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SUNDAY SCHEDULE


SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:00 AM

Classes for All Ages


WORSHIP 10:30 AM

In the Sanctuary and Online



THIS SUNDAY IN WORSHIP

March 10, 2024


SCRIPTURE LESSON:

Matthew 6:5-15



MESSAGE:

“In Secret: Prayer”

Contents:



This Week


Prayer Requests

and Calendar


Sunday School News


Children's Ministry Schedule


Upcoming Events


COB News


Online Giving


Thank You


Last Week


Contacting the Pastor 

Happening This Week

"Pillars of Lent"

Prayer


This week in worship we will conclude a short series of messages exploring the three "Pillars of Lent" observed in many church traditions: almsgiving, fasting, and prayer. Come and explore with us what Jesus taught about how we are to pray, something to done in secret and not to be seen by others. We'll also look closely at the prayer Jesus taught us and the fact that we need not "heap up empty words" because God already knows what we need before we say it. Therefore, we are set free to pray with gratitude and authenticity, rather than with worry or hesitation.


This Sunday we will also welcome new members into our congregation, by reaffirmation of faith and by baptism. Please be sure to join us and celebrate with them their decisions and commitments to Christ.


**Please remember that Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend. Be careful you do not arrive an hour too late!**

Live Stream Worship

Our worship services are available via YouTube for those who wish to join that way. Click the link above shortly before the service begin to join in 10:30 AM on Sunday or anytime afterward. DVD copies of the services are also available.

Click here to view the bulletin for this Sunday

This Sunday's Bulletin

TIME CHANGE

Daylight Saving Time Starts

Sunday March 10, 2024

Turn clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night.

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES


Saturday, March 9

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

10:00 am   Facility Care Meeting – Rm 154

         

Sunday, March 10

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary - Receiving New Members

12:00 pm  Deacon's Meeting - Rm 154


Tuesday, March 12

9:30 am   Ladies Bible Study – Anna Mow Room

6:30 pm   Leadership Team – Room 154


Thursday, March 14

6:00 pm   Bell Choir Practice – Bell Choir Room

7:00 pm   Chancel Choir Practice – Anna Mow Room


Sunday, March 17

9:00 am   Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

Church Calendar


Click on this button to view the full calendar


Click for Friends to Remember in Prayer

Prayer Requests

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 155. Children grades PreK (age 4) and up will have class lessons, with singing included as well. Children ages 3-4 and younger are welcome to attend nursery care.

Youth Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 149. Teacher Justin Tomevi. This class is for youth in grades 7-12. Youth will be looking at the subject of restorative justice in class this week.

 

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 entitled "Examining Our Faith."

 

Lamplighters Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. Teacher Beth Anne Bahn. For the remainder of Lent, Lamplighters will be studying Max Lucado’s book, “And the Angels Were Silent.”

 

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.  

Children's Ministry Schedule
Upcoming Events

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER


Sunday, March 10 - Receiving New Members within Worship

Saturday, March 23 - 30 - Hour Famine Event - Youth Group

Wednesday, March 27 - Egg Hunt 5:30 PM

Thursday, March 28 - Love Feast 6:00 PM

Sunday, March 31 - Easter Sunday

Saturday, April 20 - 2024 District Women's Spring Luncheon






Click on this

button

to register.

Easter Egg Registration 

CAMP EDER Men's Outdoorsman Day

Saturday, April 6th

Devotional Theme: Meeting God in the Great Outdoors


This event is co-sponsored with the SOPA Nurture Commission

Join us for a day filled with adventure. We'll delve into the world of Clay Shooting and tranquility of fishing under the mentorship of Seth Brickner.

Please click on button for registration information.

Outdoorsman Day Flyer

YARD SALE ITEMS NEEDED!


HEAR YE! HEAR YE! Time is near,

Bring those treasures from far and near.

YARD SALE! YARD SALE! coming in June,

Join us, for it will be soon.

Items needed brought into the church,

That buyers have fun as they go on a search.

YARD SALE! YARD SALE! coming here,

SO, HELP US OUT for another year. 


We will start collecting items on April 8th. Please drop off after church on Sundays or before noon throughout the week. If you are unable to bring in items, we will pick up. NO CLOTHING, Computers/equipment or TV’s.

Call Kathy Kovacs with any questions 717-309-0678


CAMP EDER APRIL SENIOR DAY

Wednesday, April 10th





9:30 am - Check in/Breakfast

10:00 am - Elva Hurst will be presenting a live chalk talk her thems is "New Spring/Easter celebrating the splendor of spring and sharing the story of Easter in chalk, music and story with special blacklight effects.

12:00 pm - Lunch Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Rolls w/butter, salad, mix of Lemon and Chocolate Ship Cookies with Ice Cream

1:00 pm - Depart


RSVP by 4/3 (We will only be taking the first 100 registrations.)

Cost: $ 20. per person

RSVP by calling 717-642-8256


Camp Eder, 914 Mount Hope Road, Fairfield, PA 17320 www.campeder.org

2024 DISTRICT WOMEN'S SPRING LUNCHEON


Saturday, April 20, 2024, 9AM

West Shore Church of the Brethren, 6921 Wertzville Road, Enola, PA 17025


Guest speaker: Kirsten Harris Keys, Kirsten serves as the Public Relations Coordinator for the Harrisburg City School District, which serves more than 6,500 children and families. She attends the Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church of Harrisburg where she gladly serves God and others. Kirsten is Married to Pastor Thomas Keys. She is active in health and wellness ministry, community outreach, women's ministry initiatives, and the ministry of encouragement.


Click on button for brochure and registration

This information will also be posted on the bulletin board.

Brochure/Registration
Church of the Brethren Denominational News

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

Church of the Brethren News
Southern PA District Newsletter

District Wide Discernment Meeting

Sunday, March 10, 2024 @ 6:30PM

Carlisle First Church of the Brethren, 1340 Forge Road, Carlisle, PA 17013


Greetings to the churches of the Southern Pennsylvania District (SOPA). We want to inform you that the district board of SOPA has been working hard to discern the leadership and staffing needs of our District.

We would now like to give the opportunity to receive input from the folks in the pew in this process. To assist in this discernment process, we are having a district wide discernment meeting for our congregations.

We hope to see you and members of your congregation at this important meeting. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.  

Full Meeting Announcement

THE SPRING MEETING OF THE FRIENDS 

Saturday, March 23, 2024

9:00 AM- Lite-Fare Bagel Bar with Fresh Fruit

10:00 AM- Business Meeting, Nicarry Meetinghouse



Please RSVP by March 15th to Hospitality Chairman, Teresa Richards  at  717-624-6697

or email: trichards347@gmail.com

This is a member-only event, if you are not presently a member of The Friends please contact the Membership Chairman for a membership form.

Debra McBeth, 1754 Shoemaker Drive, New Oxford, PA 17350, Phone 978-979-2270

2024 MID-ATLANTIC DISTRICT VOLUNTEER MEAT CANNING SIGN-UP


For the 46th year, the Mid-Atlantic and SO PA Districts are co-sponsoring a Meat Canning project which previously has enjoyed a generous response and enthusiastic support. The project is scheduled for April 1 - 4, 2024 at the Christian Aid Ministries facility.


The 2024 Meat Canning goal is to can approximately 17,000 pounds of chicken in 4 days of processing. The Mid-Atlantic District and the SO PA District congregations are asking for congregations who are willing to prepare a meal for approximately 30 people for lunch with a light snack.



Please see the sign-up sheets on the counter in the gathering area and on the bulletin board. The deadline to sign up is March 25th. If you have any questions, please contact John Anderson.

UPPER ROOM ISSUES:


We are experiencing issues with the Upper Room devotionals.  They delivered a few to the church; however, the members didn't get them delivered to their homes.

Please know we are working with the company to resolve this issue. ~Diane Gibble

Did you wear the wrong tan raincoat home from church on Sunday February 25?

Are you missing your tan Misty Harbor raincoat?


If your answer is “YES” please bring the raincoat back and exchange it for your

Misty Harbor raincoat which is hanging in the narthex coat rack.

Thank you. Your Misty Harbor raincoat is a little snug on me.

Roy Rollman

TRANSPORTATION NEEDS


At the last Deacon’s meeting the Deacons signed up to help with transportation for those in the congregation that would need a ride for any reason. It was suggested at that time that we should offer this option to the whole congregation who might want to help in this outreach.


Please sign the sheet in the gathering area as you are inclined to help in this ministry. Thanks!

Greetings from Sandi Bowser, chair-person of the dedicated members and friends who monthly prepare spaghetti casseroles for the Soup Kitchen also know as Our Daily Bread at 331 S. George St.


Lately some of these volunteers have had difficulty finding room for their casseroles in the freezer of the church kitchen.


After a little investigating, we have discovered that the majority of items taking up space in the freezer were leftovers from various church events, probably forgotten.

I will be reserving the top shelf and half of the second shelf of the freezer for the 10 to 16 casseroles our committee members prepare.


On the Sunday before the second Friday of each month, I move the casseroles from the freezer to the refrigerator in the church kitchen to thaw.



On the second Friday the thawed casseroles are delivered to Our Daily Bread where 3 volunteers and I serve the people who come.

Thank you for reading this. Sandi

Online Giving

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.

Church Website
Online Giving

REMINDER - CAPITAL CAMPAIGN INFORMATION


Capital Fund forms that were mailed out in January are due back to the Church Office or in the Offering plate by March 15th. We encourage everyone to consider giving to the campaign as you are led and are able.


If you aren't able to give additional funds over your former pledge, then just sign the form stating your aren't able to do so at this time.



We would like to have all forms returned with a yes or no signed response. The response has been good to date but we haven't met our needed goal yet, which is to pay off our construction loan with no debt remaining.


Thanks to all who have returned their forms so far. Our "Catch the Spirit, Build for the Future" Campaign has been a tremendous blessing to our church, and we hope that its lasting impact will help to sustain our ministry for many years to come.

The 2024 Church Directory is available to be picked up in the

Gathering Area. All church members and friends, please take one.

YEAR-END GIVING STATEMENTS are available for pick-up in the gathering area (in envelopes). Please pick up your statement so that we do not need to mail them all. Thank you!

We collected 107 glasses for Katallasso Family Health Center so far.  

The box will be in the gathering space for the month of March if anyone has glasses they wish to donate.

Thank you so much to everyone who donated.


Thank you for prayers, cards, phone calls, and concerns.

We appreciate it so much! ~ Doris & Sheldon Markel




DIRECTORY CHANGE:


P. 19 - Sandy Yeager

New address is 3525 Canby St., Room 241, Harrisburg, PA 17109

Phone number remains the same (717) 818-0317


Her daughter said she would like phone calls, cards or notes, or even visits from time to time.

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.


If you’d like to support this program, please see Becky Wenger before/after worship service OR mail your check (paid to York First Church) to 3011 Bedford Pl, York, PA 17408 and your cards will be mailed to you.

Elizabethtown College’s Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies presents “Celebrating Eighty Years of Heifer International”

on Thurs., March 14, at 7 pm., in the college’s Susquehanna Room, Myer Hall.

William Kostlevy, coeditor of Hoosier Prophet: Selected Writings of Dan West, will describe Heifer’s origins and how a vision became a reality. Surita Sandosham, president and CEO of Heifer International, will then discuss Heifer’s current work and mission. A related seminar featuring Sandosham and others, “The Changing Landscape of Relief, Development, and Service,” will be held on Fri., March 15, 9:30 am to noon, in the Young Center’s Bucher Meetinghouse. Both events are free of charge. For more information, call 717-361-1470 or visit www.etown.edu/youngctr/events.

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP


March 3, 2024


SCRIPTURE LESSON:

Isaiah 58:1-9a, Matthew 6:16-18



MESSAGE:

“In Secret: Fasting”

CONTACTING THE PASTOR

Pastor Joel Gibbel can be reached in the church office most weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Some afternoons and evenings may be set aside for visiting those in need, for meetings, and for other pastoral duties. Pastor Joel is also available for pastoral counseling by appointment.

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.

Our Mission Statement:
“People dedicated to Spiritual Growth, Loving Relationship, and Sacrificial Service”
Our Vision Statement:
“To become a community of committed Christians who Love God, Share Christ, and Serve the World”