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Click on the links below to go directly to that section of the newsletter.
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JOIN US FOR
Worship Services:
8:00 and 10:30 a.m.
Traditional
9:15 a.m.
Praise and Worship
THIS SUNDAY
December 15, 2019
3rd Sunday of Advent
A Christmas Music Celebration
2 Worship Services
at 9:00 and 10:30 AM
215-357-6998
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Friday
9:00 AM -2:00 PM
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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, [email protected]
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THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR
Sunday, December 15
Music Sunday - 2 Services
9 AM & 10:30 AM
9:00am
Adult Sunday School
10:30am
Children & Youth Sunday School
Monday, December 16
6:30pm
Girl Scout Daisy Meeting
6:45pm
Not A Silent Night
Thursday, December 19
7:30pm
Adult Choir at Ann's Choice
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If your contact information changes:
address, phone, email, etc.
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!
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|  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.
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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 877-960-2396.
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 confidential.
If you have any questions about mobile or text giving,
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(Click for more information)
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DAILY DEVOTIONALS
Looking for a little inspiration during the week?
Try an online devotional.
(has many devotionals to choose from)
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The Grace Cafe is open Sunday mornings for fellowship
and refreshments.
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If you ordered Warrior Coffee to support the Village of El Naranjito in the Dominican Republic, it is available for pick up in the Grace Café this Sunday, December 15th.
Thank you for
"Fighting forWhat's Right One Cup at a Time."
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2020 ALTAR FLOWERS
Altar flower sign-ups for 2020 are now available on the bulletin board. If you would like to place flowers on the altar, please put your name next to the date you would like. The cost is $25.00
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The Red Bird Trailers
are CLOSED for the winter
and will reopen in the Spring.
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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.
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This has been a busy year for the Prayer Shawl Ministry! Since January, 54 shawls or lap robes have been distributed, 8 baptismal shawls presented, 4 prayer hearts (for those who already have a shawl) created, and almost 50 baby and child hats delivered.
Pictured are the latest group of hats which went to World Vision (4 child size) and The Baby Bureau in Warminste
r (14 baby size)
Look for the nice thank you letter received from the The Baby Bureau on the prayer ministries bulletin board next to the Grace Café.
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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.
if you are available to help.
Thank you for your support.
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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.
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UMC LINKS
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So despite the fact that winter doesn't officially arrive for a few more weeks, having no heat in the sanctuary last Sunday morning (and all the work involved in moving the services into Fellowship Hall) was a rude reminder that cold weather has indeed arrived. And thanks be to God (assisted by the Trustees and the HVAC company), it looks like our heat will be back on well in advance of this coming Sunday!
Of course I am already counting the days until warm weather returns, but there are a few things that I will begrudgingly admit that I like about winter. I like Christmas lights and decorations; I like a nice, cozy fire in the fireplace; I like the sappy Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel; I like wearing my wintertime fuzz-lined Crocs; I like curling up with my electric Sherpa throw blanket; and I like watching a gentle snow fall - the kind that is pretty on the trees and lawn but doesn't lay on the roads, and is also magically gone by the next day. And I say all that as a true summer-lover.
I guess it's like everything else. There are things that happen in life that we have no real control over, and even though we may not like it - as the old saying goes - "it is what it is." Right now, I might be feeling a little distress about the fact that the long, cold winter has just about arrived. At other times in my life, I've been distressed over many different things. Relationships gone sour. Jobs I've wanted but haven't gotten. Tough decisions I was forced to make. Medical tests gone bad. Loved ones going on to glory. Actually, THIS list could very easily be a whole lot longer than the list of things I like about winter, but you get the idea.
One of the challenges God sends us is the challenge to (as The Serenity Prayer says) "accept the things I cannot change." But for Christians, the challenge goes even deeper. God asks us not only to "accept the things I cannot change," but to, in fact, take that situation (whatever it is), and with as much graciousness and as much joy as we can muster up, to make GOOD come from it. God expects us to be the person others point to and say, "There's something about him (or her) that I want for myself. They have so much peace and contentment in their heart - no matter what happens to them." Of course, God ALSO wants us to be prepared to tell others where that peace and contentment comes from.
It reminds me of that old cliché that somehow seems to fit - "when life sends you lemons, make lemonade."
So here I am ... facing my wintertime "lemons" and trying to make lemonade. I'm going to bundle up in that warm Sherpa throw and watch one of those Christmas movies right now!
Pastor Janice
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2019 ADVENT/CHRISTMAS
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15th
A service of Christmas Music presented by the Choirs
at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. only
(PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE)
Drive-Thru Living Nativity
5:00 p.m. - 8 p.m.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21st
Blue Christmas Service
7:00 p.m.
A time of worship and reflection, of healing and hope for those who are finding themselves in places of pain, loss, or discouragement during the holiday season
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22nd
8:00 a.m., 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Worship
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24th
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
5:30 p.m.
Children's Christmas Pageant
Children's Choirs
7:30 p.m.
Youth Choir, Adult Choir and Handbell Choirs
9:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve Communion Service
Music Meditations
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29th
8:00 A.M., 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Worship
REMEMBER TO SUPPORT OUR ADVENT MISSION OFFERING
YOUR ENVELOPE MAY BE PLACED IN THE MANGER IN THE NARTHEX
Please make checks payable to St. John's United Methodist Church
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St. John's 2019 Advent Mission Project
More than 40 million Americans sometimes go hungry, including women, children, the unemployed, the working poor, seniors, and those who are homeless.
Since 1979, Society of St. Andrew has helped bridge the gap between the good food going to waste and the millions of Americans in poverty. SoSA saves and distributes 25-30 million pounds of fresh produce each year.
How Can We Help? - When we give, we offer health and hope for a better tomorrow. . For $150 you will be able to provide fruits and vegetables for one family for a year; for $50 - you can provide fruits and vegetables for one family for 4 months. Any amount will make a difference.
Please give generously this Advent. There are envelopes on the Welcome Table as well as on the table with the display for the Advent Mission Project. Please place your offering into the manger provided by Christmas Eve.
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St. John's Christmas gift to our community!
This Sunday, 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.
Join us Sunday!
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Donations Needed for our Living Nativity Participants!
Please find sign-up sheets for food and drink donations on the bulletin board outside of the Grace Cafe. to help warm up the participants between their shifts out in the cold! We are asking for donations to be dropped off prior to 3pm on Sunday, December 15th. There is also a sheet if you are interested in helping out in the kitchen that evening.
Thank you!
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ADVENT DEVOTIONALS
Our 2019 Advent Devotional are available in the Narthex.
Be sure to get one for yourself and one to share with a family member or friend as well.
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St. John's Kids News
10:30 Service Only
All children and youth please go directly to classrooms for Sunday School.
Pre-K - 2nd Grade - Room B
Grades 3, 4 and 5 - Room A
Grades 6 thru 12 - Youth Room
Leaders and Co-Leaders are always needed for our classrooms as well as Nursery. If you feel called to help in these areas, please let me know! Clearances are required! Please contact me anytime and we can talk. Thank you for your consideration...David Bigam
Church 215-357-6998
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We are proud to be bringing you this year's pageant...
"The Not-So-Silent Night"
Rehearsal for
ALL cast members is this Saturday
December 14 from 9-12
and
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Fellowship and fun for youth grades 6 thru 12.
Looking for something meaningful to do on
Wednesday nights?
YOUTH GROUP - Wednesday Nights!
That's right, it's now on Wednesdays!!!
6:30 - 8:00 PM
Join us for light snacks, a devo and fun.
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MORRISVILLE FOOD BANK MONDAY
Monday, January 13th
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!!!!
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NO CONFIRMATION CLASS
Classes will resume January 5, 2020
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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
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GriefShare 13 week Sessions
Mondays from 6:30-8:30
Begins January 6
2020 GriefShare Schedule:
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January 6-April 6, 2020 (no class on January 27. Class WILL meet on Presidents' Day): 13 Week Session
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May 1-August 3, 2020 (no class Memorial Day): 13 Week Session
There is a $15 fee for materials. For further information, contact Ruth Portzline or Chaplain Erin Maurer or go to
griefshare.org.
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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.
TUESDAYS, from 6pm to 7:30pm
in the Church Library
A complete schedule by topic, more details, and sign-ups are at:
Fall Session will be ending on December 17, 2019
Spring Session begins Jan 14.
- 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 $15 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.
- 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 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.
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Dr. Andrew DeSaro will be offering an evening of CPR/First Aid/AED training
Tuesday, January 14th
6:30-9 PM
$35 per participant
Each participant will receive a book and will receive CPR certification.
Please sign up in the narthex ASAP!
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Anyone who needs Heifer gift cards can pick them up on the table under the United Methodist Women's bulletin board in the Narthex.
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BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
What a wonderful day it was giving thanks for all God's creation, and celebrating His gift of creatures, great and small!
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We are delighted to announce that the meals from your Rise Against Hunger Experience on 10/6/2019 have been shipped in a container totaling 285,120 meals from our Philadelphia warehouse.The meals will be received by our in-country partner Family Legacy Missions in Zambia. If you happen to receive more than one of these announcements, your meals have gone to impact multiple partners.
Family Legacy Missions is an organization that nourishes lives through food assistance and other services in Zambia. To learn more, please visit our partner/country spotlight on the Impact Stories tab and click and drag on our World Aid Map at
https://www.riseagainsthunger.org/global-impact/
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As the meals you packaged reach the hands of those in need, we invite you to continue your impact by
donating today. Every contribution enables people in need around the globe to rise!
Thank you for generously giving your time as a volunteer with Rise Against Hunger. We are sincerely grateful for your dedication and for sharing our vision of a world without hunger.
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