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

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

Monday, September 11

6:45 pm  Worship Team - Zoom

Tuesday, September 12

6:30 pm   Leadership Team – Rm 154

Thursday, September 14

6:30 pm  Choir Practice – Sanctuary

Sunday, September 17

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

11:30 am   Deacon Meeting – Rm 154

6:45 pm   Worship Design Team – Multi-purpose room

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 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.  

NOTES FROM THE TREASURER………………….

As we approach the last quarter of 2023, the Finance and Leadership Teams are working on the budget for 2024. In order to determine a level of income for next year, we hope to have a good estimate of this year’s total giving. To help us in this process, please consider catching up on your offering, giving a little extra, or making your year-end gifts early! If you plan to schedule a Required Minimum Distribution, you may do that now. The distribution can be made any time before December 31.

If you use On Line Giving, now is a good time to check your account, including your profile and your designated gift type and amount.

New church members and friends who wish to have envelopes for the remainder of this year, please contact Roy Rollman.  

Stewardship is an important part of being a member of First Church of the Brethren. We all work together with our time, talent and treasure to do great things!

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

September 13 - Camp Eder Senior Day

September 15-16 - District Conference, Chambersburg CoB

September 17 - Faith Markers Presentation

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

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.



Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Training 101

Saturday, September 30^th              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

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. 

CAMP EDER FALL FEAST - 914 Mount Hope Rd., Fairfield, PA 17320

Saturday, October 21st

10 AM - 4 PM, Meal Served 11 AM - 3 PM

Live Auction 10:30 AM

Pork Meal - Barrel Train Rides - Hay Rides - Live Auction - Kid's Activities

Craft Vendors - Eder Made Apple Butter - Yard Sale Vendors - Live Music

**This information will also be posted on the bulletin board**

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

Current Church of Brethren News

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.

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.

Directory Changes:

P. 14 - Matthew & Brianna Herbst -

Correct address is: 2745 Kingston Rd., York, PA 17402

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

Lehman Center "Wish List"

Items for donation to the Lehman Center are being collected in the basket in the Gathering Area.

Due to changes in the food pantry operations, these must be collected separately from food pantry supplies.

Here are some items that are needed at Lehman Center:



Instant pudding (chocolate, banana)

Instant jello (orange, blue, green, grape, cherry)

Can fruit (pears, pineapples, fruit cocktail)

Applesauce (individual or jar)

Can vegetables (lima beans, peas, green beans)

Baby food - all stages

Baby snacks

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.

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP

September 3, 2023

SCRIPTURE LESSON:

Ephesians 2:13-22

MESSAGE:

“Open Doors, Open Hearts”



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.