Weekly News
Vol. 13-No. 10 Friday, March 9, 2018
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, March 11, 2018
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Worship Service, Sanctuary
– MESSAGE: “Created in Christ”
– SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:1-10
Upcoming Events: Palm Sunday, March 25 – Love Feast following worship service – FH
Good Friday, March 30 – 7:00 pm Tenebrae Service – Sanctuary
___________________________________________________________________________
REMINDER: TIME CHANGE, SUNDAY MARCH 11th
Move clocks ahead one hour.
_____________________________________________________________________
ATTACHMENTS: Calendar of Events, Friends to Remember in Prayer, & Sunday School Schedule and Easter Service Invitation
ATTENDANCE – March 4, 2018, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – 95
COPIES OF this week’s e-news, the March calendar, and March Newsline Digest are available to be picked up on the table in the narthex and can be viewed at www.yorkfirst.org
___________________________________________________________________________
MARCH 18, 2018, Special Offering: ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING is a special opportunity for your congregation to show God’s love to people who are in need. When you give to the offering, you support the life-changing efforts of Global Mission and Service, Brethren Volunteer Service, Congregational Life Ministries, Brethren Disaster Ministries, the Global Food Initiative, the Office of Public Witness, the Office of Ministry, and many others. With God’s help, your gifts, and the dedication of faithful volunteers, the Church of the Brethren serves, loves, and partners with people all over the world. Please give generously to One Great Hour of Sharing, Thank you for partnering in this important work!
____________________________________________________________________________
Prayer Vigil Videos: We are grateful for the attention given to the recent cultural violence prayer vigil held in our sanctuary as a mutual service co-sponsored by Christ Disciples and First Church. Click on these links to view the videos:
http://www.wgal.com/article/community-comes-together-for-a-prayer-vigil-following-parkland-school-shooting/18224542
York County church holds prayer vigil to honor victims of Florida school shooting
____________________________________________________________________________
EASTER FLOWERS ~ It’s that time of year to be ordering flowers for Easter Sunday, April 1st. Orders will be taken on Sunday – March 11th and Sunday – March 18th in the narthex.
Tulips – 6″ pot -5 bulbs, Yellow, pink, purple ~ $ 9.00 /Daffodils – 6″ pot- 4 bulbs ~ $ 9.00 /Azaleas – 1gallon -red or pink ~ $ 12.00 /Easter Lilies – 6″ pot ~ $ 9.00 /Hardy Hydrangea, 4 plus blooms, blue or pink~ $ 15.00
MARCH 28, 2018 – EASTER EGG HUNT (Rain or Shine)
The Easter Egg Hunt will be held on March 28th from 5:30 until 7:00 pm. There will be sign-up sheets on the bulletin board for those who plan to come. If you would like to help, there will be a column on the sign-up sheet. Sign up by March 19th.
****There will be a box in the narthex for donations of plastic eggs and any extra baskets you might be willing to share. The children are to bring their own but we might need extras. Monetary donations are accepted by using the envelopes in the pews and
checks should be made out to First Church of the Brethren and in memo section put egg hunt. Volunteers are needed for Egg hiding, taking groups to hunt for eggs, setting and cleaning up, and helping children know where to go. If you have any time to donate, please see or call Terry Wueschinski. Thanks in advance.
EASTER BREAKFAST ~ Mark your calendar for the Easter Breakfast on Sunday, April 1st! More information to follow!
______________________________________________________________________________________
EASTER SERVICE INVITATIONS
This week we’ve sent out over 5,500 invitations to residents in the church’s zip code (17402) to join us for our Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday services. The invitation card also introduces the community to Pastor Joel. Between our always-friendly greeters and our thoughtful ushers, there is a place for you to help us welcome our visitors for these and future services. Consider being in the lobby before the service and adopting a visitor by inviting them to sit with you for the service. And along the way, before and after the service, introduce them to your friends. Thanks for helping to host our visitors by showing them our library, restrooms, childcare area, and the refreshments in the Gathering Room. Please see the attachment to view both sides of the invitation card.
The VITAL Team
______________________________________________________________________________________
THANK YOU . . . . . . . . . . .
Dear Church Family, Thank you very much for the concern & support that you have shown to us at the loss of Angie. We are very grateful for the many expressions of sympathy at this time. – Carole & Dave Bradfield
During Galen’s passing, there are no words to express the love I felt from this community of faith. There were so many acts of kindness and concern through physical needs and prayers that sustained me. Special thanks to Pastor Joel and Melinda Carlson who were such a blessing in my darkest hours. Thanks to all. Pat Trimmer
_________________________________________________________________________
YARD SALE INFORMATION
SPRING is coming and Summer is not far behind – and so is the First Church YARD SALE. Yard Sale will be Saturday June 9 in our air conditioned Fellowship Hall.
All proceeds to benefit Camp Eder and Youth Scholarships. Get prepared and start cleaning out. April 9 is our start date for items to be brought into the church garage.
NO LARGE ITEMS OR ELECTRONICS. A date will be set later for large furniture items.
A “dough for dough” and Sub Sale will occur on Sunday March 11 in the church lobby. So come out to buy some goodies or subs for lunch and help get us ready for this great yard sale.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Prayer Vigils at Planned Parenthood during LENT- Do you want to do something for Lent that is very special? Consider joining us in prayer for an hour or more at the curb in front of Planned Parenthood, 728 S. Beaver St., York. As you know, Lent begins Ash Wednesday, February 14, and runs through Palm Sunday, March 25.- For additional information or any questions, please contact Dan Snook.
_________________________________________________________________________
The Spiritual Enrichment Team has been sharing “The Top 10 Ways to Reduce Violence”, by Dr. Phillip E. Humbert. In light of more shootings, it is most important to practice these suggestions, and pass them on to others. We must ask God for help that we may share his peace and be examples of his love. Here are the last three of the ten suggestions:
8. ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SPORTS AND VOLENT BEHAVIOR. Again, sports is a sacred icon in American culture, but it seems that sports have been separated from athletics. Instead of every child participating in gym class and competing in intramural sports, we have a culture of super-hero super-stars who are virtually above the law. Hockey, football, and fighting sports all tolerate behavior that would result in arrest for assault outside the sports arena. Competition and fitness are valuable; organized violence is not acceptable!
9. ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND VIOLENCE. Business uses the language of the battlefield, and sports is full of encouragement to “get out there and kill”, “massacre them”, and “beat their brains out”. Our legal system is based on the idea of lawyers doing battle. While hiring a representative to fight with words instead of clubs was a huge step forward in the middle ages, perhaps our society is ready for an even higher level of conflict resolution.
10. SEE THE VIOLENCE IN OURSELVES. Sometimes I find myself so angry I “daydream” about violence, or “really showing them”. Violence is not just someone else’s problem. I must work for peace, love and improved conflict resolution in my own life. How about you?
These ten suggestions are simple to practice and if followed they will help to stop the de-sensitivity of violence in our culture. We must not continue to allow violence to be acceptable, as an act of faith and an extension of the work of Jesus.
______________________________________________________________________
LOOKING AHEAD. . . . . . . .
MARCH 21, 2018- CAMP EDER SENIOR DAY – Wed, March 21st, 9:30 am -3:00 pm, $18 includes two programs, meet and greet with continental breakfast and lunch. Morning Program (10am) Glass Blowing with Michael Poluso – Lunch (12pm)
Afternoon Program (1pm) “The History of Ordinary Things” History talk by John Maietta. If any questions, contact Kathy Kovacs
MARCH 22, 2018 – You are invited to attend the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies’ annual banquet on Thurs., March 22, at 6:00 p.m. The dinner will be followed by the Young Center Durnbaugh Lecture 2018, Thursday, March 22, 2018, 7:30 – 9pm, Durnbaugh Lectures: Update on the Boko Haram Crisis in Northeastern Nigeria” and “The Founding of CCEPI and Its Mission to the Displaced” Samuel Dali, former president of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, presents an overview of the Boko Haram crisis, the devastation to the Church of the Brethren, and the church’s response. Rebecca Dali, founder and executive director of the Centre for Caring, Empowerment and Peace Initiatives (CCEPI), gives a brief history of the organization and discusses the plight of women in northeastern Nigeria, and IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and refugees in Cameroon.
Cost: Free, Contact: Young Center at 717-361-1470 or youngctr@etown.edu , Location: Esbenshade Gibble Auditorium, Organization: YOUNG CENTER, Web Site:www.etown.edu
MARCH 23 & 24, 2018 – FUNDRAISER YARD SALE – New Fairview Church, 1873 New Fairview Church Road, York, Friday, March 23, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm & Saturday, March 24, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm – Bake Sale, Good Food, 1,000’s of items
APRIL 6 & 7, 2018 ~ Bucket Building Project
The Brethren Disaster Relief Auction will be assembling 1200 Disaster Relief Clean-Up buckets at the Florin Church of the Brethren (815 Bruce Av. Mt Joy, PA 17552). These 5-gallon buckets are filled with items to assist victims of flood disasters and will restock the supply at the New Windsor Brethren Disaster Ministries warehouse. Help is needed on April 6 and 7, 2018, to set up and complete the project. Friday is set-up day and will involve unpacking and preparing the assembly lines for the actual build to be done on Saturday. Friday begins about 10:00 AM and will continue until the work is finished. Lunch will be provided. Saturday’s schedule starts at 8:00 AM and is expected to conclude by noon. Everyone who would like to have a part in this valuable ministry is welcome to help. If you have any questions, please contact Tom Fritz, BDRA Co-Chair at 717-823-2745 or email twfritz@ptd.net.
APRIL 7, 2018 – CAMP EDER FAMILY DAY OUT, Sat., April 7th, Come join us for family fun at Camp Eder, 10AM- 2PM, We are excited to open up our Mother/Daughter, Father/Son day to be more inclusive. This day is reserved for any parent/child combination. See poster on bulletin board or contact Kathy Kovacs.
APRIL 6-8, 2018 – MISSION ALIVE 2018 – Frederick Church of the Brethren, Frederick, MD, Don’t miss your chance to attend! Behold! A gathering of people too numerous to count, from all across this earth, praising God in all sorts of languages and uniting to follow Jesus Christ, the Lord of Love. (inspired by Revelation 7:9). Mission Alive serves as an opportunity to: Rejoice in the growing presence of the Church of the Brethren across the globe / Explore what it truly means to be a global church and how each district, congregation, and individual can take part / Commit to investing in this vision.
For information and to register, go to www.brethren.org/missionalive2018 or contact Kendra Harbeck (847-429-4388 or kharbeck@brethren.org). CEU Credits available. Portions of the conference will be webcast. Details to come on the website.
APRIL 24, 2018 – The Lehman Center Auxiliary Presents 27th Annual Benefit Auction for Children’s Aid Society’s ~ York County 4-H Center, 771 Stoverstown Road, York, PA, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, Auction Preview & Food Servie Begin at 12:00 pm, Live Auction Begins at 5:00 pm , Live Auction Featuring: Art Collectibles, Sports Items, New Merchandise – Silent Auction includes: Art Collectibles, Theme Baskets, Gift Certificates – Kitchen will be open & serving: Homemade Soup, Bar-B-Que, Pies & so much more! For more information, please call 717-845-5771, or visit www.cassd.org
APRIL 28, 2018 – Southern PA District COB 2018 District Women’s Spring Luncheon, Sat., April 28th – Squaring up Fitness according to the Gospel of Dr. Luke held at Newville Church of the Brethren, 16 Carlisle Road, Newville, PA 17241.We build up the body with nutrition and exercise, but how do we build up the body of Christ? Through fellowship, training, and service in love. – A. Aronis. Please see the poster and brochures/registration form on the bulletin board. Registration Deadline: April 16, 2018
MAY 5, 2018 – Camp Eder Benefit Golf Tournament, Saturday, May 5th, Getting out on the green for Camp Eder is a fun and meaningful way to start spring. Mountain View’s Golf Club is a must play FOUR STAR Golf Digest golf course located just minutes from the Historic Gettysburg Battlefields. Schedule: 6:30 am Registration and Continental Breakfast, 8:00 am Shotgun Start (four player scramble), 12:00 pm Hors d’oeuvres & Refreshments at Camp Eder, 1:00 pm Lunch at Camp Eder Dining Hall
Registration is $75/person and $300 for a team of 4 – Limited to the first 100 registrations. Don’t have four? An individual golfer or groups less than 4 will be placed in a team prior to the event. Lunch will be served at 12 Noon at Camp Eder in Geigley Dining Hall. Prizes at the end of each play. See the bulletin board for more information and for the sponsor/registration forms. You will be mailed more information regarding the day after we receive your registration.
JULY 21-26, 2018 – CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE (NYC) in Fort Collins, Colorado. Youth who have completed grades 9-12 are invited to attend this exciting gathering of thousands of youth from across the country. It happens only once every 4 years, and includes many times of worship, small groups, workshops, service projects, recreation, social activities, and more! Visit http://www.brethren.org/yya/nyc/ for details. Please contact Pastor Joel if you or your children may have interest in attending. The church will cover most expenses, and it promises to be a life-giving experience that is not to be missed!
____________________________________________________________________________
CONTACTING THE PASTOR: Pastor Joel 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 Joel is also available for Pastoral Counseling by appointment. If you need to reach the pastor outside of office hours, his home phone number is (717) 318-5442, and his cell number is (717) 271-4888 . 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.
