Weekly News
Vol. 9-No. 2 Friday, January 9, 2015
Karen Bowman, Editor, secretary@yorkfirst.org
Click here to view the Weekly e-Newsletter Archives Page
Our Vision Statement: “To Love God, Share Christ, and Serve the World”
SUNDAY, January 11, 2015
9:00 am – Sunday School
10:30 am – Worship Service
Sanctuary: “Wading into the Water”
– Scripture: Mark 1: 4 – 11
Thoughts on the Word: This week the Word brings us to the beginning of the Bible with Genesis 1 and the beginning of Mark’s gospel with the baptism of Jesus and the beginning of his ministry. Water is a vital part of both settings. God the creator is a part of both stories. He is the bringer of light and order to everything that is, a gift beyond our imaginings. God loves and cares for us, we are his “beloved” just as he spoke to Jesus at his baptism. Just as Jesus knew himself as God’s beloved child when he rose from the baptismal waters, God comes to us as the Holy Spirit in our baptism, bringing spiritual gifts and bathing us in his love. These thoughts ought to inspire us in the ministry that we are called to in our faith journeys today.
WORSHIP ATTENDANCE – January 4, 2015, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – Total Attendance – 89
COPIES OF this weekly e-news, the monthly tapestry and monthly calender are available to be picked up on the table in the narthex and at YorkFirst.org.
SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES: Warren Edris passed away Friday, Jan. 2nd. The viewing for family and friends will be held today from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at John W. Keffer Funeral Home, 2114 West Market At., York, PA. Private burial will be at Prospect Hill Cemetery with Pastor Don officiating.
Please keep his wife, Dorothy and the Edris family in your thoughts and prayers.
THANK YOU:
Thank you for your prayers, your kind thoughts, your visits, phone calls, cards, emails and e-greetings while I was in the York Hospital and recuperating at home. I continue to mend and hope to be at church again soon. – Larry Gibble
Blessings to my church family and many thanks to you for your prayers, cards, calls, and messages of hope and encouragement during Paul’s long battle with cancer and his passing. Very much appreciated by Dottie and family in York and in Arizona.
TO THE ADVENT DECORATORS. – A BIG THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK IN MAKING THE CHURCH BEAUTIFUL FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.
SPECIAL THANKS TO BEV RANEY WHO TOOK ON THE TASK AT HAND WHEN I COULDN’T BE THERE.
ALSO TO JAYNE AND MIKE BALDWIN WHO WENT OVER AND ABOVE WITH THEIR HELP. AND TO JUDY DEITCH WHO STEPPED UP TO DO A WONDERFUL JOB WITH THE ADVENT BREAKFAST ON SHORT NOTICE. ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE WHO HELPED DID A TERRIFIC JOB.MANY THANKS AGAIN,
JOLENE ZEIGLER, ADVENT CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU for making Christmas 2014 a blessing – The Hubbells
2015 DIRECTORY INFORMATION – There is a copy of the member’s pages of this year’s directory on the table in the narthex. PLEASE review and make any necessary changes on this copy. We hope to have the most accurate information to print the 2015 directory.
BACK UP NEEDED – Leadership Team is searching for someone to serve as a back-up for our church secretary in the event she would need to be away for a prolonged time frame. There will be hourly compensation provided. The work would involve bulletin and e-news preparation.
THIS WEEK….
Ladies Bible Study will resume on Tuesday, Jan 13 at 9:30 a.m. in the Church Lounge. We will finish the last lesson in the ‘Hebrews’ study with Pat Trimmer.
On Jan 20, we will begin our new Spring study “Not a Fan”. This study is a 6 week video series with six segments by Kyle Idleman, narrator and teacher. Kyle is a pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Some of us were fortunate enough to hear Kyle narrate “The Christmas Experience”, in our W E Gather time during the Fall with Pastor Don, and it was a great study. “Not a Fan” video series will not only challenge you, but will motivate you and question whether your Christian belief and walk with Christ is as strong as you say it is.
So I am looking forward to sharing this new study and challenging all of you in your walk with Christ. Are you a “fan” or a “follower”? That is the question. Please feel free to join us. Newcomers welcomed with love.
Dolly Furst will lead this class.
DIRECTORY CHANGES:
Winnie Fickes’ new address is: 110 Stand Lake Way, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Lindsey McCracken – Lindsey graduated from Penn State on December 20 with a B.S. in Forensic Science and a minor in Biology. She started a six-month internship at the Defense Forensic Science Center in Forest Park (Atlanta) GA on January 5, and is in the process of applying for graduate programs in Pathology. Her current address, until June, is: 1925 Waycrest Dr SW, Apt 3206, Atlanta, GA 30331-8613
Thank you notes received from our Ministry Partners:
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. Your gifts help support the work of partnerships in Haiti, Nigeria, South Sudan, and many other places around the world. Your faithful giving undergirds service-focused ministries and opportunities for faith formation. Your generous contributions empower ministries that speak peace and extend Jesus’ table through dynamic programs and ministries of the COB. Thank you for helping to continue the work of Jesus.
Stanley J. Noffsinger, General Secretary
$1208 Witness Commitment, $75 Nigeria Compassion Fund
Thank you for your continued support of Children’s Aid Society. From the six month old playing in the crisis nursery to the troubled teenager in a therapy session, each child that we help relies on your kindness. Every day that we can give children a safe, caring place to heal from the damage they have experienced is because of the concern of others like you.
Jan Zeigler, Interim Executive Director
$200 Witness Commitment
Thank you for your ongoing financial support towards the Outdoor Ministry of Camp Eder. It is through your help that lives are touched and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is shared with all who visit our “home in the hills”. I have been truly blessed by the amount of support and encouragement that Camp Eder has received from the congregations and individuals of this District.
Alan Patterson, Camp Director
$200 Witness Commitment
For more than 150 years, we have been doing the work of Jesus here at the Brethren Home Community ….Undoubtedly, our friends at the York First Church of the Brethren have been a significant partner in sustaining the ministry to the precious elderly folks who live here. You have helped to provide the necessary resources that enable us to continue this vital work and for that we are indeed most grateful.
Don Wilkinson, Director of Gift Planning
$400 Good Samaritan Fund
LOOKING AHEAD….
January 24, 2015 – LEADERS RETREAT – Open to all members of York First Church of the Brethren. 8:00 am -12:00 pm with District Executive Bill Waugh sharing and Ministry teams working on goals and direction for the Year ahead. Brother Waugh will be speaking for about an hour and half around the theme of “Becoming a healthy team.” We are excited about the possibilities for spiritual renewal and growth in the body of Christ here at York First. Come and join this important gathering as we seek to glorify God in our ministry and mission.
CAMP EDER EVENTS: Brochures are posted on the bulletin board. If you have any questions or you want more information about these events, please contact Kathy Kovacs.
January 28, 2015: Senior Citizen’s Day – $15/person covers all food and activities – 9:30 Meet and Greet, 10:00 Morning Activities (Bingo-non cash prizes), 12:00 Lunch (Glazed baked ham, scalloped potatoes, vegetable, green beans, salad, dessert)
1:00 Afternoon program – Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve Naturalist, Carole Simon, will present an educational pro-gram on songbirds and raptors from the area. Come hone your skills in identifying birds by sight & sound. If you have binoculars, feel free to bring them.
January 30 to February 1st – Winter Camp 2015 – Who: All Youth! (1st-12th Grade), What: Winter Camp brings peer groups together for a weekend of laughter, adventure and spiritual growth. When: Arrive Friday, January 30th at 7:00pm Depart Sunday, February 1st at 2:00pm (Families are invited to join us for lunch on Sunday February 1st, at 1:00pm) Cost: $85.00 includes Friday-Sunday lodging, 3 meals on Saturday, and 2 meals Sunday. Join us for a weekend of fun, adventure, and spiritual growth!
Things to Bring: A Friend!, Warm Clothing/Winter Gear (We will be outside!), Bible, Pen, Paper, Sleeping bag and pillow, towel and washcloth, toiletries, sled(s), and SMILES!
NEW WINDSOR WORK DAY – Wednesday, February 11, 2015
It is time to return to New Windsor to assist in the SERRV program. On Wednesday, February 11th (weather permitting), we will board the bus in the church parking lot at 7:15 a.m. to travel to New Windsor for a day of work and fellowship, including lunch and shopping in the gift shop. Shipments from many countries are waiting to be unpacked, priced and packed for sale in gift shops around the country and through the catalog sales. We always have a fun day. Please join us. There is a sign up sheet in the narthex for you to reserve a seat on the bus. If you have questions, call Helen Stoner
SAVE THE DATE – The Friends of Cross Keys Village – The Brethren Home Community presents “OPERATION HELPING HANDS” A Fundraising Event Featuring “The National Christian Choir” – Saturday, April 18, 2015 at 3:00 PM
New Oxford High School Auditorium – All seats assigned. Ticket Prices: VIP seats $ 100. Helping Hand seats $ 25. www.crosskeysvillage.org/friends and click on Purchase Tickets button or Phone 717-270-2112
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.
