In 2 Kings 6:1-7, God s Scriptures shows us two great truths when we are faithful to God.

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1 The Gathering PASTOR S PEN August 2017 In 2 Kings 6:1-7, God s Scriptures shows us two great truths when we are faithful to God. The company of the prophets said to Elisha, Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan and let us build a place there. The company of the prophets, were the prophets and their students who were studying the scriptures of God so that they could grow in their understanding of God and in their walk of faith. The powerful truth in this seemingly unimportant event has been experienced time and time again in the history of the church when people of God are faithfully in His Word. What s happening here is that as the prophets are teaching God s Word and as the students are searching out God s truth, more persons are becoming interested in their searching for God and their numbers keep on growing until there is not enough room in their building to contain them all. What a good problem to have the building is too small, it can't contain them because God is moving in the hearts and the lives of ever increasing numbers of people because they are in His Word! Go forth and multiply is God s constant desire of His People and being in His Word produces that growth first in us and then it will burst out into the lives of others whom our lives come into contact with. Either individually or cooperatively as we come together in small groups when we are studying His Word and growing spiritually, God does great things by His presence growing more in us! One of the most important focuses of the Church and in each Christian s life is studying God s Word. There are many great authors in our world who write great books, many are even about our faith, but no matter how faithful and excellent these authors are their words are their words. The scriptures are right from the mouth and breath of God and there is no substitute for being directly in God s Word. Somehow through God s power and the Spirit of God moving in our hearts, and minds, and spirit, as we read God is changing us. The other truth in this passage is that while the people of God are working to care for their daily need situations, a miracle occurs with an iron axe head. What a great reminder to us that in the normal everyday life experiences that may seem unimportant to us, God is still present and working miracles all around us and in us. Sometimes we just fail to see them all around us, but believe me God is still with us and God is still working miracles every day in us. God s Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path! My prayer is that this year together or individually, we will all make ourselves available to the many opportunities that we have to be in God s Word. This year we will be making many opportunities available for the Church Family through the various study/small group studies. May we grow in spirit and in numbers! Amen! Pastor Ed

2 COMING EVENTS FUNDRAISERS Our church will be sponsoring a mission trip to Jamaica on February 17-24, In preparation for that trip, we are having two fundraiser meals. We are having the first meal on Sunday, August 6, at the downtown campus at 11:30 a.m. We are having our second meal on Sunday, August 13, at the GPS Building at 12:00 noon, after the worship service. Everyone is welcome to both of these meals! CHURCH DIRECTORY We are making a new pictorial church directory this fall. On October 2-7 we will be taking pictures of everyone for this directory. The pictures will be taken at the downtown campus. Please mark this date on your calendars! PRIMETIMERS The Primetimers will go to see Guys and Dolls at Amish Acres on Thursday, August 17. Guys and Dolls is the hit musical about a naïve Salvation Army doll and a bunch of low-life gamblers. It should be lots of fun and good music. We will have the Threshers dinner at Amish Acres with all the trimmings, then see the play. Total cost is $25. If you want to see the play only, it is $15. Pay your money to Bob Shirk by Sunday, August 13. The bus will pick up at Waterford Crossing at 10:45 a.m., Greencroft at 11:00 a.m. We will leave the Life Center at 11:30 a.m. If you have questions, please call Bob Shirk at STEPHEN MINISTRY A new Stephen Ministry class will start on September 11, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the downtown campus. The class will meet every Monday evening from September through December. If you would like to be in this new class, please contact Pastor Brenda at the church office,

3 YOUTH MINISTRY This year, we had the opportunity to take 12 youth and 4 adults to summer camp at Epworth Forest, and each of them would tell you that it was a week of unforgettable memories made with each other and connecting with God in a fresh way. It is always a bittersweet farewell as we anticipate all that Christ has for us in the upcoming year, as well as living excitedly for camp to start again the following year. This year, God created a new and stronger bond within our own group at camp, meanwhile helping us discover that He is our true anchor in everything, including the storms of life. Just because we are getting rocked by the waves, He promises that He will be our anchor to hold true even when life around us is in chaos. As we move into this upcoming school year, it is our prayer that God will continue to help us connect and love one another, but that He will also keep our eyes on Him in the midst of our busy lives. May we truly experience the joy that He has for us and hold onto the promise that He is in each moment, no matter how routine and mundane our lives sometimes appear. Students, may you be blessed this year as you press deeply into who God is shaping you to be, and I will be honored to serve you and love you every step of the journey! Bobbi Smith, Youth Pastor

4 OUR BLESSINGS On July 16, at our One Voice Service, we were asked to fill out cards listing our many blessings. We received a number of cards back from you. Thank you for your responses! Below are a few of the responses we received: What I Am Thankful for in my Life Family, Everyone in my family is healthy, That everyone in my family feels accepted by one another, I am thankful for my faith and the people I share that faith with, I am thankful for my supportive and loving friends that will always be there for me, I am thankful for the life that I live and all that God gives us to work with on this beautiful planet. Blessings. Loving husband, This church!, This beautiful day!, Friendships, Grace, Loving Family, God s Love!, IHN Challenges. My family and my wonderful church family. Family, Extended Family, Church Family, Friends, Stability, Health. For my Heritage, Family, Parents, Faith, Love, Husband, A Family, Legacy, Friends who Care, Church Leaders. Holy Land Trip We are planning a trip to the Holy Land July 9-19, We would like to invite anyone interested to join us for this once in a lifetime experience. Some people may ask Why should I consider a trip like this? Answer: It truly is a pilgrimage, visiting the places of the Bible, where God established a nation of people to be His witnesses in the world; from Abraham to Moses to Elijah to Jesus. It is a spiritually uplifting journey to walk where they walked and see where they lived. Reading the Bible will come alive as never before after you have visited Israel. It is wonderful to travel with friends from church and fellow Christians on a journey like this. Is it safe? Our tour company, Educational Opportunities Tours, has been in the business of taking pilgrims to the Holy Land for over 40 years and has hosted over 300,000 travelers. During that time they have had an excellent record of safety, working closely with officials in Israel to ensure the security of all their guests. They monitor safety issues on a daily basis and do not allow visitors to go into unsafe areas. Israel is better at security than any other country. Everyone who visits say they feel very safe. Isn t it expensive? Not really when you consider all that is included in the package price: airfare, first class hotels, daily guided tours on deluxe air conditioned motor coaches, site entry fees, buffet breakfast and dinner daily, most taxes, fees and gratuities. It is $3,646 departing from Chicago for the basic tour. Please pick up a brochure for details and optional extensions. If you register by August 9, you can save $150 off the total price and by September 9 you can register for just $100. Declining discounts apply for the next six months. If you are undecided or not ready to commit at this time, registrations are possible into April or May, depending on space availability. For any questions or more information, call your host Rev. Ben Whirledge at or at the church, and leave a message.

5 First United Methodist Church 214 S. Fifth Street Goshen, IN Phone: Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No.136 Goshen, IN Address Service Requested To the guys who were so kind and did our front brakes a few weeks ago, we want to say THANK YOU so much!! We appreciate it! -Alan & Judy Taylor Once again, I want to thank the church for giving my mother the handmade birthday card, and the lovely carnation. She is now 92 years young, and truly enjoyed these beautiful gifts! God bless the people who made the card, delivered the gifts, and took the time to make my mother feel special! May God continue to bless this thoughtful ministry that reaches out to the elderly. -Sandy Mohr (Clarise Cloud s daughter) Thank you SO much for all the love and support shown during my treatment and the loss of my momma! I appreciate the food prepared and brought to the funeral home! Blessings! Thank you sincerely for sharing our sorrow. Your kindness is deeply appreciated and will always be remembered. -Angie Altenhof Thank you so very much for allowing our homeschool group to come in and invade your church (Life Center) for one week of drama camp. It was truly a blessing to be able to use your facility, and the week went wonderfully! Thank you again for sharing your resources so we could share Christ with others. -Paige Kemper, on behalf of the Elkhart County Homeschool Drama Group

6 HAPPY AUGUST BIRTHDAYS! August 1 Mark Waggoner Susie Warner Marty Buckingham Val Anglemyer August 14 Denise Potter Jane Yoder Lois Fidler David Hart Jr. August 2 Ned Gruver Harvey Hansen Dorothy Hess August 3 Andrew Krabill Mason Pearson August 4 Deb Day August 5 Tim Miller August 6 Brad Park Scott Salisbury Stephen Salisbury Tony Peffley Courtney Stark August 8 Denny Paff Suzanne Lisor Richard Shriner August 9 Hannah Bacon Judy Lovejoy August 10 Warren Bullard Preston Swain August 12 Fannie Mabie August 15 Peggy Burnworth Linda Wilson Violet Juif August 16 Paul Wiess Jr. Curt Jones Lester Hooley August 17 Steve Pettit Jeff Griffin August 18 Jadyn Huff August 19 Beth Ann Miller Jon Miller August 20 Betty Stengel August 21 Linda Miller Travis Juif August 22 Paula Toth August 24 Elaine McCann August 25 Mitch Herschberger Greg Robbins Lowell Stine August 26 Andrew Deranek August 28 Martin Detwiler Jenny Deranek August 29 Bob Maison Tom Davis August 30 Cathy Smith Rachel Parsons Tenorio August 31 Carter Martin Autumn Zaney Brent Blough THINK ABOUT IT Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. -Helen Keller Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you. -Saint Augustine