Hello St. John’s Family,
While working on this note, I was informed of a news update that none of us wanted to hear: the rising number of Covid cases nationally, and concern over documented cases of transmission of the delta variant by fully vaccinated persons, has led the CDC to issue revised recommendations regarding masks. For areas of High or Substantial spread of Covid, it is now recommended that both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons wear masks in crowded indoor settings. I suspect you felt the same sinking feeling in your stomach that I felt upon hearing this news. Believe me, I cannot wait for the day when responding to news updates, or mentioning Covid, the CDC or mitigation measures is no longer a regular occurrence. Yet vigilance is also important as we continue to emerge from a season where so many have suffered physically and mentally.
On one hand, there is good news: Covid transmission in Bucks County currently does not fall into the category of High or Substantial. There are no changes at this time to the current procedures and measures we have in place at St. John’s. (Recall that anyone with concerns or compromised health are welcome and encouraged to wear masks. As per our current policy, masks are not required for those fully vaccinated; those who are not vaccinated are to mask indoors.). It is important to note that Covid cases locally have been increasing from their lowest levels in late June. If that trend continues, we could be facing difficult circumstances in the not-too-distant future. Following the guidance of our personal physician is always critical; with that said, widespread vaccination is a critical component in overcoming Covid. I pray this resource that God has provided for us will continue to be embraced, and that the fullness of congregational life together we have enjoyed in recent weeks will continue and expand.
Prior to the latest public health announcement taking over my day, I was captivated by a different announcement. Simone Biles, widely acknowledged as the most accomplished gymnast in history and a fearless competitor, suddenly withdrew from the team competition in the Olympics. Questions immediately poured in from all angles. Was this medical issue a physical one? What was wrong? How will the U.S. team fare without the “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT)? Will she return for later events? The stream of questions seemed endless. Yet what struck me the most was the sullen, distant look that Biles has often had recently. The effervescent personality that Biles is known for has not been there. It’s clear to me this incredibly talented young woman is hurting.
In recent interviews, Biles is always referenced as the greatest. She’s asked about that constantly: what does it feel like to be the GOAT? How does she do it? How will she push the boundaries of gymnastics even further? Occasionally an acknowledgement of the horrific abuse she and many other young women suffered at the hands of a team doctor will be raised, yet that’s often framed from the angle of how Simone Biles overcame it. There’s very little regard for who she truly is or how she is doing. I sense the immense weight of having the world view her complete identity – her entire worth – in light of her physical accomplishments is consuming this amazing young woman right before our eyes. Simone Biles desperately needs to know, and is slowly discovering, that she is worth so much more than gold medals and accolades.
The beauty of the God we serve is that our identity and worth is not based on what we do. Every single person is of infinite worth, loved and cherished by God, because God desires us. God designed us, brought us into life, cherishes us, and desperately wants to share relationship with us. Nothing we do can increase or diminish the amazing love that God has for us. We are God’s beloved children!
I pray that Simone Biles feels the overwhelming presence and love of God during this difficult time in her life. I also pray that anyone struggling with the weight of the world on their shoulders knows that they are God’s beloved child, and that alone is our foundational identity.
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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CHRIST SERVANT MINISTRIES
The mission of the Christ Servant Ministry Program is to celebrate the training and service of the Laity in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. Lay Servant Ministry is at the core of every church. There is always so much work to be done and every job is important . Teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, serving as liturgists, doing evangelism, leading Bible studies, ushering, or caring for the sick and homeless are some of the ways the laity serve God. In the Eastern PA Conference, we identify the laity who take special servant training to do these jobs as Christ Servant Ministers. Their training revolves around 3 broad categories that combine words with deeds to serve the church and the community.
Christ Servant Ministers are laity who seek training in how to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world
... by Leading,
... by Caring,
... and by Communicating.
If you feel called to seek ways to proclaim his presence and power through all that you are and all that you do.... God may be calling you to be a Christ Servant Minister! Do you . . .
· Listen to others who are suffering with personal crises...
· Teach a Sunday School Class or lead a small group...
· Serve as a liturgist or help in the Worship Service...
· Visit nursing homes, hospitals, prisons, or neighbors..
If you answer yes to some or all of the above, then you are already responding to God's call in the ways of a Christ Servant Minister.
The Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference is offering two opportunities to become a Christ Servant Minister or to continue on your journey if you are already a CSM. One opportunity will be a virtual Laity Academy in August and one in-person in October.
If you are interested, please see Pastor Ruth for further information on the upcoming Laity Academies
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY at ST. JOHN'S
Spread the Word!
Do you enjoy graphic design, developing PowerPoint presentations, writing and editing desktop publications, and updating websites and social media platforms? We are seeking an enthusiastic individual who is proficient in these areas to take on the role of Office Communications/Technology Coordinator. As part of the St. John's administrative team, you will work independently and collaboratively with the pastoral staff, the Clerical Coordinator, Directors of Children's, Youth and Music Ministries, and the congregants.
If you have a heart for Jesus, have a degree or equivalent experience in communications and graphic design, and would like to work 20 hours per week, please consider joining our St John's Administrative Staff.
Call 215-357-6998 for information or email your resume' to stjumc@aol.com
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Tech Team Volunteers Needed
(Anyone age 12 to 112 years old is welcome)
There's always room for one more with our growing Tech Team! We are getting enough volunteers now that we are splitting the jobs into smaller, easier to handle responsibilities. It's no problem getting coverage when you can't make it, as long as you email Sarah Floyd in advance of Sunday. Tech Team members run camera, operate video switcher, scroll the projector slides, monitor audio, and run YouTube software. We use headsets now to aid communication within the team.
Click the box below to sign up for the YouTube LIVE traditional service or the non-broadcast contemporary service.
Sarah will partner with you until you are ready to solo.
This important ministry is bringing worship into the lives of many people, including the hearing impaired who can now enjoy worship through our
closed captioning services.
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Please contact
Sarah Floyd, Director of Video Ministry
at sarah.sjumc@gmail.com
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Worship this Sunday, August 01, 2021
2 in-person services offered:
One at 9 AM in the Sanctuary and
one at 10:30 AM in Fellowship Hall
The 9 AM service can be viewed LIVE through
St. John's Youtube Channel
The Communion offering will go to a Bensalem Community Fund to assist the victims of the
recent flash floods.
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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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READ TO FEED®
A Heifer International Program
THE LIST IS AVAILABLE!
Please help us by signing up to sponsor a child that has already enrolled! For more information check out the church website!
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COMING IN
SEPTEMBER . . .
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Please join us in fellowship and worship on Sunday, September 12 from 4 - 6
as we learn about the connection between kindness and God's character, as shown through God's big story! For the entire family!
Check back for more details!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER, PLEASE CONTACT SUSAN SEAMANS
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Summer Youth Nights
Every Friday
7 PM to 9 PM
July 9 to Aug 27
Plus upcoming trips . .
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Youth Overnight!
Friday, August 13th 7 PM to Saturday, August 14th at 8 AM
All Youth 7th to 12th Grades
Movies, Games and Crafts
St John's Youth Lounge
Questions? Contact: Sarah.sjumc@gmail.com
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DONATIONS NEEDED FOR OUR MISSION SEWING GROUP
St. John’s Mission Sewing Group is continuing our work
on Sani-Panis for young girls in Africa.
It is important for the young girls to have panties
to go with the Sani-Panis.
We are asking for donations of panties in Girls sizes 14 or 16
and in Women’s sizes small and medium.
There will be a box in the Narthex
for donations.
215-357-6998, ex 306.
Thank you for your Heart for Missions.
Pastor Ruth
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ALL AGES
COMMUNITY CAMPFIRE
Bring your friends,
bring your neighbors
Bring an outdoor chair!
Hot dogs and marshmallows provided.
Every Wednesday, 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
June 23 to August 18, weather permitting
Questions? Contact: Sarah.sjumc@gmail.com
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WARRIOR COFFEE UPDATE
AT ST. JOHN’S WE ARE FIGHTING FOR WHAT’S RIGHT -
ONE CUP AT A TIME
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You will remember that in 2017 St. John’s became a partner with the Village of El Naranjito in the Dominican Republic thanks to a program initiated by Lycoming College – United Methodist related college. The program as conceived by Dr. Caroline Payne, Associate Professor of Political Science at Lycoming was twofold: (1) to identify a historically impoverished community and to make a commitment over a fixed period of time to enable the community to become economically self-sustainable. Lycoming would not adopt the community, but over a fixed period of time they would bring human resources and technology to positively change the community.
After significant exploration, Dr. Payne choose the village of El Naranjito, in the mountains of the Dominican Republic. It is a village of approximately 375 people with decades of poverty and isolation. For generations the main source of income has been growing coffee beans.
As an isolated village, the growers were always dependent on others to get their beans to market. Hence they were often treated unfairly by the coffee merchants. In addition, in 2012 a fungus spread through the coffee fields causing the farmers to lose much of their crop. The village did not have the money to purchased new coffee plants, hence they were further at the mercy of unfair vendors. In 2013, the farmers in the village were paid $0.08 to $0.12 cents per pound for their beans.
That’s when Lycoming College became involved. In addition to buying new coffee plants to replace the damaged ones, the college worked with the community to purchase and plant macadamia and avocado trees. This gave the coffee plants shade producing a better quality of coffee, as well as providing the community with two new cash producing crops.
The result has been that in 2015, Lycoming paid $1.85 per pound for beans; in 2016, $2.05 per pound for beans; and in 2017, $2.47 per pound. The economic impact on the community has been immediate.
However, the pandemic has brought great disruption to the work that was begun. Over the next few weeks I will detail the current situation and how we at St. John’s can continue the efforts to help the village - one cup at a time.
Paul B. Henry
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DONATIONS NEEDED
Donations of non-perishable food for the Eastwick Food Pantry are needed throughout the year. Please place contributions in the shopping carts located in the narthex and fellowship hall lobby.
Volunteers are also needed to deliver food and clothing to the Eastwick Food Bank.
Thank you for your support.
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St John's Drive-Thru Prayer Ministry is back!
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If you cannot come to church but are in need of prayers, our prayer team will pray with you at our drive-thru prayer.
Join us the 3rd Wednesday of each month starting July 21st from 4:30-6:00 PM.
If you would like to join us and be a part of this ministry of St John's, please contact Pastor Ruth by calling the Church office at 215-357-6998.
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ST. JOHN'S BOOK CLUB
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
10:00 AM in Grace Cafe' and 7 PM in Parlor.
Leaders: Barbara Schneider and Carol Campbell
The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate
The dramatic story of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post-Civil War South, and a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its connection to her student's lives.
We will follow St. John's guidelines regarding masks and social distancing. Please join us!
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UNITED METHODIST MEN'S BREAKFAST
Saturday, August 21, 2021
8:00 AM
St John’s Fellowship Hall
Final Planning Meeting for the September 18th Chicken BBQ
All Men Are Welcome!
Contact Jack Donovan or Paul Henry for additional information on UMM activities
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Chicken BBQ
Saturday, September 18, 2021
11 AM to 3 PM
Take-out Only!
Full Dinner
1/2 BBQ Chicken, Coleslaw,
Potato Salad, Roll, Cold Drink $10.00
Chicken Only
1/2 BBQ Chicken $5.00
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Calling all Golfers!
UMM Golf Outing
For more information, please contact
Jack Donovan at Jdonovanco@comcast.net
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Prayer requests can be submitted
Prayer requests are reviewed
Monday-Friday AM.
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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Please keep the Thomas and Nelson families in your prayers. Dorothy Taylor, age 93 and a resident of Masonic Village, passed into eternal life on
July 28, 2021. Dorothy was a cousin of Catherine Thomas and Roy Nelson.
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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
at 215-357-6998 or stjumc@aol.com.
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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!
It's quick and secure.
The same vendor that handles electronic giving for us, Vanco Services, has state of the art encryption, so you can rest easy that your transaction is 100% safe and confidential.
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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When your flowers are in full bloom, take a picture and share it with us!
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Ushers Needed
for in-person worship services to greet worshippers, direct them to available seats and assist with questions. This is a simple yet meaningful opportunity to serve God by sharing His love with others. Please contact the church office to sign up to serve as an usher.
215-357-6998
or
Thank you for your faithful support of all we do in service to Christ here at St. John's.
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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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If your contact information changes:
address, phone, email, etc.
please notify the church office at
215-357-6998 or stjumc@aol.com
and we'll be sure to update your information in our files.
Thank you!
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CCLI Streaming License #CSPL049266 |
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St. John's Ivyland
820 Almshouse Road
Ivyland, PA 18974
stjohnsivyland.com
Rev. Brad Leight, Sr. Pastor
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