November is for Fighting Hunger at First Church!

Our church family is always generous in supporting our Food Pantry! Your donations are very much appreciated by the clients and volunteers. This ministry is now more important than ever. More and more members of our community are facing food insecurity with loss of assistance and increased prices for groceries. This month we want to make a special effort to help those who visit our Food Pantry. We are collecting Meals in a Bag and pantry items on the second, third and fourth Sundays of November. (Meals in a Bag are made up of economical ingredients for a meal to feed 4-6 people. The recipes do not require ingredients other than what are provided in the bag.). The recipes are available in the Gathering Space. 

November 23 

November 23 is the last Sunday of our Food Pantry focus since the 30^th will begin the Advent season. On the 23^rd we are hoping to collect pantry staples. Sugar, flour and cooking oil are always in demand. We also have a need for manual can openers since some of the clients are unhoused.  

From our recent Congregational Forum,

attached are Slate Ballot results

and the approved revisions to our Congregational Structure.

Please click on the button to view.

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Sunday, November 23

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

4:00 pm  Youth Group/Dodgeball – FH

Monday, November 24

9:00 am   Operating Manual Team – Multi-Purpose Room

5:30 pm  CDC Staff Meeting – Sanctuary

6:15 pm   Education Team – Anna Mow Room

Thursday, November 27

Thanksgiving Day - Church Office Closed

Saturday, November 29

9:00 am Advent Decorating - Gathering Area & Sanctuary

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

Sunday, November 30

9:00 am   Sunday School

10:30 am   Worship Service – Sanctuary

Please click on the button to view the Advent/Christmas Calendar of Events

Women's Bible Study will NOT be meeting on the following days:

Wed, November 26

Wed, December 24

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

*Junior High Youth Membership Class*

9:00 AM in the Multi-Purpose Room. Teacher Pastor Joel Gibbel. The class will be learning specifically about Jesus, Salvation, and the Holy Spirit this week in class.

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.

Senior High Youth Sunday School Class

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

Vine & Branches Class

The class will be joining with the Lamplighter's Class for the fall season. Please see below.

Lamplighters Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. Teacher Lyn Miller. The class is now studying

“12 Daring Women of the Bible," this week - Bent Woman

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. 

2025 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL

"Word Among Us" by John Fillmore

Advent devotional books are available for pick up in the gathering area. Please take one per household and let it guide you this Advent Season.



The season of Advent reminds us of God’s choice to enter into human experience in a physical way, by sending Jesus. Jesus has some borders to cross in order to “become flesh and live among us,” as John’s Gospel tells us. Because of the tangled mess we have created with our desire to fence off the world, Jesus must continually challenge and even cross our hurtful attempts to section off this from that, and us from them. Yet rightly ordered borders, laid gently by our Creator, can bring us life. Advent is an invitation to witness again the way Jesus navigates the landscape of our human division, tearing down the dividing walls and calling us back to a rightly ordered relationship with him.

Upcoming Events

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:

Sunday November 30 - First Sunday of Advent

Sunday December 7 - Advent Breakfast, Caroling

Sunday December 14 - Holiday Concert

Sunday December 21 - Christmas Cantata, Longest Night Service

Wednesday December 24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

ADVENT WILL BE HERE IN NO TIME AND THAT MEANS IT IS TIME FOR POINSETTIAS AGAIN!

This is the last Sunday to place your orders!

2025 Christmas Poinsettia Orders

6 1/2” pot (5+ blooms) - Cost per flower: $10.00

Deadline for Orders is November 23rd

We will begin taking orders for poinsettias this Sunday. You may purchase them “in honor, in memory, or in appreciation” of loved ones. Orders can be received in the offering plates during the worship or in the church office any time. Payment must accompany the order form (unless paying online).

Flowers will be displayed in the sanctuary on Sunday morning, Dec. 21 and during the Christmas Eve service on 12/24. Please pick up your flowers no later than the evening of 12/24 after worship. You may also take them before then if necessary or you can leave them for Sunday, Dec. 28 worship and then pick them up.

Thank you for your order which will contribute to the beauty of the sanctuary this Advent season! Blessings!

ADVENT BREAKFAST

Sunday, December 7th, 9:00 am

Please plan to attend the Advent Breakfast

December 8th at 9:00 AM Sunday school hour.

Our meal will be potluck style as in the past.

Lets all kick off the Christmas Season with fellowship and full bellies!

Sign-up sheets are available in the gathering area.

ADVENT SEASON CAROLING AND SOUP SUPPER

Sunday, December 7 - 3pm – 7pm

Back by popular demand (from so much fun and good food), we are again planning on caroling and sharing a meal together as we did last year! If you love to sing Christmas Carols and can never get enough of them, this is your chance! Or if you don’t sing but would love to ring some bells or play the tambourine or just want to come along for the fun of visiting others, you are welcome to join us! On Sunday, December 7 at 3 pm we will be caroling for our members and friends in the York area at private homes as well as care facilities. We invite folks of all ages to join us (we ask that children are accompanied by an adult) for a time of singing Christmas Carols and visiting with those who are homebound or unable to join us in person during our worship and church activities. We want to reach out to them and let them know we love them and deeply care about them. This is a fun and special way for us to stay connected with our extended York First COB church family!

After caroling we will return to the church for a fellowship meal at 5:30 pm which is open to all church members and friends, whether you carol or not. Maybe the weather is too cold for you to be out and about but you would love to join us for a warm meal of soup and other healthy options as well as hot cocoa and sweet treats! We will be looking for volunteers to bring food items (a sign-up sheet will be available in the Gathering Space starting this Sunday, November 23) for you to bring or donate dishes and food items if you wish or you can just show up and enjoy a lovely meal and life-giving fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ! There will also be a sign-up sheet for those who wish to carol and those who will be attending the meal so we can plan on having plenty of food for everyone! Again we ask that if you need transportation, please contact your deacon or the church office and we will be glad to see that you arrive safely to the church and back home again! Come join us for this special time together celebrating Advent and the joy of Christ! 

CARLISLE

TRUCK STOP MINISTRY

COOKIE BAKERS NEEDED!

♦ DUE IN CHURCH LOUNGE – DECEMBER 7TH

♦ PLEASE LABEL YOUR CONTAINER IF YOU WOULD

LIKE IT RETURNED.

Christmas & cookies all go together, Sunshine or rain, no matter the weather. So, bake those cookies for Christmas now, Freeze for Truck Stop Ministry’s chow.

Truckers on the road all night, Need a lift and something bright. So, bake those cookies because the clock is ticking, Bring to the church lounge for the truckers picking, And know the job of giving something so small, Is a job that is BIG and appreciated by ALL!

CAMP EDER

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL

December

12th & 13th

5pm - 9pm

Come join us for a evening of family festive fun! The woods will be illuminated with lots and lots of Christmas Lights, warm fires, hot cocoa and children activities will be happening each night. This is a beautiful festival you most certainly will not want to miss! 

(All information will be posted on the bulletin board)

✦Christmas Lights & Music

✦Hay Rides -Friday & Saturday Night 5-9pm

✦Delicious Turkey Dinner & Soup (per donation) ✦Luminary Garden (honoring our loved ones) ✦Decorated Trees ✦Warm Drinks & Lots of Cookies (free) ✦Bake Sale ✦Kid's Activities ✦Cozy Fires & S’mores ✦Live Music

✦TREE DECORATING CONTEST

Have some fun decorating a tree at Camp Eder. Everyone is invited to compete in the tree decorating contest. Voting will be during the Christmas Tree Festival December 12 - 13. The Christmas Tree Festival is a great opportunity to get involved with Camp Eder and our surrounding community.

Trees are limited, so you will want to sign up soon.

OUR DAILY BREAD/SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, December 12, 2025

Sign up by calling Sandi Bowser at 717-825-7203 to make a casserole for

Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen on Friday, December 12, 2025 (10:30 a.m. to 12:00 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!

ADVENT WORSHIP INVITATION

Sundays, November 30, December 7, 14, and 21

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt

in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." (Isaiah 9:2)

Each Sunday during worship in Advent we have a sacred tradition of lighting a candle on the Advent wreath and sharing a scripture, prayer and song that helps us prepare for the coming of Christ. Again this year we will be inviting folks of all ages to participate in this special part of worship. And in addition to the regular liturgy that we share, we are being intentional about inviting individuals to share their personal reflections and connections with the 4 themes of Advent – Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. How have you experienced one of these gifts in your life and how did/does is strengthen your life for Christ? If you would be willing to share a few personal sentiments, whether it be in sentence form or in creative form (poetry/prose), we would welcome your gift with open ears and hearts! Please contact Kim Witkovsky (814-599-7055 or witkovskyks@gmail.com) or the church office as soon as you can if you would be willing to share briefly on a Sunday between November 30 and December 21.

ADVENT SEASON BIBLE STUDY/DEVOTION

December 3 and 17 11:30am-1 pm

Since the beginning of summer, we have been enjoying good food and wonderful fellowship as we have met every other Wednesday (and now the first and third Wednesdays) for lunch together at local restaurants. We have called ourselves the Lunch Bunch and we welcome folks of all ages – anyone who is free Wednesdays at lunchtime between 11:30 am and 1 pm. We hope you consider joining us anytime – we can also provide transportation if you need a ride. We would love for you to join us!

Just during the Advent season (November 30-December 25) we will be trying something new and are excited about sharing it with you! Please consider joining us on Wednesdays, December 3 and 17 at the church from 11:30am – 1 pm (instead of a restaurant). We invite you to a BYOBB (bring your own bag and Bible) lunch and Advent Bible Study/Devotion led by Pastor Joel. We will spend time together feeding our bodies with food and our spirits with holy words and faith-filled fellowship! No need to sign up ahead of time – just join us in the moment. Please let us know if you would like to come and need a ride – we want everyone who is interested to join us! For more information or assistance with transportation, please contact your deacon or the church office. Please consider celebrating the Advent season with this special time together!    

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

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.

LOOK WHO'S

CELEBRATING

THIS MONTH

04       Haley Grace Yingling

04       Paige Noelle Yingling

07       Brynleigh McCracken

08       Todd Plymire

10       Barbara Rollman

12       Bob Stoolmaker

12       Tim Beckwith

14       Peggy Metzger

14       Christina Deitch

14       Kelly Boogher

15       Dave Bradfield, Sr 

If your birthday is in DECEMBER

and is not on the list below or is listed incorrectly, please contact the church office.

17       Jon Beuschlein

17       Linda Min

18       Eric Brickner

18       Julie Ilyes

19       Bob Lookenbill

21       Lindsey McCracken

23       Dave McCracken

24       Matthew Klinedinst

26       Emma Stoolmaker

27       Ben Wuhrman

Patricia Carey is 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 Space.

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