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May 01, 2025

Hello St. John’s Family,

As May begins and spring is in full bloom, the beauty of this season has presented a wonderful backdrop for the many good things at St. John’s over the past few weeks! We were blessed through meaningful Holy Week and Easter worship services, with powerful musical offerings that guided us in re-experiencing the weight of Christ’s Passion and the unbridled joy of resurrection. We welcomed children and families from our community for an afternoon of fun together hunting for eggs, sharing a meal, and hearing of the hope of Christ. We gathered together to provide and pack 10,000 meals with Rise Against Hunger, offering sustenance and hope for those who are vulnerable and struggling. In short, we lived out our mission: to be a people of open arms and serving hands, such that lives are transformed through Christ. It’s been humbling to see your faith in action – thank you for your commitment to serve and worship Christ at St. John’s! Many in our community – and far beyond – have experienced the good news of God’s love in Christ through you.

Yes, recent weeks here have been filled with many good things. Yet that’s supposed to happen, right? That’s part of the story. It’s Easter; in the aftermath of Christ’s unjust death, we experience new life and joy as we celebrate his resurrection. We hear that in the scriptures – scriptures that are the foundation of our faith. Scriptures we’ve heard many, many times before. Which I sense is one of our biggest challenges of the Lenten and Easter seasons: our deep familiarity with the story.

Don’t get me wrong – familiarity can be a good thing. Our familiarity with the Easter story brings us comfort, as we’re reminded how nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ – a message that’s always needed. Familiarity can also bring a sense of condescension – dare I say arrogance – causing us to tune out. Familiarity can lead to the idea that we’ve heard this, thus we know this… why do I need to hear it again? Yet one of the most beautiful – and powerful – aspects of the Easter story is how God shows us love, redemption, and new life in a completely new light through the resurrected Christ.



Early one morning this week as I was walking across the parking lot, I noticed a fox in the open grass behind our building, near the shed. I’ve seen foxes many times here; they’re beautiful and fun to see… but nothing extraordinary. Simply a little reminder of the beauty of our surroundings.

As I looked closer, there was something fuzzy in the grass near that fox. Soon, that fuzzy thing seemed to be moving. Trying to snap a picture, it all looked blurry. As I made it inside and looked out the nursery window, I saw several fuzzy things, moving in and out from under the shed. Apparently, a fox gave birth to a “family” there, using our shed as a nursery! I was able to capture a few pictures – I hope you enjoy.

I’m not sure how many times I’ve walked across our parking lot and stared at the shed… yet I never saw it as a nursery before. A mother fox saw our shed as a safe, secure place; one that was welcoming and perfect for her kits to grow and be nurtured in love. Exactly what a church should be, right… for foxes, and for us!

Friends, that’s the power of a “God Moment”: seeing something very familiar in a completely new light, such that the love, beauty, and goodness of God is revealed. We can experience that when we listen with open hearts to familiar scriptures for the 500^th time, we can experience that in the mundane moments of walking across a parking lot – we can experience that anywhere! Our task is to open our hearts, and remembering God always has something new to reveal

This Sunday, we’ll hear a powerful account of two companions who encountered Christ walking along a road, trying to sort out things that seemingly made no sense. In their conversation, and a meal that followed, they saw everything in a completely different light. I hope you’ll read Luke 24:13-32, then join me in worship-

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Brad

Luke 24:13-24 | Luke 24:25-32

Since the 1970s, Diakon Family Life Services has met the mental health needs of people through quality, compassionate counseling, family-based mental health services and specialized programs.

St. John’s Ivyland is proud to support the vital work Diakon does to serve individuals and families in our area.

This Sunday’s Special Rise Sunday Worship Service can be viewed LIVE AT 10AM on

St. John's YouTube Channel

Past worship service videos can also be found:

https://www.stjohnsivyland.com/videoarchive

Auto-generated closed captions are usually provided by YouTube about a week after the service has posted for the hearing impaired.

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)” 

To all who gave their time, their labor, their gifts and their prayers; to our partners at Rise Against Hunger; and to local businesses Guiseppi's and Giant who supported our efforts - THANK YOU for helping St. John’s Ivyland provide 10,000 meals for people in need in Jesus’ name!

Please feel free to say ‘thanks” to Tony at Guiseppi's and John, Will & Kinsey at Giant on behalf of St. John’s the next time you visit!

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.

This Training is REQUIRED.

All volunteers who work with children & vulnerable communities need to attend one training annually.

A DAYTIME Training Session (Session 2) will be offered for Volunteers who were unable to attend Session 1, but has not been scheduled. We encourage all who are able to plan to attend Session 1 (May 19th).

Thank you for continuing to provide for the safety of the children and youth of our congregation. Please sign up as a volunteer to let us know that you will be attending.

This Sunday our Youth will be led in a fun time of fellowship, games & sharing by Pastor Megan in the Youth Room immediately after Traditional Worship (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.

The story centers around the main character Philip W. Ambruster. Philip led a simple life with his parents and sister until the night of his 18th birthday. He finds himself alone on a trip from Virginia to colonial Williamsburg. He meets many interesting characters and settles in Philadelphia. With historical facts and tidbits scattered throughout, I Once Stood is a novel that will take you by surprise while reminding you what life is all about. 

We hope you will join our book club on May 21st in the church parlor at 10:30 A.M. 

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!

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