NOVEMBER 23, 2022

PASTOR'S REFLECTION

Hello St. John’s Family,

On Tuesday night, we had the opportunity to pause, come together, and give thanks to God for the many good things in our lives. It felt so good to join in worship with friends from local UMC congregations, to offer vibrant songs of praise together, to hear of meaningful mission work occurring in our community, to reflect on heartfelt meditations, and to offer thanks to God for God’s enduring presence with us. It was a meaningful time together – one that helped me to pause and remember the importance of giving thanks to the amazing God who is the source of all good things.

For me, one of the most meaningful aspects of giving thanks is the way that reflecting on blessings in my life sparks the desire to extend goodness and blessing to others. It never fails… as I pause and reflect on the many good things in my life, I want others to experience goodness as well. Like the old camp song says:

That’s how it is with God’s love / once you’ve experienced it

you spread His love to everyone / you want to pass it on

Here at St. John’s, the Thanksgiving and Advent seasons are embraced as an opportunity for God’s people to extend the light and hope of Christ outward. I am so thankful for the way our St. John’s Family takes to heart Christ’s call to not only give thanks for the good things we experience, but to also extend the blessings we receive far and wide. Know that your faithfulness transforms lives for Christ… and offers a powerful witness for the God we serve.

In this edition of the Cornerstone, you’ll hear a reflection from JT Crockett, our Director of Youth and Family Ministry, as he experienced first-hand the impact of your faithfulness during a recent visit to the Bright Future Academy in Kensington. I hope this will encourage you as you see one example of God’s goodness and blessing being extended through you.

I pray you’ll have a meaningful and blessed Thanksgiving! And I hope you’ll plan to join us in worship this Sunday, as we begin the season of Advent. Throughout Advent, we’ll be guided by readings from the prophet Isaiah as we acknowledge how this world is not how it should be… yet days are coming when God’s ways fully reign. Check out Isaiah 2:1-5, and come out to worship with us on Sunday-

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Brad

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

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

Bright Future Tricycle Donation Testimony

The season of Advent begins with Hope. Jesus is the Hope of all mankind - God’s Covenant of an abundant life made real and given freely to each of us. We can believe our tomorrows will be better than our yesterdays because Jesus says so - and God’s Holy Spirit walks with us through every today. It’s a rich blessing to be able to share Hope with our siblings in Christ, especially in Advent, a time when we are called to “make ready the way of the Lord.”

On Monday November 14th, a group of us were able to deliver about a dozen tricycles and Big Wheels to the preschoolers at Bright Future Academy in the Kensington neighborhood in Philadelphia on behalf of the congregational Mission ministry at St. John’s Ivyland. St. John’s has a connectional relationship with Messiah United Methodist Church (Iglesia Metodista Unida El Mesías) and Bright Future Academy, but more than this we are called to transform the World for Jesus Christ. The families of Kensington are strong and proud and Children of God, just like we are; and just like us, they grow stronger when they are reminded of the hope we all experience in the Love of Jesus Christ. Bless God that we are able to spread a little Hope this Advent Season!

Bright Future Academy Director Jennifer Harmon asked us to line up the toys on one side of the play area - so the little ones could come into the space and have “that Christmas morning feeling,” and it warmed my heart to know that these precious kids were going to get almost as much hope and joy out of receiving these toys as we got giving them!

With our gifts we have already created a safe concrete surface, that we have faith God will use to provide a safe place for children in Kensington to play. God then blessed us to be able to provide toys that will provide joy and exercise for our sisters and brothers-in-Christ. But what a blessing it is to know that God is not done using us to build God’s Kingdom on Earth! Please search your hearts and see what you can contribute to helping to provide a soft play surface for the Bright Future Academy. You can ask Pastor Ruth for more details on how your gift will impact our partners in ministry - but I am a witness to how making yourself open for God to use will impact you!

In Gratitude for All God does,

~jt

John-Thomas Crockett

THIS SATURDAY!

"Come Out and Decorate the Church and Get into

the Christmas Spirit!"

Saturday, November 26th!

Cookies for Community Outreach on Christmas Eve

On December 24th, members of St. John's will distribute cookie bags to the First Responders at the Northampton Police Department, Tri-Hampton Rescue Squad, Northampton Fire Department, Hatboro Fire Department, and the Wawa, Sunoco, and Exxon businesses. We appreciate their service to our community and this is our way of letting them know!

If you are able to make one or two dozen cookies for this event please contact Tammy Coapman at twcoapman@gmail.com for more information.

Here's what you need to know:

Bake 2 Dozen cookies by Thursday, December 22nd
Please wrap them individually, or put each cookie in a snack-size Ziploc bag
Mark your cookies with the following label: Community Outreach Project
By December 22nd - Place cookies in the church freezer at your convenience, OR put cookies on the counter in the kitchen
We will be putting a note on the tag that says: MAY CONTAIN NUTS, so feel free to put nuts in your recipe

Thank you for your help with this community outreach mission!

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.

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.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Children age 4 through Grade 6 will check in at the mobile check-in cart located in the Narthex.

Pre-K - Grade 6

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

This month we are learning about courage, and we will take a closer look at the lives of significant people in the Jewish Scriptures: Joshua and Caleb, David, Daniel, and Esther. Each of them trusted God and found courage to face difficult circumstances.

Please arrive early to check your children in at the mobile check-in kiosk located in the hallway outside Classroom A in the Education wing.

We hope you’re enjoying our Journey Kids Newsletter!

To view the recent issue of the Journey Kids Newsletter, click herel

If you would like to sign up to receive our weekly Journey Kids Newsletter email Susan Seamans.

YOUTH GROUP MINISTRIES

Harvest Bag Drive - Success!

What an AWESOME God we serve! Thank you St. John’s Ivyland Youth and all who supported them during a successful inaugural Harvest Bag Drive and praise a God who has blessed us to be able to bless others. We delivered 12 bags and 6 boxes of non-perishable food and hygienic supplies to Eastwick Mission Food Bank in time for everything to go out to families they support for Thanksgiving! I am both humbled and proud of what we have been able to do in Jesus’ holy name! Thanks again, sisters and brothers - may God continue to share Harvest blessings with you in this Season of Gratitude!

In Gratitude,

~jt

John-Thomas Crockett (he/him/his)

Director of Youth & Family Ministries

Advent Bags - in Children’s Min Office

The congregation of St. John’s Ivyland has warmly provided our Youth with a “little something” to bring in the Advent Season!

Teens (or parents of youth) who were unable to attend last week’s Youth Group can stop by the Children’s Ministry office after 10:30 Worship Service, November 27th.

No Teen Sunday School/ Youth Group

There is no Teen Sunday School or Youth Group Sunday, November 27th.

Teens are encouraged to worship with their families at the 10:30 Traditional Service!

Sunday School Resumes

Our Teen Sunday School resumes at

10:30 am on Sunday, December 4th

with Part 2 of our “Calling” series - “God is calling…us to good Spiritual Habits.” All young people in middle school and above are invited to attend and explore with us!

Advent Project

During Advent the Teens of St. John’s UMC will be embarking on a new Advent Project and all youth are invited to participate.

Parents and teens who would like to learn more are encouraged to email Youth & Families Ministry Director JT Crockett at youth.stjumc@gmail.com or call/ text at (347) 948-4996 right away (Advent begins Sunday, November 27th!).

Grades 7 - 12

Sunday 7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

NO YOUTH GROUP THIS WEEK!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians

MUSIC MINISTRY

St. John's 23rd Annual Festival of Carols

Sunday, December 04, 2022 at 6:00 PM

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE

This past Sunday we were blessed to be able to receive Holy Communion around the altar rail just as we did pre-COVID.

We hope to continue this but we are in need of Communion Stewards to help with the preparation of the Communion elements and with the clean-up following the 10:30 am service.

If you would like to help with this ministry of St. John’s,

please contact Pastor Ruth.

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 planning to use the same system again.

Click below to sign up.

Upcoming Youth Group Opportunities for Service

(Nov - Dec 2022)

Worship
Ushers/ Hospitality Ministry
Scripture readers for combined worship Christmas Day
Food collection on Music Festival Sunday
Living Nativity
Participants
Set-up crew
Clean-up crew
Angel Tree Ministry
Organizers
Toy collectors

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

Our 2022 Advent Devotional is available beginning

Sunday, November 27

Devotionals will be available in the Narthex after both services.

Be sure to get one for yourself and one to share with a family member or friend as well.

St. John's Book Club

In the spirit of Christmas we will read

"The Shepherd's Prayer"

by Richard M. Barry

and

"The Story of the Other Wise Man"

Everyone welcome. Please join us.

We will meet on Wednesday, December 7, at 10:00 AM in the Grace Cafe

Facilitators Barbara Schneider and

Carol Campbell

THE ANGELS OF CHRISTMAS

ADVENT BIBLE STUDY

November 28 -December 20

Monday Evening 7 pm &

Tuesday Morning 10 am

The Angels of Christmas: Hearing God's Voice in Advent, a four-week Advent study by Susan Robb, explores the four angelic visits surrounding the birth of Jesus with Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. In this study, the reader will explore the visits and dive deep into the history of the angel Gabriel-and other angels-in the Old Testament. The Angels of Christmas uses these four angelic appearances to discuss God's presence in history and our lives today. The messages of the angels hold meaning for listeners both then and now.

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

"The Major Themes of the Old and New Testaments"

These sessions will explore the major themes of both Testaments with the intent of showing the continuity of the Biblical witness.

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

CLICK HERE for Fall Schedule.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Christmas Pageant

Help us continue the tradition!

We are very excited to announce that this year we are doing

"A Shepherd's Story"

an easy-to-sing Christmas musical for children created by Pam Andrews.

Sign up for a part in the the play or volunteer to help rehearse parts and imagine costumes. We need at least 3 volunteers. Youth are encourage to to participate with our children. Beginning Sunday, November 13, children will rehearse every Sunday immediately following the 10:30 a.m. service in the choir room. There will be 2 dress rehearsals - December 10 and 17 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. All cast members and volunteers must attend all rehearsals. Thank you!

Creche Presenters

Would your child like to bring the Christmas story to life at our traditional worship services during Advent? Any child age 4 - 12 may participate. Our youth are also encouraged to participate.

Time to dust off your Christmas Spirit and sign-up for the Living Nativity!

Sign-ups sheets are available on Sunday, November 13 in the Narthex.

This year's Living Nativity is on December 11, from 5-8pm

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.