Weekly News
Vol. 9-No. 20 Friday, May 15, 2015
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, May 17, 2015 – Music Appreciation
9:00 am – Sunday School
10:30 am – Worship Service

Thoughts on the Word: This Sunday is Music Appreciation Sunday. A Sunday when we praise God for the gift of music that lifts us closer to God in our lives and in our times of worship. We are using as a focus, Psalm 150. The Complete Biblical Library has this to say about Psalm 150: “The noble close of the Psalter rings out one clear note of praise. Tears, groans, wailings for sin, meditations on the dark depths of providence, fainting faith and foiled aspirations all lead up to this. The Psalm is more than an artistic close of the Psalter; it is a description of the natural result of a devout life, and in its unclouded sunniness, as well as its universality, it proclaims the certain end of the weary years for the individual and for the world.” Take time to read and reflect on the 150th Psalm and receive the blessing of God as you do. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Psalm 150:6

On Sunday, May 31, Christian composer and singer, Ken Medema will present our morning worship service. Plan to attend and invite others. Also, a part of this service will be baby dedication.

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE – May 10, 2015, 10:30 a.m. – Unknown

Pastor Don will be out of the office on Monday, May 18th, but will be in the office on Friday, May 22nd.

Parent-child dedication service is being scheduled for Sunday, May 31st during morning worship. If you are interested in having your child dedicated to the Lord please let Pastor Don as soon as possible. This will be a very special time of celebrating the precious gift of life that God has given, and the challenge of raising children that requires the presence of God in the family and the needed support of the faith community.

COUNTDOWN TO VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Mark your calendars. Only 64 days to go for our children and the children in our community to learn how to “Conquer Challenges with God’s Mighty Power.” Please help us GEAR UP FOR AN EVEREST ADVENTURE!!!! Donation sign-up sheets are now posted!!!

HELP IS NEEDED for the Food Pantry. A volunteer is needed for the food pantry team for the second Tuesday of each month. You will have to come to the church at 9:00 and get the food ready for pick up. If anyone is interested, please contact Dan Snook.

THIS WEEK….

BABY BOTTLE BOMMERANG IS “ON” – Starting May 10, Mother’s Day. Pick up baby bottles in narthex (lobby), fill bottles with change, and return to church office by June 21, Father’s Day. Funds will help young families at Human Life Services of York.

MAY 17, 2015 – Vital Passions Holy Practices Spiritual Gifts – For church leaders (board & deacon body members & others) Workshop Leader: Jonathan Shively, Congregational Ministries Executive – Examine your Congregation’s Mission Vitality ~ A workshop to look at how we, as Leaders, assess our congregant’s Spiritual Gifts & their passions for Christ and His Church at the Bermudian Church of the Brethren, 12:45 – 4:00 pm, Lunch served at 12:00 Noon (free will)

MAY 22-24, 2015 – Young Adult Conference 2015 ~ “You Shall Go out with Joy: Transforming the World’s Thorns into Joyful Action!” (Isaiah 55: 12 – 13) – Event held at Camp Swatara in Bethel, PA and all young adults are welcome! (Ages 18-35). The cost is $125 ($150 after April 30) – First Church pays ½ the cost. Register online at www.brethren.org/yac

MAY 22 – 24, CAMP EDER – Wilderness First Aid Class – Saturday, May 23rd – Sunday, May 24th, Presented by Solo – International Leader in Wilderness Medicine – A great day out in the woods can turn badly very quickly. SOLO, an inter-national leader in wilderness medicine, presents a class intended to equip you with skills to mitigate risks associated with outdoor pursuits. Topics presented include cold/heat injuries, soft tissue injuries, head/neck/spine injuries, and much more. The class includes practical scenarios, classroom lecture, and written tests. See flyer on the bulletin board for more information. Contact Camp Eder at (717) 642-8256 or Davis Swift (DSwift@CampEder.org)

LADIES BIBLE STUDY LUNCHEON – TUESDAY, MAY 19. CHANGED FROM DOLLY’S HOUSE TO: JEFF’S CRABS AND SEAFOOD, 2813 E. Prospect Rd., Suite #1, York, PA 17402 (Mt Rose Ave.) — in small shopping plaza called East Prospect Plaza – across from “Sweet Willows Creamery” – you will love his food! DELICIOUS.
If you do not know where Jeff’s Crabs and Seafood is located – please meet at the church at 11:30 and we will carpool over. Otherwise, If driving direct – Lunch at 12 noon.
If you are not signed up, please either e-mail Dolly Furst. I need a head count for the restaurant in order to serve us better.

LADIES BIBLE STUDY will continue to meet once a month on the following dates noted below during the summer months and we will continue our study “Traveling Light” with Max Lucado.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015 – Lesson #7 – “It’s a Jungle Out There”
Tuesday, July 14, 2015 – Lesson #8 – “A Heavenly Exchange”
Tuesday, August 11, 2015 – Lesson #9 “Get Over Yourself”
BEGIN NEW YEAR –
September 15, 2015 – Lesson #10 “I will Lead You Home”

YARD SALE – GARAGE IS NOT FULL YET FOLKS – so let’s get your good-unused merchandise to us. We want to fill that garage, so Kathy Kovacs and Jeanette Brickner have something to do besides walk around the garage and look out the window for freedom! They are like the wandering Egyptians in the desert looking for Pastor Don to part the Red Sea. So please, let’s get that good stuff into the church before June 13 for our annual yard sale so we can help to free Kathy and Jeanette from the slavery of pricing.

And don’t forget to sign up to help, or bring donated food items and baked goods. We need your help to make this as successful as last year. Sign up paper posted in the Narthex. Don’t forget, we will again have chicken corn soup for take out and lunch. If you wish take out – please bring your own containers as we have NONE! First come First Served. When it’s gone – it’s gone!

First Church is beginning an effort aimed at strengthening marriages. To start, we are establishing a new couples small group called “Two to One” . This is meant to be for couples intending to be married and those married for short or long times. Our purpose is to develop friendships and support among couples as well as learn about ways to strengthen the marriage relationships we have. We are pretty excited about this and hope we can communicate that excitement to everyone! Our first meeting is set for Friday, June 5 at 7PM at Carol and Ken Gordon’s house- 1250 Gardenia Drive, Windsor, PA. We’ll add more information between now and then, but hope to see you. Questions/comments/suggestions can be directed to Carol and Ken via phone or email. Marriage Thought for the Day: Depending on what we read or to whom we listen, we’ll find many “keys” to a good marriage. Different “keys” will be meaningful to some couples but not meaningful to others. In this space each week, we’ll write these with the hope that every once in a while one will strike a chord! This week, the quote below is from Greg Laurie’s book, Becoming One: You and your mate have enormous differences, and no amount of work can bridge that gap. As a result, you have to learn to manage your relationship despite the differences. What’s more, you need to embrace those differences, find value in them. Resisting the differences by being judgmental about them will cause you nothing but pain….God didn’t design us to be the same, he designed us to be different. –Dr., Phillip C McGraw

SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES:
To the family of Merle Caldwell, Merle passed away on May 7, 2015. Please keep Merle’s family in your thoughts and prayers.

To Bev Raney and her family on the loss of her mother, Anna Lehman who passed away on May 5, 2015. Please keep Bev Raney and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

DIRECTORY CHANGE: Added: Samuel Weyant & Alicia Hilley, 439 Woodland View Dr., York, PA 17406 (571) 232-4057

LOOKING AHEAD…….

MAY 27, 2015 – SENIOR CITIZEN’S DAY – Camp Eder – 10:00 am Summit Search & Rescue – Jim & Terri Heck will present an educational, interactive and fun Program on mantrailing blood-hound teams who are utilized to locate missing persons and for criminal investigations. 12:00 Lunch ~ Menu: Grilled Pork Chops, Pasta Salad, Baked Potato, Corn, Dessert, 1:00 pm Roz Santay, Susan & Dane Wagle, & Sue & Jim Welsh – Enjoy the musical talents of these long time friends who perform locally at the Pippinfest, campgrounds and Lower Marsh Creek Presbyterian Church. They play guitar, box drum, harmonica, & electric bass. “The Women’s Trio” specialty is blending their beautiful voices in three part harmony. $ 15/Person (covers all food and activities) See flyer on bulletin board or contact Kathy Kovacs

MAY 31, 2015 – PRAISE AND WORSHIP – Madison Avenue Church of the Brethren will be hosting a benefit event to raise funds for EYN. Come for an evening of Praise and Worship led by the Madison Avenue Praise Team and Friends on Sunday, May 31, 7:00 p.m. at Madison Avenue Church of the Brethren. We will lift our voices to praise our Lord and Savior, and we will join together in prayer and giving generously in a free will offering for our Brothers and Sisters in Nigeria

JUNE 6, 2015 “Sip Back and Enjoy” Camp Eder’s 3rd Tea-Lightful Celebration, Camp Eder Geigley Lodge, 914 Mt. Hope Road Fairfield, PA 17320, Saturday, June 6, 2015, 12:00-3:00 pm, Fee: $35.00/person, Ladies & Gentlemen ages 12 & up welcome to attend! Includes: Afternoon Tea Inspirational Speaker – Sharon Weisser. Live music performed by Celtic Harpist, Sharon Knowles Come join us for a delightful, Tea celebration at Camp Eder. Please bring your own tea cup. Enjoy fellowship, encouraging Biblical message, and uplifting music. The Tea will consist of several delectable homemade courses: salad, scones, savory, and a sweet course. Three different types of tea will be served throughout the afternoon. Program will include poetry reading, health benefits of tea, vendors and door prizes. Giftware and tea merchandise, honey tasting & homemade soaps will be available to purchase from Tea Merchant, Mary Miller Myers from “An Early Elegance”, Kay Deardorff from “Shady Rest Apiaries, LLC” and Tiffanie Strickland from “Backwood Goods”. Limited seating available, please RSVP with payment, no later than May 15th. See flyer on bulletin board and contact Kathy Kovacs, (717) 309-0678 with any questions or for additional information.

JUNE 7, 2015 – TEACHER APPRECIATION BREAKFAST – 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. The Christian Education Ministry Team would like to thank those individuals who have shared their time and talents to benefit the Sunday School Program at York First church during the past year. To show our appreciation, we would like to invite all Sunday school teachers, children’s church, and Nursery Care Providers, to a Breakfast held in their honor. We would like members of the Sunday School Classes to help provide the food such as casseroles, fruit, breads, and muffins. Sign-up sheets will be placed in your rooms. Thank you! Questions: see Nancy Gipe or Vivian Hubbell

JUNE 8 & 9, 2015 – 67th Annual Women’s Camp Retreat ~ In the Presence of Joy. In Your presence there is fullness of Joy – Psalm 16:11 Deadline to register is May 18, 2015. Our guest Speaker, Wanda Gallimore is an adult Bible Teacher with many years of experience, teaching God’s word with a passion for simply loving the Word of God as it is presented in His Story. She has taught “Through the Bible in One Year” five times and portions of Scripture many times. Besides teaching, she is a public speaker, a Bible Study leader, the author of two books and a travel blogger. See bulletin board for flyer and registration form. Contact Kathy Kovacs

JUNE 13, 2015 – 2015 KICKOFF BANQUET FOR THE BRETHREN DISATER RELIEF AUCTION. SATURDAY, JUNE 13 — 6:00 P.M.
FAMILY STYLE DINNER AND CONCERT AT YODER’S RESTURANT, NEW HOLLAND, PA. FEATURING THE TRIBUTE QUARTET.
FOR TICKETS AND INFOMATION, CONTACT SALLY BINGAMAN OR JOLENE ZEIGLER

JUNE 19 – 21, 2015 – National Junior High Conference 2015, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA ~ LIVING THE CHANGE: Our offering to God, Come for a weekend packed with powerful worship, fun workshops, music and recreation! For junior high youth (those who have completed grades 6 – 8) and their advisors, www.brethren.org/njhc ~ $185.00 per person and First Church will pay half the cost.

JULY 3, 2015 – The Women’s Fellowship Choir of EYN (Ekklesiyar Yan-uwa, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) will perform on Friday, July 3, at 7:00 pm in the Nicarry Meetinghouse on the campus of CKV-TBHC. This free, public concert is in appreciation of the support Nigerians have received from American Brethren during the recent persecution, violence and hardship related to the Boko Haram jihadist group, which is estimated to have killed 10,000 civilians in Nigeria last year. The choir is part of a larger group touring the U.S. in June and July, concluding at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Florida. Come and hear the inspirational sounds of these women at their only appearance in South Central Pennsylvania.

Information on the bus trip to the Annual Conference July 11-15, Tampa, Florida This is to inform you that I will be hosting an Elite Coach to the July 11 – 15 Annual Conference in Tampa, Florida this summer. People have been inquiring about this possibility.
With a minimum of 35 participants, the cost will be $789 per person double occupancy and that is all inclusive, conference lodging, enroute lodging, ,transportation and driver gratuity. It does not include meals (except breakfasts along the way) while traveling or at conference.
Since reservations for lodging open in late February, I cannot assure A.C. lodging, but I have requested and am assured that our conference stay will be at the Marriott Hotel which is across the street from the convention center. This trip of approximately 1100 miles will take two and one-half days with stops along the way. We will leave July 9 from Brethren Village at 7:30 a.m., pick up people along the way and return on July 17 around 6 p.m. We will take appropriate breaks but it will not be much of a sightseeing tour. We hope to stop at one or two interesting sites along the way. The minimum participants will be 35 persons to stay within the above price. Happy New Year and God bless! Earl K. Ziegler (See letter on the bulletin board) VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL – July 19 – 23, 2015, 6:00 – 8:30, children ages 4 – 5th grade The theme this year is: EVEREST: Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power. Volunteers are needed to help in a variety of ways, so if we haven’t contacted you yet and you would like to help, please contact Carol Gordon @ momfornine@aol.com or Judy Deitch @ judy@deitchgroup.com and we will find a spot for you. Supplies are always needed and you can help with your donations. Sign-up sheets will soon be posted. You can sponsor a child, provide Everest Sing & Play Music CDs, sponsor a science project, purchase snack items… There are so many ways to help.

Contacting the Pastor: Pastor Don can be reached most mornings in the church office Monday-Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The pastor reserves afternoons and evenings for visitation, meetings, and other pastoral-related activities. If you need to reach a Pastor Don outside of office hours, please call him at home at 792-4090, or cell phone 818-6266, and leave a message on his home answering machine. He will return your call at his earliest opportunity.If you would specifically like a pastoral visit, please contact the pastor. HIPA laws prevent the hospital from contacting the pastor when you are admitted. You MUST specifically note to hospital staff that you would like the hospital to contact your pastor.