SUPPORTING THE STUDENTS – August 17

To support the academic success of neighborhood children, we will be collecting school supplies during worship for the Stony Brook Elementary School (K-3).

Please consider bringing the following school supplies to support the students and teachers: 

Backpacks, Lunchboxes, Black dry erase markers, #2 Pencils, Crayons,

Large pink erasers, Glue sticks, Play-doh, Cardstock, Good quality tissues,

Clorox wipes, Hand sanitizer, Headphones, Plastic water bottles,

Individually packaged nut-free & or gluten free snacks

Thank you, Education Team & Witness Team 

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Saturday, August 16

6:00 pm  Outdoor Hymn Sing and Peach Festival

–Back Courtyard (Sanctuary if bad weather)/Gathering Space

Sunday, August 17

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary, Walt Wiltschek preaching

12:00 pm  Deacon Meeting - Anna Mow Room

Tuesday, August 19

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

6:00 pm  CDC Ministry Team – Anna Mow Room

Wednesday, August 20

9:30 am  Staff Meeting – Multi-Purpose Room

       6:00 pm  Pizza/Game Night – Gathering Space

Thursday, August 21

6:30 pm  Chancel Choir Practice – Sanctuary

Saturday, August 23

11:00 am   Celebration of Life Service for Jack Myers – Sanct./FH

(Visitation will be 9:00 to 11:00 am followed by a meal)

Sunday, August 24

9:00 am  Combined Sunday School – Rm 154

10:30 am Welcome Back Worship Service – Sanctuary

11:45 am  Following Worship Lemonade on the Lawn

Summer Worship and Fellowship Events at York First COB!

This summer the Worship and the Fellowship and Hospitality Teams are once again “teaming up” to sponsor some fun events to help us stay connected and throughout the summer months and to build relationships as we enjoy each other’s company! Below is what the month of August looks like going forward:

Saturday, August 16 6-8 p.m. Outdoor Hymn Sing and Peach Festival – Back by popular demand! Come join us to sing your favorite hymns in the back courtyard (in the sanctuary if inclement weather) followed by some sweet treats in the Gathering Space – no cost and all are welcome! Contact your deacon or the church office if you need transportation. 

Sunday, August 17 Worship – Guest preacher is Walt Wiltschek; Blessing of the Backpacks and Special Third Sunday Offering: monetary donations and school supplies for Stony Brook Elementary School.

Wednesday, August 20 6-8 p.m.–Pizza/Game Night: bring a snack & games to share!

Sunday, August 24 – Welcome Back Sunday and Lemonade on the Lawn following worship: Welcome back from summer vacation and back to school and a very special welcome back to Pastor Joel who will be returning from his sabbatical and back in the pulpit once again!  

Click on this button to view the full calendar

Contacting the Interim Ministries Coordinator

Pastor Joel is observing sabbatical leave from May 24 until August 23 this summer. Our church will continue strongly in ministry during this time!

Kim Witkovsky is serving as the Interim Ministries Coordinator during Joel's absence.

Her hours will be posted in the newsletter and bulletin weekly. Please feel free to contact her at (814) 599-7055 (mobile) with texts or calls or by email at witkovskyks@gmail.com

If you would like a visit from Kim, please contact her directly or call the church office.

Office Hours This Week: Mon.- Fri. 8:30 am – 10:30 am

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 153. 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 Classes

9:00 AM in Room 155. Teacher Dave Witkovsky. Youth grades 7-12 are welcome.

Vine & Branches Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. The class is studying the "Wired Word" - a news curriculum that guides us with scripture, prayer and news information and how our faith calls us to respond in the Way of Jesus the Christ.

Lamplighters Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. We'll be planning our studies for the remainder

of the year. Suggestions needed!

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.  

York First Church of the Brethren

Education Team Upcoming Events – August and September

As we prepare for back-to-school time and the fall season, the Education Team has several special events and milestones to celebrate! Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for these congregational events!

Sunday morning worship, August 17 – Blessing of the Backpacks; special offering and donations of school supplies for Stony Brook Elementary School

Sunday morning Sunday School, August 24 –

▪Youth and Adult combined Sunday School – Micah Gibbel’s presentation about his experience at the Christian Citizenship Seminar in Washington, DC

▪Combined Children’s Sunday School – celebration party

Sunday morning worship, September 7 – Christian Education Sunday: Teacher Appreciation and Dedication and Faith Markers Presentations

September, October, November Sunday School Hour – Pastor Joel will be leading a 12-week church membership class for youth (dates/location to be announced)

Sunday morning Sunday School, September 14 –

▪Youth and Adult combined Sunday School – Nancy Jones’ presentation about her spring volunteer experience with Brethren Disaster Ministries in Kentucky

Sunday morning Sunday School, September 28 (tentative) –

▪Youth and Adult combined Sunday School – Pastor Joel and Dave Witkovsky, delegate, will share information and lead a discussion about the business and work of Annual Conference 2025 

Upcoming Events

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:

Saturday, August 16 Outdoor Hymn Sing and Peach Festival 6:00 PM

Sunday, August 17 During Worship - Blessing of the Backpacks/Donations of School

supplies for Stony Brook Elementary School

Wednesday, August 20 Pizza/Game Night in the Gathering Space 6:00 PM

55th Annual Dunker Church Service

to be held September 14

We are organizing a church bus trip to attend this service and will depart shortly after worship on Sun, Sept. 14th. There will be a sign up sheet in the Gathering Space this Sunday and for the next few weeks. Please join us for this special heritage event!

SHARPSBURG, MD – On Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 at 3:00 p.m., the 55th Annual Dunker Church service will be held at the Dunker Church, located on the Antietam National Battlefield. Often noted as one of the most remarkable landmarks on this battlefield, the church has long stood for peace and love even during one of the most brutal confrontations of the Civil War.

The afternoon will begin with a tribute to Reverand Edward Poling who passed away in January 2025. Rev. Poling pastored several Church of the Brethren churches in the area, was a board member for the Hagerstown Area Religious Council (HARC) and was a past chair of the Dunker Church Service Planning Committee. The service also will include a traditional call to worship, hymns, sharing of scripture, special music and readings, prayers and a message brought by Steve Longenecker. Steve is a professor of history, emeritus, at Bridgewater College. He taught there for thirty-two years, served as a department head, and chaired the college's Forum for Brethren Studies.

NEIGHBORS

UNITED

Neighbors United focus groups,

hosted by United Way of York County,

give residents a chance to share their

experiences and hopes for their families and community.

Everyone is welcome, and participation is completely anonymous. Insights are shared in reports, but no personal details are ever included.

Questions: Contact Samira Sankaran at

ssankaran@unitedway-york.org OR

call 717-843-0957 Ext. 808

Please join us on

September 16 at 4:00 pm

at York First Church of the Brethren



Your voice matters.

Be a part of the conversation.

Location: 2710 Kingston Road, York, PA



Time: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Parking: Parking is available on site

Attendees will receive a $25 gift card for participating.

Light food and refreshments will be provided.

Church of the Brethren News

Southern PA District/Denomination

Denominational news and information is always available by visiting brethren.org

Read news updates by clicking the link below

Please subscribe to receive COB Newsline via email if you wish

2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE - WRAP UP DVD

The Wrap Up DVD is available in the church office. The DVD can be checked out to view and return. Please contact the church office to make sure it is available when you want to sign it out. There is also a printout of the Wrap Up on the table in the Gathering Space. Please feel free to take a copy!

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.

BIRTHDAY CARD SHOWER FOR JIM KNAUB

Jim and his wife, Gloria, had been long-time

attenders of York First. Gloria has since passed away.

Jim will be celebrating his 90th birthday on September 11.

His family is throwing a card shower for this special day and would like to invite any York First old-timers who remember him to join. 

If anyone would like to wish Jim a Happy Birthday, please mail cards to his daughter, Wendy, before September 5. Thank you!

Her address is: Wendy Tobias, 1190 Gardenia Drive, Windsor, PA 17366

DIRECTORY CHANGE:

Page 14 - Nancy Gipe

New address and phone number:

1800 Village Circle, Apt. 112, Lancaster, PA 17603 Phone: 717-392-4689

MURAL IN NURSERY

People have been busy adding animals to the nursery wall mural. Since many of you don't frequent the nursery we wanted to share the painting with you. Feel free to stop in and see it in person. Thank you to all those who helped make the nursery a happy space!

Diane Gibble

Patricia Carey is the Witness Team appointment for the Cash for Causes program. Please see Patricia before or after worship to purchase your Giant or Weis gift cards. Patricia will be at the table under the bulletin board in the Gathering Space.

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.

Since 2011, through the Cash for Causes program, the church has received 5% of sales to support various COB and local ministries. In 2024 the gift card sales supported The Lehman Center, New Community Project and the Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry with each receiving $233.08. For 2025, the Witness Team will review past giving and determine which agencies we will support this year. 

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP