Weekly News
Vol. 13-No. 8 Friday, February 23, 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, February 25, 2018
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:30 a.m. – Worship Service, Sanctuary
– MESSAGE: “A New Calling”
– SCRIPTURE: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
From Pastor Joel: As we walk forward through this season, I wish to offer a word of thanks to so many of you. Thank you to all who continue to pray for peace and healing during this time. Thank you to all who work and witness on behalf of those who suffer from violence and injustice. Thank you to all who remember our commitment to Christ above all other loyalties, serving the church with passion and commitment.
This week has been one of much concern and debate related to the well-being of our children. I believe that our society needs to recognize what is at the heart of our faith – that goodness overcomes evil through the power of self-giving love made known through the faithfulness of Christ. It is my hope that we stand strong as a living peace church, ones who do not put our trust in weapons but in the Messiah who has overcome the grave. May we seek his leading this season and beyond, so that God’s will would be done among us.
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NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL to begin on MARCH 4TH ~ We will begin our new young adult class and children’s Sunday school hour programming. The new class is for adults ages 20’s to 40’s.
Childcare will be provided for infant-Pre K and Sunday school class for grades K-5. All welcome! Please plan to join us in this new opportunity for learning and growth in faith.
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ATTACHMENTS: Calendar of Events, Friends to Remember in Prayer, & Sunday School Schedule and Lincoln Flyer for OWLS Group
ATTENDANCE – February 18, 2018, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – 74
COPIES OF this week’s e-news, the February calendar, and January/February Newsline Digest are available to be picked up on the table in the narthex and can be viewed at www.yorkfirst.org
LENTEN DEVOTIONALS, “Growing in God’s Garden” by Erin Matteson, are available for pick up on the table in the narthex. Free of charge, please take one!
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EASTER FLOWERS ~ It’s that time of year to be ordering flowers for Easter Sunday, April 1st. Orders will be taken on Sunday – March 11th and Sunday – March 18th in the narthex.
Tulips – 6″ pot -5 bulbs, Yellow, pink, purple ~ $ 9.00 /Daffodils – 6″ pot- 4 bulbs ~ $ 9.00 /Azaleas – 1gallon -red or pink ~ $ 12.00 /Easter Lilies – 6″ pot ~ $ 9.00 /Hardy Hydrangea, 4 plus blooms, blue or pink~ $ 15.00
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THIS WEEK . . . . . . . . . .
MARCH 1, 2018 ~ The Peace and Justice Group is sponsoring a 3-part Lenten experience: On Waging Peace by David Radcliff
Session 3 – Thursday, March 1, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
In the Ensemble Room (Harmony Ridge) at Cross Keys Village
The sessions are based on a Study booklet written for the Witness Commission of the Church of the Brethren, and will include a Biblical reference, a brief presentation, and discussion. Sessions will be led by Villager Norman Cain (retired pastor). All are welcome to attend any or all sessions. For information, please contact: Merle Forney, Ext. 5685, Charles Snyder, Ext. 5965
FEB. 24 & MARCH 3, 2018 ~ STRAWBERRY HILL’S ANNUAL MOUNT HOPE MAPLE MADNESS maple sugaring festival – Held at Camp Eder, 914 Mount Hope Road, Fairfield, PA 17320 – Sat., Feb. 24 & Sat., March 3, 7:30 – 11:30am Pancake Breakfast and Local Art & Craft Vendors 9:00am – 12:00pm Maple Sugaring Tours (90 minute tour; last tour begins at 12pm and runs until 1:30pm) Tickets available at the door. All-you-care-to-eat Pancake Breakfast: $8 Adult / $4 Child Maple Sugaring Tour: $8 Adult / $5 Child
“SWEET DEAL”: Best Price — Breakfast & a Tour $12 Adult / $7 Child (under 3 Free)
MARCH 3, 2018 – The Friends of Cross Keys Village/The Brethren Home Community – The Spring Meeting of The Friends, Saturday, March 3rd (snow date March 31) 10:00 a.m., Nicarry Meetinghouse – Our program will feature Rev. Christian Elliott, from the Knobsville Church of the Brethren. He will speak about his mission work in Africa. A light lunch will follow. (Free will offering will be taken) Please RSVP by Feb. 23rd to Volunteer Services by telephone at 717-624-5227 or E-mail Ruth Wilson at r.wilson@crosskeysvillage.org so we can adequately prepare for the meeting and lunch.
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In January the Spiritual Enrichment Team shared the first three of “The Top 10 Ways to Reduce Violence” by Dr. Phillip E. Humbert. This month in keeping with our pacifist Church of the Brethren roots, we will look at four more ways.
4. TAKE ALL VIOLENCE SERIOUSLY. Playground bullies and sibling rivalries do not have to be accepted as part of life, at least not when children are getting hurt. Kids squabbling over ‘my toy’ is one thing; hitting or pulling hair is something else. We do not have to accept it as normal behavior.
5. TAKE TROUBLED, ANGRY PEOPLE SERIOUSLY. We talk about needing more early intervention with troubled kids, and I agree. But people of all ages get trapped in situations they can’t handle, with emotions they don’t know how to express. Domestic violence, violence among co-workers and among children should always be treated as a serious matter. Hitting and hurting, and threatening to hurt, are not OK.
6. DEAL WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF GUNS. Knives, cars, and a thousand other things also kill people, but guns have a unique place in the American imagination. Of course, they also have a place in the rich tradition of hunting and target shooting. I don’t have all the answers, but hunting seems different than having military-style weapons available to millions of homes across the country. There must be a better system.
7. ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN VIOLENT IMAGES AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. I abhor censorship, so this is a tough one. But if 30-second images can sell up lipstick and Buicks, and change the way we vote, it seems likely that hours and hours of explosions, shootings, fights and mayhem may also influence behavior. To be blunt, I am particularly troubled by the violence in video games and the number of violent ‘action adventure’ movies we support as a culture. This is not healthy!
In March we will be sharing the last of the ten ways. Please try to practice these four new ones, in conjunction with the first three from January. Let us dedicate ourselves to non-violence and live out our faith in this way, continuing to seek the mind of Christ and the will of God.
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Prayer Vigils at Planned Parenthood during LENT- Do you want to do something for Lent that is very special? Consider joining us in prayer for an hour or more at the curb in front of Planned Parenthood, 728 S. Beaver St., York. As you know, Lent begins Ash Wednesday, February 14, and runs through Palm Sunday, March 25.- For additional information or any questions, please contact Dan Snook.
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LOOKING AHEAD. . . . . . . .
MARCH 8, 2018 ~ OWLS NEWS ~ See attached poster for this OWLS event ~ On Thursday March 8 the OWLS will welcome Ernie Heffner to present “The Assassination and Funeral of President Lincoln.” As a funeral director, Ernie has thoroughly researched this event and has prepared an interesting program of pictures, commentary and handouts on the subject. Please join us in the Homebuilders classroom 154 on Thursday March 8 at noon so we can have a good turnout to meet with Mr. Heffner and learn more about the last days of President Lincoln. Just bring your bag lunch. Drinks and dessert will be provided by Margaret Eck. Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex no later than March 4 so we know how many to prepare for.
MARCH 9, 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, March 9, 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.
MARCH 21, 2018- CAMP EDER SENIOR DAY – Wed, March 21st, 9:30 am -3:00 pm, $18 includes two programs, meet and greet with continental breakfast and lunch. Morning Program (10am) Glass Blowing with Michael Poluso – Lunch (12pm)
Afternoon Program (1pm) “The History of Ordinary Things” History talk by John Maietta. If any questions, contact Kathy Kovacs at 717-309-0678
MARCH 22, 2018 – You are invited to attend the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies’ annual banquet on Thurs., March 22, at 6:00 p.m. The dinner will be followed by the Young Center Durnbaugh Lecture 2018, Thursday, March 22, 2018, 7:30 – 9pm, Durnbaugh Lectures: Update on the Boko Haram Crisis in Northeastern Nigeria” and “The Founding of CCEPI and Its Mission to the Displaced” Samuel Dali, former president of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, presents an overview of the Boko Haram crisis, the devastation to the Church of the Brethren, and the church’s response. Rebecca Dali, founder and executive director of the Centre for Caring, Empowerment and Peace Initiatives (CCEPI), gives a brief history of the organization and discusses the plight of women in northeastern Nigeria, and IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and refugees in Cameroon.
Cost: Free, Contact: Young Center at 717-361-1470 or youngctr@etown.edu , Location: Esbenshade Gibble Auditorium, Organization: YOUNG CENTER, Web Site:www.etown.edu
MARCH 23 & 24 – FUNDRAISER YARD SALE – New Fairview Church, 1873 New Fairview Church Road, York, Friday, March 23, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm & Saturday, March 24, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm – Bake Sale, Good Food, 1,000’s of items
MAY 5, 2018 – Camp Eder Benefit Golf Tournament, Saturday, May 5th, Getting out on the green for Camp Eder is a fun and meaningful way to start spring. Mountain View’s Golf Club is a must play FOUR STAR Golf Digest golf course located just minutes from the Historic Gettysburg Battlefields. Schedule: 6:30 am Registration and Continental Breakfast, 8:00 am Shotgun Start (four player scramble), 12:00 pm Hors d’oeuvres & Refreshments at Camp Eder, 1:00 pm Lunch at Camp Eder Dining Hall
Registration is $75/person and $300 for a team of 4 – Limited to the first 100 registrations. Don’t have four? An individual golfer or groups less than 4 will be placed in a team prior to the event. Lunch will be served at 12 Noon at Camp Eder in Geigley Dining Hall. Prizes at the end of each play. See the bulletin board for more information and for the sponsor/registration forms. You will be mailed more information regarding the day after we receive your registration.
JULY 21-26, 2018 – CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE (NYC) in Fort Collins, Colorado. Youth who have completed grades 9-12 are invited to attend this exciting gathering of thousands of youth from across the country. It happens only once every 4 years, and includes many times of worship, small groups, workshops, service projects, recreation, social activities, and more! Visit http://www.brethren.org/yya/nyc/ for details. Please contact Pastor Joel if you or your children may have interest in attending. The church will cover most expenses, and it promises to be a life-giving experience that is not to be missed!
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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
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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MARCH BIRTHDAYS:
If your birthday is in MARCH and it is not on the above list or is listed incorrectly, please call the church office.
5 Edward Sweigard
6 Kevin McCracken
Thessa Sollenberger
Jackie LeGrand
10 Chris Baldwin
11 Jacob Boogher
13 Gail Rutland
Galen Trimmer
Terry Yeager
18 David Diehl
22 Audrey Ginder
24 Anna Boogher
25 Sheldon Markel
28 Seth Brickner
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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.
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York First Church of the Brethren, 2710 Kingston Road, York, PA 17402, Ph: 755-0307, Fax: 755-1382 www.yorkfirst.org
