Churches return to in-person worship as restrictions ease

POTTSTOWN— Members and friends of Trinity United Church of Christ, 60 N. Hanover St., will gather at 9 AM for worship outdoors in the parking lot on Sunday, Oct. 11.This will be our last out door service as we will be worshiping on Oct. 18 in the Sanctuary. Consistory will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 7 PM in Fretz Chapel. The Deacons will meet at 6 PM that night. Trinity will offer a free take-away meal on Tuesday, Oct. 13, beginning at 5 PM. Access to the meal is through the parking lot at the rear of the building. See our ad below for office hours and contact information.

Zion’s UCC

POTTSTOWN — Zion’s United Church of Christ will welcome a new Supply Pastor on Oct. 11. Rev. Dr. Kimberly St ryjakh as earned her Ministry degree at Lancaster Theology Seminary. She will be the new regular Supply Pastor on Rev. Austin Chinault’s Sunday off. It is a return to Zion’s as she was there on several occasions before. The service will be on YouTube on the website http://www.zionspottstown.org, then check on the link “online services.” Pastor Stryjak’s sermon will be “The Heavenly Banquet.” Sunday, Oct. 11, is the Fall Ingathering Offering to offset the remaining expenses for the New Slate Roof installed on the Church and upcoming expenses for the Chapel building’ s new roof.

First UCC

ROYERSFORD — First United Church of Christ, 367 Washington St., will hold outside worship (weather permitting) on the church lawn at 11 am on Sunday. Bring a chair or blanket and wear a mask. We are also having a Blessing of the Animals. We continue to have worship on Facebook Live too (search for First UCC, Royersford).

St. John’s UCC

POTTSTOWN — St. John’s United Church of Christ, 11 S. Price St., is continuing with in-person church services. The services have moved into the Sanctuary for the Fall and are still being held at 10:15 am. The services are also available for viewing on YouTube. St. John’s has put a little pantry out on the lawn facing High Street which holds toiletries, water and self-serve food items for people in need. Operation 143 food items are still being collected and they are in need of single serve shelf milk, granola bars, fruit bars, and Pop Tarts.

Grace Lutheran

POTTSTOWN— We invite you to join us forworship in our Sanctuary this Sunday, Oct. 11 at 9:15 AM as we observe the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Worshippers are asked to use only the entrance at 660 N. Charlotte St. Visit our website or contact the church office at 610-323-9320 or gracepottstown@gmail.com. This Sunday’s service will also be broadcast live at 9:15 AM on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GLCPottstown/. A recorded version of the service will be posted as soon as available on our website https://gracechurchpottstown.org/, aswell as on our Facebook page and YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKgJA- RV1AwzJW5LhKr67uA/ The service will remain on these online platforms for viewing at a time convenient to ourmembers and friends. During the month of October we will celebrate our Harvest Home In gathering. This year, we will be collecting monetary donations for the Pot ts town Cluster of Religious Communities as the Cluster is not accepting the usual donations of non-perishable food items. Please mark your envelope for “Harvest Home” so your contributions can be directed to help provide food for needy families. The Pot ts town“Virtual” CROP Walk is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 11. Churches or families canwalk together and choose their own route/ mileage. Walkers don’t have to walk that day – you can do it any time before or after. Register at https://www. crophungerwalk.org/pottstownpa.

St. Peter’s Lutheran

POTTSTOWN — St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 564 Glasgow St., will celebrate the Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost with service at 8 am and 10:30 am. Video worship will be available at 12:30 pmon YouTube and Facebook. Pastor Smolik will preach on Matthew 22:1-14; “A Shocking Parable of a Wedding Feast.” Lectors will be Kourtney High and Joanne Smolik. The Altar table will be adorned for Harvest Home. For up-to-date messages, call the church at 610-323-5044.

Brownback’s UCC

SPRING CITY — Join us on this Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost for our two worship services, an outdoor service at 9 a.m. and our traditional indoor service at 10 a.m. at 640 Ridge Road. Rev. Mark Stryjak will lead both services and will be preaching on. To watch our 10 a.m. service at home go to: https://www.facebook.com/BrownbacksChurch/ or join us inperson. For the 9 a.m. outdoor service in our parking lot, bring a comfortable chair and your face mask. Return to Brown back’s at 1 p.m. fora Blessing of the Animals, to be held in our parking lot.

St. Luke Lutheran

GILBERTSVILLE— We invite you to join our worship at 9:30, a.m. every Sunday at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 35Wilson Ave. On this Sunday, andmore tocome, weinvite you to worship with us via livestreamvideo fromSt. Luke. You will see that we are now worshipping outdoors, in our parking lot, as well as in lawn chairs around our pavilion! You can look at www.stlukegilbertsville.org Our livestream worship will continue at 9:30 on Sundays. Shouldweather be inclement, we will not meet outdoors, but only via livestream. Sunday is the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, and, at St. Luke, the gospel lesson from Matthew 22:1-14.

This is the parable of the unwelcome guest at the wedding feast. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” On Wednesday evenings, we welcomeyouto joinusat 7:15, as we share in“Silence, Simplicity, and Prayer .” COMMUNITYCLOTHING RACK- on the first Wednesday of the month, the Clothing Rack will be open – 9:00, a.m. until noon,. for donations! The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of themonth - shoppers are welcome – 9:00, a.m. until noon,.

Coventryville UMC

SOUTHCOVENTRY— Coventryville United Methodist Church - Our Thrift Shop is going tohave a trial re-opening Saturday from 9:00 AM12:00 noon. There are lots of new items for purchase! When shopping, please be masked and prepared to socially distance, which could mean limiting the number of patrons in the shop at one time. On Sunday, join us for worship at 9:30am (contemporary) or 11:00am (traditional). Mask-wearing and social distancing are required. Hand sanitizing stations are located throughout the church. For those who prefer a virtual option, both services will be live streamed to the “Coventryville UMC” YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/CYmbN2Sw. Take note that our Wednesday Bible Study sessions have been postpone until after Christmas. Stay tuned for details in 2021. Questions? Please call the main office at 610-469-9350.

FirstBaptist

POTTSTOWN— First Baptist Church (ABCUSA) located at 301 King St. Rev. Dr. Marcia Bailey, Pastor. Join FBC live via Zoom on Sunday, Oct 11, at 10:30 am as we continue worshipping around the theme “In Pursuit of Justice.” The meditation this week will focus on why the Church should be anti-racist. We are receiving contributions for World Mission Offering as well as for school supplies for Pottstown students. You can donate online via our website, or you can mail a check to the church office at 301 King St, Pottstown, PA19464. Just note which offering you are donating to in thememo line. Our Little Free Libraries are open and waiting for you! If you find yourself near the corner of King St and Charlotte St in Pottstown, come explore the books in the Little Free Libraries at FBC. Our library stewards add new books often. www.fbcpottstown.org

Christ Lutheran

BARTO— Christ Lutheran Church invites you to worship with us on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost on Sunday, Oct. 11, at our service beginning at 9:00 a.m. Ladies, if you are planning on attending the Ladies Lunch on Tuesday, Oct.14, please contact Roxanne Fox with your lunch order from Dan’s Deli. At 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13, quilt tying will be taking place in the social hall. Then at 11:30 a.m ., we will remain in the social hall for our Ladies Lunch. The office will be closed on Thursday, Oct. 15 and Friday, Oct. 16. Messages will be checked both days or if a pastoral emergency, contact Pastor Ann Baly. The church is located at 222 Ni antic Road between Routes 663 and 100 about a mile east of Bally.

St. John’s ELC

BOYERTOWN - On Sundays, an 8:00 am brief parking lot worship service will be held at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave. At 9:30 am, our recorded worship service will be shown in the sanctuary for those unable to view our services online. This is limited to 25 attendees. Holy Communion will be offered at both services. Worship and messages will continue to air on our YouTube channel (St. John’s ELC Boyertown) and Facebook page (St. John’s Lutheran Church of Boyertown). For updates and further details, please check our website (stjohnsboyertown.org) or call 610.369.1024.

Bethel UMC

SPRING CITY — Bethel United Methodist Church, 952 Bethel Church Road - Worship begins every Sunday at 11 a.m. in the Shick Shack only, rain or shine, until further notice. Meet us at 11 a.m. for a brief time of worship. On Saturday, Oct. 17, plan to come to Bethel and participate in a prayerwalk/ touchless drive through. Offer these prayers at Bethel between 1:00 p.m. and 1:45p.m. Various Bethel leaders may greet you at certain stations. At 1:45pm, Pastor Hines will share a brief meditation. We will close in prayer at 2:00 pm. Please wear a mask and observe social distancing. Masks will be provided as needed. On Oct. 25, from 6-7:30 pm, the Bethel Youth will be sponsoring fun fall activities such as: Pumpkin decorating, bonfire, roasting marshmallows, and safe trick-or-treat. Bring the kids, bring a friend, and be sure to wear a mask! Don’t forget to wear your costume!

Cedarville UMC

NORTHCOVENTRY— Join us atwww. cedar ville umc. org on Sunday at 9:30 am (Contemporary) and 11:00 am (Traditional) services with the message: “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” based on Matthew 12:25. No Computer? Dial 610-8509173 to listen to the sermon at 9:30 or 11:00 or enjoy a repeat later the followingweek. Items needed for Wednesday night meals at Mission First, 414 E. High Street include individual snacks: chips, pretzels, popcorn, variety boxes, Tastykakes/Hostess sweets, individual cookies and halo’s or oranges. Mission First is in need of Men’s (in like-new condition) jeans, zip-up hoodies, NEW men’s underwear (all sizes), sweatpants (size small & medium) men’s shoes and boots. NEW women’s underwear and bras. Also blankets, full size and larger (no comforters/ bedspreads) bed pillows & umbrellas. Contact Clare@missionfirstpottstown.org to drop off or for additional details. Save the date for Oct. 25 ReCreation Live Virtually at 10:00 AM.