FOOD PANTRY WISH LIST - for This Sunday December 17!

Thank you very much for all of the donations to our food pantry during Harvest Feast last month. As mentioned before we are starting a new tradition of collecting for the food pantry the third Sunday of the month during the Children’s time. Our next collection will be Sunday December 17. Below is a wish list for the pantry.

Pancake Mix                                                  Cooking Oil

Syrup                                                              Bottles of Fruit Juice

Small canned hams                                      Strawberry Jelly                                       

Canned Tuna and Chicken                         Cake mix and Frosting

Any donation is greatly appreciated. All food donations must be non-perishable. Donations can also include monetary donations and items for our extended outreach such as laundry detergent, cleaning products, dish soap, and personal hygiene products.

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Sunday, December 17

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Choir Cantata with Worship – Sanctuary

*with food pantry donations*

Monday, December 18

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

Tuesday, December 19

9:30 am Ladies Bible Study/Christmas Luncheon - Rebecca Wolf’s House

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

6:00 CDC Board - Anna Mow Room

Wednesday, December 20

9:00 am  Staff Meeting – Multi-Purpose Room

3:00 pm  Longest Night Service – Chapel

Thursday, December 21

10:00 am  Prayer Shawl – Anna Mow Room

5:45 pm  Bell Choir Practice – Bell Choir Room

6:30 pm  Choir Practice – Sanctuary

Saturday, December 23

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

Sunday, December 24 – Christmas Eve

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am Worship Service – Sanctuary

7:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - Sanctuary

(Music beginning at 6:30 pm)

*Special Offering for Katallasso Health Center*

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. 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 using the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum entitled "Faith that Pleases God." This week's lesson will consider the

"family of faith" that is Jesus' genealogy as told in Matthew 1.

Lamplighters Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. Teacher Beth Anne Bahn. The lesson series is entitled "Christmas Through the Eyes of Joseph" 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.  

RESULTS OF SPECIAL AFFIRMATION - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2023

A special Congregational Forum was held on Sunday, December 10, 2023.

The results of the Special Affirmation are as follows:

Cheryl Weyant Alternate District Conference Delegate for District conference 2024. Unanimous affirmed 54 Ballots.



Kim Witkovsky Deacon for years 2024 through 2026.

53 Affirmed with one abstension.

NEW MEETING DATES FOR CONGREGATIONAL FORUM

2024 Congregational Forums will be held on May 5, and November 3.

In ensuing years the Congregational Forum will be on the

first Sundays of May and November.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

December 17 - Christmas Cantata (Sunday 10:30 AM Worship)

December 20 - Longest Night Service, Chapel (Wednesday 3:00 PM)

December 24 - Morning Worship 10:30 AM and Christmas Eve Service 7:00 PM

Longest Night Service

Wednesday December 20 at 3:00 PM in the Chapel

The Christmas season is often marked by expressions of joy, excitement, and happiness. It’s a time for family to gather and for churches to worship, pointing to the hope that is found in the coming of the Christ child. However, this time of joy and expectation can often overshadow the pain and hurt many experience during this season, when the world's merriment can make grief and sorrow even more intense and difficult to bear.

One of the greatest acts of care and compassion we can share with each other in the Advent Season is to offer an experience called the Service of the Longest Night. It is a worship service scheduled around the winter solstice (the longest night of the calendar year) which always occurs around December 21 every year. It acknowledges that, for many people, Christmas is a time of loneliness, sorrow, sadness and loss. This service offers a way for people to claim those feelings and still feel surrounded by the compassionate love of God. In some churches it is also known as "Blue Christmas."

Come and join us for a time of meditation and remembrance. It is our time to be together with those who experience a difficult time during the holidays or need to acknowledge some pain, grief or loss they are carrying in the midst of this season of celebration. This brief gathering provides a sacred space for reflection, meditation and comfort through word, scripture, song and prayer in a way that offers peace, hope and light in the midst of darkness.

We hope you will worship with us and invite others to join you as together we affirm the darkness of our sorrow and sadness and then celebrate the light of Christ in our lives. Please contact the church office if you need transportation to attend the service. 

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.

2024 OFFERING ENVELOPES

Are available for pickup on the counter in the gathering area.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

1. Some envelope numbers have changed for 2024.

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 (2023) envelopes after DECEMBER 31, 2023.

DO NOT use your new (2024) envelopes before JANUARY 1, 2024.



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

I feel so blessed to be part of our 1st Church family. Thank you so much for your prayers, calls, cards, and help.

With a grateful heart ~ Pat Trimmer

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 

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”.

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

December 10, 2023

SCRIPTURE LESSON:

Luke 1:39-56   

MESSAGE:

 “Hill Country: Mary and Elizabeth”  



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.