Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Training 101



Saturday, November 18th             9:30 AM-12:00 Noon       Hosted by the Education Team

Georgie Staley with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing will be leading a Mental

Health and Suicide Prevention Training at our church on Saturday, November 18^th. We are all familiar with Basic First Aid skills. But what if the person in need is struggling with anxiety or suicidal thoughts? Come learn about what you can do to help. We will look at the basic signs and symptoms of different diagnoses, how to spot if someone may be in distress or in need of support, how you can respond in the moment and how to support the person to get the help they may need. 

Please contact Michele Gibbel if you are in need of childcare.  

Sunday November 19th - FOOD DRIVE



The Witness Team has been serving increasing numbers of people through our church’s food pantry ministry this season. We sense that the winter will only bring more need among our neighbors and wish to be able to serve them well. In light of this, and the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, we are having a Food Drive this Sunday. Please plan to bring non-perishable food items to share and/or make a special donation to your food pantry, online or in-person! We’ll receive a special collection within worship and celebrate our commitment to serving one another. Thank you all in advance for your willingness and enthusiasm for this outreach.

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Saturday, November 18

9:30 am Mental Health Training – Sanctuary/Gathering Area

Sunday, November 19

9:00 am Sunday School

10:30 am Worship Service – Sanctuary

12:00 pm Deacon Meeting – Rm 154

4:00 pm Youth Group – Fellowship Hall

Monday, November 20

     6:15 pm  Education Team – Anna Mow Room

6:45 pm Worship Design Team – Multi-Purpose Room

Tuesday, November 21

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

Thursday, November 23

Thanksgiving Day - Church Office Closed

Saturday, November 25

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

Sunday, November 26

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship/Baptisms Service – Sanctuary

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 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 Joel Gibbel. This class is for youth in grades 7-12. A series on church membership and our church's core beliefs and practices will conclude this Sunday, as next week we will prepare for baptisms.

Vine and Branches Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. Teacher Justin Tomevi. The class is using the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum entitled "God's Law is Love."

Lamplighters Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. Teacher Beth Anne Bahn. The lesson series is entitled "When Christians Get It Wrong" with Adam Hamilton. 

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.  

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2024 is just around the corner...

Planning will start in January. The Education Team is looking for some volunteers to be a chair and co chair of this year's VBS. If you are interested in helping or have some questions please see Diane Gibble.  

ADVENT IS FAST APPROACHING AND THAT MEANS IT IS TIME FOR POINSETTIAS AGAIN!

2023 Christmas Poinsettia Orders

Burgundy Color – 6 1/2” pot (5+ blooms), Cost per flower: $10.00

Deadline for Orders is November 26^th

^{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 mornings, Dec. 17 and 24 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.

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

2023 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL

"All Things New" by Kevin Kessler

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.

Advent is a season of the church year in which we are reminded that God listens. Pleas and prayers were answered when God arrived among us in Jesus, the name which means God is my help. The daily scripture readings in this devotional offer a glimpse of humanity’s desire for change, for a new identity. As you hear the yearning of people in these readings, perhaps you will connect at a very deep and personal level. You may be reminded of your desire for renewal, restoration, redemption, revival. May you find your new identity in the encounters you have with the One who came to us in the flesh, who lived and loved among us, who resides with us still.

Advent Theme this year is "It Takes a Village"

The Education Team and Worship Team would like to collect items for Homeless bags to be put together at the Advent Breakfast on Sunday morning December 3.

Items to be donated are:

Tooth brushes, tooth paste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, comb/brush, socks any size, bandaids, plastic gal. and quart size bags, individually wrapped snacks, pencils and paper, wash cloths, deodorant, razors, hand warmers, gloves hats, chewing gum, and med. to large cloth bags to put the items in.

Children and Adults are welcome to make a card to put in the bags that morning or make it ahead of time and bring with your donations.

After the bags are put together we will take them to the sanctuary to be blessed during worship.

As soon as worship is over we would love for every family to take a filled bag and keep it in their car until they see someone who could use it. May we be a village to someone who needs to see God's love in action.

*Donations can be placed in a box in the gathering area starting Sunday Nov. 12th.

Thank you!

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

November 18 - Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Training 101 (Saturday AM)

November 19 - Food Drive within Worship

November 26 - Baptisms within Worship (Sunday 10:30 AM)

December 3 - Advent Breakfast (Sunday 9:00 AM)

December 8 & 9 - Camp Eder Christmas Tree Festival

The Friends of CKV are having their annual Naylor's Candy Sale:

Peanut Crunch, Butter Mints,

Cashew Crunch

Please complete the order form and return with your payment (cash or check) to

Cindy Goodling, 1553 Shoemaker Drive,

New Oxford, Pa 17350 Any questions, please contact Cindy at (717) 887-3432.



Please make checks out to "Friends of CKV"

ORDERS AND PAYMENT DUE BY MONDAY, NOV. 20

You must pick up your order in the Garden Room in Harmony Ridge between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm

Order forms will also be on the counter in the gathering area.

OUR DAILY BREAD/SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, December 8, 2023

Sign up by calling Sandi Bowser at 717-825-7203 to make a casserole for Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen on Friday, December 8, 2023 (10:30 a.m. to 1:00 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!

CAMP EDER

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL

December 8th and 9th, 5 - 9 PM

Come join us for an 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 beautiful festival you most certainly will not want to miss!

"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life,

and this life is in his son." - John 1:5 - 11

• Christmas Lights & Music

• Hay Rides - Friday and Saturday Night 5-9 PM

• Tree Decorating Contest

• Delicious Turkey Dinner & Soup (per donation)

• Luminary Garden (honoring our loved ones)

• Decorated Trees

• Warm Drinks and Lots of Cookies (free)

• Bake Sale

• Kid's Activities

• Cozy Fires & S'mores

• Live Music

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

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.

The Klinedinst family deeply appreciates all the prayers and expressions of care for Lena. Lena had amazing care at Johns Hopkins before and after her surgery. All went well and she was able to return home Sunday night! Thank you so much! ~ Deb & Greg Klinedinst

Click on button to

“Check out” these books that are new to

The First Church Library!

Directions for borrowing a book can be found on the countertop to the right after entering through the library door. We kindly ask that you take a maximum of two (2) books at one time and return at least one (1) before selecting a new one. Please sign and leave the white card in the blue flowerpot. When finished reading your book(s), return the book(s) to the multilevel shelf labeled “Book Return”.

MESSAGE FROM SANDI BOWSER ABOUT OUR DAILY BREAD/SOUP KITCHEN

Dear Church Members,

We are in need of Volunteers, who are willing to prepare baked spaghetti casseroles for the soup kitchen in York city.

Presently, we have some very generous people who prepare 1, 2, or 3 casseroles once a month. I, for example, prepare 2 casseroles each month. You know if I can do it, it’s not that difficult.

The recipe is easy, and the foil baking pans are provided for you, the schedule is not difficult. Contact Sandra Bowser for more details, and scheduling (contact information below).

It is a very rewarding experience. I have to say that 95% of the people are very appreciative. It would be greatly appreciated if you could volunteer your time.

Thank you. Contact information: Sandra Bowser 717-825-7203 

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 2023 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.

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP

NOAC 2023 Celebration Sunday

November 12, 2023

SCRIPTURE LESSON:

Isaiah 43:18-21, Revelation 21:1-6

MESSAGE:

  “Tuning Into Awe”

To view the sermon for this

service, see below.

Church Family,

We recognize that the sermon for Sunday November 12, from NOAC by

Pastor Katie Shaw Thompson, was not properly recorded on our livestream. For that we apologize and offer the sermon here below. Please find time to watch it this week if you are able, excellent words on the book of Revelation and the hope we have for God’s work and presence among us.

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.