Click on the links below to go directly to that section of the newsletter.
IN THIS ISSUE
Join us for worship
Calendar
Prayer List
Text Giving
Red Bird Trailers
Hearts for Mission
Pastor's Reflection
St. John's Kids
Youth Group
Adult Bible Studies
Book Club
Music
Blessing of the Animals
GriefShare
Divorce Care
Living Nativity
Advent Devotional
Memory Cafe
Family Promise
   
JOIN US FOR
WORSHIP  
  
Worship Services:
8:00 and 10:30 a.m.
Traditional
 
  9:15 a.m.
Praise  and Worship
  
THIS SUNDAY,   
Sunday, October 6  
R.I.S.E. Sunday  
One worship service at 9 AM  
followed by a morning of mission projects
 
Sunday, October 13
Please welcome our District Superintendent, Rev. Tracy Bass as he joins us for worship on next Sunday, October 13.  Rev. Bass will be preaching at all three services.   
 
John
215-357-6998
 
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Friday
9:00 AM -2:00 PM   
 
   
NURSERY
Available at both  
9:15 and 10:30. 
We welcome all children birth through 4 years old.  The nursery is equipped with a calling system and will alert you in worship if your child needs you.
 
For more information about our Children or Youth Ministries, please contact Director,
David Bigam, dbigam@gmail.com   
THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR
       
Thursday, October 3
6:45pm
  Ring of Faith
 
7:30pm
  Al-Anon
 
8:00pm
  Adult Choir
 
Sunday, October 6
9:00am
R.I.S.E. Sunday Service  
 
11:30am
 NO Joyful Voices  
 
6:00pm
  Divorce Care
 
6:00pm
  Youth Choir
 
6:45pm
  Fellowship, Fun and Study
 
Monday, October 7
6:30pm
  Grief Share
 
6:45pm
  Overcomer
 
Tuesday, October 8
10:00am 
  Prayer Shawl Ministry
 
5:45pm 
  GENesis Bells
 
6:30pm 
  Girl Scout Troop 2395 Meeting
 
7:00pm 
  Naomi Circle
 
7:00pm 
  Praise Band
 
7:30pm 
  AA
 
Wednesday, October 9
10:00am
How Happiness Happens  
 
10:00am
  Rebekah Circle
 
1:00pm
  Joanna Circle
 
6:30pm
Youth Group  
 
7:00pm
  Gospel of Matthew
 
7:00pm
  How Happiness Happens - Study
 
Thursday, October 10
6:45pm
  Ring of Faith
 
7:30pm
  Al-Anon
 
8:00pm
  Adult Choir
 

 

PRAYER LIST

Please click to view

 

All "Ongoing Prayer Concerns"  
will be listed for 
2 weeks.  
Please submit a new prayer request card if you desire to renew the listing for 2 additional weeks.
If your contact information changes: 
address, phone, email, etc.
please notify the church office at 215-357-6998 or stjumc@aol.com.
You may also indicate any changes on the
sign-in sheet during worship and we'll be sure to update your information in our files.
Thank you!
GIVING
MOBILE GIVING
  • Just go to our website stjohnsivyland.com
  • Click on the donate now button and register.
Once you've registered, you can either make donations by debit or credit.  
OR try  
TEXT GIVING 
 All you have to do is text the amount you wish to give to 215-398-1617.
You will immediately receive a one-time registration link, then just follow the prompts to complete your donation!

It's quick and secure.
The same vendor that handles electronic giving for us, Vanco Services, has state of the art encryption, so you can rest easy that your transaction is 100% safe and confidenti
al. 
 
If you have any questions about mobile or text giving,
email Lou Lescas at  stjohns820@gmail.com

(Click for more information)
Log in to smile.amazon.com each time you shop and help make St. John's smile!
DAILY DEVOTIONALS
Looking for a little inspiration during the week?  
Try an online devotional.    
(has many devotionals to choose from)
(Devotional for Women)
(Devotional for Men) 
The Grace Cafe is open Sunday mornings for fellowship and refreshments. 
 
 
Order forms available in the Grace Café.
An order will be placed in late September..
 
Thank you for supporting the Village of El Naranjito in the Dominican Republic and   
"Fighting for What's Right One Cup at a Time."

MISSIONS
   
Prayer Shawl Ministry
 
New members of the ministry group are always welcome; lessons and guidance can be provided for beginners and those with rusty skills.


The group meets mon thly on the second Tuesday to knit or crochet together and to pray over the completed items. For more information, contact Carol Rice at 215-357-1203.

                     Prayer Shawl Blessing Service
                   

RONALD McDONALD HOUSE TABS COLLECTION
Naomi Circle is collecting tabs from beverage cans for Ronald McDonald House.  You will find a container under the sign hanging on the UMW bulletin board. Please place them in a plastic bag and put it in the container. This is an ongoing collection, so keep bringing them in as you collect them.   Thank you.  


DONATIONS NEEDED 
Donations of non-perishable food for the Eastwick Food Pantry are needed now and throughout the year. Please place contributions in the shopping carts located in the narthex and fellowship hall lobby. 
 
Volunteers are also needed to deliver food and clothing to the Eastwick Food Bank. 
Please contact  
Lou Lescas,  stjohns820@gmail.com
 if you are available to help.  
 
Thank you for your support.


click to view the thank you letter
Red Bird Trailers are Open! 
9 AM - 5 PM Daily 

Donations of clothing and household furnishings are accepted   See the trailers located in the back of the
St. John's parking lot.
The Red Bird Trailers are in urgent need of bags of clothing.  We use the bags to cushion the furniture as the furniture is packed from floor to ceiling in the trailer.
UPCOMING MISSION PROJECTS
  • Third annual R.I.S.E.
    This Sunday, October 6, 2019.
     
  • Habitat for Humanity - working on construction/finishing of four homes in the Morrisville Area - this fall
  • Compassion Sunday - October 27
  • One Great Day of Service - Spring 2020
You are invited to join us as we work to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need.

Questions?  Contact Pastor Ruth
215-357-6998, ext. 306

UMC LINKS umc logo
 
  
  
October 3, 2019
PASTOR'S REFLECTION
R.I.S.E SUNDAY,
THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6
ONE WORSHIP SERVICE at 9 AM 
followed by MISSION PROJECTS from 10:15-Noon

  • WHAT is R.I.S.E. Sunday? A morning of worship and hands-on mission projects with local and global impact.
  • WHAT projects are available?
    • Sewing Projects: Goal: Make 25 dresses and 50 sanitary kits, which are distributed in remote villages and aid in the formation of relationships with mission groups focused on clean water and primary education efforts.
    • Bagged lunches for Trenton Area Soup Kitchen: Goal: Make 1000 bagged lunches, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, for distribution to people experiencing food insecurity in Trenton.
    • Cutlery assembly for Trenton Area Soup Kitchen: Goal: Using plasticware, paper napkins, and adhesive bands, wrap 4,000 sets of dinnerware for use at one of the 4,800 meals supplied by TASK each week.
    • Rise Against Hunger: Goal: Assemble 13, 824 meals which will feed 37 children in developing countries for one year, through international hunger relief organization Rise Against Hunger.
  • WHEN is it and WHEN can I sign up for a project? R.I.S.E. Sunday is October 6, 2019. We will have a worship service at 9 AM, then two sessions of mission projects from 10:15 to noon. Register now for your projects of choice.
  • WHO can participate? EVERYONE! We will have projects for all ages and ability levels, and the nursery will be open for children age 3 and younger.


ST. JOHN'S KIDS
 
St. John's Kids News
Come join us for RISE Sunday!

YOUTH GROUP
 
Fellowship and fun for youth grades 6 thru 12.

Looking for something meaningful to do on Wednesday nights?
Youth Group has begun! That's right, it's now on Wednesdays!
6:30 - 8:00 PM
Join us for light snacks, a devo and fun.
___________________________________________
 
Morrisville Food Bank Monday
Monday, October 14th
Please contact David Bigam.
Do Not Miss This Opportunity! 
Come and experience great Fellowship
on the 2nd Monday of every month! 
Morrisville is open to EVERYONE interested in going to help make 220 grocery bags full of food. 
Families are always welcome! 
Following this event we always head to Chick-fil-a for Milkshakes!!!!
________________________________________________
Saturday, October 5, Morrisville Presbyterian is having a
HIKE FOR HUNGER. 
Information is available on the bulletin board next to the Narthex.  Please join me and a few others for the 5K Hike for Hunger.
_________________________________________________
 
CONFIRMATION 2019-20
Confirmation classes begin Friday, October 18 with a Retreat.  
6 PM thru Saturday 2 PM
Please look for a sign up in the Narthex. 
 
And as always
Bring a Friend and Bring a Can!
_______________________________________________

Have you HELPED anyone today?
Have you SAID SOMETHING NICE to anyone today?

David Bigam, Director of Children and Youth Ministries
dbigam@gmail.com

St. John's Youth Annual Wreath Sale
Appalachia Service Project

Christmas is fast approaching!   
Why not start your Christmas shopping now.   
All proceeds support our Mission Trip in Appalachia.   
Sales begin this week!
BOOK CLUB

BOOK CLUB
Tuesday, November 5
10:00 AM and 7:00 PM
Church Parlor

Everyone is welcome.
Leaders: Barbara Schneider and Carol Campbell
 
The story is set in the 1950s and revolves around a young woman named Kya Clark, who is from extremely rural North Carolina. Known by others as the Marsh Girl, she lives alone in nature but the draw of other people, and specifically love, brings her into contact with the greater world. This novel has a mystery at its core, but it can be read on a variety of levels. There is great nature writing; there is coming of age; and there is literature. Crawdads is a story lovingly told, one that takes its time in developing its characters and setting, and in developing the story.

MUSIC
Come Sing and Ring with Us!

VOCAL & HANDBELL CHOIRS for ALL
St. John's Vocal Choirs provide opportunities for EVERYONE to be involved in music. From young children through adults, we have a place for you in our music program. Beginning musicians and experienced singers are welcome in our Vocal Choirs.
 
 
For more information on our Vocal and Handbell Choirs,  
please contact:  
Roy Nelson, Director
215-962-8928
 
________________________________________________
 
JOYFUL VOICES will not meet this Sunday, October 6,     
R.I.S.E. Sunday.  Joyful Voices will resume on October 13.  

OUTREACH
Sunday, October 13th
4:00 PM
St. John's  Fellowship Hall  
 
Everyone is invited to attend with their animals (properly restrained, of course) as we give thanks for all God's creation, and celebrate His gift of creatures, great and small.  
 
Each animal will receive a personal blessing, a gift, a treat and a free picture of this special event.  
 

  
 
GriefShare 13 week Sessions  
Mondays from 6:30-8:30 
 
 
2019-2020 GriefShare Schedule:
  • September 9-December 2, 2019:  13 Week Session
  • Saturday, November 23, 10 a.m. until noon in the Library - Surviving the Holidays seminar
  • January 6-April 6, 2020 (no class Presidents' Day): 13 Week Session
  • May 1-August 3, 2020 (no class Memorial Day):  13 Week Session
You may register online at griefshare.org
There is a $15 fee for materials.  For further information, contact Ruth Portzline or Chaplain Erin Maurer or go to griefshare.org.

 
If you or someone you know has experienced separation or divorce, either recently or a long time ago, we want to invite them to this support group.
 
Sundays, from 6pm to 7:30pm  
in the Church Library
 
A complete schedule by topic, more details, and sign-ups are at:
Fall Session: Sept. 15 to Dec. 15, 2019  
 
Spring Session: Jan 26 to May 3, 2020  
  • Each rotation lasts 13 weeks but you can join or miss anytime and make up sessions during the next rotation if desired.
  • There is a one-time $35 registration fee but scholarships are available. Payment is done in class, please sign up online so we can communicate with you. (Checks payable to: St. John's UMC)
  • No Childcare offered.
  • No Class on Holiday Weekends (see schedule online).
  • Our facilitators, Sarah Floyd and Donna Hartfeil can be contacted at:
Located at:
St. John's United Methodist Church 
820 Almshouse Road 
Ivyland, PA 18974
 
We now meet in the church library classroom which is the first room on the left when you enter from the main parking lot which is on the left side of the church. Knock on the double doors on the side of the church. There are a few stairs up. If you cannot do stairs the leader will greet you and bring you to the handicap entrance.
 
Contact Information
Sarah Floyd or Donna Hartfeil
Facilitators of Divorce Care Program
215-357-6998 
DivorceCareIvylandPA@gmail.com
    
Time to dust off your Christmas spirit!
St. John's Christmas gift to our community!
December 15, 2019   5 PM - 8 PM
"Drive-thru Living Nativity"
Last year over 100 members of St. John's family were involved in this wonderful event. We were all blessed to be able to give our gift of
The Drive-thru Living Nativity to our community.
Over 200 cars drove through to experience the Christmas story - complete with live animals.
We are already working on this year's event.
So, mark your calendar!!!
Sign-ups will be available soon!
If you missed this outreach opportunity
last year, please consider participating this year.
We guarantee that you will be blessed!

Don't forget that the devotions for our Advent Devotional  
are due by next Sunday, October 13
TWINING VILLAGE MEMORY CAFE
Third Tuesdays
10 AM - Noon
Re-opening October 15
Free to everyone

If you have a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or similar memory-related illness, we invite you to join us at the Twining Village Memory Cafe.   
 
Our Memory Cafe is a monthly get-together of people with memory loss and their friends and family members in a supportive, non-judgemental, compassionate and engaging environment.  
 
The cafe provides a place of warmth and friendship to socialize in a relaxed and less stressful atmosphere.  Our goal is simply to bring together people in similar situations to brain health as diet and exercise.  The bonds forged in memory cafes often are long-lasting, offering an additional resource for partipants.  
 
Our program is not a support, respite or educational group and does require caregivers to be present.  Its range of benefits includes positive change from your daily routine.  
 
In fact, the Twining Village Memory Cafe is a brief time to leave worries at home and simply enjoy yourself.  Activities include refreshments, crafts, games, sing-alongs, trivia programs and much more!
 
For more information, contact the Rev. Erin Maurer, Twining Village chaplain or Beverly Gowton, director of community life,
at (215) 396-7150.
Twining Village - A Diakon Lutheran Senior Living Community 
280 Middle Holland Road, Holland, PA 18966

FAMILY PROMISE


A HUGE Thank you to all the volunteers who cooked, visited, laundered, shopped, set up and broke down in order for 4 families to have food and shelter (1 Family graduated and has their own housing now!). Truly What Jesus Would Do! I have heard from many of you that this was a positive experience, I hope that sentiment spreads through the church and others will choose to help in the future.

Our next hosting is November 10-17, sign up here .
Family Promise of Lower Bucks invites you to get involved
"Tuck One In" with Family Promise.

With your help, Family Promise changes the lives of homeless families, one-by-one-by-one. In October, we look to raise awareness of the need in our community and funds to support our programs. For more info, please call 215-943-0402 or email info@fplb.org.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
OCT 5 - Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. 

OCT 6 - Yes You Can 5K Supporting all Pennsbury PTOs and Family Promise of Lower Bucks.

OCT 16 - Boscov's "Friends Helping Friends" event. Purchase a $5 pass from FPLB and shop all day with a 25% discount. Passes are available by contacting Maryanne Cahill at 267-968-3057, or by email to chcknlgz2@gmail.com.

OCT 25 - Family Promise National Giving Day. Across the country Family Promise affiliates will host educational and fundraising events.   Also, get acquainted with the "other half" of the program by visiting the FPLB Day Center at our Open House from 6:30 to 8:00pm, 1700 Woodbourne Road, Levittown, PA 19057