PASTORS’ PEN

“God is Good, All the time!”…“All the time, God is Good!” There is always in our God a hope that “does not

disappoint us!”

On the southern tip of Africa there is the Cape of Good Hope. It is a few miles west of the actual dividing point

between the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans and it is here that the warm waters of the Agulhas currents meet the

cold waters of the Benguela currents. The meeting of these currents causes great and violent waves and storms to

occur that makes navigating and sailing in these waters very difficult and fearful to travelers. In fact for many

years because of this, voyagers would not go beyond this point because of the fear of what was beyond…and no

one knew what that would be. Fear of the unknown and of the violence of the passageway caused the ancient

world to call the area the “Cape of Storms.” It is amazing how the fear of the unknown and the storms of life can

paralyze us, or even cause us to be fearful of what lies ahead in life’s many situations and in eternity itself.

But then in 1488 a Portuguese explorer by the name of Bartolomeu Dias rounded the cape successfully, and then

later on in the 16th century Vasco De Gama sailed around the cape and beyond the fear and storms of the raging

waters to the shores of India and beyond. From that time on the name of the cape changed to “The Cape of Good

Hope” for they discovered that good things do lay ahead always to those who trust. Their hope would not disap-

point them!

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me

though he die yet shall he live.” Jesus has risen from the dead…He

lives! He has passed through and beyond the storms of all of life’s

fears and miseries and announced to those who believe, “There is

Hope to all who believe upon me!” Easter is the celebration of life

and hope, it is the assurance that… “All the time, God is good!”

“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is

gone, because I know he holds the future, and life is worth the living

just because He lives!”

Storms are inevitable—it’s not if they will come, but when they

come in our lives. But as Easter Christians, we can daily have the

blessed assurance that our hope in the promises of God will not dis-

appoint us ever! For greater is our God than any storm or disaster of

life in this world that we must travel through. “Though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou

art with me.”

Jesus Christ is our Hope, Always! Happy Easter today and every

day!

Pastor Ed

April 2012

The Gathering

COMING EVENTS

EASTER EGG HUNT We will have our second annual

Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April

7, at 2:00 p.m. at the Life Center.

All children, ages preschool to 5th

grade, may participate. Adults are

needed to help with sign-ins, set-

up, and clean-up. Contact Aimee

Brinson, 343-4770, if you can help.

Come and join the fun!

RUMMAGE SALE Our spring Rummage Sale will

soon be here so it is time to clean

out your closets, basement, and ga-

rage. The dates are April 13, from

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., and April 14,

from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. You may

bring your items to the south end of

the gym on April 9, 10, and 11.

We needs lots of help, especially

on Thursday, April 12, to set up,

and on Saturday, April 14, to tear

down. Contact Patty Krebs, 612-

2048, if you can help.

PRIMETIMERS On Thursday, April 19, the

Primetimers will visit an Amish

chair factory near Howe, and then

have lunch at Ester Hostetler’s

Amish farm. The meal will in-

clude chicken and beef with all

the trimmings, and pie for dessert.

The cost is $16 per person, and

your money must be given to

Wilbur Hostetler by April 9.

The bus will pick up at Green-

croft at 10:00 a.m. and we will

leave the church at 10:30 a.m.

We expect to return around 3:00

p.m. If you have questions,

please call Bob Morris at 534-

2791.

SPAGHETTI LUNCH The youth will be having a fund-

raiser meal for everyone on Sun-

day, April 22. They will serve spa-

ghetti and salad. There is no

charge, but donations are welcome!

Serving will begin at 11:30 a.m. at

the downtown campus, and at

12:00 noon at the Life Center.

Come and enjoy a good lunch and

support our youth group! All pro-

ceeds will go toward the youth

summer mission trip to Cleveland,

Ohio, on June 10-16, 2012.

BASHOR CHIL-

DREN’S HOME The Bashor Children’s Home Aux-

iliary will meet on Monday, April

9, in the school cafeteria at Bashor

Home on CR 15 in Goshen. Cof-

fee time, with refreshments, will be

served by St. Mark’s UMC at 9:15

a.m. The 9:30 a.m. program will

be given by Marc Roth, from Holy

Cross. Everyone is invited to at-

tend.

MAUNDY THURS-

DAY SERVICE We will be having a Maundy

Thursday service and communion

on April 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the

Downtown sanctuary. Everyone

is welcome. If you would like the

church bus to pick you up, please

call the church office, 533-9518.

MOVIE NIGHT We will have a free movie night

at the Life Center on Sunday,

April 15, at 4:00 p.m. The movie

we will be showing is “How to

Train Your Dragon.” Everyone is

welcome!

Spring is in the air. Changes are happen-

ing everywhere! The grass is starting to

get green. The trees are starting to bud.

The flowers are starting to bloom. The

changes that take place when the dor-

mant comes to life with the dawning of a

new season has arrived. This reminds

me of the changes that are going to be

taking place in the life of the church and

in the life of my family over the next

few months.

In fact, many changes are going to be taking place in the life of the Karnes' family over the next couple of

months. We have a daughter who will be graduating from high school (there is no way I am that old). We have an

exchange student who has been with us for most of a year and has become part of our family who will be return-

ing home to Germany in June. We are preparing for the move to Columbus Indiana, which means that we have to

find a house to live in. We will be making the transition from Youth Ministry to working with adults. There are

just a lot of changes happening.

I do have to let you, my church family, know that I have truly enjoyed my time in ministry here at Goshen First

UMC and the Life Center. This has been a wonderful time of my life, and it has helped me to grow as a pastor

and as a person.

I have made many good friends along the way, friends that I will miss very much when I am gone.

Yet I have to let you know that I am excited about the new opportunities that God has given me. This is why I

want to leave you with this ... My prayer for you!

I pray that you continue to do ministry in a way that glorifies God by holding true to His Word and being about

His Kingdom ... You all do a good job of that and don't ever let that change.

I pray that you continue to reach the lost and change lives with a giving heart ... I love the heart for missions, both

locally and other places, that this church has.

I pray that you continue to build up children, youth and families ... no one else in the world is doing it ... It's up to

the church to make sure it happens.

I pray that you continue to do the things that make you the church that God has called you to be.

Thanks again for allowing me to partner with you in ministry for the past five years. I know that it will be both a

sad and joyous day when the moving truck shows up on June 5th to take us to our new home.

God Bless, Jeff Karnes

(over)

LYNDON SCHOLAR-

SHIP FUND The Dick Lyndon Scholarship

Fund was established with the goal

of providing matching grants to

undergraduate students attending

Christian colleges. This is a won-

derful way the church can help our

own college students attend the

school of their choice, and the

grant money is essentially doubled

as the school matches the church’s

gift. We are currently supporting

four students with these grants and

more are expected next fall.

We would like to continue this

program, but the Lyndon Fund is

in need of more funds. If you

would be interested and able to

contribute to this fund, contribu-

tions may be made in any amount,

by anyone, and at any time through

the year. The Foundation Scholar-

ship Committee determines how

grants are awarded. Gifts or me-

morials may be sent to the church

office or placed in the offering,

with a notation designating it for

the Lyndon Scholarship Fund.

Thank You!

SPECIAL MUSICAL PROGRAM Although the resurrection is the focal point of our faith, it was-

n’t the end of our story. After the resurrection, Jesus gathered

his disciples together before He ascended into heaven and told

them to go into all the world and share His message.

On Sunday, April 29 we will celebrate that mandate and re-

commit ourselves to the glorious task of partnering with God

to bring His message of hope to a lost and hurting world. This

dynamic musical will be presented by choir, orchestra, and

soloists and will feature some video footage of ways that our

congregation has and continues to touch the world around us

with His love. We are still looking for photos, and video clips

of mission trips and outreach events. If you have some we

could use, please contact Pastor Steve at stevecam-

pagna@goshenfirstumc.org

Don’t miss this powerful worship experience – Sunday, April

29 at 9:00 a.m. at the Downtown Campus.

OPEN GYM Beginning on April 2nd, the

church will be offering open gym

basketball at the Life Center. If

you are at least 16 years old,

please join us for fun and fellow-

ship with others from the church

and community. Please invite

your friends. The schedule will

be every Monday evening from

7:00-9:00 p.m. and every Tues-

day from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

We will begin our time with

prayer and follow that with two

hours of basketball. You may

come and go as you please.

Hope to see you there!

C O N G R A T U L A -

TIONS, MATT!

Matt Smith, husband of Bobbi

Smith and son of Tom & Pam

Smith, enlisted in the U.S. Army

National Guard on September 15,

2011. On October 31, 2011, he

left for Fort Leonard Wood, Mis-

souri, to complete his Basic Com-

bat Training and Advanced Indi-

vidual Training. He graduated

from all of his training on March

23, 2012, and is now residing back

home in Goshen, where he will

continue with his civilian job at

R.S. Pest. His active duty training

with the National Guard will con-

tinue to take place one weekend

each month, as well as two weeks

throughout the year, with his unit

stationed in Ft. Wayne.

WELCOME—NEW MEMBERS We want to welcome the following people who will be received into membership on Easter Sunday.

Jeff and Barb Battles

Jeff and Barb Battles live at 66423 Prairie View Drive in Goshen. Jeff works at Goshen Plumbing and Heating and Barb

works at GDC, Inc. They have three grown children: Josh & Rachel Battles, Midwest City, Oklahoma, Nick Battles in

Goshen, and Cameron and Kara (Battles) Yoder and granddaughter, Quinn, in Goshen. Regarding hobbies, Jeff enjoys

fishing, bowling, and camping, and Barb enjoys baking, crocheting, and reading.

Aimee Brinson

Aimee Brinson and her husband, Tony, live at 1817 Amberwood Drive in Goshen. They have five children: Tyler, Payton,

A.J., Olivia, and Karlee. For hobbies, Aimee enjoys kids, singing, and leading fitness classes here at the church. Aimee is

Co-Director of Children’s Ministries here at the church, and Tony and Aimee help out with the youth group and leading

worship at the Life Center.

P.K. Carvajal

P.K. Carvajal lives at 913 S. 15th Street in Goshen. She has four sons: Anthony Gay in Florida, Adrian & Stephanie Gay in

Goshen, Adam Gay & Misty Rink in Goshen, and Joe Oliver in Goshen. She has one granddaughter, Ashlyn Gay in Ala-

bama, and another granddaughter is due in June. P.K. enjoys traveling, walking, gardening, photography, scrapbooking,

and going on mission trips.

Darren & Michelle Griffith

Darren and Michelle Griffith live at 305 Alexis Drive in Milford. They have a two-year old daughter, Vienna. Darren

works at Lakeside Chevrolet, and Michelle is an elementary schoolteacher at West Noble School in Ligonier. Darren’s

hobbies include cars, traveling, and working outdoors in the summertime. Michelle enjoys coaching softball, traveling, and

spending time with family.

Melody Hartman

Melody Hartman lives at 19208 Tarman Road in New Paris, and she has a daughter, Jessica. She works at KMC Controls.

Melody is a motorcycle enthusiast, and she also enjoys puzzles, reading, and fishing.

Eric & Hilda Johnson

Eric and Hilda Johnson live at 18122 Hedgewood Drive in Goshen. They have three adult children: William Ragsdale who

attends here, Melissa who lives in Elkhart, and Michael who lives in Indianapolis. Eric and Hilda have their own busi-

ness—Johnson’s Lawn Maintenance, which includes lawn mowing and landscaping. Eric’s hobbies include fishing and

hunting, and Hilda enjoys reading and painting.

William Ragsdale

William Ragsdale lives at 16389 County Road 40 in Goshen. He has three children: Ashley, Jessica, and Nick. He works

at KMC Controls. William is a motorcycle enthusiast, and he also enjoys raising chickens, and fishing.

Shirley Showalter

Shirley Showalter lives at 1410 Winsted Drive in Goshen. Shirley has one son and three daughters: Jeff & Paula Showalter

who attend here, Pamela & Lee Barker from Elkhart, Patricia Kaska from Mishawaka, and Paula Stanage from Elkhart.

Shirley has five grandsons: Cory Showalter, Timothy Showalter, Broc Stanage, Jon Showalter, and Tyler Stanage, and three

great-grandchildren: Eli, Evan, and Bryn Showalter. For hobbies, Shirley enjoys playing bridge, cooking, reading, and en-

tertaining.

Lawrence (Larry) & Julie Springer

Larry and Julie Springer live at 424 East Jefferson Street, Apt. 5, in Goshen. They have three children: Marlanna, Marc,

and Garrette. Marc is a senior at Goshen High School and Garrette attends the Goshen Middle School. Larry is a student at

Ivy Tech in South Bend, and Julie works at Foamcraft in Goshen. For hobbies, Larry enjoys fishing, church activities, and

spending time with family. Julie enjoys art, singing, and crafts.

Jeffrey Yoder

Jeff Yoder lives at 18889 East Fourth Street in New Paris. He works at Trans-Art Manufacturing Company in the Automo-

tive Air Conditioning department. His hobbies include fishing, race, baseball, and football.

Ixiamas, Bolivia: An update from Mateo and Rachel Parsons Tenorio

Greetings from Bolivia! Thanks so much for your support and prayers for our project in Ixiamas, Bolivia. We

are going through some more changes this year, but are encouraged and always seeking God’s will.

It is rice harvest time again! Farmers spend most of their days from mid-February to April in their fields picking

rice by hand. From experience I have learned that it is a long and arduous process; it is a lot of work just to get

one plate of rice! We usually plant 3-4 acres of rice which goes towards the self sustainability part of our project.

RACHEL PICKING RICE

Once the rice harvest is done, most farm-

ers take a little break from their fields and

come to live in town looking for random

jobs. Starting in May, we hope to take

advantage of their spare time to offer them

educational opportunities in sustainable

agriculture. We are coordinating with a

Bolivian university (Universidad Mayor

San Andres) to offer short term trainings

to the local farmers on such topics as: low

cost irrigation systems, control of leaf cut-

ter ants, soil fertility, proper use of pesti-

cides, controlled burning and raising

chickens and pigs.

JESUS MASHING UP HOT PEPPERS TO MAKE AN

ORGANIC INSECTICIDE

(over)

The social status of Ixiamas is rapidly changing. There is now night school for adults to get their high school de-

grees, and more and more people are interested in advanced studies. A few graduates each year have enough

money to go study in La Paz, but the majority of these few students soon come back to Ixiamas without finishing

their studies. They are either too lonely in a big, cold city that they are not used to; or they run out of money. It’s

just a real challenge for anyone to get any advanced degrees and thus improve their lives and chances of getting a

good job.

In one of our recent meetings with the townsfolk, we saw that apart from agriculture and veterinarian, many

young women want to study to be secretaries. There is a need for good secretaries in Ixiamas, and this education

will give these ladies a great advantage in getting a job. We are coordinating with a well known technical school

in La Paz to give secretarial classes (and in the future others) in Ixiamas. We are also helping the ladies with

their cooking classes; Rachel has taught the baking portion since 2010.

Apart from our work with the adults, we also are starting Saturday afternoon activities with children following

the Spanish version of “AWANA”. We hope to bring spiritual development to the children of Ixiamas and help

them learn the basics of Christianity. This program will also include crafts and other activities that will bring a

positive diversion to their lives.

Please keep us in your prayers as we coordinate with the people of Ixiamas and the university and technical

school to offer training courses this year. This is a new project for us; we have many expectations but also many

unknowns. We hope to start a scholarship program for the training courses, and also the children in the AWANA

program. Please stay attentive to see how you can help and connect with the people we are serving in Ixiamas.

As always, we strive to serve the Lord the best we can, but there are often many unexpected obstacles here in Bo-

livia. I have learned a lot this past year and to just “let go and let God”. A great lesson for anyone! Your prayers

are greatly appreciated. Keep it up! -Mateo & Rachel Parsons Tenorio

DELFINE PRESENTING HER FINAL PROJECT,

CHICKEN “FRICASE”

MATEO LEADING ACTIVITIES WITH SOME CHILDREN

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

THANK YOU!!

“You’re so good at making people

feel better—you know just what to

say and how to say it. Thank you

for your thoughts and prayers. The

Lord bless and keep you (Num

6:24).” -David & Kim Stark

“A big thanks to Harvey Hansen

for the great TGIW meals he deliv-

ered while my Harv was at the Ma-

ples. Also, thanks for such an en-

joyable visit with Harv at the hos-

pital from Pastor Ed.”

-Bonnie Elder

COMMUNION Pastors Ed and Brenda and Pam

Kling will be serving communion

at the following places:

Tuesday, April 3, at 1:30 p.m., at

Waterford Crossing.

Monday, April 9, at 1:30 p.m. at

Evergreen Place.

Monday, April 9, at 3:00 p.m. at

Greencroft Healthcare.

If anyone desires to have com-

munion brought to your home,

please call the church office, 533-

9518, and we will schedule a

time.

CALLING ARTISTS! All you artists out there--this is

your time to shine! Coming soon

to services, we will be doing a se-

ries called, “The Art of Living for

Christ.” During this series, we are

in need of all the artists out there to

show us what they can do! What

type of art, you may ask? Folk art,

visual arts, crafts, performing arts,

pottery, culinary arts, painting,

YOU NAME IT! We would love

to have examples of your artwork

to display at both campuses

throughout this series, as well as

have people who are interested in

potentially helping DURING ser-

vices! Interested or have a special

art to share? Contact Steve Cam-

pagna through e-mail at stevecam-

pagna@goshenfirstumc.org. Thank you so much for all that you

do!

April 1

Marcia Parsons

Pat Robbins

April 2

Nancy Lantz

Shelley Tucker

Jeremy Stutsman

Hayden Bailey

April 3

Dale Showalter

Sara Showalter

April 4

Eric Brown

P.K. Carvajal

April 6

Laura Miller

David Hodges

Nell Hoogenboom

April 7

Sharon Anglemyer

April 8

Wesley Meier

Mackenzie Kyle

John Cornell

April 9

Tony Krebs

Jeanette Salisbury

Tom Snobarger

April 10

Katheryn Giddens

Michael Cork

Stephen Skelton

Rebecka Franklin

April 11

Patricia McKinney

April 12

Kris Kaericher

Al Lane

April 14

Thomas Perrin

Beatrice Briggs

Gage Wiles

April 15

Barb Allyn

Kenda Shorthouse

Marilyn Wallace

Brock Blankenbaker

Zoey Williams

April 16

Marjorie Zollinger

Joni Miller

April 17

Melissa Fowler

Kim Sheets

April 18

Tim Yoder

Morgan Fetters

April 20

Randy Fackelman

Cassidy Trammell

April 21

Diane Bachman

Nolan Miller

April 22

Brodie Bender

Lisa Giddens

April 23

Ruth Fry

April 24

Darlene Dechant

Rick Crowder

Lauren Altenhof

April 25

Kim Karnes

HAPPY APRIL BIRTHDAYS!

April 26

Rosalie Rock

Jim Yoder

April 27

Gordon Moore

Drew Elliott

Meghan Rheinheimer

Steve Campagna

Paul Goven

April 28

Lexus Tucker

April 29

Kim Stark

David Hart, Sr.

April 30

Bonnie Nicolai

Andrew Ketcham

Andra Goven

BIBLE HUMOR

What kind of man was Boaz before

he married Ruth? Ruthless.

What do they call pastors in Ger-

many? German Shepherds.

Who was the greatest financier in

the Bible? Noah. He was floating

his stock while everyone else was

in liquidation.

Which Bible character had no par-

ents? Joshua, son of Nun.