April 8, 2021
Please join us!
This Sunday's Worship: April 11
Bishop Peggy Johnson has prepared a message for the congregation from Conference.
The Sign-Up Reservation for next Sunday
will be emailed and posted to the website by Noon, Monday.
Please update the SignUp Genius or contact the church office if there's a need to cancel your reservation so another may have the opportunity to attend.
Thank you!
WORSHIP - SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Given the overall decreasing trend in Covid cases and the expansion of vaccinations, St. John’s leadership has investigated options for additional seating in the sanctuary. All discussions have focused on maintaining a safe environment for our most vulnerable attendees while expanding the number of persons who can attend. 

Worshippers will be seated in an alternating pattern, where one row has attendees seated at each end, a row is left vacant, and the following row has attendees seated in the middle of the row. The next row will remain vacant, then the pattern will repeat. Utilizing this approach can potentially increase attendance by 50%, depending on the number of people in each registration.

Please note that all other mitigation measures, including wearing a mask or face shield, maintaining six feet of distance, and pre-registering for worship attendance via Signup Genius will remain in place at this time. Pre-registration is critical in enabling our Ushers to safely and efficiently seat all worshippers. We recognize this is a sacrifice and appreciate your compliance in this endeavor.

One final reminder: if you are not feeling like your normal, healthy self, please do not attend worship. Thank you for your perseverance as we eagerly anticipate the day when Covid mitigation measures are a thing of the past.
 
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
All Sunday School classes will continue on Zoom this Sunday. Links to Zoom meetings will be emailed separately. Note that Pre-K to Grade 6 will have a video component and will also include follow-up materials that guide parents in talking about the concepts throughout the week. Hope to see you on Zoom! For more information, please contact Susan Seamans, Director of Children's Ministry: [email protected]
Young Children (Pre-K - Grade 2)
What's In The Bible?
Sundays @ 11am

Join Buck Denver and a group of hilarious friends as they journey through the Bible and discover what it means for us. Amy Scarlett will lead us as we discover What's In the Bible! Lesson length: 20-25 minutes.
Older Elementary Children (Grades 3 - 6) Orange 252 Kids Sundays @ 11am

When we make peace with others, it’s like we're building a bridge across to the other side. This month we will talk about building bridges to reconnect and prove we care more about each other more than winning an argument. Lesson length: 25-35 minutes
Youth Study - Orange High School XP3
Sundays @ 11:30 am
What is it that makes temptation so tricky? How is it possible that we know something is bad for us and do it anyway? This month our youth will talk about the temptations Jesus faced and how He managed to overcome them and discover that whether we win or lose with temptation, the battle is often fought in our minds before anywhere else.
OUTREACH
During this Easter season we celebrate the resurrection of
our Lord and Savior and the new life it brings to us.
 
As a symbol of this new life, we gave packets of seeds to everyone on Easter Sunday morning. We have packets available on the front porch of the church. We invite you to plant
these seeds and watch as they burst forth
from seed to beautiful flowers.
 
When your flowers are in full bloom,
Take a picture and share it with us.
 
Please share your photos to: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Q4nfXNQZXePqyCew6.
 You can also go to our website and click More>Photos from dropdown menu www.stjohnsivyland.com/
 
Thank you for helping us share the beauty and love
of new resurrection life this Easter season!
ST. JOHN'S EASTER
FLOWERING CROSS

Christ’s resurrection brings new life to the whole world—it is the beginning of the restoration of all things! Even the terrible, rugged cross, the instrument of Jesus’ death, can become an emblem of new life in Christ when covered with flowers. Thank you for helping to create this beautiful symbol of new life for all to enjoy!
BIBLE STUDIES
Thinking About God
Paul Henry's Zoom Class “Thinking About God” continues to meets on Tuesdays at 10:30 am. If you are interested in joining these discussions please contact Paul at 215-962-6719 or [email protected] so that he can get you set up on Zoom.
 
This presentation and discussion format is designed with a number of topical areas so that you can participate as topics interest you or you can be a part of the Zoom course through April. If you are interested in joining a session, please contact Paul Henry at [email protected].

April 13 - Words that Matter: Death and Courage
April 20 - Words that Matter - Sacrament and Community

The Gospel of John Bible Study
will be finishing up on April 14.

The Wednesday Evening Bible Study with Ken Lee will begin their next study on Wednesday, April 21
Letters of John and Jude
using the William Barclay New Study Bible.

The group will meet each Wednesday at 7pm in the Parlor. By studying this Gospel in Fellowship, the group aims to develop and grow our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Please contact the office by phone or email if you plan to attend. 215-357-6998, [email protected].
Book orders will be placed on April 12 to ensure on time delivery.
MUSIC
SAVE THE DATE!
Handbell Festival
April 25th
3 PM
More details to come!
UMW
 Naomi Circle Future Mission Project
What: new bath towels, hand towels and wash cloths.
Where: to be sent to Red Bird Mission for their Christmas gift boxes.
When: Month of June
PRAYERS


Prayer requests can be submitted
online (click here).or through the church email, [email protected]
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 
Hand made prayer shawls (or lap robes for men) are again available for those experiencing serious illness, bereavement, or other major life issue. Each comes in a sealed plastic bag. Recipients need not be members of St. John's. Requests can be made via the comments section of the prayer request form on the church website, by calling or emailing the church office, or by calling Carol Rice at 215-357-1203. Requesters will be notified of contactless pickup arrangements at the main entrance of church building.
MISSIONS/OUTREACH

DONATIONS NEEDED 
Donations of non-perishable food for the Eastwick Food Pantry are needed throughout the year. Please place contributions in the shopping carts located in the narthex and fellowship hall lobby. 
 
Volunteers are also needed to deliver food and clothing to the Eastwick Food Bank. Please contact Lou Lescas, [email protected] if you are available to help. 
 
Thank you for your support.
Joanne and I recently delivered 18 boxes of food to the Eastwick Food Bank.
Annette Glover and all of the volunteers were so appreciative! The need is always so great- moreso this year than ever, as many food cupboards are stressed beyond normal limits from the pandemic. Thank you, St John’s for your passionate generosity for the last 25 years, and in the future!

Lou Lescas
MISSION PROJECT
 
WRAPPING PLASTIC UTENSILS
 FOR THE TRENTON AREA SOUP KITCHEN.

 For those that wrapped the utensils at home, we ask that you please bring the wrapped plasticware back to the church by Sunday, April 11
 
When completed, the utensils will be delivered to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.
 
Thank you for your participation,
       Pastor Ruth
The Red Bird Mission are CLOSED
but are expected to open soon.
Please check our website for updates.

Drivers Wanted
If anyone at St. John's holds a Pennsylvania Commercial Drivers License (CDL), or knows of anyone who does, the Church's Redbird Missions is actively seeking drivers to haul full trailers of donated goods to the Redbird Mission store in Beverly, Kentucky.
For more details, any interested party should contact
Bob Snarr at (215) 779-9464.
UMM

Report from the UMM Recovery Breakfast V held on March 20th
11 Members were Present
Lead By Paul Henry
Concerns for Our Church were discussed.
Lots of Laughter & Fellowship
Plus, a Great Breakfast was enjoyed !!!  

A Special Guest was Ira Hoffman, Chairman of Church Leadership Board
 It was reported that there is a positive move to open the church kitchen in June.  

The following was agreed to:
  1. Continue Men’s Recovery Breakfast at Sycamore Grill April 17th and May 15th
  2. Start planning for Chicken BBQ - tentatively in September.
  3. A plan will be presented at the April 17th Men’s Breakfast for the stripped down BBQ 
and pick a Date. ( Those active in Previous BBQ would be A Big Help in Planning )

Jack Donovan, Church Member 

Next Men's Breakfast: April 17th - 10 AM Sycamore Grill, Newtown, PA
 
GIVING
MOBILE GIVING

  • Just go to our website stjohnsivyland.com
  • 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.

OR try TEXT GIVING 
All you have to do is 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,
email Lou Lescas at [email protected]
Gmail account users:
In addition to your inbox,
please check your "Promotions" file for any St. John's emails.
Bulk emails may appear there. Simply by moving the message from Promotions to your primary inbox or by adding
St. John's as a contact should allow our messages to go directly to your inbox.
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
HELP NEEDED

Two significant needs and great opportunities to serve at St. John's!

A small team of dedicated audio-visual ministry volunteers enable us to offer meaningful online worship each week. We're in need of additional help, as there's very little flexibility within the team in the event someone needs to be away. While some aspects of this ministry requires technical expertise, other aspects are very straight-forward. If you have the ability to advance PowerPoint slides, you can help us offer online worship!

Similarly, ushers are needed for in-person worship to greet worshippers, direct them to their seats, and assist with questions. This is a simple yet meaningful opportunity to serve God by serving our St. John's family.

Please consider serving God by assisting with one of these this crucial ministries. Those interested in serving can contact the office at [email protected] or (215) 357-6998. Thank you for your faithful support of all we do in service to Christ at St. John's!
CCLI Streaming License #CSPL049266


St. John's Ivyland
820 Almshouse Road
Ivyland, PA 18974
215-357-6998/[email protected]
stjohnsivyland.com
Rev. Brad Leight, Sr. Pastor