CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Saturday, June 14

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

6:00 pm  Outdoor Hymn Sing & Strawberry Festival – Back Courtyard/Gathering Space

Sunday, June 15

9:00 am  Sunday School

9:00 am  Fellowship & Hospitality Ministry Team – Multi-Purpose Room

10:30 am Worship Service – Sanctuary, Ali Toms preaching

11:45 am  Lemonade on the Lawn after Worship

Tuesday, June 17

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

6:00 pm   CDC Ministry Team – Anna Mow Room

Wednesday, June 18

9:30 am  Staff Meeting – Multi-Purpose Room

6:00 pm  Game Night – Gathering Space

Sunday, June 22

9:00 am   Sunday School

10:30 am   Worship Service – Sanctuary, Christy Waltersdorff preaching

6:00 pm   VBS – Sanct., FH, SS Classrooms

Summer Fun Events at York First COB!

This summer the Worship and the Fellowship and Hospitality Teams are once again “teaming up” to sponsor some fun events to help us stay connected and throughout the summer months and to build relationships as we enjoy each other’s company! Below is what the month of June looks like going forward:

Saturday, June 14 6-8 p.m. Outdoor Hymn Sing and Strawberry Festival – Back by popular demand! Come join us to sing your favorite hymns in the back courtyard followed by some sweet treats in the Gathering Space – no cost and all are welcome!

Sunday, June 15 Father’s Day – Lemonade on the Lawn after Worship  

Wednesday, June 18 6-8 p.m. Game Night in the Gathering Space – Bring your favorite game(s) and favorite snack (s) to share and join us for a fun evening! Casual atmosphere for all ages – indoor and outdoor activities!

Sunday, June 22 – Thursday, June 26 6-8 p.m. Vacation Bible School (VBS) – For children ages 4 through 5^th grade; families, church members and friends are invited to the closing program Thursday evening; more info to come from the Education Team

Wednesday, June 25 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Lunch Bunch at East York Isaacs – Come join with others from York First COB for an informal time of lunch and fellowship together; no reservation needed, just show up if you want to eat and enjoy each other’s company! Each person is responsible for their own meal payment. Please join us! 

Click on this button to view the full calendar

Contacting the Interim Ministries Coordinator

Pastor Joel is observing sabbatical leave from May 24 until August 23 this summer. Our church will continue strongly in ministry during this time!

Kim Witkovsky is serving as the Interim Ministries Coordinator during his absence.

Her hours will be posted in the newsletter and bulletin weekly. If you need to reach her outside of office hours, she may be reached at (814) 599-7055 or witkovskyks@gmail.com

Weekly office hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 8:30-10:30am, Wed. 11:30am-1:30pm

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.

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 Classes

9:00 AM in Room 155. Teacher Dave Witkovsky. Youth grades 7-12 are welcome.

Vine & Branches Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. The class will be studying the "Wired Word" - a news curriculum that guides us with scripture, prayer and news information and how our faith calls us to respond in the Way of Jesus the Christ.

Lamplighters Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. We are continuing the study by Adam Hamilton

entitled "Half Truths" "Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin" Teacher: Melanie Miller 

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 Events

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:

Saturday, June 14 - Outdoor Hymn Sing and Strawberry Festival 6-8 pm

Sunday, June 15 - Father’s Day - Lemonade on the Lawn after Worship 

Wednesday, June 18 - Game Night in the Gathering Space 6-8 pm

Sunday, June 22 – Thursday, June 26 - Vacation Bible School (VBS) 6-8 pm

Wednesday, June 25 - Lunch Bunch at East York Isaacs 11:30 am–1 pm

Ken is a gifted musician who creates an experience that is not only interactive but truly unique. His heart is full for music, connection, and relationships. Sponsored by James & Elaine Gibbel, David & Pam Reist, Susanne Schaudel and Anonymous. Ken has performed at many Church of the Brethren events, like Annual Conference, NOAC and National Youth Conference. 

Ken Medema Concert on Sunday, June 29^th at 7pm in Mt. Gretna.

Lamplighters is organizing a group to attend this free concert.

We will be leaving from here at church at 5:15pm.

There is a sign up sheet in the Gathering Place.

The church van holds 14 passengers + the driver (1^st come, 1^st served).

The remainder will carpool. The concert is free with a good-will offering being collected.

Contact Ralph Miller or Beth Anne Bahn with any questions. 

Church of the Brethren News

Southern PA District/Denomination

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

Read news updates by clicking the link below

Please subscribe to receive COB Newsline via email if you wish

Camp Counselors Needed!

Camp Eder is looking for male and female camp counselors for summer camp this year. 

Hours will be Sunday, 2 PM until Friday morning. 

The dates of camp are June 15-20, June 22-27, July 6-11, July 13-18, and July 20-25. 

For further information please reach out to Jonathan Bream, jbream@campeder.org or

call 717-642-8256.

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.

York First Church of the Brethren

Worship Ministry Team

Church of the Brethren Bulletins

This summer we will be celebrating in worship in new and creative ways with many new faces and lots of great music! Another way we are “treating “ourselves is by using the denomination’s pre-printed bulletins which feature beautiful photography, a scripture focus and often a worship resource written by a familiar name. In fact, Pastor Joel was asked to contribute a meditation for the May 25, 2025 back of the bulletin!

You may sponsor these bulletins (to help defray the cost of the bulletins themselves and the printing) at $25 a Sunday. You can sign up on the bulletin chart and let Karen Bowman, Church Administrative Asst., what dedication message you would like printed in the bulletin for that week, followed by a check, cash or online donation of $25 for that Sunday’s bulletins. Some ideas for dedications are birthday, anniversaries, special holidays, remembrances, graduation, family milestones, etc.

Please feel free to do the same as you choose to dedicate flowers (non-fragrance only due to allergies) by signing up on the Flowers Calendar and either purchasing flowers on your own (Weis, Giant, or any local vendor) or you can place an order through a florist – we have used Lincoln Florist in the past and also Royer as far as recommendations. Then you are responsible for delivering them no later than Sunday morning and making sure Karen Bowman has your message of dedication for the bulletin.

We hope you consider this creative and fun way to celebrate and remember each other while you adorn the sanctuary or provide a beautiful bulletin that enhances our worship experience! Please contact Kim Witkovsky, Worship Ministry Team Chair, at

814-599-7055 or witkovskyks@gmail.com with questions or for more information.

Transportation Need

If you have a van or truck and would be willing to pick up or drop off donations of furniture or household items to be used for families who have been displaced to furnish their new apartment please let Diane Gibble know. The donated items are stored in Seven Valleys. We can use you even if you don't have a truck or van but would like to help move or transport small items like blankets and kitchen ware. This would be arranged around your schedule as needed. 

Items needed right now are twin beds and mattresses.  

Thank you for serving those less fortunate! Diane Gibble

New Building that will house the Lehman Center

The Werner Early Learning Childcare Center (WELCC) will provide child centered creative art, play and psychotherapies, a crisis respite nursery (one of three in the State of PA), a traditional day childcare, family advocacy, parent education and support groups, a 24-hour caregiver hotline, providing much needed assistance to families, while helping prevent child abuse and neglect. 

Additionally, it will permit Children’s Aid Society to expand its crisis nursery as well as provide third-shift and traditional childcare services to infants and young children. According to PA 211, Licensed third shift childcare is non-existent in York County. As a result of the pandemic, numerous traditional day childcare facilities have closed their doors permanently, and those remaining open are running at high capacities with long waiting list of over two years. 

The Werner Early Learning Childcare Center, 636 West Poplar Street, York, PA 17401

Phone: 717-845-5771, 24-Hour Hotline: 1-800-635-6619, Fax: 717-852-7605

Currently the Lehman center is serving clients at the old location until they are officially moved into the WELCC.

Lehman Center "Wish List"

Items for donation to the Lehman

Center are being collected in the

basket in the Gathering Area.

Due to changes in the food

pantry operations, these must be

collected separately from food

pantry supplies.

Here are some items that are needed at

Lehman Center:

Instant pudding (chocolate, banana)

Instant jello (orange, blue, green, grape, cherry)

Can fruit (pears, pineapples, fruit cocktail)

Applesauce (individual or jar)

Can vegetables (lima beans, peas, green beans)

Baby food - all stages

Baby snacks

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. Patricia will be at the table under the bulletin board in the

gathering area.

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.

Since 2011, through the Cash for Causes program, the church has received 5% of sales to support various COB and local ministries. In 2024 the gift card sales supported The Lehman Center, New Community Project and the Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry with each receiving $233.08.    

For 2025, the Witness Team will review past giving and determine which agencies we will support this year. 

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP