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Faith Markers - Sunday, September 13th 

Faith Markers will be presented to our Kindergarten, 3rd, 5th, and 9th grade students during worship on Sunday, September 13. We look forward to celebrating these milestones of growth in faith of our children. 

Remembering 9/11: Christ Is Our Peace

Today marks 25 years since the terrorist attacks in 2001. A statement from Church of the Brethren leadership reflecting on the tragedy that occurred and the suffering and fear that followed is below. Please take a moment to read it and reflect prayerfully on our calling to be a living peace church whose highest loyalty is to the way of Christ Jesus.   

YES! A Concert for the Called - September 12, 2026 • 7:00 PM

York First Church of the Brethren Sanctuary

What happens when God calls someone into ministry and they say YES!?

On Saturday, September 12, at 7:00 PM, join us in the sanctuary of York First Church of the Brethren for YES! A Concert for the Called, an evening of music, fellowship, and celebration featuring Rebecca Wolf (current Bethany Seminary student, Student Minister and Music Director at York First, Licensed Minister) and friends.

This special concert will also launch and support the Calling Scholarship Fund, a new fund created to help current and future students from our church who feel called to set-apart ministry.

We believe that when God calls someone, financial stress should not have to stand in the way of answering that call. Furthering our education and preparing for ministry can come with many expenses, including tuition, books, supplies, travel, and other educational needs.

The Calling Scholarship Fund will provide financial assistance to ease some of those burdens and encourage those taking the next step in their ministry journey.

This evening is about more than raising money. It is about investing in people, nurturing God's call, and saying YES to the future of ministry.

Come enjoy an evening of music featuring friends from the world of theater and beyond, and help us celebrate all those who have heard God's call and are courageous enough to say, "YES!"



We hope to see you there!

For questions or more information, please contact Rebecca at musicdirector@yorkfirst.org

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Saturday, September 12

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

7:00 pm YES! Concert - Rebecca Wolf – Sanctuary

Sunday, September 13

9:00 am  Sunday School

        10:30 am Worship Service – Sanctuary

Faith Markers, Education Sunday

12:00 pm  Deacon Meeting – Anna Mow Room

Tuesday, September 15

10:00 am  Staff Meeting – Multi-Purpose Room

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

Sunday, September 20

9:00 am   Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

The November Congregational Forum date has been changed

from November 1st to November 15th

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.

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. Youth in grades 6-12 are welcome.

Vine & Branches Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. Teacher Pastor Joel.

We continue new curriculum, "Salt & Light: A Guide for Biblical Studies," in the series called "The Soul of the Nation." Lessons from Joshua, Judges, and Samuel will lead us unto discussions of faithful living, leadership, and relationships.



Lamplighters Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. Teacher - Patricia Carey

Bible Study: "Sabbath God's Call to Peace" Lesson #8: "Sabbath as Justice and Peace"

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 September 12: YES! Benefit Concert for Rebecca Wolf

September 18-19: Southern PA District Conference, Chambersburg CoB

Saturday September 19: PeaceFest Lititz CoB

Sunday September 20: Dunker Church Service at Antietam

September 25-26: Brethren Disaster Relief Auction, Lebanon Expo

Sunday October 4: Love Feast

56th Annual Dunker Church Service at the

Antietam National Battlefield - September 20, 2026

On Sunday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m. (Eastern time), the 56th Annual Dunker Church Service will be held at the historic Dunker Church on the Antietam National Battlefield in MD—one of the most hallowed and iconic landscapes of the American Civil War.

Set against the backdrop of the bloodiest single day in US history, this annual gathering offers a striking and hopeful counter-witness: a testimony to peace, reconciliation, and the enduring call to shalom.

The Annual Dunker Church Service is sponsored by the Church of the Brethren’s Mid-Atlantic District. The service is free and open to the public. The service will include a welcome, call to worship, a capella congregational hymns, scripture readings, special music, prayers, and a featured message from Denise Kettering-Lane, associate professor of Brethren Studies and director of the Master of Arts Program at Bethany Theological Seminary. 

York First COB will be sponsoring a trip to the event, providing transportation. Those interested in attending are asked to bring a bag lunch to church on Sunday, Sept. 20 and following worship we will gather to eat together and then leave directly from the church for the event by 12:30 pm - it is a 2 hour trip. We are planning on carpooling unless we have enough to take our church shuttle. 

If you want to attend, please register no later than Wednesday, September 16 on the signup sheet in the Gathering Space or contact the church office. Please indicate on the sheet if you are willing to drive. We hope you will consider joining us for this annual pilgrimage honoring our peace heritage in the midst of the Civil War.



Please contact Dave or Kim Witkovsky with any questions at 814-599-4734 or

814-599-7055. We would love to have you join us! 

LOVE FEAST PREPARATION

The Deacons are continuing with your involvement in Love Feast on October 4th. We would like to offer a variety of soup and bread. We are inviting the congregation to participate.

There will be a sign-up sheet in the gathering area until September 13^th. Any questions contact Jeff Miller

Camp Eder Needs You - 48th Annual Fall Fest

When: Saturday, October 17, 2026    10AM - 4PM

Where: Camp Eder (914 Mount Hope Rd Fairfield, PA 17320)

Silent Auctions: 10:00 - 10:45a & 11:00 - 11:45a --- Live Auction: 12:00 noon

Turkey & Pork Lunch: 11:00a - 3:00p Food Court: 10:00a - 3:30p

Our 48^th Annual Fall Fest is camp’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The proceeds go to our camp’s monthly expenses, summer camps, programs throughout the year and most importantly camp scholarships (for those children whose families cannot afford to send them to camp to hear God’s word.)

Fall Fest is quickly approaching and we need your help to make it a success. Your attendance and donations to the auction are two of the best ways to help raise $$ for camp. We will again we accepting donations for gently used or new items as well as basket donations to be sold at the silent and/or live auction, (click on the button below

for a basket suggestion list with ideas.) Note: Please do not include any tobacco or alcoholic products in teh basket(s). If you are a designer of furniture, art work, quilts, wood products, etc., or know someone that is, please consider donating one of your creations. Please drop off all donations at Camp Eder before Thursday, October 15^th.   

If you need to have any items picked up, please call me.

Thank you for your support, Deona Schmittel (717) 451-3797



All of this information will be posted on the bulletin board.

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

Children's Aid Society, Inc. - Notice of Annual Meeting

September 18, 2026

Please click on button to view the notice.

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.

Facility Care Team Announcement:

The Facilities Care Team wishes to share that our custodian for the past several years, Debbie Lewis, has recently resigned. We are grateful for her years of service to York 1st COB. And we are excited to announce that Michelle Sauder has been hired to perform our custodial duties moving forward. We are looking forward to Ernie and Michelle caring for our facility as Facility Director and Custodian, dividing the responsibilities as works best for them each week. We are grateful for this new team and what they will bring.

The Facility Care Team is looking for a used electric typewriter for use in the church office. If you have a typewriter you would like to donate, please contact Dave Witkovsky.

Thank you!

The Upper Room Devotional Guide continues to be provided free of charge to our congregation, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. But due to changes in the distribution process with the publisher, we are no longer able to have it mailed to individual households. It is available in large and regular print and can be picked up at the church in the Gathering Space Resource area. If you are interested in receiving a copy but are not able to come to the church, please contact your deacon or the church office and we will see that you receive one. Blessings in your daily walk with God! 

Thank you to everybody for the cards, phone calls, texts and

concern for me as I am recuperating. A special thanks to

Kim Witkovsky for her help and visits to me and also thanks

for a visit from Pastor Joel. ~ Jolene Zeigler

Directory Changes:

P. 19 - Added to College Students:

Benjamin Miller, 408 Lancaster Drive, Ste 2726, Shippensburg, PA 17257

Gathering Area Quilt

 

Every month the quilt in the gathering area is changed to another beautiful quilt. The September quilt is named "Simply Imagine".

These quilts are made by Sid Innerst. Sid is a very talented quilter and we want to thank her for sharing her beautiful work.



In September, we are grateful for the care and creativity that

Jayne Baldwin has shared and displayed on the colorful Gathering Space bulletin board and in the beautiful fall arrangement which warmly welcomes us into the main entrance of our church home. Thank you, Jayne, for sharing your artistic gifts and talents with us in so many ways!  

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

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP