Join us for some Christmas Caroling

Sunday, Dec. 18th

Immediately following worship



Gather in the Lobby; Song Sheets will be Provided 



HOLIDAY CONCERT

FOR JOANNA!

Sunday, December 18, 2022, 4:00PM

York First Church of the Brethren

Local artists perform classic and

pop holiday music.

A free will offering will be received to assist the Wuhrman family purchasing a van to better transport Joanna. Come prepared to contribute as you are so led.

Contributions can be made through our online giving portal (see below)

Click on button for the video link

to enjoy this Concert.

This concert will be available via YouTube. Click the link beow to join us at 4:00 pm Sunday or anytime afterward.  

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Sunday, December 18 – Fourth Sunday of Advent

9:00 am Sunday School

10:30 am Worship Service – Sanctuary

Following Worship – Christmas Caroling – Gather in Lobby

4:00 pm Holiday Concert for Joanna – Sanctuary

Monday, December 19

5:30 pm CDC Board - Lounge & Zoom

Tuesday, December 20

9:30 am Ladies Bible Study – Lounge

4:00 pm Food Pantry Open 4:00 to 5:30 pm

6:45 pm Worship Design Team – Lounge/Multipurpose Room

Wednesday, December 21

9.00 am Staff Meeting – Multipurpose Room

Thursday, December 22

7:30 pm Choir Practice – Sanctuary

Saturday, December 24

7:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – Sanctuary

Sunday, December 25 – Christmas Day

10:30 am Worship Service – Sanctuary

Click on this button to view the full calendar

Additions and updates for prayer list or calendar of events are welcome by contacting the church office.

Special note for all Ministry Teams: Please notify the church office with any upcoming meetings or events for your team so we can add these dates to the calendar.

Sunday School News

Children's Sunday School Classes

9:00 AM in Rooms 151, 152, and 155. Children grades PreK (age 4) and up will have class lessons, with singing included as well. Children ages 3-4 and younger are welcome to attend nursery care.

Youth Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in the Youth Room 149. Teacher Dave Witkovsky. This class is for youth in grades 6-12. Preparation for Advent Breakfast crafts will be the project this Sunday.

Vine and Branches Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. The class will begin studying the new "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum, this winter's series entitled "From Darkness to Light."

Lamplighters Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. The class is studying Bob Goff's "Dream Big".

Homebuilders Sunday School Class

8:00 AM by conference call, holding class remotely. To join, contact Mike Martin at 717-840-4184 or Caretaker@TwinBrookFarm.com and leave a phone number. The class studies lessons from the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum. 

2023 OFFERING ENVELOPES

Are available for pickup on the counter in the narthex.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING

1.   Some envelope numbers have changed for 2023.

2.  If you are using Online Giving, your envelope number is in the 200 range, and you will not receive a box of envelopes. See the listing located with the boxes of envelopes.

3.   TO ASSURE CORRECT RECORDING OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, DO NOT use your old (2022) envelopes after DECEMBER 31, 2022.                                                                 

DO NOT use your new (2023) envelopes before JANUARY 1, 2023.

4.   If you would like to receive envelopes, please inform the church secretary and she will see that they are provided.

Thank you

Online Giving is safe, easy, and convenient. Sign up by going to our church website at: www.yorkfirst.org and click on the Online Giving Link or go directly to the Online Giving website at: http://www.osvhub.com/york-first/funds.

For assistance setting up your account,

call Donor Support at:  800-348-2886 – Option 2 – Online Giving Questions? Contact Sheryl Leaman - Thank you for your support!

NOTE: Online giving can be used for regular weekly or monthly offerings, special offerings (e.g. Christmas Eve), and capital campaign contributions, as well as many other specific outreach ministries that we sponsor.

OUR CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING THIS YEAR WILL SUPPORT HEIFER INTERNATIONAL



Please make checks payable to York First Church of the Brethren, noting Heifer or Christmas Eve Offering, or you may give online. Click on Online Giving tab above and select Christmas Eve Offering

How Heifer International Began:

In 1944, Dan West began outlining a simple but groundbreaking plan to tackle hunger around the world. West, a farmer from the Midwest and Church of the Brethren member, had recently returned from feeding weary refugees during volunteer service in the Spanish Civil War.

He’d seen firsthand that giving people food was a short-term solution, whereas providing them with animals offered a steady supply of nutritious food for an entire family. 

His philosophy still inspires Heifer’s work today. Partnering with farmers across a range of different livestock and crops, we create unique solutions to local challenges. Together, we build inclusive, resilient economies, so communities can develop effective ways to end global hunger and poverty in a sustainable way.



These days, Heifer International generally provides animals to participating families through local channels in the countries we serve. But early on, the organization shipped livestock from the United States to other countries. During their travels, these animals were cared for by "seagoing cowboys": ranchers and farmers who aided Heifer in its mission by lending their expertise in animal husbandry and agriculture.

DATES TO REMEMBER



Sunday December 18 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

Christmas Caroling immediately following worship

Holiday Strings Concert for Joanna 4:00 PM, Sanctuary

Saturday December 24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 7:00 PM



Sunday December 25 - Christmas Day Worship 10:30 AM

CAMP EDER WINTER CAMP 2023

JANUARY 27TH - 29TH

For Grades 1st - 12th & Shining Stars Campers

Arrive 7PM Friday - Pickup 2PM Sunday

Grab your sleds and strap on your snow boots and join us for a weekend of winter fun at Camp Eder!

Click below to register online or

contact Camp Eder at campeder@campeder.org or (717) 642-8256

2022 Annual Conference Wrap-Up DVD is available to borrow in the church office. There will be a sign up sheet in the office to take the DVD.

You may want to contact the church office to make sure the DVD is available for pick up.

Denominational news and information is always available by visiting brethren.org

Click on the button for current

Church of Brethren News

THANK YOU FOR TRUCK STOP MINISTRY



A big thank you to everyone who baked cookies, to Dolly for announcing this year's cookie drive, to those who decorated the paper bags, to the group of women from our Women's Bible Study who assembled 114 bags of cookies, and to Glenn and Anna Miller for delivering them. ~ Mary Esther Anderson

Please click on the button to view a thank you from Chaplain Mike, Chaplain Dave and the Board of Directors - Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry, Inc.

MESSENGER MAGAZINE:

The Church of the Brethren Monthly Periodical

The subscriptions for the Messenger are coming due, and we highly recommend all church members receive it and stay informed of the work and perspectives from our larger church family.

If you are receiving the Messenger and wish to continue, I only need to know if there are any changes to your information.

If you DO NOT wish to receive it any more, let me know.

If you would like to BEGIN to receive the Messenger, email me or let the office know and I will put your name on the list.

Payment details will be in next month's newsletter.

Carole Bradfield

carole513@verizon.net 

Since 2011 our Witness Team has sponsored the Cash for Causes program by selling Giant & Weis gift cards. The church receives 5% of sales to support various ministries. For 2022 the gift card sales will support The Lehman Center (Children’s Aid Society), New Community Project, Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry, and LifePath Christian Ministries (formerly York Rescue Mission). You may purchase the cards in amounts of $100, $50, $25, or $10. The cards make great gifts, especially at holidays. Consider donating cards to the Food Pantry or using them yourself any time you shop at Giant or Weis.

If you’d like to support this program, please see Becky Wenger before/after worship service OR mail your check (paid to York First Church) to 3011 Bedford Pl, York, PA 17408 and your cards will be mailed to you.

The Education Team would like to share free monthly video links from Teepa Snow. Hoping you will get a chance to watch them and learn something that may be helpful when dealing with those you come in contact with who have dementia.

Teepa Snow’s care strategies and techniques look at what is known about brain function and changes that happen with various conditions and integrate that information with therapeutic approaches. December's link is:

The GEMS characteristics focus on ability instead of loss and are an invaluable tool to assist with changing abilities that impact relationships and expectations.  https://youtu.be/Z6UVjp_y8HY

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP

"CHRISTMAS FROM SCRATCH"

MUSICAL

AT YORK FIRST CHURCH

DECEMBER 3, 2022

If you need to reach the pastor outside of office hours, his home phone number is

(717) 318-5442, and his mobile number is (717) 271-4888 . You can also email him at

pastor@yorkfirst.org. Note that laws prevent hospitals from contacting a pastor without your permission when you are admitted, so you will need to let hospital staff know that you would like the hospital to contact your pastor.