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Hello St. John’s Family,
So much in our world today focuses on the bottom line. Economically, we strive to obtain maximum value for minimum price. When facing a difficult decision, we make our lists: plusses and positive attributes of the decision in one column, followed by drawbacks and negative attributes in another. Visually seeing which column is greater will often drive our decision. From a very young age we are trained to evaluate situations and decisions such that we maximize our probability of coming out on top, while minimizing our risk, or the time/energy/money we need to invest. It’s an approach intended to protect us while helping us succeed, and it generally does. Yet this approach doesn’t always work.
Think about it: dumping trash/waste into abandoned ground (or the ocean) is easy and often cheap yet can have devastating consequences. Fast food, well, is fast, yet never better (in taste or nutrition) that a made-from-scratch meal. And love: genuinely caring so much that we invest our all in someone else, with no guarantee of return, is another aspect of life where a bottom-line approach doesn’t work. I was recently reminded of this when flipping through the television guide and seeing one of my favorite guilty-pleasure movies listed, Adam Sandler’s film Big Daddy.
Sandler plays the character Sonny Koufax, a recent law school graduate who is too lazy to take the bar exam while elevating the concept of slacking off into an art form. As friend after friend moves on with adult life, Sonny finds himself alone and in the custody of a young child. Initially annoyed by this inconvenience, Sonny slowly bonds with the boy, teaching him and helping him navigate life… often in irreverent yet endearing and humorous ways (at least in my juvenile mind).
All of this (of course) was highly illegal, and Children and Youth Services soon catch up with Sonny. In a climatic courtroom scene where Sonny is trying to maintain custody and avoid jail, he attempts to prove why he is a good father by calling his own father as a witness. Appearing to backfire spectacularly (Sonny’s father feels that Sonny should never, under any circumstances, be granted custody), Sonny tells his Dad, I love you. I love you, because you’ll do anything – including coming to my custody hearing over a case you completely disagree with – to protect me and keep me from harm. And I love this child, will do anything to protect and help this child just like you will for me (I’m paraphrasing, but you get the gist!). Authentic love knows no bounds; we’ll invest all we have – even when it doesn’t add up – for the benefit of the person we love.
As Lent presses on, we see more vividly how much God loves us. The sacrificial love of Jesus shows us there is no length that God will not go to so that each one of us can truly experience love, reconciliation, and restoration – going far beyond what is rational. Jesus extends God’s love freely yet does not force us to accept it. However, when we do accept and engage in Jesus’ extravagant love, God has a way of multiplying it. As we are transformed, others see and are also impacted, revealing how God’s love is far more expansive than we can imagine. My prayer is that you are experiencing the depth and expansiveness of Christ’s love anew this Lenten season.
This Sunday in worship, we’ll hear of a woman anointing Jesus’ feet with costly perfume; an act of extravagant love that doesn’t seem to add up. Though costly love does not guarantee the results we want in this world, it reveals what is beautiful, good, lasting, and true. I hope you’ll read John 12:1-8, 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 | | |
During the Lenten season, we're pausing to remember just how hard it is being human. Guided by a devotional by author and professor Kate Bowler, we’re seeing how acknowledging the hard parts of life can give God’s grace the opportunity to break in.
Small Group Sessions meet Thursdays at 10-11am and 6:30-7:30pm in the Parlor.
| | Daily Guide-Everything Happens Lent 2025.pdf | |
Music Ministry
Thursday April 3rd
- Ring of Faith - 6:45
- Adult Choir - NO REHEARSAL
Sunday April 6th
- Joyful Voices / Bells - 11:30
- Cherub Choir - 11:30
- Youth Choirs - NO REHEARSALS
Wednesday April 9th
- Celebration Ringers - 7:00
Thursday April 10th
- Regular Adult Choir Rehearsals
| Tween Fun & Fellowship Day | 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.
St. John’s Ivyland’s Children's Ministry is planning a special Children’s Ministry & Mission activity DURING RISE for parents who want to participate in this awesome day of Mission & Fellowship but may have kids who are kids in pre-K to 3rd Grade!
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Easter Donations
St. John’s Ivyland is collecting Candy, Plastic Easter Eggs & new & gently used Easter decorations for our “Messy Church” Easter celebration on Saturday, April 19th. Donations can be placed in the narthex (outside the Sanctuary) and the Youth Room today through Maundy Thursday (April 17th). Thanks for your faithful support of our ministry for Children and Families!
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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! | | |
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.
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United Women in Faith Spring Banquet
Wednesday, May 7th, 2025, 6:30 pm
We will have a banquet followed by a special program. Fred Miller will be presenting, "George and Ira Gershwin", a lecture-in-song. A native of Albuquerque, Fred studied piano as a boy with Ralph Berkowitz, former dean of Tanglewood in New York. His performance will bring George and Ira Gershwin to life.
A free will offering will be taken.
A sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex on the table.
Please join us for an evening of great entertainment.
| | 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 | | | | |
