Weekly News
Vol. 9-No. 50 Friday, December 11, 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, December 13, 2015 9:00 am – Sunday School
10:30 am – Worship Service
Sanctuary: “God is my Salvation??”
Scripture: Luke 3: 7-18, Isaiah 12: 2-6
7:00 p.m. – Annual Dallastown Choir & Strings Concert and Jubilee Ringers Bell Choir from First Church
Thoughts on the Word:Thoughts on the Word: This Sunday we celebrate with joy the salvation the Christ child brings to the world! Salvation is a precious gift from God to all people everywhere. While it is a gift, it requires our repentance from our sins. John the Baptizer warns of God’s wrath for those who hear the good news yet reject it. Salvation requires justice; it entails judgement, and we need to be ready. Advent is the season in which we prepare ourselves to receive the Christ child anew in our hearts. We are called to rejoice!
WORSHIP ATTENDANCE – December 6, 2015, 10:30 a.m. – 97
THIS WEEK…….
DECEMBER 11, 12, & 13, 2015 – Camp Eder’s 5th Annual Celebration of the Birth of Christ & Christmas Tree Festival – Friday, Dec. 11th, Sat., Dec. 12th, & Sunday, Dec. 13th – 5:00 – 8:30 pm – Christmas Tree Festival is free to attend and focused on celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The Christmas Tree Festival features a Christmas Tree Decorating Contest, cookies & hot beverages, Christmas Carols shared at the Campfire, and a moving candle-lit reading of the Nativity story. Come and experience Camp Eder covered in Christmas Lights, vote on your favorite Christmas tree, and worship at one of the Candlelight services. See Kathy Kovacs for more information.
DECEMBER 12, 2015 – JOY, A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION with The National Christian Choir, Kathy Bowman, Director/ 170 Auditioned Voices, Full Orchestra, 5th Annual Children’s Christmas Choir. Sat., Dec. 12th, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm at Hempfield High School, Landisville, PA 17538. Order tickets online at www.NationalChristianChoir.org or by phone at 301-670-6331 or toll free 800-599-4710. By mail: P O Box 1600, Germantown, MD 20875, General Admission: $ 20, Director’s Circle: $ 25, Children (12 & Under): $ 12, Call for Group Rates
DECEMBER 13, 2015 – York First Church of the Brethren invites children, youth, and their parents/grandparents to a Sunday School Christmas Party! Join us at the Fellowship Hall on December 13th from 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM for a special puppet program. It will be presented by the Yadah Ministries of Christ American Baptist Church from Spring Grove. Light refreshments will be served. Please consider bringing a donation for our food pantry. Items most needed are peanut butter, jelly, cereal, soup, canned fruit, and macaroni and cheese. We hope you can join us for a morning of holiday fun as we celebrate Jesus’ birthday! Everyone in the Church is invited to attend this event.
DECMBER 19 & 27, 2015 – Eshbach Railroad ~ Warren and Theresa Eshbach are opening their home again this year to benefit Children’s Aid Society. Their model railroad display has grown even larger and is a wonderful holiday event for children of all ages. roups, families, or individuals are invited to the annual MODEL TRAIN SHOW Theresa & Warren Eshbach, 3885 Lauer Lane, Dover, PA 17315 No admission charge, but ALL contributions received will support CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY, CALL: (717) 292-4803
EMAIL: eshbachmodelrailroad@gmail.com TO SCHEDULE A VISIT: Saturday 12/19/15 3:00pm OR Sunday 12/27/15 3:00pm
2016 OFFERING ENVELOPES – ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO PICKUP on the table in the Narthex. Please pickup yours today! NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE : MOST ENVELOPE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED FROM 2015 TO 2016. DO NOT USE YOUR 2016 ENVELOPES UNTIL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2016. Also, DO NOT USE any left-over 2015 envelopes after the end of December 2015. This is necessary to assure that all funds received are credited to the correct contributor. Thank you for supporting First Church ministries through your offerings!
A GREETER OPPORTUNITY! Want to be a church greeter but have no long term obligation? We’ve got just the spot for you! There is an church greeter opportunity for the second Sunday of the months of January, February and March before Sunday school. The duty is from 8:40 to 9:05 A.M. on the Sundays of January 10, February14 and March 13. All you need to do is contact Larry Gibble via email at Larry@Gibble.org or at 755-0019 and he’ll fill you in with the particulars. Thank you for your consideration.
CASH FOR CAUSES
November>>>Thanksgiving>>>FOOD
Purchase Giant &/or Weis cards for those extra grocery purchases;
and don’t forget our Food Pantry needs restocking.
See me in church to buy your cards. ~ Carole Bradfield
FOR ALL TEAM CHAIRS: For the 2016 Directory, please provide all the information for your team – Chair, Vice-Chair, and all members by December 7, 2015 – Thank you, Pastor Don
ATTENTION: Volunteer-driven fundraiser needs more postage
Your help is needed for a group of volunteers called, “stampers”, as they are most often called. The Brethren Home/Cross Keys Village “stampers” meet two mornings a week to trim and remove stamps from envelopes. These used stamps are assembled in packets for re-sale to collectors. The money raised goes to Good Samaritan Fund or funds to benefit the residents. Fewer stamps are coming in since e-mail and other electronic means of communication. You can help by placing your cut off or torn off stamps and put them in a box outside the church office window with stamps pictured on box. I will take them to the Brethren Home. This project continues all year long. Thanks for your help. Keyperson-Anna Miller
Do you know that First Church has a prayer chain? The prayer chain gives you the opportunity to request prayer for friends, family or yourself. The information is passed on to the people on the chain who later, pray for the need that was requested. It works via email and is available for all members and friends of the church. If you are not on the prayer chain, but would like to be (and you have an email address), please contact either Larry Gibble or Tim Beckwith and ask them to add you to the prayer chain.
If you do not have email but would like to be part of a telephone prayer chain, please contact Mary Esther Anderson.
GREAT APPLE-DELICIOUS IDEA!
Are you scrambling for a small gift idea? Well, your problem is solved. Pints and half-pints of delicious HOMEMADE APPLE BUTTER in decorative jars, make a nice basket or bag item for a friend, a family member, your dog groomer, hairdresser, doctor or whomever you care to share with. Decorate a basket or small bag and place a few homemade items along with a pint or half-pint of APPLE BUTTER from Camp Eder. Pints $6 and half-pints only $3. Sugar-free available too. Call or see Kathy Kovacs if you would like to purchase. Makes a great inexpensive gift idea.
Women’s Tuesday Morning Bible Study- On December 15th, we will explore a video and lessons on Sent: Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas. We will finish this study on January 12 and 19. Our study of Paul will begin on January 26. On December 15 we will end our year with a group luncheon at a restaurant. Please join us for these sessions of love and joy. Blessings Dolly and Pat ~ LAST WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY IN THE LOUNGE WILL BE DECEMBER 15TH. We will meet again on January 12, 2016.
A GROW MONEY PROJECT~ With grow money from BDRA, I am trying to double the money to give back. I will be selling Homemade Jelly from Hemlock Hollow Ent. It is all natural, no artificial ingredients or colors, inspected by Pa. Dept. Ag. The price is $3.50 and packaged for Christmas giving $4.00. I will be in the Lobby after Church. Thank you, Jolene Zeigler
SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES:
To the family of Leah Marquet. Leah passed away on December 5, 2015. Please keep Deb and Greg Klinedinst and their family in your thoughts and prayers.
Thank you notes received from our Ministry Partners:
I am always amazed by the numbers of lives that are touched each year by Children’s Aid Society. We have been able to help them because of the concern of others like the congregation of York First Church of the Brethren. You are a blessing to the children and families we help and you are a blessing to our mission. Thank you.
Jan Zeigler, Interim Executive Director
$315, Proceeds from sale of Grocery Cards, $200 Witness Commitment
Thank you for your support of the mission and ministry of the Church of the Brethren. It is through your generosity that ministries grow and lives are changed….It is a blessing to partner with you to carry the light of Christ into the world, and to boldly share the love of Jesus with neighbors down the street and around the world.
Stanley J. Noffsinger, General Secretary
$1208, Witness Commitment (Sept)
$1208, Witness Commitment (Oct)
The Brethren Home Foundation gratefully acknowledges your generous gift.
Don Wilkinson
$200, Good Samaritan Fund, Witness Commitment
LOOKING AHEAD…….
ADVENT PROGRAM SCHEDULE
December 20 – 10:30 am – Chancel Choir Cantata- “Festival of Lessons and Carols” by Hal Hopson – Morning Worship Service
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services – 7:00 pm – Family Service
December 27 – Jared Bueschlein will be preaching.
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.
Weather Related *CHURCH CANCELLATIONS
A. Cancellations will be announced through our church phone system.
Please use the following process:
1. Call the church office at 755-0307.
2. When answering machine message begins, press 6
3. A recorded message will indicate the status of church services/activities.
B. Cancellations will be announced on the church’s web site at www.yorkfirst.org, and when possible, emails will be sent to all online mailing list members and added to our Facebook page and Twitter, and in that 1, 2, 3, 4 order. *Weather related cancellations will not be announced on radio or TV.
