Jan 2016 newsletter

“The mission of the West York Church of the Brethren is to love, nurture and build the community of Jesus Christ.”

West York Church of the Brethren 5101 Darlington Road York, PA 17408 Gregory L. Jones, Pastor

The West Yorker

January 2016

The West Yorker

West York Church of the Brethren 5101 Darlington Road

York, PA 17408 Phone: (717) 792-9260

Fax: (717) 792-9799 Prayer Line: (717) 792-8816

E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.westyorkcob.org

Sunday Worship: Sunday School 9:00 am Worship Service 10:00 am

UPCOMING EVENTS: New Year’s Day - January 1

Leadership Team Meeting - January 5

Epiphany - January 6

Board/Committee Consecration Sunday - January 10 Baptism of the Lord - January 10

Child Education Center Board Meeting - January 12

Congregational Forum Information Due - January 18

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 18-25

Day of Prayer for Children & Youth - January 20

Newsletter Deadline - January 25

Congregational Forum - January 31

2016

Ring in the New Year with your Church Family!

The West York Church will be hosting a family fun night on

New Year’s Eve from 5 pm to midnight We will start the evening with a family movie in

the sanctuary at 5 pm, followed by snacks, games and fellowship in the

Fellowship Hall. Please see Larry Marshall or Wanda Keefer for more details and let them

know how many will be attending!

Souper Bowl Sunday

February 7th, 2016

Once again this year we are challenging our congregation to top the total donations of soup we collected last year. We collected 2,576 units last

year. You can bring your donations of soup to the church beginning January 10th through

February 7th. The cans we collect will benefit our Food Pantry and the Harvest of Blessing food

pantry in York.

PLEASE NOTE: THE DEACONS NEED SOMEONE TO HELP WITH

COORDINATING THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE CANS COLLECTED. If you can help,

please contact Tom Ausherman.

Since 1990, young people have been leading the charge and inspiring others to collect dollars and food in the weeks leading up to the Big Game.

Teaming up with local partners, these groups give 100% of their donations to local charities, changing

the nation’s largest weekend of football into the largest weekend of caring.

Help WYCOB to meet this challenge

and you will also be helping others.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.”

Matthew 25:35

January 2016 Page 3

Giant gift cards for CAS

Sunday, January 3, 2016 from 9:30 - 10:00 am

in the church narthex. If you are unable to be at church that day, please call Nancy Ausherman.

************** CAS continues to ask Prayer Warriors to pray for:

-Carol and her son as they parent together to provide Mia with a stable home environment. -Peace for the City of York. Pray that young people will turn away from violence. -The churches in the District will open their doors, hear, and support the campaign efforts for CAS. -Children and their families burdened with added stressors and problems during the holiday season.

**************

25 Years! The Children’s Aid Society Annual Auction benefitting The Lehman Center

will be 25 years old at our next auction on

Tuesday, April 26, 2016.

Help us make this a blowout year by getting those things you haven’t used in years out of your attic,

dragging those “what were they thinking?” Christmas presents out of the back of your closet, and donating them to The Lehman Center to be

auctioned. The funds raised by the auction provide services to low income children who are at risk of being abused or who are recovering from

abuse. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure! Don’t miss this special opportunity to show your support for The Lehman Center by being a sponsor for our 25th anniversary year.

For more information, contact The Lehman Center at 717-845-5771.

DENOMINATIONAL, DISTRICT & COMMUNITY EVENTS

(For more info on denominational events, go to www.brethren.org)

DON’T FORGET TO SAVE YOUR HOLIDAY POSTAGE STAMPS for The Brethren Home. You may put them in the box on the table in the narthex. Thank you!

DISTRICT

The SO PA District Board meets on a regular basis throughout the year, and visitors are

welcome to attend these meetings and bring their joys and concerns of their home

congregations. If you would like to see firsthand how the Board conducts the business

of the District, plan to attend the meetings listed below, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

January 9 - Faith Community at CKV TBH

March 12 - West Shore COB

May 14 - Free Spring COB

July 16 - West York COB

October 8 - Black Rock COB

Camp Eder Winter Camp 2016 January 29th-31st Grades 1st-12th

Grab your sleds and come join us for a weekend filled with fun activities and adventure

as we explore camp in the winter!

Registration Fee: $95 ($10 early bird discount if registered before Dec. 31st)

Registration forms are on the narthex table.

MAN 2 MAN W O R K S H O P 2 0 1 6

Men’s Spiritual Leadership Summit & Breakfast

Saturday, February 27, 2016

8:00 am to 12:00 noon

Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren

(301 Gale St. Mechanisburg, PA 17055)

Guest Speaker: Ron Hostetler Author, Educator, and Speaker

Deeds & Destiny

Understanding the Times and Knowing What to Do

Attributes of a Difference-Maker Man-Up!

$16.00 Registration Fee

Brochure with registration form is available on the narthex table.

Sponsored by The Nurture Commission of Southern PA District Church of the Brethren

January 2016 Page 4

Congregational Forum Sunday, January 31, 2016

Please have all reports for the Congregational Forum to Barb in the

church office no later than

January 18, 2016. ——————————

February Newsletter Deadline for articles for the

February Newsletter is

January 25, 2016

Thank you.

2016 Church Directory There is a revised form to update the information for the 2016 Directory on the narthex table. We are asking everyone (members and friends) to please complete the form and return it to the church office by January 10, 2016. Thank you!

January Special Offering Our special offering for January is

“Trees for Life” Empowers people by demonstrating that in

helping each other, we can unleash extraordinary power that impacts our lives.

This is done by helping people plant fruit trees in developing countries. Each tree protects the environment and provides a low-cost, self-renewing source of food for a large

number of people.

Please use the brown envelopes in the narthex.

Through the Eyes of John

A study on the gospel of John

Join us for this new sermon series beginning in January.

Bible Study Companion

If anyone would like copies of

the monthly

Bible Study Companion

for 2016, please contact Barb

in the church office.

2016 LEADERSHIP TEAM

Pennie Jacobs - Leadership Chair Connie Emory - Church Clerk Jake Hershey - Church Treasurer JoAnne King - Treasurer in Training Bill McDowell - Stewardship Chair David Miller - Property & Grounds Chair Linda Zumbrum - Music & Worship Chair Deona Schmittel - Education Chair Bill Fulmele - Service & Outreach Chair Tom Ausherman - Deacon Chair

Note from the Treasurer Contributions for 2015

Our last deposit of the year will be Sunday December 27th. Contributions placed in the offering plate after Dec 27th will be counted

towards 2016 giving. Any year end contributions mailed to the church will be counted as a 2015 contribution if they are mailed to the church and postmarked in 2015. If you have any questions

please contact Jake Hershey, Treasurer

January 2016 Page 5

If you would like to receive your newsletter by email rather than a printed copy,

please contact Barb in the church office.

THE NEWSLETTER CAN NOW BE VIEWED ON THE CHURCH WEBSITE! Let Barb know if you no longer need a print-ed copy of the newsletter.

Adult Sunday School class - NEW! A Guide For Biblical Studies: Sacred Gifts and Holy Gatherings Exploring the traditions by which we honor God, observe special occasions in life, and celebrate holy times together. (Tom Whitcraft) “Seeking Amazing Grace” Adult class - Study of 1 and 2 Peter (Larry Marshall) Monday Morning Bible Study - NEW STUDY starting January 4th - Book of Matthew (Janet Jones) Care and Share Women’s Group - NEW STUDY starting January 4th —“Overcoming Fear” (Judith Wallace)

CHECK OUT OUR

WEBSITE!!

Let us know what you think of the new site

(Adjusted for tablets & phones)

www.westyorkcob.org

If you are interested in attending Messiah College or any other Christian college, please

contact the church office. We have some materials that we can share with you.

The Child Education Center

We are accepting applications for the

2016-2017 school year. Classes will be

held Monday & Wednesday or Tuesday &

Thursday. Applications are available

through the church office.

Choir & Praise Team Rehearsals Choir - 6:30 pm Praise Team - 7:30 pm

If you enjoy singing, we would ask you to prayerfully consider joining the Choir and/or the Praise Team. For more information, contact our

Director of Music, Beth Marshall.

All voices welcome!!

In the event of bad weather, please check the Home page of the church website for cancellations. Also check out the church Facebook page. No internet or Facebook? Call Pennie Jacobs or Pastor Greg (cell phone).

January 2016 Page 6

Fat Fingers

I’ll blame it on fat fingers. Yeah, I like that excuse. My fingers are too big and the keyboard is too small. This is why I make spelling and grammatical errors as

I type. I’m not the one with the problem, it’s the people who designed this confounded thing in the first place. It has nothing to do with my inattentiveness

during grammar lessons in school. Why, the very idea that “I” might be the real culprit is almost inconceivable!

I know, I know. Some of you are thinking I’m delusional. You want to pull me aside and lovingly say, “Brother, just admit it. You can’t spell”. But please stop telling me this. Tell me what I want to hear. Fix my problem for me. That’s what my computer does. It doesn’t waste its time trying to teach me. It fixes the problem for me. So feel free to fix my errors, but stop telling me the truth.

Stop trying to teach me.

Sometimes I wish God would do the same. Sometimes I wish God would just ‘fix me” rather than “teach me.” But He doesn’t. He doesn’t magically make me into the person I need to be. In my relationship with God, there is no “autocorrect” function which takes my sin and turns it into holiness. If I actually desire to be a

disciple of the Lord, at some point, I will need to admit my sinfulness. I am a

sinner in need of a Savior. That is the truth I need to hear. This is what the

Lord needs to teach me.

“Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.” Gregory L. Jones

January 2016 Page 7

Electronic devices are part of our everyday life. Perhaps there was one under your Christmas tree last month. We use them at work, school, for entertainment, and communication. And, most of us have seen or read about the damage that electronic devices can inflict on the human body. We've heard that prolonged use can cause eye strain, disrupt sleep patterns, damage hearing, and even negatively impact the maturation of the human brain.

Well, here's more news that you may not have heard. There is a new disease that some medical researchers think is becoming "epidemic" and it's caused by prolonged use of handheld devices. The disease is called "text neck" and it's no joke. It's been described in the medical literature and is truly causing pain and disability for many people. Here's how: The human head weighs about 12 pounds. But as the neck bends forward and down, the weight on the upper spine begins to increase. At a 15-degree angle, this weight is about 27 pounds, at 30 degrees it’s 40 pounds, at 45 degrees it’s 49 pounds, and at 60 degrees it’s 60 pounds. That’s the weight that comes with staring at a smartphone — the way millions do for hours every day. So what does that do to the body?

Researchers say that over time, maintaining this bent position of the neck will result in early degeneration of the upper spine, pain and likely the need for surgery. It also decreases lung capacity, causes headaches, depression and heart disease. You may find this hard to believe. If so, think of it this way. Imagine carrying an 8-year-old around your neck several hours per day. Smartphone users spend an average of two to four hours per day hunched over, reading e-mails, sending texts or checking social media sites. That’s 700 to 1,400 hours per year people are putting stress on their spines, according to the research. And teenagers might be the worst. They could conceivably spend an additional 5,000 hours in this position. If you like to read...you can add in even more "hunch time".

So, how can you protect yourself from this wear and tear? (Obviously, most people can't or won't give up tablets, smart phones, e-readers and other hand held devices).

Look down at your device with your eyes, not your head.

Don't bend your neck; keep your head up. Avoid hunching forward.

Take breaks. Move your head from left to right several times. Use your hands to provide

resistance and push your head against them, first forward and then backward. Stand in a doorway with your arms extended and push your chest forward to strengthen the muscles in your neck and upper back.

Technology is part of our lives. We use it socially, academically and professionally. Be aware of the

potential damages it can cause to your body. Take care!

Be Well!

Page 8 January 2016

The Wellness Corner … by Judith Wallace, MSN, RN Faith Community Nurse

January 2016 Page 9

Serving our Congregation in January

Acolytes

3 Ben Grove 10 Carley McDowell 17 Alana Grove 24 Ben Grove 31 Carley McDowell

Greeters 3 Brian Allabach 10 Nancy Buckingham 17 Landon Eshbach 24 Cheryl & Ron Buser 31 Darlis Parker

Nursery Caregiver 3 Genie Grove 10 Wanda Keefer 17 Anna McMonigle 24 Joyce Whitcraft & Linda Zumbrum 31 Denise & Kevin Hoover Sound Board Operator

3 Ron Buser 10 Bill Fulmele 17 Sean Grove/Ed Jacobs 24 Ed Jacobs 31 Merl Keefer

Power Point Operator 3 Bill Zumbrum 10 Bill McDowell 17 Mariah Schmittel 24 Landon Eshbach 31 Nathan Keefer

Worship Leader 3 Judith Wallace 10 Landon Eshbach 17 Pennie Jacobs 24 Bill McDowell 31 Mike King

Children’s Church Worship Leaders 3 Steve & Nicole Grove 10 Linda Fulmele, Genie & Shawna Grove 17 Linda Fulmele, Genie & Shawna Grove 24 Linda Fulmele, Genie & Shawna Grove 31 Linda Fulmele, Genie & Shawna Grove

January

1 Kiera Louey

2 Ron Horn, Jr. 3 Nathan Keefer 4 Chris Hinson

Frances Mowrer 11 Lorraine Yohe

12 Holly Coonan 13 Clair Gantz

Gretchen Greiner 14 Ted & Deona Schmittel 17 Landon Eshbach

19 Chuck Wallace

Larry & Dora Krebs

20 Cameron Spurlock

26 Jarod Hinson

Judith Wallace

27 Connie Emory

28 Larry Lehman

31 Kiersen Hoffacker POWER POINT

January 2016 Page 10

For pastoral emergencies: Pastor Greg may be contacted through the church office at 792-9260 or his home number . If Pastor Greg is not available please contact Pennie Jacobs.

Sunshine Bags The Care & Share group provides

SUNSHINE BAGS for the congregation to share with family and

friends who need encouragement. Each bag has 7 items in it and we suggest the

recipient opens one a day to lift their spirits and give a bit of cheer for the day. The SUNSHINE

BAGS are located on one of the tables in the narthex and are marked for woman, man or child. We ask that you sign the sheet on the table so we know who has received a bag and also so we can

pray for them. If you have any questions see Connie Emory or contact the church office.

Ted and Julie Smoker and their family are in Guatemala to do mission work with the K’ekchi

farmers. If you would like to stay in contact, please go to their website www.tedsmoker.com

or email them at [email protected].

I give thanks to the Lord and the WYCOB congregation for the generous gift card I received at Thanksgiving. God bless you all! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Nancy Patterson

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Thank you for donating cookies, ingredients and money to buy ingredients for the Truck Stop Cookie Ministry. We had a record number of people helping and we reached our goal of 200 bags of cookies. Your help was much appreciated. Brenda Myers

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Thank you for the fruit basket I received for Thanksgiving.

Lorraine Yohe

Prayer Requests If you have a prayer request you would like to share with the church, please fill out a prayer card (found in the narthex) and give it to Pastor Greg or the Worship Leader. You may also call Barb in the church office.

DAY OF PRAYER FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Wednesday, January 20th is our monthly Day of Prayer for our Children and Youth. Please find time during this day to pray for our Church’s Ministry to

Children and Youth.

Carolyn and I thank you for the Christmas cards and gifts and a

wonderful visit during our open house. Love you all very much! Pastor Greg & Carolyn

January 2016 Page 11

Announcements We will now be running the announcements

on a power point prior to the worship service and after. If you have an

announcement you would like to add to the power point, please contact the church

office no later than Thursday each week.

If you have an announcement you would like to make in church during the worship service, please talk to the Worship Leader

prior to the service.

Healing Hearts We invite you to join us for a time of

sharing and mutual support with other parents who have experienced miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, and newborn birth.

Date: Third Thursday of the month 7:00-8:30 pm

Place: Country Meadows of Leader’s Heights

2760 Pine Grove Road York PA 17403

For additional information, please contact [email protected]. See the poster hanging in the hallway.

CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Dear West York Chur h of the Brethre ,

I this o th’s leter I’d like to gi e ou a fe updates o our fa il . The the e of this fall seaso for our fa il has ee tra siio .

I Ma of this ear, Court e o pleted her th a d i al ear of tea hi g at “o rise A ade . At the e d of August she ega her e jo as a therapist i o e of the ele e tar s hools i our it . “he o spe ds her da s e gagi g

ou g, roke li es i pla therap . Court e held a si ilar posiio , prior to her jo at “o rise A ade , at the Le -a o Middle “ hool.

“peaki g of the Le a o Middle “ hool, Cale is i th grade this ear. Our iddle s hool has gar ered, I feel u deser edl , a er egai e reputaio o er the ears. Ma ha e dee ed it to e the orst s hool i our ou t . Others e press fear i se di g their hildre there a d ate pt to o e out of the distri t to a oid these iddle ears i the it . The iddle s hool is just t o lo ks fro our house. Ea h da I ha e the opportu it to alk Cale to s hool i the or i g a d ho e agai i the ater oo . Cale is e jo i g the iddle s hool as u h as a iddle s hooler a a tuall e jo s hool . At the e d of the da it is i trigui g to see the di ersit of fa es that lood fro the doors o to the side alk. As a dad, I see it as a pri ilege that Cale , “a a ah, a d “a ha e the opportu it to e perie e this ultural a d so io-e o o i di ersit i their s hools, relaio ships, a d dail li es.

I order for our fa il life to lo ith the ork a d s hool shits for Court e a d Cale , I a o orki g a e s hedule. I ai tai sa e orkload at the hur h, ut I’ e lost da of a d ha e shorter ork da s throughout the eek. This allo s e to get Cale at s hool, a d “a a ah a d “a fro the us stop. M ater oo s are o spe t ser i g ater s hool s a ks a d helpi g ith ho e ork..

We are adjusi g to our e rh th , a d are er tha kful e li e, ork a d go to s hool i o e spe ial o u it .

Tha ks for our o i ued support of our i istr ork i the Cit of Le a o !

Mat Hershe Tha k ou West York fa il !