Hello St. John’s Family,
Yesterday, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of daily life, many of us paused. We paused, to listen and reflect; to confess and pray and worship. As Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of another Lenten season, we paused and came together humbly before God. It was good to come together to name both our brokenness and our steadfast trust in God’s enduring love, as we prepare to follow Christ to Jerusalem and all that awaits Him there.
Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season can be a challenging time. During this season we are called to examine our lives with fresh eyes, noting the areas where we’re well-aligned with God’s intentions, and the areas where we are not. There can be a weight associated with that, as feelings of shame and guilt often surface. Yet in that process, a beautiful realization takes place: God loves us. God loves us, not because we are perfect or do everything right, but because God made a promise – a covenant – with us, and God always keeps God’s promises. There is nothing we can do that will cause God to love us any less.
Friends, I believe this is one of the gifts of Lent. Lent calls us to be completely honest with ourselves as we assess our relationship with God. We’ll clearly see where we fall short. We’ll also be reminded how God is right there with us: to pick us up, straighten us out, strengthen us, and remind us we are loved. That is something I need… and something I think we all need.
I hope you’ll spend some time reflecting on those thoughts today and throughout our Lenten season.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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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,
March 06, 2022
Contemporary Service
at 9:00 AM
Traditional Service
at 10:30 AM
This service can be viewed LIVE through
St. John's Youtube Channel
The Communion Offering will go for humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine through UMCOR. See details & a link below.
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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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Communion Offering - Aid for Ukraine |
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Anyone wishing to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people in the wake of the Russian invasion of their country may contribute to the UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery. This fund will provide direct assistance to those in Ukraine as well as assistance to Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries. Please make checks payable to St. John’s UMC and note “Ukraine” or “Communion Offering” in the memo section. |
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Our Daily Lenten Devotionals
“The Sanctuary for Lent”
are available in the
Narthex .
Be sure to pick up your copy and
one for a friend as well.
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"Let all that you do be done in Love"
I Corinthians 16:14
Join our children and youth in practicing mindful acts of kindness for the next several weeks.
Show God's love to others and change the world!
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Lenten Project
St. John’s Mission/Outreach
Easter Bags for
Bright Future Academy
& St. John's Children
and Youth
Help fill Easter bags for the children of Bright Future Academy and our St. John’s Children and Youth.
Please stop by the table in the Narthex during the month of March (before and after the 10:30 service) to view the items and purchase a donation amount from the list provided.
The date/time for those congregants who would like to join us in compiling the final project will be announced later. All items have been purchased, are age appropriate, and will be assembled into Easter bags in early April.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
Blessings,
St. John’s Mission/Outreach Team
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Children's Activities This Week
- Children's Message at 10:30 AM
Parents, children will check-in at the mobile cart
in the Narthex
- 21 Days of Kindness Continues
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Pre-K - Grade 6
Sunday 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Cooperation is a spiritual concept that originates with God. God created us to work together in a community. Throughout the Bible, we see how God brought people together to accomplish something big for Him. Join us in March as we learn about what Jesus envisioned for His followers. Our love for one another can point people to Him.
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Youth Activities This Week
Youth Sunday School
at 10:30 AM
No Youth Night
This Sunday the 6th
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Sunday,
March 06, 2022
Grades 7 - 12
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL at 10:30 AM
in the Youth Lounge
For thousands of years, people have been wrestling with the tendency to separate on the basis of differences, to act on biases and prejudices, to label and discriminate, or to just feel awkward in situations when engaging with someone of another race or ethnicity. Most people would say they are “good people” or that they “don’t hate anybody,” so that leaves us with the question: why is there racial tension? Join Mrs. Gutsch and Mrs. Zesinger for this two week series as they focus on what could happen if we all carried a healthy curiosity about each other’s stories and experiences? This unique talk features a collection of stories from people of different races and ethnicities. We believe that when we stop to listen to each other, we begin to recognize the truth that we are made in God’s image, and therefore together, we reflect the image of God.
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No Youth Night
This Sunday,
March 6th
(Confirmation Retreat)
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Confirmation Class Retreat
Friday, March 4 to Sunday, March 6, 2022
NOT OVERNIGHT!
3 PARTS, 3 LOCATIONS
St. John's, Hopewell
& West Lawn
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All God's Children Have a Place in the Choir!
Join the choir - you'll be glad you did.
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Scout Sunday
March 20, 2022
Join us at 9:00 and at 10:30 worship services to honor our Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and adult leaders
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On Sunday March 20, St. John's will continue a long tradition of honoring the efforts of our Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and adult leaders involved in Scouting. Anyone involved in Scouting is invited to attend either of our worship services in uniform as we acknowledge your efforts.
In addition, photos of our Scouts who cannot attend will be projected prior to our services to acknowledge their efforts. If you cannot attend and would like to submit a photo, please email it to the office stjumc@aol.com ) by Tuesday, March 15th. Thank you!
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Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) Needs Our Help |
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Let's Wrap This Up!
Join the St. John's "Wrappers" beginning the week of March 13th to help provide the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen with wrapped cutlery. Bags of 250 sets will be available for pick up in the Narthex on Sunday the 13th or during the week by calling the church office 215-357-6998. TASK serves 10,000 meals each week. We have 10,000 sets to wrap, so we need 40 people. (40 people . . . 40 days of Lent . . . do you sense a theme here?) Make it a family Lenten project! Or a Youth Group project or a Neighbors helping Neighbors project!
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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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The Upper Room
Devotionals
for
March/April
Will be available in the Narthex, beginning Sunday, February 27th. Be sure to pick up one for yourself and one for a friend
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St John's Book Club
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
10 AM and 7 PM
Grace Cafe'
Award-winning author Francine Rivers opens a world full of vibrant characters with a powerful story of hope. In this stunning novel, Francine explores the new life that love can bring to a decaying garden of broken relationships. Through the lives of 84-year-old Leota, her granddaughter, and a college student with all the answers, Francine leads readers to ponder the value of life and truth in a way that only she can.
Carol Campbell & Barbara Schneider, facilitators
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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 Ken Lee to order a book, Cost is $20.00 |
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Tuesdays at 10:30 AM
- Old Testament Heroes and Heroines
- C. S. Lewis - The Great "Apologist"
of the 20th Century
Contact Paul Henry at phenry605@verizon.net for Zoom info
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UMW would like to send a big THANK YOU to the St. John's family for donating 417 lbs. of non-perishable food to the Jesus Focus Ministry Food Pantry.
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God's Love in Action is alive at St. John's UMC! |
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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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United Methodist Men
March Breakfast Meeting
Saturday, March 19th
St. John's has talent!
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United Methodist Men will be featuring some of our in-house talent at our monthly meetings on the third Saturday of each month.
Our March speaker will be
Jonathan Seamans.
Please join us at The Sycamore Grill, 255 North Sycamore Street, Newtown on
Saturday, March 19th at 10 a.m.
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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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Click on the button below to view the video about Bright Future Academy at El Mesias UMC, the recipient of our
2021 Advent Offering
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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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