Weekly News
Vol. 12-No. 49 Friday, December 8, 2017
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 10, 2017
9:00 am Advent Breakfast – FH
10:30 am Worship Service
– SANCTUARY: ”Comfort Us”
– SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8
7:00 pm – The Dallastown Strings and Choral Ensembles
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From Pastor Joel –
The season of advent has arrived, and with it a new year begins for the church and her people. Advent is a time of waiting, of remembering and anticipating the coming of Jesus. I have chosen the theme for this season to be “The Light is Coming” – language that is drawn from scripture and points us toward new hope in the time to come. I encourage us all to reflect often on the expectations that we carry this season – our hopes, our joys, and our sense for what God desires from us this coming year.
Advent Devotional booklets entitled “The Magnificent Story” and written by Jim Lehman are available in the Gathering Area as a resource for personal and family devotional life this season. Please take one on Sunday and take time to read from it each day, as a spiritual discipline and as a pathway into the story of Christ’s coming. My you all sense the light made visible in Christ this season, as we begin a new chapter in our life together as a church.
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Do you ‘like’ the York First CoB Facebook page? If not, ‘like’ the page now, https://www.facebook.com/YorkFirstChurchOfTheBrethren For those that already ‘like’ the page be sure to ‘share’ the Advent post information to get the word out to friends!
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
DECEMBER 17TH – 10:30 am – Cantata will be presented by the Chancel Choir within the Worship Service
DECEMBER 24TH – 10:30 am – Worship Service
7:00 pm – Family Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
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ATTACHMENTS: Calendar of Events, Friends to Remember in Prayer, & Sunday School Schedule
Tax Free Charitable Giving Letter – A copy is also available on the table in the narthex.
ATTENDANCE – December 3, 2017, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – 96
COPIES OF this week’s E-news and the December calendar are available to be picked up on the table in the narthex and at YorkFirst.org
2018 OFFERING ENVELOPES: Please pick up your 2018 offering envelopes in the narthex. If there is no envelopes with your name, please advise the church office and one will be provided.
DO NOT USE your 2017 envelopes after DECEMBER 31
DO NOT USE your 2018 envelopes until JANUARY 1. ~ Thank you
AV TEAM is looking for people, male or female, to join the AV team. If interested, please contact Tim Beckwith or Patricia Carey, Worship Team Chair.
USHER TEAM: We are looking for additional ushers – Anyone may serve. Although, we would like to have several ladies and several youth. Please see any team leader if you are interested.
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ORDER YOUR POINSETTIAS~ DECEMBER 10th – Taking orders in the narthex between Sunday School and church and after church. Cost: $ 10.00, cash or check. Orders may also be placed through the church office.
“DONATIONS TO THE HEIFER PROJECT can be made using the envelopes in the pew racks. Include your name and designate for Heifer Project. Donations in Honor or Memory of loved ones can be made the same way, and will be acknowledged December 31, 2017. Thank you.”
CASH FOR CAUSES ~ Purchase Giant & Weis gift cards for your food shopping, gift giving, food pantry and other donations. I have (a limited quantity of) $10 & $25 denominations for those last minute gifts and stocking stuffers.
See me on Sunday morning. Carole Bradfield
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THIS WEEK. . . . . . . . . . . .
DECEMBER 8-9, 2017 ~ CAMP EDER CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL, 5-8:30 pm, JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE KING
•CHRISTMAS LIGHTS & MUSIC
•STORY TELLING/PAINTER DAVE WEISS
•TREE DECORATING CONTEST(you vote)
•FOOD (per donation)
•LUMINARY GARDEN (honoring our loved ones)
•DECORATED TREES
•BAKE SALE
•KID’S ACTIVITY CABIN AND STORY TIME
•WARM DRINKS AND LOTS OF COOKIES (free)
•COZY FIRES
•CANDLE LIGHT SERVICE AT 8PM EACH NIGHT
HEIFFER INTERNATIONAL reaches into remote parts of the world to provide small live- stock to families in hard to reach places. This year donations will buy geese and goats for small farmers.
GIVING JOYFULLY This time of year can be very difficult for families. Please bring any amount of the following items for local families in need: Small bags of rice, oatmeal, applesauce, and cereals.
All donations will go to Fairfield families in need via Fairfield Mennonite Church Food Pantry.
DECEMBER 11, 2017 ~ The 2nd annual Walk A Christmas Mile in East York is scheduled for Monday, December 11th at 6:00 PM. This neighborhood walk into Christmas includes stops at five local churches starting at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (700 E. Market St.) and ending at the 4th United Methodist Church (20 N. Lehman St.) with snacks, fellowship, and a puppet program. This year’s theme is “FOLLOW THE STAR” and also includes wayside scripture, song, and prayer at Emmanuel Church of God in Christ, York Second Church of the Brethren, and the Church of the Living God. Limited transportation is available. Join this worship excursion. Bring a flashlight… Bring a friend… Bring your family.
DECEMBER 14, 2017 ~ OWLS CHRISTMAS TEA – The annual OWLS Christmas Tea takes place at NOON On Thursday December 14 in the OWLS TEAROOM (AKA Homebuilder’s classroom 154). Get into the Christmas Spirit with a fun-filled time together as we celebrate the Christmas season with good friends, and good food, (provided by Dolly Furst). Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex ASAP, no later than December 10, so we know how many to prepare for.
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LADIES BIBLE STUDY INFORMATION
Dec. 12 – Ladies Bible Study Luncheon – NO LESSON – Meeting at 11:30 at: Isaac’s Restaurant & Deli, 2960 Whiteford Rd., York, PA 17402.
For those interested in carpooling from the church – please call Pat Trimmer
Ladies Bible Study resumes – January 9 – 11:30 a.m. New Study (details to come)
Also, any lady that did not get an updated address, phone list of ladies in our Bible Study, please remind me when you come to class. I handed out this past week to those who were present. I won’t really know if you got one or not, so you need to let me know. BLESSINGS TO ALL ~Dolly
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THANK YOU. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thank you for cards, thoughts, and prayers as I healed. It was appreciated! ~ Dolores Mann
A BIG thank you to everyone who once again helped to make “The Cookies for Truckers Project” a terrific success! Glenn and Anna Miller delivered 238 bags of cookies to the Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry. Many hands make light work and that is so true in this outreach ministry. You certainly made many people happy by providing them with a yummy taste of the Holidays. Spreading God’s love to others is what Christmas i s all about. Thanks again to all who made it happen!! ~ Elizabeth Eisenhart
Ruby and I want to express our appreciation for the many cards, prayers, and concerns on the death of our grandson, Timothy. It was a tragic loss due to complication of diabetes. It is very comforting to have the support of a loving church family. Thank you, Brad Nicholas
To my church family, heartfelt gratitude for your prayers, expressions of love and concern as I get acquainted with my new hip. I hope to be back soon. ~ Helen Stoner
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LEHMAN CENTER CHRISTMAS GIFTS
This year we are again sponsoring Destiney’s family for Christmas. They are most appreciative of any items that we can provide. Suggestions:
Liyana – age 5 – earrings (pierced), size 6 clothing – t-shirts and short sleeve tops
Dylan – age 7 – art supplies, size 7 pants (no jeans)
Gift cards for both children – McDonalds, Sweet Frog, movies, pizza, etc.
Family – TV trays, board games – Uno, Beat the Parents, Spot It, Find It Game
Gift cards for groceries, gas, restaurants, etc.
Also, this year the Crisis Nursery has a wish list of items needed:
Paw Patrol Sea Patroller
Matchbox Rocky Robot Truck
DC Superhero Girl Action Figures
Please place items in the basket in the narthex marked “Lehman Center Christmas Gifts” by December 10th. Gift cards and cash/checks may be placed in the offering marked for the Lehman Center family or Crisis Nursery.
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DECEMBER SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT:
It is Advent season again, that time of the year we look forward to celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus. It can be both a joyous and stressful time. Many of us have a long “to do” list to insure every task is completed to make this Christmas special and memorable. Wouldn’t it be great if we could make it special and also help someone else in need?
Heifer International can help you provide a helping hand to someone in need while removing a task or two from your “to do” list.
Here are some facts you may not know about Heifer International.
Heifer International’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth.
Heifer International has set a goal to help 4 million families achieve living incomes by 2020.
Since 1944, when it was started by Dan West, they have helped more than 31 million families.
Heifer has been ranked in the top four most trusted nonprofit organizations in the past four years by Harris Poll Equitrend.
Passing on the gift, or giving away a portion of what you have been given, is at the heart of Heifer’s value based development.
Heifers are just one of many types of livestock given to families in need. Also given are water buffaloes, llamas, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, chicks and bees.
Families are given extensive training on how to care for their Heifer provided animals and agree to pass on an offspring to neighbors also in need.
As little as $20 buys a flock of chicks – with each hen able to lay 200 protein-packed eggs a year.
$60 buys a tree that can produce fruit, nuts or fodder to feed a family and their livestock in a sustainable way.
$250 buys a water buffalo that allows a family to plant four times more crops than by hand and then transport their harvests to market.
The Spiritual Enrichment and Witness teams are joining together this Advent season to offer you a chance to be a part of the good works of Heifer International. Our goal is to send an Ark through Heifer by raising $5000 by the end of the year. Your gift to Heifer is tax deductible and will appear on your church giving statement if given through an envelope placed in the offering plate. Your gift can be given in honor of a family member or friend. See a team member at the Heifer International table in the narthex for an honor card you can send to your honoree. Let’s make this a truly memorable Christmas.
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LOOKING AHEAD . . . . . . . . . . .
JANUARY 12-13, 2018 ~ SOUTHERN PA DISTRICT-WIDE YOUTH ACTIVITY ~ Swim Upstream -Where We Will Begin to Explore Jesus’ Love & What it Means to Live Counter Culturally -for Youth grades 6-12, Contact Pastor Joel for registration information.
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CAMP EDER ~ LIFE OUTDOORS ~ LIFESKILLS WORKSHOP, Free and open to the public RSVP @ 717-642-8256, Workshops will fill fast. Please R.S.V.P. – Register online now
First Thursday of every month. 6:30p – 8p at Camp Eder
January 4, 2018 – Knit & Crochet ‘woven together’
February 1, 2018 – Terrariums ‘warm in Winter’
March 1, 2018 – Outdoor Survival Skills ‘no problems’
April 5, 2018 – Beekeeping ‘bee ready for Spring’
Come hang out & learn the basics of some awesome life skills.
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Eshbach Railroad ~ All are invited to the annual Model Train Show at the home of Theresa & Warren Eshbach, 3885 Lauer Lane, Dover, PA 17315. No admission charge, but contributions received will support Children’s Aid Society.
Call (717) 292-4803 or Email: eshbachmodelrailroad@gmail.com to schedule a visit for:
Saturday, Dec. 9th, 2:00 pm
Friday, Dec. 15th, 7:00 pm
Saturday, Dec. 16th, 2:00 pm
Friday, Dec. 22nd, 7:00 pm
Friday, Dec. 29th, 2:00/7:00 pm
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CONTACTING THE PASTOR: Pastor Joel can be reached most mornings in the church office Monday—Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Afternoons and evenings are 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 cell number is (717) 271-4888 . You can also email him at pastor@yorkfirst.org. By the way, HIPA laws prevent the hospital from contacting the pastor when you are admitted, so you will need to let hospital staff know that you would like the hospital to contact your pastor.