The Gathering PASTOR S PEN. June "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1

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1 The Gathering PASTOR S PEN June 2016 "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1 One of the most constant and emphatic truths that is often repeated throughout the Psalms is the assurance about how God feels about all persons, "His Love endures for ever". On June 19th we celebrate "Father's Day" and take time to remember all the many ways our Fathers have touched our lives. It's not easy being a Father, and yet the most common name that Jesus used for God was...father, and it appears to me from reading about Jesus' birth and his early experiences in his earthly life with...joseph, I can't help but think that Joseph was also a very good Father. With this being my first "Father's Day" without my own earthly father here, it has caused me to remember some of my greatest joys that my father shared with me, and in all those memories one constant always remained true...my Father Loved Me! As much as that is true of my "earthly father" it is even more true of Our Heavenly Father's love for all of us. The Word of God reminds us that, "nothing can separate us from the love of God". In a world where love and compassion seem to be conditional, it is a cherished reality and gift that God's love for us is unconditional. Hear these words from Psalm 136: "Give thanks to the Lord of lords, His love endures forever. To Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. Who by His understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. The One who remembers us in our low estate, His love endures forever. And who freed us from all our enemies, His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of Heaven, His love endures forever." No where will we read in God's Word that Our Heavenly Father's love for us has conditions attached to it...that it's based on our conduct and/or performance. Every person needs to know that we are lovable and loved by someone, we need this almost as much as we need to be able to breath. Yet, sometimes because of our conduct, our failures, our faults, or how we think the world around us views us...we can begin to feel unworthy of others...unloveable. But be well assured, as ever-present is our Heavenly Father's strength and wisdom available for us, so is His Love for us! "Jesus loves me this I know...!" God our Father loves us...he loves you, His love for you endures for ever and nothing can ever cause Him to feel anything different from that for You! "God is love" and His love belongs to you! "His love endures forever!" May Our Heavenly Father's love fill your hearts always! Pastor Ed

2 COMING EVENTS PIZZA WITH THE PASTORS We will be having two Pizza with the Pastors in June. On June 12 we will have Pizza with the Pastors at the downtown campus at 11:45 a.m., and on June 26 we will have Pizza with the Pastors at 12:00 noon at the Life Center. Everyone is welcome, but this is especially for those who are new or recent attenders to our church. This is a way for you to get acquainted with the pastors and staff. Please RSVP to the church office, , if you plan to attend. PRIMETIMERS The Primetimers will be going to Warsaw on Tuesday, June 14. The first stop will be Warsaw Biblical Gardens, and a $6 admission fee. Then lunch will be at Schoops Restaurant, ordering from the menu. The next stop will be Winona History Center, and a $4 donation. Then on to the Billy Sunday Home. He was a well-known Chicago White Stockings player/evangelist. There will be a free-will donation. If you plan to go, pay your $10 to Bob Shirk by Sunday, June 12. The bus will pick up at Waterford Crossing at 9:00 a.m., and Greencroft at 9:15 a.m. We will leave the church at 9:45 a.m. If you have questions, please call Bob Shirk at BIG BASH This year we will have our annual Big Bash on Sunday, July 3, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Life Center. There will be food and games for all ages, and you can watch the fireworks at the Black Squirrel golf course. Mark your calendar more details will be coming later. CELEBRATION There will be an End of the School Year celebration with all of the kiddos from preschool age to 5th grade (the grade your child will be completing) on June 3 at the Life Center from 6-8 p.m. VBS Vacation Bible School will be a Kingdom theme event this year while kiddos learn about the Armor of God and how they can use it in their everyday lives. VBS will take place on June at the Life Center from 6:00-8:00 p.m. If you would like to help, contact Aimee Brinson at OUTSIDE WORSHIP On Sunday, June 19, the Life Center campus will meet at the GPS Building at 10:30 a.m. for their Sunday morning worship. The downtown campus will meet as usual in the downtown sanctuary at 9:00 a.m. Everyone is invited to join in worship at 10:30 a.m. at the GPS Building.

3 Volunteer Ministry - Ministry Menus On Sundays during the month of June, we will be distributing Ministry Menus for the coming program year, which is September 2016-August Our goal is to have everyone using their God given spiritual gifts to serve in the life and ministry of the church. The Ministry Menu gives you the opportunity to sign up and let us know which ministries you want to be involved in. You will receive a booklet which explains all the various ministries in the life of our church, and a separate form which you should fill out and return. We will also have speakers each Sunday in June to explain and highlight some of the ministry areas. We ask that you prayerfully consider how you feel God is calling you to serve, look over the ministry opportunities and descriptions, mark your form, sign it, and place it in the offering plate or return it to the church office. If you are not able to get a form at church, please call the office at and we will be glad to send you a form and booklet. Or if you have internet access, you may download a form from the church website at goshenfirstumc.org Thank you and God bless you as you serve the Lord and participate in the ministry and outreach of the church! Ben Whirledge, Volunteer Ministry Coordinator YOUTH NEWS Another year has passed so quickly! I cannot believe that we are already celebrating another year of graduates! I hope everyone has the opportunity to applaud and to take a moment to celebrate the accomplishments of some of our youth and young adults. In our very own church, we have a family of youth that are rising up and using their own gifts and talents to be a light and set an example for all generations. These many youth and young adults are truly an inspiration to all of us, and they are preparing for a new and wonderful journey ahead as they continue to use their gifts and talents to glorify and serve our Holy Father. I hope that as a family, we can continue to lift up these young people in prayer and ask God to use them to better His kingdom as they step out in faith during these upcoming years. I would like to congratulate the Class of 2016! May you truly be a brilliant light for the world! -Bobbi Smith, Youth Pastor GOSHEN 1 ST UMC CHILDREN S MINISTRY There will be a lock-in for 5 th and 6 th graders (the grade your child will be entering in the fall) on July 15 th -16 at the Life Center campus starting at 6:30pm Friday to 10:30am (for 5 th graders) and 2:30 (for 6 th graders) as we will be taking the new 6 th graders for their final Movin On Up party ( pizza, ice cream, laser tag, and roller skating) before they head off to the youth group! For more information about this event or to see how you can get plugged in to the Children s ministry, contact Aimee Brinson at aimeebrinson@goshenfirstumc.org or Ext In Christ, Aimee Brinson

4 GRADUATES We wish to congratulate the following high school and college graduates from our church: HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES Kyler Altenhof - son of Angie Altenhof and Mark Altenhof - graduating from Goshen High School. He will be attending Ball State University in the fall, majoring in music education with an emphasis on teaching/directing and composing. Eric Colglazier - son of Mark & Susan Colglazier - graduating from Northridge High School. He will be attending Ivy Tech to pursue a degree in Cyber Security and Application Design. Alison Colglazier - daughter of Mark & Susan Colglazier - graduating from Northridge High School. She will be attending Indiana University, and will be pursuing a degree in Travel, Hospitality, and Event Management. Karoline Fowler - daughter of Melissa Fowler and John Fowler - graduating from Goshen High School. She will be attending Manchester College to go into pre-med. Tyler Groves - son of Eric & Kris Groves - graduating from Goshen High School. He will be attending Ivy Tech for general courses and then attending Purdue or Indiana State for an Engineering B.S. degree. Alexis Johnston - daughter of Jeannine Honderich - graduating from Goshen High School. She is planning to attend Indiana University-Bloomington in the fall and will study marketing or education. Audrey Miller - daughter of Gordon & Sharon Miller - graduating from Goshen High School Jackson Miller - son of Tim & Monica Miller - graduating from Goshen High School. He will be attending the University of Indianapolis to study chemistry as an undergraduate, and then on to graduate school for pre-med. Ryan Mitchell - son of Scott & Natalie Mitchell - graduating from Goshen High School. Hunter Pearson - son of James & Chris Pearson - graduating from Goshen High School. Jonathan Salisbury - son of Stephen & Jodi Salisbury - graduating from Goshen High School. He is planning to attend an electrical trade school and some day to be an electrician. Rodney Spencer Jr. - son of Alicia Spencer - graduating from Goshen High School. He will be attending Southwestern Michigan College to study Automotive Technologies. Cassidy Trammell - daughter of Jenny Gooderham - graduating from Culver Academy. Andrew Weddle - son of Jeff & Julie Weddle - graduating from Goshen High School. He will be attending Grace College & Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana, where he plans to earn a B.A. in Counseling and a minor in Graphic Design. COLLEGE GRADUATES Thomas Miller - son of Kendall Miller - graduating from DePaul University. He will be going to IU graduate school in Bloomington. Michael Riegsecker - son of Don Riegsecker - graduated from Grinnell College. He is currently searching for employment in his field of studies. Jamie Yoder - graduating from Indiana University East. Lauren Yoder - daughter of Sherri Snider - graduating from IUPUI in Indianapolis.

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 Many thanks to my church family for the lovely birthday carnation. A special thank you to Lenette Burckhart for giving up time on a beautiful Saturday afternoon to deliver it. -Nancy Stump Thanks for the huge birthday card! I love all of you! -Pat McKinney Items for sale: small wheelchair (for small adult or child), and portable basketball hoop. If interested, contact Ann Bender, On behalf of the E3 Survival Skills for Life Program which is a partnership between Goshen Middle School and Amigo Centre, I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to you folks at the First United Methodist Church! The support of the E3 program by your congregation has been a tremendous blessing! Your prayer support, providing mentors for the program, the use of your GPS building, and your financial support have all been very much appreciated! I trust that your congregation has been blessed by your involvement with the E3 program. If you know of someone who has an interest in becoming a mentor for the program, please extend an invitation to them. In the fall we will again need another mentors as a new group of 6th graders begin the program. -Cheryl Mast, E-3 Program Coordinator

6 HAPPY JUNE BIRTHDAYS! June 2 Phyllis Blough Dave Parsons Chris Martin June 15 Jodi Salisbury Kris Sorg Jackson Saenz June 3 Jay Saenz Ashlyn Stark Nancy Cook June 4 Janet Taylor Tom Conrad Jamie Lehman Abram Schwinn Clayton Koher June 5 Glenda Brechtel June 6 Marty Myers Stacey Yoder Rory Hart June 7 Jeff Caton June 8 Kaylee Shepherd June 9 Jo Snyder April Blankenbaker June 10 Nick Ragsdale Doug Nicholson Alison Colglazier Eric Colglazier June 12 Trayce Stewart June 14 Julie Miller June 16 Jayden Everest June 17 Matthew Cork June 18 Brenda Wilkinson Steven Yoder June 19 Bennett Brown Clair Motts Courtney Sponseller June 20 Jackie Lung Chris Toth Bonnie Elder June 21 Diane Miller Chance Hanshew June 22 Beth Pettit June 23 Michelle Eckelbarger Elaine Anderson June 24 Gene Weaver Faith Gailey Zoe Huff June 26 Lewie Weaver Boden Brown Richard Sponseller Kimberly Duca June 27 John Fidler Kelley Cork Tina Cork June 28 Laura Haney Drake Crowder Linda Stevens June 29 Kaden Sheets THINK ABOUT IT The following quotes are from Corrie Ten Boom. You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have. Don t bother to give God instructions, just report for duty. If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy. You will find it is necessary to let things go, simply for the reason that they are too heavy. Some knowledge is too heavy...you cannot bear it...your Father will carry it until you are able. Love is larger than the walls which shut it in.