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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,
January 13, 2019
Baptism of the Lord Sunday
Commissioning of Leaders and Servants
"The Gift of Water"
Pastor Janice
Genesis 1:1-10
Matthew 3:4-6, 11-17
215-357-6998
CHURCH HOURS
Monday - Friday
9:00 AM -2:00 PM
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Sunday, January 13
9:15am
Children's Sunday School
10:30am
Adult Sunday School
10:30am
Children & Youth Sunday School
3:30pm - Note Time Change
Youth Choir
7:00pm
NO Youth Group
Tuesday, January 15
7:00pm
Praise Band Rehearsal
Thursday, January 17
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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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St. John's Sunday School
9:15
All Children Pre-K thru 6th grade go directly to Room D (Holywood)
10:30
All children go to Fellowship Hall
Youth grades 9-12 go to the Youth Room.
Please click Kid's Church Registration
or go to stjohnsivyland.com under Children's Ministry to register.
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.
Help is needed in the Nursery at the 9:15 AM Service.
Please contact David Bigam if you are available!
For more information about our Children or Youth Ministries, please contact Director,
David Bigam, [email protected]
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ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday Morning Study
led by Howard & Beppie Heinrich
Sunday mornings at 9 AM
Parlor
On-going study and drop-ins are welcome!
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The Wired Word
led by Eileen Phillips
2nd and 4th Sundays
10:30 AM
Church Library (by the Youth Room)
Focuses on current events and analyzes them in a Biblical context.
On-going study and drop-ins are welcome.
Please see This Week's Calendar for current Bible study opportunities. Contact Lara Bolte (215-357-6998, [email protected]) if you are interested in joining an existing group.
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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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DAILY DEVOTIONALS
Looking for a little inspiration during the week?
Try an online devotional.
(has many devotionals to choose from)
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If you ordered Warrior Coffee, it is available for pick up Sunday morning following both services in Grace Café.
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The Grace Cafe is open Sunday mornings for fellowship
and refreshments.
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Red Bird Trailers are closed
for the winter.
Thank you for your support this year.
We will re-open in the spring of 2019.
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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 ALWAYS NEEDED
Donations of non-perishable food for the Eastwick Food Pantry are always needed through-out 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.
Please contact
Lou Lescas,
[email protected]
if you are available to help.
Thank you for your support.
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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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SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT!
When you enroll in 'Amazon Smile', Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible "AmazonSmile' purchases to a charitable organization of your choice. St. John's United Methodist Church - Ivyland is a participating group!
'AmazonSmile' is the same Amazon you know - same products, same prices and same service. This is an easy way to contribute to St. John's without any extra cost to you!
St. John's United Methodist Church - Ivyland - as your preferred charitable organization.
each time you shop and help make St. John's smile!
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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.
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UMC LINKS
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After a really busy couple of months, it's always good to get away after the holidays, and whenever I have the opportunity, I'll usually go for it. This year, a couple of friends came up with the idea of going on a cruise over the New Year's holiday - the rationale being that none of us like New Year's Eve, so why not get away (preferably to somewhere warm).
After considering several options, we settled on a cruise from Baltimore to the Bahamas. Amazingly enough, we set sail from Baltimore late in the afternoon and by the next morning, wonder of wonders, it was warm enough to sit on the balcony in a tee shirt. Of course, the same phenomenon happened on the way back. We left Freeport in the early afternoon (it was 83 degrees that day) and by that evening, you needed a sweatshirt to sit outside.
I had never been to the Bahamas before. The only things I really knew about it were #1) it was warm there, and #2) it was where that place I had seen advertised at least a zillion times was - Atlantis - and so, out of sheer curiosity, I wanted to see what it was all about. So we signed up for a shore excursion that would take us across the bridge from Nassau to Paradise Island where Atlantis is located.
Well, we didn't buy a day pass to the immense water park or the aquarium or anything like that, but we DID get to spend some time enjoying the dolphin cove, the fountains in front of the Royal Tower, and the shops inside of the Coral Tower. But there was one thing that fascinated me more than anything else - it was a statement made by the tour host. He informed us that a suite in the Royal Tower costs $25,000 per night with a four-night minimum.
I just couldn't get that out of my mind. The very fact that anyone in the entire world has $100,000 (plus tax and resort fees, of course) to spend on a suite for a 4-day vacation seems pretty incredible. I'm certainly in favor of vacations - we all need time to get away from our normal routine, and to rest, relax, enjoy our friends & family, and see and experience new things. But $100,000 for 4 days is a bit over-the-top, don't you think?
Granted, I spent only about $800 to book the cruise I was on - dirt cheap for a 7-day cruise, especially over a holiday, but regardless ... I couldn't help being conscious of the fact that there is only a small fraction of people in the world who could ever DREAM about going on a cruise.
That thought was a vivid reminder that we all have a responsibility to consider the less fortunate of our world. and to do what we can to share our good gifts. Taking family vacation and cruises with our friends are good things. But let's also remember that we, as Christians, should feel as deeply as our Lord does when it comes to the plight of families who are living in squalor in Haiti & other places, and families who are fleeing Syria, Central America and other nations where oppression and fear reigns, not to mention those in our own country who have very little in the way of support and resources.
Let's give thanks for all of God's good gifts. God was so generous to us. Let's remember to be generous with others.
Pastor Janice
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BAPTISM OF THE LORD &
COMMISSIONING OF LEADERS & SERVANTS - This Sunday, January 13, 2019
We will remember Jesus' baptism by John in the Jordan River.
We will focus on the meaning of baptism that day and you will be given and opportunity to renew your baptism at the altar rail. This can be a very meaningful experience. If you have never been baptized and would like to be baptized during this service or if you would like to schedule your child's baptism on this special day, please call the church office. All church leaders and those who serve on any teams or committees will also be invited to stand for commissioning for 2019 at the conclusion of the renewal of baptism on January 13th.
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Sunday Nights from 7-8:30 PM
Fellowship and fun for youth grades 7 thru 12.
NO Youth Group Tonight
Enjoy the Game!
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Morrisville Food Bank Monday
Monday, January 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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Coming soon...
Escape Room - St. John's Youth
Do you have what it takes to "Escape" my room?
I don't think you do!
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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
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FAT TUESDAY 2019
March 5 - 5:30-7:30 PM
Tickets are STILL just $8.00 for Adults
and $5 for ages 5-12 Kids under 5 eat free!
Join us for Fun, Food, Fellowship
Live Music with the Jazz Sanctuary!!!
Proceeds benefit the Youth ASP Mission Trip
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The Rock, the Road, & the Rabbi
In this study, Kathi Lee Gifford and her co-author, messianic Jewish Rabbi Jason Sobel, will visit sites in Israel and share fascinating background details that make the story of the New Testament come alive. As the authors reveal in this study, Jesus is indeed the Rock and the Rabbi whom we follow along this Road in life.
- 6-week small group study, 1/14 through 2/18
- Led by Carol Campbell and Barbara Schneider
- Monday evenings at 6:45
- Location: Parlor
- Workbook cost: $8
- Sign up using the tear-off below or the sign-up sheet on the yellow bulletin board by the Grace Café
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Throughout the 40 Days of Prayer sermon series and study, you will learn how to cultivate a powerful prayer life and experience breakthrough in your relationship challenges, financial difficulties, bad habits, health crisis, and many other areas of your life.
- 6-week small group study,
1/23 through 2/27
- Led by Pastor Janice
- To be offered on Wednesday mornings and Wednesday evenings
- 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. OR 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. (choose one)
- Workbook cost: $13
- Location: Parlor (most weeks)
- Sign up using the tear-off in bulletin or the sign-up sheet on the yellow bulletin board by the Grace Café
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ST. JOHN'S BOOK CLUB
Tuesday, January 22
10 AM and 7 PM
in the Parlor
The One-In-A-Million By
by: Monica Wood
The story of your life never starts at the beginning. Don't they teach you that in school? So says 104-year-old Ona to the 11 year-old-boy who's been sent to help her out every Saturday morning. As he refills the bird feeders and tidies the garden shed. Ona tells him about her long life, from first love to second chances. Soon she is confessing she has kept secrets for decades. We learn that the world can surprise us at any age, and sometimes sharing a loss is the only way to find ourselves again.
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TIME CHANGE
YOUTH CHOIR WILL BE HELD AT
3:30 PM THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 13TH
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MUSIC MINISTRY NOTES
As a Congregation, we have many things to be thankful for. These past few months were a wonderful example of Talent, Fellowship, Giving and Worship for our Music Ministry.
WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE
Our clothing drive provided over 150 coats to A Woman's Place in Doylestown. In addition, gloves, hats, socks and scarves were donated. Special thanks to SARAH FLOYD and family for organizing this event. The generosity of our congregation was appreciated.
20th FESTIVAL OF CAROLS
December 9th was a wonderful night of music and celebration at St. John's. Our Choirs, Bell Choirs, Orchestra and Special Groups were FABULOUS. A good time was had by all. We thank Alissa Nelson, and the Villa Joseph Marie HS Choir for their music. Also, Brian Barber, Joe Vettori, Kari Johnson, The Newtown Brass Quintet and Robin Gaul for their contributions to the program. And we can't forget Brian, Matt, Matthew and Kyle for their quartet "singing". EVERYONE enjoyed your performance.
HANDBELL RESTORATION
As most of you know, our Handbells are 32 years old. With the exception of one of our Bass Bells, all of our bells were donated through the years. We have done an exceptional job of keeping the bells in great shape, with regular maintenance. However, our handles and clappers need to be replaced due to age and cracking. The cost is approximately $2,800. I am please to announce that our offering from the FESTIVAL OF CAROLS was over $2,000, and we will be able to complete stage one of our restoration this summer. THANK YOU ALL for your generosity to our Music Ministry.
CHRISTMAS MUSIC SUNDAY
Our December 16th Music Sunday was a great success. Wonderful presentations by our choirs were given to an appreciative congregation. Thank you to all who attended this very meaningful service.
All choirs at St. John's are open to anyone, young and old(er) who loves music. There is no formal audition, and your participation in our Music Ministry is welcomed.
A PERSONAL THANK YOU
I'd like to thank Brian Barber and Alissa Nelson for all of their contributions to our Music at St. John's. We couldn't do it without you. Also, thanks to our Praise Band, Choirs and Bell Choirs for sharing their talent with me and the congregation. Thanks to members of the Joyful Voices and Youth Choir for your Christmas gifts to me. And finally, thanks to members of all of the Adult Choirs for their GENEROUS Christmas gift. You are all very special to me.
Roy Nelson, Director of Music Ministries
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FUN FELLOWSHIP EVENING: PAINT NIGHT
Join us - and an art instructor from Art Dept. Newtown - for an evening of painting fun, good food, and fellowship. When the evening is over, you will have completed a 12x12 painting of two baby owls in winter.
- Sunday, January 27, 2019 from 4 PM to 6 PM
- Fellowship Hall
- $35 per person
- Appropriate for adults and kids age 8 and up
- Hoagies & drinks will be provided. Feel free to bring additional food to share if you desire.
- Sign-up sheet in the Narthex
- Place your payment (checks made out to St. John's) into the box in the Narthex.
- Payment due by 1/14/2019
- Contact Lara Bolte with any questions (215-357-6998; [email protected])
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1st Wednesday of each month - 6:45 PM
Fellowship Hall
Next Session - February 6th - Weather permitting
No experience necessary - come out and have fun!
No Fee.
Bring water!
All ages are welcome, and feel free to bring a friend.
Call Carol Eberz (215-355-3572) or Jane Horton (215-630-6020) with questions!
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FELLOWSHIP, FUN AND STUDY
We are excited to invite you to join us for a new small group starting this year designed with busy people in mind! Our first meeting will be Sunday, February 10th at 6:45 in the church parlor with a goal of meeting the first Sunday of every month.
With busy schedules and priorities that pull us in multiple directions, it's often hard to find a moment for ourselves to reflect, to pray, to study. If this describes you, this small group is your place to be! Our group will come together once a month to enjoy fellowship, a DVD based study (no pre-work necessary!), discussion and prayer. What better way to start 2019 than dedicating time for yourself to nurture your relationship with God with the support of others like you.
Questions? Contact Heidi Gutsch at 215-534-6068 or [email protected] or Ashley Zesinger at 407-461-1165 or [email protected]. Or find us any Sunday hanging out at children's worship! Looking forward to seeing you!
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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 a new group.
- Weekly meetings are starting Tuesday, February 5th through April 30th from 6pm to 7:30pm in the Grace Café.
- Just go to divorcecare.org and put in our church zip code (18974) to find our future group listed and then register.
- The format is a light meal and viewing of expert information on DVD, followed by a time of sharing and discussion.
- There is a $25 fee for a workbook but scholarships are available.
- Each rotation lasts 13 weeks but you can miss anytime and make up the session during the next rotation if desired.
- We are also looking for people to help welcome visitors, make coffee, and provide support to our facilitator.
- Contact [email protected] or call the church office for more information.
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St. John's Helping Hands
If any member of St. John's has been ill and needs a meal, please contact Ruth Portzline, Pastor Janice or Carol Messina. If you would like to help, call Carol Messina at 215-491-1461.
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TABLE TALK - TUESDAY NIGHTS!
Join the Conversation! Bring a Friend!
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DRIVE-THRU LIVING NATIVITY
A big thank you to everyone who was involved in the Drive-Thru Living Nativity this year. It was an awesome night ! More than 200 cars came to experience the Christmas story. We are already looking forward to next year.
If you took pictures on that night, we would appreciate it if you would share with us. Please email them to me at
[email protected].
Thanks again for making this night one to remember!!
Pastor Ruth
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UNITED METHODIST MEN'S BREAKFAST
Saturday, January 19
8 AM
Fellowship Hall
Sign-up Sheets in the Narthex
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Advent Offerings to Pravaham, India
A huge thank you to the congregation! $10,016 was raised for the nursing assistant program in India. The money will cover over 16 full scholarships for a one year Christian residential training program. Countless lives will be changed and the community and extended families will be greatly impacted. It is very moving to see our hands and arms stretching around the world and impacting these young women from the low caste system. They now have hope and occupation because of your gifts. You have totally changed 16 lives forever!
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Pastor Janice and Ruth wish to thank everyone for all of your cards, prayers, baked goods and generous monetary gifts this Christmas season as well as your support, fellowship and sharing in ministry through the year.
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