Weekly News
Vol. 9-No. 23 Friday, June 5, 2015
Karen Bowman, Editor, secretary@yorkfirst.org
Our Vision Statement: “To become a community of committed Christians who Love God, Share Christ, and Serve the World”
Our Mission Statement: “People dedicated to Spiritual Growth, Loving Relationship, and Sacrificial Service”
SUNDAY, June 7, 2015 – Graduation Recognition, New Member Reception, & Communion
9:00 am – Sunday School
10:30 am – Worship Service
Sanctuary: “Buildings That Last”
Scripture: I Samuel 8: 4-11, Mark 3: 20-35, 2 Corinthians 4: 13, 5:1
Thoughts on the Word: Talk to anyone who works in various institutions such as colleges, churches, even sports teams and they want to create something that will stand the test of time, so to speak. Creating a legacy, building something that out lasts us. How proud we are that York First is over 130 years old now. My previous church is now over 275 years old. Many churches are even older than that!
As the church struggles to adapt and make the needed changes, it faces decline and demise in the twenty-first century, people call out “Give us a king!” (1 Samuel 8:6). The Israelites want to build a kingdom, complete with a monarch, but God yearns to be their only ruler and king. Churches want the perfect pastor or leaders to solve all their problems and create a perfect solution to build a church that will last and a legacy that will endure. God’s Spirit is the perfect solution, when we allow the Spirit to move in our being as we build ministries on the foundation of Christ Jesus and his teachings. When we do so we may just discover that the legacy will take care of itself.
JUNE 7, 2015 – TEACHER APPRECIATION BREAKFAST – 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. The Christian Education Ministry Team would like to thank those individuals who have shared their time and talents to benefit the Sunday School Program at York First church during the past year. To show our appreciation, we would like to invite all Sunday school teachers, children’s church, and Nursery Care Providers, to a Breakfast held in their honor. We would like members of the Sunday School Classes to help provide the food such as casseroles, fruit, breads, and muffins. Sign-up sheets will be placed in your rooms. Thank you! Questions: see Nancy Gipe or Vivian Hubbell
GRADUATION RECOGNITION – JUNE 7, 2015:
Lindsey McCracken: Graduated in December from Penn State’s University Park campus. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science with minors in Microbiology and Molecular Biology. She started a six-month internship at the Defense Forensic Science Center in Forest Park (Atlanta) GA in January, and is in the process of applying for graduate programs in Pathology.
Seth Brickner: Graduated from West York Area High School.
Michael Kovacs: Graduated from Messiah College with a degree in Christian Ministries with an emphasis in Youth ministry.
Tanner Ferro: Graduated from Central Penn with a B.S. degree in Information Technology and is currently working at High Companies.
Jarret Stehr: Earned a Master of Science degree from McDaniel College.
Blake Colaianne: Earned a Masters degree in Earth Science from Penn State.
Christopher Striebig: Graduation from Penn State University – Environmental Studies major and Biology minor, Honors and accomplishments: Helped construct a cabin identical to that of Henry David Thoreau at Penn State Altoona; Supported community project activities or organizations including Thon and Big Brother/Big Sister. Future plans: Accepted a job with ECS in the Bridgeville, PA area doing materials testing to support environmental compliance in the engineering construction field. I feel fortunate that I was able to begin my job a week after graduation.
WORSHIP ATTENDANCE – May 31, 2015, 10:30 a.m. – 185
Codorus Chaplain – We are looking for a place to house our Chaplain at the park at Codorus State park for the summer. It would be a place for 2 adults & two children. The need would be immediate. Where we housed him last summer is not available. We do have some funds available to help. If you know of someone who would be willing to help, please have them contact the district office ASAP! The phone number for William Waugh is (717) 624 – 8626 and the office is (717) 624 – 8636
THIS WEEK….
BABY BOTTLE BOMMERANG IS “ON” – Starting May 10, Mother’s Day. Pick up baby bottles in narthex (lobby), fill bottles with change, and return to church office by June 21, Father’s Day. Funds will help young families at Human Life Services of York.
JUNE 11, 2015 ~ OWLS NEWS – The OWLS (Older, Wiser Loving SENIORS) will gather on Thursday June 11at NOON in the Homebuilders Classroom 154 for lunch, games and conversation. No specific activity is planned but join us for a relaxing time together for the afternoon. Bring your bag lunch and a game or two to share. DRINKS AND DESSERT will be provided by Susanne Gray. PLEASE SIGN UP BY JUNE 7 so we know how many to prepare for.
Upcoming events: July 9 – Melinda will take us on a trip to Africa – August 13 – Indoor picnic – September 10 – Bingo
JUNE 12, 2015 – SOUP KITCHEN – PLEASE BRING CASSEROLES TO CHURCH BY 8:30 AM ON FRIDAY.
Sign up in the narthex to make a casserole or to work at the Soup Kitchen on Friday, June 12, 2015, (10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) PLEASE add your name and number of casseroles, to the SIGN UP sheet, so we can let the Soup Kitchen know how many casseroles to expect.
JUNE 13, 2015 – 2015 KICKOFF BANQUET FOR THE BRETHREN DISATER RELIEF AUCTION. SATURDAY, JUNE 13 — 6:00 P.M.
FAMILY STYLE DINNER AND CONCERT AT YODER’S RESTURANT, NEW HOLLAND, PA. FEATURING THE TRIBUTE QUARTET.
FOR TICKETS AND INFOMATION, CONTACT SALLY BINGAMAN OR JOLENE ZEIGLER
YARD SALE! – Donated Items Needed: Hots Dogs, Canned Soda, Bottled Water, Lunch sized potato chips, Bags of ice
Volunteers to make baked goods.
Volunteers for the day of the yard sale.
Wed, June 10, 2015 – 6:00 pm – Volunteers to help move items to Fellowship Hall
Sunday, June 14, 2015 – 2:00 pm – Volunteers to help move items out of Fellowship Hall
If anyone can help or donate, please call Kathy Kovacs
JUNE 14, 2015 – VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL TRAINING – For all those who are helping with Vacation Bible School this year, we will have a short training session immediately after church on June 14th. Please plan to attend.
DONATIONS NEEDED FOR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Scraps of cotton, fiber fill, batting, or other items that would make good puffy clouds can be brought into the church office for VBS decorations. Donation sign up sheets are posted for other supplies. More will be added as we get closer to Bible School. Thank you!
LADIES BIBLE STUDY will continue to meet once a month on the following dates noted below during the summer months and we will continue our study “Traveling Light” with Max Lucado.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015 – Lesson #7 – “It’s a Jungle Out There”
Tuesday, July 14, 2015 – Lesson #8 – “A Heavenly Exchange”
Tuesday, August 11, 2015 – Lesson #9 “Get Over Yourself”
BEGIN NEW YEAR –
September 15, 2015 – Lesson #10 “I will Lead You Home”
June 5 Meeting –Cancelled–
First Church is beginning an effort aimed at strengthening marriages. To start, we are establishing a new couples small group called “Two to One” . This is meant to be for couples intending to be married and those married for short or long times. Our purpose is to develop friendships and support among couples as well as learn about ways to strengthen the marriage relationships we have. We are pretty excited about this and plan to start in the fall. Previously, we planned on an initial meeting June 5, but starting fresh in the fall seemed to make more sense. Questions/comments/suggestions can be directed to Carol and Ken via phone or email (momfornine@aol.com or dadofnine@aol.com). We’ll keep up with the “marriage thoughts” during the summer.
Marriage Thought for the Day: Depending on what we read or to whom we listen, we’ll find many “keys” to a good marriage. Different “keys” will be meaningful to some couples but not meaningful to others. In this space each week, we’ll write these with the hope that every once in a while one will strike a chord! This week, the quote below is from Greg Laurie’s book Becoming One and talks about a book in the Bible- Song of Solomon or, as he quotes it, Song of Songs:
Song of Songs, written by King Solomon, is a beautiful story of portraying the delightful thrill of falling in love and making a lasting commitment. This lyrical poetry captures the passion, the ecstasy, and the depth of an epic romance. It is here that we see the pleasure and contentment that God intended as one of the blessings of marriage. I declare to you that marriage can be the most fulfilling thing you will know in this life, next to your relationship with God. It can succeed beyond your dreams. It can flourish beyond your expectations. If you and your beloved are following Christ, your marriage can become something unbelievably wonderful in your life. I challenge you this week to read Song of Songs.
DIRECTORY CHANGES:
Changed: Greg & Deb Klinedinst’s new address is: 2636 Fairway Drive, York, PA 17402
Changed: Erika Bergmann now resides at Rest Haven, 1050 S. George St., Rm 767, York, PA 17403
Added: Samuel Weyant & Alicia Hilley, 439 Woodland View Dr., York, PA 17406 (571) 232-4057
Thank you notes received from our Ministry Partners:
The Brethren Home Foundation gratefully acknowledges your generous gift.
Don Wilkinson
$200.00 Witness Commitment
Thank you for your support of the mission and ministry of the Church of the Brethren. It is through your generosity that ministries grow and lives are changed.
Stanley J. Noffsinger, General Secretary
$1208 Witness Commitment
We gratefully acknowledge receipt of your gift for the work of the Church of the Brethren to further the cause of Christ.
Stanley J. Noffsinger, General Secretary
$1472 One Great Hour of Sharing
With commencement at the end of this week, Bethany Theological Seminary is moving toward completion of its 110th academic year. We are pleased to share this update on the support your endowment has provided during this 2014-2015 year for Bethany students.
Funding of Endowment – December 1982 $5300
Ending Balance – June 2014 $47,818.89
Assets released for use $1813.01
Recipient of aid for 2014-2015 ($1813.01) – Duane Crumrine
Lowell Flory, (Now Retired) Executive Director, Institutional Advancement and Gift Planning
LOOKING AHEAD…….
JUNE 19 – 21, 2015 – National Junior High Conference 2015, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA ~ LIVING THE CHANGE: Our offering to God, Come for a weekend packed with powerful worship, fun workshops, music and recreation! For junior high youth (those who have completed grades 6 – 8) and their advisors, www.brethren.org/njhc ~ $185.00 per person and First Church will pay half the cost.
JUNE 25, 2015 – The 4th Annual Franklin County Golf Tournament to Benefit Children’s Aid Society’s Frances Leiter Center in Chambersburg, Register today and Help Children! Held at Chambersburg Country Club, registration from noon to 1:00 pm, Registration includes box lunch, greens fees, carts, range balls, snacks, prizes, and appetizers following the tournament. 4 – person scramble, $ 85.00 for individual player and $ 320.00 for foursome team. Sponsorship Opportunities are available. Contact for more information: Jan Zeigler, Director of Development & Marketing, (717) 624-4461, ext. 203
JULY 3, 2015 – The Women’s Fellowship Choir of EYN (Ekklesiyar Yan-uwa, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) will perform on Friday, July 3, at 7:00 pm in the Nicarry Meetinghouse on the campus of CKV-TBHC. This free, public concert is in appreciation of the support Nigerians have received from American Brethren during the recent persecution, violence and hardship related to the Boko Haram jihadist group, which is estimated to have killed 10,000 civilians in Nigeria last year. The choir is part of a larger group touring the U.S. in June and July, concluding at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Florida. Come and hear the inspirational sounds of these women at their only appearance in South Central Pennsylvania.
Information on the bus trip to the Annual Conference July 11-15, Tampa, Florida This is to inform you that I will be hosting an Elite Coach to the July 11 – 15 Annual Conference in Tampa, Florida this summer. People have been inquiring about this possibility.
With a minimum of 35 participants, the cost will be $789 per person double occupancy and that is all inclusive, conference lodging, enroute lodging, ,transportation and driver gratuity. It does not include meals (except breakfasts along the way) while traveling or at conference.
Since reservations for lodging open in late February, I cannot assure A.C. lodging, but I have requested and am assured that our conference stay will be at the Marriott Hotel which is across the street from the convention center. This trip of approximately 1100 miles will take two and one-half days with stops along the way. We will leave July 9 from Brethren Village at 7:30 a.m., pick up people along the way and return on July 17 around 6 p.m. We will take appropriate breaks but it will not be much of a sightseeing tour. We hope to stop at one or two interesting sites along the way. The minimum participants will be 35 persons to stay within the above price. Happy New Year and God bless! Earl K. Ziegler (See letter on the bulletin board)
AUGUST 3 – 7, 2015 – Basketball Camp- This will be held here at York First Church of the Brethren. Sign up now! Register online, mail or bring information to: Emmanuel Christian Fellowship, 2309 East Philadelphia St, York, PA 17402 OR register online at http://registration.upward.org/UPW58041, Camp for 1st through 5th grade will be held Monday, August 3 through Friday, August 7, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. each evening. Flyers are available at York First COB office. For more information contact Betsy Rubadue, ecfyork@comcast.net, 717-840-0840
JUNE BIRTHDAYS:
If your birthday is in JUNE and it is not on the above list or is listed incorrectly, please call the church office.
1 Lauren Poland
2 Ryan Sauder
Brian LeGrand
3 Dorothy Lehman
5 Jeffrey Gipe
James Godfrey
7 Tanya Raney
Suzanne Gray
Jonathan Soyke
9 Mary Minnich
10 Becky Wenger
11 Michael Kovacs
12 Shannon McCracken
Michelle Yingling
Deb Martin
13 Kevin & Kyle Hubbell
Trey Bradfield
16 Nancy Gipe
19 Helen Lehman-Fay
20 Justin Stehr
21 Dale Campbell
22 Nancy Snyder
Amanda Hubbell Jan
Benjamin Miller
24 Wayne Brant
28 Roy Rollman
29 Marie Bachman
30 Arden Kile
Contacting the Pastor: Pastor Don can be reached most mornings in the church office Monday-Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The pastor reserves afternoons and evenings for visitation, meetings, and other pastoral-related activities. If you need to reach a Pastor Don outside of office hours, please call him at home at 792-4090, or cell phone 818-6266, and leave a message on his home answering machine. He will return your call at his earliest opportunity.If you would specifically like a pastoral visit, please contact the pastor. HIPA laws prevent the hospital from contacting the pastor when you are admitted. You MUST specifically note to hospital staff that you would like the hospital to contact your pastor.