News

Mini Golf Update

by Kay Peebles, Office Manager

At approximately 5:30 pm on Wednesday June 18, I get home from work. Mike, a 16-year-old I refer to as “The Teenager” in my phone, my anecdotes, and to my colleagues and friends and family, but who internally I refer to as “little brother,” is lying on his bed with an arm behind his head and his phone in his hand. This, I’ve surmised, is one of The Teenager’s four main states of being (at the gym with headphones, on the couch with Xbox controller, on a bike with friends, and in bed with phone). I announce that today, he said he would go mini golfing with the new youth group at my job. This, of course, is news to The Teenager (if you have one, you likely must remind them several times of things). This is because the average Teenager must juggle a million details that are only vaguely related to one another and it is easy to drop one or two with 999,998 more in the air, and prioritizing comes only with experience.

I sidestep his confusion and hesitation with more enticing details—free mini golf, fun with other teens, and free ice cream—and rush to get changed from work clothes to mini golf–appropriate clothes. When I return, The Teenager is standing, now in a black T-shirt that happens to match mine, his phone in his hand, and a peculiar look on his face. I recognize this look, these nerves, and try to get ahead of them with a timeworn babysitting solution: immediate and efficient distraction.

“You can bring anyone you want, as many as you want,” I say. “How about…” I list off some teens I have driven to Wawa or Wendy’s, teens whose smiles, yelling, and laughter I recognize from the pickup line at North Penn High School, the parking lots of apartment complexes, the sidewalks and back roads of Lansdale. Then I offer a trump card – a friend whose parents I am sure will say yes to a church event.

Read the September Enlightener

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

eHerald

Herald pdf

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

eHerald

Herald pdf

We are excited to share that starting this fall, we will be offering two Sunday services: 8 am and 10:15 am. While the services will be very similar in format and style of worship, you can expect a quieter, more contemplative atmosphere at 8 am.

We look forward to sharing more worship and programming updates soon. In the meantime, please make note of the schedule transition below. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Important Dates

➡️ Through August 31: One service at 9:30 am

➡️ Sunday, September 7 (Celebration & Water Sunday): One service at 10:15 am to welcome everyone back from summer travels!

➡️ Every Sunday starting September 14: Two services at 8:00 am and 10:15 am

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

eHerald

Herald pdf

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

Herald pdf

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

eHerald

Herald pdf

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

eHerald

Herald pdf

Celebrating Our Youth

Jesus 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!

Read the Full Enlightener