The 2024 Church Directory is available to be picked up in the Gathering Area. All church members and friends, please take one.

VALENTINE'S DANCE: "Family Prom Edition"

School Age and Preschool Children (with parents) are invited to join many CDC families for a special hour of child-friendly games, dancing, music, and light food & drink. Come dressed up nicely and celebrate this special time together. Only an hour, and a neat time for connections with other families and children. No sign-up needed, just come! Many thanks to our Child Development Center leadership for planning and inviting us to this event.

Saturday February 10 from 4:00-5:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall.

YOUTH GROUP ACTIVITY

Youth and School Age Children join us for Dodgeball fun!! Please feel free to invite friends and neighbors as you wish.

Sundays at 4:00 pm from Jan. 28 to March 3 in Fellowship Hall

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Saturday, February 10

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

4:00 pm  CDC Valentine Dinner/Dance - FH

Sunday, February 11

9:00 am  Sunday School

9:00 am Fellowship & Hospitality Team - Multi-Purpose Room

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

4:00 pm  Youth Group – Fellowship Hall

Monday, February 12

6:45 pm Worship Team – Anna Mow Room

Tuesday, February 13

 9:30 am  Ladies Bible Study – Anna Mow Room

6:30 pm Leadership Team - Room # 154

Wednesday, February 14

3:00 pm  Ash Wed Service – Chapel

6:00 pm  Ash Wed/Valentine’s Dinner – Rm 154

Thursday, February 15

10:00 am  Prayer Shawl – Anna Mow Room

6:00 pm  Bell Choir Practice – Bell Choir Room

7:00 pm  Chancel Choir Practice – Anna Mow Room

Sunday, February 18

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

4:00 pm  Youth Group – 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 [email protected] 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 continue their series in the Shine curriculum.

Vine and Branches Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. Teacher Luke Miller. The class is following the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum entitled "Faith that Pleases God."

Lamplighters Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. Teacher Beth Anne Bahn. The lesson series is entitled "In the Footsteps of the Savior" with Max Lucado. 

Homebuilders Class

Mondays - 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM by conference call. To join, contact Mike Martin at

717-840-4184 or [email protected] and leave a phone number. The class studies lessons from the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum.  

EASTER FLOWERS

You may order your flowers Feb. 11, 18, 25 and March 3rd.

Purchases can be made in honor, in memory, or in appreciation of whomever you wish. Flowers will be your to take home following the Easter Sunday service on March 31st.

Order forms will be available at the church on Sunday or you may contact the church office to place an order. Orders and payment can be made through online giving (below) as well.

TRANSPORTATION NEEDS

At the last Deacon’s meeting the Deacons signed up to help with transportation for those in the congregation that would need a ride for any reason. It was suggested at that time that we should offer this option to the whole congregation who might want to help in this outreach.

Please sign the sheet in the gathering area as you are inclined to help in this ministry. Thanks!

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

February 14 - Ash Wednesday Service - 3:00 pm

February 14 - Ash Wednesday/Valentine's Dinner - 6:00 pm

ASH WEDNESDAY

We are holding an Ash Wednesday service at 3:00 PM in the chapel, and all are invited the this special time of worship. The service will include reflection, scripture, prayer, and receiving ashes upon our foreheads, a symbol of repentance and recognition of our mortality. Expect the service to last roughly 30 minutes.

Later, we plan to serve dinner at 6:00 PM on Wednesday February 14 in Room 154 as a fellowship event. Participation is by no means dependent on one’s relationship status or cultural expectations for Valentine’s Day. We simply wish to share a meal together and reflect on the season that is before us. Anyone in our church family is invited, with sign-up encouraged in advance in the gathering area (or by calling the church office).

Pastor Joel and any who wish to join him are invited to attend an Ash Wednesday Liturgy at St Joseph Catholic Church at 5:00 PM, as an opportunity to affirm our Christian unity and universal need for humility. Plan to meet there if you wish. 

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.

KATALLASSO DONATION UPDATE

During our Advent/Christmas Eve offerings, we collected $4,316.15 for the Katallasso Family Health Center. An acknowledgement letter from Executive Director Stephen Kurtz adds his comments: “Wow! Thank you First Church for your generous Advent offering! We are speechless. I love your passion for missions and of bringing the love of Jesus to those who are broken. We’re honored to partner with you. Thank you!”

Thank you for keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers during our loss ~ Bev Raney and family

YEAR-END GIVING STATEMENTS are available for pick-up in the gathering area (in envelopes). Please pick up your statement so that we do not need to mail them all. Thank you!

2024 LENTEN DEVOTIONAL

"Through Thick and Thin" by Beth Sollenberger

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

An important part of the Easter story is the Road to Emmaus, in Luke, when people walked and talked with Jesus and recognized the living Christ standing, striding alongside, or pausing to share supper across the table. This devotional shares stories of God’s presence in everyday people along the journey. It invites you to identify God’s presence in the people you meet along your own journey. Enjoy these stories of how Christ’s love and grace is revealed by those who are with us through thick and thin.

CALLING ALL QUILTERS

Do you have time and willingness to provide some assistance to community outreach projects? If so, please contact Cathy. There are several whole cloth quilt tops already basted to batting and backing which still need to be quilted. They range in size from car seat/stroller size up to 40/42 x 50/54" youth bed size. Quilt from home with quilting machine, or, if you are a hand quilter, feel free to join the group which meets 10AM the 3rd Thursday of each month.

FEBRUARY IS SHARE THE WARMTH MONTH

If you have a blanket to share, or materials for making one, please bring to York First and leave in Anna Mow room with my name on package. 

I currently have a long list of those needing a way to stay warm.

If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Carson.

Click on button to "Check out" these

new books that are available in

The First Church Library!

Directions for borrowing a book can be found on the countertop to the right after entering through the library door. 

Judy Yingling recently donated books from the personal collection of her late husband, Pastor David Yingling. As most of you remember, Pastor Yingling was formerly a pastor here at York First Church of the Brethren. His books have been processed and are now available in the Adult Section of our library. Please click on the button to see the titles of those books.

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

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 

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

February 4, 2024

SCRIPTURE LESSON:

Philippians 2:5-11

MESSAGE:

“Jesus, Our Lord”

If you need to reach the pastor outside of office hours, his mobile number is (717) 271-4888. You can also email him at [email protected]. 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.