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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 February 16, 2020   SCRIPTURE LESSON:   Matthew 5:21-37    MESSAGE: “You Have Heard”

Contents :  This Week  Upcoming Events Children's Ministry Schedule J.A.M. Choir News Online Giving Thank You 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 continue a series of messages focusing on Jesus' words as recorded in Matthew 5, looking closely at how Jesus "fulfills the law" by pointing to the root of our shortcomings rather than merely their worst effects. We will observe that rules - even Biblical ones - are often accommodations. Jesus wants us to be changed from the inside out, daring to live "next-level" through divine instruction rather than by common social or legal norms. 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. SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 Plan to remain in the sanctuary following worship on February 23rd for a building improvements design update from our Master Planning Team. We will have a chance to review and approve updated plan drawings from the architect in anticipation of summer construction. The Master Planning Team has been busy lately, and we hope that the whole church will be well-informed and supportive of the projects. Expects some updates at the start of worship between now and then as well!

Come to hear a preview of Soulful Singing lead by Ruth Fitz at the start of our worship service Sunday, February 23. Then the following Sunday March 1st at 3:30 PM, Ruth will be back to lead us in more Soulful Singing. 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! Meet in the lounge, Sunday March 1st at 3:30 PM

The following resources are available on the table in the Gathering Area: This week's e-news and the February calendar, which can also be viewed here January/February Church of the Brethren Newsline Digest

Events, Prayer Requests, and Classes

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

Upcoming Events

New Windsor Work Day - Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 - We need volunteers to prepare school kits for shipment (where needed). John Anderson will drive the church vehicle, leaving the church parking lot at 7:15 a.m. Lunch is provided and we will return by 5:00 p.m. Sign the sheet in the Narthex. Hope you can go along. Questions?? Call Helen Stoner (717-624-3398).

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 morning 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.

BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE CHOIR CONCERT - 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!

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

We just wanted to pass along that after 106 days in the NICU our granddaughter is finally home. We want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. - Linda & Dennis Wisner Thank you to my church family for all the lovely cards, phone calls, and kind words during my daughter Sherry Deffley illness and recent death. I greatly appreciate your love and concern. - Elizabeth Eisenhart

Save the Date

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

***UPDATE - DATE CHANGE!*** VBS 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 finalize your year-end giving.

"Notes from the Console," Article 30, By Mike Frock   A Four-Measure Piece of Music   The Prelude this week is “Voluntary 1 in G Major” by Maurice Greene (1696-1755). Greene was an English organist and composer. He was born in London and served as a choirboy under Jeremiah Clarke. You might think that you do not know who Jeremiah Clarke is, but you do! Jeremiah Clarke was the composer of the “Prince of Denmark’s March.” If you are still drawing a blank, you will certainly recognize this piece by its more common, and incorrect, title of “Trumpet Voluntary,” of wedding fame, incorrectly attributed to Henry Purcell for decades. It’s bad when history has gotten both the title and composer of a piece of music incorrect, especially such a famous one. So, if you’ve ever been to a wedding, or had a wedding, you’ve probably heard Clarke. Anyway, “Voluntary 1 in G Major” is representative of the English school of Baroque Era music, and if you did not know who wrote it, you probably would have guessed one of the other famous members of the English school of Baroque music (Clarke, Purcell, and/or Handel). In 1730, Greene became a professor of music at Cambridge University. He composed a lot of music which includes both sacred and secular works for both voice and various keyboard instruments.  The “Voluntary 1 in G Major” is comprised of four movements. The first movement is played on the Diapasons stops. These stops are the foundational Principal stops on the organ (i.e. they are the quintessential “organ” sound and are not meant to be representative of any other instrument.) The second movement is played on the Cornet. In organ-world this word is pronounced “Cor-nay” and has nothing to do with the trumpet-like brass instrument. There is a lot that can be said about the Cornet, so it may get its own paragraph or article sometime. The third movement is played on a generic registration of Diapasons, flutes, and strings, and it is only four measures long! My life would be so much easier if every piece of music was only four measures long. The fourth movement alternates between the majority played on the Great manual with the Tuba Mirabilis stop (i.e. a loud solo trumpet stop), and an echo effect part played on the Swell manual with the French Trumpet stop (i.e. a more subdued and quieter trumpet stop, at least in comparison to the Tuba Mirabilis). 

LAST SUNDAY IN WORSHIP

Scripture Lesson: Matthew 5:13-20 Message:     “You are the Light” Worship Attendance: 96

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”