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November 20, 2025

 Hello St. John’s Family,

Chirp… Chirp… Chirp…

The periodic, high-pitched and incredibly annoying chirp that echoes from a smoke detector with a drained battery pierced a recent morning. A sound that typically sets off a scavenger hunt, as I attempt to locate the source of the chirp. Annoying, yet not a big deal: replace the battery, the irritating sound stops, and all returns to normal. But that wasn’t the case for our dog, Finn. Finn was a mess.

 It took Jen and I a moment to connect the random chirping as the cause of Finn’s agitation. He had gotten up early, was in and out of the house multiple times, and had to be right up against one of us. Something clearly was off, yet we couldn’t figure out what. Only when I brought the chirping unit down under a lamp to see more clearly – and it chirped with Finn nearby – did we understand the source of his angst. I had to chuckle… our dog, who has lunged at and chased after countless deer (and even a few bears in Jim Thorpe!)… who barks ferociously at the poor Amazon delivery person walking by the front window… this dawg is completely unsettled by the chirp of a smoke detector! And Tate, our other dawg, isn’t scared of anything – except for a small, antique 3-rung ladder that serves as a blanket rack in the family room and fell on her a few years back. Our fearless protectors…

As I chuckled, a thought struck me: if I’m honest, I’m not all that different than my dogs. When I’m uncertain or anxious, what do I do? I draw near to those I trust and love. In unsettled times, I want to be near to those who have been there for me in the past. Those who have loved me and supported me when I needed help; those who listened and offered care whether my concern was rational or not. I draw near to others who I know have my best interest at heart: family members, close friends, and God.

Soon, another thought came to mind: how does God see me when I draw near? When I’m anxious and uncertain, does God chuckle as I fret? Perhaps… yet not in a way that puts us down or minimizes our sense of uncertainty. I sense God, who is always near, may chuckle, smile, and extend open arms as we recognize how God was with us all along… and as we remember how God will guide us and walk with us through any scary or unknown situation we face. Other times, I’m quite certain that God is heartbroken. All the times we forget God’s presence and support that is readily available, and we continue to flounder in angst on our own, those moments must break God’s heart. I sense God longs for us to draw near – and wants us to never forget of the goodness and love that God is always ready to extend our way.

In our worship services over the past two weeks, we’ve heard powerful testimonies of God’s presence and love in the lives of two of our members. I want to thank Valerie Haenn for sharing last Sunday, and for offering a beautiful legacy of faith spanning 3 generations that was cultivated here at St. John’s. Her faith has grown and been strengthened by the St. John’s Family living out our covenant vow of supporting Christ’s Church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness – thanks be to God! This Sunday, we’ll conclude our Stewardship & God’s Faithfulness series as we hear Moses urge the Israelite people not to forget the Lord as they experience God’s blessings. We’ll have the opportunity to rededicate The Gathering Room – a beautifully renovated and reimagined space – and other gifts given to God’s House. We’ll also be invited to make pledge commitments to support God’s work here in 2026 (pledge cards are available in the Narthex). Sunday will be a meaningful morning of worship – I hope you’ll read Deuteronomy 8:7-18 and Philippians 4:4-9, then join me in worship!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Brad

Deuteronomy 8:7-18 | Philippians 4:4-9

Worship Service can be viewed LIVE AT 10:30 AM on

St. John's YouTube Channel

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.

“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)” 

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.

Statement Thru October 2025

St John’s Ivyland’s Drive Thru & Drop Off Food Drive is THIS SATURDAY, Nov 22nd from 10 AM until 2 PM, RAIN or SHINE! 

Come and invite your family, friends and neighbors to help support our ministry partners by donating non-perishable foods, personal health and hygiene items. 

Please consider donating easy to use items: 

• cans with pull tabs 
• noodles and sauce
• cereal with evaporated milk 
• as well as items that can be used to celebrate Thanksgiving

Sadly, we can’t accept 

• vitamins 
• over-the-counter medication 

Thank you in advance for spreading the word for your continued generosity!

Christmas Pageant Practice begins this Sunday: it’s not too late to sign up children and volunteers!

Practices will be 

• THIS Saturday, November 22
• Saturday, December 6
• and Saturday, December 13

Our Pageant will be shared during the 10:30 am Worship Sunday, December 14.

Immediately after Pageant Practice on THIS SATURDAY (Nov 22nd). All are invited to a  FREE celebration of Thankfulness Messy Church style!

There will be crafts, a meal and so much as we explore different ways we can worship and give God thanks!

Join St John’s Ivyland this Tuesday, November 25th at St Andrew’s UMC @ 7pm as we Worship and give thanks with area United Methodist Churches!



St Andrew’s United Methodist Church is located at 999 York Rd, Warminster, PA 18974.

St. John’s Family will once again be baking cookies in December! This year, on Christmas Eve, volunteers will distribute cookie bags to First Responders in our area as well as a few businesses. Last year we distributed approximately 500 cookies to almost 80 people. What an outreach ministry to let those working on Christmas Eve know how much our church community appreciates what they do!

We are almost fully staffed, but we still need 4 more bakers to sign up. The Cornerstone will have a sign-up available, and we invite you to consider baking 2 dozen cookies.

“Oh give thanks unto the Lord, because his goodness and mercy endure forever! (Psalm 107:1)”

Giving thanks is how we announce and celebrate God’s goodness. We’re not called to give thanks out of obligation, nor should we do it out of pride or false humility. We should see “thanks giving” as a natural and worshipful response to God being God in our lives. 

When we give thanks to God by sharing with our brothers and sisters, we show others - and ourselves - that God is so good to us and that we can be a blessing to others. At St John’s Ivyland we are called to be Open Arms and Serving Hands such that Lives are Transformed Through Christ. Below are a handful of meaningful ways for us to allow Christ to work through us and transform lives with blessings this November and December. 

We invite everyone to answer God’s call and give thanks through sharing what you can this season!

Sunday November 23rd is the final Sunday for Harvest Bags this season. Thanks to all who have already provided a bag of groceries to those in need. If you would like to join St John’s Children Youth, Young Adults & Families and fill a bags and help share the harvest - please bring a bag to the Youth Room or the “Harvest Table” in the Education Hallway, this Sunday!

Every Sunday you can bring non-perishable items and place them on the Food Table in the Narthex. Items placed on the sharing table will be distributed the following Monday to help support those with an immediate need. If you would like to donate food to be shared with people and families in need for the Thanksgiving holiday, THIS SUNDAY is the last day to  do so. Thank you & God Bless!

Project Arch Street Service

PASS (Project Arch Street Service) is partnering with our ministry partners at Arch Street United Methodist and The Center to collect men’s clothing items to bless those truly in need throughout the Holidays. If you wish to give, you can follow the link below and select items from the list that will be shipped directly to The Center for distribution. Thanks for allowing God to work in the lives of others through you!


Just go to www.tinyurl.com/GCWish to order needed items, which can then be sent directly to Arch Street. 


St John’s Ivyland Angel is back and we’re supporting Diakon Child, Family and Community Ministries!

The UWF have set up a Sign-Up Genius  & SIGN-UP IS OPEN NOW! Click the link below for more.

Gifts and gift cards can be dropped off now through Sunday, December 14th by the Christmas tree in the Narthex. (Gift receipts are greatly appreciated by the recipient.)

Questions? Please contact Arlene Williams at 215-962-3697 or email ArleneW13@aol.com .

Thank you for sharing the love of Christ with these precious children. God bless your generous hearts!

Church Office Closed for Thanksgiving

The St John’s Ivyland church office will be closed Thursday, November 27 & Friday, November 28th for Thanksgiving. We pray everyone is able to give thanks to God for good things we’ve experienced in, through and by God’s grace!

George Ryan entered into eternal life on November 5, 2025. In accordance with George & Barbara’s wishes, a Memorial Service celebrating their lives will be held at St John’s Ivyland Saturday, December 6th 2025. There will be a time of Visitation  beginning at 10am, followed immediately by a Memorial Service at 11am.

St John’s Ivyland’s Festival of Carols is a Christmas concert & celebration with religious and popular songs led by our wonderful Music Ministry (and a few special guests). This joyous night is open to the public and we ask that you consider bringing non-persishables in place of a monetary offering.

26th FESTIVAL OF CAROLS

Choirs, Orchestra and Handbells

Sunday, December 7th

6:00 pm

We look forward to celebrating the Coming Christ in song with you, December 7th!

St John’s Ivyland’s Drive Thru Living Nativity is an Advent gift of love to our community and we are overjoyed to be able to share it once again! 

Our Drive Thru Living Nativity

Every year St John's shares a Living Nativity as a gift to our friends and neighbors, in response to God's precious gift to all of us, Jesus. Our Living Nativity is the work of planning and the effort of dozens of volunteers. We offer this "gift" at no charge because we believe everyone should feel welcome to share in the light of love of the Christ child's birth. 

This year's Living Nativity is from 5 to 8 pm on Sunday December 14th. Plan on joining us; we'd love to share the Joy of the season with you!

St John’s Ivyland’s Hospitality ministry seeks to make everyone feel welcomed and nourished in both spirit and body. 

We thank God for everyone who has answered the call to serve in this ministry as a way to actively help everyone feel that the “doors of the Church are open!”

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!

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