Anabaptist Community Bibles

The newly-published Anabaptist Community Bibles have arrived! All who signed up to receive one last fall, please see that you receive a Bible following worship this week or next. We will have people distributing them by the list, one per family. They are yours to keep in your home and use often, especially this year. Look for further direction in the coming weeks for a reading plan, as we hope to read the entire New Testament together as a church this winter-spring season. 

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Sunday, January 5

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service with Bread & Cup Communion – Sanctuary

Monday, January 6

10:30 am  York Literacy – Anna Mow Room

6:45 pm  Worship Ministry Team – Anna Mow Room

Tuesday, January 7

4:00 pm  Food Pantry Open 4:00 to 5:30 pm

Wednesday, January 8

10:30 am  York Literacy – Anna Mow Room

Thursday, January 9

10:00 am  Finance Ministry Team – Multi-Purpose Room

6:00 pm  Chancel Choir Rehearsal – Sanctuary

Friday, January 10

8:30 am  Soup Kitchen – (Casseroles due at church by 8:30)

Saturday, January 11

10:00 am  Food Pantry Open 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

2:00 pm  Remembrance Gathering for Darrell Gipe – Gathering Area

Sunday, January 12

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service with Leadership Consecration – Sanctuary

Click on this button to view the full calendar

Additions and updates for prayer list or calendar of events are welcome by contacting the church office.

Special note for all Ministry Teams: Please notify the church office with any upcoming meetings or events for your team so we can add these dates to the calendar.

In addition to this prayer request list contained within each Friday's e-newsletter, we also have a "prayer chain" email list. We occasionally send immediate prayer requests to those who have opted in to receive the prayer chain and are committed to praying for each concern as they come. If you would like to be added to the prayer chain list, please notify the church office by email at secretary@yorkfirst.org or by phone (717) 755-0307. If you have a prayer request and desire it to be sent to this group, feel free to contact the church office anytime. Thank you!

Sunday School News

Children's Sunday School Classes

9:00 AM in Rooms 151, 152, and 153. Children grades PreK (age 4) and up will have class lessons. Children ages 3-4 and younger are welcome to attend nursery care.

Youth Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 155. Teacher Dave Witkovsky. This class is for youth in grades 7-12.

The class is studying a series on Women of the Bible.

Vine and Branches Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. Teacher Joel Gibbel. The class is following the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum, this season's series entitled "A King Forever and Ever."

Lamplighters Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. Teachers Pat Carey and Deb Klinedinst. This Sunday, we will continue an Advent curriculum "Down to Earth" by Mike Slaughter.



Homebuilders Class

Mondays - 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM by conference call. To join, contact Mike Martin at

717-840-4184 or Caretaker@TwinBrookFarm.com and leave a phone number. The class studies lessons from the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum.  

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

January 5 - Epiphany Sunday, Bread and Cup Communion

January 11 - Youth Retreat, Lancaster COB

January 11 - Memorial Gathering for Darrell Gipe, 2pm

January 12 - Leadership Consecration Sunday

January 24 - 26 - Camp Eder Winter Camp 2025

OUR DAILY BREAD/SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, January 11, 2025

Sign up by calling Sandi Bowser at 717-825-7203 to make a casserole for Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen on Friday, January 11, 2025 (10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)

PLEASE contact Sandi to add your name and number of casseroles, so we can let

Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen know how many casseroles to expect.

The pans are located in the church lounge. Thank you! 

Winter Camp

2025

January 24th-26th

For Grades 1-12 &

Shining Stars Campers

Pack your snow suit and strap your sled to the car because winter camp 2025 is right around the corner.

Register for a weekend

full of great food, camp games, new and old

friends, and a closer relationship with God. 



To register go to: www.campeder.org/winter-camp

Denominational news and information is always available by visiting brethren.org

Read news updates by clicking the link below

You may also subscribe to receive Newsline via email if you wish

Online Giving is safe, easy, and convenient. Sign up by going to our church website at: www.yorkfirst.org and click on the Online Giving Link or go directly to the Online Giving website at: http://www.osvhub.com/york-first/funds.

For assistance setting up your account,

call Donor Support at:  800-348-2886 – Option 2 – Online Giving Questions? Contact Sheryl Leaman - Thank you for your support!

NOTE: Online giving can be used for regular weekly or monthly offerings, special offerings, and capital campaign contributions, as well as many other specific outreach ministries that we sponsor.

2025 OFFERING ENVELOPES

 Are available for pickup on the counter in the gathering area.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

1. Some envelope numbers have changed for 2025.

2. If you are using Online Giving, your envelope number is in the 200 range, and you will not receive a box of envelopes. See the listing located with the boxes of envelopes.

3. TO ASSURE CORRECT RECORDING OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS:

DO NOT use your old (2024) envelopes after DECEMBER 31, 2024.

DO NOT use your new (2025) envelopes before JANUARY 1, 2025.

4. If you would like to receive envelopes, please inform the church secretary and she will see that they are provided. Thank you!

Gathering Area Quilt

Every month the quilt in the gathering area is changed to another beautiful quilt. The January quilt is named "Amaryllis". These quilts are made by Sid Innerst.



Sid is a very talented quilter and we want to thank her for sharing her beautiful work. As you are walking through the gathering area, please take a moment to enjoy the beauty and details of these quilts. 

Dear Church Members,

We are in need of Volunteers, who are willing to prepare baked spaghetti casseroles for the soup kitchen in York city. Presently, we have some very generous people who prepare 1, 2, or 3 casseroles once a month. I, for example, prepare 2 casseroles each month. You know if I can do it, it’s not that difficult. The recipe is easy, and the foil baking pans are provided for you, the schedule is not difficult. Contact Sandra Bowser for more details, and scheduling (contact information below). It is a very rewarding experience. I have to say that 95% of the people are very appreciative.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could volunteer your time.

Thank you. Contact information: Sandra Bowser 717-825-7203

Beginning in January 2025, Patricia Carey will be the Witness Team appointment for the Cash for Causes program. Please see Patricia before or after worship to purchase your Giant or Weis gift cards.

Since 2011 our Witness Team has sponsored the Cash for Causes program by selling Giant & Weis gift cards. The church receives 5% of sales to support various ministries. For 2024 the gift card sales will support The Lehman Center (Children’s Aid Society), New Community Project, and Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry. You may purchase the cards in amounts of $100, $50, $25, or $10. The cards make great gifts, especially at holidays. Consider donating cards to the Food Pantry or using them yourself any time you shop at Giant or Weis.

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP

If you need to reach the pastor outside of office hours, his mobile number is

(717) 271-4888. You can also email him at pastor@yorkfirst.org. Note that laws prevent hospitals from contacting a pastor without your permission when you are admitted, so you will need to contact the church if you desire a visit or to request prayer.