Vol. 13- No. 52 – Friday, December 28, 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 30, 2018
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School (classes for all ages)
10:30 a.m. – Worship, Sanctuary
– SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:41-52
– MESSAGE: “Amazed and Astonished”
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ATTACHMENTS: Calendar of Events, Friends to Remember in Prayer, & Sunday School Schedule and Tax – Free Charitable Giving Document

ATTENDANCE – December 23, 2018, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – 176
December 24, 2018, 7:00pm Christmas Eve Service – 221

COPIES OF this week’s e-news, the January 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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York First Church of the Brethren Children’s Ministry
January
Nursery 9:00-10:15
(birth-K) K-5th Teacher
9:00-10:00 Nursery 10:15-11:45
(Birth-1st)
6 Tom McCracken Jill McCracken Tom & Jill McCracken
13 Kathy Kovacs & Gail Rutland Michele Gibbel Kathy Kovacs & Gail Rutland
20 Michele Gibbel & Audrey Ginder John Anderson Sam & Alicia Weyant
27 Bob & Stephanie Stoolmaker Alicia Weyant Bob & Stephanie Stoolmaker
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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THANK YOU. . . . . . . . . .

BIG BLUE BLOCKS
Many thanks to the congregation for their support of the CDC’s Big Blue Blocks project! The blocks arrived and the staff are excited to have a new learning tool that transforms their play space into an area that encourages learning, social development, movement and above all fun!

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
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If you donated cookies for the Truck Chaplain Ministry and it was in a container you wanted returned, you will find it in the church office. We placed them in there. Thank you, Elizabeth
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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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MASTER PLANNING
In October the Master Planning Team reported at the Congregational Business Meeting on the work that has been done to date. We continue to move forward having completed a “SWOT” Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats). Upon approval from the Leadership Team we have secured an architect, Frank Dittenhafer, Murphy and Dittenhafer Architects, to guide us as we consider building updates. We look forward to receiving concept drawings to share with you in the near future and are excited about sharing them with you. Goals and Objectives are being developed to pursue those areas that will address the pressing question that drives our efforts to look at new ways to change the trend line of our declining membership. The information we have used thus far in determining our direction was collected during our Dreamcasting session June 2017 and now, the SWOT Analysis. Additional exercises are being planned to again give the congregation an opportunity to share their ideas, vision and concerns as we move through this process and appreciate the trust that has been given to this group. Stay tuned!
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LOOKING AHEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . .

JANUARY 6, 2019 – We will observe Bread and Cup Communion during the worship hour.

JANUARY 10, 2019 – OWLS NEWS ~ The OWLS (Older, Wiser, Loving, Seniors) will gather in the Homebuilder’s Classroom 154 on Thursday January 10 at noon for lunch, some games and conversation, and to plan some activities for the new year.
Maybe you don’t always feel “Older”, or “Wiser”, or “Loving”, But if you are over 55 we consider you a “Senior”, so come on out and have some fun with us. Bring your bag lunch, a friend, and a game to share. We would like to see more folks attend our gatherings, so please come and share your interests with the group as we plan for 2019 & beyond. Drinks and dessert will be provided. (Hopefully the weather will cooperate. You never know about January!)
Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex by January 6 so we know how many to prepare for.
Upcoming Events: That all depends on you……….

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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JANUARY BIRTHDAYS:
If your birthday is in JANUARY and it is not on the above list or is listed incorrectly, please call the church office.
6 Ruby Nicholas
Tom Klinedinst
7 Greg Minnich
9 Jeffrey Yingling
11 Nathan Beuschlein
14 Beth Drawbaugh
Clarence Sauder
15 Ron Horner
Steven Fitzkee
16 Cathy McCracken
Tanner Ferro
18 Melanie Schaefer
19 Greg Bachman
20 Spencer Ginder
Dana Stump
23 Danielle Gibbel
25 Valerie Sauder
27 Larry Gibble
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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