Vol. 13- No. 51 – Friday, December 21, 2018, Karen Bowman-Editor secretary@yorkfirst.org
Web Site: yorkfirst.org Facebook: “York First Church of the Brethren”
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”
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SUNDAY, December 23, 2018
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School (classes for all ages)
10:30 a.m. – Christmas Cantata and Worship, Sanctuary
– SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:39-45
The Chancel Choir, with narration, and accompanied by strings, piano and organ will present the cantata “Sing Joy to All the World!”. The overriding theme of this inspiring Christmas work by Lloyd Larson is Joy. The music incorporates original melodies and familiar carols in a work that ranges from contemplative to celebratory.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018
7:00 p.m. – Christmas Eve Service, Sanctuary
– SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20
– MESSAGE: “Each to His Own City”
Traditional Christmas hymns and carols, scriptures and readings, candle lighting, and special music.
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ATTACHMENTS: Calendar of Events, Friends to Remember in Prayer, & Sunday School Schedule and Tax – Free Charitable Giving Document
ATTENDANCE – December 16, 2018, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – 97
COPIES OF this week’s e-news, the December calendar, and December Newsline Digest are available to be picked up on the table in the narthex and can be viewed at yorkfirst.org
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Advent Offering Project:
This season, preparing to enter the Advent season and looking forward to celebrating Christ’s birth, several of the children in our congregation have expressed interest in leading a special offering project to benefit immigrant and refugee children. We intend to direct funds raised to Church World Service to support their local and international programs of refugee resettlement and immigrant support. This project is truly the birthed from the minds and hearts of children, and children will be leading the way in supporting it. Please plan to support them and give toward this offering project as an extension of our faithfulness to Jesus, who himself fled a dangerous situation and found refuge in a foreign land as a child.
Christmas Eve Offering:
Our Christmas Eve Offering this year will go to support the work of two service organizations. Half will go to LifePath Christian Ministries (formerly York Rescue Mission), which serves many people in need in the City of York. Half will go to Brethren Disaster Ministries, specifically Children’s Disaster Services, which provides crisis care for children following disasters of many kinds. Thank you in advance for your gifts toward these important and faithful ministries that the church is eager to support.
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York First Church of the Brethren Children’s Ministry
December
Nursery 9:00-10:15
(birth-K) K-5th Teacher
9:00-10:00 Nursery 10:15-11:45
(Birth-1st)
2 Tom McCracken Jill McCracken Tom & Jill McCracken
9 Advent Breakfast Kathy Kovacs & Gail Rutland
16 Bob & Stephanie Stoolmaker John Anderson Judy Yingling & Tonya/Ashley DeHoff
23 Kathy Kovacs & Gail Rutland Michele Gibbel Sam & Alicia Weyant
30 Michele Gibbel & Jolene Zeigler Barbara Jo Brown Marie & Greg Bachman
Thank you to all those who help with Children’s Ministry. Your time, energy, and dedication are appreciated. If you need to make a schedule change or would like to serve as a teacher or in the nursery, please contact Michele Gibbel (717) 318-5442 or mgibbel@yahoo.com.
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APPLE BUTTER FOR SALE – Whether it is the Christmas season, birthday, or just a special occasion, think about giving someone a gift of delicious homemade Apple Butter. It really doesn’t get any better than that. A recipe that is carried down and made in copper Kettles at Camp Eder over an open fire is just the best memory ever. Regular and Sugar Free. 1/2 Pint Jar – $3.00 Pint Jar – $5. Apple Butter will be available all year long. So see Kathy Kovacs for that special gift.
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Do you have last minute gifts to buy? I have gift cards from Giant & Weis in $10 and $25 denominations. See me Sunday; avoid the traffic at the mall, …and support the Cash for Causes program. ~ Carole Bradfield
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THANK YOU. . . . . . . . . .
We are very grateful for the many kind expressions of sympathy extended to us upon the passing of our son and brother, Jay Fickes. ~ Winnie Fickes and Beth Drawbaugh
THANKS to everyone who supports the Friends of Cross Keys Village with prayers, gifts and your time as you volunteer to help the residents. Thanks for your used stamps they are really appreciated, keep them coming. God Bless you all. ~ Keyperson, Anna Miller
Thank you from Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry, Inc. ~ Dear Ministry Supporter: One constant for the drivers, employees, homeless and travelers in the greater Carlisle area is our yearly cookie distribution project. As you well know, each year many churches from different denominations come together to bring a little bit of home baking and holiday cheer to those on the road. All through the summer and fall, individuals ask, “Are you going to be having the cookies this year?” One local motel manager greets us each year with arms open wide and says, “The truckers have been asking when the cookies would be arriving!”
The cookies you provide are distributed to approximately 40 locations throughout the Carlisle area touching thousands of individuals with your generosity and God’s love. Last year’s distribution total was over 14,000 bags of cookies. The average bag contained eight cookies per bag for a total of over 112,000 cookies! That’s a lot of cookies and a wonderful demonstration of love and tenderness from the many individuals who bake them!
Please accept our thanks for your generous support of our cookie distribution ministry – and for making it a great success!
May God bless and keep you all, Chaplain Craig, Chaplain Dave, The Board of Directors – Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry, Inc.
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The Prayer Shawl Ministry knitted and crocheted 50 hats and scarfs for the children in need at Jackson Elementary School. Thank you ladies for your hard work. Barbara Wueschinski
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Church Volleyball Team~Thursday evening, York First won over Stillmeadow 1 by a score of 3-0. Congrats to our Team!
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2019 OFFERING ENVELOPES ~ Your box of 2019 Offering envelopes is available in the narthex. Please pick yours up at your earliest convenience. If there is none with your name and you would like a set, let the office or John Minnich know and they will get a set for you. Please continue using your 2018 envelopes thru the end of this year and start using the new ones in 2019 to assure proper credit. Thank you.
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CHALLENGE: 4 new persons to sign up this week! It’s easy and convenient!!
Sign up for Online Giving 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: www.acionlinegiving.com/4706.
You simply complete the information including your name, address, email address, and bank information. Then choose the fund, date and frequency for your contribution. Choose General Fund for tithes/offerings. Other funds are there for your convenience such as Christmas Eve Offering and Children’s Aid Society. 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!!!!!
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LOOKING AHEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . .
JANUARY 11, 2019 ~ 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, January 11, 2019 (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.
JANUARY 25-27, 2019 ~ CAMP EDER’S WINTER CAMP – Have a Winter Blast, Join us for an action packed weekend full of camp fun, great food, friends, and most importantly building our relationship with God. Grab your sleds and pack your bags, because we are going to have an absolute BLAST! Grades: 1st-12th, Only $49., Arrive 7pm Friday\Dismiss 2 pm Sunday (Check in at Geigley Hall) You may register online @www.campeder.org If you have additional questions, please contact Kathy Kovacs.
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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, HIPAA 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.
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York First Church of the Brethren, 2710 Kingston Road, York, PA 17402, Ph: 717-755-0307, Fax: 717-755-1382, yorkfirst.org
