Hello St. John’s Family,
One of the fond childhood memories I have from the congregation I grew up in was the annual tradition of Harvest Home Sunday. Each year around this time a Sunday would be designated to give thanks to God for God’s goodness and provision by bringing in the first fruits of the harvest. Literally! Large, stepped shelves would be set up across the front of the sanctuary, and congregants would bring in the good things from their farms and gardens as an offering to God. Shocks of corn, large squash and zucchini, bushel baskets of apples and potatoes, dried peppers and herbs, and all kinds of (home) canned vegetables and fruits were offered. After dedicating this offering in worship, the pastor then distributed the bounty to persons in need in the congregation and community. For a congregation that was founded by farmers in the mid-1800’s (and still had many farmers as members in the late 1970’s), this was a big deal. It was important to return to God a portion of what God blessed them with.
As a child, I loved to look at all the good things filling the front of the sanctuary. As I look back now, I see how Harvest Home Sunday made the concept of thanking God for God’s goodness tangible. I knew how hard those farm families worked to grow, harvest, and preserve the items they brought, and I saw the joy in their faces as they gave them to God. As I became a teen, many of the farmers retired – and many of the farms slowly became housing developments. I don’t recall exactly when the tradition of bringing in the fruits of the harvest ended, but I’m pretty sure it had by the time I graduated high school. Still, there was always a Harvest Home Sunday, centering on monetary offerings instead of foodstuffs. Returning to God the first portion of the good things received was a core part of that congregation.
We have the opportunity to thank God by returning a portion of God’s blessings each and every Sunday through our offerings. This Sunday, we’ll also have a special opportunity to make a commitment to God by financially supporting the ministries and mission of St. John’s in 2022. I encourage you to prayerfully consider the commitment God desires you to make, and to take the step of faith in making that commitment. In doing that, I’m confident you will experience the joy of Christ, just as those farmers did when offering their harvest!
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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Worship this Sunday,
November 21, 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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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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Community Thanksgiving Service
Tuesday,
November 23, 2021
at 7:00 PM
St. Andrew's United Methodist Church
999 York Road, Warminster, PA
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- Children's Christmas Play - Kids & Youth/Adult Helpers
- Living Nativity - Characters & Helpers
- Angel Tree Gifts
- Tech Team Volunteer Opportunities
- Children's Ministry - Sunday School Teachers/Assistants
- Ushers and Greeters - 9:00 and 10:30 services
- Nursery Attendants - 10:30 service
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Children's Activities This Week
Children's Message in Sanctuary followed by Sunday School in the
Education Wing Classrooms A - E
Joyful Voices - rehearsal Sunday, 11:30 AM in the Sanctuary
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Children age 4 through Grade 6 will check in at the mobile check-in cart that will be located in the Narthex.
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Children's Message at 10:30 AM Worship Service
The children will join their families in the Sanctuary for the Children's Message every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month.
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Pre-K - Grade 6
Sunday mornings from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
This week Mrs. Scarlett will continue a series on contentment. We will talk about how we can find a lot of enjoyment when we focus on what we already have . . . or maybe even find ways to “upcycle” it and make it better.
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Youth Activities This Week
Sunday School - 10:30 AM
Confirmation Activities - Advent Church Participation, Reading & Reflecting, Mentor Meet-ups
Youth Night - 7:15 to 8:30 PM this Sunday in the Youth Lounge
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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 continue the series - THE BIG QUESTIONS!
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS MEET
IN THE PARKING LOT OR THE YOUTH LOUNGE
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Confirmation Experience
Movie Meet-Up on
December 5th at Regal Oxford Valley Cinema around noon - "Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers"
(See details in email notice from Sarah)
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Youth Night
Grades 7 - 12
Sunday 7:15 - 8:30 PM
Our Youth get together most Sundays to hang out, play games, and talk about everything from theology to current events.
Join us this Sunday at 7:15 PM
in the Youth Room!
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Opportunities at St. John's to prepare your heart and your family for Advent
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The Christmas Story
Jesus Christ is the Same - Yesterday, Today, and Forever!
December 24th at 5:30 PM
Children's speaking and non-speaking parts available, need four adults to help with costuming and rehearsals,
and a pianist.
Sign-Up Deadline November 27th
Contact Susan Seamans for additional info
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St. John's 22nd Annual Festival of Carols
Sunday, December 05, 2021 at 6:00 PM
Please come with family and friends to usher in the Advent Season with an evening of music from our choirs, bell choirs and orchestra guests. Our traditional collection of non-perishable foodstuffs will go to Jesus Focus Ministry Food Pantry.
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UMW Angel Tree Gift Lists
Now through December 12th
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Our Gift to the Community
4th Annual Drive-thru Living Nativity
(see details in Outreach Section below)
Sunday, December 12
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Christmas Caroling for
Youth and Young Adults
Sunday, December 19th
7:15 to 9:00 PM
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December 5th at 6:00 PM
22nd Annual Festival of Carols
December 19th -
Music Services at
9:00 and 10:30 AM
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It's not too late to join the fun with Joyful Voices children's choir or with Youth Choir. Come help celebrate Advent and the arrival of our Messiah by adding your voice to one of our choirs. |
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Please save your aluminum tab tops for the UMW Naomi Circle collection for Ronald McDonald House. The collection bin is beneath the UMW bulletin board just off the Narthex.
Thank you for supporting this worthy cause.
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In search of angels, shepherds, wise men, Holy family, innkeepers, Centurions, and a camel - if spotted, tell them to hasten to the Narthex and sign up for Living Nativity!
Opportunities for Set-up, Breakdown & Characters
Sunday, December 12, 2021
Sign up early and often!
(you can sign up for more than one thing)
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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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Warrior Coffee Makes a Great Christmas Gift!
ORDERS PLACED BY DECEMBER 5th WILL ENSURE FRESHLY ROASTED COFFE FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SEASON
Please sign up on the bulletin board or contact Paul Henry (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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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 begins November 10th and continues each Wednesday evening through December 8th (no class on November 24th). Facilitator, Ken Lee.
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ST. JOHN'S BOOK CLUB
Wednesday,
December 1st
10 AM and 7 PM in Grace Cafe'
The humble shepherds, the first believers, are the subject of an imaginative Christmas novel by Richard M. Barry, titled The Shepherds’ Prayer. The book tells the story of an adopted son with a mysterious connection to the Messiah, who seeks the truth about his birth thirty years later.
Leaders: Barbara Schneider and Carol Campbell
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A small group Bible Study will be meeting on Monday evenings through November 22nd
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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YES, VIRGINIA THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS . . .
Only this Christmas, his name is not Saint Nick but Saint John's.
Once again the Lord has presented us with the opportunity to share his love and abundant blessings with others. We had such success last year with our virtual Angel Tree that we are using the same system again. The sign up link and all instructions are in the Advent Section above and on the website.
Thank you and have a safe and Blessed Holiday Season.
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The next meeting will be the third week of
January 2022. Have a blessed Advent and Christmas!
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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!
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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