if it were scripted out. God’s thoughts about us outnumber the sand on the seashore! God knows us inside and out, he knows our thoughts, and knows what we will say before we say it. He searches us. God goes before and behind. There is nowhere that we can go where God cannot see us. No height nor depth where we can’t be found. No darkness that can hide us from his sight.

 

These thoughts can be a comfort to those in trouble and in need of God’s Help, but also cause conviction to those who would be tempted to create trouble, or do anything in disobedience to God’s Will.

 

But perhaps the greatest hope is that even though God’s Spirit can see our hearts and know our thoughts, God still Loves us! The full poem of Psalm 139 (when considered in light of the teachings of Jesus) alludes to how we can see and love others more clearly as Jesus redefines concepts like:

-Enemy

-Neighbor

-Family

 

The end of Psalm 139 summarizes a wonderful response as we strive to “Love God, Love His Family, and Love Our Neighbors”--

23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 

 

This Sunday

 

Both services will have a brief update about Camp Joy El by Elijah Shively. Elijah will also be installed as a church member!

 

8:30 –We will Praise our God in Spirit with a variety of Hymns:

794 Let All Things Now Living

382 Come Holy Spirit

392 Holy Spirit, Light Divine

657 Cleanse Me

 

Our prelude will include an extended time of Harp & Violin music by Anita & Kristin.

 

11:00 –We will Magnify our Savior with some favorite songs:

              Indescribable

Waymaker

How Good is He

Christ be Magnified

 

Contemporary Team Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7E8YRF1NCIGbFoMNYNPn9K?si=ZivXqX5MRWe3nIDG1nx_qw&pi=u-Y90v2ygGSTKK

 

 

This Week

 

• Saturday morning, April 20^th, from 8:30-12:00, we will be hosting the Kiwanis Club’s Pancake Breakfast (8:30-10:30 in Crossroads Station) and Bike Rodeo (10:30-12:00 in our Parking Lot). This event is for the benefit of Children of our Community. Proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast will allow the Kiwanis Club to continue their efforts to support local children in various ways, and the Bike Rodeo, provided in partnership with the PA State Police, will feature a bicycle obstacle course and safety instructions for children 4-13 years old. Free books and other giveaways will also be available. Pancake Breakfast is $10 at the door.

 

• Our CGGC Eastern Regional Conference annual meeting is being held on Monday & Tuesday (Staff and office Availability subject to change).

 

• On Monday, April 22 at 7:30pm, we will be hosting a concert for the Shippensburg University Concert Choir and Madrigal singers. Come out for a great night of music and to help us show some Christian love and hospitality to our local university students.

 

• Wednesday April 24 is our Community Night closing program. Even if you haven’t been able to come throughout the year, this will be a good time to celebrate and hear what God has been doing through these ministries!

 

 

Spring Congregational Meeting

May 5, 2024 at 6:00

Plan to join us for a celebration of the growth we have been experiencing, a financial update, and a report on council actions since the November Congregation Meeting.  Any items to be brought to the meeting from the congregation should please be given to President Troy Shively for consideration by April 17.  The meeting agenda will be posted by April 21, in accordance with our Constitution and Bylaws.

 

 

Upcoming Opportunities

 

• Even though Community Night is ending, there are a lot of opportunities to stay connected through our Sunday School Classes, Bible Studies, and Care Groups. Our youth will be meeting in some different ways, and our Children’s Ministry is already looking ahead to VBS in July 23-27. See the FYI newsletter for more information about many of these activities.

 

• On 4 Wednesday evenings in May (beginning May 1), we will be holding a special seminar to help you discover your SHAPE!  SHAPE is an acronym for Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. This special 4-part class will help participants learn how God has uniquely designed each of us to serve the world for his purposes! Sign-up sheets are located around the building. We are hoping to learn if childcare would be beneficial to provide, and are looking to line up some people who may be willing to serve in this way. Feel free to respond to this email if you are interested in participating in any way or have any questions.

 

• The Monday Night Men’s Bible Study will not meet on April 22, but when it resumes on April 29^th, they will begin a new study on sharing your faith: "Tactics: A Guide to Effectively Discussing Your Christian Convictions."   Here is a brief intro video: click here. All men are welcome to attend.

 

• The Ladies in Step Bible Study has a number of activities planned for every other Wednesday Evening in June and July, beginning June 5^th at 6:30-8:00 in the Annex. All ladies are welcome to attend.

 

 

 

Communications Update!

Our weekly and monthly communication methods have been updated!

We are returning to a weekly bulletin that lists the worship songs for both services each Sunday, some helpful information to help you stay connected, and brief announcements for the week.

 

The “FYI Newsletter” has been a weekly printed publication, but we will be switching this to a monthly format and expanding it slightly. The first monthly edition for April is available now.

 

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

 

Look for both of these resources at the Welcome Desk or in the center section of the Sanctuary. The weekly bulletin will also be available online.

 

• We are now on Instagram! Follow us @ShipFirstChurchofGod

 

 

Let us continually worship God who Sees us!

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

 

Helpful Links:

Website (shipfcog.org)

SFCOG Facebook

Online Messages (shipfcog.org)

Online Giving (shipfcog.org)

Care Groups & Sunday School Classes

 

Weekly Order of Worship and FYI Newsletter (updated over the weekend)

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

 

 

 

 

 

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

Dear Family,

 

Please pray for healing for …

 

Steve Barnes as he recovers from sinus surgery.  The doctor said the surgery went well, and he is now in the recovery room.

 

Carol Bodah who fell and has a nasty gash over her eye that took seven stitches.  She had to return to the hospital because it started bleeding again.

 

Bridgette Gettel as she recovers from a fall yesterday.

 

Thank you for lifting these individuals and their care giver in prayer!

 

“But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.”  Malachi 4:2

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421

 

"I Feel Seen" - SFCOG updates for 4/14

Sunday is Coming!

 

 

There’s a phrase that has taken root in our cultural conversations – “I Feel Seen”

 

Someone might say this when they hear a story or see a meme that they highly relate to. It refers to the sense of being understood, or relating to someone who has had a similar experience or similar thoughts or emotions that you do.

 

According to an article in Psychology Today, “Every person has an innate desire to feel seen, heard, and understood.” And whether or not we feel seen, heard, and understood can drastically affect how we perform at work, how well we relate to our spouses, parents, or family members, and whether our self-esteem and self-image is healthy or unhealthy.

 

According to psychologists, there are measurable advantages to the feeling of being seen & understood:

*Productivity at work

*Creativity in the arts

*Health (both physical & mental)

*Grades in schools

*Community stability

Studies have shown that all of the above things improve in measurable ways if people feel “seen.”

 

Think of your own work settings or school experiences. How does it feel when people notice your efforts or your struggles? When people praise your progress, or come along side you to help you through difficulties?

 

Certainly, there is an underlying spiritual truth at work here, and there are even greater spiritual advantages to consider as well.

 

This month we will talk about how we SEE the world, but also… more importantly, how we see God, and how God also sees us more clearly than we could ever know—and he loves what he sees!

 

On Sunday, we will look at one of the earliest accounts from Genesis that address this truth, but first, take a moment to consider a few words of Jesus on the subject that frame this matter from a Biblical standpoint:

 

“Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?”

--Mark 8:18

 

Jesus often reminded his disciples and the crowds of people that listened to his teachings, that there is a difference between simply looking and listening, and actually seeing and hearing in a meaningful way that produces life change. On the positive side, Jesus also said to his disciples privately,

 

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

--Luke 10:23-24

 

According to Jesus, seeing and knowing Him (and being seen and known by Him) is the greatest blessing! It’s what the prophets & kings of old desired.

Jesus reveals for us the clearest vision of God the Father himself.

 

As we consider the theme of “seeing” this month this will also be a good time to reflect on our vision and mission as a church. The mission statement of SFCOG is:

 

“Loving God, Loving His Family, and Loving our Neighbors.”

 

We want to spend some time together thinking about how we SEE God (which also involves how we see ourselves), how we SEE God’s Family (our church family), and how we SEE our Neighbors (our community & world).

 

I hope you can join us all month as we consider what it means to “see and be seen” by our God who goes by many names in scripture—one of which is “The God Who Sees”

 

The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

--Genesis 16:7-8

 

 

This Sunday

 

8:30 –We will Praise our God with a variety of Hymns:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty #210

Under His Wings #620

His Eye Is on the Sparrow #624

Great is Thy Faithfulness #139

 

11:00 –We will Celebrate the Love God with some favorite songs:

              Death was Arrested

Build your Kingdom

How He Loves

In Tenderness

 

Check out our Spotify playlist featuring a variety of songs we sing on Sundays at 11:00:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7E8YRF1NCIGbFoMNYNPn9K?si=ZivXqX5MRWe3nIDG1nx_qw&pi=u-Y90v2ygGSTKK

 

 

Spring Congregational Meeting

May 5, 2024 at 6:00

Plan to join us for a celebration of the growth we have been experiencing, a financial update, and a report on council actions since the November Congregation Meeting.  Any items to be brought to the meeting from the congregation should please be given to President Troy Shively for consideration by April 17.  The meeting agenda will be posted by April 21, in accordance with our Constitution and Bylaws.

 

 

Upcoming Opportunities

• April is our final month of our Wednesday evening Community Night programs, and it’s not too late to begin participating in these activities. There’s something for every age group. We will have a closing program on Wednesday, April 24.

 

• The first outing of our Living Stones ministry for age 50+ adults is next Tuesday, April 16! Meet at 3:00 at the Mopar Museum at Shively Motors on King Street for a tour. Sign-up sheets are located around the building.

 

• Next Saturday morning, April 20^th, from 8:30-12:00, we will be hosting the Kiwanis Club’s Pancake Breakfast (8:30-10:30 in Crossroads Station) and Bike Rodeo (10:30-12:00 in our Parking Lot). This event is for the benefit of Children of our Community. Proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast will allow the Kiwanis Club to continue their efforts to support local children in various ways, and the Bike Rodeo, provided in partnership with the PA State Police, will feature a bicycle obstacle course and safety instructions for children 4-13 years old. Free books and other giveaways will also be available. Pancake Breakfast is $10 at the door.

 

• On April 22 at 7:30pm, we will again be hosting a concert for the Shippensburg University Concert Choir and Madrigal singers.

 

• On 4 Wednesday evenings in May (beginning May 1), we will be holding a special seminar to help you discover your SHAPE!  SHAPE is an acronym for Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. This special 4-part class will help participants learn how God has uniquely designed each of us to serve the world for his purposes! Sign-up sheets are located around the building. We are hoping to learn if childcare would be beneficial to provide, and are looking to line up some people who may be willing to serve in this way. Feel free to respond to this email if you are interested in participating in any way or have any questions.

 

These events highlight a wide range of age groups and activities. To learn more, see the FYI newsletter or our weekly bulletin, located at the welcome desk or in the middle of the Sanctuary.

 

 

Communications Update!

Our weekly and monthly communication methods have been updated!

We are returning to a weekly bulletin that lists the worship songs for both services each Sunday, some helpful information to help you stay connected, and brief announcements for the week.

 

The “FYI Newsletter” has been a weekly printed publication, but we will be switching this to a monthly format and expanding it slightly. The first monthly edition for April is available now.

 

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

 

Look for both of these resources at the Welcome Desk or in the center section of the Sanctuary. The weekly bulletin will also be available online.

 

• We are now on Instagram! Follow us @ShipFirstChurchofGod

 

 

Council Highlights

This week, the Council of Shippensburg First Church of God met for our monthly meeting. We discussed at length some revisions for our facilities use policy. With the completion of CRS, this tool is being revised to better guide us as we strive to steward our resources well, and also offer these resources for our church family and others to use for ministry opportunities and the betterment of our community. We briefly discussed the agenda for our upcoming Congregational Meeting, scheduled for May 5, 2024, at 6:00 pm. Meeting Agendas will be shared with the congregation two weeks in advance, on April 21.

 

 

Let us continually worship God who Sees us!

 

Pastor Rodney Bistline

Shippensburg First Church of God

seniorpastorbistline@shipfcog.org

 

 

Helpful Links:

Website (shipfcog.org)

SFCOG Facebook

Online Messages (shipfcog.org)

Online Giving (shipfcog.org)

Care Groups & Sunday School Classes

 

Weekly Order of Worship and FYI Newsletter (updated over the weekend)

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

 

 

 

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

Dear Family,

 

Please join us in praying for the following:

 

Martha Kelley as she recovers from pneumonia.  She is currently in the Chambersburg Hospital.

 

JoEllen’s friends Delmar and Cindy and their family – Delmar has a post operation appointment this morning.  Their daughter, Carie is having back surgery, and Cindy is experiencing minor reactions to vaccines she received las week.  Their son Curtis and the rest of the family are trying to help their parents and sister.

 

Pam Negley was diagnosed with cancer after twenty-four years of remission.  She has a MRI tomorrow that she would appreciate God’s presence and peace to be evident.

 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

 

For His Glory,

 

Pastor Gary

 

Pastor Gary

 

 

Gary Hornbaker

Shippensburg First Church of God

Pastor of Visitation and Discipleship

Church Phone: 717-532-8421