PASTOR’S PEN "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 re-peated 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 Je-sus' 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 fa-ther here, it has caused me to remember some of my greatest joys that my father shared with me, and in all those memories one con-stant always remained true....My Father Loved Me! As much as that is true of my "earthly father" it is even more true of Our Heav-enly 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 real-ity 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 con-duct, 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 avail-able 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

June 2016

The Gathering

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 down-

town 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, 533-9518, 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 admis-

sion 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 875-5915.

OUTSIDE WORSHIP On Sunday, June 19, the Life Cen-

ter 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 sanctu-

ary at 9:00 a.m.

Everyone

is invited

to join in

worship at

10:30 a.m.

at the GPS

Building.

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 Ar-

mor of God and how they can use

it in their everyday lives. VBS

will take place on June 26-29 at the

Life Center from 6:00-8:00 p.m. If

you would like to help, contact

Aimee Brinson at 533-9518.

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.

Volunteer Ministry - Ministry Menus On Sundays during the month of June, we will be distributing

Ministry Menus for the coming program year, which is Septem-

ber 2016-August 2017. 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 minis-

tries 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 533-9518 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 1ST UMC CHILDREN’S MINISTRY There will be a lock-in for 5th and 6th graders (the grade your child will be entering in the fall) on July 15th-16 at

the Life Center campus starting at 6:30pm Friday to 10:30am (for 5th graders) and 2:30 (for 6th graders) as we

will be taking the new 6th 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 574-

533-9518 Ext. 104. In Christ, Aimee Brinson

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 South-

western 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 Col-

lege & 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.

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No.136

Goshen, IN

First United Methodist Church

214 S. Fifth Street

Goshen, IN 46528

Phone: 533-9518

www.goshenfirstumc.org

www.goshenlifecenter.org

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, 534-4132.

“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 men-

tors for the program, the use of your GPS building, and your financial support have all been very much appreci-

ated! 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 10-12 mentors as a new group of 6th graders begin the program.”

-Cheryl Mast, E-3 Program Coordinator

HAPPY JUNE BIRTHDAYS! June 2

Phyllis Blough

Dave Parsons

Chris Martin

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 15

Jodi Salisbury

Kris Sorg

Jackson Saenz

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 instruc-

tions, 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.”