The Gathering November 2014 In the state of Minnesota during the summer of 1876, grasshoppers were on the verge of destroying all the crops. The farmers were worried of what the possible devastation of that year meant for the coming year’s (1877) crop and that it could even get worse. The possibilities seemed so frightening and serious that the Governor of Minnesota knew that there was only one Power that would be strong enough to overcome their plight. He called for April 26 as a day of fasting and prayer for every person and every facet of the state. For the next three days, April 27-30, the temperature warmed to a favorable temperature for the development of the larvae of the grasshoppers. Literally billions of these larvae were wiggling to the early stages of life as they hatched. It appeared as if God had not heard their prayers and that their greatest fears were about to happen. But on the fourth day, while the newly hatched larvae were at their most vulnerable state, the night air dropped to an uncharacteristic night’s frost. The freezing temperatures killed every last one of Minnesota’s destructive enemies. It is remembered in Minnesota, “as the day God answered the prayers of the people”. Surely, we know with all certainty, and that we all have seen and experienced “first-hand” as well, that God Almighty answers the prayers of His People! But because of our human and short-term memories...sometimes we simply forget what God has done for us. November is a month that calls us as Christians to "think back" and reflect upon our lives' past...and remember clearly that it has been God and not ourselves who has been our Great Provider and Caretaker of life. Doing so humbles us, yet at the same time reminds us, that we are not alone in this life's adventures and events, and in that great assurance we can have comfort and peace by knowing that God is here working in our lives and for our lives, whether we see Him or not. The Word of God calls us to be filled with "thankful hearts", because when we do reflect upon life's past we will always see and know that we are a blessed people. "God is good, all the time...All the time, God is good"! I love God's recipe for the joy of life that He gives to us through the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Happy Thanksgiving! We are all so blessed...all of us...if we simply remember to look for our blessings from God. Pastor Ed COMING EVENTS YOUTH GROUP FUNDRAISERS CALLING ALL CORN HOLE CHAMPIONS! During downtown Goshen’s First Fridays on NOVEMBER 7, the youth group will be hosting a corn hole tournament to raise money for their mission trip to Florida. Registration will open at 5:30pm at the Downtown church (214 S. 5th Street) and the games will begin at 6:15pm. It is $20 per team ($10 per person) to participate. Come prepared for a fun competition to raise money for a great cause! We will also be hosting two Soup & Sandwich luncheons, one at the Downtown church on November 9 and one at the Life Center on November 23. Hope to see you there! Finally, we have a YOUTH FUNDRAISER IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS! 30% Give-Back towards our youth group. Go to boomersintheknow.com to shop and place your order. Enter Code “FUMC” to initiate give-back & receive free shipping!! If you have any questions regarding Boomers in the Know, please contact Steve Pettit at [email protected] or M-F 9-5 call 574849-1807. -Bobbi Smith, Interim Youth Pastor GHS JAZZ BAND The Goshen High School Jazz Band will be performing at the Life Center on Tuesday, November 18, at 7:00 p.m. There will be a charge at the door—$5.00 for adults, $3.00 for students. The public is invited. THANKSGIVING MEAL The New Beginnings and Young Adult Class is preparing for our annual community dinner on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the downtown campus gym. If you would like to provide a dessert or make a monetary donation, it would be greatly appreciated. If you know of a Goshen area shutin who would like a meal, please contact Diane Bailey, 534-3793, or the church office, 533-9518. CHARGE CONFERENCE Our Charge Conference will be on Sunday, November 2, at 2:00 p.m., at the Dunlap United Methodist Church. Everyone is welcome to attend. PRIMETIMERS The Primetimers will go to a Fish Fry at Faith United Methodist Church on Saturday, November 1. Cost is $8.50 in advance; pay to Mary Jo Cotherman by Tuesday, October 28. She will distribute the tickets at the door when we arrive. The bus will pick up at Greencroft at 3:15 p.m.; we will leave the church at 3:40 p.m. If you have questions, please call Mary Jo at 537-4535. FREE MOVIE We will be having a free movie at the Life Center on Sunday, November 16, at 4:00 p.m. The movie is “Monumental: In Search of America’s National Treasure. Our families are worth fighting for.” Free popcorn will be served. Everyone is welcome. Casting Meetings Tuesday, November 11 or Monday, November 17 6:30pm at the Life Center Campus The Living Word will be presented again March 25-27, 2015. In order to hit the ground running right after the new year, we will be casting parts for the production in November. If you are interested in any speaking or non-speaking parts in the Living Word, we ask that you attend one of the casting meetings listed above in November. Have Questions? Contact: [email protected]. CHRISTMAS CANTATA C H R Y S A L I S FLIGHTS Presented on Sunday, December 14, at the Downtown Campus, at 9:00 A.M. Featuring choir, soloists and orchestra. Everyone is welcome! Chrysalis is the youth version of the Walk to Emmaus. Chrysalis Flights are three-day retreats for high school youth focused on helping them strengthen their walk with Christ. Its aim is to empower today’s youth to be leaders at school, home, their communities, and beyond. Christmas Gift Ministry As we celebrate the time of Jesus’ birth, let us not forget where it all started. Jesus was born in a manger, tucked away in a desolate, cold and dark place. Through his birth he brought light. Although we don’t think of Christmas as a bleak and troublesome time, many in our community do. Goshen First United Methodist Church and Life Center has made a promise to our community to do what Christ commanded us to do. “Let your light shine before men, that all may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” The Christmas Gift Ministry is about bringing hope to families in the season where so many see a desolate, cold and dark place. Our mission is to provide gifts to our local community by providing gifts of love, food, gas cards, letters of encouragement, and a Bible so that all may read and know of the light that God has brought. Please continue to support this ministry and let your light shine for our families in our community. For more information, please contact Betty Whitt at 295-2673 or 238-4299 or email: [email protected] Upcoming Chrysalis Flight: November 28-30 (Thanksgiving weekend), at Epworth Forest in North Webster, Indiana. Cost is $120 (scholarships are available to help). As a part of the weekend, there will be a 72 hour prayer vigil taking place. If you would like to sign up to pray for the youth attending and the team members serving, you can do so at: https://niemmaus.com/ v i g i l / i n d e x . p h p ? walk=78&flight=Yes. If you have any questions or need a registration form, please contact A m y S m i t h a t : [email protected] First United Methodist Church 214 S. Fifth Street Goshen, IN 46528 Phone: 533-9518 www.goshenfirstumc.org www.goshenlifecenter.org Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No.136 Goshen, IN Address Service Requested “Thanks to my dear church family for signing my lovely birthday card. You really made my 98th a wonderful day.” -Eleanor Kull “I appreciated the beautiful carnation I received for my birthday from my church family delivered by Lenette Burckhart. Thank you and God Bless.” -John Allyn “We want to say a big thank you to all those who either help buy food, put food on the shelves, or distribute food from our food pantry to those who come in for food. They are: Mike Miller, Erv & Betty Herschberger, Wayne & Arlene Randolph, Doc Haney, Shirley Showalter, Roberta Knopfer, Fannie Mabie, Jackie Lung, and the Roose-Greenwalt S.S. Class. THANK YOU for helping feed hungry people in the Goshen area!” -Harriet Martin “We want to say a big THANK YOU to our faithful bus drivers who bring people to church and take them home again after church. Many people depend on the bus to ride to church each Sunday. Those who drive the bus for the downtown campus are: Jim Miller, Gary Miller, Ray Streit, and Ryan Price. Those who drive the bus for the Life Center are: Chris Fetters, Jeromy Sheets, James Leak, and Ned Gruver. Thank you!!” -Harriet Martin HAPPY NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS! November 1 Angel Shepherd Dawn Catron November 2 Judy Yoder Danielle Leak November 3 Jordyn Miller Pamela Kling Janet Showalter November 4 Julie Weddle November 5 Barbara Gingerich Madalynne Denning November 6 Sherri Deranek Meghanne Burns November 7 Ann Bender Irene Renner Chelsea Krabill November 8 Megan Robbins Georgia Snyder Elmer Troyer November 9 Cinda Sorrell Carl VanGilst Braxton Sheets November 10 Paula Juday Hudson Hart Stephanie Middaugh November 11 Loraine Troyer Rachel Slentz Madeleine Wampler November 12 Arlene Randolph November 13 Coltyn Stutsman Cameron Groves November 14 Melisa Holley November 15 Ryan Kinel Brandon Mitchell November 16 Sara Kupke November 17 Asher Mehl Kathe Nichols Travis Stewart Kaden Priebe November 18 Lara Perry Angie Taylor Jade Carbone Ethan Kupke November 20 Frances Sloan Natalie Garber November 22 Mary Jo Warstler William Ragsdale Abbie Fowler November 23 Kathy Anglemyer Thomas Miller November 24 Marion Ketcham Becky Christner Bailey Fox Raquel Toth November 25 Bob Miller Deanna Moser Morgan Shepherd Allison Weirich November 26 Donald Perry November 28 Thirston Perrin Judi Snobarger Gary Treharne November 29 Wilbur Hostetler Grace Johnson Lisa Herschberger Kathryn Colglazier Madison Yoder November 30 Marty Bachman Donna Solyom Eden Mehl Michelle Priebe Taya Stewart