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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,
September 29, 2019
"Miles to Go Before We Sleep"
Pastor Janice
Sunday, October 6
R.I.S.E. Sunday
One worship service at 9 AM
followed by a morning of mission projects
Sunday, October 13
The District Superintendent, Rev. Tracy Bass will be preaching at all three services.
John
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
Saturday, September 28
UMW Harvest Welcome Brunch
Sunday, September 29
9:00am
Adult Sunday School
10:30am
Children & Youth Sunday School
12:00pm
ASP Stockholders Luncheon
Wednesday, October 2
7:00pm
How Happiness Happens - Study
Thursday, October 3
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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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Caring Ministry Visitors Needed
There is currently a need for additional visitors for our Caring Ministry team. Primary responsibility is to visit our homebound members who are unable to attend worship. A training session will be scheduled in the near future.
If you can help with this vital ministry, please speak to Pastor Janice after worship and/or email her at revjanp@gmail.com.
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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 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 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 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. 
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Our Missions Team met and identified some hands-on mission projects you may want to be a part of.
- Habitat for Humanity - working on construction/finishing of four homes in the Morrisville Area - this fall
- Third annual R.I.S.E. Sunday, October 6, 2019.
- 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
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UMC LINKS
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A few weeks ago, I found myself focusing my thoughts (and the sermon!) on a subject we all have at least a mild amount of discomfort with. The subject is "change." And it's a biggie.
There are times, however, when we get the rare opportunity to actually prepare ourselves for change - which is always a blessing - especially when we know and trust that on the other side of whatever change we are anticipating, God always has something new in store for us. Because life is all about change.
After several years of prayerful discernment, I found myself facing one of those personal seasons of change that we all go through periodically. This is what led me to make a decision last winter about the timing of my retirement from full-time ministry - and I say it that way because I know that God has called me to a lifetime of ministry, which is wonderful, but I also knew that there would be changes along the way. Another thing I knew was that it was time to let God speak to me about the next season of my journey, which is how I was led to purchase a small but lovely ranch house in the community of Bear Creek Lakes in Jim Thorpe this past Spring. My intention was to begin acclimating myself to the area and to the next season of my life and ministry.
With a mixture of anxiety, joy, anticipation, and, of course, much sorrow at the prospect of leaving what has been, not just a job, but a church home for many years, as well as many wonderful friends and fellow Christians with whom I've been privileged to share an almost 19-year-journey, I've requested retirement from full-time ministry as of next June. On my paperwork, I also checked off the option that I would be "open to a part-time appointment in retirement" in the North District.
So what happens from here? Well, the Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC), which is our Personnel committee, has already begun thinking about and planning for the change. In the United Methodist Church, we have what is referred to as an "appointment" system. All of our ordained elders are "itinerant" members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. This means that we are appointed for one year at a time, and we are open to being moved to a new appointment when needed. Which means that the bishop and district superintendents, in consultation with our SPRC, will work as a unit to appoint a new senior pastor to St. John's. All appointments are effective as of July 1. However, you can expect an announcement about who the new pastor will be sometime this winter. I will then work with him or her to help make the change as seamless as possible.
There's no doubt about it. Change is never easy. But it is a part of our lives. I hope you'll look forward with anticipation to the next season in the life of St. John's. And I hope you'll keep all involved in your thoughts and prayers.
Pastor Janice
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R.I.S.E SUNDAY,
NEXT WEEK, OCTOBER 6
ONE WORSHIP SERVICE at 9 AM
followed by MISSION PROJECTS
from 10:15-Noon
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- 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.
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R.I.S.E. SUNDAY
SEWING PROJECTS
As part of our R.I.S.E Sunday mission event, we will again be making pillowcase dresses and, new this year, we will also be making sanitary kits for young girls.
- Packages of girls panties (girls size 14-16) are still needed.
If you have any questions, please see Pastor Ruth.
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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
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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, 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!!!!
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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.
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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!
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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.
Sales begin in October!
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Adult Sunday School
Weekly at 9 AM
in the Parlor
Facilitators: Howard and Beppie Heinrichs
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LAST CHANCE TO SIGN-UP!
Overcomer 
Begins Monday, September 30 at 6:45 PM
Meets weekly in the Parlor
Facilitators:
Carol Campbell & Barbara Schneider
You were not meant to live in disillusionment and defeat. God has given you tools to live a life defined not by your trials but by your victories. This 6-week study will show you how. There is a book that will help you while viewing the video and during the discussion. Cost of book: $8.50. If you have not paid for the book yet, please go to christianbook.com, cokesbury.com or amazon.com to order your copy. Please contact Pastor Sue through the church office (215-357-6998) for more information.
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BOOK CLUB
Tuesday, October 1
10:00 AM and 7:00 PM in the Parlor.
All are welcome to join us.
Leaders are Barbara Schneider and Carol Campbell
Ordinary Grace is a brilliantly moving account of a boy standing at the door of his young manhood, trying to understand a world that seems to be falling apart around him. It is an unforgettable novel about discovering the terrible price of wisdom and the enduring grace of God.
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Come Sing and Ring with Us!
VOCAL & HANDBELL CHOIRS STARTING
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
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JOYFUL VOICES
Children grades K-5 (6) are invited to be part of the Joyful Voices. Children learn songs to present in Worship Services.
The Joyful Voices usually sing on the First and Third Sunday each month. They also sing at special services throughout the year.
Rehearsal is after the 10:30 Worship Service each Sunday.
Rehearsal will last 25-30 minutes.
(Joyful Chimes rehearsal follows Joyful Voices).
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NORTHAMPTON DAY
September 28, 2019
10 am - 4 pm
St. John's will again have a table at Northampton Days on Saturday, September 28, from 10 am - 4 pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to be a presence in our community and to tell everyone why
WE LOVE OUR CHURCH
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We need volunteers to be there to talk about St. John's!
You do not have to stay all day - just please consider signing up for a 2 hour shift. We need volunteers to be there to talk about St. John's!
If you would like to be a part of this mission opportunity, contact Pastor Ruth.
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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.
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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.
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
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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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CONTRIBUTE A DEVOTION!!
Advent is the season of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. This should be a time for families to come together in prayer and devotion.
St. John's would like to encourage this devotional time by preparing an Advent Devotional containing a reading for each day in Advent that has been written by members of our congregation. If you are interested in contributing a devotion, please contact Pastor Ruth.
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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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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.
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.
Please RSVP here so we know how many to cook for! Event to honor the volunteers who support our families. Come for a fun night out, with dinner, live music, free raffles, and the opportunity to meet volunteers from other partner congregations. 5:30 to 8:30pm at Woodside Church, 1667 Edgewood Road, Yardley.
OCT 6 - Yes You Can 5K Supporting all Pennsbury PTOs and Family Promise of Lower Bucks. $25 entry fee / $10 for kids 14 & under. For information and registration:
Click here.
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. View our
Giving Day site
. 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
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