TRICK OR TRUNK EVENT - Wed., Oct. 30, 2024

5:30 to 7:00 PM

Volunteers to decorate trunks are still welcome!! Donations of Halloween candy for the Trick or Trunk are needed as well. Sign-up sheets and a donation box will be in the Gathering Area this Sunday - last chance! We expect to see as many as 400 children!! 

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Saturday, October 26

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

Sunday, October 27

9:00 am   Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

12:00 pm  Deacons – Anna Mow Room

4:00 pm  Youth Group -Dodgeball – Fellowship Hall

Monday, October 28

6:15 pm   Education Team – Anna Mow Room

Wednesday, October 30

5:30 pm   Trick or Trunk – Parking Lot, FH, Kitchen

Thursday, October 31

6:30 pm    Chancel Choir Rehearsal – Sanctuary

Saturday, November 2

2:00 pm   Jessica Jasitt Ordination Service – Sanctuary

Sunday, November 3

9:00 am   Sunday School

10:15 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

11:00 am Fall Congregational Forum

4:00 pm   Youth Group -Dodgeball – Fellowship Hall

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

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. Children ages 3-4 and younger are welcome to attend nursery care.

Youth Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 149. Teacher Dave Witkovsky. This class is for youth in grades 7-12.

The class is studying a series on Women of the Bible.

Vine and Branches Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. Teacher Joel Gibbel. The class is following the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum entitled "Worship in the Covenant Community."

Lamplighters Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. Teacher Deb Klinedinst. The class will be studying the series "Undistracted" by Bob Goff. 

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 DATES TO REMEMBER

Wednesday, October 30 - Trick or Trunk Event 5:30 PM

Sunday, November 3 - Congregational Forum 11:00 AM

Sunday, November 10 - CDC Sunday

YOUTH GROUP ACTIVITY

Youth and School Age Children join us for Dodgeball fun!

Please feel free to invite friends and neighbors as you wish.

Sunday at 4:00 pm from Oct 13 to Nov 17 in Fellowship Hall

Anabaptist Community Bible

A special opportunity is before us, as a new resource called the Anabaptist Community Bible is set to be published by January, a project to which our own church contributed. It

is in celebration of the 500^th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement to which our tradition belongs. The Bible is the Common English Bible (CEB) translation and will include over 7,000 study notes from over 600 groups as well as Anabaptist scholars. Our church plans to purchase these study Bibles in bulk, hoping to place one in every household that desires, with the hopes for reading portions together in 2025.

If you wish to receive a Bible (everyone should!) we ask you sign up in the Gathering Area before worship or contact the church office.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor this project is welcome to contact the church office as well. Thank you!

Fall Congregational Forum - Sunday, November 3, 2024

This is a meeting for all church members to attend and we will be looking to see you all there. Reports from leaders are the primary items of business.

The Congregational Forum Booklet and Treasurer's Reports

are available for pick up in the gathering area. Please take

one per family and review them in advance of the meeting.

OUR DAILY BREAD/SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, November 8, 2024

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

Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen on Friday, November 8, 2024 (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!

October is Pastor Appreciation Month

Worship Ministry Team

October 2024

“Our pastors and ministers are an inspiration, because their lives are reflections of the One they serve, the gift they are, the truth they share, the love they demonstrate are all received with an appreciation only the heart can know.”  

For the past 30 years, the month of October has been observed in faith communities as Pastor Appreciation Month. Focus on the Family, a global Christian organization, named and began emphasizing Pastor Appreciation Month in 1994, reminding congregations that it was biblical and proper to honor their pastor staff and pastoral families throughout the year, but suggesting that they set aside the month of October for a special, tangible tribute, a specific time of year when congregations and faith communities could support and celebrate their ministries. 

Focus on the Family believes that the concept of pastor appreciation started with the Apostle Paul as he was establishing the first Christian churches. In 1 Timothy 5:17 he wrote, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching”. And, in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, he said, “Respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.”

Pastor Appreciation Month is a special time congregations set aside each year to honor their pastors and pastoral families for the hard work, sacrificial dedication and multiple blessings provided by these special people. Pastor Joel, Michele, Micah and Danielle are marking their seventh year in ministry with us we want to say thank you and offer our gratitude, support and encouragement for their ongoing presence and leadership among us. And we look forward to many more years of ministry together!

The Leadership Team will be expressing their gratitude and appreciation with a card and gift. During the month of October, the Worship Ministry Team encourages Sunday School classes, ministry teams, families and individuals to extend to Joel and his family your love and support in creative and generous ways – surprise them with flowers, cards, notes, homemade gifts/cards, texts, emails, gift cards, handshakes and hugs! And we encourage you to continue sharing your appreciation throughout the year - for holidays and birthdays, in good times and difficult ones, just to let them know you care!   

To Pastor Joel and your precious family we say, “Because of you, we are here today. You’ve taught with your words. You’ve led with your actions. And you have made a difference for so many.” We extend our deep appreciation to you and call forth blessings upon you as you continue your ministry among us (for a very long time)! 

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.

LOOK WHO'S

CELEBRATING

THIS MONTH

03 Barb Wueschinski

04 Dolly Furst

06 Ruoxia Li

08 Jill McCracken

08 Jan Vuono

08 Brad Striebig

10 Dianne Hollinger

10 Jess Dietrich

14 Diane Replogle

15 Greg Klinedinst

17 Rebecca Soyke

18 Dolores Mann

If your birthday is in NOVEMBER

and is not on the list below or is listed

incorrectly, please contact the church office.

20 John Copenheaver

20 Melanie Miler

20 Bob Fitzkee

21 Elizabeth Eisenhart

21 Dan Snook

22 Charles Innerst

22 Bernadette Snook

24 Pat Paules

25 Laura (Thomas) Lash

27 Michelle Sauder

28 Eric Miller

29 Tammy Stehr

29 Luke Baldwin

DIRECTORY CHANGES:

P. 13 - Onalee Fisher - New Address & Phone Number:

2018 Wyntre Brook SW, York, PA 17403

Landline: (717) 347-7037, Cell: (717) 994-8013

P.17 - Angie Robinson

New Address: 25 Black Oak Drive, Lancaster, PA 17602

Thank you so much for the cards, visits, and phone calls while I am recuperating. I really appreciate it. ~ Kathy Kovacs



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 2024 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 of the Brethren) to 3011 Bedford Pl, York, PA 17408 and your cards will be mailed to you.

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP

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.