Hello St. John’s Family,
Tonight is a sacred night. Maundy Thursday, the night we remember and re-experience Christ’s final night with his disciples prior to his execution, offers an intimate opportunity to draw near to our Lord. It’s a sacred night, centered around a sacred act, consecrated through a sacred meal, and culminated in a scandalous, yet sacred arrest. For those who have followed Jesus for some time, this night likely has a familiar feel. We approach it anticipating the sacred, as we respond to Christ’s call to do as He has done, to partake, and to remember. We have journeyed through Lent, sung the songs, we’ve made the ascent. As we arrive again at this intimate moment it feels familiar. Almost like home.
Almost. Tonight is also a troubling one. After all, tonight will conclude with helpless gasps and silent stares as we are shaken by the shock and horror of an arrest. The Lord of all creation is apprehended and led toward His death. Sorrow and fear are superimposed on our familiarity and desire, and in the middle of it all, our Lord asks a question: do you understand what I have done for you? (John 13:12)
Like so many of Christ’s questions, the question of do you understand what I have done for you is a loaded one. Jesus’ disciples – the ones first asked this question – certainly didn’t understand. They didn’t have a clue as to the depth of love that was revealed in Christ’s act of washing their feet, or that would be revealed over the next three days. They didn’t grasp how their lives would be changed forever by what they experienced. Those disciples were in way over their heads, and that fact was about to become very obvious. Their heads were spinning as they struggled to process a night and weekend that transformed human history.
I sense honest reflection will reveal how we are in a similar situation. As we approach this sacred night, Christ is asking us this same question that He asked the twelve: do you understand what I have done for you? This is a question that cannot be fully answered, yet it must be contemplated. Wrestled with. Applied to our hearts and minds, so we can begin to grasp just how much Christ loves us.
I pray that each of you will wrestle with this question over the next three days… and that Christ Jesus will reveal His mercy, grace, and incomparable love in powerful and new ways!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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Sanctuary seating for our Easter worship services is now full.
Additional seating for the simulcast to Fellowship Hall is available for both services.
Reservations Required. See Sign Up link below.
For those who want to attend but are not comfortable sitting inside:
The audio of the 9 AM service will be broadcast in the parking lot on FM frequency 88.9.
The 9 AM service will also be recorded and posted to our website upon completion.
www.stjohnsivyland.com
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WORSHIP - SAFETY PRECAUTIONS |
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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.
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Next Sunday's Worship: April 11
Please join us as we hear Bishop Peggy Johnson's message for the congregation from Conference.
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For more information on our Children's Ministry opportunities, please contact Susan Seamans, Director of Children's Ministry. childrensministry.stjumc@gmail.com |
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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 will be giving packets of seeds to everyone on Easter Sunday morning. We will also have packets available on the front porch of the church throughout Holy Week and the week following Easter Sunday. 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.
Thank you for helping us share the beauty and love
of new resurrection life this Easter season!
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HELP US MAKE A FLOWERING CROSS
ON EASTER
Bring flowers and place them on our flowering cross outside the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday!
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 we cover it with flowers on Easter Sunday.
Help us create this beautiful symbol for all to see as they drive down Almshouse Road. Simply bring flowers – as many as you like! – to place on the cross located outside in the front of the Sanctuary. Volunteers will help you attach your flowers to the cross. We will also have some flowers available in a bucket for you to place on the cross if you don’t have flowers. Please join us for this celebration.
The flowering cross will be displayed all week for all to enjoy as a symbol of new life.
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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 phenry605@verizon.net 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 phenry605@verizon.net.
April 6 - Words that Matter: Free Will, Freedom and Providence
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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, stjumc@aol.com.
Book orders will be placed on April 12 to ensure on time delivery.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Handbell Festival
April 25th
3 PM
More details to come!
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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
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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
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.
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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, stjohns820@gmail.com if you are available to help.
Thank you for your support.
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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
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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
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The Red Bird Mission are CLOSED for the winter
and are expected to open in April.
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.
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WARRIOR COFFEE
St. John’s has been serving Warrior Coffee in the Grace Café since 2017, to support the villagers of El Naranjito in the Dominican Republic. Even though the café is closed because of the pandemic, the village still needs our help. By purchasing coffee for your home or as gifts for your friends you will be “fighting for what’s right one cup at a time”.
This remote village of about 400 people have become even more isolated as a result of the pandemic. The sale of coffee remains as their only life line with the outside world. Please contact Paul Henry at phenry605@verizon.net, or 215-357-9398 to place your order. Thank you.
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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.
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,
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Scout Recognition Sunday
On Sunday March 14, St. John's honored the efforts of our Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts,
and adult leaders involved in Scouting! Below are a few of our St. John's scouts!
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Melissa McDevitt & Vicki Hermann Matthew McDevitt Evan & Jeremy Goldrick |
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For those interested in receiving Bucks County's latest vaccine information,
please click on the link below:
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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.
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Please Note:
In observance of the Easter Holiday,
the Church Office will be closed on Monday, April 5.
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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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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 stjumc@aol.com or (215) 357-6998. Thank you for your faithful support of all we do in service to Christ at St. John's!
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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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