Weekly News
Vol. 10-No. 50 Friday, December 16, 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, DECEMBER 18, 2016
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. 2016 CANTATA
– SANCTUARY: A Noel Celebration is the title of the 2016 cantata at York First Church of the Brethren being offered at the 10:30 service on December 18th. This collaborative cantata looks at the Christmas story through the eyes of first-hand witnesses, who share their unique perspectives on the miraculous birth of Jesus. Zechariah (Terry Wueschinski) Mary (Caroline Wolfe) Joseph (Alex Baldwin) a Shepherd (Barry Hollinger) a Wise Man (Roy Rollman) and aged saint Simeon (Frank Leaman) all share their stories through dramatic monologues. A blend of original and familiar carols provides a dramatic sonic backdrop for these inspiring stories. Ed Hogan’s stunning arrangements makes this piece a versatile work that will be presented by the choir a string ensemble and organ. Please come on Dec 18 to the service at York First Church of the Brethren for this meaningful cantata.
Words cannot begin to express the feelings of gratitude that are in our hearts! On behalf of Vivian, the family, and myself, thank you for the wonderful banquet and the amazing gift! We looking forward to taking a trip to Kentucky sometime in the spring to visit Noah’s Ark. I don’t know where to begin to say thank you, and to who? So we will say thank you to all of you! We have been truly blessed to be a part of the York First family. We will pray for you as you move forward and we ask for your prayers as well. Merry Christmas and Happy New year to each of you. The Hubbell’s – Pastor Don, Vivian (aka Church Mouse) and family.
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ATTACHMENTS: Calendar of Events, Friends to Remember in Prayer, & Sunday School Schedule.
WORSHIP ATTENDANCE – December 11, 2016, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – 141
COPIES OF this week’s e-news, December calendar, and December 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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IF YOU DROP ANYTHING AT THE CHURCH OFFICE please mark the reason it is being left, WHO or WHERE it should be directed. ~ THANK YOU!
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ADVENT PROGRAMS SCHEDULED:
December 24th, a Family Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be held at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary. Carols, special music, the spoken word, and candle lighting will be featured.
Sunday, December 25th, at 10:30 am, will be a Christmas Day Celebration Service featuring carols and readings. There is no Sunday School scheduled.
Sunday, January 1st, at 10:30 am, a New Year’s Day Service is being planned by the Youth of the church. There is no Sunday School scheduled.
2017 OFFERING ENVELOPES are available for you to pick up in the narthex.
NOTE: Many numbers have changed since 2016.
Do NOT use your 2016 envelopes after December 31, 2016, and do NOT use the 2017 envelopes before January 1, 2017 to assure that the contributions are credited to the correct contributor.
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THIS WEEK……………
DECEMBER 18, 2016 (For Book Order) ~ Women’s Bible Study – BEGINNING Tues., Jan. 10th, we will begin a new series of studies. We will explore the lessons in the book, Fight Back with Joy by Margaret Feinberg. The book explores awakening God’s fierce love, escaping fear, discovering freedom from the past and becoming more winsome, cheerful, and thankful leading us to become a more joy-filled child of God – every day. Please join us by calling or contacting Pat Trimmer at (717) 292-2960. PS: Orders for the book should not be later than December 18.
DECEMBER 18, 29, & 30, 2016 – Eshbach Railroad ~ All are invited to the annual Model Train Show at the home of Theresa & Warren Eshbach, 3885 Lauer Lane, Dover, PA 17315. No admission charge, but contributions received will support Brethren Housing Association.
Call (717) 292-4803 or Email: eshbachmodelrailroad@gmail.com to schedule a visit for Sunday, Dec. 18th at 3:00 pm, Thursday, Dec. 29th at 2:00/4:00 pm, Friday, Dec. 30th at 2:00/4:00 pm. Te better enhance your experience, please schedule your visit in advance.
DECEMBER 20, 2016 ~ There will be an open house from 10:00 – 2:00 on Tuesday, December 20 at Brookside, the new Memory Care unit at the Brethren Home in New Oxford. Shuttle buses are available at the Nicarry Meeting House.
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CASH FOR CAUSES
Purchase Giant or Weis gift cards for your holiday FOOD shopping, Christmas GIFTS, & DONATIONS.
I have $25 and $10 denominations available. See me on Sunday. ~ Carole Bradfield
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Holiday Season Witness Opportunities:
CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING
This year the Christmas Eve offering will be given to Church World Service to support the needs of refugee resettlement including, shelter, food and supplies.
CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
To date we have donations of $5,250 for the CAS campaign. Witness will match up to $10,000!
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SOUP KITCHEN:
THANK YOU for all the casseroles made for Our Daily Bread this year, 2016.
Helping those less fortunate is a blessing to both the giver and those that receive.
2017 will be another opportunity to help. We serve at Our Daily Bread the 2nd Friday of each month. If you can help..the casserole pans are for you.You can put your casserole in the freezer in the kitchen anytime of the month. Just mark it SK.
Thank you. A.Ginder
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Operation Christmas Child – Several members have asked about the distribution of the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes that were completed as our Vacation Bible School service project. About 35-40 shoe boxes were completed during VBS. $300 of the monetary contributions received during VBS was sent to Samaritan’s Purse for the processing of the boxes and $19 was used to purchase a few additional items for the boxes. $19 goes a long way at the Dollar Store! Emma took boxes to First Priority Prayer Club at Dallastown, so more boxes were added to the total. Carol and Ken took the completed boxes to a local drop off location at a church in Red Lion in November. John and Mary Esther Anderson, Judy Yingling and I had the privilege of helping to process the shoeboxes at a Processing Center in Odenton, MD. We’d be happy to share our experiences with you. The pallets of processed boxes are placed on sea going containers, go through customs in the countries where they are distributed and are distributed all year long. The boxes collected in 2016 will be distributed in 2017. Here is a web site for OCC – https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/the-journey-of-a-shoebox/ – and for Danniella’s Story – http://video.samaritanspurse.org/good-news-danniellas-story/ – a beautiful personal story sharing more about the mission. Danniella’s story was shown in church the week after VBS. Hope this helps answer any questions you have. Thanks! Judy Deitch
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THANK YOU……………
THANK YOU to everyone for your generosity to help make my kids Christmas brighter. – Destiney
A First Church “thank you shout out” for planning and presenting the retirement luncheon for Pastor Don and Vivian. An enjoyable time was had by all! The Committee was comprised of Glenn & Anna Miller, Dolly Furst, Pat Gibble, and Mike Baldwin. Thanks to all the people who were involved in some aspect of the day. A job well done! Mike Baldwin, Coordinator and Jayne Baldwin.
Thank you to everyone that baked cookies for the Dallastown Concert. We had left over cookies for the Owls this week, cookies for shut-ins and pastor visits, and we still had cookies for “Our Daily Bread”. Blessings for your generosity. – Worship Team
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CARLISLE TRUCK STOP MINISTRY, INC ~
Dear Ministry Supporter:
2016 has been a year of transition for Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry. Chaplain Dan was called home to be with our Lord in May and we now have two new chaplains covering the duties associated with the ministry. We went from five day a week coverage and one morning service on Sunday, to seven day a week coverage with two services on Sunday, one at 8:00 AM and one at 5:00 PM.
The one constant for the drivers, employees, homeless, and travelers 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 have asked “Are you going to be having the cookies this year?”
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
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Weather Related *CHURCH CANCELLATIONS
A. Cancellations will be announced through our church phone system.
Please use the following process:
1. Call the church office at 755-0307.
2. When answering machine message begins, press 6
3. A recorded message will indicate the status of church services/activities.
B. 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
