The Gathering - Goshen First United Methodist Church
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The Gathering PASTOR’S PEN January 2018 The Apostle Paul to the Church in Philippi wrote, “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Paul had a history, he had a “past”, but he was glad that on the Damascus Road when he met Jesus and through God’s grace and Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross that that course was reversed and he left it behind him forever. From that moment on Paul looked forward and “pressed on to the upward calling” of what lay ahead of him in Christ’s service. I am sure that there were items in Paul’s “past” that seemed easier and maybe even better to him. Assuredly there were those things that he was tempted to return to, but he never looked back. God had a better plan and a more blessed way of life. Remember the Children of Israel who had been freed from the tyranny of Egypt and the Pharaoh and they were headed for the “Promised Land”. Yet, because they had not arrived there yet and thus could not see it since it was in the future, they grew weary and discouraged. Remember how after the trip became long and hard they began to long to return to Egypt’s rule, to their past that seemed comfortable and they longed to give up their glorious potential blessing in the future that God had offered them... “The Promise of God”. Lot’s wife had the same scenario, didn’t she! The “back to Egypt” voices have always been there in each of us, and in every community of faith. 2018 is a clean slate waiting to be written on and explored, and it is ours; it is our present and our future. It is filled with possibilities and potentials in following Christ in each of our lives. Each new day offers us another day to “press on” in experiencing the presence of God, to walk in His Way, and to discover God’s Promises. However, many of us long to once again return to the things of the old/past life. We wrestle with the temptations (as Paul did) to go backward to the past (to the way things were) instead of moving forward in our journey with God. For Paul there was a new direction in his life and it looked only one way…one direction, towards Jesus. If 2018 is to be the year that God intends it to be in our lives, then as in Paul’s life, we need to learn from our past (as like looking in a rear view mirror we look only occasionally there) but we leave it behind and then press on with all diligence to what lies ahead with God and to daily grow in Christ Jesus. Forgetting the past, letting go of those things that are behind us, has never been easy, but if we keep our eyes on Jesus and follow Him, I am sure we will finish this new year in good standing. “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. May You have a Blessed and Faithful Year! Pastor Ed
COMING EVENTS
PRIMETIMERS S.S. TEACHERS
The Primetimers will meet on MEETING
Tuesday, January 16, in the Garden There will be a meeting for all
Room of the Downtown campus at children’s S.S. teachers on
11:30 a.m. They will have a Sunday, January 14, at 12:00
catered lunch; cost will be $7.00. noon at the downtown cam-
pus. Free pizza will be
Jep Hostetler will have an inspira- served. This will be a time
tional talk about enjoying life by for discussion, and to meet
his avocation of performing magic. our new Children’s Ministries
This will be an uplifting and magical day! Directors, Wendy Yoder and
Sarah Nowak.
The bus will pick up at Waterford Crossing at 10:45 a.m.,
Greencroft at 11:00 a.m. Others come directly to the Garden
Room.
If you have questions, please call Bob Shirk at 875-5915.
WED. EVE MEAL WED. MIDWEEK FUNDRAISER
We will have our next STUDIES MEAL
Wednesday evening meal on The Wednesday Evening We will be having a Soup &
January 17 at 5:00 p.m. at the Midweek Studies begin on Sandwich fundraiser meal on
downtown campus. If you January 17 at 6:00 p.m. at Sunday, January 21, at 11:30
can help with set up or clean the downtown campus. Pas- a.m. at the downtown cam-
up, please contact Elaine tors Ed and Brenda will be pus. This will benefit “Living
McCann, 536-9651. Every- leading a Bible Study. for Him Ministries” which
one is welcome! Come out and enjoy learning Mateo & Rachel Parsons
and fellowship together! Tenorio are a part of, working
as missionaries in Bolivia.
Everyone is welcome!
YOUTH GROUP In the past few weeks at youth group, we have discussed the importance of loving God and loving people. In Matthew 22, Jesus spoke of the greatest commandment to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Then, he mentioned the second greatest commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” As we really took a deep look at these words from Jesus, we unpacked what it looks like to love God with our whole being, and we discovered that when we are giving our whole lives to Jesus, loving others comes naturally because we are overflowing with God’s love which will extend to others. Upon the conclusion of this study, we decided to look outside of ourselves to see how God could use us right where we are to make a difference in the lives of people all around the world. Our youth students have chosen to “adopt” two students from Kechene, Ethiopia by sponsoring them to go to school as well as providing the ability for their entire families to have healthcare. Each student has chosen to contribute $4 each month to supporting Hanna and Mikias (pictured below) as they go to school, grow in their knowledge, and strengthen their faith. This generous donation from each youth student may not sound like much, but it is changing the lives of these two children, as well as each of their families. From Goshen, Indiana, we are able to make a difference half way across the world by our simple choice to love God first so that we are capable of loving others deeply. This is how we wanted to finish out our year so that we can launch into 2018 in faith and love, with the promise to serve God with all that we are so that we can better serve others. Love and blessings to you all in this new year! Bobbi Smith – Youth Pastor
Non-Profit Org.
First United Methodist Church U.S. Postage
214 S. Fifth Street PAID
Goshen, IN 46528 Permit No.136
Goshen, IN
Phone: 533-9518
www.goshenfirstumc.org
www.goshenlifecenter.org
Address Service Requested
“Thank you to Suzanne Lisor for donating to the church multiple boxes of music accumulated during her suc-
cessful professional career in piano teaching and as a church organist/pianist. Included are piano teaching
methods, beginning through advanced secular and sacred piano performance books, sacred and classical organ
collections, and pop/jazz sheet music from the 1920’s and later. It was quite a collection for Jean Grevengoed
and Pat Puffer to review and categorize. Some teaching music will be given to the Goshen-Elkhart Music
Teachers Association and used to further music education in our community. We are truly grateful for this gift!”
-Patricia Puffer
“Thank you to Doug Nicholson, Garry Anglemyer, and the church for all their help to me. I appreciate it.”
-Richard Sponseller
“Thank you to all the ladies for their hard work in making the Ladies Tea an enjoyable time for everyone. We
enjoyed it!” -Ramona Reynolds
“We would like to thank the Lantz Yoder family and helpers for visiting us last night. They came bearing gifts of
cookies, candy canes, and handmade Christmas cards. What a delightful surprise on a Sunday evening. Thank
you very much, and God Bless all of you!” -Mike & Linda Miller
“We want to thank all of the ladies who worked so hard to make the sweet quilt for our son. We have been truly
overwhelmed by all of the love, support, prayers, and encouragement over this past year as we work toward
completing our adoption. Love and blessings to you!” -Matt & Bobbi Smith
HAPPY JANUARY BIRTHDAYS!
January 1 January 15
Ben Whirledge Jeromy Sheets
Katie Herschberger Beth Cripe
Scott Nickerson
January 16
January 2 Hilda Johnson
Ruth Sorrell Owen Krabill
January 28
Gene Nicolai
January 3 January 17
Shirley Showalter
Wayne Mullett Wayne Randolph
Rich Weaver John Vollmer
January 29
Eva Bishop
Ron Breniser
January 5
Lance Yoder
Elaine Harrison January 18
Colten Blankenbaker
January 30
January 7
Linda Moise
Betty Herschberger January 20
Annie Cunningham
Wayne Bigler Gary Miller
Eva Hooley
Charles Rink Sharylle Mundy
Kelly Anglemyer Larry Stark
January 31
Spencer Elliott
January 8 January 22
Evan Layne
Maya Beltran Morgan Catron
Abram Mehl
Jeannine Suitors
January 9 January 23
Sandy Streit Brent Lehman
Amy Kauffman Joseph Hale
THINK ABOUT IT
Glen Miller
A children’s book entitled,
January 10 Leslie Passwater
“My Grandpa Jeff Loves Me”
Ray Lichty
has been donated to our
Betty Kessler January 24
church library. It was written
Alan Taylor Kimberly Rheinheimer
and illustrated by Pam Kling,
Mark Grotrian
and is in reference to her son,
January 11
Jeff Kling, who passed away.
Heather Miller January 26
You may want to stop in and
Randy Sorg Jane LaCounte
look at it, or check it out.
January 12 January 27
Cindy Anderson Sydney Miller
Bob Morris Terri Krug
Ryan Mehl Gail Yoder
January 14
Rena Humerickhouse
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