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Hello St. John’s Family,
I was fortunate to spend last week at Duke Divinity School and Library for a time of focused research, study, and prayer. One of the perks of the week was to participate in worship services at Duke Chapel. After exiting the Chapel one evening, I was pleasantly surprised to see that our friends down south were honoring the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory (…or possibly recognizing the Feast of St. Patrick!). Either way, it was a beautiful sight.
Across the week, I was struck by the beauty of the spring season, as flowers and buds and cherry blossoms were coming into bloom. I’d sit on a bench outside of the Chapel eating lunch each day, taking in the beauty of the scene around me. I was struck with wonder and hope as I felt God’s presence and love. My mind went to a song we’d sing at youth campfires:
What a wondrous time is spring / when all the trees are budding
The birds begin to sing / the flowers start their blooming
That’s how it is with God’s love / once you experience it
You want to sing / it’s fresh like spring / you want to pass it on. (Pass It On)
Wonder and hope… God’s presence and love. Things that – at first glance – often seem to be in short supply today. Yet deeper reflection reveals how the perceived lack of wonder, hope, and presence of God’s love has more to do with our focus than with their scarcity. For instance, the wonder and hope revealed in the simple, beautiful signs of spring were readily noticed by the busy college students passing by. I chuckled as student after student paused to snap a picture of the cherry blossoms on their phone. Even the guys were moved by the beauty around them!
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Those lunchtime moments reminded me how hope-filled, awe-inspiring events occur daily. We, though, don’t always pause and focus on them. The reality is we can focus on the pollen that accompanies the wonders of spring and brings about our seasonal allergies… or we can focus on the beauty, wonder, and miraculous new life springing forth around us. We can focus on the uncertainty and significant troubles that are all too frequent in our world or we can focus on the peace we share in Christ. We can focus on the fear that, from time to time, will inevitably surface in our hearts, or we can focus on the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of God through Christ’s death and resurrection.
As Lent presses on, there is a heaviness that builds along the road to Jerusalem and Calvary – and rightfully so. Christ calls us to accompany Him in His Passion, a call that is not easy. That call is borne out of love; a love that is so deep and beautiful it is seen in a crown of thorns and nails on a cross, even as it springs forth in the beauty and wonder of spring blooms. I encourage you to take in both the heaviness and the beauty this Lenten season, as each reveals God’s love.
This Sunday we’ll hear the Apostle Paul’s moving illustration of the transforming power of life in Christ. Life in Christ is a completely new way of existing in the world, marked by reconciliation and new life. And… we’ll be blessed to celebrate a baptism at our 10:30 service! I hope you’ll read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, then join me in worship!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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Stewardship
We celebrate our congregation's faithful commitment to Stewardship in this New Year!
Questions about Giving: email Lou Lescas at stjohns820@gmail.com
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ONLINE, TEXT, IN PERSON & BY EMAIL
Online - Click at the top of any page at www.stjohnsivyland.com
By text - Text the amount of your gift to 877-960-2396. You'll receive a one-time registration link. Then follow the prompts to complete your donation.
In person or by mail - Tithes and offerings can be brought & sent to St. John's Ivyland, 820 Almshouse Rd, Ivyland, PA 18974
“...For God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor 9:7)”
| | ENGAGE @ ST. JOHN'S THIS WEEK | | Lent at St. John’s Ivyland | |
Life is this strange, tender mix, isn’t it?
Joy and sorrow. Love and loss. Big wins and even bigger failures. We cling tightly to the beautiful moments, but then the phone rings, a diagnosis drops, or some creeping ache reminds us that everything—everything—is so much more fragile than we’d like to admit.
During the Lenten season, we’ll pause and remember just how hard it is being human. Guided by a devotional by author and professor Kate Bowler, we’ll see how acknowledging the hard parts can give God’s grace the opportunity to break in.
Small Group Sessions: will resume this Thursday, March 27th; 10-11am and 6:30-7:30pm in the Parlor.
A Daily Devotional can be downloaded below.
| | Daily Guide-Everything Happens Lent 2025.pdf | |
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St. John’s Ivyland Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) has completed Focus Group sessions with: Young Adults, Parents of Younger Children, Empty Nesters, and Seniors from our congregation and community over the last few months. WE THANK EVERYONE who has shared their feelings and observations as we discern where God is calling St. John’s in a changing world.
Based on your thoughtful feedback to SPC; we have identified six areas where we feel called to make an immediate investment of planning, resources, and people power.
Your SPC will be focused on:
- Fellowship
- Communication
- Organizational Review
- Worship
- Welcoming & Accessibility
- Facility
Thanks to you all again for your continued support. We look forward to working and sharing our progress with you soon!
| St. John’s Children and Youth Ministries are happy to invite All Tweens (4th, 5th and 6th Graders) to a FREE day of Fellowship, Fun & Food Saturday April 12th from 1pm to 8pm. This event is open to all area Tweens and their friends. Parents and Volunteers can Register below & feel free to email Youth Director JT Crockett youth.stjumc@gmail.com if you have any questions. | | |
Come One, Come All!!
And bring your family, friends and neighbors!
WHAT: Packaging meals to feed the hungry.
WHY: Because we are people of God and are willing to help those in need!
WHEN: April 27th immediately following the 10am service (only one service that day).
HOW: JUST SIGN UP!! Click the link below.
Duration: The event should conclude around 2pm.
What if I can’t make it?: No worries, you may make a much needed monetary donation. Just click that link!
What we need to be successful: At LEAST 80 volunteers, $5,000.00 and at least 6 strong folks that can lift 50 lbs.
Please prayerfully consider joining this wonderful fellowship opportunity that promises to be fun, rewarding and a true testament of your commitment to doing God’s work.
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ST. JOHN’S COMMUNION BREAKFAST FOR WOMEN
Saturday, April 5th, 2025
10:00 - 11:30am - Fellowship Hall
A light continental breakfast of coffee, tea, bagels and homemade coffee cakes will be available while we socialize and get to catch up with each other and make new acquaintances. We will discuss upcoming events at St. John’s and United Women in Faith, which will be followed by our guest speaker:
Melissa Kindall, Vice President, Communications and Advancement,
Diakon Child, Family and Community Ministries.
Melissa will share about the outreach programs at Diakon and how they service families in our community. Our Angel Tree gifts were given to Diakon this past Christmas and distributed to the families in their program.
After our speaker we will share in the sacrament of Holy Communion.
A sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex (on the table). Please come, invite your friends, and join in a morning of good fellowship.
| | CHRISTIAN EDUCATION at ST. JOHN'S | | St. John’s Ivyland is proud to offer a “Quantum,” a special three part Teen Sunday School series beginning Sunday March 23rd led by our own Lance Kenney. March 23rd, March 30th and April 6th at 10:30am in the Youth Room, St. John’s Youth are invited to bring their friends and join discussions on God, faith, the fabric of space-time, and cats. (Yes, cats. Seriously.) All youth are welcome and families are encouraged to help our young people join in a different type of conversation about God and our universe! | Please note that this week Youth Sunday School and Youth Fellowship are back in the Youth Room and Young Adult Bible Study will be IN THE LIBRARY from 11:30-12:30! | | |
Wednesday Evening Bible Study
On Wednesday evening, we began our next Bible study entitled:
"Jesus in the Gospels"
This comprehensive study of the birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospels is part of the Disciple Series. There are weekly lesson plans, and each lesson is comprised of daily Scripture readings from the Gospels, and the Old and New Testaments. Scholarly commentary is provided with each lesson. In addition to your Bible, the Jesus in the Gospels Study Manual and Gospel Comparisons are the books needed for the study. The cover pages are pictured. Please notify the St John's Church Office if you plan on joining the class and/or need help ordering the books. We hope you join us for this very powerful and in-depth study as we continue to build our loving relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Bible Study Details:
Location: St. John's UMC Library
Time: Beginning at 7:00 PM
We hope you join us for this powerful and in-depth study as we continue to build our loving relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
| | St. John’s Ivyland’s AV Ministry serves to help those in our Sanctuary and those watching online experience the life changing power of Worship! Joining this vital team of Servant-Leaders is a meaningful way to serve God and others by helping to make the Love and Light of Christ accessible to all. If you are interested in joining or would like to learn more, you can speak with AV Team Leader Casey Lawrence on Sunday, call the St. John’s church office (215)357-6998 or email JT Crockett youth.stjumc@gmail.com . We look forward to serving with you! | | MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES | | CHURCH CONTACT INFORMATION | | | |
If your contact information changes:
address, phone, email, etc.
please notify the church office at
215-357-6998 or office.stjumc@gmail.com
and we'll be sure to update your information in our files.
Thank you!
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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
| | CCLI Streaming License #CSPL049266 | | | | |
