Weekly News
Vol. 9-No. 8 Friday, February 20, 2015
Karen Bowman, Editor, secretary@yorkfirst.org

Our Vision Statement: “To Love God, Share Christ, and Serve the World”

SUNDAY, February 22, 2015
9:00 am – Sunday School
10:30 am – Worship Service
Sanctuary: “Holy Spirit Power”
– Scripture: Mark 1: 9-15

Thoughts on the Word: This Sunday is the first Sunday of the season of Lent. It is a season for reflection and renewal in our lives as believers. It is a season to reconnect with God through the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. The texts for today give us the everlasting covenant making God, who even in the deepest trials of life never leaves us. For Noah the sign of the covenant was the rainbow set in the sky to demonstrate that God would never destroy the earth with a flood ever again. In Mark’s Gospel we revisit the account of Jesus’ Baptism by John in the river Jordan. The giving of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove signifies the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry that will ultimately end in his death on the Cross and his resurrection from the dead. God wants us to take time over the course of the next six weeks to renew our covenant. He waits for each of us to put him in his rightful place of our lives, our hearts, the center of our being.

Weather Related Church Cancellations: Cancellations will be announced through email, posted on facebook and on the website. We apologize for this inconvenience, however, at this time, the church phone system is not working properly for us to post a message by phone. You can also contact Pastor Don at OR Bernetta Kile, Melinda Carlson, or Roy Rollman.

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE – February 15, 2015, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service Cancelled

THIS WEEK….

W.E. GATHER – FEBRUARY 25 TO MARCH 25 – Dinner: 6:00 pm / Study: 7:00 pm / Room # 145 – If you were inspired Kyle Idleman at Christmas and Advent, you will also be inspired by him for Lent and Easter through “The Easter Experience”, what if what happened then changes everything now? Make Easter more than a holiday. The Easter Experience is a study with the power to change lives with the message of God’s loving plan for us. Using dramatic story-telling and challenging teaching by Kyle Idleman, the six-episode series brings the passion and resurrection to life. (1) My Life Has a Purpose (2) My Life Can Change (3) My Pain is Understood (4) My Life Has a Plan (5) I Have the Promise of Eternal Life (6) My Hope is Secure

FEBRUARY 25, 2015 – CAMP EDER SENIOR CITIZEN’S DAY – Glenda Shetter will present a lecture and demonstration of Quilts used as codes on the Underground Railroad to assist slaves on their journey North to gain their freedom. Also, Leah J. Hileman, Singer, Songwriter, and Recording Artist will present a fabulous musical program combining nostalgic favorites, hymns about the love of God and a few original love songs. Schedule: 9:30 am – Meet and Greet/Continental Breakfast, 10:00 am – Morning Activities, 12:00 Noon-Lunch, 1:00 pm – Afternoon program. For more information, see the flyer on the bulletin board or contact Kathy Kovacs.

FEBRUARY 28TH & MARCH 7th (Two Saturdays) – Mount Hope Maple Madness, Festival of Fun sponsored by Strawberry Hill and Camp Eder and will be held at Camp Eder. Pancake Breakfasts – 7:30 – 11:30 am, Warm up with indoor arts and crafts vendors, music, sugaring supplies, gifts and fun! Maple Sugar Programs 9:00 – 3:00 pm – No reservations necessary! See flyer on bulletin board for prices and package prices or contact Kathy Kovacs.

MEMBERSHIP CLASS to be offered soon. Are you interested in membership at York First? If so, please contact the church office or Pastor Don as soon as possible.

DO YOU SMELL THE CHOCOLATE? Maybe see some hopping towards you? It’s that time of year when the Youth Group will be selling Fitzkee Candies. Please stop by and order your candy on Sunday. All orders are due by March 1. Candy will be delivered on Palm Sunday, March 29 in time for Easter delivery. Thanks again for your support. The Youth Group

LOOKING FORWARD TO EASTER MORNING? April 5th – Plan for the Easter Breakfast during Sunday School hour. Look for signups in the narthex and inSunday School classrooms OR talk to the Beuschleins or LeGrands.

EASTER EGG HUNT:
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!!! The East Bunny might be making a special visit to First Church during the Easter Egg Hunt on Wednesday, April 1, 2015.. This event is for families of our church children and our CDC children and is from 5:30 – 7:00 PM, rain or shine. Let’s hope for a warm, sunny evening!!! It will begin with a light supper in the Fellowship Hall. Afterwards we will have Easter Egg hunts for the following age groupings: 0 – 3 years, 4 -6 years, 7 – 12 years. Children will also get to do a craft and hear the Easter story. Church children are encouraged to bring a friend. Grandparents, bring your grandchildren! Please have your child/children bring their Easter basket in which to put their eggs.
The only requirement is that you must sign up by March 22. The sign up sheets will be in the narthex. If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Eisenhart (843-6112).
We hope to see you at this fun event so get April 1st on your calendar now! This is NOT an April Fool Joke!

The Hospitality Team is creating a 5-minute video that describes First Church. It is aimed at visitors to our website and to our place of worship. A DVD will be placed in our Visitor’s Packets, which will be addition to a number of other items in the packet that describe First Church. To create this video, we need a group of volunteers; script writers, videographers (using cell phones with video capabilities), video editors, and technicians to burn the DVDs.
If you have any interest in serving in one of these capacities, please contact Larry Gibble, Hospitality Team member at larry@gibbble.org or by phoning 755-0019 ASAP. We will hold a meeting in mid to late March to refine all of the details. Thank you for your consideration – Larry Gibble

COB Disaster Relief Effort in Nigeria Update:
$1025 in the offering on Sunday, February 8, bringing our total to $2184 donated for the Southern PA District challenge. This Sunday, we ask you to “Have a Heart” and help those suffering in Nigeria.

THANK YOU:

A BIG THANK YOU to Dan Snook for the tickets to Bowling for Babies and Laser for Life. We enjoyed our time playing Laser Tag and just having fun with each other. – The Youth Group

WOW! We scored 1640 points with cash donations included! Many thanks to the congregation for all you did to make the Soup-er Bowl a success. We appreciate your support and the support to our Food Pantry. Technically, the Bermudian Youth Group won the challenge with over 7600 points. That’s ok. They had a BIG head start and in the end, the real winners are those in need of the food from our pantry. Just think, there is less than 12 months to next year’s challenge. Start preparing! Thank you again for all you do for us. – The Youth Group

THANK YOU to Pastor Don, and Evan Brickner, for the beautiful service for Mother’s celebration of life. Also, thank you for all of the visits, cards, prayers, phone calls, and words of encouragement that came from our church family during the days she was ill and after she passed away. Knowing that so many people care makes these difficult days easier. – Sid and Charlie Innerst, LaVere and Kathy Roseman and our families

Dear York First Church, Thank you for having me play violin twice this Christmas season. It is always a pleasure to play and give praise with your amazing choir and congregation! Some people asked about more information and videos of my performances, so I would like to share this link so that others may see: www.youtube.com/bedetrick I will be giving three solo “one man show” performances at Brethren Retirement Homes in York, New Oxford, and Lancaster this July, 2015. These performances, as they are fun for all ages and have received much local praise and support! Thank you for your continued fellowship, Ben Detrick

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
$2420 Witness Commitment, 2014

Your generous donation to the Church World Service Blankets+ program tells people in crisis, “You’re not alone. Someone cares.” We are deeply grateful for your support. Because of your compassion, families who have lost their homes to tornadoes, floods, earthquakes and other disasters are getting help with blankets, emergency food and shelter – and with rebuilding their lives and livelihoods. May God bless you for your support.
Rev. John L. McCullough, President and CEO
$4147.97 Christmas Eve Blanket appeal

The Southern PA District Office has an opening for an Office Manager. The position is a full-time, 40 hr/week job. This is an at-will position. Salary and benefits will be negotiable dependent on experience. This is an exempt position for purposes of all state and federal labor laws. Desired skills are: Team player, Able to work unsupervised, Organizational skills, Word Processing, Basic Microsoft Excel, Proficiency with office technology, Secretarial and Writing Skills, Social Media/ Website knowledge preferred.
The Office Manager supports the District Executive, District Board and Commissions as needed. This position entails often being the first “face” of the District when answering the phone, greeting visitors to the office and communicating with various members and agencies of the District. This position requires a combination of management and secretarial skills. Time management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks are also essential. Because the office deals with sensitive issues, confidentiality is a must.
Interested persons should send their resumes and references to Bill Waugh, District Executive by email at bwaugh@brethren.org by February 13, 2015. (This information is posted on the Bulletin Board)

LOOKING AHEAD…….

MARCH 13, 2015 – 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 13, 2015, (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 13 – 15th – Scrapbook Retreat- Join us at Camp Eder as we gather for another wonderful weekend of Scrapbooking and relaxation. Hostess, Jen Coale will be with us as we work late into each night making memories that will last a life time. Arrive on Friday anytime after 6pm. Head home on Sundayafter lunch. Two nights lodging and five meals included in one low price of $ 125/person. See flyer on the bulletin board how to register or contact Kathy Kovacs.

MARCH 27 & 28, 2015 – NEW FAIRVIEW COB will be holding their Annual Spring Yard Sale/Bake Sale (Fellowship Hall) on Friday – March 27, from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday – March 28 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. There will be a variety of yard sale/ bake sale items available. The proceeds will benefit the New Fairview Women’s Ministries. Call Ruth Chronister at 858-2350 for more details.

APRIL 18, 2015, Saturday at 3:00 PM – The Friends of Cross Keys Village – The Brethren Home Community presents “OPERATION HELPING HANDS” A Fundraising Event Featuring “The National Christian Choir”
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

APRIL 25, 2105 – WOMEN’S SPRING LUNCHEON – BERMUDIAN COB (The Gathering Place), Guest Speaker: Ruth West (Praise Unlimited) – The Bermudian 2015 Spring Luncheon Committee is excited to announce that Ruth West will be this year’s speaker. As some of you may remember from Ruth’s previous District speaking engagements, her style combines practical insights and ideas with inspiration, encouragement and wit. SAVE THE DATE and watch for more details as they become available.

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)

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.
3 Evamae Crist
5 Edward Sweigard
6 Kevin McCracken, Thessa Sollenberger, Jackie LeGrand
7 Anita Jacobs
10 Chris Baldwin, Donna Balsley
11 Jacob Boogher
13 Gail Rutland, Galen Trimmer, Terry Yeager
18 David Diehl
22 Audrey Ginder
24 Anna Boogher, Jean Howe
25 Sheldon Markel
28 Seth Brickner
29 Betty Arnold

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.