Hello St. John’s Family,
As the calendar turns to June, we are reminded of a hallmark of this time of the year: graduation day. Many in our congregation and community are eagerly anticipating this moment to recognize and celebrate the achievements and significant growth that has occurred in their lives. And for good reason. At least 14 young people from our St. John’s family are graduating, and their accomplishments are impressive. We have outstanding students; Eagle Scouts and Gold Award Girl Scouts; exceptional musicians, including state award winners; and accomplished athletes. All have worked very hard, and many have overcome significant challenges along the way to accomplish this goal. On behalf of your St. John’s family, congratulations to each of our graduates!
As we celebrate achievements and successful completion of schooling programs at graduation, we also recognize how this rite is a moment of transition. Completion inherently means a season of life is ending, with a new season beginning. Discerning what path and vocation this new season should take can be challenging. Pastor and author Frederick Buechner notes how the English word "vocation" comes from the Latin word vocare, "to call," which "means the work a person is called to by God." After all, a "calling" assumes a Caller. As Buechner reminds us, for the Christian, this Caller is the living God. Discerning God’s voice and call amid the noise and competing voices around us, though, often proves difficult. What can we use as a guide? Buechner writes:
"By and large a good rule for finding out is this: the kind of work God usually calls you to is the kind of work (a) that you need most to do and (b) that the world most needs to have done. If you really get a kick out of your work, you've presumably met requirement (a), but if your work is writing cigarette ads, the chances are you've missed requirement (b). On the other hand, if your work is being a doctor in a leper colony, you have probably met requirement (b), but if most of the time you're bored and depressed by it, the chances are you have not only bypassed (a), but probably aren't helping your patients much either.
Neither the hair shirt nor the soft berth will do.
The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."
I believe Buechner’s wise words offer guidance to us all. For upcoming or recent graduates, they help discern where God is leading them moving forward. Yet that voice of God, and those nudges forward, do not end at graduation. They continue across our lives, to form us into the people God desires us to be while using our gifts to serve Christ and each other. Perhaps it has been a while since you reflected on how God is calling you. If that’s the case, now is the perfect time to pause, listen, and pray for God’s calling on this season of your life to be revealed.
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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Come Worship with us this Sunday,
June 05, 2022
Contemporary Praise 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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Fellowship & Community Outreach |
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On Sunday, June 26, 2022 we will welcome new members to our St. John's family. If you would like to become a member, please contact
the church office at 215-357-6998.
The pastors will host a Meet & Greet on Wednesday evening,
June 22 at 6:30 PM in the Parlor.
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Now through July 1st
Collection boxes are located in the narthex
We are partnering with the Family Service Association of Bucks County to collect school supplies needed to support local children. If you don’t have time to shop, we will gladly take cash or check donations made out to St. John’s United Methodist Church (memo: school supplies). Thank you so much for your support! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to
Supply List:
*TI-84 plus calculators
*Backpacks
Marble composition books
Spiral Notebooks
Pencil cases
2-pocket plastic folders
Binders (All sizes)
Lined paper
Zippered pencil case
Highlighters
Red pens
Black sharpies
Boxes of assorted colored pencils
Boxes of crayons
Washable Markers
Scissors
Packs of Post-It notes 3x3 (not accordion style)
Packs of white 3x5 index cards
Black Expo markers
Expo marker erasers
Glue Sticks
Earbuds and headphones
- These items are especially needed. (You may also make a cash donation or partner with another friend or family to purchase these items.)
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We are pleased to announce that
the Grace Café is open!
We are looking for volunteers to help with the coffee. We need folks to help start the coffee at 8:30 - great for people attending the 9:00 service. We also need people to help clean up any time after the 10:30 starts. Please contact Sharon Byle ([email protected]/610-888-1329).
Plan on joining us for coffee/tea and snacks and a wonderful time of fellowship after the 9 am worship service.
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WARRIOR COFFE - NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER!
The ship is pulling in to port! Order your coffee now and your freshly roasted favorite will be ready within a week. Specify number of bags, regular or decaf, and whole bean or ground. Pay when you receive the order.
Fighting for What’s Right - One Cup at a Time
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Mark your calendars for two big events! |
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St. John's/American Red Cross Blood Drive
Friday, July 8th, 2022
More info to follow on donor sign-ups and volunteer opportunities
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St. John's Chicken BBQ
Saturday,
September 17, 2022
food, fun, fireworks
(ok, no fireworks unless the grill flares up)
More info to follow
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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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A Reminder . . .
The hallway for Classrooms A – E IS CLOSED to general traffic on Sunday mornings. Only children and their parent/guardian(s) will be permitted in this hallway. If you enter the church through the back door and do not need to check in children for Sunday School, please turn right down the hallway past Fellowship Hall and around to the Sanctuary. If you are checking in your child for Sunday School, please proceed to the mobile check-in cart outside Classroom A in the Education Wing.
St. John’s has an “absolute and unwavering commitment to the physical safety and spiritual growth of all of our children and youth” and your assistance is greatly appreciated!
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Children's Sunday School
10:30 AM
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God is strong and faithful, always working in our lives. We might get knocked down from time to time, but when we put our trust in God, we find the strength we need to get back up again. Jesus showed us how to face life with resilience. No matter what happened, Jesus relied on God to help Him accomplish the mission set before Him. This month, we will learn that because of Jesus, we can trust God no matter what. We can bounce back from whatever knocks us down and complete the mission God has for us. |
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Youth Activities Calendar
Youth Choir Singing this Sunday at 10:30 AM
Youth Night 7:15 to 8:30 PM
Ice Cream Sundae Night
Graduate Recognition Sunday
June 5th, 2022
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Graduate Recognition Sunday
June 5th, 2022
Join us as we celebrate
all the accomplishments of our graduates!
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10:30 AM in the Youth Room |
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Youth Sunday School
Grades 7 - 12
Sometimes it takes a song to express what we don't know how to say, or to remind us of what we have forgotten. Join us as we are reminded of the great love. importance and forgiveness we now have because of the great work Jesus finished long ago.
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Youth Night This Sunday
June 5th
7:15 to 8:30 PM
Ice Cream Sundae Night
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Check back for Community Campfire Info and
Small Group Meet-ups starting late June
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We had a great time bowling two weeks ago. We had 12 in our group and Ryan Southard was the winner of lane one and Mark Floyd was the winner of lane two. We will try to schedule a re-match during the summer! |
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Music Sunday is June 12, 2022 at 9 and 10:30 worship services.
Vocal choirs, bell choirs, musicians will all join together to praise God in music. Make a joyful noise!
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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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Starting in the Fall of 2022
Think you know all about the Old Testament prophets? And why should you care anyway?
You may be surprised!
Our next study on Wednesdays evenings will be Disciple III FastTrack. This is a 24-week comprehensive study with manageable daily scripture readings. The first half focuses on Old Testament prophets; the second half on the Letters of Paul.
Ken Lee, facilitator
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Disciple III FastTrack study guide on The Prophets available at Cokesbury or Christianbook.com or other online providers. |
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To view the video shown on UWF Sunday, please click
the link.
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United Methodist Men
UMM will meet again in the fall but stay tuned for Chicken BBQ planning sessions and announcements.
Have a blessed summer!
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Prayer requests can be submitted
Prayer requests are reviewed
Monday-Friday AM.
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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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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 UMC
820 Almshouse Road
Ivyland, PA 18974
stjohnsivyland.com
Rev. Brad Leight, Sr. Pastor
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