The Mercury (Pottstown, PA)

Court: Ballots cannot be tossed out over signature

- Area churches are welcome to share their news for our weekly listing. Email informatio­n to Mercury Editor Tony Phyrillas at tphyrillas@pottsmerc. com Use the words “church news” in the subject line. Deadline is Thursday at noon for Saturday publicatio­n.

Judges ruled ballots cannot be rejected if the voter’s signature does not resemble the voter’s registrati­on form.

Bethel Community

POTTSTOWN— On Sunday at 11:00 AM, Bethel Community Church of PottstownW­orship Service will be in-person for those willing to wear a mask at all times and social distance. In addition, the worship servicewil­l be Live onFacebook at Bethel-Community-Church-of-Pottstown or dial-in by calling 215383-1625 Code 198087. At 1:00 PM, the “Dedication of the Shed” will take place outside in the parking lot (weather permitting). On Monday from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, BCCP Food Pantry is open and new applicatio­ns are being accepted. On Thursday at 12:00 Noon, it’s Virtual Community Bible Study by calling 215383-1625 Code 198087. Topic of discussion will be “Love For Neighbors” based on Luke 10:25 - 27. On Friday at 10:00 AM, it’s Free “Farmers to Families” Box distributi­on. At 12:00 Noon, it’s Virtual Community Prayer Service by calling 215-383-1625 Code 198087. BCCP Food Pantry is open Second, Third and Fourth Mondays from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM and new Applicatio­ns are being accepted. For more informatio­n, please call (610-805-9084).

First Baptist

POTTSTOWN — First Baptist Church (ABCUSA) located at 301 King St. Rev. Dr. Marcia Bailey, Pastor. Join FBC LIVE via Zoom on Sunday, Oct 25, at 10:30 am as we continue worshippin­g around the theme “In Pursuit of Justice.” The meditation this week will focus on restorativ­e justice. In October, 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 churchoffi­ce at 301 King St, Pottstown, PA 19464. Just note which offering you are donating to inthememo line. If youfind 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. Craft kits will be available this week while supplies last. Look for the plastic tub next to the Little Free Libraries. Check our website for the Zoom link each Sunday: www.fbcpottsto­wn.org

Cedarville UMC

NORTH COVENTRY — Sunday, Oct. 25, at 10:00 am, join us for worship by tuning in to the Re-Creation YouTube Channel - the young people of Re-Creation will lead us in worship through their sacred program. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1xho3L9_ Also on Oct. 25 at 5:00 pm we will hold an outdoor, in-person worship service. Sunday, Nov. 1, we will hold our first in-person worship services since March (with limited seating and pre-registrati­on) in the FLC and the Sanctuary. Both 9:30 and 11:00 worship services will continue to be livestream­ed for those who are unable to return to in-person worship. No Computer? Dial 610- 850-9173 to listen to the sermon later in the week. Youth Groupwill meet at Jay Lanes at 6:30 for Bowling and Lazertag. Contact john@cedarville­umc.org for details. Enjoy Children’s LIVE ZOOM on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm with story lessons. Contact lea@cedarville­umc.org for ZOOM details. Items needed for Mission First, 414 E. High Street: Men’s jeans (all sizes), coats, new underwear, sweatpants, small and medium, boots (all sizes). Women’s needs are new underwear. Contact Clare@missionfir­stpottstow­n.org to drop offor for additional details. www. cedarville­umc.org

First Presbyteri­an

POTTSTOWN — First Presbyteri­an Church of

Pottstown has resumed inperson worship services on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. If you are interested in joining us, please sign up on the First Presbyteri­an Church of Pottstown website or by calling the church office at (610) 326-0620. Wearing a mask and social distancing are required to enter the church building. The service will also be livestream­ed on the church You Tube channel. Sunday, Oct. 25, is Reformatio­nSunday. Come hear the playing of the pipes (outside before worship). All are invited to wear plaid if youwishasw­e celebrate our Scottish and Reformatio­n heritage.

St. Peter’s Lutheran

POTTSTOWN — St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 564 Glasgow St., will celebrate Reformatio­n Sunday with service at 8 am and 10:30 am. Video worship will be available at 12:30 pm on YouTube and Facebook. Pastor Smolik will preach on Romans 3:19-28 – How God Puts Us Right with Him. Lectors will be Kourtney High and Beverly Yanocha. For up to date messages, call the church at 610-323-5044.

St. Paul’s UCC

POTTSTOWN — On Sunday, Oct. 25, at the 9:00 a.m. worship service, members of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 927 N. Franklin St., Pottstown, will hear a trial service from Rev. Lauren Cain. After the service, members will be voting on accepting Rev. Cain as a settled part-time pastor. TheAnnual Congregati­onal meeting is slated for Sunday, Nov. 22, following the 9:00 a.m. worship service.

Grace Lutheran

POTTSTOWN— We invite you to join us forworship in our Sanctuary this Sunday, Oct. 25, at 9:15AMaswe observe the Reformatio­n Sunday. Worshipper­s are asked to use only the entrance at 660N. Charlotte St., wear a mask and sit only in designated areas. 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/, as well 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 our members and friends. During the month of October we will celebrate our Harvest Home Ingatherin­g. This year, we will be collecting monetary donations for the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communitie­s as the Cluster is not accepting the usual donations of non-perishable food items.

St. James Lutheran

POTTSTOWN— St. James Lutheran Church invites the community to join us for drive-in worship in the St. James parking lot on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM, located at 1101 E. High St. Vehicles will enter from Cedar Street (between the law offices and the funeral home) and follow the direction of the parking attendant. Worshipers are asked to remain in their cars at all times and tune the radio to 107.1 FM. Masks should be kept on hand in the event you must exit your car. For any questions or for inclement weather please contact the office, 610-326-2810. Join us at www.stjamespot­tstown.org for Pastor’s blog, weekly worship videos, weekly bulletins and announceme­nts.

First UCC

ROYERSFORD — First UCC, 367 Washington St., will hold outside worship (weather permitting) on the church lawn at 11am. Please bring a chair or blanket and bring and wear a mask! We continue to haveworshi­p on

Facebook Live (search for First UCC, Royersford) too.

St. John’s UCC

POTTSTOWN— St. John’s UCC, 11 S. Price St., continues to holdworshi­p service on Sundays at 10:15 am in the Sanctuary. Masks are mandatory and social distancing is being practiced. The service will also be videotaped and available on YouTube. St. John’s will be participat­ing in Pottstown Borough’s Trick or Treating on Saturday, Oct. 31. Donations of wrapped candy to be distribute­d are being accepted. The Little Pantry, located in the church yard facing High Street, is stocked with personal toiletries as well as individual food items and bottled water for communitym­embers in need. Food items are also being collected for Operation 143 which serves the school aged children of the surroundin­g areas.

Coventryvi­lle UMC

SOUTH COVENTRY — Coventryvi­lleUnitedM­ethodist Church - On Sunday, join us for worship at 9:30 am(contempora­ry) or 11:00 am (traditiona­l). Maskwearin­g 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/UCpeSkOcz5­xHKcucCYmb­N2Sw. At 10:00 AM on Tuesday, Oct. 27, the OWLS, our ladies’ group will hold their monthly Bible Study and business meeting with masks on and seating distanced. It will be a “bring your own” boxed lunch gathering. All ladies are welcome! On Thursday, Oct. 29, the hand chime choir will rehearse from 7:00-7:30 PMwhilemas­ked and distanced in the Sanctuary. Come out and give it a try! Questions? Please call or email the main office at 610-649-9350 or church@ coventryvi­lleumc.com.

Trinity UCC

POTTSTOWN — Sunday’s 9 AM worship service at Trinity UCC, 60 N. Hanover St., will be held live, inour Sanctuary. Masks are required and social distancing will be observed. This service will also be livestream­ed on YouTube, and will be available later in the day on Trinity’s web page: trinityucc­pottstown.org. Join us on Saturday, Oct. 31 for a family “Halloween Hike” on the Schuylkill River Trail. We will gather under the pavilion at 10 AMfor our costumed walk. Face masks, in addition to Halloween masks are required, and social distancing will be observed. Special “Halloween Bags” will be given to all who participat­e. Come out and join us for this alternativ­e to aHalloween Parade and “trick or treating.” The rain date for this event will be Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1 PM. All are welcome!

St. Luke Lutheran

GILBERTSVI­LLE— We invite you to join ourworship at 9:30, a.m. every Sunday. On this Sunday, and more to come, we invite you toworship with us via livestream video from St. 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. This is our final Sunday to worship in the pavilion, as we return to the sanctuary for worship Nov. 1. Sunday is the Reformatio­n Sunday, and, at St. Luke, the gospel lesson is from John 8:31-36. We will celebrate the affirmatio­n of baptism, and rememberMa­rtin Luther and his 95 theses. On Wednesday evenings, we welcome

you to join us at 7:15, as we share in “Silence, Simplicity, and Prayer.” COMMUNITY CLOTHING RACK! On the first Wednesday of the month, the Clothing Rack will be open – 1:00, p.m. until 4:00 p.m. for donations! The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of the month - shoppers are welcome – 1:00,p.m. until 4:00, p.m.

St. John’s ELC

BOYERTOWN — Oct. 25 is Reformatio­n Sunday.

We will hold two parking lot services - 8:00 am and 9:30 am. At 9:30 we will also celebrate our confirmed catechism students with a service of Affirmatio­n of Baptism. We’re returning to in-person worship in the sanctuary beginning Nov. 1 with one service of Holy Communion at 9:30 am. Please visit our website for guidelines. Reservatio­ns are required in order tomaintain safety. Please register by calling 610.369.1024 or on our website (stjohnsboy­ertown.org). Worship will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel (St. John’s

ELC Boyertown) at 9:30 and will then be posted later in the day for viewing. For updates and further details, check our website or call the office. Leave a voicemail message in the event of an emergency and a staff member will return your call.

Christ Lutheran

BARTO — We invite you to worship with us, now that we are able to worship together but still maintainin­g social distancing, on this Reformatio­n Sunday on Sunday, Oct. 25, at our worship service beginning at 9:00 a.m. Pr. Sue

Sosnin, who will be supplying on this Sunday, will lead the congregati­on in a Holy Communion worship service and present the sermon. Worship Assistants at the 9 a.m. service are: Lector/Assistant Minister; Nancy Fioriglio. Confirmati­on Class will be held from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. in the social hall. Church Council will have their monthly meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 7:00 p.m. in theWelcome Center. The church is located at 222 Niantic Road between Routes 663 and 100 about a mile east of Bally.

Zion’s UCC

POTTSTOWN — Oct. 25 is the 21st Sunday after Pentecost and Rev. Austin Chinault, Zion’s United Church of Christ, Hanover and Chestnut streets, will base his sermon on Psalm 1 “The Great Commandmen­t.” Sunday School for youth, parents and adults led by Joan Miller will meet outside weather permitting. Consistory via a “Safe Worship Team” continues in the process of when it will be safe to return to the sanctuary to worship. Discussion to prepare for the Annual Congregati­onal Meeting Nov. 15 and Thanksgivi­ng and Advent were also on the agenda. Join us Sundays with Pastor Austin via the YouTube service on the website http://zionspotts­town.org, then click on the link “online services.”

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