CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Saturday, March 23

 10:00 am  Youth Group-30 hour Famine Event – Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall

Sunday, March 24 – Palm Sunday

9:00 am Sunday School

10:30 am Worship Service – Sanctuary

Monday, March 25

10:00 am  Activities Committee – Multi-Purpose Room

6:30 pm Education Team – Anna Mow Room

Tuesday, March 26

9:30 am  Ladies Bible Study – Anna Mow Room

Wednesday, March 27

5:00 pm  Easter Egg Hunt/Meal – Outside Grass Area/Fellowship Hall

Thursday, March 28

6:00 pm  Love Feast – Fellowship Hall/Kitchen

Friday, March 29

12:00 pm - 6:00 pm  Prayer Labyrinth – Fellowship Hall

Saturday, March 30

8:00 am - 12:00 pm Prayer Labyrinth - Fellowship Hall

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

Sunday, March 31 – Easter Sunday

8:40 am   Morning Watch Service – Behind Fellowship Hall

9:00 am   Easter Breakfast – Fellowship Hall

10:30 am   Worship 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.

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, 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 Dave Witkovsky. This class is for youth in grades 7-12. Youth will be looking at the subject of restorative justice in class this week.

Vine and Branches Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. Teacher Cheryl Weyant. The class is following the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum entitled "Examining Our Faith."

Lamplighters Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. Teacher Beth Anne Bahn. For the remainder of Lent, Lamplighters will be studying Max Lucado’s book, “And the Angels Were Silent.”

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

Saturday, March 23 - 30-Hour Famine Event - Youth Group

Wednesday, March 27 - Egg Hunt 5:00 PM

Thursday, March 28 - Love Feast 6:00 PM

Sunday, March 31 - Easter Sunday

Saturday, April 6 - Dementia Course 9:00 AM

Saturday, April 20 - 2024 District Women's Spring Luncheon

Easter Egg Hunt - Wednesday March 27 5:00 PM

Registration is now closed, but volunteers and donations to defray costs are still welcome! You may sign up in the gathering area and contribute through online giving. We are expecting over 150 attendees!

CAMP EDER Men's Outdoorsman Day

Saturday, April 6th

Devotional Theme: Meeting God in the Great Outdoors

This event is co-sponsored with the SOPA Nurture Commission.

Join us for a day filled with adventure. We'll delve into the world of Clay Shooting and tranquility of fishing under the mentorship of Seth Brickner.

Please click on button for registration information.

WALKING THE PRAYER LABYRINTH

FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 29 - 30

Walking the Prayer Labyrinth: A Devotional Opportunity

The prayer labyrinth is a unique approach to prayer that dates back thousands of years. Labyrinths are found in some of the great cathedrals of Europe and in recent decades have become very popular in a variety of settings in the United States as well.

While there are a number of different versions of labyrinths, the version we are using for Holy Week is known as the Chartres Labyrinth styled after the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France. It is made up of 10 “circuits” or loops that wind slowly to the center. The flow of the prayer labyrinth is an experience of walking from the entrance at your own pace until reaching the center as an experience of prayerful centering, followed by remaining in the center if desired, and then moving back out as a way of taking this new founded centeredness back out into your daily life.

You can walk with a prayer in mind, a prayerful thought, a question for God, or other means of focusing in the moment. Our prayer labyrinth experience will be available in the Fellowship Hall with ideas to provide focus beginning at 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm on Friday, March 29 and 8:00 am - 12:00 pm on Saturday, March 30. May this provide us with one more resource to strengthen us as we walk through this season of Lent.

A FREE COURSE ON DEMENTIA 

WILL BE GIVEN AT

YORK FIRST COB

Sat., April 6th from 9am to 12:00pm

Snacks will be provided. 

Kimberly Korge, BSEd., CDP, CDSGF will be the presenter.

Kimberly Korge, Memory Support Coordinator at Cross Keys Village has worked as part of the memory care team since 2016. Her favorite part of working in memory care is that every day is different and there is always something to learn! Currently she is a graduate student at the University of Missouri, pursuing a Master’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a focus in Gerontology.

Title:

Embracing Challenges in Memory Support

Course Objectives:

· Understand what dementia is and how it differs from Alzheimer’s disease

· Discuss tips to manage difficult situations/conversations with individuals

impacted by a neurocognitive disorder

· Discuss tips of how to effectively communicate with individuals impacted by a neurocognitive disorder



Topics to be included but not limited to:

· Types of Dementia

· Parts of the brain

· Changes in behavior

· Changes in communication

· Handling difficult situations

· Navigating family dynamics

YARD SALE ITEMS NEEDED!

HEAR YE! HEAR YE! Time is near,

Bring those treasures from far and near.

YARD SALE! YARD SALE! coming in June,

Join us, for it will be soon.

Items needed brought into the church,

That buyers have fun as they go on a search.

YARD SALE! YARD SALE! coming here,

SO, HELP US OUT for another year. 

We will start collecting items on April 8^th. Please drop off after church on Sundays or before noon throughout the week. If you are unable to bring in items, we will pick up. NO CLOTHING, Computers/equipment or TV’s.

Call Kathy Kovacs with any questions 717-309-0678

CAMP EDER APRIL SENIOR DAY

Wednesday, April 10th

9:30 am - Check in/Breakfast

10:00 am - Elva Hurst will be presenting a live chalk talk her thems is "New Spring/Easter celebrating the splendor of spring and sharing the story of Easter in chalk, music and story with special blacklight effects.

12:00 pm - Lunch Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Rolls w/butter, salad, mix of Lemon and Chocolate Ship Cookies with Ice Cream

1:00 pm - Depart

RSVP by 4/3 (We will only be taking the first 100 registrations.)

Cost: $ 20. per person

RSVP by calling 717-642-8256

Camp Eder, 914 Mount Hope Road, Fairfield, PA 17320 www.campeder.org

OUR DAILY BREAD/SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, April 12, 2024

Sign up by calling Sandi Bowser at 717-825-7203 to make a casserole for Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen on Friday, April 12, 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. 

2024 DISTRICT WOMEN'S SPRING LUNCHEON

Saturday, April 20, 2024, 9AM

West Shore Church of the Brethren, 

6921 Wertzville Road, Enola, PA 17025

Guest speaker: Kirsten Harris Keys 

Kirsten serves as the Public Relations Coordinator for the Harrisburg City School District, which serves more than 6,500 children and families. She attends the Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church of Harrisburg where she gladly serves God and others. Kirsten is Married to Pastor Thomas Keys. She is active in health and wellness ministry, community outreach, women's ministry initiatives, and the ministry of encouragement.

Click on button for

brochure and registration

This information will also be posted

on the bulletin board.

Transportation and

Financial Assistance for the

District Women's Spring Luncheon

The Deacon team would like to see that all women who would like to attend the District Womens Spring Luncheon are not hindered in doing so.



If transportation is a problem we are organizing transportation, and a sign-up sheet will be in the gathering area. Dave Witkovsky has graciously volunteered to drive the church bus. The bus holds 14 passengers. If more space is needed, we will arrange carpooling. If you are available to drive others if needed, please contact Melanie Miller.

You will still need to complete and submit your individual registrations. If you need financial assistance there is money available from the church. Please contact Melanie Miller if you have a financial need and for any questions regarding transportation.

Please sign-up no later than

Sunday April 7, 2024. 

The Lehman Center Auxiliary Presents

33rd ANNUAL AUCTION benefiting

Children's Aid Society - The Lehman Center

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Location: New Fairview Church, 1873

New Fairview Church Rd., York, Pa 17403

12:00 pm Auction Preview and Food

5:00 pm Live Auction

Silent Auction including Art Collectibles, Theme Baskets, Gift Certificates

Live Auction Featuring Art Collectibles, Sports Items, New Merchandise

Kitchen Will Be Open & Serving: Homemade Soup, Bar-B-Que, Homemade Pies

Join us also online! Some of our items will be available "Virtually" prior to the

Live Auction starting Saturday April 27th till Monday April 29th!

For more information Call 717-845-5771, www.cassd.org/casauction.html

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

The District Conference will be held on September 20-21, 2024 at Buffalo Valley Church of the Brethren.

This is a correction to Page 4 in our 2024 Directory. We apologize for this error.

THE SPRING MEETING OF THE FRIENDS 

Saturday, March 23, 2024

9:00 AM- Lite-Fare Bagel Bar with Fresh Fruit

10:00 AM- Business Meeting, Nicarry Meetinghouse

Please RSVP by March 15^th to Hospitality Chairman, Teresa Richards  at  717-624-6697

or email: trichards347@gmail.com

This is a member-only event, if you are not presently a member of The Friends please contact the Membership Chairman for a membership form.

Debra McBeth, 1754 Shoemaker Drive, New Oxford, PA 17350, Phone 978-979-2270

2024 MID-ATLANTIC DISTRICT VOLUNTEER MEAT CANNING SIGN-UP

For the 46th year, the Mid-Atlantic and SO PA Districts are co-sponsoring a Meat Canning project which previously has enjoyed a generous response and enthusiastic support. The project is scheduled for April 1 - 4, 2024 at the Christian Aid Ministries facility.

The 2024 Meat Canning goal is to can approximately 17,000 pounds of chicken in 4 days of processing. The Mid-Atlantic District and the SO PA District congregations are asking for congregations who are willing to prepare a meal for approximately 30 people for lunch with a light snack.



Please see the sign-up sheets on the counter in the gathering area and on the bulletin board. The deadline to sign up is March 25th. If you have any questions, please contact John Anderson.

UPPER ROOM ISSUES

We are experiencing issues with the Upper Room devotionals. They delivered a few to the church; however, the members didn't get them delivered to their homes. Please know we are working with the company to resolve this issue. ~Diane Gibble

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.

Did you wear the wrong tan raincoat home from church on Sunday February 25?

Are you missing your tan Misty Harbor raincoat?

If your answer is “YES” please bring the raincoat back and exchange it for your Misty Harbor raincoat which is hanging in the narthex coat rack. Thank you.

Your Misty Harbor raincoat is a little snug on me. Roy Rollman

Thank you for your prayers, cards, and concerns for me during my recent hospitalization and medical tests. It is greatly appreciated.

~ Barb Wueschinski

Great News, Bernadette has been declared “cancer free” by doctor.

 Will still need periodic checkups. Thank you for your prayers.~ Bernadette and Dan

LOOK WHO'S CELEBRATING

THIS MONTH

01 Jolene Zeigler

04 Louise Stremmel

04 Jaewoo Kim

06 Seth Beckwith

08 Mark Minnich

09 Mike Martin

11 Nancy Jones

14 Sara Stoolmaker 

If your birthday is in APRIL and is not on the list below or is listed incorrectly, please contact the church office.

15 Brad Nicholas

15 Christopher Striebig

19 Emily Dietrich

19 Joel Baldwin

20 Frank Leaman

29 Trish Ryan

30 Mary Esther Anderson

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

Elizabethtown College’s Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies presents “Language Patterns among Lancaster County Anabaptists:

Do the Amish and Groffdale Conference Mennonites Use Pennsylvania Dutch Differently?” by Rose Fisher on Tues., April 2, 7 pm, in the Bucher Meetinghouse. Fisher is a PhD student in German linguistics whose research focuses on Pennsylvania Dutch.

For details about the talk, visit www.etown.edu/youngctr/events or call 717-361-1470.

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

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP

March 17, 2024

SCRIPTURE LESSON:

Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 12:20-33

MESSAGE:

“We Wish to See Jesus”

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.