No newsletter will be sent on Friday, January 2, 2026.

For that reason, this Newsletter also includes service information

for Sunday, January 4, 2026

SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2026



SCRIPTURE LESSON: Matthew 2:1-12

Epiphany Sunday: Stories Behind the Songs

On January 4 in worship, we will celebrate the event called Epiphany, the coming of magi to visit the Christ child and bring gifts to honor him. This service will be a special one with many songs/hymns related to Epiphany and readings that tell their stories of composition and inspiration. There will be no formal message or sermon. Instead, many voices will share within the service in celebration, our last Sunday within the season Christmas season this year. Join us for this very special time of worship!

Live Stream Worship - January 4, 2026

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, January 4th or anytime afterward. DVD copies of the services are also

available upon request.

Click here to view the bulletin for Sunday, January 4, 2026

Pastor Joel will not be available from December 29 through January 2.

Karen Bowman will be out of the office from December 25 through January 5.

The church office may be open for a few hours each morning, but please contact your deacon if you have any pastoral care needs during this time.

SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL FORUM - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28TH

A Special Congregational Forum will be held at the start of worship on

Sunday December 28. We will need to affirm a ballot with additional church leaders that were not included at the Forum in November, and we intend to call a person to serve in a new ministry role. Church members, please plan to attend. Thank you.

See below for more information.

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Saturday, December 27

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

Sunday, December 28

9:00 am   Sunday School

10:30 am   Worship Service with Special Congregational Forum – Sanctuary

Sunday, January 4

9:00 am   Sunday School

10:30 am   Worship Service, Epiphany Sunday – Sanctuary

Tuesday, January 6

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

Wednesday, January 7

9:30 am Staff Meeting - Multi-Purpose Room

11:30 am - Lunch Bunch - TBD

Friday, January 9

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

6:00 pm Church Youth Retreat - Sanct/FH/Kitchen/Classrooms

Saturday, January 10

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

Sunday, January 11

9:00 am   Sunday School

10:30 am   Worship Service - Sanctuary

Leadership Consecration, Bread and Cup Communion

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

*Junior High Youth Membership Class*

9:00 AM in the Multi-Purpose Room. Teacher Pastor Joel Gibbel. The class will continue until January 4, covering the subjects of obeying what scripture teaches and the structure and organization of the church.

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.

Senior High Youth Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 155. Teacher Dave Witkovsky. Youth in grades 9-12 are welcome.

Vine & Branches Class

The class will be joining with the Lamplighter's Class for the season. Please see below.

Lamplighters Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. The class is now studying Adam Hamilton’s

“The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem” for

Advent this year - this week: Mary's Visit to Elizabeth

Jan. 4, 2026 - From Nazareth to Bethlehem

 

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. 

2026 OFFERING ENVELOPES

 ARE AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP ON THE COUNTER IN THE GATHERING AREA

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

1. Some envelope numbers have changed for 2026.

2. If you are using Online Giving, your envelope number is in the 200 range, and you will not receive a box of envelopes. See the listing located with the boxes of envelopes.

3. TO ASSURE CORRECT RECORDING OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS:

DO NOT use your old (2025) envelopes after DECEMBER 31, 2025.

DO NOT use your new (2026) envelopes before JANUARY 1, 2026.

4. If you would like to receive envelopes, please inform the church secretary and she will see that they are provided. Thank you!

Upcoming Events

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:

Sunday December 28 - Special Congregational Forum within Worship 10:30 AM

Sunday January 4 - Epiphany Sunday

Sunday January 11 - Leadership Consecration, Bread and Cup Communion

OUR DAILY BREAD/SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, January 9, 2026

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

Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen on Friday, January 9, 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!

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.

December 28^th Special Forum for Slate Approval

We will be calling a Special Congregational Forum on December 28^th for a few minutes. This is to present a slate of names for Congregational Forum approval to Ministry Team Members. (1) Names were selected by the Leadership Team to fill the positions on Teams with unlimited three-year Terms and need approved, (2) The Fellowship and Hospitality Team was omitted on the November Forum slate completely and now needs to be approved, (3) Education Ministry Team needed two more members and one person has volunteered now needs to be approved, (4) The Deacon Ministry Team needs more Deacons to serve and has the name of a couple for approval and (5) The Leadership Team has approved a Temporary position of Minister of Visitations that need Congregational Forum approval.

You will be handed a paper as you enter the sanctuary on December 28^th. This will be the slate for all of the above items for the Forum. A very brief comment and instructions will be made about the items. Then mark the slate as directed and hand it to the Usher on the way out of the sanctuary after the service.

Please plan to participate in this process. If you have any questions feel free to contact the Moderator, Assistant Moderator or the Pastor.

LOOK WHO'S

CELEBRATING

THIS MONTH

07 Greg Minnich

09 Jeffrey Yingling  

11 Nathan Beuschlein

14 Beth Drawbaugh

14 Clarence Sauder

15 Ron Horner

15 Steven Fitzkee

16 Cathy McCracken

16 Tanner Ferro

If your birthday is in JANUARY

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

18  Melanie Schaefer

19  Luke Miller   

20  Spencer Ginder

20  Dana Stump

23  Danielle Gibbel

23  Beth Anne Bahn

25  Jeff Miller

25  Valerie Sauder

Many thanks to my church family for your prayers., cards, and visits during my knee replacement and recovery. Your thoughtfulness is so appreciated. ~ Jayne Baldwin

Thank you so much for all the birthday cards. It is so nice to receive birthday cards when you are in your 90's. ~ Barbara Rollman

I would like to thank everyone who sent me cards/gifts for Christmas. I really appreciated it. I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas! ~ Karen Bowman

GOOD NEWS TO SHARE:

Madelyn Kinsley Perkins was welcomed into the world Monday afternoon, December 22. She weighed in at 7 pounds 4 ounces and was 20 inches long. The 6^th great granddaughter for Barbara and Roy Rollman, she is the second daughter born to their granddaughter Rebecca.

DIRECTORY CHANGE

P. 13, Margaret (Peg) Eck - Address/Phone Change:

3600 Oak Manor Lane, Rm 202, Largo, Florida 33774

Phone # (727) 581-9427

York First Church of the Brethren - Gathering Space Bulletin Board Ministry



Thank you to Kathy Kovacs and Jeanette Brickner for the beautiful bulletin board in the Gathering Space that so warmly welcomes us and reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas -

the love of God through God's son, Jesus Christ!  

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