CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Saturday, April 12

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

  Sunday, April 13 – Palm Sunday

9:00 am Sunday School

10:30 am Worship Service – Sanctuary

1:00 pm Deacon Team – Kitchen

6:00 pm Volleyball – Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, April 15

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

Wednesday, April 16

9:00 am Staff Meeting – Multi-Purpose Room

5:00 pm Easter Egg Hunt – Fellowship Hall/Kitchen

Thursday, April 17 - Maundy Thursday

6:00 pm Love Feast - Fellowship Hall/Kitchen

6:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal – Sanctuary

7:30 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal – Bell Choir Room

Friday, April 18 - Good Friday

9:00 am Prayer Labyrinth (9:00 am to 9:00 pm) - Fellowship Hall

7:00 pm Good Friday Gathering – Fellowship Hall

Saturday, April 19

9:00 am Prayer Labyrinth (9:00 am to 12:00 noon) - Fellowship Hall

Sunday, April 20 – Easter Sunday

8:40 am Morning Watch Service - Outdoors behind FH

9:00 am Easter Breakfast - Fellowship Hall

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

*Adult Church Membership Class*

9:00 AM in Room 154. Pastor Joel is leading a church membership class for adults considering joining our church or simply want to learn about Brethren history, beliefs, and practices. The class series will conclude April 27.

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.

*Combined Classes - Lamplighters, Vine & Branches, and Youth*

9:00 AM in Lamplighters Classroom. We will be following the “Animate: Practices” Curriculum. The series will conclude this Sunday April 13.

“Animate: Practices” is an introduction to the central practices of the Christian faith, why they are important, and how we can take part in them today. Sessions feature perspectives from Christian thought leaders on topics such as prayer, worship, money, and service. They each include a brief video presentation.

Session 7 will be taught by Dave Witkovsky. The subject is Community: An Unexpected Family, with Doug Pagitt.

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:

Wednesday April 16 - Easter Egg Hunt, 5:00 PM

Thursday April 17 - Love Feast, 6:00 PM

Friday April 18 - Prayer Labyrinth - 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Friday April 18 - Good Friday Gathering, 7:00 PM

Saturday April 19 - Prayer Labyrinth - 9:00 AM to 12:00 NOON

Sunday April 20 - Easter Sunday: Morning Watch 8:40 AM

Breakfast 9:00 AM, Worship 10:30 AM

Registration is closed but volunteers

are welcome to assist with the Egg Hunt. Please visit the sign-up sheets in the Gathering Area if you can do so. We also invite sponsors to defray costs of the event, to which we will invite and feed a meal for nearly 200 people!

Thank you in advance. 

LOVE FEAST SERVICE - THURSDAY APRIL 17

Thursday April 17, at 6:00 PM, we will observe the Love Feast together. A shared meal, service of feet washing, and bread and cup communion, all wrapped with scripture, song, prayer, and words of encouragement in faith. Please plan to attend this most sacred gathering that we practice only two times per year, in remembrance of Christ our Lord.

Please consider making a generous contribution to the Deacon Fund this month in connection to our Love Feast whish the Deacons of our church host and prepare. The Deacon Fund supports the occasional needs of those within our congregation who suffer challenges with finances and is our way of supporting them together. There will be no Food Pantry collection this month, and in stead we commend giving to the Deacon Fund as a special offering this Easter season. Many thanks to all who will give.

WALKING THE PRAYER LABYRINTH

FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 18 & 19

Our prayer labyrinth experience will be available in the Fellowship Hall with ideas to provide focus beginning at 9:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, April 18th and 9:00 am - 12:00 noon on Saturday, April 19th. May this provide us with one more resource to strengthen us as we walk through this season of Lent.

Walking the Prayer Labyrinth: A Devotional Opportunity The prayer labyrinth is a unique approach to prayer that dates back thousands of years. Labyrinths are found in some of the great cathedrals of Europe and in recent decades have become very popular in a variety of settings in the United States as well. While there are a number of different versions of labyrinths, the version we are using for Holy Week is known as the Chartres Labyrinth styled after the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France. It is made up of 10 “circuits” or loops that wind slowly to the center. The flow of the prayer labyrinth is an experience of walking from the entrance at your own pace until reaching the center as an experience of prayerful centering, followed by remaining in the center if desired, and then moving back out as a way of taking this new founded centeredness back out into your daily life. You can walk with a prayer in mind, a prayerful thought, a question for God, or other means of focusing in the moment.

WALKING THE PRAYER LABYRINTH

FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 18 & 19

Our prayer labyrinth experience will be available in the Fellowship Hall with ideas to provide focus beginning at 9:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, April 18th and 9:00 am - 12:00 noon on Saturday, April 19th. May this provide us with one more resource to strengthen us as we walk through this season of Lent.

Walking the Prayer Labyrinth: A Devotional Opportunity The prayer labyrinth is a unique approach to prayer that dates back thousands of years. Labyrinths are found in some of the great cathedrals of Europe and in recent decades have become very popular in a variety of settings in the United States as well. While there are a number of different versions of labyrinths, the version we are using for Holy Week is known as the Chartres Labyrinth styled after the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France. It is made up of 10 “circuits” or loops that wind slowly to the center. The flow of the prayer labyrinth is an experience of walking from the entrance at your own pace until reaching the center as an experience of prayerful centering, followed by remaining in the center if desired, and then moving back out as a way of taking this new founded centeredness back out into your daily life. You can walk with a prayer in mind, a prayerful thought, a question for God, or other means of focusing in the moment.

The Lehman Center Auxiliary Presents

34th ANNUAL AUCTION benefiting

Children's Aid Society - The Lehman Center

Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 5:00 PM

Location: New Fairview Church,

1873 New Fairview Church Rd., York, Pa 17403

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Auction, where we aim to make a significant difference in the lives of those who need it the most.



• Silent Auction including

Art Collectibles, Theme Baskets, Gift Certificates, Autographed Sports Items

• Live Auction Featuring 

New Merchandise, Household goods, Handmade items, Unique items

• Delicious food starting at 12:00 pm

(Includes homemade soups, Bar-b-que, homemade pies)

Live Auction & Virtual available – Some of our items will be available “Virtually” prior to the Live Auction starting Saturday, April 26^th til Monday, April 28^th!

Visit our website for the Auction catalog at www.cassd.org/casauction.html

CAMP EDER & SOPA DISTRICT - MEN'S OUTDOORSMAN DAY, MAY 3RD ONLY

Devotional Theme: Provide and Protect, Genesis 2:15

8:30 am to 3:00 pm, $50 Lunch Included! Clay Shooting and Fishing

Join us on May 3rd for a day filled with Adventure! Together, we'll delve into the world of clay shooting, mastering gun safety protocols and honing our skills to become proficient clay target shooters.

Secure your spot by registering on the Camp Eder website by clicking on the button below or by contacting the camp office via phone at 717-642-8256.

Lodging also available at additional cost (contact camp office)

*If you would like to help sponsor this event by donating ammo or financially please contact Denny Turner at (717) 829-1166.

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)

Save the Date

JOIN US FOR VBS 2025

SAVE THE DATE!

Location: York First COB

Dates: June 22-26^th 2025

Time: 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Ages: 4 yrs to 5^th grade

We need volunteers to make VBS 2025 a success! There are many tasks to do before, during, and after VBS. Prayerfully consider how you can support the children of our congregation and the local community. This year’s director is Diane Gibble and can be reached by dmgibble1001@gmail.com phone 717-668-1252. Below is a list of volunteer opportunities. Thank you!

▪ Crew Leaders – stays with children at stations

▪ Drama participant 

▪ Snack leader

▪ Registration volunteers

▪ Nurse on call

▪ Decorate Saturday June 21st 9:00am 

▪ Tear down Sunday June 29th after worship 

▪ Photographer

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.

Lehman Center "Wish List"

Items for donation to the Lehman Center are being collected in the basket in the Gathering Area.

Due to changes in the food pantry operations, these must be collected separately from food pantry supplies.

Here are some items that are needed at

Lehman Center:

Instant pudding (chocolate, banana)

Instant jello (orange, blue, green, grape, cherry)

Can fruit (pears, pineapples, fruit cocktail)

Applesauce (individual or jar)

Can vegetables (lima beans, peas, green beans)

Baby food - all stages

Baby snacks

Gathering Area Quilt

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

"The Wooden Cross". 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. 

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. 

Elizabethtown College’s Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies presents “Negotiating the Kingdoms: Pluralism, Plain Communities, and State Power in the Twenty-First Century” by Corey Colyer on Tues., April 15, 7 pm, in the Bucher Meetinghouse. Colyer is an associate professor of sociology at West Virginia University whose research examines how individuals and communities negotiate institutional power in modern pluralistic societies.

For more information, visit www.etown.edu/youngctr/events or call 717-361-1470.

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.