April 4, 2019

            Finally! April has arrived! Of course, along with the arrival of April, we also get April Fools Day. This year, I decided to look up the origin on April Fool's Day (turns out it was a pretty foolish thing to do).

            Apparently, April Fool's Day is "celebrated" in most nations around the world. Whoever would have thought??! In Italy, France & Belgium, the day is called "April Fish Day," which is celebrated by attaching a paper fish to someone's back without them noticing. In Scotland, it's called "Huntigowk Day," and you are supposed to deliver someone a sealed message containing these instructions: "Dinna laugh. Dinna smile. Hunt the gowk another mile." And the recipient is then supposed to deliver the message to someone else.

            Stranger yet, there is some speculation that the tradition of April Fool's Day goes back to the Genesis flood narrative when Noah sent a dove out of the ark before the water had abated on April 1st. (yes, I actually read that in Wikipedia!).

            So on April 1st, in order to prevent being made a fool of (if that's even possible), it makes sense to check out every strange and unusual claim on the internet. I definitely saw a few of them this week. Like the claim that bell peppers are either male or female, and you should only cook with the male peppers. And the claim that McDonald's has a new milkshake-flavored sauce to dip your French fries in.

            But even when it's NOT April Fool's Day, it's often difficult to tell truth from untruth, isn't it? It's a good thing there is one source we know we can always count on for truth, and that, of course, is God's Word. So as we continue through the month of April and the season of Lent, let's be sure to commit ourselves to the discipline of feasting on God's Word of truth every day.

                                     Pastor Janice

The lilies with the Cross of Hope will be arranged on Easter Sunday, April 21. Please use the flower envelopes in the pews for your order, dedication and payment. 

Deadline for ordering is April 14, 2019.   

Plants are $8.65

For children ages 4 years thru 6th grade

For more information, please contact David Bigam

215-357-6998 or [email protected]

Our week fo 2019 ASP is

July 6-13, 2019.

We are staying at Guyan Valley, WV.

This is one of ASP's full-time centers!

Final payment of $100.00 due no later than May 31.

Last week to order you ASP 2019 T-shirts.

We have completed 40 School Kits to be sent to UMCOR for kids who need these items!!

 

Our young people from grade 6-8 asked for monetary help and our congregation faithfully donated $431.00!

From there our kids went out and purchase enough school supplies to make 40 kits.

Each kit consisted of the following:

3-One Subject Notebooks, 1-Pack Filler Paper, Pair of Scissors, Box of 24 Crayons, Pencil Sharpener, 6 Pencils, Eraser and a Ruler.

 

This week in Kids Church......

 

God is kind, so we're kind.

 

"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us"

(2 Corinthians 1:4).

 

MONDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY: THE CALL

 

Follow the journeys of Paul, beginning with his dramatic conversion, as he spread the Gospel through modern-day Greece and Turkey, in Adam Hamilton's DVD-based study, The Call.  Travel to the early church sites and explore his conversations with the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians.   

 

Six week study beginning Monday, April 29  

6:45 PM, in the Parlor.   

Leaders: Barbara Schneider and Carol Campbell.

See sign up sheet in the Narthex.  Materials fee: $7

 

Mondays at 6:30 PM in the Grace Cafe.

We are pleased to announce that St. John's will be sponsoring a GriefShare group for our church family as well as for our community facilitated by

Chaplain Erin Maurer, United Methodist Deacon. 

GriefShare is a twelve-week, faith-based program for anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one.

You may register online at griefshare.org. There is a $15 fee for the workbook payable at the first session.  For further information, contact Pastor Janice or  

Ruth Portzline or go to griefshare.org.

Contact Sharon Byle - [email protected] or 610-888-1329 with questions or concerns.

   

St. John's is bringing back our "Hearts for Missions" theme.  Our Missions Team met recently and identified some hands-on mission projects you may want to be a part of.

• April 27 - Block Blitz sponsored by Interfaith Housing Visions.  A day of clean-up, landscaping and small repair projects for a block of low-income housing in Bristol.
• One Great Day of Service - detail coming soon.
• Habitat for Humanity - working on construction/finishing of four homes in the Morrisville Area.
• Third annual R.I.S.E. Sunday, October 6, 2019.

WOMEN'S COMMUNION BREAKFAST

   

"Lamb of God"

Saturday, April 6th

9:30 AM

Please support the United Methodist Women as we collect new items of clothing for families in need in our area.

We will be collecting socks, underwear, baby and children's pajamas, diapers, disposable underwear for men and women as well as nonperishable baby formula. 

Please place your items in the laundry basket located close to the UMW bulletin board. Should you have any questions please contact Kathy Keppol at 215-357-7404 or speak to any UMW leader.

 

SAVE THE DATE

United Methodist Women

MEET AMELIA EARHEART

Wednesday, May 1st, 6 p.m.

Spring Banquet

THE UNITED METHODIST MEN ANNOUNCE

A special annual event is happening soon

St. John's UMC 35th Annual Chicken BBQ

May 18, 2019

 

We need volunteers in the following areas

PIT CREW

HOSTS FOR THE INSIDE DINING PATRONS

DINING ROOM SERVERS AND KITCHEN HELP

SET-UP AND RESTORATION HELP

 

Please volunteer to be a part of this annual tradition

that provides a special outreach to our community !!!

Sign-up sheets have been placed on the bulletin board,

located in the hallway, in front of the Grace Café

 

The UMM Truly Appreciates Your Help !!!

UNITED METHODIST MEN'S BREAKFAST

Saturday, April 20, 2019

9 AM (Please note time change)

Fellowship Hall

All men and ANY AGE KIDS are invited to hear guest speaker, former Phillies Pitcher, Dickie Noles.  

 

If attending, please use sign-up sheet in the narthex or email Ed Campbell at [email protected]. 

MUSIC MINISTRY NOTES

All vocal and handbell choirs at  

St. John's are open to anyone who loves music.  

There is no formal audition, and your participation in our Music Ministry is welcomed.

Please contact Roy Nelson, at 215-355-7596, [email protected] for more information or
Click here to view our web-site.  

Tuesday, May 7

10:00 AM Grace Cafe and at

7:00 PM, Youth Room

"The Hiding Place"

by: Corrie Ten Boom

with Elizabeth and John Sherrill

During WW II, in her quiet watchmaking shop, Corrie and her family risk their lives to hide Jews and others hunted by Nazis in a secret room,  a"hiding place".  Corrie and her family are betrayed and are sent to a notorious Nazi concentration camp to die.  This is her story of how faith, hope and love ultimately triumph over unthinkable evil.   

All are welcome.   

Leaders Barbara Schneider and Carol Campbell.

 

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!

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 considering membership, please check off "wish to become a member" on the sign-in tablet and/or contact [email protected] for further information.

Prospective new members will have the opportunity to meet informally with the pastors on Wednesday, May 15 from 7-8 pm for coffee and dessert in the church parlor.