OCTOBER 20, 2022

PASTOR'S REFLECTION

Hello St. John’s Family,

Last Thursday evening, leaders and members gathered for our Annual Charge Conference Meeting. Led by our District Superintendent, the Rev. Dr. Andrew Foster III, St. John’s good work in ministry and mission was reviewed and celebrated. Challenges and needs were discussed. And, as congregational business was completed, we were reminded of the many good things God is accomplishing through you. Consider just a few of the highlights:

Two of our members, Denise Clark and Stephen Whitehead, were affirmed and approved as candidates for Pastoral Ministry in the United Methodist Church and can now begin the long process toward that calling.
Five members were reaffirmed as Christ-Servant Ministers or Certified Lay Ministers.
We were reminded that Baptisms, Confirmation students, and receiving new members are regular parts of our life together as a Church family.
We saw how the commitment to serve God by serving others in mission continues to be foundational in life together at St. John’s.

Along with these highlights, the very real challenges we face in serving Christ faithfully and effectively were acknowledged. We cannot dismiss or diminish our need to move forward and outward with urgency, actively extending the hope of Christ to our community and world. Yet, in a time when God’s people face so many challenges, God IS accomplishing many good things through your service to Christ. I am thankful for your commitment to Christ and Christ’s work here – and am humbled to serve as your Pastor.

Linked below is the annual Report of the Pastor that I submitted to the District Superintendent in early September and was shared at our Charge Conference (you’ll note there are already updates, like the welcoming of JT Crockett as our Director of Youth and Family Ministries!). I encourage you to read, reflect, and pray over this report. As you do, ask God to show you how you are called to help extend our Open Arms and Serving Hands, such that Lives are Transformed By Christ!

I also hope you’ll plan join us in worship this Sunday, where we’ll be blessed to celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism at both of our worship services. Then, during our message, we’ll hear a parable that powerfully illustrates how the best behaved, upstanding, and righteous lives are little more than acts of vanity if they do not originate from humble hearts. I hope you’ll read Luke 18:9-14, and join us in worship-

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Brad

2022 Charge Conference Report

WORSHIP - SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Please click below to read the latest Congregational Update regarding COVID-19 measures:

St. John's Policy Update

WORSHIP

Come Worship with us this Sunday,

October 23, 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

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.

FELLOWSHIP & COMMUNITY OUTREACH

EASTWICK MISSION FOOD BANK

Donations DESPERATELY Needed of

Non-perishable foods

Please place contributions in the shopping carts located in the narthex;

Basically, they are out of food. If you have any questions, let me know at once. Thanks!

Also, this was sent on 2 emails- please note preference for future correspondence.

"Say YES!" to delivering food and clothing to the Eastwick Food Bank.

Please contact Lou Lescas at stjohns820@gmail.com if you are available to help.

Thank you for your support.

Help and hope as you navigate the Christmas season

Wondering how you will survive the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas? Are you dreading these holidays, knowing that everything has changed and that happy memories from past years can’t be recreated?

Our Surviving the Holidays seminar is especially for people who are grieving a loved one’s death. You’ll learn:

How to deal with the many emotions you’ll face during the holidays
What to do about traditions and other coming changes
Helpful tips for surviving social events
How to discover hope for your future

St. John’s Ivyland

820 Almshouse Road

Ivyland, PA 18974

(Church Library)

Monday, November 14 – 6:30 pm

Book -- $5.00

Recycling Event

to benefit Bright Futures Academy

(and our Planet Earth)

Through a program with the Trex Corporation, we are collecting clean and dry soft plastic bags (examples in flyer). Bags should be brought to St. John's and placed in the large white container in the Narthex. Upon collecting 500 lbs of material, Trex will provide us with a brand-new bench (can receive 1 bench every six months). Our first bench will be sent to the Bright Futures Academy for their new playground. This project is organized by two of our Youth Stars, Nicole & Melissa McDevitt. Click below for acceptable plastics to be recycled.

Recyclable Plastic Bags

The Grace Cafe is Open!

Stop by between services for a freshly brewed cup of Warrior Coffee, a sweet treat, and fellowship with your St. John's family.

Fellowship Team

Forming Now

Come join the fun and help to plan future opportunities to gather together as a Church family. We're looking for ideas from our youth and our "elders" and every age in between. Join the Fellowship Team or just come to planning sessions as you are able. Contact Pastor Ruth, Kathy Keppol or Lynne Tomlinson

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Children's Sunday School - Parents, please use the mobile check-in kiosk located in the hallway outside Classroom A in the Education wing.

Pre-K - Grade 6

Sunday 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

This year in Sunday School we are going to take a journey through God's Big Story. This month we will take a closer look at the lives of Joseph and Moses. Both of these men trusted God through hard circumstances and would not give up. These are two heroes of the faith, and we hope we can help the kids see how their stories connect between Genesis and Exodus.

We hope you’re enjoying our Journey Kids Newsletter!

YOUTH GROUP MINISTRIES

Grades 7 - 12

Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Fellowship Hall

Often, for Sunday School, our devotionals, even sermons, we focus on one specific Bible verse and flesh out what it has to say to us today. However, what are we missing by not looking at the ‘big picture?’ What do the first four books of the New Testament have to teach us that we might be missing by parsing out individual passages? This series will look at the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) at a macro-level. Who wrote them and when? Who is the target audience? What are the dominant themes, and how do they overlap or even contradict one another? How did they make the cut and get included in the Bible at all? Most importantly, how are they still relevant for us today?

No homework; participation strongly encouraged!

MUSIC MINISTRY

Music at St. John's

Our Music Ministry rehearsals have begun. There is still time to join. If you have any questions, please contact:

Director of Music Ministries, Roy Nelson
215-962-8928
roynel@aol.com

JOYFUL VOICES CHOIR

The Joyful Voices Choir is for children in grades K-5. The Choir meets every Sunday following the 10:30 Worship Service. Rehearsals usually run about 45 minutes. The Joyful Voices sing twice a month at the 10:30 service. Singing Sundays are the FIRST and THIRD Sundays of the month.

YOUTH CHOIR (singing)

The Youth Choir is for children / youth in grades 6-12. The Choir meets every Sunday at 6:15 and the rehearsal lasts one hour. The Youth Choir sings twice a month at the 10:30 Worship Service. Singing Sundays are the SECOND and FOURTH Sundays of the month. Occasionally the choir will sing at the 9:00 Contemporary Worship. New members are welcome. Previous participation in a choir is not a requirement.

ADULT CHOIR (singing)

Our Adult Choir presents music every Sunday at the 10;30 Worship Service. The Adult Choir rehearses every Thursday night at 8:00. Rehearsals usually last until 9:30. New members who have had some singing experience are always welcome to join us for rehearsal. Please contact Roy Nelson for additional information.

CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP PRAISE BAND

The Praise Band sings each week at the 9:00 Worship Service. Singers and instrumentalists (guitar / percussion) are invited to join us. Rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings at 7:00. Adults and youth were invited to participate.

HOLY HANDBELLS (Handbell Choir)

We are hoping to re-start our Holy Handbell Choir. This Handbell Choir is for children grades 3-6. Rehearsals will be announced pending participation interest.

GENesis Bells (Handbell Choir)

The GENesis Bells is a Handbell choir that includes both Youth and Adults. GENesis Bells rehearse on Sunday nights at 5:15 (before Youth Choir). The choir plays each month on the SECOND Sunday. There are several "vacancies" in our choir, due to members graduating. No previous experience with Handbells is necessary. Basic music knowledge is a plus for membership, but not required. Youth grades 6 - 12 are invited to participate.

CELEBRATION RINGERS (Handbell Choir)

The Celebration Ringers rehearse once or twice a month, usually on Monday night. Previous Handbell experience is not necessary to join the choir. We have several spots open in the Celebration Ringers (Bass Bells and Middle Bells). Basic music knowledge is a plus for membership, but not required. Celebration Ringers play several times a year at "special events" and at some Sunday Worship Services. Please contact Roy Nelson for additional information.

RING OF FAITH (Handbell Choir)

The Ring of Faith Handbell Choir meets on Thursday nights at 6:45. The choir plays each month on the FOURTH Sunday. Presently, there are no opening in Ring of Faith, but experienced "subs" are needed. Please let Roy know if you are interested.

FESTIVAL OF CAROLS - Sunday December 4th - ALL CHOIRS

Ann's Choice - Adult Choir and ROF - Thursday December 15

MUSIC SUNDAY - December 18 - ALL CHOIRS - 2 Morning Services

Christmas Eve - Joyful voices - 5:30 service

Christmas Eve - Bells & Youth & Adult Choirs - 7:30 service

Christmas DAY / SUNDAY - to be determined

As you can imagine, with SIX choirs to plan for and schedule, I need your help in making sure that you, or your child, is present for our singing Sundays. I appreciate your dedication and commitment to our Music Ministry at St. John's.

Roy 215-962-8928

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE

Join our

Volunteer Tech Team

and see just how "Techie" you can be!

All ages welcome - youth, young adults, elder statesmen and stateswomen.

Amaze your family with your AV skills!

Skills taught weekly.

Contact church office

at 215-357-6998

BIBLE STUDIES & DEVOTIONALS

St. John's Book Club

"The Only Woman in the Room"

by Marie Benedict.

A powerful novel based on the incredible true story of Hedy Lamarr, the glamour icon and scientist whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication.

We will meet Wednesday, November 2, at 10:00AM and 7:00 PM in the Grace Cafe.

Facilitators Barbara Schneider and

Carol Campbell

Disciple III Fast Track

We are about midway in our study of the Prophets. You can still attend any of these sessions or you can join us for our study of the letters of the Apostle Paul starting in about six weeks.

Our sessions are on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 PM. This is a 24-week comprehensive study with daily scripture readings.

This is a wonderful opportunity to study God's Word, strengthen your faith, and form lasting friendships with fellow Disciples.

Ken Lee, facilitator

Disciple III FastTrack study guides on The Prophets and Letters of Paul can be purchased online from The Well Bookstore, UM Church of the Resurrection

Order Study Guides

Tuesday Morning Zoom Bible Study at 11:00 AM

Join us for our Zoom Class which will study The Epistles of John - This two session series will examine the personage of John the writer and the theme of these three brief letters while utilizing the process of journaling or scribing.

To join contact Paul Henry at phenry605@verizon.net to obtain the pass codes for the Zoom session.

CLICK HERE for Fall Schedule.

St. John's 23rd Annual Festival of Carols

Sunday, December 04, 2022 at 6:00 PM

UWF/UMM

Plan to attend the St John’s UWF

Welcome Gathering

Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022

10:00am in Fellowship Hall

All the women of St. John’s UMC are invited to enjoy a beverage, muffins, scones and a time of fellowship. Denise Clark will provide a presentation on how to talk to someone you suspect of being the victim of abuse.

call Arlene Williams 215-355-0162 email arlenew13@aol.com

PRAYERS & PRAISE

Prayer List

Prayer requests can be submitted

online (click here).or through the church email at

prayer.stjumc@gmail.com.

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.

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 office.stjumc@gmail.com.