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May 29, 2025

“Heal”

A few weeks ago, a young man named Jamal Roberts won the TV show “American Idol.” The song that propelled him to victory was a relatively unknown Contemporary Christian song “Heal,” originally written and performed by a British artist named Tom Odell. As we celebrate the class of 2025, some of us may find it shocking that American Idol - the show- is older than them! Over the past 23 years many artists have won the show, singing many different genres of music - but Jamal’s victory is truly unique.

The first interesting thing about this season of American Idol is that there were so many gifted Contemporary Christian and Gospel music singers on this season of the show that it “broke through.” Much of the contemporaneous coverage of the show was about how faith-based artists were standing toe-to-toe with some of the best amateur country and r&b singers across the country. That’s how I found out about Jamal (I stopped watching “Idol” before most of this year’s graduates were teenagers). 

But as powerful as Jamal’s performance was - and his voice and his worship were truly soul-stirring - I can’t help but believe that what truly broke through and captured the attention and interest of a global audience was the good news that God is still able to heal.

Take my mind and take my pain

Like an empty bottle takes the rain

And heal, heal, heal, heal

And take my past and take my sins

Like an empty sail takes the wind

And heal, heal, heal, heal

Jamal’s personal story is inspiring. He’s a father and PE teacher from Meridian, Mississippi who had tried and narrowly failed to win another realityTV singing competition - “Sunday Best” in 2020. “Sunday Best” is a Gospel show (!) and I find it a fascinating testimony that a Gospel artist who was unable to win a Gospel Music talent show had the perseverance and talent to win a bigger pop music show, still singing Gospel Music. With God all things are possible.

I am encouraged! I believe not just our graduates but all of us need to be reminded to never give up on God, because what God has for us is greater than whatever or wherever we are now! Whether celebrating a major life milestone or dealing with the pain of loss, regret and disillusionment; whether we’re thriving in this season, or we’re feeling broken by the circumstances of life’s journey: God has the power to transform our lives! God heals our “brokennesses,” restores our souls, and gives increase to our lives by God’s everlasting power. 

And heal, heal, heal, heal

And tell me some things last

No matter where we are on life’s journey, if we stay with God, the best is yet to come! For those who are celebrating a graduation or promotion, hold on to God - it gets better. To those who are dealing with hurt and disappointment, hold on to God- it gets better. No matter where we are, if we hold on to God, we can live our lives knowing IT GETS BETTER. Hallelujah and thank God for Good News!

Love & Light

John-Thomas (JT) Crockett

Director of Youth, Young Adult & Family Ministries

Psalm 1 | John 17:20-26

Worship Service can be viewed LIVE AT 10:30 AM 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.

Assistive Listening

St. John’s Ivyland wants to meet the needs of our community, and support our members and visitors in vital ways, including helping everyone to fully participate in Worship.

We are thankful to be able to provide ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES (ALDs)that are available for use at each Service.

These ALDs are FM radios that are connected to the audio broadcast for our Worship Services. The listening devices can be found in a marked basket in the church narthex.

Each service the devices will be sanitized for use but if you are interested in purchasing your own listening device they are available to order for under $20. Please contact the St. John’s church office to order a device or if you have any questions about St. John’s Ivyland’s ALD program.

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)” 

This June St. John’s Ivyland’s Communion Mission offering will benefit PASS (Project Arch Street Service), specifically support for Sack Lunches and the Center in Philadelphia!

This Sunday St. John’s Ivyland will be recognizing the Class of 2025 in both the Contemporary (9am) and Traditional (10:30am) Worship Services. 

We are grateful to take this time to celebrate what these young people have achieved - with God’s help! - as we have encouraged, prayed and watched over them. We pray the Lord continues to bless them and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow and change the world in Jesus’ name!

All are invited to a brief celebration with the Class of 2025 and their families, right after Traditional Worship in the Fellowship Hall, this Sunday, June 1st.

Pentecost, the 50th and final day of the Easter Season is the day the earliest Christians received the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Church was born. Joy, singing (June 8th is Music Sunday!), images of the Holy Spirit like a dove or flames... and the color red mark Pentecost. To help celebrate this joyous day, all congregants are encouraged to wear red to worship on Sunday, June 8th!

At 9 & 10:30am Sunday June 8th, come receive “A Message in Music” as the music ministry and choirs of St. John’s Ivyland lead us in a time of Worship and Praise as we make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

This Training is REQUIRED.

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

This DAYTIME Training Session (Session 2) is offered for Volunteers who were unable to attend Session 1.

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.

St. John’s is grateful for the faithful service of our Nursery volunteers and we’re giving them some much needed time to rest and be restored this Summer. Starting June 25th the Nursery will be OPEN BUT UNSTAFFED at both 9 and 10:30 am. Parents and caregivers are still able to make use of the space and we look forward to welcoming back a rejuvenated team of Nursery servant-leaders in the Fall!

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