Hello St. John’s Family, 

As the calendar turns to September, it’s hard to believe that summer is concluding, and a new academic year has begun. It seems like Memorial Day was only yesterday; now Labor Day is upon us. Recently voicing this observation in my household elicited the following response: yeah… time flies when you’re old. I offer that as a heads-up to all our parents out there: years of jesting will come around full circle! 

Throughout the summer months, many of us have taken time to rest, relax, and travel. I pray this has been a time of renewal: an opportunity to break from the daily responsibilities and pressures, and experience restoration. Wherever travels may have taken you, know that God was also there: to guide, strengthen, and draw you close. I firmly believe we need those times! They form the foundation for Sabbath – an essential weekly routine of rest and renewal that strengthens us to live out God’s desire for our life. 

Which brings us to today – September 1st. A new season of ministry and mission is ready to launch, as we seek to extend Open Arms and Serving Hands, Transforming Lives Through Christ. We’re reminded daily of the difficulties and challenges our broken world presents. We all experience this, from our youngest children to our eldest members. And we’re all needed: God has gifted every one of us, and desires to use us as examples of Christ’s light and love in a world marred by darkness. God has called us here for a purpose, for such a time as this.

Beginning this Sunday, we’re going to focus on the Book of Esther in our September worship services. We’ll see how God works powerfully through unlikely people and the most difficult and messy situations to bring forth deliverance and hope. God accomplishes this any time someone steps out in faith, in accordance with God’s ways. Later in the month, we’ll all have the opportunity to say “Yes” to God and commit to specific ministries and acts of service at St. John’s on Yes Day. I ask you to begin praying about that now, asking God to open your heart and guide you to where God desires you to serve.

This Sunday, we’ll begin by seeing God work through a pagan queen, as she makes a principled stand. I hope you’ll read the first chapter of Esther prior to Sunday, and then join us at 10am (remember – we have 1 combined worship service this week!) as we see how God works through any and every step of faith.

I also hope you’ll join me immediately following this Sunday’s worship service for our Back in the Swing Sunday Fellowship Brunch. There will be good food and fellowship together – a great way to conclude the summer!

Thank you for your heart for God, and your commitment to God’s work at St. John’s! I look forward to seeing you Sunday-

   Grace and Peace,

Pastor Brad

Come Worship with us this Sunday,

September 04, 2022

Combined Service 

at 10:00 AM

Red Bird Trailers

Red Bird Trailers will be open for limited donations for two days only, September 10th and 11th from 8 AM to 7 PM.

When this trailer is fully packed, it will be heading to Kentucky!

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.

"Back in the Swing Sunday" - September 4th

In celebration of our Church and our St. John's Family, we will have a Potluck Brunch to enjoy being together after our enforced pandemic separation. Come out to worship our God, share your favorite brunch recipe, and spend time catching up with friends old and new. Meanwhile, brainstorm ideas for future Fellowship Sundays and think about what you're going to bring to the Potluck. (Remember, everything's better with bacon!)

GriefShare 13 week Session  

Wednesdays from 6:30 - 8:30 pm

September 7 – December 7, 2022

GriefShare is a support group that meets weekly.

You will find it to be a warm, caring environment

 and you will come to see your group as an

“oasis” on your journey through grief.

You may register online at griefshare.org. 

There is a $20 fee for materials.

 For further information

 contact Carol Campbell

 eccampbell@aol.com  215-431-7452

 or go to griefshare.org. There is also a sign up sheet in the Narthex.

St John's UMC Ivyland

World-Famous Chicken Barbeque!

Saturday, September 17th 11 AM to 4 PM

Kids Church and Sunday School will be back in September 11 with more great times and interesting Bible stories. Enjoy summer worship with your family.

Youth Activities Calendar

Youth Sunday School and regular Sunday night Youth Group will resume on September 11^th.

Music at St. John's

Our Music Ministry will be resuming rehearsals in the next several weeks.  We have opportunities for all ages in our Vocal and Handbell Choirs.  Please look at the schedule for starting dates and times.  If you have any questions, please contact:

• Director of Music Ministries, Roy Nelson
• 215-962-8928
• roynel@aol.com

JOYFUL VOICES CHOIR

The Joyful Voices Choir is for children in grades K-5.  The Choir meets every Sunday following the 10:30 Worship Service.  Rehearsals usually run about 45 minutes.  The Joyful Voices sing twice a month at the 10:30 service.  Singing Sundays are the FIRST and THIRD Sundays of the month.

The Joyful Voices will resume rehearsals on Sunday, September 11 following the Worship Service.  We hope that parents will encourage their children to participate in the choir.

YOUTH CHOIR (singing)

The Youth Choir is for children / youth in grades 6-12.  The Choir meets every Sunday at 6:15 and the rehearsal lasts one hour.  The Youth Choir sings twice a month at the 10:30 Worship Service.  Singing Sundays are the SECOND and FOURTH Sundays of the month.  Occasionally the choir will sing at the 9:00 Contemporary Worship.  New members are welcome.  Previous participation in a choir is not a requirement.  The Youth Choir will resume rehearsals on Sunday, September 11 at 6:15.

ADULT CHOIR (singing)

Our Adult Choir presents music every week at the 10;30 Worship Service.  The Adult Choir rehearses every Thursday night at 8:00.  Rehearsals usually last until 9:30.  Our first rehearsal will be on Thursday, September 8th.  New members who have had some singing experience are always welcome to join us for rehearsal. Please contact Roy Nelson for additional information.

CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP PRAISE BAND

The Praise Band sings each week at the 9:00 Worship Service.  Singers and instrumentalists (guitar / percussion) are invited to join us.  Rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings at 7:00.  Our next Praise Band rehearsal will be on Tuesday, September 13.  Adults and youth are invited to participate.

HOLY HANDBELLS (Handbell Choir)

We are hoping to re-start our Holy Handbell Choir.  This Handbell Choir is for children grades 3-6.  Rehearsals will be announced pending participation interest.  

GENesis Bells  (Handbell Choir)

The GENesis Bells is a Handbell choir that includes both Youth and Adults.  GENesis Bells rehearse on Sunday nights at 5:15 (before Youth Choir).  The choir plays each month on the SECOND Sunday.  There are several "vacancies" in our choir, due to members graduating.  No previous experience with Handbells is necessary.  Basic music knowledge is a plus for membership, but not required.  Youth grades 6 - 12 are invited to participate.  The first GENesis Bell rehearsal will be September 18 at 5:15.

CELEBRATION RINGERS (Handbell Choir)

The Celebration Ringers rehearse once or twice a month, usually on Monday night.  Previous Handbell experience is not necessary to join the choir.  We have several spots open in the Celebration Ringers (Bass Bells and Middle Bells).  Basic music knowledge is a plus for membership, but not required.  Celebration Ringers play several times a year at "special events" and at some Sunday Worship Services.   The first Celebration Ringers rehearsl will be Monday, September 19 at 7:00.  Please contact Roy Nelson for additional information.

RING OF FAITH (Handbell Choir)

The Ring of Faith Handbell Choir meets on Thursday night at 6:45.  Our first rehearsal will be on Thursday, September 8th.  The choir plays each month on the FOURTH  Sunday.  Presently, there are no opening in Ring of Faith, but experienced "subs" are needed.  Please let Roy know if you are interested.

Thank you to those who have dropped off their used monthly Upper Room magazines. Please be aware we are not able to send them to Red Bird at this time. So do not return them to the church.  

CONTRIBUTE A DEVOTION!!

Advent is the season of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. This should be a time for families to come together in prayer and devotion.

This has been another really difficult year for all of us. 

We look forward to a more normal Advent/Christmas season this year.

So, please consider writing a devotion for our Advent Devotional. As always we will have paper copies of the devotional available and, in addition we will be posting each day’s devotion online

If you are interested in contributing a devotion, please contact

Pastor Ruth.

Upper Room Devotionals

September and October devotionals will be

be available in the Narthex, beginning Sunday, August 21.

Be sure to pick up one for yourself and one for a friend.

St. John's Book Club

Wednesday, September 7th

at 10 AM and 7 PM

in the Grace Cafe



The novel tells the story of a livestock pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spider named Charlotte. When Wilbur is in danger of being slaughtered by the farmer, Charlotte writes messages praising Wilbur in her web in order to persuade the farmer to let him live. If you read the story as a child or read it to a child, please join us. Or if you have never read it, please join us.

Facilitators: Barbara Schneider and Carol Campbell.

Red Bird Mission would like to include sports balls in the Christmas boxes for kids in the Beverly, KY area. The Communion offering on Sunday, October 2nd will go to Red Bird. Monetary donations will also be accepted on two Sundays in September, the 17th and 25th, and added to the Communion Offering amount. The Naomi Circle will have a table in the Narthex area those two Sundays in September to talk to you about this project and to accept any additional donations.

Please contact Carol Campbell 215-431-7452 or Linda Barr 215-773-9865 with any questions.

Thank you in advance for your generosity! 

Please plan to contribute a baked item for the bake sale at the St John's chicken barbecue on

Saturday, September 17.  

Each item should be individually wrapped. If you bring them unwrapped we will be happy to wrap it for you.

Items can be placed in the kitchen on Friday clearly marked for the Bake Sale. 

For questions contact Kathy Keppol 

215-920-5862

United Methodist Men

Final planning meeting for the Chicken BBQ was held at our August Breakfast meeting, A big Thank You goes out to all who attended and especially to those who helped in the kitchen

Chicken BBQ Sept 17th, volunteer now!

Next meeting is on October 15th, 2022- breakfast meeting.

Agenda: Chicken BBQ Recap

and a Guest Speaker.