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SUNDAY SCHEDULE

 

CLASSES 9:00 AM

All Ages Welcome


WORSHIP 10:30 AM

In the Sanctuary and Online


THIS SUNDAY IN WORSHIP

October 25, 2026

  

SCRIPTURE LESSONS:

Ezekiel 12:8-16, Psalm 137:1-9


MESSAGE: “Into Exile”

Happening This Week

Saturday Celebration: Building and Preserving

Saturday afternoon, we will gather for a special "birthday party" to commemorate 60 years since our congregation moved to East York and began to worship and serve in our present building. We will also celebrate the completion and paying off of debt from recent renovations, ensuring our future in this space. More information is below. Join us at 3 PM for a meal followed by presentation and dessert!


Sunday Worship: Encountering Exile

This Sunday in worship, we begin a series of messaging exploring the time of the "exile" in Babylon and its significance for our faith. We'll learn from the prophet Ezekiel as he foretold this time of loss and captivity for his people in the 6th century BCE, and we'll confront the uncomfortable but honest experiences of that time period, in which their whole identity seemed to disappear, only to be preserved more profoundly than ever through their testimony. How might we seem to be living as if "exiles" in a land that is not our own? How might we identify with such feelings of loss, and in effect come to know God all the more clearly? Come and see.

Sunday Morning Worship

Live Stream Worship

Our worship services are available via YouTube for those who wish to join that way.

Click the image above shortly before the service begin to join in 10:30 AM on Sunday or anytime afterward. DVD copies of the services are also available upon request.

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

      

Saturday, October 24

3:00 pm  Church Birthday Party – Gathering Area


Sunday, October 25

9:00 am    Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

4:00 pm  Youth Group Dodgeball – Fellowship Hall


Monday, October 26

6:00 pm  Education Team – Anna Mow Room

                  

Wednesday, October 28

5:30 pm Trunk or Treat – Parking Lot


Thursday, October 29

6:30 pm  Chancel Choir Rehearsal – Sanctuary


Saturday, October 31

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

   

Sunday, November 1

9:00 am Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

4:00 pm  Youth Group Dodgeball – Fellowship Hall

The November Congregational Forum date has been changed

from November 1st to November 15th


Click on this button to view the full calendar



Click for Friends to Remember in Prayer

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.

Please click on button for updated guidelines for Prayer Requests

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. Youth in grades 6-12 are welcome.


Vine & Branches Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. Teacher Joel Gibbel.

We continue new curriculum, "Salt & Light: A Guide for Biblical Studies," in the series called "The Soul of the Nation." Lessons from Joshua, Judges, and Samuel will lead us unto discussions of faithful living, leadership, and relationships.



Lamplighters Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. Teacher - Kim Witkovsky

Study: "Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer" by Max Lucado;

Session #2 "I Need Help"


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. 

Children's Ministry Schedule

Pastor Appreciation Month! 


Did you know October is Pastor Appreciation Month? This is a dedicated time of gratitude for those who shepherd us, support us, and offer spiritual care to us, individually and as a congregation. We are incredibly grateful to have 3 credentialed ministers on our pastoral staff- Joel Gibbel as Pastor, Rebecca Wolf as Student Minister, and Kim Witkovsky as volunteer Minister of Visitation. Please reflect on the impact of our pastoral staff on your life and journey and renew your commitment to supporting and praying for them. Also, if you feel inclined, please consider sending a card or email or setting up a time to talk in person with them to offer gratitude, encouragement, and/or support for their ministry. Thank you!

Upcoming Events

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:


Saturday October 24: Church Birthday Party, 3:00 PM

Sunday October 25: Youth Group Dodgeball, 4:00 PM

Wednesday October 28: Trunk or Treat Event, 5:30 PM

Sunday November 8: Child Development Center Sunday

Sunday November 15: Congregational Forum following Worship, 11:00 AM


YOUTH GROUP ACTIVITY


Youth and School Age Children join us for Dodgeball fun!

Please feel free to invite friends and neighbors as you wish.



Sunday at 4:00 pm from Oct 25 to Nov 15 in Fellowship Hall


CAMP EDER

Cordially invites you to the

BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS BENEFIT


Friday, October 30, 2026 - 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

A community gathering to support

THE CLIMBING WALL AND

MAINTENANCE NEEDS



Dinner at 6:00pm -

Certified by Chef Cooper Harrison

Jazz/Swing Trio with Monte Leister

Silent Auction

Tickets $ 50.

Each or $ 250. for a table of 6


Join us for an evening of

fellowship, faith, and generosity.


Use this QR code to register


CAMP EDER

SENIOR DAY


NOVEMBER 4TH



Program For Senior Day:

9:30 Meet and Greet with continental breakfast

10:00 Morning Program

12:00 Delicious Lunch

1:00 Dismissal


Cost $ 20

Please RSVP by calling 717-642-8256 or emailing campeder@campeder.org

We are approaching cookie season!

We will be doing fall themed cookie

decorating that the senior will be

able to take home and a post card

activity about camp/camping

memories!


Don’t be caught off-guard this holiday season! Whether the visit is expected or not, treat your guests to famous Naylor Butter Mints or delicious nut treats.


Order your hand-made candies today!

Buttermints, Butter Toffee Cashews, Butter Toasted Peanuts, Cashew Crunch


Orders Due: November 2nd

Pick up: November 23 10:00 am – 2:00 pm - Garden Room


Order Forms can also be found on the counter in gathering area.

OUR DAILY BREAD/SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, November 13, 2026


Casseroles are 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, November 13, 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!

Camp Eder - Christmas Tree Festival

December 11th & 12th

5pm - 8pm

 

First Church and Codorus are combining their efforts to decorate

2 trees for camp. First Church will handle the baby girl tree while Codorus is in charge of the baby boy tree. 

The trees will be connected by a wash line displaying outfits, Pjs, burp cloths, etc. The trees will be decorated with toys, teething rings, bibs, hair bands, socks, etc. All the items will then be donated to The Lehman Center.

 

Please place your items in the box located in the Anna Mow Room by December 6th. If you would like to donate money instead, we will use the money to buy diapers and other needed items. Please give any monetary donations to Kathy Kovacs.

 

Contact Kathy Kovacs if you have any questions.

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

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. Online giving can be used for regular offerings and special offerings, as well as many other specific outreach ministries that we sponsor. Online Giving Questions? Contact Sheryl Leaman - Thank you for your support!


LOOK WHO'S

CELEBRATING

THIS MONTH




03  Barb Wueschinski

04  Dolly Furst

06  Ruoxia Li

08  Jill McCracken

08 Brad Striebig

10  Dianne Hollinger

10  Jess Dietrich

14  Diane Replogle

15  Greg Klinedinst

17  Rebecca Soyke

18  Dolores Mann

20  John Copenheaver

20  Melanie Miller


If your birthday is in NOVEMBER

and is not on the list below or is listed incorrectly, please contact the

church office.



21  Elizabeth Eisenhart

21  Dan Snook

22  Charles Innerst

22  Bernadette Snook

24  Pat Paules

25  Laura (Thomas) Lash

27  Michelle Sauder

28  Eric Miller

29 Tammy Stehr

29  Luke Baldwin




Elizabethtown College’s Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies presents:


Thursday, October 29, 2026 • Part 1 at 3 pm; Part 2 at 7 pm in the Bucher Meeting House

Presented by Emmy Barth Maendel and Jonathan Seiling

Elizabethtown College’s Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies presents the Brown Book Award Lecture, part 1: Chasing the Hutters through the Hills: Sources and Translation and part 2: Leader in a Turbulent Time: Hutter’s Enduring Legacy. Jakob Hutter was a compelling leader who had a brief ministry in Tyrol and Moravia. In Tyrol, he served as a missionary, baptizing and arranging secret conferences, while living in constant danger for his life. He was repeatedly summoned to Moravia to arbitrate among various Anabaptist factions until he forged a unified congregation that lives on in the church that bears his name.

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

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP


October 18, 2026

  

SCRIPTURE LESSON:

Matthew 22:15-22


MESSAGE:

"Giving to God What Is God's"



Click on the image to view the service.

 
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”