Weekly News
Vol. 13-No. 1 Friday, January 5, 2018
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, January 7, 2018
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Worship Service
– SANCTUARY: “Arise and Go”
– SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 60:1-6, Matthew 2:1-12
– SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION will follow the message
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From Pastor Joel:
A new year is upon us, and with it an opportunity for new opportunity, new growth, and renewed commitment to our faith in Christ. We will partake of Holy Communion during worship during this Sunday’s service, and we will also have a time for recommitment to following Jesus in celebration of the season of Epiphany – marking the revelation of Christ’s light to all people.
I commend to you all during this time of year the “White Candle Project” from Springs of Living Water, a guide for daily reading of brief scriptures that tell of the promise and character of Jesus. The guide will be placed in bulletins during worship this week, and they will be available in the gathering area the weeks following. I encourage you all to read and reflect on each day’s verse between now and the season of Lent. Let us begin this year with a thirst for a renewed vision and purpose as Christ’s church, and may God lead us further into the light of life!
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HEIFER PROJECT TOTAL ~ WE DID IT! We exceeded our goal with $7824.77 collected for Heifer International. Thanks to all who generously donated the funds to help purchase an ark (and more!). It is exciting to think about the many people around the world who will benefit for years to come.
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ATTACHMENTS: Calendar of Events, Friends to Remember in Prayer, & Sunday School Schedule
ATTENDANCE – December 31, 2017, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – 77
COPIES OF this week’s e-news and the January calendar are available to be picked up on the table in the narthex and at YorkFirst.org
2018 OFFERING ENVELOPES: Please pick up your 2018 offering envelopes in the narthex. If there is no envelopes with your name, please advise the church office and one will be provided.
DO NOT USE your 2017 envelopes after DECEMBER 31
DO NOT USE your 2018 envelopes until JANUARY 1. ~ Thank you
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MESSENGER – It is time to renew your Messenger subscription or you may also begin subscribing to it. The cost for renewals through First Church is $14.50 which is a savings of $3.00. If you have a new subscription, the cost for this year is $7.25. Messenger envelopes will be available in the narthex beginning on Sunday, January 7, through Sunday, January 21, for you to complete and put your payment in. They can be placed in the church offering plates OR given to the person manning the Messenger table that Sunday. You can also place it in the box marked Messenger on the counter in the church office. Checks NEED to be made payable to First Church of the Brethren because we need to send one check from the church for the total amount. If you have any questions contact Elizabeth Eisenhart.
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NO OWLS GATHERING FOR JANUARY
Join us on FEBRUARY 8 for Dolly’s delicious Chicken Corn Soup, Games & Conversation. Just what you need on a cold FEBRUARY day!
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THIS WEEK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
JANUARY 9, 2018 – Ladies, we are going to start a new Bible Study after the holidays on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. If you are interested in joining us………. we would love to have you. If you know a friend or relative who you would feel would benefit from this study, by all means, please invite her.
Our new study is entitled KINGDOM WOMAN and is a DVD study series by Dr. Tony Evans and his daughter Chrystal Evans Hurst. Now don’t let the title scare you. A Kingdom Woman is not the “perfect woman” as it may sound. But is a study to acquaint or re-enforce your value as a woman who God has created. The world will tell you are valueless. Sometimes your friends will make you feel devalued – and many times today, domestic abuse is one that totally devalues a woman’s self-esteem. But this study wants you to know how valuable you are. Some questions that are asked in this study are: What can you do if you feel devalued? How can you develop hope that brings joy? What will your spiritual legacy be? Do you know your potential?
The cost of the study guide is $8. I will have a sign-up sheet for the book if interested. Money will not be due until January 9.
Please put this study on your prayer list. Many of us need the Word of God to drown out the world’s view of who we are. You are the daughter of a King – You are a Kingdom Woman!!!
Any questions, please see Dolly Furst
JANUARY 12, 2018 ~ 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 12, 2018 (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 12-13, 2018 ~ SOUTHERN PA DISTRICT-WIDE YOUTH ACTIVITY ~ Swim Upstream -Where We Will Begin to Explore Jesus’ Love & What it Means to Live Counter Culturally -for Youth grades 6-12, Contact Pastor Joel for registration information.
ASAP – The deadline to register is January 8th!
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THANK YOU. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
My friend, John Gass passed away on Saturday. Please pray for his wife, Reni. He has been on our prayer list for some time, and I just wanted to thank all of you for your prayers. ~ Peg Eck
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ADDITION TO JANUARY BIRTHDAYS: January 16th – Tanner Ferro
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JANUARY: FROM THE SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT TEAM
The Church of the Brethren has always taken a strong stance for nonresistance or pacifism—we are one of the three historic peace churches, alongside the Mennonites and Quakers. In light of today’s violence in our country and community we would like to share THE TOP 10 WAYS TO REDUCE VIOLENCE . These suggestions are written by Dr. Phillip E. Humbert, writer, speaker and success coach. We will begin this month with the first three.
1. DISCONNECT ANGER FROM VIOLENCE. I am convinced that human beings get angry, and that anger at injustice is often justified. There is healthy anger that insists, ‘There has to be a better way!’. I shutter when I hear parents tell children, “You shouldn’t be angry.” Tell them instead, “You’re feelings are OK, you can be angry, but you may not hit or hurt others.”
2. SEE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE LOVE OF VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE ITSELF. Fascination with brutality, guns and bombs, war and evil must increase the chances for violent behavior. This isn’t proven, but seems likely. Don’t watch violent movies, TV shows, or play violent video games, etc.
3. SEE THE CONNECTON BETWEEN ALL LEVELS OF VIOLENCE. Insults and taunting, humiliation, and shaming are forms of violence. When we treat people badly, it should not surprise us when they seek a way to “get even.” Always follow The Golden Rule.
Start to practice these 3 suggestions this month, and we will offer more suggestions next month. You may not agree with all 10 points, but if only five or six are practiced, improvements in reducing violence will happen. As this New Year begins, let us re-commit to our Brethren roots of non-violence as a spiritual practice, and as a way to live out our faith. As one popular song goes, “ Let there be peace on earth, And let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, The peace that was meant to be. With God as our father, Brothers all are we. Let me walk with my brother, In perfect harmony.”
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LOOKING AHEAD. . . . . . . .
FEBRUARY 24, 2018 – MAN 2 MAN Workshop 2018, Men’s Spiritual Leadership Summit & Breakfast – Sat., Feb. 24th, 8 am – noon, Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren, Man Enough to Follow the Son of Man? Guest Speaker: David Radcliff
See the bulletin board for additional information and for registration forms. Registration deadline: Sat., Feb. 10, 2018.
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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
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.
