News

Dear Members and Friends of St. John’s,

Ordinarily, one might say it was bad form to brag too much about things at church – pride goeth before a fall, and all that! But as an outsider to St. John’s, I think I may be afforded that privilege, so here goes:

You have an amazingly dedicated group of people who keep St. John’s and its ministry’s best interests deeply planted in their hearts. I have earned so much in the past 9 months from walking alongside the people of this congregation – both its leaders and those who simply “show up” for worship — that I would not be able to list all the experiences that I have cherished in this letter.

I am so grateful to work at a place that allows the staff to try out new things. You demonstrate a willingness to try new things that is both admirable and holds up a mirror to a God who daily “makes all things new.” This is no small feat given all the changes you have been through in the past several years – well done!

I have never experienced a place that continually reinvents itself so ably. Wednesday Night Live (WNL) is a prime example. St. John’s has made a brilliant space for this new offering and it has the potential to be a powerhouse for evangelizing new members and feeding our current members. As Dr. Hilary once described the experience: “It gets inside you” and you can feel the power of the Holden Prayer Service throughout the week until you come back.”

The adult education class that I have been teaching looks to be a fun and engaging way for us to expand our own faith. We are currently reading a book by Amanda Held Opert (her focus in the book is on grief written after losing her sister and other things she writes about, just as Covid hit, which made this process extra complicated). The class both instructs about the roots of this universal human experience and teaches us how to live with our grief (large and small) while at the same time providing the opportunity for some doodling and conversation that just seems fun!

The view from the Acting Lead Bridge Pastor these days is towards a pathway that is opening wide! As you also know, St. John’s is about to be joined with a highly capable leader in the person of Rev. Linda Noonan. It is an exciting time to be in ministry in Lansdale!

Peace,

Pastor Tom

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Hello, St. John’s family! My name is Kay, and I am the Office Manager. I have been extremely blessed to share the months since coming aboard with all of you!

In Spring, Lisa Delp, my predecessor, celebrated her retirement on the last day of March. Thanks to the dedication and work of our Council and staff, I was brought on the first day of April, with no gaps in office coverage! While I’ve been hard at work keeping the ship afloat, I’ve also been spending time reading old publications, and speaking with Council, staff, and all of you to learn as much as I can about St. John’s as possible.

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As announced this fall, we’ve been working on a new online presence for St. John’s — and now, we’re excited to finally share it with you! https://st-johns-ucc.org/ 

Ushering in a new year full of promise for the church, the new site is designed to provide easy access to the information that matters most to  lifelong St. John’s members and first-time visitors alike. 

As you explore, here are some pages you may wish to bookmark: 

• Recordings: Home for Sunday service audio and bulletins, now all in one place!
  https://st-johns-ucc.org/sermon-library/
  (Can be found under Worship > Recordings)
   

• News: The place for announcements, publications, and other updates
  https://st-johns-ucc.org/news-listings/
   

• Events: A list of upcoming events at the church
  https://st-johns-ucc.org/event-listings/  

If you encounter any bugs or errors, please report them to us at [email protected]. 

Happy browsing!

In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah foresees it. In the New Testament, John the Baptist proclaims it. This Advent season at St. John’s, we will live it. This season’s theme, Prepare the Way, reminds us of the importance of preparing. Preparing for a hectic holiday season, preparing for new leadership at St. John’s, and most importantly, preparing for God’s only Son to enter into our broken world.

Join us as we Prepare the Way in Advent and celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas Eve and beyond by attending our upcoming events this holiday season.

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