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CONGREGATIONAL FORUM - SUNDAY MAY 3, 11:00 AM

Our Spring Congregational Forum will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2026. The forum will begin promptly at the end of our worship time will begin at 10:00 AM and be shorter than usual to allow time for the Forum. All church members are expected to attend.

Lunch will be provided by Fellowship and Hospitality following the meeting!   

The Congregational Forum Booklet, Treasurer's Report, and

Revised Congregational Structure are available for pick up in the Gathering Area.



Please take one per household and read them in advance of the meeting. The revised constitution will be a major item of business, and it is important that you arrive having reviewed it in full. Thank you.

Urgent Request for Food Pantry Funds!

We are in urgent need of funds to continue operating our food pantry! This request may come as a surprise since our allocated funds have maintained our operations so far. However, with the rising cost of food, both in grocery stores and from the York County Food Bank, and increasing number of people we serve, we are nearly out of funds. In this period of building our funds back up, we are simplifying the foods we can offer in the food pantry. We kindly ask you to consider if you might be willing and able to contribute toward our food pantry, either through prayer, financial donation, or food donation. We can always use pasta, pasta sauce, canned tuna, canned vegetables, rice, and cereal. Please check expiration dates prior to donating as we cannot accept food that has expired. Thank you again for your generosity and concern with continuing to serve our neighbors and community!

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Sunday, May 3

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:00 am Worship Service – Sanctuary

11:00 am  Spring Congregational Forum - Sanctuary

Monday, May 4

6:45 pm  Worship Team – Anna Mow Room

Tuesday, May 5

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

Wednesday, May 6

9:30 am  Staff Meeting – Multi-Purpose Room

11:30 am  Lunch Bunch – Chili’s (East York)

Thursday, May 7

8:30 am  Soup Kitchen – (Casseroles due at church by 8:30)

***Casseroles now due Thursday mornings

6:30 pm  Chancel Choir Rehearsal – Sanctuary



Saturday, May 9

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

Sunday, May 10

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

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 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 Class

9:00 AM in Room 155. Teacher Dave Witkovsky. The Youth will be preparing to lead worship this Sunday. Youth in grades 6-12 are welcome.

Vine & Branches Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. Teacher Joel Gibbel. We will be studying "The Upside Down Kingdom" by Donald Kraybill with chapter 4, "Wilderness Bread" which explores Jesus' temptation in the wilderness to turn stones into bread.

This book is offers a tremendous summary of the core lessons of Jesus' life and ministry, absolutely essential to study! All are welcome, especially younger adults.

Lamplighters Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. Teacher Patricia Carey. The class will review the recent lessons from the book "Faithful in Small Things: How to Serve the Needy When You're One of Them" by author Kevin Weibe. All are welcome.

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. 

Upcoming Events

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:

Sunday May 3: Spring Congregational Forum 11:00 AM (Worship 10:00 AM)

Sunday May 17: Music Celebration Sunday

Sunday May 24: Pentecost Sunday

Sunday May 31: Graduate Recognition, Bread and Cup Communion

OUR DAILY BREAD/SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, May 8, 2026

THERE IS A CHANGE ON THE DAY THE CASSEROLES ARE DUE

Casseroles are now due 2nd THURSDAY before 8:30 AM

Sign up by calling Sandi Bowser at 717-825-7203 to make a casserole for

Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen for Friday, May 8, 2026 (10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)

PLEASE contact Sandi to add your name and number of casseroles, so we can let

Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen know how many casseroles to expect.

The pans are located in the church lounge. Thank you!

MAY 30, 2026

8:30 AM TO 3:00 PM

Country Breakfast at 9AM!

Devotional Theme Job 12:7-9

Join us for a day filled

with adventure together.

Click on button for

event flyer

York First Church of the Brethren

Vacation Bible School

June 15-19

2:30-4:30 (During CDC Hours)

Ages 4 – 5^th grade

Register Today!

~ Connect with Friends & Neighbors ~

Come join us as we use our brain power to connect with Jesus, family, and friends of all ages! We’ll worship, sing songs, play games, create art projects & try science experiments all while connecting with each other and God! 

~ Celebration Lunch following Sunday, June 21^st Worship ~



Contact Michele Gibbel with VBS questions (717) 208-2898

Register by June 8^th

Be a part of this exciting VBS week of learning, growing, & connecting

To help out contact: Michele Gibbel, (717) 208-2898 

Click on button below to be a VBS Volunteer

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

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.

                    Prayer Shawl Ministry Expansion

Prayer shawls are made and blessed for church members as well as those in the wider community who have expressed desire to receive a prayer shawl. 

Also crafted and passed along with blessing are blankets - knitted or crocheted, quilts, hats, scarves, mittens, small pocket size knitted/crocheted animals and small cross stitched crosses. The animals go to fire and police personnel as well as hospice to have available for children who have experienced rapid, life altering trauma. Other items go where needed; homeless shelters, safe houses, those living on the streets, hospice, to anyone needing something they do not have.



Prayer Shawl Ministry meets 3^rd Thursday of the month at 10 AM in the Anna Mow room. If you have the time we would love to have you join us for some fun and good conversation. Bring along whatever project you are working on. If you need supplies for a project we can provide.

No skill you say. Well join us and we can teach you one. Hope to see you in May.

LOOK WHO'S

CELEBRATING

THIS MONTH

02  Emily Vuono 

02  Briella Hamill  

08  Eric Jones 

13  Carole Bradfield

13  Dale Paules

16  Paige Striebig 

18  Christine Wuhrman       

18  Jean Lauver

18  Amie Dietrich    

If your birthday is in MAY and is not on

the list below or is listed incorrectly,

please contact the church office.

21 Stephen Carey

25 Malakai Wolf

26  Doris Markel

26  Rick Boogher            

27  Brenda Harlacher                  

28  Shea Martin

28  Cheryl Weyant 



My heart is full of gratitude and thanksgiving for all the many ways you, our church family and Pastor Joel, ministered to Dave and me following my recent hip surgery. The cards, calls, emails and texts were so very encouraging and touched my heart deeply. Some of you were even brave enough to visit with me - thank you for spending time with us and showering us with your kindness and generosity in food, gifts, meals and gentle hugs. The overflowing love and care you shared with us during my recovery and rehab was deeply appreciated. I have healed well and will be finished with PT at the end of the month. I won't be skipping down the halls of the church but I will finally be walking without pain - thanks be to God! What a journey and we couldn't have done it without you! ~ Blessings! Kim Witkovsky

DIRECTORY CHANGE:

P. 15 - Alex Leair

New Address: 253 E. Philadelphia St., Apt. A, York, PA 17403

P. 17 - Add: Nancy Poteet, 731 Hoffman Rd., York, PA 17403 (717) 668-1773

Gathering Area Quilt

Every month the quilt in the gathering area is changed to another beautiful quilt. 

The May quilt is named "Peaceful Window".

These quilts are made by Sid Innerst. Sid is a very talented quilter and we want to thank her for sharing her beautiful work. As you are walking through the gathering area, please take a moment to enjoy the beauty and details of these quilts. 

Community Aid Partnership

First Church has initiated a partnership with CommunityAid, a source for donating gently used clothing and goods. This organization accepts donated items in good condition and offers them back to the community at affordable prices.



Making a donation is easy. CommunityAid currently has seven centers in central PA, with the York area store/donation location at 2001 Springwood Rd, site of the former Bon Ton store in the Queensgate Shopping Center. Simply drive up to the side of the store and employees will assist in unloading your items. In turn, by supplying partnership number 50344 (assigned to: First Church of the Brethren of York) to the CommunityAid employee, our church will periodically receive a monetary reimbursement based on the accumulated weight of donations.

A long list of acceptable items, along with hours of operation and other related information can be found on the display rack located on the wall in the Gathering Area at First Church. If you wish to receive a mailed copy, please contact the church office. 

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