Weekly News
Vol. 12-No. 27 Friday, July 7, 2017
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, July 9, 2017
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
– SANCTUARY: “Jesus Plus Nothing Equals Everything”
– SCRIPTURE: I Corinthians 2:1-5
To anyone helping with VBS, a meeting will be held in the lounge this Sunday following worship service.
Also, there is still a need for volunteers to help with minor items such as registration, food helpers, etc. All help is appreciated!
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SUMMER SPECIAL MUSIC SCHEDULE:
July 9 – Caroline Wolfe
July 16 – Cathy Carson
July 23 – Greg Bachman
July 30 – Dan Snook
August 6 – VBS
August 13 – Caroline Wolfe
August 20 – Bob Krouse
August 27 – Baldwin Girls
Sept 3 – Matt Diehl
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ATTACHMENTS: Calendar of Events, Friends to Remember in Prayer, & Sunday School Schedule and the Summer Music Schedule.
ATTENDANCE – July 2, 2017, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – 63
COPIES OF this week’s e-news, the July calendar, and July/August Newsline Digest are available to be picked up on the table in the narthex and at YorkFirst.org
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YARD SALE $$ UPDATE – We are so excited to announce that the Indoor Yard Sale for 2017 netted approximately $5,075.00. Kathy and the committee of ‘worker bees’ want to “thank” all of you who have either donated household, food, baked goods or volunteered your time because you ALL made this happen! It takes a community of believers to accomplish something this BIG! We could have never done this without your help. THANK YOU!
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SUB SALE (to benefit Youth Yard Sale project) – Turkey & Ham Subs – $3 TAKING ORDERS – Sign-Up Sheet in Narthex. DELIVERY WILL BE JULY 23 (before and after church)
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FELLOW LAMPLIGHTERS: There seems to be some confusion as to the date and time of a social I will be having in September. Here is the information “right from the horse’s mouth” as they say.
SOUPER SUNDAE – SAT., SEPT 23 – 5:30 pm. SIGN UP FOR ICE CREAM TOPPINGS OR 1/2 GAL OF ICE CREAM (ANY FLAVOR). A large crock pot of homemade boiled chicken pot pie, MD Crab Soup and Sweet Roasted Red Pepper Bisque will be served first. So dinner is not needed at home (unless you wish). Any questions, see Dolly Furst
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“Destiney, the mom our church has sponsored during Advent the past two years, is looking for odd jobs to do over the summer months. Please call her at 717-714-7512 if you have any jobs for her to do. Thank you.”
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THIS WEEK. . . . . . . . . . . .
JULY 13, 2017 – OWLS NEWS – On Thursday, July 13 the OWLS are planning a tour of LIFE PATH MINISTRIES (formerly The Rescue Mission) located at 363-373 West Market Street in downtown York. There is some walking involved. We will car-pool from the church parking lot promptly at 11:00 a.m. for an 11:30 guided tour. Parking is available at the Farmer’s Market next to Life Path Ministries. After the tour, we will stop for lunch at the Central Restaurant on North George Street (formerly PennSupreme). Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex by July 9 so we know how many are going. Also, please indicate if you plan to car-pool. NEXT EVENT – AUGUST 10 ANNUAL INDOOR PICNIC
JULY 14, 2017 ~ 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, July 14, 2017 (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.
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The Spiritual Enrichment Team is organizing a trip to the Ephrata Cloister for our church. ~ Jeff Bach, director of The Young Center For Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College, will be going with us as a guide. He will be explaining the beliefs of the Cloister and provide information about the C.O.B. involvement in it. Jeff is very knowledgeable about C.O.B. history and will be tying this all together for us. He will be with us for the day and be available for questions and discussion. It will be a day of learning, understanding of our C.O.B. roots, and fellowship together.
All are welcome to come and bring guests if you wish. The trip will be Saturday August 5, leaving at 9 from the church and returning around 4. We will travel using the church vans, but if you would rather drive yourself you can simply meet us at the Cloister. The 2 main buildings that are toured are handicapped accessible. There are other buildings you can peek into, but 4 of them are not handicapped accessible. The tour involves about 2 city blocks of walking, there are shady places to sit and rest around the grounds, and a gift shop with well made reproductions of antique items such as were used at the Cloister.
The cost is $15. ( includes admission). We will have lunch together in Ephrata (at your expense), and we will also spend one hour at 10,000 Villages in Ephrata. This is a large free trade store with many unusual items from all over the world—–similar to our SERRV at New Windsor. The store is handicapped accessible and has a café where people can relax with a snack or drink if you don’t want to shop.
Seats on the church vans will be given to those who sign up first. If we have more people than can be accommodated, printed driving directions will be provided for car pooling
Save the date and plan to join us on this trip! Reservations and payment are now being accepted.
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Looking for a family friendly activity for a summer evening?
Don’t have a lot of money, but tired of staying home and watching the same old TV shows? Wishing you knew some of your church friends better?
We have the answer!
Join the Lamplighter’s Sunday School Class for a York Revolution baseball game.
What: Revs ball game Saturday, July 15th
When: Game starts at 6:30 PM
Where: Peoples Bank Park, North George Street, York
How: See John Anderson for $8 tickets
Why: Fun and fellowship
It’s Faith and Family night at the game. There is always lots of fun between innings. Then stay to see the free fireworks display after the game.
Great fun, good fellowship and fresh air while cheering on the home team.
What more could you ask for? See you there.
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THE JULY SUGGESTION FROM THE SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT TEAM IS TO USE PRECIOUS MOMENTS TO HELP YOU HAVE A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST.
The political polarization and violence in our country and the world was on the minds of the Spiritual Enrichment Team while discussing what the July newsletter suggestion could be. We hear about so much unrest, hatred, shootings and killing throughout our country. And, to be truthful, we also have resentments, disagreements and disunity at times within our own small sphere of family, church, friends and acquaintances. After some thought I reluctantly agreed to write the July article, going on faith that the words would come.
I felt the heavy burden of needing to come up with a solution to the present situation in the form of a suggestion for the month. The pivotal word here is I.
I felt I needed to have the solution. But something told me to wait and be open to that still, small voice; read and pray and listen to others. I prayed and kept my eyes and ears open for guidance. This is what happened.
Last week, in a group I belong to, we talked about our misguided efforts to control people who seem to be, to us, obviously on the wrong path. We talked about detachment: separating ourselves with love from the adverse effects of another person’s behavior. This led us to remember the Serenity Prayer, that we can only change ourselves, no one else.
Earlier that week, a friend gave me Acts 7:55-60 to read about the stoning of Stephen. As he was dying he prayed for mercy for those who were stoning him. He was able to let go of any bitterness toward his attackers. Could this be a good option in today’s violent world? It would certainly be a change.
Last Sunday the Lamplighter’s class was starting a new lesson series. We were directed to revisit Jesus’s words on the cross:” Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Do we always realize what we are doing? We talked about forgiveness and the effect is has on the person doing the forgiving. Is forgiveness an option in our divided nation? It would also be a change.
On Monday I read a daily email meditation titled “How do I let it go?”. The author referenced Isaiah 45:18-19; “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing…..I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Letting go means giving up what we cannot control to receive God’s guidance to change what we can.
It seemed like everything was coming together. I realized it was ridiculous and arrogant of me to think I could offer the solution to the world’s problems. I needed to let it go of that idea and turn it over to God. “Let go and let God” is another helpful reminder that played in my head. Isn’t turning people and situations that bother us over to God the first step in forgiveness?
So, that is the suggestion for July. Let go and let God. God loves each of us and longs for a deeper relationship with each one of us. When we let go and let God guide us, we tap into a power much greater than any person, group or Facebook post. By turning our struggles, problems and conflicts over to God we are free to concentrate on living the life we were given, confident God will direct us in handling the mess we sometimes make of our lives.
Let’s try letting go and letting God this month. ~ Spiritual Enrichment
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LOOKING AHEAD . . . . . . . . . . .
JULY 20, 2017 – NEW WINDSOR WORK DAY – The next work day at New Windsor is scheduled for Thursday, July 20th. We will be located in Material Resources and work on kits that are received in the warehouse. Our job is to check the contents and replace items that have been improperly packed, so that the kits are ready for shipment. Their destination might be to disaster sites within the U.S. or to refugees in other countries. Meet in church parking lot by 7:15 a.m. Lunch will be provided and we will return by 5:00 p.m. Sign up in church narthex to reserve a seat. For more information, call Helen Stoner.
AUGUST 3, 2017 – Mel Markey Memorial Golf Benefit (Formerly the Children’s Aid Society FORE Children Golf Benefit), Thursday, Aug. 3rd, With the passing of long time supporter Mel Markey, we have renamed our FORE Children Golf Benefit in his honor. This tournament benefits our services for low income, at-risk children. Your round of golf helps break the cycle of child abuse. The golf benefit will be held at: Hanover Country Club, 200 East Water Street, Abbottstown, PA 17301, Phone: 717-259-8422, www.hanovercc.com, 4 person Scramble, 12:30 pm Registration, 2:00 pm Shotgun Start, 6:30 pm Dinner and Prizes. For more information please contact Jan Zeigler at 717-624-4461 or jzeigler@cassd.org, www.cassd.org
Please see additional information and the registration forms on the bulletin board. Registration Deadline: July 31, 2017
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CONTACTING THE PASTOR: Pastor Bob can be reached most mornings in the church office Monday—Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Afternoons and evenings are set aside for visiting those in need, for meetings, and for other pastoral duties. Pastor Bob is also available for Pastoral Counseling by appointment. If you need to reach the pastor outside of office hours, his cell phone number is (717) 818-0653. You can also email him at Pastor@yorkfirst.org. By the way, HIPA laws prevent the hospital from contacting the pastor when you are admitted, so you will need to let hospital staff know that you would like the hospital to contact your pastor.
CONTACTING THE YOUTH DIRECTOR, Garrett Page: His phone number is (614) 400-9533 or by email at nykgarrettpage@yahoo.com
