(215) 855-5489 | Worship every Sunday @ 8 a.m. & 10:15 a.m.
(215) 855-5489 | Worship every Sunday @ 8 a.m. & 10:15 a.m.
Read the latest news for our church.
Sep 09, 2025
September 14
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
8:00 am – Morning Worship
10:15 am – Morning Worship
10:45 am – Connect3
11:30 am – Fellowship
– BOOK RUMMAGE SALE
September 21
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
8:00 am – Morning Worship
10:15 am – Morning Worship
10:45 am – Connect3
11:30 am – Fellowship
3:00 pm – Rev. Dr. Linda’s Installation
Aug 29, 2025
August 31
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
9:30 am – Sunday Morning Worship
9:45 am – Connect3
10:30 am – Fellowship
September 7
Water & Celebration Sunday
9:00 am – Praying Hands Stitchers
10:15 am – Sunday Morning Worship
10:30 am – Connect3
11:30 am – Fellowship
Aug 20, 2025
Ephesians 2:10.
What an honor to witness the handiwork and good works happening at St. John’s! In September, we begin our 8:00 am worship service. Over the course of the month, we will be blessing everything from water (Sept. 7), to backpacks, students, and educators (Sept. 14), to canines, cats, and creepy-crawlies! (Blessings of the Animals at 2 pm on Sept. 28). On Tuesday, Sept. 9, we’re flinging open the doors to share the music and message of Bobby Jo Valentine with the community on Sept. 9 as a prelude to our 10th Anniversary of being an Open and Affirming community.
We have created a corner of the sanctuary for our “soft worship space” where both kids and adults can engage their bodies in ways that allow them to be more present in worship. Our Boards and committees and volunteers and staff are doing what they do best, and are doing it well.
On Sunday, September 21 at 3:00 pm, we will be holding an “installation.” An installation takes place after a church has called a settled pastor. After five months, I am starting to feel a little more “settled” and our North Penn Association and the Penn Southeast Conference of the UCC have said it is time for me to be installed at St. John’s.
Even though all ministry is temporary and transitional (as Pastor Tom is now, sadly, reminding us), an installation is a way of marking a moment in which a congregation and pastor have chosen one another for their next chapter of ministry together. It is a way of affirming the movement of the Spirit that has called a particular leader and a congregation to be the best version of themselves possible for this time, in this place, trusting God’s grace along the way.
I’m thrilled that someone who is a close friend, holy troublemaker, fierce prophet, and national faith leader, Bishop Dwayne Royster, will be the preacher on this day. Bishop Royster is an ordained UCC minister and the Executive Director of Faith in Action. A native Philadelphian with family in the area, he knows St. John’s well and is eager to be with us. We will also receive greetings from a number of community and faith partners.
The installation is an opportunity for us to celebrate the rich history and the pastoral lineage of St. John’s UCC as we stand on the cusp of our 150th anniversary. We are rooted and rising in love! It is an invitation to let our gifts shine, call our friends and colleagues to celebrate and encourage us, and give thanks for God’s continued faithfulness on this journey.
In Christ,
Pastor Linda
Aug 12, 2025
August 17
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
9:30 am – Sunday Morning Worship
9:45 am – Connect3
10:30 am – Fellowship
August 24
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
9:30 am – Sunday Morning Worship
9:45 am – Connect3
10:30 am – Fellowship
Jul 30, 2025
August 3
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 am – Praying Hands Stitchers
9:30 am – Sunday Morning Worship
9:45 am – Connect3
10:30 am – Fellowship
– VBS Committee Meeting
August 10
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
9:30 am – Sunday Morning Worship
9:45 am – Connect3
10:30 am – Fellowship
10:45 am – Elders Meeting
Jul 16, 2025
July 20
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
9:30 am – Sunday Morning Worship
9:45 am – Connect3
10:30 am – Fellowship
– VBS Committee Meeting
July 27
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
9:30 am – Sunday Morning Worship
9:45 am – Connect3
10:30 am – Fellowship
Jul 02, 2025
July 6
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 am – Praying Hands Stitchers
9:30 am – Sunday Morning Worship
9:45 am – Connect3
10:30 am – Fellowship
10:45 am – Listening Session: Accessibility
7:00 pm – Gathered in God’s Name: Community Hymn Festival
July 13
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
9:30 am – Sunday Morning Worship
9:45 am – Connect3
10:30 am – Fellowship
3:00 pm – “An Afternoon of Song” with Ruth & David Michel
Jun 20, 2025
June 22
Pride Sunday
Second Sunday after Pentecost
9:30 am – Sunday Morning Worship
10:00 am – Connect3
10:30 am – Fellowship
June 29
Third Sunday after Pentecost
9:30 am – Sunday Morning Worship
10:00 am – Connect3
10:30 am – Fellowship
Jun 05, 2025
June 8
Pentecost
Confirmation Sunday
Graduation Sunday
9:30 am – Sunday Morning Worship
10:00 am – Connect3
10:30 am – “Come and See. Go and Tell.”: Rev. Dr. Linda’s Palestine Trip Presentation
– Fellowship
June 15
Trinity Sunday
Father’s Day
9:30 am – Sunday Morning Worship
10:00 am – Connect3
10:30 am – Fellowship
May 22, 2025
Celebrating Our YouthJesus said, “Let those kids come!” Okay, according to the gospel writers, he really said “Let the children come to me; do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” Mark 10:14, Luke 18:6. (It’s also possible he actually said something closer to “Yo! Let those kids come!”)
One of the things I am most excited about as I settle in at St. John’s (it’s only been a little over two months!) is connecting with our children and youth. I love sitting with the kids on the steps each Sunday, was fortunate to spend a session with our Confirmands, and have relished my conversations with our youth. The big news is this: St. John’s UCC now has a Youth Group!
On May 18, a handful of young folks (middle school and up) generously shared their time, thoughts, and feelings during our Listening Session. Over pizza, we talked about what we each like about church, what we would like to see more of, and what we would change if we could (getting up early on Sunday was a shared struggle). They are eager to engage big questions, offer their gifts, and be service to the St. John’s community as well those beyond our doors. We’re planning a fun summer outing – stay tuned for details. By the time we finished our meeting, they had decided they wanted to start a Youth Group!
I’ve come away with some good notes. I take their input seriously, and look forward to finding ways to continue to not only celebrate our young folks, but have them as conversation partners as we together discern God’s dreams for St. John’s UCC.
In Christ,
Pastor Linda
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