A Message of Gratitude and Farewell from Your Deacon Erin |
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Dear St. John’s family,
I want to thank you for the prayers and support that you have offered me during my time at St. John’s, a time that began in 1998 (!) when I was a young mother in search of a local church for my family. Over the years you taught and nurtured my daughter Elizabeth as she grew, you carried and consoled us through the illness and death of my husband Michael, and you fanned the flame of the Holy Spirit’s call to me to a life in ordained ministry. You have watched me leave and return, covering me with Christ’s love no matter where I have served and welcoming me back with open and receptive hearts. These words of Paul to the church in Philippi come to my mind when I think of my relationship with you at St. John’s: “3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” I am forever grateful.
It is time, though, for me to leave again. I will be moving at the end of the month to Lancaster County where I will serve on the chaplain team at Masonic Village in Elizabethtown and as a deacon at St. Mark’s in Mount Joy. I’m looking forward to meaningful service with older adults in skilled care and hospice and an opportunity to live closer to Liz and her husband Anthony. Rumor has it that my 98 year old mother might also make the move to the Village’s personal care home. God is so good!
Since returning to St. John’s in 2019, I have had the privilege of accompanying those who are mourning the loss of a loved one through the facilitation of GriefShare, a grief support group. I’m happy to say that this important ministry with St. John’s and our community will continue; God has already provided a facilitator who has a tremendous heart for Christ and a passion for walking alongside the broken-hearted. She and Pastor Brad will make announcements regarding the future schedule of GriefShare in upcoming weeks.
Again, my love and thanks to all who have been a part of my life here at St. John’s. I will hold you close to my heart always. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14)
Yours in Christ,
Erin
Rev. Erin Maurer
elam1025@gmail.com/267.265.3515
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WORSHIP - SAFETY PRECAUTIONS |
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Come Worship with us this Sunday,
May 15, 2022
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
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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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Video of Good Friday Service
If you were unable to attend the community Good Friday service hosted by St Andrew's and St John's UMCs, please click on the link below. This was a very powerful service and the closing song by Gospel Road will move you to tears.
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Opportunities to Fellowship Together |
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We are pleased to announce that the Grace Café
will reopen on May 22, 2022.
We are looking for volunteers to help with the coffee. We need folks to help start the coffee at 8:30 - great for people attending the 9:00 service. We also need people to help clean up any time after the 10:30 starts. Please contact Sharon Byle (smbyle@gmail.com/610-888-1329).
Plan on joining us for coffee/tea and snacks and a wonderful time of fellowship after the 9 am worship service.
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WARRIOR COFFEE UPDATE
Many members of St. John’s have been supporters of the Warrior Coffee Project over the last five years so I wanted to give you an update on what has been happening.
Since March of 2020 and the outbreak of Covid, the Village of El Naranjito has been seriously affected by the pandemic. El Naranjito is a small village of about 350 persons set high in the mountains of the Dominican Republic. The closest town is Peralta (population 8,596 persons 2012 census) at the base of the mountain.
As you may remember, Lycoming College (a United Methodist affiliated liberal arts college located in Williamsport, PA) became affiliated with El Naranjito in 2015 as a partner to provide real-life learning experiences for Lycoming students and to assist the village to be self-sustaining.
In 2016, the village was dependent on one crop, coffee beans, for the sole source of their income. It was a village devoid of clean drinking water, social supports, electricity, schools and any sense of community organization that would allow the village to become self-sustaining in the 21st century. The village experienced a devastating loss of much of their coffee plants in 2013, and was not able to replace them. In 2013, the village was paid eight cents per pound for their coffee. A poor village was becoming poorer and more destitute.
In 2015, Lycoming started working with the village replacing coffee plants, and teaching the village to add additional crops for market, such as avocados and macadamias. Not only did a second and third crop create additional income for the village, but coffee is grown best in a shady environment. These new crops provided that to improve the quality of the coffee bean. By 2017, the village was getting $2.47 per pound for their coffee beans.
Then came Covid and everything shut down. The Lycoming Intern (a fulltime employee of the village cooperative) had to return to the States. The village, to protect itself, became isolated again. As we approached late 2021-22, there was renewed hope that the village could return to normal. The coffee bean crop in the fall of 2021 was one of their best in terms of quality and quantity. Then came the supply chain crisis and the village has been unable to ship the beans to the U.S. for roasting and distribution. We simply had no coffee to sell to people who wanted to support the village
But there is hope. We expect by June 1, to have Warrior Coffee available for the Grace Café and for you to purchase. Once again, we will be able to Fight for What’s Right One Cup at a Time.
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Children's Activities This Week
- Children's Sunday School at 10:30 AM
- Parents, children will check-in at the mobile cart
in the Education Wing
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A Reminder . . .
The hallway for Classrooms A – E IS CLOSED to general traffic on Sunday mornings. Only children and their parent/guardian(s) will be permitted in this hallway. If you enter the church through the back door and do not need to check in children for Sunday School, please turn right down the hallway past Fellowship Hall and around to the Sanctuary. If you are checking in your child for Sunday School, please proceed to the mobile check-in cart outside Classroom A in the Education Wing.
St. John’s has an “absolute and unwavering commitment to the physical safety and spiritual growth of all of our children and youth” and your assistance is greatly appreciated!
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Children's Sunday School
10:30 AM
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God is strong and faithful, always working in our lives. We might get knocked down from time to time, but when we put our trust in God, we find the strength we need to get back up again. Jesus showed us how to face life with resilience. No matter what happened, Jesus relied on God to help Him accomplish the mission set before Him. This month, we will learn that because of Jesus, we can trust God no matter what. We can bounce back from whatever knocks us down and complete the mission God has for us. |
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Youth Activities Calendar
Youth Sunday School
at 10:30 AM
Youth Night 7:15 PM
Graduate Recognition Sunday
June 5th, 2022
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Register your graduate here to be included in our celebration of their success! |
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Graduate Recognition Sunday
June 5th, 2022
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10:30 AM in the Youth Room |
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Youth Sunday School
Grades 7 - 12
Sometimes it takes a song to express what we don't know how to say, or to remind us of what we have forgotten. Join us as we are reminded of the great love. importance and forgiveness we now have because of the great work Jesus finished long ago.
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Youth Night This Sunday,
May 15th
Join us for Nine Square
&
Basketball
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Looking Ahead . . .
On Sunday, May 22nd
Bowling at Thunderbird Lanes
2 PM Leave from Church
Return by 5:10 PM
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Did you find the Easter music uplifting? Inspiring? A glory to God? Now is the perfect time to join the choir. No auditions - all voice parts welcomed! |
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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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This beautiful, thoughtful novel illuminates a world turned upside down, one where the women are in charge, engaging in dangerous, physical work, and the men take care of the children. A classic Lisa See story - one of women’s friendships and the larger forces that shape them - The Island of Sea Women introduces listeners to the fierce and unforgettable female divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives.
We will meet on Wednesday, June 1, at 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM in the Grace Cafe. Please join us; all are welcome. Facilitators Barb Schneider and Carol Campbell
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Starting in the Fall of 2022
Think you know all about the Old Testament prophets? And why should you care anyway?
You may be surprised!
Our next study on Wednesdays evenings will be Disciple III FastTrack. This is a 24-week comprehensive study with manageable daily scripture readings. The first half focuses on Old Testament prophets; the second half on the Letters of Paul.
Ken Lee, facilitator
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Disciple III FastTrack study guide on The Prophets available at Cokesbury or Christianbook.com or other online providers. |
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United Women in Faith Sunday May 15, 2022
All ladies are asked to wear "red" to church.
Bake Sale between services!
Bakers needed - for info and sign-up,
check the UWiF (UMW) bulletin board
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United Methodist Men
Saturday, May 21st
St. John's has talent!
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Thank you to our April speaker,
Brian Jackson. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed his talk about traveling and
living in South America..
Our May speaker Is Michael (Mike) Byle.
Mike has a family background and a lifelong interest in trains and railroading. It has been his pastime from his first train set as a young boy to influencing his career choice. Professionally he has worked in complex design projects in and under rail lines including Amtrak’s High Speed rail clearance improvement project and work with CSX on many bridge designs.
Please join us at
The Sycamore Grill,
255 North Sycamore Street, Newtown
on Saturday, May 21st
at 10 a.m.
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PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the Month
10 AM in the Parlor.
Pictured are four baby blankets and several baby hats destined for The Baby Bureau in Warminster, plus larger children’s hats for World Vision’s Knit for Kids program. Last month, children’s hats were donated to the Ukrainian Education and Cultural Center, Jenkintown, for dispatch to Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
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 UMC
820 Almshouse Road
Ivyland, PA 18974
stjohnsivyland.com
Rev. Brad Leight, Sr. Pastor
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