(215) 855-5489 | Worship every Sunday @ 8 a.m. & 10:15 a.m.
(215) 855-5489 | Worship every Sunday @ 8 a.m. & 10:15 a.m.
Sep 01, 2025
As we approach St. John’s 150th anniversary in 2026, we are digging deep into the church archives to connect with the stories that shaped us. John Hendricks, our Photographer and Archivist, has worked faithfully for 15 years to maintain and share important pieces of our history. Leaning on his extensive knowledge and storytelling ability, we are excited to share these artifacts and anecdotes as a way to honor the past and imagine what the next 150 years could bring.
photo: Rev. Sue Bertolette on the steps, Celebration Sunday 1998.
On September 7th we will observe ‘Celebration Sunday’. This is traditionally the day we return to our full calendar of activities after summer break and vacations. Did you know this tradition goes back over 100 years at St. John’s?
At St. John’s and most churches, starting in the 1920’s, this was known as ‘Rally Day’, a Sunday to come together after summer and build excitement for the Sunday School’s upcoming year. A standout Rally Day was in September 1923, when 2,110 people from every church Sunday School in the borough marched together in a Rally Day parade in downtown Lansdale on a Saturday afternoon, described by The Reporter as Lansdale’s “Greatest Religious Event”. The parade marched to Memorial Park where there was singing (led by St. John’s choir leader, M. Ellen Geller) and speeches. The next day each church held its own Rally Day, and The Reporter headline read “Reformed Show Largest Attendance”, with 470 persons attending at St. John’s!
Rally Day continued at St. John’s for another 60+ years. One of the long-held traditions, before we became aware as ‘creation stewards’, was a colorful ‘balloon release’ on the front lawn following worship. The balloons had tags attached and many were returned from all over the area. When we became aware of the environmental consequences to animals and waterways after the balloons landed, this tradition purposely ended.
Looking for a new identification, in 1987 the name of the event was changed to “Celebration Sunday”. The Sunday School students were joined by congregants arriving for worship in the front courtyard. The Associate Pastor led the ceremony and the Children’s Choir director would lead the crowd in singing. In 2013, the gathering moved to the new back courtyard, with crowds filling the courtyard, the ramp and into the parking lot! Each person received a token gift reminding us of our new theme for the year.
As with many traditions, the pandemic brought changes to Celebration Sunday. In 2020, a ‘spread-out’ event took place in our various parking lots. Since there was no return to classes or activities, Celebration Sunday was not ‘celebrated’ for a few years. Now we are rebuilding a full schedule of worship and activities for 2025 and beyond, with new hopes and new leadership. Come and be part of St. John’s history on September 7th at 10:15 am!
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