CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Sunday, February 19

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

Monday, February 20

6:00 pm CDC Board - Anna Mow Room

Tuesday, February 21

9:30 am  Ladies Bible Study – Lounge

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

6:45 pm Worship Design Team - Multi-purpose Room



Wednesday, February 22

3:00 and 7:00 pm  Ash Wednesday Worship Services - Chapel

Thursday, February 23

 6:30 pm  Bell Choir Practice – Bell Choir Room

7:30 pm  Choir Practice – Sanctuary

Sunday, February 26

9:00 am  Sunday School

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. The class is studying a series from the "Generation Why?" curriculum.



Vine and Branches Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. Teacher Justin Tomevi. The class will be studying the "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 surveying a sermon by Tony Campolo: "It's Friday, but Sunday's Coming." John Anderson will be leading discussion.

Homebuilders Sunday School 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. 

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.

2023 DIRECTORY is now available for pick up in the gathering area.

*** YEAR END STATEMENTS are available for pick up in the gathering area. ***

2023 LENTEN DEVOTIONAL GUIDES

Now Available in the Gathering Area

Daily Devotions for Ash Wednesday through Easter

(February 22 - April 9)



"My Soul, My Life, My All" by Liz Bidgood Enders

We who follow Jesus are called to live into the fullness of our humanity as we seek to grow closer to God's glory. In the words of hymn writer Isaac Watts, "Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all." Scripture challenges us to offer our souls in devotion, our lives in service, and our very being as we grow in love for God.

Please pick one up and use it during the season that is before us. 

ROLLER SKATING WRAP UP

Saturday evening, February 11^th, York First Church and the Child Development Center co-sponsored a skating party at Roll ‘R’ Way Family Skating Center. With over 100 skaters and more spectators present, the evening was a huge success. We celebrate the relationship between the CDC and the congregation. What a joy to see so many people just having fun together. We look forward to strengthening this relationship with the CDC with more opportunities in the future. Thank you to all who attended and made this even so much fun. 

DATES TO REMEMBER

Saturday February 18, 8:00 AM - Man2Man Event, Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren

Wednesday February 22, 3:00 and 7:00 PM - Ash Wednesday Services, Chapel

Friday March 24, 7:00 pm thru Sunday March 26, 12:00 PM - Youth Retreat

Ash Wednesday Worship Services – “Ashes to Ashes”

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

3:00 and 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel

In less than 1 week we will enter into the season of Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter. Lent is forty days long (not counting Sundays) and calls to mind the forty years God’s people wandered in the desert, as well as the 40 days Moses spent on Mount Sinai and Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness.

The observance of Ash Wednesday, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, dates from at least the eighth century A.D. The ancient custom was for the worshippers to approach the altar before the beginning of Mass. A priest would dip his thumb into ashes made from the previous year’s Palm Sunday palms and make the sign of the cross on each person’s forehead.

There are 3 reasons why the faith community may receive ashes on Ash Wednesday. First, the ashes remind people of their sinfulness. Second the ashes remind us of our mortality. Finally, the ashes remind God’s people that they have been redeemed.  

Ash Wednesday is a time for repentance and the beginning of Lent. Ashes were used in ancient times, according to the Bible, to express penitence. Dusting themselves with ashes was the penitent’s way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults. And ancient example of one expressing penitence is found in Job 42:3-5. Job says to God. “I had heard of you by hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (vs. 5, NRSV)

This year Ash Wednesday is on February 22. We invite you to join one of these sacred worship services at 3 or 7 p.m. in the chapel. Come - all are welcome. All are in need of salvation. Let the Lord use the ashes of your past to create in you a clean heart and a new life in Christ. 

(If you are in need of transportation, please contact the church office at 717-755-0307)

The Lehman Center is having a

Stromboli, Calzone,

Apple Dumpling and Sandwich Sale

(Italian & turkey sub, and soft pretzel Ham/ Cheese, and Turkey /Provolone) 

All items are $6 each.

•You can order by seeing Diane Gibble in the gathering space after church

or email her at dmgibble1001@gmail.com by MARCH 1st.

•Pick up is at York First in Room 153 (old food pantry) on March 14th

between 4:15 and 5:15.

•Checks can be made to CAS.

 Thank you for your continued support of the Lehman Center.

MARCH SENIOR DAY

WEDNESDAY MARCH 8TH

Camp Eder - 914 Mount Hope Road, Fairfield, PA 17320

•9:30 am - CHECK IN/Light Breakfast

•10:00 am - Join us as we learn about Natural Clean Living! We will make and learn about natural soap, laundry detergent, and more! You will even get to take home a sample.

•12:00 pm - LUNCH - Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Salad, Broccoli Cheese Soup, Salad, and Lemon Cookies with Ice Cream

•1:00 PM - AFTERNOON PROGRAM - Natural Clean Living Trivia

COST: $ 20. Per Person

RSVP by calling 717-642-8256 or Email: mschmittel@campeder.org

OUR DAILY BREAD/SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, March 10, 2023 Sign up by calling

Sandi Bowser at 717-825-7203 to make a casserole for Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen on Friday, March 10, 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!

SOUTHERN PA DISTRICT

YOUTH RETREAT

Friday, March 24, 2023 7:00 pm thru

Sunday, March 26, 2023 12:00 pm

at Camp Eder, 914 Mt. Hope Rd., Fairfield, PA

THEME: "What Next, What Now?"

There will be 3 sessions focusing on where we developed our faith, what is currently engaging us in our faith, and finally, what we will do to further our faith in the future! We will learn more and how we can spread it onto others.

Led by: Interdistrict Youth Cabinet from Bridgewater College

Cost $ 80. per attendee

Checks Payable: SOPA District COB

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MARCH 6, 2023

Click on the button for the brochure for this event and

this is also posted on our bulletin board.

Save the Date

VBS 2023 (Vacation Bible School) will be on

June 18 to June 22, 6:00 to 8:00 pm at York First COB

We are looking for volunteers. If you would like to help in any way

please contact Diane Gibble at dmgibble1001@gmail.com. 

Thank you for being willing to share God's love with His precious children. 

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

Click on the button for current

Church of Brethren News

Thank you so very much for all your prayers, cards, best wishes, flowers and food. Everything is greatly appreciated.

The surgery was successful and the P.T. hurtful but helping. Your kindness, thoughts and prayers brighten my day!

In Christian love,

Barbara Rollman 

The Friends of Cross Keys Village, The Brethren Home Community

Become a Friend in 2023!

The purpose of the Friends of Cross Keys Village is to benefit the lives of residents and team members of Cross Keys Village-the Brethren Home Community.

To accomplish this objective, funds are raised through an Annual Membership Drive, donations, and various fundraising events throughout the year. Membership in the Friends of Cross Keys Village is open to all residents and friends of Cross Keys Village.

Funds raised by the Friends are principally used to support: Good Samaritan Fund, Brethren Home Educational Assistance Program, Professional Artist Series.

Becoming a member or renewing your membership gives you the satisfaction of helping others!

The membership form is also available on the bulletin board in the narthex.

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. February's link is:

Challenging behaviors: https://youtu.be/ZpXeefZ2jAM

The Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College presents: “Holy Cow: Religion, Race, and Milk in Lancaster County, PA” by Rachel Feldman and Ayala Fader, on Thurs., March 2, at 7:00 p.m., in the Bucher Meetinghouse. Feldman, assistant professor of religious studies/Judaic studies at Franklin and Marshall College, and Fader, professor of anthropology at Fordham University, discuss the connections between Orthodox Jews, Amish and Mennonite farmers, and kosher dairy products. For details, visit www.etown.edu/youngctr/events or call 717-361-1470.

Free and open to the public, this is an in-person event. Using GPS Address: 450 Campus Rd, Elizabethtown, PA 17022, brings you directly to the parking lot of the Young Center; no stairs, and fully accessible.

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP

February 12, 2023

SCRIPTURE LESSON:

Matthew 9:9-13

MESSAGE:

The Disciples of Jesus

“No Compromise: Matthew”

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.