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 SUNDAY SCHEDULE WORSHIP 10:30 AM In the Sanctuary and Online Please See Below for Sunday School Class Information  THIS SUNDAY IN WORSHIP July 26, 2020   SCRIPTURE LESSON: Matthew 14:13-21    MESSAGE: "Give Them Something to Eat”  

Pastor Joel will be on Vacation from July 27th to August 3rd. If you have any pastoral needs during this week, please contact your assigned deacon.

 Contents :  This Week Sunday School News Youth Group News COB Newsline Online Giving Upcoming Events Postponed and Canceled Events Birthdays Notes from the Console Last Week Contacting the Pastor

Happening This Week An Unexpected Feast Our message this week is based on the account of the "feeding of the 5,000" as told in Matthew 14 - an event layered with profound allusions to God's ways throughout scripture and much meaning for us still today. It stands as an instruction for Jesus' disciples to take part in the work he is doing - even making possible the power of God among people by our willingness to serve. Come join us for worship as seek God's word for us today. Live Stream Continues! Once again (and always, we hope) our worship service will be presented "live stream" through our YouTube channel. Click the link below shortly before 10:30 AM on Sunday to enter a time of worship with all who will do likewise this weekend. This live streaming service will continue indefinitely, even as we resume in-person gatherings. The video will be available to view after the worship hour in case you miss the 10:30 time or wish to watch it again. *Please note: if anyone is unable to view the videos online, we have DVD copies of the services that can be picked up in the church narthex any weekday. Sermon manuscripts are also available upon request. We hope no one is missing out! ORDER OF SERVICE 10:30 AM, July 26, 2020 Organ Prelude: ‘No. 15. Arabesque’ from “24 Pièces en Style Libre” - Vierne Welcome and Prayer Hymn "Brethren, we have met to worship"          Call to Prayer Joys and Concerns Prayers of the Church Gifts and Offerings Offering Invitation Offertory/Solo: “Find Us Faithful" Mohr - Jennifer McCleary Scripture Lesson: Matthew 14:13-21 Message:    "Give Them Something to Eat” Hymn "Move in our midst" S ending Prayer Organ Postlude: “Hymn to the Trinity” Scott-Devin  This Week: Gathering This Sunday once again, our church building will be open for worship attendance. Please view the video below from last week for more information related to expectations and guidelines for our safety, as well as the written portion further below entitled "C oncerning the COVID-19 pandemic and church operations." This remains a "soft opening" and not any sort of grand return-to-normal, as many parts of this nation struggle with COVID-19 very much at present. Since rates are relatively low in our area, we trust that small gatherings can be done with a high degree of safety. We encourage staying at home rather than attending in person. Those who wish to attend may do so, so long as guidelines are practiced and we all remain healthy. Thank you all for your patience, concern, and encouragement in recent weeks!

Sunday School News Homebuilders Sunday School Class The Homebuilders Class is continuing to meet on Sunday mornings from 9:00 am to 10:00 am by conference call. All are welcome to join. To be included, contact Mike Martin either by calling 717-840-4184 or by emailing Caretaker@TwinBrookFarm.com , leaving the phone number at which you would like to be called. You will receive a phone call in the vicinity of 9:00 am. The class continues to examine lessons from the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum. Lamplighters Sunday School Class The Lamplighters Class is planning to meet on Wednesday Evenings at 7 :00 pm until 8:00 pm by zoom (video) conference. If you wish to be included and haven't received an email already, please contact Pastor Joel at pastor@yorkfirst.org , and he will forward you the link. (We will not share the login info publicly in an effort to prevent hacking). The class will be led by Patricia Carey, based on a video series by Bob Goff. Vine & Branches Sunday School Class The Vine & Branches Class is continuing to meet on Sunday mornings from 9:00 am to 10:00 am by zoom (video) conference. If you wish to be included, please contact Pastor Joel at pastor@yorkfirst.org , and he will forward you the link. The class will begin studying the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum, "Many Faces of Wisdom." This week's lesson is based on John 14 - "The Way, Truth, and Life." Children's Sunday School Class Children's Sunday School is now planned for 12:00 noon each Sunday via zoom, with a lesson lasting approximately 20 minutes. Parents may of course participate alongside, but the time will be tailored to children. For the zoom link and to be included, please contact Pastor Joel at pastor@yorkfirst.org . Thanks, and we look forward to this special time together! Click on the video below for a special story in advance of this week's lesson:

Youth Group News

Please check out this new Church of the Brethren resource that provides daily devotions for the youth. "Good News! Youth Devotional" has a new and unique offering each day with scripture, commentary, prayers, and questions to consider.

Youth Daily Devotions

For those of you working with our children at church: Please take this Child Abuse prevention Training at www.Ilookoutforchildabuse.com . After you complete the training please print your certificate and give it to Pastor Joel to keep on file. Thank you so much for helping care for our little ones at church. Thank you!

Church of the Brethren Denominational News Denominational news and information is always available by visiting brethren.org

Church of the Brethren Annual Conference Worship (July 1) Click to view the full service here

Annual Conf. Worship Service

Prayer Requests

Click for Friends to Remember in Prayer and Event Announcements

Although in-person worship gatherings and events are suspended for a time, the church's ministry continues in many important ways. Please continue to give as you are so led, whether by mail or through online giving. Thank you. 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:  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 - Thank you for your support!!!!!

Church Website

Online Giving

Upcoming Events

VBS is HERE! August 2-7, 2020 Join us ONLINE for 3 days of VBS Fun! Invite your Friends, Family & Neighbors to join you at your house for this awesome time of worship, play, and fun! You’ll find 3 days worth of lessons and activities. Each daily video lasts about 25 minutes, but includes break points for games, crafts, and snack. This comes to about 1 ½ hours of VBS fun each day! Got it? So, invite your friends and family to BOLT over to your place for a great time of learning and laughing.  ·         Going to be away August 2-7? That’s okay, choose another week that works for you! ·         Socially Distancing big time? Just do it with the people in your household.  ·         Need supplies? Most craft and game supplies should be easy to find at your home. If you still need something, contact Diane Gibbel.  ·       Too old or young for VBS? NOT THIS YEAR!!!! Adults, invite neighbor kids or grandkids to join you! Parents and siblings can get in the fun too!  This is going to be a true community event! Let’s do this!!!!!   BOLT INFO:  Visit: https://www.gocurriculum.com/bolt-vbs Click: Family Portal Password: LETSBOLT Don’t forget to take pictures throughout your VBS week! Send pictures to pastor@yorkfirst.org .

Mel Markey Memorial Golf Benefit benefiting Children's Aid Society 'The Lehman Center' Held at Hanover Country Club, August 13, 2020 Registration Deadline: August 2, 2020 Mel Markey was a long time volunteer at CAS 'The Lehman Center' and we have re-named the tournament in his honor. For more information, visit our website!  or click for our tournament brochure!  Brochures are also posted on the bulletin board.

SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, August 14, 2020 -  Sign up by calling Audrey Ginder, 717-755-6785 to make a casserole for the Soup Kitchen on Friday, August 14, 2020 (10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) PLEASE contact Audrey to add your name and number of casseroles, so we can let the Soup Kitchen know how many casseroles to expect.  Thank you!

INTERGENERATIONAL WORK CAMP PROJECT Our intergenerational work camp project with Cornerstone Youth Home, a program under the administrative umbrella of the Children’s Aid Society, was completed a day earlier than anticipated! Their mission of turning the house at 484 & 486 W. Market Street into a home is well on its way after we readied the building for renovations that begin next week. Sara Gray Bradley, Executive Director of CYH expressed her deep appreciation for our volunteer efforts. This project had a tight turn around time and York First Church came through! Volunteers: Danielle, Micah, Michele and Joel Gibbel, Diane Gibble and Alyssa Johnson, Pat, Marcus & Michael Carey, Diane and Barry Hollinger, Judy Deitch, Ava, Greg and Deb Klinedinst worked to ready the buildings for renovations. Leonard Stoner was scheduled to be there on Thursday but when we finished early he didn’t have the opportunity to help physically but know that he was with us in spirit the other days we were there. The volunteers cleaned out desks, shredded documents, removed blinds, switch & socket plates, curtains, art work, file cabinets, white & bulletin boards, & moved many chairs to the third floor of the house. Special thanks also to the Leadership Team and Pastor Joel for their support in making this project viable. Sara Gray Bradley, Executive Director, has long been an advocate for youth in our county and state as the Childcare Director of the York YMCA, United Way Dir. Of Education & Focus on our Future Initiatives, Asso. Exec. Dir. Of PA Head Start Asso., Learning Policy Dir. of PA Partnerships for Children, consultant at Pearson Education and now Executive Director of CYH. Should you want to learn more about Cornerstone Youth Home, their mission, program and vision, their web site provides a wealth of information at: https://cyhyork.org/about/ . Did you know that annually there are 350 self-identified students who experience housing instability in a given school year in York City School District. Typically 2 nd and 3 rd grade children experience the highest concentration. Thank you to all that helped to provide life changing services to the youth in York City! Deb Klinedinst

Concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and church operations: Since video live-streaming is fully functional and COVID-19 cases remain relatively low in our area, we believe that we can responsibly resume worship gatherings, so long as they are small and well-distanced. That said, staying home remains the safest option , and we commend doing so to prevent spread of contagious disease. Worship will be recorded and live streamed each Sunday morning at 10:30 AM whether anyone is in attendance or not. We remain a committed body of Christ's faithful disciples whether we gather in person or not. We are simply allowing in-person attendance for those who desire to do so. Thank you all in advance for choosing wisely how and where you will worship. No Sunday School classes will resume until a later date, and several elements of worship will be adjusted such as seating arrangements, no passing of offering plates, and restricted singing. Handshake greetings should be avoided and masks must be worn within the building. Sanctuary windows and doors will be open, so expect warm and humid conditions. Please know that all of these measures are for our collective wellness. We have every intention of continuing to provide worship, teaching, and encouragement while maintaining “physical distance” for the safety and well-being of the vulnerable among us. The pastor and secretary continue to be available and in the office most of the week, so please feel free to call or email as you wish. We discourage in-person visits , however. Visitation to nursing homes and hospitals continues to be restricted, and pastoral visits will be minimal. Please recognize that your church will require funds to continue basic operation of property and facility, fulfill pledged outreach giving, and maintain staff who will continue to minister whether in-person gatherings happen or not. Online giving is a simple and easy way to support your church and those it serves during this time, and it is accessible through our church website www.yorkfirst.org . Mailing your gifts and offerings to the church office is also welcome. Thank you to all who have given generously! We have been able to maintain our many outreach commitments thus far this year , and for that we give thanks! Look for other announcements on our website and facebook page , and as always you may read current and/or recent newsletters through our website for other updates (and past sermons if you have spare time). **Note that you do not even need a facebook account of you own to view the church's page there. If you do have a facebook account, please "like" our church's page to view updates there. The more you "like" and "comment" and "share" our content, the better it "travels" and will be seen by others. Do your part to freely spread our messages of ministry during this time. Thank you!!** Concerning the spread of COVID-19, here is a good resource with helpful links to other sites as well: https://covid19.brethren.org/ Be careful to pay attention to public health experts, rather than every news headline or comment from your neighbors. We must act responsibly for the well-being of all, not merely ourselves. This disease is real and a genuine threat to the lives of many. Thank you all for understanding and for your faithful participation in our life together. Stay apart from each other in body but close together in spirit. Talk to each other often, by phone especially. Please stay home and do your part to prevent the spread of contagious disease. That is how we can best love one another for the time being. God's comfort and peace be with you.

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Postponed and Canceled Events

Postponed Until 2021 Cross Keys Village, The Brethren Home Community 60th Annual Chicken BBQ, Car Show, & Auction scheduled for Sat., August 8th

Brethren Disaster Relief Auction Event in Lebanon scheduled for late September is canceled over pandemic concerns! This year's Lebanon Expo Brethren Disaster Relief Auction that has been a tradition since 1977 has been canceled because of the coronavirus crisis. The BDRA association determined the health concerns due to COVID-19 complicated the ongoing planning and volunteer coordination for the two-day event set to begin Sept. 25.    Event if current restrictions were lifted for opening of the Auction, it would be extremely difficult to have complete assurance that all volunteers, vendors and supporters would attend.   While the entire Board of Directors was heartbroken to make the decision, they feel it is a safer and more conscientious decision to take this year to continue fund raiding efforts with the Church of the Brethren (COB) organizations in central Pennsylvania. While this is sad news for the COB denomination and the Brethren Disaster Relief Ministry (the recipient of the Auction proceeds to rebuild disaster damaged areas), the Board of Directors look forward to seeing everyone in 2021.  ~ BDRA Board of Directors

04   Sarah Hamill 06   Violet Chronister 08   Margaret Eck 09   Bev Raney 10   Linda Wisner 14   Donna Sharp 15   Pastor Joel Gibbel 18   Julie Poland 19   Robert Sharp 21   Bob Bingaman 21   Betty Bortner If your birthday is in  AUGUST it is not on the below list or is listed incorrectly, please call the church office.  22   Dennis Wisner 22  Eric Zimmerman 25   Judy Deitch 25 Abby Dierdorf 26  Allison Poland 26   Sandra Dell 27   Stephanie Stoolmaker 28   Betty Crowe 28   Tom McCracken

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 2020 the gift card sales will support The Lehman Center (Children’s Aid Society), New Community Project, Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry, and LifePath Christian Ministries (formerly York Rescue Mission). 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. Beginning July 12, I plan to attend our in-person worship services and will have the gift cards available for your purchase before or after the service.  However, if you will not be attending our in-person worship services, I will continue to send cards in the mail if you want to support this outreach ministry. Send your check to Becky Wenger, 3011 Bedford Pl, York, PA 17408. The Giant or Weis cards will be mailed to you. Make your check out to York First Church. Thank you for supporting this program -  Becky Wenger, Cash for Causes representative

"Notes from the Console," Article 53, By Mike Frock   The Postlude this week is “Hymn to the Trinity” by Cecil Scott-Devin.  The Prelude this week is ‘No. 15. Arabesque’ from “24 Pièces en Style Libre” (“24 Pieces in Free Style”) by Louis Vierne.  In music, an arabesque is a composition in which the melody is highly ornamented. To this end, there are several grace notes, double grace notes, and other quick figures. This piece is not like the Baroque music which I have been playing lately. You will not hear 4-measure phrases with standard chord progressions and perfect cadences at the end. You will hear a flute playing a single-note melody line over long sustained notes, which gives the piece a sense of openness. Even if you do not “like” the piece, you might find parts of this piece relaxing. I previously played another piece from this 24-piece collection and wrote an article about Vierne and the collection.  As a refresher, Vierne (1870-1937) was legally blind.  Despite this, he was the organist at the Notre Dame Cathedral.  There is one interesting fact that I did not mention before.  Despite the Cathedral’s fame, when Vierne started his tenure there, the Cathedral’s organ was in disrepair. Vierne embarked upon a worldwide tour giving organ concerts to raise the money needed for the restoration of the Cathedral’s organ.   This piece is very quiet, requiring only four stops over three divisions.  It calls for an 8’ flute stop on the Great manual (melody), an 8’ string stop on the Swell manual (harmony), and an 8’ flute stop and a 16’ flute stop in the Pedal division (mostly a sustained pedal point note throughout).  For those of you who will be watching from home, because this piece is so quiet, in order to hear it, you may need to turn the volume the entire way up on YouTube, your device, and/or your speakers.  If you cannot hear it, I apologize.  This is in no way the fault of the A/V team.  Tim went above and beyond working with me and experimenting with placing different microphones at different places.  I would, however, be interested in hearing about your experience regarding the volume of the piece and which device/speakers you used.  The piece is about 4’30” long.  Therefore, I will try to start around 10:25/10:26 to be finished around 10:30/10:31.  If you turn up your volume, remember to turn it back down after the Prelude! 

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP

Scripture Lesson: Matthew 13:24-30,36-43    MESSAGE: "Let Them Grow"  

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@yorkf irst.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”