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SUNDAY SCHEDULE 9:00 AM - Sunday School Classes for all ages - click here for more information  10:30 AM - Worship, Sanctuary THIS SUNDAY IN WORSHIP March 1, 2020   SCRIPTURE LESSON:     Matthew 6:24-34    MESSAGE:     “Enough Trouble”

 Contents :  This Week  Upcoming Events Children's Ministry Schedule J.A.M. Choir News Online Giving Birthdays Save the Date Notes from the Console   Last Week Contacting the Pastor

Happening This Week Preaching Series: The "Sermon on the Mount" This week in worship we conclude a series of messages focusing on Jesus' words as recorded in Matthew 5-6, looking specifically at his instructions regarding competing loyalties, anxiety, and the goodness and trustworthiness of God. This series confronts some of Jesus' most challenging yet encouraging words, absolutely essential for living the way of Christ and recognizing the true heart of God. Come and listen for how God is leading us, and be formed through the world-changing message that Jesus proclaimed. Also during worship this week - Child Consecration for some of our new members' families. Come and celebrate with us the lives of several dear children within our church, welcoming them into our family of faith and committing to guide them as they grow. Library Re-Opening this Sunday! The fully-renovated and refreshed church library will officially open this Sunday, March 1 after many months of work on both the physical space and sorting all books. An enormous thanks for Bob & Beth Drawbaugh for their countless hours of work on the project and to Stephanie Stoolmaker for assisting with book organization. Please feel free to visit the space this Sunday following worship and become re-acquainted with all that it has to offer. Soulful Singing lead by Ruth Fitz on Sunday March 1st at 3:30 PM, in the lounge. All are welcome to come and enjoy about an hour of singing with Ruth. Soulful Singing includes different songs with spirited music and simple instruments. It can be a joyful, soothing, and healing means of worship. This fellowship together will be fun, and ice cream will be provided. Bring cookies if you wish---no signup needed---no talent needed---just join in!

SUBS! SUBS! SUBS! COMING - Sunday, March 1, 2020 We will have Ham & Turkey Subs for sale in the Narthex.  NO ORDERS WILL BE TAKEN. This is "First Come - First Served".   So if you are interested, bring your cooler, or cool bag and see us in the m orning for your sub(s). We also plan to have a bake sale that day. So please bring your sweet tooth along! All proceeds from June Yard Sale will go to benefit First Church Youth this year.

The following resources are available on the table in the Gathering Area: This week's e-news and the March calendar, which can also be viewed here March Church of the Brethren Newsline Digest 2020 Directory, please feel free to pick up a copy

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL GUIDES are available in the Gathering Area – “Holy Manna" by Paula Bowser, Devotions for Ash Wednesday through Easter. We will all endure a wilderness experience at some point in our lives. Yet, we are never alone. God is always present, feeding us on the way. Partake of this holy manna, spiritual food which nourishes as we follow Jesus into the wilderness and beyond.  From the author: "My prayer is that each page will nourish, comfort, and inspire as we follow Jesus into the wilderness, and into ministry where he continues to be tested. And from there, to Jerusalem, to the cross, to the grave, and even to the skies! May God bless you on this journey." Please take one this Sunday and begin to use it during the season that is before us. They are yours free of charge, along with Lenten calendars for children.

Events, Prayer Requests, and Classes

Click for Calendar of Events, Friends to Remember in Prayer, & Sunday School

Upcoming Events

SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, March 13, 2020 - Sign up in the narthex to make a casserole or to work at the Soup Kitchen on Friday, March 13, 2020 (10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) PLEASE add your name and number of casseroles, to the SIGN-UP sheet, so we can let the Soup Kitchen know how many casseroles to expect.

BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE CHOIR CONCERT - Sunday, March 14, 2020 Mark your calendars now and plan to attend an evening of song and handbell music. First Church will be hosting the Bridgewater College Choir on Saturday evening March 14, at 7:00 PM as part their tour in the area. The Choir will perform a hymn titled "Communion: Peacefully, Simply, Together" that was recently written by Greg Bachman. **Volunteers are needed** to host students overnight on the 14th following their performance, returning them to the church on Sunday morning March 15th. If you live nearby and have a spare bed to offer, please see John Gibble and let him know how many people you can host. Thank you!

Special Offering: “One Great Hour of Sharing” Sunday, March 15, 2020 Invest in Futures ~ "For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building." - 1 Corinthians 3:9 When you give to to One Great Hour of Sharing, you support: •Families rebuilding their homes and lives after disasters •Farmers who share food and agricultural training with their communities •Youth who attend faith-forming events like National Junior High Conference •Volunteers who serve for a week or a year, beginning a lifetime of Christ-like service. Thank you for investing in futures! Your gifts do great things!

CAMP EDER SENIOR DAY, Wed., March 18, 2020, 9:30 am Morning Program: "The History of the Milk Man" Our own Jay Crist, York County milkman and antique milk delivery vehicle collector will share the history of milk home delivery and the vehicles that made it possible. He has spent the last 20 years collecting and restoring milk trucks and wagons, his most recent project included a 1919 all electric powered milk truck. Join us for this fun program and take as stroll down memory lane. We will also be having a delicious lunch and a fun afternoon activity to wrap the day up!

YARD SALE COLLECTION DATE YARD SALE ITEMS will be collected starting Monday, April 13. Please remember NO LARGE ITEMS at this time. And we cannot accept TV's, computers or large electronic items. A date will be posted later to drop off large items such as furniture, bicycles, cabinets, etc..

Children's Ministry Schedule

Thank you to all who assist with Children's Ministry. Your time, energy, and dedication are appreciated. If you need to make a schedule change or would like to serve as a teacher or in the nursery, please contact Michele Gibbel (717)318-5442 or mgibbel@yahoo.com

Nursery Caregivers Needed! In the recent weeks we have experienced a boom of young ones in the nursery during both Sunday School and Worship. This is so exciting! But to care for these little ones, we need more help. There are between 16-20 volunteer slots to fill each month. How can you help out?           Qualifications:           * A love for children          * A desire to support and encourage parents of young children          * An interest in seeing our congregation grow           * Background checks are required.   Please contact Michele Gibbel ( mgibbel@yahoo.com ) to be added to the rotation or with any questions. Thank you.

J.A.M. Choir News Children ages 4 to 6th grade J.A.M. (Jesus And Me) Choir is practicing Sundays from 9:50 am to 10:10 am in the basement choir room. For those children in Sunday school you will be escorted to the choir room and return to the Sunday school room to meet your parents after practice each week. J.A.M. Choir is scheduled to sing in worship every 2nd Sunday of the month. We will be singing, moving, using puppets, and playing musical instruments. Join us every Sunday as we make music for our Lord!

ONLINE GIVING ~ If you wish to begin contributing to the church using online giving, please visit our website at: yorkfirst.org and click on the Online Giving link or go directly to the Online Giving website t:  www.acionlinegiving.com/4706 . For assistance setting up your account, call Donor Support at:  800-348-2886 – Option 2 – Online Giving Questions? Contact Sheryl Leaman if necessary, and thank you for your support!

Church Website

Online Giving

2  Zoe Grace Miller           5  Edward Sweigard  6  Kevin McCracken 6 Thessa Sollenberger 6 Jackie LeGrand 10  Chris Baldwin 11  Jacob Boogher 13  Gail Rutland 13 Terry Yeager

If your birthday is in  MARCH it is not on the below list or is listed incorrectly, please call the church office.  14  James Baldwin 18  David Diehl 22  Audrey Ginder 24  Anna Boogher 25  Sheldon Markel 28  Seth Brickner

Save the Date

MEAT CANNING PROJECT - April 13, 14, 15, 16, & 20 More Details Will Follow 

Vacation Bible School at York First CoB Sunday, June 14 - Thursday, June 18 Plan NOW to be a part of this wonderful week together! More details in the months to follow

SUGGESTIONS FROM THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE “Catch the Spirit, Build for the Future” has been chosen as the theme for our Capital Fund Campaign. Campaign visits are ongoing, and we hope you will prayerfully consider making a pledge to support our church's future. As the campaign advances, we want to share with you two tax saving options that may be available to you as you consider your pledge to the campaign. These options are qualified charitable distributions and donation of appreciated securities. Qualified Charitable Distribution If you are age 70½ or older, IRS rules require you to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) each year from your tax-deferred IRA’s. This additional taxable income may push you into a higher tax bracket and may also reduce your eligibility for certain tax credits and deductions. For example, your taxable income helps determine the amount of your Social Security benefits that are subject to taxes. Keeping your taxable income level lower may also help reduce your potential exposure to higher Medicare premiums. To eliminate or reduce the impact of RMD income, you may want to consider making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from an IRA custodian, payable to a qualified charity. Amounts distributed as a QCD can be counted toward satisfying your RMD for the year and can also be excluded from your taxable income. This is not the case with a regular withdrawal from an IRA, even if you use the money to make a charitable contribution later on. In this scenario, the withdrawal would be counted as taxable income. You must be at least 70½ years old at the time you request a QCD. If you process a distribution prior to reaching age 70½, the distribution will be treated as taxable income. Funds must be transferred directly from your IRA custodian to the qualified charity. This is accomplished by requesting your IRA custodian issue a check from your IRA payable to the charity. You can then request that the check be mailed to the charity, or forward the check to the charity yourself. Donation of Appreciated Securities With the stock market setting all-time record highs, many investors are holding securities in their taxable accounts that have appreciated in value. Appreciated securities are investments that have increased in value from the time they were purchased, and can take the form of publicly traded stock, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), closely held stock, or mutual funds. For example, if a stock was purchased for $30 per share and sold for $50 per share, the stock has appreciated by $20 per share. When appreciated stock is sold, the owner generally realizes capital gains equal to the appreciation and may be liable for either short-term or long-term capital gains taxes. With a charitable gift of appreciated securities, the donation you make and the deduction you get are greater than they would be if you were to sell the shares and donate the cash proceeds instead. That is because when you donate shares, you avoid paying the capital gains tax. The church will receive the full market value of the securities donated. We encourage you to take advantage of these tax saving measures as you consider giving.

"Notes from the Console," Article 32, By Mike Frock   The prelude this week was written by Marcel Dupré. Dupré (1886-1971) was a French organist and composer. While he is not remembered as among the “A List” of composers (e.g. Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Schubert, etc.), he does rank among the titans of composers of organ music. Dupré falls in the middle of a line of great French composers of organ music starting in the Romantic Era and continuing throughout the 20 th century (e.g. Widor, Vierne, Guilmant, Gigout, Durufle, Messiaen, etc.). He took organ lessons from Guilmant when he was younger, and he entered the Paris Conservatory in 1904 where he took lessons from Guilmant, Widor and Vierne.   In 1914 he won the prestigious Prix de Rome with a cantata titled “Psyché.” He was an organ professor at the Paris Conservatory from 1926-1954/5, Director of the American Conservatory from 1947-1954, and the Director of the Paris Conservatory from 1954-1956. Outside of the academia world, he toured the world giving organ recitals, and he succeeded Widor as the organist at The Church of St. Sulpice in Paris. Dupré had many notable students, the most famous being Olivier Messiaen. Dupré was considered a true organ prodigy, and many of his compositions remain some of the most virtuosic and technically demanding pieces ever written for the instrument. 

LAST SUNDAY IN WORSHIP

Scripture Lesson:  Matthew 5:38-48 Message:     “Love and Resistance” Worship Attendance: 83

View Message (YouTube)

CONTACTING THE PASTOR Pastor Joel Gibbel can be reached most mornings in the church office Monday - Thursday from 9:00 AM to noon. Afternoons and evenings are often set aside for visiting those in need, for meetings, and for other pastoral duties. Pastor Joel is also available for Pastoral Counseling by appointment.

If you need to reach the pastor outside of office hours, his home phone number is (717)318-5442, and his cell 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 let hospital staff know that you would like the hospital to contact your pastor.

Our Mission Statement: “People dedicated to Spiritual Growth, Loving Relationship, and Sacrificial Service” Our Vision Statement: “To become a community of committed Christians who Love God, Share Christ, and Serve the World”