Hello St. John’s Family,
Recently while mindlessly scanning headlines on a news site, I came across a story about a 51-year-old chief executive of a major fund management company announcing his resignation. The tagline quote is what caught my eye: “I just want to go sit at the beach and do nothing, I’m not thinking about anything else.” The clickbait had worked… I dove in. In reality, there was more to the story. This man was originally from Australia, and for three decades had lived far from home and his parents. He wanted to spend meaningful time with family and his children at home – this was the driving factor for his seemingly sudden departure.
Unspoken yet loudly articulated in that brief article was the reality that an executive is required to sacrifice family and home to achieve success in the business world. I suspect many would agree that reality is not limited to executives. Significant sacrifice is expected – and often required – for many positions and careers. In the end, this man was able to retire very comfortably at 51; perhaps those sacrifices were worthwhile. Yet he clearly had a longing for something more; meaningful time and invested relationships with those closest to him were of greater importance. A point was reached when the sacrifice could not be justified.
I sense this is a dilemma that many face today. Too often there seems to be irreconcilable conflicts between professional success, wealth, healthy relationships, and commitment to selfless causes bigger than ourselves. For me, that begs the question of why: why is it so difficult to balance success and wealth with the relationships and beliefs that are important to us?
As people of faith, I sense we sometimes lose sight of the fact that we are all called. We are called by God to commit ourselves fully to God, and to each other. Few will question the reality that material resources are necessary for our healthy existence; yet it is the relationships – a relationship with God, with others dear to us, and with others God places into our lives – that ultimately sustain and bring meaning. Overly prioritizing success or material gain above the relationships to which we’ve been called to invest ourselves into will inevitably leave us depleted, empty, and wanting.
Falling for that clickbait article led me to pause, reflect, and ask myself if I am properly investing in my personal relationship with God, and investing in my dearly loved ones the way God desires. I encourage you to do the same. In a time when pressures, burnout, and stress are higher than ever, we have the perfect opportunity to take stock. Perhaps God may reveal an opportunity to reprioritize… and experience the blessing of renewal.
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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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Come Worship with us this Sunday,
July 10, 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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Fellowship & Community Outreach |
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Sign Up Now to Donate or Volunteer to Help |
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On April 8, 2022, we partnered with the American Red Cross to help save lives. The blood drive had 40 open blood donation slots, with a goal of collecting 25 units of blood from 25 donors, and we CRUSHED it! We had 39 donors and collected 39 pints of blood! The 39 pints of blood helped as many as 120 people in need. Thank you to everyone who donated and volunteered their time to help at the drive!
On July 8, 2022, we will again roll up our sleeves and help save lives, partnering with the American Red Cross to hold our second blood drive. Each pint of blood we collect can help save up to three lives and will touch the lives of so many more. What a great way to pay it forward and make an impact on people in our community and across the country. We are excited to be able to do this once again, and we hope you are too.
There are many ways you can help, but most importantly we hope you come out to donate. For more information on how to schedule an appointment to donate blood, click the link below.
Let’s show our community and the patients in need of blood just how much we can do! If you would like to volunteer, please contact Susan about joining the team.
The Red Cross has over 135 years of experience providing humanitarian aid including more than 75 years of supplying blood to those in need. It’s not every day that we have an opportunity to do something that has such a lifesaving impact! We look forward to seeing you at the blood drive.
Thank you for making a difference in lives!
Susan Seamans
215-357-6998 Ext. 305
“not looking to your own interests but each of you
to the interests of the others.”
Philippians 2:4
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St. John's Chicken BBQ
Saturday,
September 17, 2022
Food, Fun, Fellowship
Save the date to volunteer and to have a great dinner, too.
And don't forget to invite
all your friends!
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Kids Church and Sunday School will be back in September with more great times and interesting Bible stories. Enjoy summer worship with your family. |
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Youth Activities Calendar
Youth Sunday School and regular Sunday night Youth Group will resume in the fall. Check back regularly for summer happenings including Community Campfire nights, which start July 6th
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All ages Community Campfires
Bring a friend, bring a neighbor, bring your family members. Bring a chair
and a soft drink!
Hot dogs and marshmallows provided.
7:30 - 9 PM
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Throughout the summer months, our Music Ministry features special music by many of our talented singers and musicians. Be sure to let them know how their gifts enriched your worship experience.
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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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St. John's Book Club
Wednesday, August 3rd
10 AM and 7 PM
The Personal Librarian is fictionalized telling of the lifework of Belle da Costa Greene, the personal librarian to J. P. Morgan, as well as the first director of the Morgan Library & Museum
Facilitators: Carol Campbell and
Barbara Schneider
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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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To view the video shown on UWF Sunday, please click
the link.
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United Methodist Men
We're back . . .
with a Gourmet Breakfast on Saturday, August 20th at 9 AM
HERE in Fellowship Hall.
(Free will offering to cover cost of breakfast.)
RSVP to Jack Donovan
Final planning meeting for our
world-famous Chicken BBQ to be held on September 17th.
(Can you help in the kitchen at 7 AM? Let Jack know.
Please and thank you!
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Ruth Sharper, a long-time member of the St. John's Family, entered into eternal life Sunday evening, June 26, 2022. Prayers for comfort and peace for David, Val, and the entire Sharper family are appreciated.
Prayers are requested for the family of Angie Balfe. Houston Tilley, Angie's brother, entered into life eternal on July 5, 2022.
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Prayer requests can be submitted
Prayer requests are reviewed
Monday-Friday AM.
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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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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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