|
Last month, a seminary classmate and friend, Cathy, shared a post on Facebook with her church. In her post she was talking about behaviors she had observed. She then shared part of her Sunday sermon in which she said, “You are spiritually running on empty when your default is to criticize rather than contemplate.” Those words reminded me of John Wesley and his accountability groups when he would ask questions like “How is it with your soul?”
How is it with your soul? I started looking at my own responses to situations. When I am frustrated or anxious, how do I respond? When I am afraid or sad, how do I respond? When I am happy and peaceful, how do I respond? My responses are a direct reflection of my soul. I will honestly share that many times when I am driving, my soul is not calm, and I often find myself yelling and criticizing other drivers. But when I can find peace while driving, I find myself contemplating and watching, often more focused on the area around me instead of being so reactive. How is it with your soul?
| | |
Cathy went on to share that if we can “lean back into wonder…your mind gets more curious. Your heart warms. Your spiritual cup overflows.” When we wonder, we see those around us, we look at them not as other entities but people with feelings and emotions, experiences and challenges much like what we ourselves live. We look at the driver next to us and think about what is taking them on the same road as us, do they have to go to work or whether they are rushing somewhere to take care of their family. We wonder and start to question our own responses and how we look at the world around us.
“How is it with your soul?” becomes ‘how is my soul reflecting my faith?’ Am I grounded in knowing that God is with me, guiding me, calming me, strengthening me to do what I have been called to do? Do I know that no matter what is happening around me - no matter what the world is throwing at me - God is saying “Breathe, lean into My wonder. Lean into My grace and feel hope and feel joy. Feel your soul warm in My love” ? How is it with your soul?
May you pray Psalm 46:10,” “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” And find the invitation to wonder, to find peace, and find grounding in God and ask yourself, "How is it with your soul?"
Rev Megan Berkebile
Children’s Minister, St John’s Ivyland UMC
| | |
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.
| |
Stewardship
We can CELEBRATE God’s love for us by answering the call to Stewardship!
Questions about Giving: email Lou Lescas at stjohns820@gmail.com
| |
“Thank God for the gifts and thank God for the Givers!”
Your faithful support of St. John’s Ivyland with tithes and offerings makes it possible for us to serve God as we are called throughout the year.
Questions about Giving: email Lou Lescas at stjohns820@gmail.com
| |
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)”
| |
|
St. John’s Ivyland is sharing our October Communion Offering with United Methodists around the world as we jointly celebrate our unity in Christ’s love, life, death and resurrection on
World Communion Sunday.
| | Statement Thru September 2025 | |
- Engage (This Week)
- Upcoming (in October)
- Sunday School
- Bible Studies
- Ministries & Small Groups
- Opportunities to Serve
- About the Cornerstone
| |
Painting Party Cancelled
The Painting Party scheduled for Saturday, October 11th has been cancelled. Thank you for your understanding.
| |
Join the Hospitality Committee Ministry
Just as God shares the Bread of Life with us, we enjoy feeding our fellow congregants! Whether it’s homemade or store bought treats, our ministry provisions the Grace Café each Sunday morning with cookies, quick breads, cakes, doughnuts and more.
Joining our team of volunteers means you would be in a rotation once every 3-4 months. If you are interested in helping to sweeten our Sundays, talk to Amy Scarlett today!
Call Amy: 610-322-2276
Email Amy: drandmrsscarlett@yahoo.com
| | |
Please join us in praying for our Confirmands and their families as our 25-26 Confirmation Class begins this Sunday!
| | |
October Bible Study - Faith and International Relations
Picking up where last year’s ‘Faith and Politics’ left off, this four-week Bible study will look at the intersection of the discipline of International Relations (IR) and issues of Christian belief. Topics will include approaches to human nature and the study of global politics; the importance of a ‘macro’ level approach to both the examination of world affairs and questions of faith; the structure of the international state system and the parallels with the Kingdom of Heaven; and the importance of marginalized voices, both in IR and our faith tradition.
The study will be held on Mondays (10 a.m. and 7 p.m.) starting October 13th . Co-moderators will be Lance Kenney and Pastor Brad Leight
| |
Annual Church Charge Conference Meeting - Thursday, October 16th at 6:30PM
All congregants are invited to attend our Annual Church Conference on Thursday, October 16th at 6:30PM in the Parlor. Our District Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Andrew Foster III, will preside at this important meeting. Please contact the St. John's Office with any questions regarding our Church Conference.
| |
St. John’s Ivyland Church Picnic
Family, friends & neighbors - ALL are invited to St John’s Ivyland Church Picnic, Sunday, October 19th. Come to church dressed for picnic fun.
Sign up ONLINE or on the sheets in the church narthex TODAY!
For more information on the St John’s Church Picnic please email Nicole McDevitt.
Email: nikmcd@msn.com
Sign-up Here
|
Trunk or Treat
Join us for Trunk or Treat & celebrate Fall on Sunday, October 26th.
Decorate your car trunk with a theme or spooky Halloween tricks and park in a designated spot as children and adults come around for treats. The ideas are endless, and we are here to help.
There will be food and fellowship for families after - so wear a costume and plan for a good time.
We are accepting CANDY DONATIONS in the St John’s Narthex! (Please & Thank You!) Please let us know if you plan to decorate a vehicle by THIS SUNDAY October 12.
Email: childrensminstry.stjumc@gmail.com
| |
Youth Fellowship
Youth Fellowship is BACK this Sunday 10/12 from 11:30-12:15 in the St John’ Youth Room! Teens are welcome to come hang out, play games and enjoy a time and space set aside for them in Jesus’ Name!
| |
Young Adult Explorer Bible Study
College-aged Young Adults have their own Bible Study at St John’s, led by our own Ken Lee. Our first Fall meeting is this Sunday at 11:30am in the church library.
| | |
Our next Zoom Bible Study is this Tuesday, at 11am. We’d love to see you there! For access please email Rev Paul Henry via the link below.
Email: phenry605@verizon.net
| | | St. John’s Wednesday Night Adult Bible Study is back and we’re exploring Jesus in the Gospels. Join us Wednesday at 7 in the Library! | | | MINISTRIES & SMALL GROUPS | | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 05, 2025 | | | | In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves the Thursday Murder Club. When a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph left next to the body, the Thursday Murder Club suddenly find themselves in the middle of their first live case. | | |
St John’s Ivyland is blessed to have so many current college students in our church family! We are launching a new ministry where we pray for our students by name and lift their concerns before the Lord! If you are interested in becoming a prayer warrior for our students who are away from home, please contact JT Crockett and join this awesome intercessory prayer project today.
Email: youth.stjumc@gmail.com
| | |
St. John’s Ivyland is looking for children & teens (3rd grade & older) who are interested in becoming acolytes!
An acolyte's role is to bring in the light of Christ prior to the service and to take the light of Christ out at the end of the service.
If you know of a young person who can serve in this meaningful part of Worship Contact Jennifer Haas (215)-776-1740
TRAINING IS AVAILABLE!
| | MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES | | CHURCH CONTACT INFORMATION | | | |
If your contact information changes:
address, phone, email, etc.
please notify the church office at
215-357-6998 or office.stjumc@gmail.com
and we'll be sure to update your information in our files.
Thank 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
| | CCLI Streaming License #CSPL049266 | | | | |
