Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

To join the Christmas Eve Service, click the image above shortly before the service or anytime after. Music begins at 6:30 PM, order of service 7:00 PM on Wednesday.

Pastor Joel will not be available from December 29 through January 2.

Karen Bowman will be out of the office from December 25 through January 5.

The church office may be open for a few hours each morning, but please contact your deacon if you have any pastoral care needs during this time.

SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL FORUM - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28TH

A Special Congregational Forum will be held at the start of worship on

Sunday December 28. We will need to affirm a ballot with additional church leaders that were not included at the Forum in November, and we intend to call a person to serve in a new ministry role. Church members, please plan to attend. Thank you.

See below for more information.

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Saturday, December 20

9:00 am Choir Cantata Rehearsal - Sanctuary

Sunday, December 21

9:00 am   Sunday School

10:30 am  Christmas Cantata within Worship Service – Sanctuary

6:30 pm  Longest Night Service – Chapel

Monday, December 22

6:00 pm   Education Team – Anna Mow Room

Wednesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve

7:00 pm   Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – Sanctuary

(6:30 pm Music begins)

Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day

Church Office Closed

Saturday, December 27

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

Sunday, December 28

9:00 am   Sunday School

10:30 am   Worship Service – Sanctuary

**Women's Bible Study will NOT be meeting on 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 about how and why we worship and turning our beliefs into action this week.

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 season. Please see below.

Lamplighters Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. The class is now studying Adam Hamilton’s

“The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem” for

Advent this year - this week: Joseph of Bethlehem

 

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. 

ADVENT GIVING

Each year, our church chooses a focus for a special offering at Advent and Christmas Eve. This year we are sending our gifts to Heifer International. This organization supports smallholder farmers around the world in order to address hunger and poverty in their communities while protecting the environment.  

Did you know that Dan West, founder of Heifer International, was a member of the Church of the Brethren? He attended Bethany Bible School, and was a graduate of Manchester University.

West spent two years as a conscientious objector in World War I and eventually traveled to Spain to direct a relief program during that country’s civil war.  While handing out rationed supplies, he thought there must be a better way to eliminate hunger. He asked neighbors and congregations in his home state of Indiana to donate heifers to families in need. In 1942, his program became an official program of the Church of the Brethren. Eleven years later, the project became an independent nonprofit corporation.  

Dan West coined the phrase “not a cup of milk, but a cow” which continues to be a mantra for Heifer International. It is our goal to further his work by donating $5000.00 to Heifer International this Advent season. Meeting our goal would allow us to provide much more than a cup of milk to someone in need. We will be able to impact an entire community with the animals we donate.  

Please consider contributing as we work together to meet our goal!

Upcoming Events

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:

Sunday December 21 - Christmas Cantata within worship 10:30 AM

Longest Night Service, Chapel 6:30 PM

Wednesday December 24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 7:00 PM

Pre-Service Music 6:30 PM

Sunday December 28 - Special Congregational Forum within Worship 10:30 AM

 Longest Night Service

Sunday, December 21, 2025 6:30 PM

York First Church of the Brethren Chapel

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shined.” Isaiah 9:2 (NRSVUE)

Advent 2025 has finally arrived! As we prepare for the coming of the Christ child, we are engaged in many activities. In our homes, we may be searching for the perfect tree, baking holiday cookies or wrapping presents. In our church, we may have begun reading the Church of the Brethren Advent Devotional or participated in Christmas Caroling last Sunday or ordered a poinsettia in honor/memory/appreciation of a loved one. And again the Worship Ministry Team would like to invite you to join us for a very special worship experience – our Longest Night Service.

Even though we can name many “fun” activities as we approach December 25, for some this may be a very difficult time because of the “darkness” that might be present in their lives due to the absence of loved ones who passed in the recent months or years. It could be due to grieving the loss of physical or emotional abilities that limits participation in life to its fullest. Maybe for some, the extra stimulation of sights and sounds, busyness and deadlines, socializing and expectations can be overwhelming, and they seek solace and silence as a sanctuary to overstimulation.

So we invite you to join us for a brief (about 30 minutes) but meaningful Longest Night Service (sometimes called a “Blue Christmas” service) on Sunday evening, December 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the chapel. It is a worship service scheduled around the winter solstice (the longest night of the calendar year) which always occurs around December 21^st every year. This unique worship experience will offer a time of reflection and remembrance, of silence, song and scripture to calm and lift up our spirits in the midst of the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations. It can transform the darkness and heaviness in our souls to joy and freedom as we celebrate and welcome the true “Light of the World” in Jesus Christ.

 

(Please contact your deacon or the church office if you are in need of transportation)

OUR DAILY BREAD/SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, January 9, 2026

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

Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen on Friday, January 9, 2026 (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!

2026 OFFERING ENVELOPES

 ARE AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP ON THE COUNTER IN THE GATHERING AREA

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

1. Some envelope numbers have changed for 2026.

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 (2025) envelopes after DECEMBER 31, 2025.

DO NOT use your new (2026) envelopes before JANUARY 1, 2026.

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

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.

December 28^th Special Forum for Slate Approval

We will be calling a Special Congregational Forum on December 28^th for a few minutes. This is to present a slate of names for Congregational Forum approval to Ministry Team Members. (1) Names were selected by the Leadership Team to fill the positions on Teams with unlimited three-year Terms and need approved, (2) The Fellowship and Hospitality Team was omitted on the November Forum slate completely and now needs to be approved, (3) Education Ministry Team needed two more members and one person has volunteered now needs to be approved, (4) The Deacon Ministry Team needs more Deacons to serve and has the name of a couple for approval and (5) The Leadership Team has approved a Temporary position of Minister of Visitations that need Congregational Forum approval.

You will be handed a paper as you enter the sanctuary on December 28^th. This will be the slate for all of the above items for the Forum. A very brief comment and instructions will be made about the items. Then mark the slate as directed and hand it to the Usher on the way out of the sanctuary after the service.

Please plan to participate in this process. If you have any questions feel free to contact the Moderator, Assistant Moderator or the Pastor.

Advent Wreath Lighting and Sharing 2025

This Advent season the Worship Ministry Team decided to add a personal touch to the liturgy used when lighting the Advent Wreath candles. Each week we have had someone share their personal experience with the word for the week - 1st Sunday was HOPE by Sheryl Leaman , 2nd Sunday was PEACE by Diane Gibble and we are thankful for their testimonies. The 3rd Sunday (last Sunday) was JOY and was to be addressed by Nancy Jones but she was unable to attend worship due to the weather. We are grateful to Rebecca Wolf for stepping in, last minute, to share her experience with JOY. Below are the sentiments Nancy was going to share during the Advent Wreath lighting last week - thank you!

JOY

Joy-in my experience, joy is uncontrolled. It happens unexpectedly and at specific events or times. I have two personal examples of joy in my life. One is our wedding day; Stephen and I were married 55 years ago in this sanctuary. Amidst the planning and conversations I had no expectation of such joy experienced that day. The second example is the birth of our son Eric. In the seconds after his arrival, I was ecstatic and laughing uncontrollably – pure joy! Eric‘s birth was “natural“ and without anesthesia. So I knew exactly what was happening and I experienced it completely.

Joy surrounds us like a mist that is sprayed into the atmosphere and we walk through it.

Joy is ethereal and fleeting. We do not have control of joyful experiences and we cannot determine when it happens.

Our connection to God’s presence in our life is essential to experiencing joy. As the scripture commands us, we are to love God with our heart, mind and soul, and our neighbor as our self. 

This season of Advent, we celebrate the Holy Joy of Jesus' birth!

FOOD PANTRY

Thanks to everyone who helped support the food pantry through the month of November.  It was definitely a record month. In the previous ten months, we registered a total or 51 new households. In November, we registered 32!  In our four open days we served 65 households for a total of 245 individuals.

In addition to food donations, we have been collecting hats, gloves, scarves and socks for our clients. If you have these items to donate, just place them in the food pantry wagon.

 Thank you so much for your generosity to those in need!

LOOK WHO'S

CELEBRATING

THIS MONTH

07 Greg Minnich

09 Jeffrey Yingling  

11 Nathan Beuschlein

14 Beth Drawbaugh

14 Clarence Sauder

15 Ron Horner

15 Steven Fitzkee

16 Cathy McCracken

16 Tanner Ferro

If your birthday is in JANUARY

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

18  Melanie Schaefer

19  Luke Miller   

20  Spencer Ginder

20  Dana Stump

23  Danielle Gibbel

23  Beth Anne Bahn

25  Jeff Miller

25  Valerie Sauder

Thank you so much for the get well cards and birthday cards. I appreciate all the well wishes and for celebrating my birthday. ~ ~ ~Dolores Mann

Many thanks to my church family for your prayers., cards, and visits during my knee replacement and recovery. Your thoughtfulness is so appreciated. ~ Jayne Baldwin

Thank you so much for all the birthday cards. It is so nice to receive birthday cards when you are in your 90's. ~ Barbara Rollman

Caroling and Soup Supper: 

A great big thank you to all who participated in our Christmas Caroling last Sunday afternoon. We traveled in 3 groups (thanks to the drivers as well) and visited all over York and even as far as Red Lion! We were almost 20 in number and represented 3 different generations with several children bringing much energy and joy to our time together! "We even had baby Jaxx along which was an extra blessing for all of us!" We connected with folks in their own homes as well as in care facilities. And many of those whom we visited sang right along with us! We also want to express our gratitude to the Fellowship and Hospitality Team and all those who contributed delicious soups, snacks and sweets to make our fellowship meal following our caroling a huge success and a great time of fellowship!   

DIRECTORY CHANGE

P. 13, Margaret (Peg) Eck - Address/Phone Change:

3600 Oak Manor Lane, Rm 202, Largo, Florida 33774

Phone # (727) 581-9427

York First Church of the Brethren - Gathering Space Bulletin Board Ministry



Thank you to Kathy Kovacs and Jeanette Brickner for the beautiful bulletin board in the Gathering Space that so warmly welcomes us and reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas -

the love of God through God's son, Jesus Christ!  

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