Weekly News
Vol. 10-No. 45 Friday, November 11, 2016
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, NOVEMBER 13, 2016
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
– Sanctuary: “Working, Waiting, Longing”
– Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-25 & Luke 21:5-19
Thoughts on the Word: There you are standing in one of the great cathedrals of Europe or perhaps the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. You come from our plain church tradition and such an amazing sight in a church building is totally foreign to you. You are totally awestruck! Simply magnificent. I think the first disciples must have had much the same feeling when they walked into the Temple in Jerusalem for the very first time. Herod the Great truly was a master builder aside from whatever else he may have been. His great building projects truly were awe inspiring. Jesus speaks hard words of warning. All man-made structures can be torn down and destroyed. The greatest temple of all was not made with human hands but by the hands of God. The greatest temple of all is the creation of God, and we, our human bodies, are part of this amazing creation. The Bible tells us that the very Spirit of the living God resides within us. Awe inspiring isn’t it!
Next week: People, places, and things Text: Jeremiah 23:1-6, Luke 23:33-43
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH is Child Development Center Open House Sunday. Everyone is invited to visit the CDC classrooms and enjoy the artwork in the hallway. Cookies and drinks will be served from 10:00-10:30 and after the Worship Service. Please join us in celebrating our Child Development Center!
SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, December 11, 2016, Pastor Retirement Luncheon
INFORMATION FOR THE 2017 DIRECTORY: Each team must re-organize and get the information into the church office by Tuesday, November 15, 2016.
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ATTACHMENTS: Calendar of Events, Friends to Remember in Prayer, & Sunday School Schedule
WORSHIP ATTENDANCE – November 6, 2016, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – 112
COPIES OF this week’s e-news, November calendar, and November Newsline Digest (formerly Mission and Ministry newsletter) are available to be picked up on the table in the narthex and at YorkFirst.org
Copies of the pastor’s sermons will be available on our website at http://yorkfirst.org/sermons/ You may also contact the church office to request a copy.
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NOVEMBER 20 OR 27 ~
Christmas Colors – Red, Green, Gold, Silver, Purple, Blue and Pink – what do you think is your favorite color to share the season of joy? Whether you are creative at heart, or just enjoy dabbling in a bit of color, no matter here at First Church. We take on no artists, just those who are willing to try their hand who enjoy expressing color.
Come join us for some fun on Sunday morning BEFORE and AFTER church on Nov 20 or 27 to decorate a Christmas Ornament for the Camp Eder Christmas Tree Festival this year. These undecorated ornaments will be displayed on a table in the narthex and the finished product (ornament that you paint) will be displayed on a tree at Camp Eder to be shared by all who come to view the tree festival. This will be a really fun event for both adults and children. So, see Kathy Kovacs in the narthex for details and get ready to share your joy of color this Christmas.
*5TH ANNUAL CAMP EDER CHRISTMAS – TREE FESTIVAL – DEC, 9, 10, & 11, 2016 – 5 – 8:30 PM
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ADVENT BREAKFAST – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH! We will be celebrating the Season of Advent on Sunday, November 27th, 2016 with our breakfast starting at 8:30a.m.
Brittney Beckwith asks if there are any volunteers that may be able to help with preparation of the Season to please see her before or after Services on the 13th or 20th . We plan to start preparation: November 22-26.
There are sign- up sheets located in the lobby to Host Tables and provide breakfast items such as: Casseroles, Fruit, Muffins and Juice.
Your help is much appreciated in making the Season of Advent a special time.
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THIS WEEK……………
NOVEMBER 12, 2016 ~ INTERGENERATIONAL CHURCH GAME NIGHT, SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12TH at 6:30 pm in the Gym presented by the Fellowship Team. Bring your favorite board/card/etc. game to share! The game of Pickleball will also be happening on the pickleball court. This game is less strenuous than tennis, and is played with a paddle and a wiffle ball. Everyone can learn! Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. Come fine out what it is all about!!! Dessert & drinks provided! Questions? Please contact a Fellowship Team member, Sid Innerst, Jayne Baldwin or Tim Beckwith
NOVEMBER 12 & 13, 2016 ~ WEST YORK Church of the Brethren (York, PA) is observing their 50th Anniversary on Sat., November 12th and Sunday, November 13th. On November 12th there will be a special time of music at 7:00 pm led by former pastor Warren Eshbach. On November 13th during the 10:00 am worship service there will be Biblical Teaching through music and mime by Drama Ministry from Lancaster. Also, former pastor, Warren Eshbach, will lead us in looking back; current pastor, Gregory Jones, will lead us in looking at today; and ministerial son of the congregation, Matthew Hershey, will lead us in looking ahead.
Please join us for this special weekend where we celebrate “the crowd of witnesses” whose faith laid the spiritual foundation of our church, and the faithful today who “run with endurance the race God has set before us”.
NOVEMBER 12, 2016 – Hanover Church of the Brethren (601 Wilson Ave., Hanover), presents a Christmas Craft, Soup & Bake Sale, Sat., Nov. 12th, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm, Featuring: Our Famous Homemade Soups: $ 6 a quart, various homemade baked goods. Vendors include: Tupperware, Chair Massages, Jewelry, Candles, Paintings, Scentsy, Christmas items – and much more! Free coffee & popcorn, door prizes, Lunch Served.
NOVEMBER 16, 2016 – NEW WINDSOR WORK DAY – Wednesday, November 16TH , The Church of the Brethren continues to provide Hygiene Kits, School Kits and Clean-up Buckets where disasters have occurred here and abroad. Material Resources is in the process of shipping over 2000 Clean-up Buckets and 760 cartons of Kits in response to Hurricane Matthew. We can participate in this endeavor by helping to process kits at the Service Center in New Windsor, MD. We will meet at the church on November 16th at 7:15 a.m. to travel in the church bus. Lunch will be provided. Sign up in the narthex to assure yourself of a seat. If you have questions, call Helen Stoner.
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Holiday Season Witness Opportunities:
IN GATHERING SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20
This is an opportunity to stock our food pantry to help local families. A list of foods most needed is posted on the church bulletin board. Bagged items can be placed on the steps in the front of the sanctuary prior to the beginning of the worship service.
TRUCK STOP MINISTRY COOKIE PROJECT
Home baked cookies will be packaged and delivered to the Carlisle Truck stop Ministry for distribution to truckers during the Holiday Season. Cookies are needed and should be delivered to the church by Sunday, November 27. Each bag will include our church identification.
LEHMAN CENTER FAMILY
Last year our church provided gifts for a special family through the Lehman Center. Our efforts were very much appreciated. We would like to continue our support of the family this year. A list of items on their wish list will be posted on the bulletin board. Please sign up for any item that you would like to provide. Other age appropriate items and gift cards (especially gas) are also helpful. Cash or checks can be designated and placed in offering envelopes. Items may be placed in the box in the narthex or taken to the office marked for “Lehman Center Family”.
>>>Liyana (age 4) – Dress clothes size 5T, shoes size 10 (black and shiny), socks (any color size 10 shoe), Barbie with a sparkly dress, dress up clothes, earrings.
>>>Dylan (age 6) – Clothing size 6/7 XS, soccer cleats size 12, sonic action figure, magic tracks with extra car.
>>>Destiny (Mother) – Queen size sheets, gift cards
>>>Family – Pillows (2 child and 2 adult), Tumbling Monkeys game, a family laptop for the children to use, and gift cards.
BLANKETS FOR CHURCH WORLD SERVICE
This year the Christmas Eve offering will be given to Church World Service for the Blanket Fund.
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THANK YOU……………
Thank you for the support during our season of grief at the passing of my uncle. ~ Pastor Don & Vivian
A huge THANK YOU to all who helped, attended, and enjoyed this year’s Trick or Trunk. Roughly 200-230 people attended. Twelve trunks were decorated to hand out candy. The hot dog dinner & hayride were once again huge hits. A lot of new faces were there so hopefully we’ve reached some new families. Thanks, again.
THANK YOU to Pastor Don and everyone at York First for visits and cards. ~ Bill Jacobs
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CONDOLENCES……………
To Patricia Carey and her family on the passing of her mother-in-law, Jo Carey. Jo passed away on November 10, 2016. She was a member of Shippensburg COB. Jo is also the sister of Theresa Eshbach. Please keep Patricia, Theresa, and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
To Pastor Don, Vivian and their family on the passing of Don’s uncle.
To the Greg & Deb Klinedinst and family on the passing of their niece, Penny Fourhman. Penny passed away on October 30, 2016. Please keep Penny’s mom, Denise, Penny’s husband, Lonnie, Deb & Greg and their whole family in your thoughts and prayers.
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The Bair Foundation (Child & Family Ministries ~ Orphan Sunday – Can YOU Help Love a Child? Stand with The Bair Foundation, as we remember orphans & foster youth on Orphan Sunday, an initiative of the Christian Alliance for Orphans. All around the world, children are hungry, homeless, voiceless, without hope, and without love. It’s not just a need that exists in a faraway place; there is a tremendous need here in the United States of America. There are over 400,000 children and teens languishing in the foster care system; one fourth of whom are waiting for an adoptive home. The harvest is plenty but the laborers are few. How can you get involved in caring for children in foster care? Full-time foster parenting, Short-term emergency care, Respite Care, Support, and Praying. Learn More…Join us at our Info Night on Nov. 21, 2016 at 7:00 pm at 2550 Kingston Road, York PA. Contact Jennifer Shoup 900-4444. Look for more information in the narthex on Sunday, November 13th.
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LOOKING AHEAD . . . . . . . . . . .
NOVEMBER 30, 2016 – CAMP EDER SENIOR DAY –Wed., Nov. 30th, 9:30 am Gathering/Morning Program – “Paint your own pottery”: Accomplished local potter, Cathleen Lerew, shares her testimony by molding clay to tell a story. Paint your own piece of pottery as Cathleen shares her faith and her art with us. 12:00 pm Lunch – Baked turkey pot pie, Brussel sprouts, salad, fresh fruit, pumpkin pie 1:00 pm Afternoon Program – “Hosanna Ringers”: Rejoice with some of our friends as they proclaim the coming Christmas Season through song with bells. Cost $ 17. Per person. For more information see poster on bulletin board or contact Kathy Kovacs @ 717-309-0678.
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Weather Related *CHURCH CANCELLATIONS
- Cancellations will be announced through our church phone system.
Please use the following process:
- Call the church office at 755-0307.
- When answering machine message begins, press 6
- A recorded message will indicate the status of church services/activities.
- Cancellations will be announced on the church’s web site at www.yorkfirst.org, and when possible, emails will be sent to all online mailing list members and added to our Facebook page and Twitter, and in that 1, 2, 3, 4 order. *Weather related cancellations will not be announced on radio or TV.
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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.
Contacting the Youth Director, Garrett Page: His phone number is (614) 400-9533 or by email at: nykgarrettpage@yahoo.com
