Weekly News
Vol. 13-No. 3 Friday, January 19, 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 21, 2018
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Worship Service
– SANCTUARY: “The Repentance of God”
– SCRIPTURE: Jonah 3:1-10
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From Pastor Joel:
During worship on January 7, I commended 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 is available in the gathering area for those who were not able to attend worship last week. I highly encourage you all to read and reflect on each day’s verse between now and the season of Lent, considering its meaning and significance for our church. It is my hope that we begin year with a thirst for a renewed vision and purpose as Christ’s church, and I pray that God would lead us into a season of deepening faith.
Home Communion: Any members desiring home communion, please contact Pastor Joel and he will see that you are served. The congregation received bread and cup communion during the worship service on January 7.
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MESSENGER – REMINDER ~ This Sunday, January 21, is your LAST Sunday to renew your Messenger subscription.
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ATTACHMENTS: Calendar of Events, Friends to Remember in Prayer, & Sunday School Schedule
ATTENDANCE – January 14, 2018, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – 78
COPIES OF this week’s e-news, the January calendar, and January/February Newsline Digest are available to be picked up on the table in the narthex and at YorkFirst.org
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THIS WEEK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
JANUARY 26-28, 2018 – CAMP EDER WINTER CAMP 2018 – A WINTER BLAST – Friday, Jan. 26 – Sunday, Jan. 28, Join us for an action-packed weekend full of camp fun, great food, and friends. Grab your sleds and pack your bags, because we are going to have an absolute BLAST! Grades 1st – 12th, **Price reduced to only $ 50, Arrive 7pm Friday (Registration at Geigley) and Dismiss 2pm Sunday. See poster on bulletin board and contact Kathy Kovacs at (717) 309-0678 with any questions.
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THANK YOU. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dear Congregation . . . Your prayers, cards, phone calls, visits and blood donations have been much appreciated over the past six months. Gaining strength continues in my encounter with MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome). I am getting good reports from my hematologist and his staff. The prognosis is much better than it was last July when this disease surfaced. There is still much further to go, but the MDS disease seems to be under control for now and the foreseeable future. Almost all of my blood indicators are in the normal range! Again, many thanks to you for your awesome support! Larry Gibble
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TRUCK STOP MINISTRY – This article was in the York Daily Record on Tuesday, Jan. 16th
Cookies brightened trucker’s day
Hello, York, Pa. I used to live near York and bought a Heritage Harley from the fine Laugerman family. I drive a semi and was quite surprised and uplifted when stopping at Petro in Carlisle, I was given a delicious bag of assorted homemade cookies that the ladies of First Church of the Brethren left for the truckers. Please let those ladies know how much it was appreciated and how they made my miserable day better. ~ Dona Potter, Tullahoma, Tenn.
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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 CONNECTION 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 8, 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, (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.
FEBRUARY 8, 2018 – OWLS FEBRUARY ACTIVITY
Come in from the cold and join the OWLS for some of Dolly’s delicious, hot Chicken Corn Soup on Thursday February 8 at noon in the Homebuilder’s classroom 154. Jeanette will be providing drinks and dessert, so just bring a sandwich. The activity for the afternoon will be table games and conversation. If you have a favorite game you would like to play, bring it along as well. Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex no later than February 4 so we know how many to prepare for.
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, and let Pastor Joel know if you plan to attend. 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.
