Writing to App.Config File in C#

All,

I am trying to create a application via C# that writes a value to the AppConfig file. But I am often prompted with this error message when I run the program the first time. However, when I run it after the first run, it'll execute fine. Can someone explain what is happening? I try to set the debugger , but I assume it's probably a timing issue.

I tried this by executing the .exe file in the bin folder of the program so there's no issues writing to the config file.

Error:
Object reference not set to an instance of an object.


App.config
-------------

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<configuration>
  <startup>
    <supportedRuntime version="v4.0" sku=".NETFramework,Version=v4.5.2"/>
  </startup>
  <appSettings>
    <add key="OrderNumber"/>
  </appSettings>
  <system.web>
    <membership defaultProvider="ClientAuthenticationMembershipProvider">
      <providers>
        <add name="ClientAuthenticationMembershipProvider" type="System.Web.ClientServices.Providers.ClientFormsAuthenticationMembershipProvider, System.Web.Extensions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35" serviceUri=""/>
      </providers>
    </membership>
    <roleManager defaultProvider="ClientRoleProvider" enabled="true">
      <providers>
        <add name="ClientRoleProvider" type="System.Web.ClientServices.Providers.ClientRoleProvider, System.Web.Extensions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35" serviceUri="" cacheTimeout="86400"/>
      </providers>
    </roleManager>
  </system.web>
</configuration>

Program.cs
----------

public class PurchaseOrder850
{
 static public void Main(string[] args)
 {
		string OrderNo = 123;
		MethodHelper.ModifyAppConfig(OrderNo);
 }
}

MethodHelper.cs
----------
 

public static void ModifyAppConfig(string value)
        {
            try
            {

                Configuration config = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
                config.AppSettings.Settings["OrderNumber"].Value = value;
                Thread.Sleep(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(3)); // added this so there's time for the file to be updated, not sure if necessary. 
                config.Save();

                ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("appSettings"); 
            }
            catch (System.IO.IOException e)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(e.Message + " key value passed for App Config: " +  value);
            }
             
        }