SUNDAY, MAY 18TH - FOOD PANTRY COLLECTION  

Donations to our food pantry outreach will be gathered during worship this Sunday. Please bring along items below or monetary gifts as you are so led. Thank you!

We have been busy at the Food Pantry. We can use the following items: 



•Canned chicken •Pasta sauce •Spaghetti •Elbow macaroni

•Salad dressing •Cooking oil •Bags of sugar •Canned chili & beans

•Cheese and crackers •Pancake mix •Pancake syrup

•Boxed cereal •Ketchup •Mayonnaise •Canned corn •Onions •Rice •Granola bars •Pickles •Fruit juice •Toilet paper

Grocery gift cards are also welcome.

Thank you for your generosity, Mary Esther Anderson, Witness Team

Pastor’s Sabbatical Begins This Week

Having served over seven years of continuous ministry with our congregation, Pastor Joel will be observing a time of Sabbatical leave from May 24 until August 23 of this year. This was affirmed by our Leadership Team last year and is in accordance with Church of the Brethren Guidelines for Sabbath Rest. Today will be his last Sunday preaching until late August. We wish him God’s blessing and peace as he commits to a time of travel, learning, rest, and renewal for continued ministry upon his return.

A planning team has been hard at work preparing for this season of ministry, and

Kim Witkovsky, who is also an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren, has been called to serve as Interim Ministries Coordinator while Pastor Joel is apart from us.

Karen Bowman will continue to serve us in the church office, as always. Please refrain from contacting Pastor Joel with any church-related matters during this time, instead relying on Kim, our church staff, deacons and their caregiving ministry, and other leaders, including Moderator Jay Crist, who will be taking on additional administrative responsibilities in Joel's absence, to serve us.

All members and friends of York First are invited to embrace this time of shared ministry and strengthening relationships together. It is an opportunity for our church’s growth and Pastor Joel’s as well. This is not the time to disconnect and take a "vacation" from church and worship because the pastor is gone - we will continue to have much to celebrate together! You will not want to miss all the wonderful things we have planned for us in these summer months! We are excited and blessed to welcome several guest speakers to our pulpit this summer as well as some of our own folks to share a message of inspiration and hope. Look for lots of special music in worship and fun activities during the week to keep us connected and growing together. Sunday School will continue throughout the summer as always. As we embark on our summer season, let us remember that even when we are apart and always as we gather, God will be with us, loving and caring for us always!

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Sunday, May 18

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am Worship Service – Sanctuary

12:00 pm Deacons Meeting – Anna Mow Room

Tuesday, May 20

10:00 am  Prayer Shawl – Anna Mow Room

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

6:00 pm  CDC Ministry Team – Anna Mow Room

6:30 pm  Worship Design Team – Multi-Purpose Room

Wednesday, May 21

9:00 am   Staff Meeting – Multi-Purpose Room

Thursday, May 22

6:30 pm  Chancel Choir Practice – Sanctuary

Friday, May 23

10:00 am  CDC Graduation – Sanctuary, Gathering Area



Sunday, May 25

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.

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. Children grades 7-12 are welcome.

Vine & Branches Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. Teacher Joel Gibbel. The class will be resuming the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum, this quarter entitled "Costly Sacrifice" by Herb Smith.

Lamplighters Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. We will begin the study by Adam Hamilton entitled "Half Truths" 

"Everything Happens for a Reason" Teacher: Melanie Miller

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 18 - Music and Worship Celebration Sunday

Sunday June 1 - Graduate Recognition, Bread and Cup Communion

Sunday June 22 to Thursday June 26 -Vacation Bible School

CAMP EDER GOLF OUTING

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Carroll Valley Golf Course, Liberty Mountain,

78 Country Club Trail, Fairfield, PA

7:00 am Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:00 am Shotgun Start (Four Player Scramble Format)

1:00 Lunch at Camp Eder

Please click on button for registration and sponsorship form.

(Information can also be found on the bulletin board)

Southern PA District Church of the Brethren

Women's Camp at Camp Eder

June 2 & 3, 2025

Registration Deadline: May 19, 2025

Our speaker, Judy Cline, is Operational Director of the Capital Area Pregnancy Center in Camp Hill, PA. Several baby layettes (laundry baskets) will be provided to collect the listed items. You're welcome to bring one or more items from the list, or to donated cash for for purchasing items for the baby layettes to be donated to the Capital Area Pregnancy Center. Those who enjoy knitting or crocheting, take not of the need for baby caps, booties, sweaters and baby blankets (one of each per layette). For more info contact Beth Nonemaker, Nurture Chair (cell phone) 223-488-0038.

Please click on button for the information/registration form.

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.

We would like to thank everyone for the many cards, kind words, prayers and support during the passing of our Mother, Rebecca McCracken. In recent years, Mother missed being in church in person, but she enjoyed participating by livestream, always happy to see everyone, listen to the music, and share in the joys and concerns. We are grateful to Pastor Joel and our church family for your loving care.



                       Sheryl, Tom, Dave and the McCracken Family

ANNUAL YARD SALE - CANCELED

With much thought and prayer, Kathy Kovacs, with the help of the Witness team, has decided that it would be in her best interest to postpone this year’s yard sale. With her upcoming rehabilitation, lifting and carrying items will be almost impossible. She is asking those who might have items for the sale to be able to store them until next year. If unable to store, please feel free to donate to your favorite charity. 

She would like to thank everyone for their continued support in this very worthwhile project during this time.  

TRANSPORTATION OUTREACH

The Deacon team frequently provides transportation for our church family members. Unfortunately, there are times we cannot meet all of the transportation needs. We would like to establish a resource list to be used by the Deacons of church family members who wish to participate in this outreach.

Please sign the sheet in the gathering area if you would like to assist with this outreach. Any questions contact Melanie Miller. Thank you. 

Click on the 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) book before selecting a new one.

Beginning in January 2025, Patricia Carey will be 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 area.

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

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.