Hello St. John’s Family,
I want to begin by thanking you for the wonderful birthday greetings and well wishes that I’ve received over the past week. Your thoughtfulness, kind words, and wonderful song (in both services!) made for a very special birthday. Thank you all for your love and kindness… and special thanks to Melissa McDevitt, one of our amazing youth, for her willingness to share her birthday with me!
Last Saturday I was given a humbling reminder of how the years are starting to add up. That morning my daughter spotted a small tick on my wife’s neck, and I was requested to take care of the issue. The one who has noticed for some time that his eyesight isn’t quite what it used to be, yet has steadfastly denied assistance is needed, went to work. First, I attempted this “procedure” in the kitchen. No luck whatsoever. The tick was firmly attached, and I couldn’t quite focus.
When Jen suggested it would be best to sit down, I agreed. “The light isn’t very good in here” was my comment. We moved to the living room, sat down directly beside a lamp… and the little black blob was still fuzzy. Which became a bigger problem when, after much manipulation, the body of the tick came out, yet there was still a small black dot on her neck. I was concerned the head was still attached… and I couldn’t see anything but a tiny, fuzzy dot. At this point, I had no other choice: I needed to ask where my wife’s reading glasses were. Making use of her glasses, the dot came into focus and the “procedure” was successfully resolved.
As I reflect on that experience, I have to chuckle at my ongoing resistance to admitting my eyes need help. Yet my eyesight isn’t the only area in my life where I could use some assistance from time to time. For some reason, we humans tend to think we can handle everything ourselves. Ultimately, though, we cannot. Sooner or later we all realize we can’t do everything on our own. We need help. Our eyes need corrective lenses, and our lives need the strength, wisdom, and direction of Christ.
I’m very thankful that Christ Jesus has an incredible amount of patience as we slowly come to realize our deep need for God’s help. I’m also looking forward to another year of life’s lessons, to remind me of God’s presence – and often God’s sense of humor – that guides us each step of the way.
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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NEW SAFETY PROCEDURE FOR KIDS SUNDAY SCHOOL CHECK-IN
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The hallway for Classrooms A – E will be 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.
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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Worship this Sunday,
October 31st, 2021
2 in-person services offered in the Sanctuary
Contemporary Worship
at 9 AM
and
Traditional Service
at 10:30 AM
The 10:30 AM service can be viewed LIVE through
St. John's Youtube Channel
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On Sunday, October 17th, we welcomed five new members into our St. John's family. Please be sure to extend a warm St. John's welcome to each of our new family members.
Emily & David Batezel
Rebecca John
Neil Taras
Tanner Witter
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Please contact the church office
215-357-6998 or
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Ushers & Greeters Needed
to offer members and visitors a warm welcome to God's House
Thank you for your faithful support of all we do in service to Christ here at St. John's.
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Tech Team Volunteer Opportunities
(Anyone aged 12 and over is welcome)
Come join our Tech Team at
Contemporary or Traditional Worship
Contact Sarah Floyd for info and to sign up to help with the broadcast of our services
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Children's Sunday School
10:30 am
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Parents, please bring your children
age 4 thru 6th grade to the mobile check-in
set up in the Education wing.
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Children's Message at 10:30 AM Worship Service
Beginning November 7th, the children will join their families in the Sanctuary for the Children's Message every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Children age 4 through Grade 6 will check in at the mobile check-in cart that will be located in the Narthex. Please remember to arrive early to check your child in. After the Children's Message, a Sunday School volunteer will take the children to their classroom for a Bible story and activities. At the end of the service, parents can check their children out from their classroom.
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Pre-K - Grade 6
Sunday mornings from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
We will talk about and discover who we're meant to be
and live out the individuality
God gave us.
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Grades 7 - 12
Sundays 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
BYOC (bring your own chair)
and Bible!
Join Mrs. Gutsch and Mrs. Zesinger as they start a new series - THE BIG QUESTIONS!
We never outgrow the need to ask questions. We’re wired to look for answers. And usually, the topics of our biggest questions can be pretty intense. We may wonder things like, “Why am I here?” “Who are my people?” “What am I supposed to do with my life?” In this next series, we are going to be talking about these Big Questions and a few others!
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS MEET
IN THE PARKING LOT OR THE YOUTH LOUNGE
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NO YOUTH GROUP THIS WEEK! HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN |
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Confirmation Experience
No Workshop this Sunday, October 31st
Third of six
Confirmation Workshops
Sunday,
November 14th
from 11:30am – 2:00pm
- Attend 6 Sunday workshops on various Sundays from 11:30am to 2:00pm. (make-up dates available)
- Student participation in worship as outlined in syllabus
- Retreat with Pastor Brad and Sarah Floyd
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Please support our Music Ministry with your presence at worship and help us glorify God through music.
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UMW Naomi Circle is still collecting aluminum tab tops for Ronald McDonald House. The collection container is located beneath the UMW bulletin board just off the Narthex.
Thank you for supporting this worthy cause.
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The Red Bird Mission trailers will be closing for this year at 5 pm October 31st
(no TVs or books please).
Thank you to our congregation and friends for your support.
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WARRIOR COFFEE
AT ST. JOHN’S WE ARE
FIGHTING FOR WHAT’S RIGHT -
ONE CUP AT A TIME
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ORDER NOW!
If you wish to order coffee, please contact me (text or voice) at 215-962-6719 or via email at phenry605@verizon.net.
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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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A Faith-based approach to Money Management
The CAP Money Course was devised by the award-
winning charity, Christians Against Poverty, in
2008, with over 10,000 people benefitting from it
each year. No obligations, no hidden fees.
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We are excited to offer a four-week Advent Study based on the book "Faithful, Christmas through the Eyes of Joseph" by Adam Hamilton. This study will begin November 10th and continue each Wednesday evening through December 8th (no class on November 24th).
Please contact the church office at 215-357-6998 or stjumc@aol.com to register and order your personal copy of the book.
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The Upper Room
Devotionals
for
November/December
are available
in the Narthex.
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Be sure to pick one up for yourself and for a friend! |
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The Zoom Class continues to meet online Tuesday mornings from 10:30-11:45 am. We are continuing our study and discussion of The Book of Revelation.
If you are interested in being a part of any of these discussion groups, please contact Paul Henry at phenry605@verizon.net
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Wednesday Night
Bible Study
Mysteries of the Messiah
by
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Facilitator: Ken Lee
Wednesday Evenings
7 - 9 PM in the Church Parlor
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ST. JOHN'S BOOK CLUB
Wednesday, November 3rd
10 AM and 7 PM in Grace Cafe'
Leaders: Barbara Schneider and Carol Campbell
Touching Spirit Bear
by Ben Mikaelsen
After his anger erupts into violence, Cole, in order to avoid going to prison, agrees to participate in a sentencing alternative based on the native American Circle Justice, and is sent to a remote Alaskan island where an encounter with a huge Spirit Bear changes his life.
We will follow St John's policy on masking.
Please wear a mask or shield inside the church.
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A small group Bible Study will be meeting on Monday evenings
at 7:30 PM
in the Church Library
Coming Together Through God’s Word:
An Interactive Look at Sunday’s Scripture
Please sign up in the narthex at church or contact Denise Clark at dclark.prayer@gmail.com
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Thursday Bible Study
10 AM - Parlor
7 PM - Zoom
Breaking the Code:
Understanding the Book of Revelation
by
Bruce M. Metzger
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This six-week study will be led by Pastor Brad in-person on Thursdays at 10 am in the Parlor and Thursday evenings at
7 pm via Zoom.
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United Methodist Women
All women of the church are invited to gather on Saturday,
November 6th at 10 AM
in Fellowship Hall
to explore “The Serenity Prayer “
We will also have a Trivia Contest, prizes, drinks and wrapped muffins.
Come and join the fun!
To sign up contact Arlene Williams arlenew13@aol.com or
call 215-355-0162 or contact
a circle leader.
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Ready to go to United Methodist Neighborhood Services |
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Neighborhood Services Stock Room |
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Neighborhood Services Clothing Store |
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Next breakfast meeting
Saturday, November 13th 10 am
Sycamore Grill
255 North Sycamore St
Newtown, PA
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The first meeting of the New Year will be the third week of January 2022 (no meeting in December). The Annual Chicken BBQ will be held September 17, 2022. |
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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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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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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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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
820 Almshouse Road
Ivyland, PA 18974
stjohnsivyland.com
Rev. Brad Leight, Sr. Pastor
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