St. John's United Methodist Church 

 Cornerstone
   Click on the links below to go directly to that section of the newsletter.
IN THIS ISSUE
Join us for worship
Calendar
Prayer List
Sunday School
Giving
Mobile Text Giving
Daily Devotionals
Pastor's Reflection
Holy Week Schedule
Scout Sunday
Proverbs Bible Study
Affinity Groups
Steel Magnolia Outing
Youth Group
Book Club
Invitation to Membership
Table Talk
Warrior Coffee
Trailers Closed for Winter
Family Promise
Communion Breakfast
UMW Ingathering
Snow Policy
Open arms and serving hands transforming lives through Christ
   
JOIN US FOR
WORSHIP 
       
Worship Services:
8:00 and 10:30 a.m.
Traditional
  9:15 a.m.
Praise  and Worship
  
THIS SUNDAY, 
March 18, 2018
5th  Sunday in Lent

"Journey Through Lent" sermon series continues with Pastor Janice's sermon,
"Losing Our Life In Order to Keep It"
John 12:20-26

215-357-6998
 
HOURS
Monday - Friday
8:30-3:00 p.m.
 
THIS WEEK'S 
CALENDAR
 
Thursday, March 15
6:45pm
  Adult Bell Choir

7:30pm
  Al-Anon

8:00pm
  Adult Choir

Friday, March 16
  Confirmation Retreat

Saturday, March 17
  Confirmation Retreat

8:00am
  UMM Breakfast

Sunday, March 18
  Confirmation Retreat
Scout Sunday - 10:30 service

9:15am
  Children's Sunday School

10:30am
  Children & Youth Sunday School

11:30am
  Joyful Voices

4:00pm
Cub Pack

6:00pm
  Youth Choir

Monday, March 19
6:45pm
  Lenten Bible Study

7:00pm
  Leadership Board

Tuesday, March 20
5:45pm
  GENesis Bells

7:00pm
 
Deborah Circle 
 
7:00pm
  Table Talk

7:00pm
Naomi Circle

7:30pm
  AA

Wednesday, March 21
7:00pm
  Bible Study

7:30pm
  Salome Circle

Thursday, March 22
6:30pm
  Outreach Task Force

6:45pm
  Adult Bell Choir

7:30pm
GENesis Bells & Celebration Ringers

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.

 
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. 

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. 

For more information about our Children or Youth Ministries, please contact Director,
David Bigam, dbigam@gmail.com 

GIVING
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 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.  
 
 
OR try our new

TEXT GIVING  
In addition to our current opportunities for giving online, we now have the option of giving by text message. 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

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) 
UMC LINKS umc logo
 
  
  
PASTOR'S REFLECTION
            Did you ever notice how God sometimes sends an amazing little "perk" your way just when you need it?
            It was about 7:00 a.m. this morning. I was sitting at the kitchen table having some coffee, looking out the window at all the left-over snow from last week's storm, watching Accuweather on TV, shaking my head and thinking to myself, "It's the middle of March, for heaven's sake! Shouldn't this cold weather be starting to wind down?? It seems like winter is never going to end!"
            With that, I turned the TV off so I could do my devotions, and just like that ... it happened. I heard the beautiful sound of a bird chirping. Loudly. Over and over again.
            Now, I can't say for sure that there wasn't a bird chirping yesterday morning, or the morning before that. I suppose it's possible. All I know is that somehow I was tuned in this morning. The message was loud and clear - and it warmed my heart. Even amidst the cold, frosty, dreary days of what seems like a never-ending winter, there is the promise of springtime and new life. Even when the trees, the grass (and probably the crocus' that were peeping up a few weeks ago) seem so dead, they are not dead. Resurrection is coming.
            And so our Lenten journey continues. It's been a long four weeks. But we've been preparing our hearts, and we can now hear the very faint sounds of the new life that is on the horizon. Just a little over two weeks left ... Resurrection IS coming. And we can hardly wait.
                                                                                     
Pastor Janice
2018 HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Please note changes in worship times for
Palm Sunday and Easter


March 25 - Palm/Passion Sunday  
2 Worship Services only
9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Nursery (up to 3 years) at both services
Sunday School (4yrs. to 6th grade) at both services
Youth Sunday School at 10:30 a.m. only

March 29 - Maundy Thursday 7:30 PM
A dramatic service of Tenebrae, Communion, Music

March 30 - Good Friday - Noon to 1:00 PM
"Stations of the Cross"
St. Vincent's Roman Catholic Church
654 Hatboro Road, Richboro, PA 18954
Participation of clergy and choirs from our local ministerium

April 1 - Easter
2 Worship Services only
9:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Worship
Nursery and Sunday School at both services


2018 SCOUT SUNDAY
for all Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
This Sunday, March 18th  
at the 10:30 Service 

ADULT MINISTRIES

PROVERBS BIBLE STUDY
A 10-week study on William Mouser's
Proverbs: Learning to Live Wisely will begin
Monday, April 2 at 6:45 in the Parlor
.

To sign up and receive your book, please fill out the tear-off form in Sunday's bulletin and return it with your payment to the church office or to Lara Bolte's mailbox
(next to the church office).

Proverbs: Learning to Live Wisely 
Book - $7
Mondays, April 2 - June 4
6:45 PM - Parlor
Leaders: Barbara Schneider and Carol Campbell

Where do you turn when you need to replace a fuse, cook dinner, eradicate ants, or soothe your child's upset stomach? If you are like many others, you have a shelf full of "how-to" books to supplement your own knowledge and experience. Now it's time to add Proverbs to that shelf! Proverbs is the Bible's own how-to manual. The wisdom contained in its practical and simple instructions will help you to be successful and prosperous in your work, your dealings with family and friends, and your relationship with God. As William Mouser opens up this treasure-store of godly guidance, you'll wonder how you ever survived without it.
NEW CONNECTION OPPORTUNITY
  • Introducing St. John's Affinity Groups
  • Connect with others who share common interests and/or same life stage
  • Join a team to help plan events and activities.
Contact Lara Bolte
215-357-6998 or at stjadultministries@gmail.com
STEEL MAGNOLIAS OUTING
  • Adult social group opportunity!
  • Hunterdon Hills Playhouse
  • Wednesday, May 16, 2018
  • $79.50 per person
  • Includes deluxe motor coach, full course meal, dessert buffet, tax & gratuity
  • Bus pickup - 9:30 am at St. John's
  • Sign up in Narthex after all three services
Lara Bolte
Director of Adult Ministries
YOUTH GROUP

  
Sunday nights
7:00-8:30 PM
Hmmm.  What are we doing at Youth Gr oup?
 
NO YOUTH GROUP THIS WEEK 
______

March 25 - MOVIE NIGHT
______

NO Youth Group on April 1
Happy Easter!
__________________________________________________ 

We are going back to the food bank this week,
Monday, March 19. 
Morrisville Food Bank Monday
Please 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!

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

BOOK CLUB
Tuesday, March 27th
10:00AM and 7:00PM
in the Parlor.

Wonder
by R.J. Palacio 
Auggie was born with a facial difference that prevented him from going to school until now.  He's about to enter 5th grade.  The thing is he is just an ordinary kid with an extraordinary face.  But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances.?
OUTREACH
Invitation to Become a Member

If 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, May 20, 2018.  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!  Please check off "wish to join" on the sign-in tablet or contact the church office at 215-357-6998 or stjumc@aol.com.


Join the Conversation and 
Bring a Friend!
WARRIOR COFFEE

We will be placing an order for Warrior Coffee to be roasted and delivered by the end of March. Please help us fight for what's right one cup at a time by using the Warrior Coffee order sheet found in the Grace Café. Thank you.

The Grace Cafe is open  after worship for  f ellowship and refreshments. 

Warrior Coffee is served exclusively in the Grace Cafe.
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 Carol Rice for more information or if you  w ould like to request a  Prayer Shawl.
215-357-1203, harbrechtrice@gmail.com
MISSIONS
Red Bird Trailers are closed for winter but are expected to re-open by April 7, 2018.

What is it?
Family Promise is an international organization, with local chapters that organizes local religious organizations to help temporarily feed and house homeless families.   St. John's is a host congregation, meaning we take families for selected weeks, they come to us about 6pm and leave around 6am. We feed them and they sleep in family groups in our Sunday School classrooms. They go back to the day center and continue living their lives and trying to get out of homelessness. Last spring, the local Lower Bucks chapter had to shut down for a couple of reasons, the main one being a projected shortfall of funds. They have reorganized the Board of Directors and are in the process of fund raising. Once they have the funds they will begin the process of getting ready to take in homeless families and getting them back on their feet.


UMM/UMW
COMMUNION BREAKFAST
MARCH 24, 2018
9:30 A.M.

"From Seder to Communion"
A Christian celebration of our Jewish heritage.
Join us for a seder meal. 

UMW INGATHERING
Please support the UMW as we collect new items of basic clothing for our less fortunate men, women and children in our area.  Items needed: men, women and children underwear, socks, infant sleepers, children's pajamas, diapers, nonperishable baby formula, Depends or other brand disposable underwear for men and women. Please bring your items to church by Sunday April 15th. and place in the basket under the UMW bulletin board.

Thank you so much for your support and please direct any questions to Kathy Keppol  @ 215-357-7404 or any of the United Methodist Women's Officers.
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.
St. John's Snow Policy
In case of a major snowstorm or other severe weather that would require cancellation of one or more Sunday services, we will attempt to notify everyone by:
-  A special e-news sent out
-  A message on the church answering machine and website. 

If possible, a decision regarding cancellation will be made the night before.  Please also be aware that, in the event of a power outage, it is impossible to utilize internet or phone services.