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Click on the links below to go directly to that section of the newsletter.
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| Open arms and serving hands transforming lives through Christ |
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JOIN US FOR
WORSHIP
Worship Services:
8:00 and 10:30 a.m.
Traditional
9:15 a.m.
Praise and Worship
THIS SUNDAY,
October 29, 2017
The sermon series,
Daring Faith: The Key to Miracles, continues with Pastor Janice's sermon,
"Daring to Imagine"
Mark 8:34-36
Ephesians 3:14-21
215-357-6998
HOURS
Monday - Friday
8:30-3:00 p.m.
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THIS WEEK'S
CALENDAR
Thursday, October 26
8:00pm
Adult Choir
Saturday, October 28
Sunday, October 29
9:00am
Adult Sunday School
9:00am
Children's Sunday School
10:30am
Children & Youth Sunday School
10:30am
Confirmation Class
11:30am
Joyful Voices/Pizza Party
Monday, October 30
6:45pm
Prodigal Son Bible Study
Tuesday, October 31
10:00am
Daring Faith Bible Study
Wednesday, November 1
7:00pm
Daring Faith Bible Study
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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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Prayer Shawl Ministry
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month
in the parlor - 10 AM
Please come help knit or crochet various items for those in need.
Contact Roberta Nelson for more information or if you
w
ould like to request a
Prayer Shawl.
[email protected]
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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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DAILY DEVOTIONALS
Looking for a little inspiration during the week?
Try an online devotional.
(has many devotionals to choose from)
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AV HELP NEEDED!
Volunteers are needed to help run the PowerPoints at both the 8 AM and 10:30 AM services. At 8 AM, it will be announcements only on most Sundays, but there could be an occasional special presentation during worship. At 10:30 AM you would be responsible for both the announcements and the worship service. You will be instructed in how to use the AV system. It is very simple. Please contact Peter Sheren if you are interested
[email protected].
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MOBILE GIVING
Have you ever arrived at church and forgot your giving envelope? Or you would like to make a Communion Offering and you have just 18 cents in your pocketbook?
Well, help as arrived, as
St John's now offers mobile giving!
Just go to the
website
click on the donate now button, and register. Once you're registered, you can either make donations by debit or credit. 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.
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Table Talk will resume on Tuesday, November 7th.
Join the Conversation and Bring a Friend!
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There will be two Christ Servant Ministries courses offered here at St. John's on December 1-2, 2017.
Introduction to Christ Servant Ministries for those wishing to begin the road toward becoming a
Christ Servant Minister; and
Christ Servant Ministries Speaking Course 1
for those who have already completed the Introduction to Christ Servant Ministries class and wish to be certified as a
Christ Servant Minister.
If you are interested in either of these classes, please contact Ruth Portzline for registration forms.
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UMC LINKS
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 How do you feel about celebrating Halloween? Have you ever wondered what, if any, bearing the celebration of Halloween has on our Christian faith?
The discussion topic for Table Talk at the Pub this week was Halloween: do the origins of Halloween have any impact on its celebration today; how does it relate to All Saints Day; what about superstitions, what about Satan, and should the "pagan" roots of Halloween concern us? As I was preparing to be discussion leader, I decided to look up as much information as I could find on the origins of Halloween. I guess I've never researched much about the subject and what I discovered was actually very fascinating.
The origins date back 2,000 years to an ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain, which happened each year on the eve of the New Year (which was celebrated on November 1). The day marked the end of summer and the harvest. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the world of the living and the dead became blurred. This presence of "spirits" thus enabled Celtic priests (Druids) to be able to make predictions about the future. Celts celebrated the event with huge bonfires, they wore costumes, and they tried to tell each other's fortunes.
This tradition later became mixed with the Roman celebration of Feralia, a day in late October when Romans commemorated the passing of the dead.
Still later, the Catholic feast of All Saints Day was established on Nov. 1, and then All Souls Day on Nov. 2. All Souls Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain - with big bonfires, parades and people dressing up in costumes. People would go house to house asking for food and they would be given pastries called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the family's dead relatives.
The celebration of Halloween in America didn't take hold until the second half of the 19th century when many immigrants fleeing the Irish Potato Famine arrived. Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money. By the 1920's, Halloween became a community-centered holiday with parades and parties, and by the 1950's, Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at children. Today, Americans spend $6 billion annually on Halloween, and ΒΌ of all candy sales in the U.S. happen at Halloween.
There are some Christians who believe that because Halloween has pagan roots (and it does, but so does Christmas), we should not celebrate it. Here are my thoughts. Halloween, in our culture, is a fun and exciting day for children. Granted, some of the "spooky" characters are a little much for young children, but mostly it's all just for fun. And just as Christians have, throughout the centuries, evangelized the world and incorporated many different cultural styles and festivities into the practice of Christianity, the celebration of Halloween has been passed down to us as the blending of many different cultures - which is a cause for even us Christians to celebrate. And don't forget that All Saints Day is a day to remember and celebrate the lives of our loved ones who are now in glory!
Pastor Janice
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CLUB 56 KICK-OFF
Sunday, October 29 at7 pm in
Classroom A
All 5th and 6th graders in invited to join this fun and fellowship group. Sign up online or on the table in the Education Wing. Contact Heidi Gutsch for more information at [email protected].
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BIBLE SUNDAY: NOVEMBER 19, 2017
All 3rd Graders will be receiving their Bibles on Bible Sunday during the 10:30 Worship Service.
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PRAYER PARTNERS FOR CHILDREN
Would you like your child to participate in a new Prayer Partner program in Children's Ministry? We'd like to pair interested children with an adult in the congregation so they can pray for one another. Partners will receive a picture of the person they are praying for along with specific requests for prayers. Once we have a list of interested children, we'll begin matching them with members of the congregation. Prayer partners will run from November 1 - February 1 at which time we will schedule a fun event for the children and their partners to attend together.
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Please go to the Children's Ministry Page for forms.
Children's Sunday School
Children's Sunday School is held weekly at the 9:15 and 10:30 services
f
or children 4 years old through 6th Grade. A parent must accompany children who are attending for the first time.
Volunteers are needed for both the 9:15 and 10:30 services in Children's Sunday School. Contact Alison Beal.
Youth Sunday School
Sunday school takes place every Sunday at the 10:30 service. Youth who have completed 6th grade through 12th grade go directly to the Youth Room in the Education Wing. Youth are encouraged to worship together at the 9:15 service.
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.
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Sunday nights
7:00-8:30 PM
Hmmm. What are we doing at Youth Gr
oup?
This Sunday, October 29
BONFIRE
(
Rain Date: Nov. 5)
Come out and enjoy the warmth of the fire and
make some s'mores!!
Some up and coming events to keep an eye on:
Minute to Win It - November 5
Movie - "The Shack" - November 12
Food Night - November 19
Please mark your calendars for November 15
13th Annual Special Needs Bingo and Dance Night
Wednesday, November 15 from 7:30-9PM
The Pug Wugs are our guests of honor.
Please sign up on the bulletin board outside youth room to participate and bring "goodies" or prizes
as we all love to eat and win!
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Morrisville Food Bank Monday
November 13- Contact David Bigam
Do Not Miss This Opportunity!
Come and experience great Fellowship!
Morrisville is open to anyone 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!!!!
And as always
Bring a Friend and Bring a Can!
(All food collected goes to Jesus Focus Food Pantry)
Have you HELPED anyone today?
Have you SAID SOMETHING NICE to anyone today?
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Oh yes it is!!!!!
ST. JOHN'S ANNUAL WREATH SALE
Christmas will be here before you know it!!!!
Start your Christmas shopping now and at the same time help support our Mission Trip in Appalachia.
Final orders end October 31
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St. John's Music
Happening This Week:
"Try Us Out" Rehearsal & Pizza SUNDAY
This Sunday, October 29, the Joyful Voices will hold a special rehearsal designed to give children a chance to "try out" our great choir.
Following the rehearsal, we will have a PIZZA PARTY for all in attendance.
If your child will be coming to the rehearsal / party please contact Roy Nelson so that we can have enough food.
PLEASE consider having your child give our JOYFUL VOICES Choir a try.
Roy Nelson - 215-355-7596 [email protected]
Joyful Voices Choir - Grade K- 5 (6)
The Joyful Voices Choir sings on Sunday, November 5, at the 10:30 Worship Service. Children will wear robes. Regular rehearsal will be held after Worship. The children are working hard to receive their attendance pins. Several will be awarded this Sunday. Our new CHOIR SHIRTS have been ordered, and will be worn when we sing in late November.
Youth Choir - Grade 6 - 12
The YOUTH CHOIR sings this Sunday, October 29, at the 10:30 service. We will wear ROBES. Please report at 10:15 on Sunday morning for warm-up. We have begun to work on Christmas music. Please attend ALL rehearsal so you can properly learn the music. Rehearsal this Sunday at 6 PM.
The YOUTH CHOIR is open to anyone in grade 6 - 12.
Youth Hand Bell Rehearsal - Tuesday 5:45
Hand bell ringers are still needed in the Youth Hand Bell Choir. Youth OR Adults are invited to join this choir. We currently have THREE adults ringing in the choir, to assist the young people. Please consider joining and helping out.
NO REHEARSAL on October 31 - Halloween
Adult Choir Rehearsal - Thursday 8 PM
The Adult Choir is open to anyone post-High School who has an interest in singing. There is no audition, but some singing experience is helpful.
Adult Bell Choir Rehearsal - Thursday 6:45 PM
There are currently no openings in the Adult Bell Choir
Adult Bell Choir - CELEBRATION RINGERS
The CELEBRATION RINGERS Handbell Choir will rehearse on Monday, November 6 at 6:45 PM. The Celebration Ringers meet once a month and present music 3 or 4 times a year. New members are welcome to join us. Music reading skills are a help, but bell ringing experience is not a must. Contact Roy Nelson if you are interested in joining our Bell Choir.
Praise Band - Tuesday 7:00 PM
Singers and instrumentalists are welcome to join our Praise Band. Speak to Roy Nelson if you are interested.
COME JOIN US!
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Please come to the
UMW Harvest Brunch
Saturday, October 28
11:00 AM
Quiche and soup will be served.
We will hear from women who went to
Red Bird Mission in September.
Cost $5.00.
Sign up on the bulletin board or email [email protected].
You can also call Rosemarie Malizia,
215-598-8567.
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BAKERS NEEDED
The United Methodist Women are having an Election Day Bake Sale to raise money for the many missions we sponsor throughout the year. Bake goods are needed to keep our table going for the entire day. If you like to bake and are willing to help, please place your baked goods in the kitchen prior to Tuesday November 7th, or you may place your items in the frig or freezer marked UMW Bake Sale. If the stove is not your best friend or you are short on time, you still can help by manning the bake sale table for two hours on Election Day. There is a sign up sheet on the UMW bulletin board. The United Methodist Women appreciate the congregation's support and we would not be able to continue the work that we do without you. Thank you. For more information, please contact Kathy Keppol at 215-357-7404.
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AN INVITATION TO BECOME A MEMBER 
I
f
you feel you have found a church home at St. John's, we invite you to become a member! Our next "New Member Sunday" will be Sunday, November 12, 2017.
Those wishing to become members of St. John's will be invited to take the vows of membership at any of our three worship services.
The only "requirement" for membership is that you feel a commitment to Christ and a desire to make St. John's your church family. If you feel God calling you to take this next step on your faith journey, we welcome you with open arms!
If you are new to St. John's and considering membership you are invited to meet informally with the pastors on Thursday evening, November 9th at 6:30 pm for Coffee and Dessert.
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Blessing of the Animals
I
t was a wonderful day giving thanks for all God's creation, and celebrating His gift of creatures, great and small.
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TURKEY DRIVE FOR EASTWICK FOOD BANK 
It is that time of year to start planning for St. John's Thanksgiving Turkey drive for the benefit of the Eastwick Food Bank. We are praying that you again will be able to help!
- Bring in your frozen turkey and place in the freezer.
- Place "Free Turkey" certificates in the collection bags on the Missions Bulletin Board near the Sanctuary.
- Use the Special Offering Envelopes in worship to make a contribution toward the purchase of a turkey. Please write "Eastwick" on the envelope.
Turkeys will be delivered on Monday, November 20th.
Thank you for your support and generosity.
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RED BIRD TRAILERS
ARE OPEN
DAILY
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