Hello St. John’s Family,
Here we are, on the cusp of Christmas: eagerly anticipating the warmth, beauty, and light that accompanies the birth of Christ. We’ve been waiting for this moment for weeks – perhaps even months – counting down the days until we can again celebrate with great joy the arrival of God-with-us. We need this. We need to see the light of Christ and the hope that brings; we need to be reminded of joy springing up unexpectedly in the night among a group of meager shepherds. We’ve been waiting so long in such a dark time; thank goodness Christmas is almost here.
As I reflected this week on how much I’m longing for Christmas, it struck me how faithful people living in Jesus’ day also longed for the arrival of Emmanuel – yet in a much different way. While we count down the days, faithful folk in Jesus’ time had been waiting for decades, even centuries, for the arrival of the Messiah. They waited with great hope while having no idea of God’s timeline. In Luke chapter 2, we hear of Simeon and Anna, who had faithfully waited their entire lives for a glimpse of the Messiah. Neither Simeon nor Anna got to hear the angel choir, yet they felt a nudge to go to the temple as Mary and Joseph took their newborn child and presented the required offering. Happening upon the Christ child, they were overjoyed. Simeon even exclaimed that he could now die in peace (Luke 2:29). A lifetime of waiting was fulfilled in a few brief moments, as God again revealed how God always keeps God’s promises.
During a time that has been so difficult; when we’ve been waiting for what seems like forever to return to some semblance of normalcy, I sense it’s important for us to remember that the arrival of December 25th isn’t a magical fix. Christmas marks the arrival of Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection offers new life to all people. The promise of God to come to humankind to save us was fulfilled on that beautiful night; re-experiencing that night reminds us that God will not forsake us. No matter what chaos is happening around us, we know that Christ has come, and Christ will come again. That is what we eagerly anticipate, and that is the foundation of the hope that we celebrate at Christmas.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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St. John's Office Schedule Over the Christmas Holiday:
In observance of the Christmas and New Year's Holidays, and to give our staff some well-deserved time with their families, the Church Office will be closed Monday and Tuesday, December 27th and 28th, and Friday the 31st. An abbreviated Cornerstone eNews will be distributed on December 30th. All announcements for the Cornerstone or the projected announcements in worship must be received by noon on Wednesday, December 29th. Thank you.
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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,
December 26, 2021
One Combined Service
at 10:00 AM
This 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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If you can help with CAMERA or PowerPoint SLIDES for our Christmas Eve Service at 7:30 PM, or at the combined (special time) service on Sunday, December 26th at 10 AM, please
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Children's Activities This Week
Children's Sunday School will resume on January 2nd.
Have a blessed Christmas
with family and friends!
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Youth Activities This Week
Have a blessed Christmas with family and friends!
Confirmation Activities - Christmas Eve Church Participation, Reading & Reflecting
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Grades 7 - 12
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL WILL RESUME ON JANUARY 9TH
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Youth Night
Grades 7 - 12
January 9, 2022
7:15 - 8:30 pm
Youth Lounge
Have a blessed and joyous Christmas!
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Creche and Banner Presenters Needed
for the January 6th Epiphany Worship Service at 10:30
Children aged 4 - 12 to present a manger figure
Several Youth to present Advent banners
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The Christmas Story
Jesus Christ is the Same - Yesterday, Today, and Forever!
December 24th at 5:30 PM
Children's Christmas Program
Contact Susan Seamans for additional info
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December 24th
Bells and/or Choirs
at 3:00 and 7:30 PM
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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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Advent Offering 2021
Bright Future Academy
Pre-School
at El Mesias UMC, Kensington
Bright Future Academy is a small, but essential, child development center at
El Mesias United Methodist Church in Kensington.
The Academy welcomes children of low-income working parents who rely on the security of the quality childcare provided by Bright Future. However, the children can no longer use the playground at El Mesias Church as it has been overrun by rats. The Academy and Church desperately want to pave the playground with asphalt which will eliminate the rat infestation. Our Advent Offering this year will go toward making that dream a reality.
For a church named El Mesias (the Messiah)
and a preschool named Bright Future,
located together on a street named Hope,
their hope is that with the help of their new friends at St. John's, all those names will prophesy a very bright future for the children and their parents.
Thank you to all those who have generously supported our Advent Mission Project, as we assist the Bright Future Academy at El Mesias UMC in North Philadelphia in providing a safe outdoor play surface for their young students. If you missed the video of our visit to Bright Future, please click the link below.
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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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BIBLE STUDIES & DEVOTIONALS |
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Starting January 12, 2022
Wednesday nights
at 7 PM in the parlor
Throughout Scripture, the people who were moved by the Holy Spirit knew Him in a personal way. In this study, we will gain a better understanding of the role the Holy Spirit played in the lives of early believers, and how we too can personally know the Holy Spirit in our own life.
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Please contact Lynne Tomlinson (215-378-9574 or Billynne1978@gmail.com) to order a book, Cost is $20.00 |
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The Upper Room
Devotionals
for
January/February 2022
are available in the Narthex
Be sure to pick up one for yourself
and one for a friend.
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St. John's Book Club
When God Winks
by Squire Rushnell substantiates that every single one of us can constantly be guided by God. When you think about your own life, you realize just how important coincidences are. The question is are they really coincidences?
Join us Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 10:00 AM or 7:00 PM in the Grace Cafe'. Carol Campbell & Barbara Schneider, facilitators.
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Thank you for your generosity!
This year, you signed up for every one of the 156 gifts on our Angel Tree list. You are truly shining the light of Jesus' love to the world.
Bless you!
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ST. JOHN’S HAS GOT TALENT
St. John’s congregation has talented people with many wonderful and exciting experiences to tell. To showcase this talent, United Methodist Men will be featuring this talent at their monthly meetings on the third Saturday of each month.
Our January speaker will be Dr. Richard (Rick) Gray, who will be speaking on “Our Trip to Israel: My Spiritual Awakening”. Rick has a great story to tell and one I think everyone will find personally meaningful.
Please join us at The Sycamore Grill, 255 North Sycamore Street, Newtown on Saturday, January 15th at 10 a.m. We will enjoy a great breakfast, good fellowship and camaraderie, as well as Rick’s inspiring words.
Other talent who will be sharing with us in future months will include Sandy Rice and Jonathan Seamans.
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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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Community Thanksgiving Service
St. Andrew's UMC, Warminster
November 23, 2021
Watch on YouTube link below
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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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