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PASTORS’ PEN
It has been a strange year for weather across the United States and even the rest of the world—an unusually long
and harsh winter, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, forest fires, and now the destructive power of a hurricane.
These storms with their destructive powers have seemed to somehow had their impact on part of the country
around us. Many have been caught up in the disasters and heartaches. Storms that can come up in a moment’s
notice, like a dark cloud in the sky that quickly turns into a violent and deadly storm, are not always simply lim-
ited to the weather either. There are other kinds of storms that can suddenly pop up in life also. In a moment our
world can change from a world of peace, tranquility, and everything is okay, to…being engulfed in life and death
battles.
In 1991, off the Jersey coast, a man by the name of John with his six-year old daughter, went for a boating adven-
ture for the day, not knowing that there was a terrible set of two storms brewing just off the coast. When they
were approximately six miles off the coast in their boat,
“The Andrea Gail,” the storm hit so suddenly and vio-
lently it caught them unprepared. Quickly the boat was
capsized and their lifejackets were swept away with the
boat. With high waves all around them, John realized he
could not swim the six miles back to shore holding his six
year old daughter. He gave her instructions and a prom-
ise. He reminded her “that she had learned how to float
on her back and because she had learned that skill, re-
gardless of how terrible the storm or high the waves, she
could stay afloat on her back and be safe as long as she
wanted to.” Then he said, “I am swimming to shore, but
I will be back to rescue you.” John began his long swim
for shore. A few miles out from the shore, the Coast
Guard found him and picked him up. Then faithful to his
promise, in the midst of the night with searchlights piercing the darkness and cutting past the high waves, they
found her…safe and well after floating for nearly five hours.
When asked, “Mary, how did you do that?” she said, “Daddy said that I could do it and that he would rescue me,
and Daddy always keeps his word.” In John 14, Jesus says to his disciples, and to us…“Let not your hearts be
troubled, believe in God, believe also in me…” In the 23rd Psalm God’s Word says, “Though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me…” Psalm 144 reads, “Reach down your
hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters.” Time and time again God’s Word reveals
to us that our Heavenly Father does not keep us from the storms of life, but He does keep us while we are in the
midst of the storms of life; He holds us, sustains us, strengthens us, and provides for us during the storms. And
He who made Heaven and Earth and all that is…Is Faithful!
“Let not your hearts be troubled…trust in God and in His Son Jesus!” Peace I offer, His Peace I give to you; go
in peace and may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, now and forever! Amen! God Bless You
All! -Pastor Ed
September 2011
The Gathering
COMING EVENTS
TGIW MEAL AND CLASSES The TGIW meal and classes will start up again on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at the downtown campus.
Everyone is welcome. The meal is at 5:00 p.m., and classes are at 6:15 p.m. Children’s classes are available at
6:15 p.m. downtown: child care will be available for birth-toddler, and activities for children pre-school-5th
grade will be available. The senior and junior high youth group meets at the Life Center at 6:00 p.m.
There will be four adult classes offered for the fall term, from September 7 through October 19:
Bible Study, by Pastor Brenda Fritz Pastor Brenda will be teaching a year-long class entitled, “Disciple: Becoming Disciples through Bible Study.”
This class is an overview of the entire Bible with outside reading assignments weekly. It is a great study to have
a better understanding of how the New Testament fulfills the Old Testament.
Spiritual Development-Hot Topics, by Pastor Ed Fritz and Pastor Ben Whirledge How do we interpret what we hear on the news and the events happening around us in light of God’s Word?
Some topics to be discussed are:
-September 11—Lessons learned
-Debt Crisis
-Middle East Conflict
-End of the World...End Times
-Media “Input Generation”
Family Development-Sacred Marriages - by Dave and Connie Brinkruff Families are under pressure! Come and join this group as we focus on living out our faith daily in our families.
Stewardship As A Lifestyle-Financial Peace University Come and join Dave Ramsey, a world class financial analyst, and discover proper management and stewardship
of resources. This class will empower students to establish healthy personal financial practices.
The Disciple University calendar for 2011-2012 is:
Sept. 7-October 19 - Fall classes
Oct. 26-Dec. 14 - Advent classes
(No TGIW on November 23)
January 11-Feb. 22 - Winter classes
Feb. 29-April 18 - Spring classes
(No TGIW on April 4)
OUR FOOD PANTRY
We wanted to give an update on our church’s food pantry. From January
through July 2011, we served 160 families, with an average of 25-30
families per month. We continue to see many needy people come
through our doors, and they are always so grateful for the food we give
them. We want to thank you as a congregation for your support of the
food pantry. Some of you support the food pantry with your monetary
support, and others bring food in for the pantry. The Roose-Greenwalt
S.S. Class brings in food and non-food items once a month for the pantry,
which helps out a lot. We receive “free” food from the Federal Govern-
ment every other month, but that may be cut back 50% because of up-
coming budget cuts. We are thankful for a congregation that supports the
food pantry and keeps it going from month to month. We also want to
thank those who drive to South Bend to pick up the food from the Food
Bank and bring it back and put it on our shelves! We appreciate their
hard work! So thank you to everyone who helps with the food pantry in
some way! -Harriet Martin
NEW MINISTRY We’ve had the Healing Shawl Ministry for 10 years. Now we are adding an additional prayer shawl ministry.
The Pocket Prayer Shawl is a mini shawl that is knit while praying for the person receiving it. These colorful
pocket prayer shawls are available for persons to pick up and use themselves or pass on to others in need. You
will find them in baskets at the downtown church and at the Life Center. May God bless those knitting and re-
ceiving these pocket prayer shawls.
PRIMETIMERS The Primetimers will go see the Snite Museum of Art at Notre Dame on
Thursday, September 15. The beautiful Snite Museum of Art includes more
than 24,000 works representing many of the principal cultures and periods of
world art history. Collections feature Rembrandt etchings, 19th century
French art, 19th century European photographs, 20th century art, Northern
Native American art, Chicano art, and African art. Admission is free.
Lunch will be at Tippecanoe Place, with a choice of three menu items:
grilled ham on rye, club wrap, or ceasar salad.
The bus will pick up at Greencroft at 10:00 a.m., and we will leave the
church parking lot at 10:30 a.m. We plan to return about 4:30 p.m. If you
have questions, please call Bob Morris at 534-2791.
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
“I wish to thank my church family very much for the lovely pink carnation I received for my 71st birthday. It
lasted beautifully and was most appreciated.” -Roberta Knopfer
“I want to express my thanks for the pretty pink carnation for my birthday delivered by Erv and Betty
Herschberger. I truly appreciate it. Thanks to all.” -Sue Harp
“Thank you to my church family for the beautiful carnation, and thank you to Janet Miller and Dora Aust who
delivered it.” -Fannie Mabie
“I want to thank the church, and Janet Miller and Dora Aust, for delivering the carnation for my birthday. It made
my day.” -Dorothy Hess
“I want to thank Janet Miller for delivering my red birthday carnation. Also it was nice to visit with her mother
who was an old neighbor from years ago. To top my birthday off, thank you Harvey and your two delightful
grandchildren for delivering my extra special card. Peg and I also want to thank you for your prayers during her
surgery. A special thank you to Pastor Ed and Pam for their visits.”
-Morrie Herring
September 1
Nancy Sorg
Aaron Wilkinson
September 2
Jeff Johnson
Rose Zellers
John Auer
September 3
Terri Price
September 4
Tanya Swihart
Max Johnson
September 5
Dr. Leslie Haney
Rene Neff
Jeremiah Chico
September 6
Charly Stutsman
Rev. Brenda Fritz
Amie Kyle
September 7
Jack Blankenbaker
Laura Sorg
September 8
Brenda Becker
John Dechant
Charles Toth
Amanda Peffley
September 9
Raelene Perrin
Beth Snow
September 10
Cammi Waggoner
Melissa Yoder
Phil Stoll
September 11
Joe Miller
September 12
Earl LaCounte
Linda Peters
Shirley Cripe
September 13
Jack Farrell
Hannah Weirich
Kathy Grant
September 14
Jeannine Johnston
Denise Lambright
September 17
Lamar Paflas
Natalie Anne Miller
Tammy Bowen
September 18
Miriam White
September 19
Perry Haimes
September 20
Ken Shorthouse
Nancy Eckelbarger
September 21
Leo Seltenright
Linette Schwinn
Penny Mabie
September 22
Chuck Hart
Betty McKnight
September 23
Susan Vance
John Eldridge
Ned Cook
Samuel Yoder
September 24
Sarah Nowak
HAPPY SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS!
September 25
Erv Herschberger
Shirley VanGilst
September 26
Christopher Robbins
September 27
Joanne Swanson
September 28
Andrew Weddle
Ruth Bullis
Karlee Crume
Jordan Lloyd
September 29
Leslie Weirich
September 30
Betty Miller
Ray Streit
FOR SALE A small spinet organ is for sale. If
you are interested, please contact
Wayne or Arlene Randolph, at
533-7183.
THINK ABOUT IT “Don’t be afraid to give your best
to what seemingly are small jobs.
Every time you conquer one it
makes you that much stronger. If
you do the little jobs well, the big
ones will tend to take care of them-
selves.” -Dale Carnegie