WITHIN THE FELLOWSHIP:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Derek Freed, Stephen Tyson 10th; Connie Smith 11th; Brent Talbot, Jr. 12th; Joyce Anders, Noah Kulp, Alex Walbrandt 13th; Audrey Niederhaus 16th.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Jim and Karen Carling 16th.
THE SERMON TITLE this morning is Live Worthy in Unity with Christ. The Apostle Paul’s call to unity is not for unity sake; it is a call to unity rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The church must stand firm and strive for the unity of faith amid opposition, conflict and suffering for the cause of Christ. As we live worthy in unity with Christ, we will discover we are secured by the love and joy of the Lord, to love and serve Him and one another.
THE CANDLE OF JOY is lighted on the Advent Wreath today. The angel told the shepherds he brought good news of great joy which would be for all people. The good news being that the Savior was born. One cannot and should not consider the birth of the Son of God apart from the joy He brings into the lives of real people by His work of redemption.
WE WELCOME BRIAN AND BARB to our service this week. They are friends who have stayed in our Mission House from time to time. In fact, they are staying there now! But their real purpose in life is working with folk on the far-side of the world, bringing the message of hope and reconciliation and new life found in Messiah Jesus.
ISSUES & ANSWERS
- Today – Brian & Barbara
- Dec. 13 – Galen Burkholder, Tim Bentch – Global Disciples
THE FLOWER CHART FOR 2021 is posted on the wall in the narthex for those who would like to sponsor flowers for our sanctuary. The chart will be posted until the end of December.
SPIRITUAL COUNCIL meets this Tuesday evening at 7:30 in Room 125.
CHRISTMAS CAROLING takes place next Sunday! Included in today’s bulletin is a sign-up form to register for caroling. The completed form may be placed in the basket provided on the Welcome Desk. You may also use the form to make suggestions for persons or homes to put on our caroling list. Feel welcome to join in spreading Christmas cheer!
SIGN-UP SHEETS are on a table outside the sanctuary to sign up for the 2021 Committees of consistory. Read over the responsibilities of each committee and prayerfully consider where you might best serve the Lord and Leidy’s Church.
POINSETTIA PLANTS to beautify our sanctuary for the Christmas season may be ordered beginning today. Plants may be placed in memory or in honor of someone. The cost of the plants this year will be $15. Someone will be in the narthex after Sunday School and the service to take your order.
ATTENTION LADIES, you are invited to a Christmas Potluck Dinner on Tuesday beginning at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall. The BIG RED sign-up sheet is on the wall right near the elevator. Great food, wonderful fellowship, and a blessing for all who attend.
CONSISTORY meets this Wednesday evening at 7:30 in the Conference Room.
MARCH FOR LIFE BUS SIGN-UP sheet is posted on the narthex wall. It’s first-come, first served! The date of the 2021 March for Life is Friday, January 29th. Thanks to some undergirding financial support from the Church and Community Committee, the cost for the round-trip ride on a plush Perkiomen Tours coach is still only $12. You’re welcome to inform others who might be interested in this opportunity to bear witness for LIFE.
TODAY IS TRANSITION DAY for Gospel Gleanings. Those who forgot to bring their Gospel Gleanings November envelope last week, can drop it in an offering receptacle this week. Next week though, we begin a new Gospel Gleanings project. Galen Burkholder and Tim Bentch from Global Disciples will present a plan to plant churches among the Unreached People Groups in the north-central African countries of Chad and Niger. Come to the Issues & Answers class to get the full story. It will be eye-opening, mind-stimulating, and heart-challenging.
PRAYER-POINTERS. Here are two prayer points for this week as we pray for the Gospel Gleanings outreach to the Erukulu people:
- Pray for the 450 literacy students not to be hindered from continuing in the class by obstacles that may come up in their lives or situations. May they stay healthy and able to go to class. May local officials not hinder their ongoing class work. May they not be discouraged by the difficulty of learning to read.
- Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts as well as the minds of those 450 students. As they learn to read, may God gift them with the blessing of open hearts to hear the Good News that tells of the Redeemer who sets people free from guilt and the wrath of God we deserve.
GATHERING FOR CAROLING will happen next Sunday at 1:45 with a 2 o’clock departure intended. Carolers will park on the gym level and gather in the Youth Room. After caroling the teams will meet back in the Youth Room and gym for hot food and beverages.
KRISTA TYSON is interning at Worthwhile Wear, an organization that helps women who are survivors of human trafficking. These women would like to give back to other women who find themselves in a similar situation, or who are vulnerable to being trafficked. They are looking for donations this holiday season for them such as: tube socks, toiletries (toothbrush, shampoo, soap, etc), gloves, hats, scarves, masks, feminine products, drawstring bags, and hand sanitizer. There will be a box in the coat closet labeled Worthwhile Wear where you can place your items, donations will be accepted until January.
HELP IS NEEDED in childcare during the worship service. Would you like to get to know the children at Leidy’s Church a little better? The best way to do that is to volunteer in the Nursery, in the Lambs, or in Children’s Church. Help is especially needed in Children’s Church. Contact Justine Smith if you would like to help in any of these childcare areas. Please make sure that you have your background checks that are needed in order.
IN THIS TIME OF NEED is functioning inside Venezuela. Part of the pre-service video loop has scenes of Pastor Jésus Ramon and Pastor Mitchel Garcia taking food to families, both spiritual food and physical food. Our good friend and partner Pastor Dagoberto Angarita is able to make that connection so that we can provide the means for Pastor Jésus and Pastor Mitchel to undertake this vital ministry. Praise be to God!
NEW PRECEPT STUDY – Galatians – Who Has Bewitched You? Why and How? We have freedom because Christ made us free. Stand strong, do not change and go back to the slavery of the Law (5:1). Galatians is a God-breathed book written with a confident hand. Paul was not shaken, he didn’t waver, and his belief didn’t falter. Neither should ours! Classes begin on January 6th from 9-11:30, leader, Marci Stunkard followed by video teaching. To order workbooks please contact Verna at 215-237-1370. Cost of the workbook is $16.