Hello St. John’s Family,
One month ago today we received the news that Ukraine was invaded by Russia. The result so many had feared became reality: propaganda and rhetoric and posturing metastasized into full-blown war. Ever since, we have seen endless images of apartment complexes and hospitals reduced to rubble; of shell-shocked persons surrounded by carnage fleeing for their lives. I find it difficult to fathom how, on one day, life can be “normal” and the next day one’s community and household is an active war zone. The situation cannot be minimized: evil is at work, as human ambition, greed, and ruthlessness wreak devastating consequences on so many innocent and vulnerable people.
The horrific situation in Ukraine breaks our hearts. Yet, as I observe from a distance, I am moved by the unity, perseverance, sacrifice, and willingness to suffer that is embodied by the Ukrainian people. Despite the horrors they face, they have shown incredible resolve as they resist the unjustified attacks and struggle to survive. I also see these characteristics in the responses of others. The Polish people, who have jumped to the aid of so many refugees; the thousands of regular citizens from around the world, who have dropped everything and gone into harm’s way to offer aid and relief; and the outpouring of donations from around the world. I find myself torn: On one hand, I know we cannot glorify, or in any way “spiritualize” the senseless suffering of others. On the other hand, I see glimpses of goodness emerging from the chaos and hell that are reigning in Ukraine. How do we reconcile that?
As I reflect, I hear the Apostle Paul’s guidance to the Roman church:
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Paul concludes the chapter by saying: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:9-13, 21 NIV.
The hope we carry, revealed in Christ’s resurrection on Easter, is that God’s love overcomes all things - even death. Evil remains a real and present scourge; evil, though, cannot overcome us. I see that hope being manifest in the response of the Ukrainian people. I see that hope being manifest in the response of so many faithful people around the world, as we mobilize in prayer and missional service to overcome evil with God’s goodness. That isn’t abstract philosophy of glorification of senseless violence. Rather, it’s a concrete rejection of evil, and active step to follow Christ in Christ’s work to bring healing and hope into the darkest situations in our world, whatever the personal cost.
Friends, I earnestly ask you to continue with your prayers. Pray for those in Ukraine: those who are scared, suffering, fleeing, and dying to protect their country. Pray those in Russia: those who will be impacted the most by sanctions, those who are fighting, and those who see others as a threat to their freedom or prosperity. Pray for those with power: that power and authority in this realm may be administered such that all people – and especially those struggling and suffering – may be treated with the dignity, respect, justice, and love that God extends. And pray for us: may we remember our human connectedness and dependency on each other, our responsibility to live out the ways of God’s kingdom now, and our call to bear the struggles of those who are suffering.
May God hear us, such that the evil that currently reigns is overcome by the unity and divine love embodied by God’s people.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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WORSHIP - SAFETY PRECAUTIONS |
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Please click below to read the latest Congregational Update regarding COVID-19 measures: |
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Worship this Sunday,
March 27, 2022
Contemporary Service
at 9:00 AM
Traditional Service
at 10:30 AM
This service can be viewed LIVE through
St. John's Youtube Channel
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or on our homepage:
www.stjohnsivyland.com
Past worship service videos can also be found:
Auto-generated closed captions are usually provided by YouTube about a week after the service has posted for the hearing impaired.
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Lenten Project
St. John’s Mission/Outreach
Easter Bags for
Bright Future Academy
The date/time for those congregants who would like to join us in completing the final project will be announced later. Bags will be assembled in early April.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
Blessings,
St. John’s Mission/Outreach Team
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Really basic sewing skills needed -
maybe 10 more people to each sew 25?
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Basic straight & zig zag stitches. PLEASE help the St John's Sew & Sows (sewing fabric & sowing seeds of hope) finish up our SaniPanti project. These hygiene items are desperately needed by young girls in Africa. We have about 250 more to sew. No cutting, no assembly. Just sew. And sew and sow! Call the church office or Lynne Tomlinson (cell 215-378-9574) to pick up a batch of 25 to complete. Please? Please? Please? And thank you!
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Easter Sunday
Flowering Cross
The flowering of the Easter Cross is a celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. It transforms a symbol of death, darkness, hopelessness and pain into something beautiful, new and alive. We will once again erect a cross on the front lawn and invite you to place a flower on it, before or after each service on Easter Sunday. Volunteers are needed to assist with the flower placement. More details coming soon. Call Susan Seamans 215-357-6998, Ext 305 to volunteer.
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Children's Activities This Week
- Children's Sunday School at 10:30 AM
Parents, children will check-in at the mobile cart
in the Education Wing
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Pre-K - Grade 6
Sunday 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Cooperation is a spiritual concept that originates with God. God created us to work together in a community. Throughout the Bible, we see how God brought people together to accomplish something big for Him. Join us in March as we learn about what Jesus envisioned for His followers. Our love for one another can point people to Him.
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Youth Activities This Week
Youth Sunday School
at 10:30 AM
Youth Night
This Sunday the 27th
7:15 - 8:30 PM
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Sunday,
March 27, 2022
Grades 7 - 12
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL at 10:30 AM
in the Youth Lounge
Join Mrs Heidi Gutsch & Mrs Ashley Zezinger this Sunday for group discussions that will challenge and grow your faith.
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Youth Night
This Sunday,
March 27th
7:15 - 8:30 PM
Fun, food, games & fellowship
Come join us!
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Confirmation Class
March 27th -
WORKSHOP MAKE-UP DATE
11:30 AM
Fellowship Hall
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All God's Children Have a Place in the Choir!
Join the choir - you'll be glad you did.
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Girl Scout Troop 209
makes medical kits for doctors in Ukraine
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Thank You!
St. John’s Ivyland makes Eagle Scout Project possible
During the pandemic, Matthew Floyd asked his church family here at St. John’s to donate gently used books for his Eagle Scout project. Matt’s goal was to use books to help people envision and strive for a better future. The church helped to donate 2,500 books in a variety of genres! Matthew then built 3 libraries at addiction centers and a book cart for the groups that meet here at church. Prior to helping to process and clean these books, Troop 147 came to the rescue to help organize classrooms and do some heavy lifting in and out of the church attic. Because of all the help St. John’s and his Troop provided, Matthew received his Eagle Scout Award on March 12, 2022.
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Staffing volunteers needed for one-hour shifts between 2 and 7 PM
at April 8th St. John's Blood Drive
Donor Screening, Hospitality, Check-in
and Calling Stations
Call Susan Seamans at 215-357-6998, Ext 305
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There are still a few time slots available for the April 8th Blood Drive. Please use the link below or call Susan Seamans
at 215-357-6998, ext 305 if you have any problems getting an appointment.
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The Red Bird Trailers will not be open to accept donations this year. This is due to the lack of availability of rental tractors and also driver concerns. If situations improve, we will notify everyone when the program resumes.
Thank You,
Red Bird Committee
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Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) Needs Our Help |
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Let's Wrap This Up!
Thank you to all who picked up a bag of cutlery to wrap. All forty bags were distributed in one Sunday! As soon as they are all returned, we will be delivering them to TASK.
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Donations Needed of
Non-perishable foods
Please place contributions in the shopping carts located in the narthex
Volunteers are also needed to deliver food and clothing to the Eastwick Food Bank.
Thank you for your support.
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BIBLE STUDIES & DEVOTIONALS |
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St John's Book Club
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
10 AM and 7 PM
Grace Cafe'
NY TIMES BESTSELLER • Martha Hall Kelly’s million-copy bestseller Lilac Girls introduced readers to Caroline Ferriday. Now, in Sunflower Sisters, Kelly tells the story of Ferriday’s ancestor Georgeanna Woolsey, a Union nurse during the Civil War whose calling leads her to cross paths with Jemma, a young enslaved girl who is sold off and conscripted into the army, and Anne-May Wilson, a Southern plantation mistress whose husband enlists.
No sign up necessary. All are welcome, please join us.
Carol Campbell & Barbara Schneider, facilitators
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Spiritual Discipline Workshop
Please join Sue Czarnecki on Saturday, April 9th to learn more about increasing your faith through Spiritual Discipline. For more info, call Sue at
267-614-3603.
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Wednesday nights
at 7 PM in the parlor
We will be wrapping up our insightful study of The Holy Spirit in the next week or two.
Our next study will be a relatively short-term one on the writings of the Apostle Peter.
Please join us for our informal discussions. All are welcome!
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Tuesdays at 10:30 AM
- Old Testament Heroes and Heroines
- C. S. Lewis - The Great "Apologist"
of the 20th Century
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St. John's Women's Communion Breakfast
Saturday, April 2nd at 10:00 AM
Fellowship Hall
Please join us as Rev. Paul Henry presents
"An Early Christian Love Feast", a 1st century Christian celebration of communion & the foods they served.
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Sign up sheet is on the UMW bulletin board off the narthex or call Laura Paulus at 215-794-8764 |
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United Methodist Men
April Breakfast Meeting
Saturday, April 16th
St. John's has talent!
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We are continuing to feature some of our in-house talent at our March meeting. We want to thank Jonathan Seamans for providing us with his insights on college athletics at our March meeting.
Our April speaker will be
Brian Jackson. Stay tuned for more info.
Please join us at The Sycamore Grill,
255 North Sycamore Street, Newtown
on Saturday, April 16th at 10 a.m.
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Prayer requests can be submitted
Prayer requests are reviewed
Monday-Friday AM.
All "Ongoing Prayer Concerns"
will be listed for two weeks.
Please submit a new prayer request
if you desire to renew the listing for 2 additional weeks.
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PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the Month
10 AM in the Parlor.
Come join us in knitting/crocheting various items for those in need.
Contact Carol Rice for more information.
Requests for prayer shawls or lap robes to comfort those experiencing serious illness, bereavement, or other major life issues may be made through the prayer request form on the church website, or by contacting the church office
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MOBILE GIVING
- Just go to our website stjohnsivyland.com
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Click on the 'Give' button in red, Donate Any Amount and register.
Once you've registered, you can either make donations by debit or credit. Lenten Offerings may also be received through our website.
TEXT GIVING
Simply text the amount you wish to give to 877-960-2396.
You will immediately receive a one-time registration link, then just follow the prompts to complete your donation!
You may also send your tithes and offerings to the church office:
820 Almshouse Road, Ivyland, PA 18974
If you have any questions about mobile or text giving,
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If your contact information changes:
address, phone, email, etc.
please notify the church office at
and we'll be sure to update your information in our files.
Thank you!
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Click on the button below to view the video about Bright Future Academy at El Mesias UMC, the recipient of our
2021 Advent Offering
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WHAT'S HAPPENING!
The latest Devotionals, News and Worship Videos can be be accessed below, as well as, under the
"What's Happening"tab on our website.
www.stjohnsivyland.com
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CCLI Streaming License #CSPL049266 |
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St. John's Ivyland
820 Almshouse Road
Ivyland, PA 18974
stjohnsivyland.com
Rev. Brad Leight, Sr. Pastor
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