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SUNDAY SCHEDULE


SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:00 AM

Classes for All Ages


WORSHIP 10:30 AM

In the Sanctuary and Online


THIS SUNDAY IN WORSHIP

September 3, 2023

 

SCRIPTURE LESSON:

Ephesians 2:13-22


MESSAGE:

“Open Doors, Open Hearts”

Contents:



This Week


Prayer Requests

and Calendar


Sunday School News


Children's Ministry Schedule


Upcoming Events


COB News


Online Giving


Thank you


Birthdays


Directory Changes


Last Week


Contacting the Pastor 

Happening This Week

An Accessible and Inclusive Community:

The Way of Christ


This week in worship we continue a series of messages that name and affirm our congregation's top priorities in mission and ministry, the first being the centrality of Jesus Christ, as last week's message conveyed. This week we confront the challenge of being inclusive and accessible to all who seek the way of Christ, confident that love which unites ought to triumph over laws that divide.


We'll also be sending and consecrating the many from our congregation who will be attending the Church of the Brethren National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) this coming week, September 4-8, in North Carolina. This will be near the start of the service so that some may depart for NOAC as soon as necessary. Please join us for our time of worship, study, and fellowship this Sunday.

Live Stream Worship

Our worship services are available via YouTube for those who wish to join that way. Click the link above to join us before 10:30 AM Sunday or anytime afterward. DVD copies of the services are also available.

Click here to view the bulletin for this Sunday.

This Sunday's Bulletin

Pastor Joel will be out of the office all of next week, September 4-8, attending National Older Adult Conference. If you have an immediate need please contact your assigned deacon or call the church office.

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES


Sunday, September 3

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

       

Monday, September 4

Church Office Closed

                

Tuesday, September 5

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

                    

Thursday, September 7

6:30 pm  Choir Practice – Sanctuary


Friday, September 8

8:30 am   Soup Kitchen – (Casseroles due at church by 8:30)

               

Saturday, September 9

10:00 am  Food Pantry Open 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

                         

Sunday, September 10

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

Church Calendar


Click on this button to view the full calendar


Click for Friends to Remember in Prayer

Prayer Requests

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 Room 149. Teacher Joel Gibbel. This class is for youth in grades 7-12.



Vine and Branches Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. Teacher Eric Miller. The class is beginning new series using the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum entitled "God's Law is Love."

 

Lamplighters Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. Teacher Beth Anne Bahn. The class is studying the Current curriculum, this summer's series entitled "Seeking Peace Together."



Homebuilders Class

Mondays - 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM by conference call. 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.  

Children's Ministry Schedule
Upcoming Events

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER


September 13 - Camp Eder Senior Day

September 15-16 - District Conference, Chambersburg CoB

September 22-23 - Brethren Disaster Relief Auction, Lebanon Expo

September 24 - Brethren Disaster Ministries Benefit Concert 6:30 PM, Sanctuary

October 1 - Love Feast 4:30 PM, Fellowship Hall

OUR DAILY BREAD/SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, September 8, 2023 Sign up by calling

Sandi Bowser at 717-825-7203 to make a casserole for Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen on Friday, September 8, 2023 (10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) PLEASE contact Sandi to add your name and number of casseroles, so we can let Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen know how many casseroles to expect. The pans are located in the church lounge. Thank you!


CAMP EDER SEPTEMBER SENIOR DAY

Wednesday, September 13, 2023




9:30 am Check in/Breakfast

10:00 am Morning Program Join us for a wonderful musical performance from the Steel String Storytellers. Monte Leister and Adam Kruzic will be playing original americana compositions about life in small town America. It is going to be a blast!

12:00 pm Lunch BBQ Chicken, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Broccoli, Garlic Bread, Salad, and Peach Cobbler

1:00 pm Afternoon Program Hayride around Camp Eder (We will only be taking groups of 25 people at a time)


Only $20. per person, RSVP by calling (717) 642-8256, Email: mschmittel@campeder.org

FAITH MARKERS PRESENTATION - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th 


As a congregation, we celebrate the faith journey of our children and youth. Books and Bibles will be presented to those entering Kindergarten, 3rd, 5th, and 9th grades during worship. If your child is entering one of those grades and did not receive a letter, please contact the church office. We look forward to celebrating this time together. 

CALLING DEACONS - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th 


On Sunday September 17 during worship, our church will hold an open ballot process for calling people to serve as Deacons among us. Deacons are members of the church who are dedicated caregivers, encouragers, and overseers of sacred ordinances. They "use their spiritual gifts in a shared ministry of concern for the total well-being of God's people," as our Annual Conference statement concerning Deacon Ministry states. Their roles include visitation and sending greeting cards, assisting with love feast, communion, and baptisms, and keeping in touch with church members, upholding them in prayer and service.


Several deacon teams who currently serve us are voluntarily stepping down from their roles, having served for many years. We are eager to invite new deacons, but not without the discernment and suggestions from the entire congregation. Please give this matter your careful, prayer, consideration in the coming weeks. Those who are called and accept will be shared an affirmed by the congregation at a later date.

Benefit Concert for Brethren Disaster Ministries

Sunday September 24, 2023, 6:30PM


This event is being held at York First Church of the Brethren. Our chancel choir as well as several other musicians will be involved, and proceeds will benefit Brethren Disaster Ministries.



Benefit Concert Flyer


Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Training 101


Saturday, September 30th              9:00-11:30                     Hosted by the Education Team


Georgie Stanley with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing will be leading a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Training at our church on Saturday, Sept. 30th. We are all familiar with Basic First Aid skills. But what if the person in need is struggling with anxiety or suicidal thoughts? Come learn about what you can do to help. This session will be an abbreviated version of the 7 hour Mental Health First Aid training. Please contact Michele Gibbel if you are in need of child care.

carlisletruckstopministry.org

ctsm851@gmail.com

717-385-7932

FALL FUND RAISING BANQUET

Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023

New Fairview Church of the Brethren,

1873 New Fairview Church Rd., York, PA 17403


Full-course dinner,

featuring Heaven 4 Shore,

Ministry update and Door Prizes


Tickets are $ 17.00 and are available until

September 15, 2023. No ticket sales at the door.

You can also purchase tickets

from Glenn & Anna Miller

Fall Banquet Flyer 

CALLING ALL LADIES:

 

Our Ladies Bible study will begin Tuesday, October 10 from 9:30 - 11:30 am in the Church Lounge. 



We will be exploring several studies that interest everyone. If you are available and think you would enjoy a social gathering sharing God's Word and prayer support each Tuesday with one another, then please plan to join us. All are welcome and church membership is not a necessary. Invite a friend to attend with you.

Questions or comments can be made to Dolly Furst at furstdol@aol.com or

call 717- 891-1419 or Kim Witkovsky at witkovskyks@gmail.com or call 814-599-7055. 

Church of the Brethren Denominational News

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

Current Church of Brethren News

COB Newsline

Annual Conference Wrap-Up


2023 Annual Conference Wrap-Up DVD is available for pick up 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. 

Annual Conference Wrap-Up

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the SOPA District Church of the Brethren,

 

Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is to inform you of the retirement of our District Executive, Rev. Dr. William Waugh. His retirement as District Executive is effective at the close of District Conference on September 16, 2023. Please click on button for full announcement and details of honoring Bill and his wife, Dawn.

Retirement Announcement
Online Giving

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, and capital campaign contributions, as well as many other specific outreach ministries that we sponsor.

Church Website
Online Giving



Dear Church Family, A very special thank you to each and everyone for your birthday greetings of beautiful and thoughtful well wishes. ~ Sincerely, Betty Bortner



LOOK WHO'S

CELEBRATING

THIS MONTH



02  Sarah Dietrich

02  Frank Soyke

04  Lisa Striebig

04  Daniel Beuschlein

04  Alexander Baldwin

05  Ed Martin

06  Leonard Stoner

06  Diane (Ginder) Goetz

07  Evan Brickner

11  James Knaub

 

If your birthday is in SEPTEMBER and is

not on the list below or is listed

incorrectly, please call the church office.



13  Steve Jones

14  Michele Gibbel

16  Bernetta Kile

21  Loretta Bachman

22  Deb Rosenzweig

23  Arlene Martin

25  Hannah Taylor

26  Bob Drawbaugh

29  John Gibble


Directory Changes:


P. 17 - Bill & Christina Paragon - Correct zip code to 17408


P. 17 - Add Diane Replogle, 1900 Barley Rd., Apt. #1918, York, PA 17408, (717) 576-3365 Email: dianereplogle@gmail.com

Diane became a member on Aug. 27, 2023

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 2023 the gift card sales will support The Lehman Center (Children’s Aid Society), New Community Project, and Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry. 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 Brethren Home Foundation

Notice of Annual Corporation Meeting

September 16, 2023

Please click on button to view the notice.

Notice of Annual Corp. Mtg. Brethren Home

Children's Aid Society, Inc.

Notice of Annual Meeting

September 16, 2023

Please click on button to view the notice.

Notice of Annual Meeting Children's Aid Society

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP


August 27, 2023

 

SCRIPTURE LESSON:

Colossians 1:15-20,2:1-7


MESSAGE:

“Christ the Center”



CONTACTING THE PASTOR

Pastor Joel Gibbel can be reached in the church office most weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Some afternoons and evenings may be set aside for visiting those in need, for meetings, and for other pastoral duties. Pastor Joel is also available for pastoral counseling by appointment.

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 contact the church if you desire a visit or to request prayer.

Our Mission Statement:
“People dedicated to Spiritual Growth, Loving Relationship, and Sacrificial Service”
Our Vision Statement:
“To become a community of committed Christians who Love God, Share Christ, and Serve the World”