PASTORS’ PEN

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalms 19:1

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made, I see the stars, I

hear the rolling thunder, thy power throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to

thee; how great thou art, how great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; How Great Thou

Art, HOW GREAT THOU ART!”

The scriptures asks the question: “What is man that Thou (God) art mindful of him?” God’s handiwork is all

around us. His reality, His power, His wisdom, His presence, and His love for us is revealed to us daily simply

by living in the midst of His creation, of which we are the greatest effort of His creative command. The Psalmist

is correct, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

I cannot even begin to try to explain exactly how God created and how long it took. In reality it’s not important,

but what is, is that out of nothing God designed, planned, and crafted…order, beauty, purpose, and pleasure into

creation and for our benefit. I think Thanksgiving can only begin when we truly realize who God is and all that

He has done for us. For only then can we truly appreciate the depth and scope of all that we have had provided

for us by His wonderful grace and power. “Oh, Lord My God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the

worlds thy hands have made”…Yes…“How Great Thou Art”…and especially…to me!

When I rise up every morning with His handiwork all around me…Thanksgiving is a daily response to His glory!

But I find myself this Thanksgiving also thankful for you…each of you…my church family...for all that you are

and all that you continue to do, with faithfulness and love. This church and all of its endeavors to serve God are

being accomplished because, even in the midst of economic issues and concerns, and even for some of you when

sacrifice has been required, your service and your tithing has remained a blessing and witness of your unfailing

commitment to Christ! Brenda and I are simply blessed by the overwhelming spirit of love, joy, kindness, good-

ness, and faithfulness that each of you in meetings, in your giving, and in your service to the church daily demon-

strate. “Well done…thank you for all of your many ways that all of you are a blessing to each other and to the

many lives that you serve and touch every day in so many various stations of life and various ways!”

I am thankful to My Heavenly Father…Oh, how I love Him! And, I am thankful to you and for you…Oh, how I

love and appreciate you all!

May the Joy of the Lord and the Presence of the Lord be with you

all in this Thanksgiving Season and may He continue to watch

over you and use you in all of our coming days together.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Pastors Ed and Brenda

November 2012

The Gathering

COMING EVENTS

GHS JAZZ BAND The Goshen High School Jazz

Band will be performing at the

Life Center on Tuesday, November

13, 2012, 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

Adults Class is preparing for our

annual community dinner on

Thanksgiving Day, November

22, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at

the downtown campus gym. If

you would like to provide a des-

sert or make a monetary dona-

tion, it would be greatly appreci-

ated. If you know of a Goshen

area shut-in who would like a

meal, please contact Diane Bai-

ley, 534-3793, or the church of-

fice, 533-9518.

ALL SAINTS DAY All Saints Day will be celebrated

on Sunday, November 4. It is

held to remember all those who

have died this past year

(November 1, 2011-November 1,

2012) who were members or as-

sociates of our local congrega-

tion. Those being remembered

this year are: Doug Johnston,

Dorothy Snyder, Virgil Camp-

bell, Cleta Rieth, Morrie Herring,

Tim Rice, John Platz, John Hall,

Rene Neff, Vivian Smith, Ruth

Bullis, Jo Inbody.

We hope you will be able to at-

tend and also to invite any other

family members or friends who

would find this time meaningful.

FREE MOVIE We will be having a free movie at

the Life Center on Sunday, No-

vember 18, at 4:00 p.m. The

movie is “Monumental.” Free

popcorn will be served. Everyone

is welcome.

CHARGE

CONFERENCE Our church’s Charge Conference

this year will be on Sunday, No-

vember 11, at 2:00 p.m. It will

be held at Elkhart Trinity United

Methodist Church in Elkhart,

Indiana.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

BASHOR HOME On Monday, November 12,

Bashor Children’s Home will

have their Annual Food and

Crafts Auction. Breakfast will be

served at 9:15 a.m. before the

auction. Our church is welcome

to contribute and attend. If you

have items to donate, contact

Mary Jo Cotherman or Fannie

Mabie.

Dear Church Family,

While home for my sister's wedding a few weeks ago, I enjoyed worshiping with you. It was great to see every-

one. I'm glad to be back in the swing of things in Ixiamas, Bolivia. As soon as I got back we led an adult bee-

keeping class and an Awana Bible study with the children from town. We have started processing our latest

crop of chickens.

Below are a few pictures of the interior of our house. We will start grouting the tile next. A wonderful

announcement -- Mateo and I are expecting a baby in April. We plan to return to Goshen for the baby's

delivery. The house will hopefully be ready when we return to Ixiamas. We will love having some privacy and

modern conveniences. Thank you to all who have made it possible. We very much appreciate your prayers and

support.

Mateo and Rachel Parsons Tenorio

Front room

Guest Bath

Kitchen

Master Bath

CHRISTMAS GIFT MINISTRY

As we celebrate the time of Jesus Christ’s 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 com-

munity do. Through the love of Jesus, the spirit of hope, and the promise that has been fulfilled,

this can be a time of joy for all of us. Goshen First United Methodist Church has made a promise

to our community to do what Jesus 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 provid-

ing 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 lights be on a stand to shine for our families

in our community. For more information, please contact Betty Whitt at 295-2673 or 238-4299 or

E-mail: Betty_whitt@keybank.com.

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

“We wish to thank Dick Hinckley, Ray Streit, and Ray Lichty and employees for reupholstering and cleaning the

downtown choir chairs. They look great! Thank you!”

“Thanks to all my church family who signed my large birthday card. Also thanks to Garry Anglemyer for all the

work he did for me. What a wonderful job he did for me!” -Eleanor Kull

“I want to thank everyone for all the cards and prayers for me during my recent hospitalization and surgery. I

want to thank the Candlelighters for the lilly plant. I also want to thank everyone who worked on my house and

yard during the church mission day on October 6. They mowed, cleaned the eaves, and other miscellaneous

things. I have the BEST church family!! Thanks again!” -Fannie Mabie

November 1

Joshua Payne

Angel Shepherd

November 2

Ty Anderson

Judy Yoder

Michael Bowen

Danielle Leak

November 3

Jordyn Miller

Pam Kling

Janet Showalter

Preston Silcox

Patty Mehl

November 4

Julie Weddle

Zachary Taylor

Andrea Widbin

November 5

Barbara Gingerich

Madalynne Denning

Sandra Toth

November 6

Sherri Deranek

November 7

Ann Bender

Irene Renner

Chelsea Lambright

November 8

Megan Robbins

Georgia Snyder

Elmer Troyer

Blake Eckelbarger

Jane Toth

November 9

Cinda Sorrell

Carl VanGilst

Braxton Sheets

Kristina Erb

November 10

Paula Juday

Stephanie Middaugh

November 11

Loraine Troyer

Rachel Slentz

Madeleine Wampler

Alex Johnson

November 12

Arlene Randolph

November 13

Steve Martin

Coltyn Stutsman

Cameron Groves

Charles Sloan

Matt Miller

November 15

Ryan Kinel

November 16

Sara Kupke

November 17

Sandy Martin

Asher Mehl

Kathe Nichols

November 18

Angie Taylor

Bianca Ghigliotto

Ethan Kupke

November 19

Betsy Gunden

November 20

Frances Sloan

Beverly Boughner

HAPPY NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS!

November 22

Mary Jo Warstler

Abbie Fowler

William Ragsdale

Clayton Erb

Joe Evans

November 23

Kathy Anglemyer

Thomas Miller

November 24

Marion Ketcham

Bailey Fox

Anthony Schrock

Raquel Toth

November 25

Bob Miller

Deanna Moser

Morgan Shepherd

November 28

Thirston Perrin

Judi Snobarger

Gary Treharne

November 29

Wilbur Hostetler

Grace Johnsion

Katy Colglazier

Lisa Herschberger

November 30

Marty Bachman

Donna Solyom