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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
October 27, 2019
"Jesus Loves Sinners"
Luke 18:9-14
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, dbigam@gmail.com
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THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR
Sunday, October 27
9:00am
Adult Sunday School
10:30am
Children & Youth Sunday School
Wednesday, October 30
7:00pm
How Happiness Happens - Study
Thursday, October 31
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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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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!
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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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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."
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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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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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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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click to view the thank you letter
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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.
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The Red Bird Trailers can always use bags of clothing. We use the bags to cushion the furniture as the furniture is packed from floor to ceiling in the trailer. 
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Our next FAMILY PROMISE hosting is November 10-17
- Sign up at: Signup Genius
- Or Call Sharon Byle or Amy Scarlett if you prefer not to do it on the computer
- Current needs: Dinner Hosts and Overnight Hosts on Wednesday 11/13, Friday 11/15 and Saturday 11/16 and Overnight Hosts on Monday 11/11
Training/Clearances:
- This ministry needs you! Ask our current volunteers, this is easy and provides so much help to our guests. If you would like to join the volunteer team in helping with the guests, you will need clearances and training.
- The next training is Saturday 11/2 from 10:00-11:30am at Newtown Presbyterian Church (25 N. Chancellor St, Newtown, PA 18940)
- Clearance links can be found here Clearance links make sure to keep a copy for any other volunteer organizations you work with.
- No clearances? No worries, we have jobs for you too....set up/break down, shop and laundry!
Giving:
Family Promise of Lower Bucks is participating in the Family Promise International Giving Day on October 25th. Please consider giving a gift to our local unit so that we may continue helping Homeless Children and their families.
Family Promise Lower Bucks County
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UMC LINKS
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The Deacon's Corner:
Thoughts on Issues of Compassion and Justice
Rev. Erin Maurer, Deacon
Pastor Janice has kindly allowed me to take over her section of the E-news this week and to use her column to address a topic/event that has been on my mind lately: Newtown's Gun Violence Awareness Day. You may be surprised to see an article related to social justice popping up here, but as an ordained deacon, one of my functions within the church is to lift up issues of compassion and justice and to encourage the Church to live in congruence with our Christian values. Gun violence is one of those issues.
Did you have guns in your home growing up? I did. As a child, I always knew we had guns in our home. Locked in a cabinet, the rifles and hand guns represented different aspects of my father's life as a sportsman and as a member of the military. Several times I witnessed him cleaning them and loading them, but I don't think I ever saw him shoot one-which is weird now that I think about it. Like many of the folks around us, we had a cabin in the woods, a "hunting camp" in the middle of nowhere. Hunting game was a common pastime--why school was closed every year for the First Day of Doe Season and the First Day of Buck Season! Still, oddly enough, I never saw my dad "bag a deer," shoot a pheasant, or kill a groundhog.
I share this with you because I want you to understand the context in which I write this today. While I'm most certainly not "pro" gun or an aficionado of firearms, neither am I "anti" gun; I understand that some people feel it necessary to have weapons for sport or self-defense. What I oppose, however, is the gun violence perpetrated in our communities by holders of firearms such AR15s and AK-47s, guns that are designed to "kill as many humans as possible in an extremely short period of time" (Bryan Miller, Executive Director of Heeding God's Call to End Gun Violence.)
Last Sunday, October 20th, a little two year old girl and her 24 year old mother were shot in the living room of their Kensington home by someone outside on the sidewalk with an AK-47. Less than 24 hours earlier, an 11 month old had sustained critical injuries from four shots fired at his mother's car as she drove through a North Philadelphia neighborhood. If I add these children to the countless other stories of senseless and tragic gun violence we've heard throughout the years, I am left numb in disbelief. When will it ever stop? Is there any way that changes can be made? What can I do as a follower of Christ to help?
One way to effect change is to draw awareness to the problem, and that's exactly what a number of local churches and synagogues have decided to do. By joining forces with the organization, Heeding God's Call to End Gun Violence, these faith communities are sponsoring an afternoon of diverse activities which include an educational forum, a Witness Walk through Newtown, and a remembrance service at the Memorial of the Lost. Unfortunately for me, I won't be able to attend the events-I'll be preaching the good news of the Gospel over at Twining Village that afternoon. What I am committed to doing, though, is telling as many people as I can about the event and praying that they will step out with others in support of ending senseless gun violence. As a follower of the Prince of Peace, can I do anything less??
So what are you doing on Sunday, November 10th? Can you grab your kids and your coats and head on over to support awareness of something you feel is an important and worthy cause? Can you represent St. John's and its followers of Christ by joining other people of faith? Can you lift up the organizers and the other participants in your prayers? Are you interested in helping to create a group that might facilitate St. John's participation in this event next year? Let me know your thoughts and what actions you might take-I am excited to hear!
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NEWTOWN GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY
Learn - Pray - Act
Honor those lost to gun violence, seek sensible gun regulation and eliminate illegal handguns from our community.
Event Program
2 PM - Educational forum & call to action at Newtown Friends Meeting House, 219 Court St. Newtown
2:30 PM - Witness Walk through Newtown to Macedonia Baptist Church, 218 N. State Street
3 PM - Remembrance service at Memorial to the Lost tee-shirt display on front lawn.
3:30 PM - Opportunity for advocacy activities and refreshments
Questions: Contact Heeding God's Call to End Gun Violence at 251-238-8550 or contactheeding@gmail
Sponsored by: Newtown Friends Meeting, Macedonia Baptist Church, Presbyterian Women of Philadelphia, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, St. Andrews Catholic Church, Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ, The Peace Center of Bucks County, Congregation Beth El, Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County, Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity, Congregation Kol Emet, Zubaida Foundation, Middletown Friends Meeting, Orange Wave for Gun Safety, Anti-Gun Violence Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of PA, Birmingham Friends Meeting.
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St. John's Kids News
All children and youth please go directly to classrooms for Sunday School. 10:30 Service Only.
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 -dbigam@gmail.com or cell 215-206-6779; Church 215-357-6998
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We are proud to be bringing you this year's pageant...
"The Not-So-Silent Night"
Sign-ups for this year's Christmas Pageant begin
Sunday, October 20!
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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.
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MORRISVILLE FOOD BANK MONDAY
Monday, November 11th
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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HAUNTED HAYRIDE!!!
This Friday, October 25
Same pricing as a Sunday
Please let me know!
Cost is $25.00 for all 4 attractions. You will need to bring a non-perishable to receive that price.
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CONFIRMATION CLASS
Sunday Mornings at 9:15 - Room E
This week's topic is "REDEMPTION"
Can we be redeemed?
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And as always
Bring a Friend and Bring a Cn!
Have you HELPED anyone today?
Have you SAID SOMETHING NICE to anyone today?
David Bigam, Director of Children and Youth Ministries
dbigam@gmail.com
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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.
Orders will be taken through the end of October.
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Come Sing and Ring with Us!
Joyful Voices will not rehearse This Sunday, October 27. Rehearsals will resume in November.
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.
Joyful Voices: URGENT HELP NEEDED!
Children are urgently needed to join our Joyful Voices Choir!! At the present time, we only have seven children participating in the choir. Any children grades K-4 are eligible to participate. Rehearsals are on Sunday morning, following the 10:30 Worship Service. Please, PLEASE consider having your child participate in the Joyful Voices choir.
For more information on our Vocal and Handbell Choirs, please contact:
Roy Nelson, Director
215-962-8928
roynel@aol.com
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 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.
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Not a Silent Night
Begins Monday, November 11
at 6:45 PM
Facilitators:
Carol Campbell & Barbara Schneider
Spend some time with Mary during this Advent season. In
Not a Silent Night, Adam Hamilton looks at Jesus' life through the eyes of his mother. Imagine what Bethlehem must have looked like from Mary's point of view. Focus your own gaze on the Savior she knew as her beautiful child! Beginning with the crucifixion and resurrection, then backtracking through Jesus' life and ministry, Hamilton paints a fresh and moving portrait of the Messiah's life in this 5-week Advent study.
Please sign-up by November 3rd. See sign up table in the Narthex.
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Down to Earth
Tuesdays, November 26 to December 17
10 AM and 7 PM
Facilitators:
Pastor Janice and Pastor Sue
More than 2,000 years ago a baby was born in a backwater village of the Roman Empire - and the world was changed forever! In this 4-week Advent video study, Mike Slaughter explores the extraordinary story of how the Son of God chose to become a lowly human. We are challenged us to respond during Advent with down-to-earth love, humility, and obedience.
Please sign-up by November 10th. See sign up table in the Narthex.
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UNITED METHODIST MEN'S BREAKFAST
Saturday, November 9th
(Note: Date Change)
8 AM - Fellowship Hall
All Men Welcome!
Sign-up sheet in the Narthex or email Ed Campbell at edcampbell6@aol.com
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UMW HEIFER PROJECT SUNDAYS
Sunday, November 3rd & November 10th
Narthex 8 AM - Noon
The International Living Animal Gift Market is now open. All manner of wonderful creatures can be purchased in the narthex November 4th and November 11th. These gifts of animals provide an entire new way of life for the people who receive them. They provide food, income, health care & educational opportunities for poor families worldwide. Since 2001, St. John's through UMW has donated over $76,000 to Heifer. Thank you for your support!
If more information is needed, please call Rosemarie Malizia at 215 598 8567.
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UNITED METHODIST WOMEN'S ELECTION DAY BAKE SALE
Election Day is Tuesday,
November 5th.
We will be seated in Fellowship Hall during voting hours selling baked goods. Please help out by volunteering to bake a few goodies or man the table for one 2 hour shift.
There will be a sign up sheet on the UMW bulletin board.
As always, we appreciate the great support provided to us by our generous congregation.
Thank you.
Any questions, please contact Kathy Keppol at 215-357-7404 or speak with any UMW Officer.
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GriefShare 13 week Sessions
Mondays from 6:30-8:30
2019-2020 GriefShare Schedule:
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September 9-December 2, 2019: 13 Week Session
- Saturday, November 23, 10 a.m. until noon in the Library - Surviving the Holidays seminar
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January 6-April 6, 2020 (no class 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: Sept. 17 to Dec. 17, 2019
*No Class on November 5
Spring Session: Jan 28 to April 21, 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.
- 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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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!
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HUNTERDON HILLS PLAYHOUSE TRIP!
- Bus leaves St. John's at 9:30 AM
- Matinee production of
Our 2019 Holiday Musical, a musical with songs, comedy sketches, dance numbers, and orchestra
- $95 per person (includes deluxe motor coach transportation, full course meal, dessert buffet, tax & gratuity.)
- Sign-up sheet in the Narthex, or contact Lara Bolte (610-945-5750 or larabolte@gmail.com).
- Sign up by 12/10. Payment due ASAP. Make checks out to St. John's and write "Hunterdon" in the memo line.
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First Aid - AED Training
Please join Dr. Andrew DeSaro who 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 ASAP!
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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
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