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August 29, 2024

Hello St. John’s Family,

It feels great to great you again! My recent time away was good – and much needed – to attend to family responsibilities while also carving out a little time to rest. A barnstorming tour of Knoxville and Gatlinburg, TN, to Conway, SC, to Lexington VA, to York, PA, to Baltimore, MD and back brought new experiences…  along with some familiar ones. Though I’m a little too familiar with the process of moving in and out of dorm rooms, it was good to see my son and daughter moved back and settled in for the upcoming year. Spending some time with my parents was also welcomed, as they could enjoy uninterrupted time with their son in a season where each day seems to bring new challenges. Yet, with the travels of recent days now completed, it has felt good to return to the rhythms of home.

Rhythm originates from a Greek word meaning measured movement and flow. For some of us, a sense of consistency and pattern in our daily lives is helpful. Rhythms enable us to reasonably anticipate what will occur on a given day, accomplishing the key responsibilities we are tasked with while maintaining a healthy balance of social interactions, work, and rest. For others, patterning each day in a very similar fashion can feel overly constrictive and draining. Yet we all have some semblance of movement and flow within our lives… otherwise, we experience chaos. Maintaining some elements of consistency in our day-to-day lives helps us function as healthy and whole persons.

For me, one of the most difficult aspects of travelling is the disruption to my quiet devotional time. My consistent rhythm of rising early and spending quiet moments in reflection and prayer is often disrupted when I’m on the road. Though I try, changes in timing and location often make it hard for me to focus. While the beauty of nature points me toward God, I am often on the move, and it is hard for me to “be still and know that I am God,” as the psalmist says. Yet the beauty of our God is that God is always ready and waiting for us to return. I recently read an observation from pastor and author Rich Villodas, who noted how “a thousand distractions simply are a thousand opportunities to come back to Jesus.” The grace and love of God are always ready and waiting for us.

Which brings us to the season now upon us: a new academic year. Our children and youth are in the midst of returning to school and college. Many workplaces who offer relaxed “summer hours” will return to normal workweeks in September. Schedules for many will return to a more “normal” (aka hurried!) pace. As that occurs, I invite you include intentional time with God in the rhythms of your life. Daily time to pause, reflect, and pray, and weekly time to gather with our St. John’s Family, will strengthen and sustain you regardless of the challenges that come your way.

This Sunday in worship, we’ll have the joy of sharing in a Baptism at our 10:30 service! In the message, we’ll explore an exchange Jesus has with Pharisees when they question the practices of some disciples. In his pointed response, Jesus reveals how heartless ritual is meaningless while offering hope to hearts that long for God. I hope you read Mark 7:1-8, 15-23, and then join me in worship on Sunday!

Grace and Peace,     

Pastor Brad

Come worship with us this Sunday!

September 01, 2024

"It Starts with Our Heart"

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15

Weekly Scripture:

James 1:17-21

Lead Pastor - Rev. Brad Leight

Contemporary: 9:00AM | Traditional: 10:30 AM

This service can be viewed LIVE through

St. John's YouTube Channel

or on our homepage:

www.stjohnsivyland.com

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

St. John’s Caring Ministries Visitation Team 

is a vital part of the mission of our church. 

The Team regularly visits our shut-ins, makes calls to check on them 

and sends cards to brighten their days. 

If you are interested in becoming a part of this important

ministry of St. John’s, please contact Pastor Ruth.

We will be scheduling a training meeting soon, 

so prayerfully consider joining our Team.

COMING TO A MOVIE THEATER NEAR YOU!

For the first time ever, Sight & Sound is broadcasting LIVE into movie theaters nationwide! Join us as the brand-new original production, DANIEL, goes from the big stage to the big screen in this special movie theater event — August 30th, with additional showtimes through September 2nd. Tickets on sale now!

Locally, the Regal Warrington Crossing and Regal UA Oxford Valley Theaters will be showing the live broadcast at the following times:

Friday, 8/30 - 7:00PM

Sat 8/31, Sun 9/1, and Mon 9/2 - 2:00PM

(RE)CONNECT with powerful ministries and programs at St. John’s Ivyland this September as we “fall back” into all the wonderful ways we worship, study, fellowship, sing, serve and more during our Fall Kick Off!

We’ve worked to build a special page - updated with the latest information - where you can find out what you need to know about when and where you can (RE)CONNECT to all the good things happening at St. John’s Ivyland.

THERE DIFFERENT WAYS TO ACCESS THE WISHLIST:

A. Scan the QR code below

B. Access through the web site, as follows:

1. Go to www.thecenterphiladelphia.org
2. Click on the DONATE button
3. Under IN KIND DONATIONS, click on Amazon Wish List. Multiple Grace Cafe wish lists are on the left side of the page.

C. Order the item or items you want to donate from the wish list.

Make payment; Amazon will ship the donated items directly to Arch Street United Methodist Church

The Upper Room

Devotionals

for 

September/October

Are now available

in the Narthex

Be sure to pick up one for yourself and one for a friend.

St John’s Ivyland is looking for children & teens (3rd Grade & older) who are interested in becoming acolytes.

What is the job of an acolyte?

Acolytes perform a vital role in Worship: they bring in the Light of Christ prior to the service and to take the Light of Christ out into the World at the end of the service.



Training is available for all interested in serving! 

If you know of a young person who can serve in this meaningful part of Worship Contact Jennifer Haas (215)-776-1740 | jenhaas95@gmail.com

The New Christian Education year is right around the corner! 

This year we are using a new tool (VBSPro) to help us collect our Children’s Ministry participant registration information. Registering your child(ren) helps our church provide the resources, volunteers and planning necessary to keep all of our kids safe, happy and in love with Jesus Christ!

Please help us get off to a terrific start to our 24-25 Christian Education year by registering ( vbspro.events/p/ss2425) your child today!

2024-25 Youth Sunday School Registration is live! Please help us to make sure your youth is registered. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to JT Crockett at youth.stjumc@gmail.com.

It is such a blessing to work with children and youth. They often see the world with new eyes and see the world around us in ways that remind us of our own faith and our faith growth. 

“Jesus called a little child to come to him. He stood the child in front of the followers. Then he said, “The truth is, you must change your thinking and become like little children. If you don’t do this, you will never enter God’s kingdom. The greatest person in God’s kingdom is the one who makes himself humble like this child.” - Matthew 18:2-4 ERV

As adults we have the blessing of working with our children and youth to shape and model for them what it means to be a Christian in today’s world. Please consider joining us as we transform the lives of our children and volunteer in our Children’s and Youth Ministry Programs. There are opportunities for everyone!



Join us on Monday, September 9, 2024 at 7:00 pm in our Fellowship Hall to hear about the opportunities available and the ways that St. John’s Ivyland United Methodist Church is sharing the love of Jesus Christ with our children and our youth in our church, community, and beyond.

Summer Children’s Church

Summer sun can't keep us away from celebrating and sharing the Love of God! 

St. John's is proud to offer 10:30 AM Summer Children's Church every Sunday this Summer! 



Bring your little ones this week & if you are interested in volunteering for a Sunday (or more!) throughout the Summer, speak with Rev. Megan Berkebile, Director of Children's Ministries.

As Summer comes to a close, we take time to give God thanks for all the ways we have been able to “Grow in Grace” together! Please Register to participate in our Fall Youth Programs, today!

Our 6:15PM Young Adult Explorers meeting will return Sunday September 8th as part of St. John’s Ivyland’s Fall Kick Off!

Leaders are Barbara Schneider and Carol Campbell

"Martin’s Send Down the Rain answers the questions of what it means—and what level of sacrifice it takes—to truly love someone."

Music is one of the ways that we show God that we know who God is!

St. John’s Ivyland’s Music Ministry has a place for you to come and lift up your gifts as an offering to the Lord! 

Whether you play an instrument, you want to join our Praise Band, you’d like to play in a bell choir, or if you’d like to lift your voice in song we’ve got a place for you! If you are a little kid, a big kid, a teen, or adult of any age - we’ve got a place for you! If you would love to Worship god in song but don’t know where to go or what you can share, we’ve got a place for you!

For more information about our Music Ministry’s Fall Kick Off Click Here

Choir & Praise Band Rehearsals are getting back into swing Thursday September 5th and Sunday September 8th. Click Here for a full schedule!

 All year, Servant-Leaders in our AV Ministry help facilitate meaningful Worship at our Contemporary and Traditional Services. Throughout Summer, we have witnessed how they help us share the Word of God and the power and passion of Worship with those who can’t join us in a new way. St John’s Ivyland needs your help in growing & sustaining our AV Ministry. Decide today to participate in this vital ministry this Fall! 

As Fall Kicks Off, Reach out today and learn how you can help others (re)connect to Worship through this vital ministry!

Mission Soap Sacks

Here at St. John’s we live out our mission to love and serve others in many ways. The Soap Sack Ministry is beginning here at St. Johns and we would love your help. Soap sacks are crochet or knitted sacks made out of cotton yarn that hold a bar of soap. These sacks can be used as a wash cloth in addition to a way to store your soap.

We need your help in making these sacks! They are easy to make and take no time at all. Our VBS and Sunday School children will be helping us by collecting the bars of soap. At this time, sacks filled with soap will be donated to Diakon Ministries and Project Arch Street Service (PASS).

If you are interested or have any questions, please reach out to Roberta Nelson who will get you a packet of patterns. A collection bin will be near the Mission bulletin board for completed sacks.

Thank you!

Please contact Roberta Nelson

Email: bertahsn382@gmail.com

Text: 215-206-2846

Home Phone: 215-364-0919

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