Weekly News
Vol. 12-No. 30 Friday, July 28, 2017
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, July 30, 2017

9:00 a.m. – Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Worship Service

– SANCTUARY: “Is there no Balm in Gilead?”

– SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 8:18-22

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SUMMER SPECIAL MUSIC SCHEDULE:

July 30 – Dan Snook

August 6 – VBS

August 13 – Caroline Wolfe

August 20 – Bob Krouse

August 27 – Baldwin Girls

Sept 3 – Matt Diehl

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ATTACHMENTS: Calendar of Events, Friends to Remember in Prayer, & Sunday School Schedule and the Summer Music Schedule.

ATTENDANCE – July 23, 2017, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – 84

COPIES OF this week’s e-news, the July calendar, and July/August Newsline Digest are available to be picked up on the table in the narthex and at YorkFirst.org

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THIS WEEK. . . . . . . . . . . .

JULY 30, 2017 – VBS ~ Galactic Starveyors – Colossians 1: 15-16, Discovering the God of the Universe – July 30 to August 3, 6:00 to 8:30 pm

AUGUST 3, 2017 – Mel Markey Memorial Golf Benefit (Formerly the Children’s Aid Society FORE Children Golf Benefit), Thursday, Aug. 3rd, With the passing of long time supporter Mel Markey, we have renamed our FORE Children Golf Benefit in his honor. This tournament benefits our services for low income, at-risk children. Your round of golf helps break the cycle of child abuse. The golf benefit will be held at: Hanover Country Club, 200 East Water Street, Abbottstown, PA 17301, Phone: 717-259-8422, www.hanovercc.com, 4 person Scramble, 12:30 pm Registration, 2:00 pm Shotgun Start, 6:30 pm Dinner and Prizes. For more information please contact Jan Zeigler at 717-624-4461 or jzeigler@cassd.org, www.cassd.org

Please see additional information and the registration forms on the bulletin board. Registration Deadline: July 31, 2017

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HELP WANTED

IN ORDER FOR THE JUBILEE RINGERS TO CONTINUE FOR THE UPCOMING CHOIR SEASON, WE NEED SOME VOLUNTEERS TO FILL IN OCCASIONALLY OR REPLACE THOSE WHO CANNOT CONTINUE PLAYING AT THIS TIME. IF YOU CAN READ MUSIC AND ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE CONTACT BARBARA ROLLMAN ASAP

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THANK YOU. . . . . . . . . .

Pat Gibble wishes to express thanks to the First Church family for their kind expressions of sympathy and their support following the death of her brother, Bill Martin.

I want to express my thanks for your kind thoughts, best wishes, prayers and cards as I embark on combating the early stages of my blood disorder. Pat and I really do appreciate them! – Larry Gibble

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT. . . . . . . . .

Anna Ruth Hubbell was born this morning, July 15th, in Fishersville, VA. She weighs 7 lbs. 2 oz. and is 20 inches long. Aaron and Sarah are her parents, Wyatt is her big brother, and Don and Vivian are the proud grandparents.

SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES. . . . . . . . .

Rev. Harvey S. Kline, 96, died Thursday, June 22, 2017 at The Brethren Home Community. Rev. Kline was a former Church of the Brethren pastor, having served congregations in Des Moines, IA, Franklin Grove, IL, Uniontown, PA, Dundalk, MD and Chambersburg, PA, before becoming the President/CEO of Cross Keys Village The Brethren Home Community. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 2 p.m. at the Nicarry Meeting House of The Brethren Home Community, 2990 Carlisle Pike, New Oxford. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Good Samaritan Fund of The Brethren Home Community.

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Donations Appreciated! The Witness Team is collecting school supplies for the York City School District.

They are currently collecting until August 27th:

Pencils

Colored Pencils

Note Book

Small Tissue Packs

Small Hand Sanitizers

Crayola Brand Crayons

Pocket Folders

There is a box in the front of the Sanctuary specifically marked for those donations!

Thanks All! ~ Witness Team

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The Spiritual Enrichment Team is organizing a trip to the Ephrata Cloister for our church. ~ Jeff Bach, director of The Young Center For Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College, will be going with us as a guide. He will be explaining the beliefs of the Cloister and provide information about the C.O.B. involvement in it. Jeff is very knowledgeable about C.O.B. history and will be tying this all together for us. He will be with us for the day and be available for questions and discussion. It will be a day of learning, understanding of our C.O.B. roots, and fellowship together.

All are welcome to come and bring guests if you wish. The trip will be Saturday August 5, leaving at 9 from the church and returning around 4. We will travel using the church vans, but if you would rather drive yourself you can simply meet us at the Cloister. The 2 main buildings that are toured are handicapped accessible. There are other buildings you can peek into, but 4 of them are not handicapped accessible. The tour involves about 2 city blocks of walking, there are shady places to sit and rest around the grounds, and a gift shop with well made reproductions of antique items such as were used at the Cloister.

The cost is $15. ( includes admission). We will have lunch together in Ephrata (at your expense), and we will also spend one hour at 10,000 Villages in Ephrata. This is a large free trade store with many unusual items from all over the world—–similar to our SERRV at New Windsor. The store is handicapped accessible and has a café where people can relax with a snack or drink if you don’t want to shop.

Seats on the church vans will be given to those who sign up first. If we have more people than can be accommodated, printed driving directions will be provided for car pooling

Save the date and plan to join us on this trip! Reservations and payment are now being accepted.

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THE JULY SUGGESTION FROM THE SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT TEAM IS TO USE PRECIOUS MOMENTS TO HELP YOU HAVE A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST.

The political polarization and violence in our country and the world was on the minds of the Spiritual Enrichment Team while discussing what the July newsletter suggestion could be. We hear about so much unrest, hatred, shootings and killing throughout our country. And, to be truthful, we also have resentments, disagreements and disunity at times within our own small sphere of family, church, friends and acquaintances. After some thought I reluctantly agreed to write the July article, going on faith that the words would come.

I felt the heavy burden of needing to come up with a solution to the present situation in the form of a suggestion for the month. The pivotal word here is I.

I felt I needed to have the solution. But something told me to wait and be open to that still, small voice; read and pray and listen to others. I prayed and kept my eyes and ears open for guidance. This is what happened.

Last week, in a group I belong to, we talked about our misguided efforts to control people who seem to be, to us, obviously on the wrong path. We talked about detachment: separating ourselves with love from the adverse effects of another person’s behavior. This led us to remember the Serenity Prayer, that we can only change ourselves, no one else.

Earlier that week, a friend gave me Acts 7:55-60 to read about the stoning of Stephen. As he was dying he prayed for mercy for those who were stoning him. He was able to let go of any bitterness toward his attackers. Could this be a good option in today’s violent world? It would certainly be a change.

Last Sunday the Lamplighter’s class was starting a new lesson series. We were directed to revisit Jesus’s words on the cross:” Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Do we always realize what we are doing? We talked about forgiveness and the effect is has on the person doing the forgiving. Is forgiveness an option in our divided nation? It would also be a change.

On Monday I read a daily email meditation titled “How do I let it go?”. The author referenced Isaiah 45:18-19; “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing…..I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Letting go means giving up what we cannot control to receive God’s guidance to change what we can.

It seemed like everything was coming together. I realized it was ridiculous and arrogant of me to think I could offer the solution to the world’s problems. I needed to let it go of that idea and turn it over to God. “Let go and let God” is another helpful reminder that played in my head. Isn’t turning people and situations that bother us over to God the first step in forgiveness?

So, that is the suggestion for July. Let go and let God. God loves each of us and longs for a deeper relationship with each one of us. When we let go and let God guide us, we tap into a power much greater than any person, group or Facebook post. By turning our struggles, problems and conflicts over to God we are free to concentrate on living the life we were given, confident God will direct us in handling the mess we sometimes make of our lives.

Let’s try letting go and letting God this month. ~ Spiritual Enrichment

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LOOKING AHEAD . . . . . . . . . . .

AUGUST 10, 2017 – OWLS ANNUAL INDOOR PICNIC ~ Join the OWLS on Thursday August 10 for the ANNUAL INDOOR PICNIC in the air-conditioned Homebuilders Classroom 154. No hot sun, rain or ants to bother us! The grilled burgers-in-sauce are provided. Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex by August 6 and indicate the dish you will bring (drinks, rolls, veggies, salads, desserts, etc.) so we can plan for how many are coming.

September 14 – Pastor Bob’s Nigerian Experiences

October 12 – Park Ranger from Gettysburg

AUGUST 11, 2017 ~ 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, August 11, 2017 (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.

AUGUST 12, 2017 – 57TH CHICKEN BBQ, CAR SHOW AND AUCTION – Sat., Aug. 12th, 9 – 4 pm, Cross Keys Village, TBHC, 2990 Carlisle Pike, New Oxford, PA – $ 10. Full BBQ Chicken Meal, Dine in or take out begins at 10 am, Peter’s Barbecue traditionally prepares barbecued chicken on open grills! Enjoy entertainment, craft and food vendors, previously read books, and homemade baked goods for sale. Classic car show and much more! Bee Hive Gift Shop & Almost New Shop open. Auction begins at 1 pm in Nicarry Meetinghouse with antiques, collectibles and those great quilts! Free Admission, Free Parking, Free Shuttle Buses

AUGUST 19, 2017 – CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN NIGHT, Sat, Aug. 19th, Game time: 6:00 pm (gates open: 4:30 pm) “For where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them”. – Matthew 18:20 The Atlantic Northeast District, Pennsylvania Southern District, and the Harrisburg Senators invite your church family to a night of fun and fellowship at FNB field. Tickets are $11 and $2 from each ticket will benefit your church’s respective district. First 1000 adults (13 and older) will receive a senators pink jersey! The Senators will be sporting pink jerseys in honor of breast cancer awareness! Orders are due by August 8th! Anyone interested in going should contact the Senator’s ticket office at 717-231-4444 to receive the group rate ticket price.

AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 3, 2017 – SIXTY-FIFTH ANNUAL CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN CAMP MEETING, Aug. 26th – Sept 3rd, Rhodes Grove Camp, 7693 Brown’s Mill Rd., Chambersburg, Pa 17202, See schedule and additional information posted on bulletin board.

SEPTEMBER 4 – 8, 2017 ~ National Older Adult Conference, Inspiration 2017, will be held in Lake Junaluska Conference Center, in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina from Sept. 4 – 8. The theme is “Generations” from Psalm 145:4 ; “One generation shall laud God’s work to another and shall declare God’s mighty acts.” The theme reflects the intergenerational community that gathers at NOAC and the importance of generations engaging each other in meaningful conversations about relationships, leaving a legacy, and faith. Please see additional information and registration forms on the bulletin board. You may register online at www.brethren.org/noac/registration

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AUGUST BIRTHDAYS:

If your birthday is in AUGUST and it is not on the above list or is listed incorrectly, please call the church office.

4 Sarah (Kovacs) Hamill

6 Violet Chronister

8 Margaret Eck

9 Bev Raney

10 Linda Wisner

11 David Hoover

14 Donna Sharp

18 Julie Poland

19 Robert Sharp

21 Bob Bingaman

Betty Bortner

Irene Hearn

Dan Vuono

22 Dennis Wisner

Eric Zimmerman

25 Judy Deitch

Abby Dierdorf

26 Allison Poland

27 Stephanie Stoolmaker

28 Betty Crowe

Tom McCracken

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CONTACTING THE PASTOR: Pastor Bob 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 Bob is also available for Pastoral Counseling by appointment. If you need to reach the pastor outside of office hours, his cell phone number is (717) 818-0653. 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.

CONTACTING THE YOUTH DIRECTOR, Garrett Page: His phone number is (614) 400-9533 or by email at nykgarrettpage@yahoo.com