Weekly News
Vol. 12-No. 45 Friday, November 10, 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, November 12, 2017
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
– SANCTUARY: “The Son Does Likewise”
– SCRIPTURE: John 5:19-24, 39-40
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Upcoming events regarding Joel Gibbel:
November 12 – Joel’s first Sunday preaching
November 19 – Transfer of membership for Joel and Michele Gibbel during worship service
Installation service for Joel Gibbel during worship service
Informal gathering in the narthex to welcome Joel, Michele, Micah and Danielle
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ATTACHMENTS: Calendar of Events, Friends to Remember in Prayer, & Sunday School Schedule
ATTENDANCE – November 5, 2017, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – 104
COPIES OF this week’s e-news, the November calendar, and November Newsline Digest are available to be picked up on the table in the narthex and at YorkFirst.org
REMINDER – STATEMENTS are available for pick up on the narrow table in the narthex.
AV TEAM is looking for people, male or female, to join the AV team. If interested, please contact Tim Beckwith or Patricia Carey, Worship Team Chair.
USHER TEAM: We are looking for additional ushers – Anyone may serve. Although, we would like to have several ladies and several youth. Please see any team leader if you are interested.
2018 DIRECTORY INFORMATION
There is a copy of the member’s pages of this year’s directory on the table in the narthex. PLEASE review and make any necessary changes on this copy.
We hope to have the most accurate information to print the 2018 directory.
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COOKIE BAKERS NEEDED ~ First Church cookie bakers are needed to put their talent to work because we are again packing homemade cookies for the truckers which will be handed out to them during the month of December at the Carlisle Truck stops. The Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry chaplains will do so. The goal for our church is to pack at least 200 bags with about 6 cookies in each bag. That calls for ALOT of cookies!! We usually exceed our goal so I am expecting the same this year, friends. Please put your freshly baked homemade cookies in the church lounge on the table on Sunday, December 3. They definitely MUST be there by 9:30 AM Tuesday morning, December 5. The Ladies Bible Study group will pack them in the decorated bags that morning. Thank you so much for helping to brighten a trucker’s day! ~ Elizabeth Eisenhart
ORDER YOUR POINSETTIAS~ December 3rd and December 10th – Taking orders in the narthex between Sunday School and church and after church. Cost: $ 10.00, cash or check. Orders may also be placed through the church office.
DECORATING FOR ADVENT SEASON: Advent is fast approaching, it is time to schedule to decorate the sanctuary for the Holidays. We will gather on Saturday, December 2nd at 9am in the sanctuary. Please let Patricia Carey know if you will be joining us that morning or you will do your part of this at a different time. I want to make sure everything is ready for Sunday, December 3rd when Advent starts. Any questions or concerns, please contact Patricia Carey.
ADVENT BREAKFAST – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10TH AT 9 AM! Please mark your calendars to attend! Sign-up sheets for breakfast items and table sponsors/centerpiece decorations are posted in the narthex area, so please sign up to bring a casserole, baked oatmeal, fruit or fruit salad, juice, muffins, donuts and/or bread. We look forward to seeing you at the breakfast. More details to come! If you have questions, please see Tim Beckwith.
“O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree. How faithful are thy branches…”
This familiar song rings true for our Christmas Tree Festival, an event at Camp Eder which will be held this year on December 8, 9, and 10.
HELP decorate our Christmas tree for Camp Eder right here at First Church. Our theme this year for the Christmas Tree Festival is “Noah’s Ark”.
A table will be set up in the narthex with paints and brushes for you to create your own style and color to a particular animal you wish to see on the Christmas Tree. No art ability is needed. Just your own touch of love to the paint and something wonderful will appear.
These beautiful creative ornaments will be displayed on our tree at the Christmas Tree Festival.
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Our CASH FOR CAUSES program was started in mid-2011. In a little over 6 years we have sold $200,000 worth of Giant & Weis gift cards. The proceeds of these sales ***$10,000*** have been distributed to: Children’s Aid Society, Camp Eder, and New Life for Girls.
Thank you so much for your support of this Witness program.
With the holidays approaching, please consider purchasing these cards for your food shopping needs. You could also purchase them for our Food Pantry ingathering.
See me on Sunday morning.~ Carole Bradfield
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THANK YOU. . . . . . . . .
We would like to thank the congregation for their cards, prayers, and concern during Bob’s surgery and recovery. Your support is greatly appreciated! Bob & Viv Fitzkee
Ron and Gail Rutland want to thank everyone for their cards, prayers, and continued support as Ron recovers from surgery. The power of prayer continues to sustain us!!
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From the SO PA District Office:
Paul Boldosser from the Black Rock Church of the Brethren is organizing a team to help repair homes damaged by Hurricane Irma in the Daytona Beach Florida area. The work week will be December 11-15, 2017. Current plans are to leave Pennsylvania on December 9th and return the following weekend. The volunteers will be working with the UCC construction leaders. The housing includes beds and mattresses, men’s and women’s showers and a kitchen. There are accommodations for 10 men and 10 women. Workers and a cook are needed.
Please contact Paul at 717-229-2068 before December 1st with questions and to volunteer.
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WITNESS OUTREACH HOLIDAY OPPORTUNITIES:
Sunday, November 19 – Thanksgiving Food Pantry Collection
It’s time to restock the food pantry for the winter months. Please be sure the expiration dates/use- by dates are at least several months in the future! Cash or check donations may be placed in the offering marked for Food Pantry. Grocery cards also accepted!
Items needed:
Tomato soup
Canned tuna, ham or spam
Crackers,
Fruit juice
Pancake mix and pancake syrup
Low sugar breakfast cereals
Boxed Mac and Cheese
Boxed stuffing mix
Lehman Center Christmas Gifts
This year we are again sponsoring Destiney’s family for Christmas. They are most appreciative of any items that we can provide. Suggestions:
Liyana – age 5 – earrings (pierced), size 6 clothing – t-shirts and short sleeve tops
Dylan – age 7 – art supplies, size 7 pants (no jeans)
Gift cards for both children – McDonalds, Sweet Frog, movies, pizza, etc.
Family – TV trays, board games – Uno, Beat the Parents, Spot It, Find It Game
Gift cards for groceries, gas, restaurants, etc.
Also, this year the Crisis Nursery has a wish list of items needed:
Paw Patrol Sea Patroller
Matchbox Rocky Robot Truck
DC Superhero Girl Action Figures
Please place items in the box in the narthex by December 10th.
Gift cards and cash/checks may be placed in the offering marked for the Lehman Center family or Crisis Nursery.
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A SUGGESTION FROM THE SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT TEAM ABOUT HOW TO HAVE A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LORD
NOVEMBER – HEIFER SERVICE OPPORTUNITY ~ As followers of Christ, we have the opportunity to participate in the work of Heifer by committing ourselves to prayer and generous giving of our time and resources. Paul admonished the Corinthian Christians to be faithful in service to Christ just as a runner is participating in a race or as a boxer is engaged in a fight. We as Christians are called by Christ to be continually engaged in acts of service to do His work of evangelizing and responding to the needs of the hungry and the suffering. Paul reminded the followers of Christ that all who participate faithfully in ministry on Christ’s behalf, are promised crowns of rejoicing (1 Cor. 9:25-27).
Jesus is our perfect example. He said: “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day, for the night comes when no man can work” (John 9:4). And at the end of His ministry He told His Father, “I have finished the work which you gave Me to do” (John 17:4).
If in our service for God’s kingdom our motive is pure and our labor is for God’s glory, we will be rewarded far beyond what we are presently able to imagine. When Jesus sent His disciples out to preach the message of salvation and heal the sick and cleanse the lepers, He added that whoever gives a cup of cold water to a little one will in no wise loose his reward (Matt. 10:42).
So you are at this time encouraged to allow God to use you and bless you in the ministry of Heifer. Step up to the plate with anticipation and joy! The ball of opportunity is already on its way! ~ Frank Leaman
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LOOKING AHEAD . . . . . . . . . . .
NOVEMBER 29, 2017 ~ Camp Eder Senior Day: It’s the Holiday- Musical Guest Kerry White & Afternoon Holiday Activities – 9:30 Meet and greet with continental breakfast, 10:00 Morning Program (Holiday themed crafts), 12:00 Lunch, 1:00 Afternoon program ~ Register online campeder@campeder.org or call (717) 642-8256. See information on bulletin board and if you have any questions, please contact Kathy Kovacs.
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CAMP EDER ~ LIFE OUTDOORS ~ LIFESKILLS WORKSHOP, Free and open to the public RSVP @ 717-642-8256, Workshops will fill fast. Please R.S.V.P. – Register online now
First Thursday of every month. 6:30p – 8p at Camp Eder
December 7, 2017 – Rockclimbing ‘gravity is a myth’
January 4, 2018 – Knit & Crochet ‘woven together’
February 1, 2018 – Terrariums ‘warm in Winter’
March 1, 2018 – Outdoor Survival Skills ‘no problems’
April 5, 2018 – Beekeeping ‘bee ready for Spring’
Come hang out & learn the basics of some awesome life skills.
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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, 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.
