WITHIN THE FELLOWSHIP:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Beverly Dettra, Brad Peck, Graham Vogelzang 14th; Julian Kraus, Tristan Kraus 15th; Irv Kulp, Iryna Yagilnicky 17th.
THE SERMON TITLE this morning is Witnesses to What? The apostle John was given a rod during his vision on the isle of Patmos. He was to take the measure of the sanctuary of God with it, but to throw out the outer court of the Temple. What could that mean? Then John sees two witnesses who are told to prophesy. As an explanation for who they are he is told they are the two olive tree and two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the whole earth! Well, that certainly clears things up, doesn’t it! Still a little murky on that? Not to worry. Next thing you know they are killed! But then they come back to life! What’s going on?
WE WELCOME THE NAIRN FAMILY to Leidy’s Church this morning. Andrew and Megan are the parents of four children and currently reside in nearby Delaware. The focus of their missionary efforts is Japan. We have not met the Nairns previously, so please welcome them heartily and graciously. They became part of our mission family only in January of this year. We look forward getting to know them well in the years ahead.
ISSUES & ANSWERS SCHEDULE:
- March 15 Bill Teate, Glad Tidings India
- March 22 Ted Brunner, FCA
- March 29 Bryan Stoudt, CMDA
THE SPIRITUAL COUNCIL HAS AUTHORIZED a Service of Ordination for Michael W. Nowling for next Sunday at 5 pm. The entire congregation is heartily encouraged to be present and participating in this joyful and significant event. There will be a reception afterwards in the Fellowship Hall.
SLMT-CUCUTA is being planned. This would be a trip to visit and work alongside our partners at Iglesia Luz y Verdad in Colombia as they seek to minister to Venezuelan refugees. Our plans are still quite flexible, but it seems likely we’re looking at a time around the second week of August. If you’re interested in being part of SLMT-Cucuta, please contact the church office soon. For more information you may speak with Martha Wolgemuth, Emma Coale, or Pastor Niederhaus.
A BAPTISM SERVICE is being planned for this spring. If there are young folk [or older folk] who have received the Lord Jesus as Savior, but have not been baptized, you may want to speak with Pastor Niederhaus to see if baptism is an option for you.
LET’S GO TO THE MOVIES! Where? Right here at Leidy’s Church. The Fellowship Committee is showing Aladdin on Friday evening, March 27th. Start time is 7pm, with concessions available. Jammies are acceptable. Admission price is your good name and a promise of good behavior!
CHILI COOK-OFF IS MARCH 21ST so get busy refining your recipes. Entry fee is $25. You must submit the name of your recipe when you enter. Your entry fee allows you to eat all you want and to cast a vote. For those not entering a recipe, tickets are $10 and you get to eat all you want and cast a vote too. Maximum cost per household shall not exceed $35. Those under 15 can get in for $7, while 5 and below are free. There will be hotdogs and chicken nuggets for children and those who don’t like chili. Doors open at 5:00. Forms are in the bulletin for you to register for the event.
SLMT-PIK MISSION TRIP 2020 SIGNUP continues! The sign-up sheet is posted on the narthex wall. July 9 through 19 are the dates. Mark it on your calendar. No one is too young, no one is too old. Likewise, no one is too skilled or unskilled. You simply need to be a ready and willing worker with VBS materials and kids or with maintenance projects and tools. Seek the Lord, perhaps He wants to use you in this year’s ministry to Canada.
A NOTE FROM COLLEEN invites you to consider being part of SLMT-Pikangikum this year. She writes: Dear Leidy’s Church. Thank you so much for your support again and again! I trust the 2020 VBS team is coming together – it will be wonderful to have you in Pikangikum and the kids being blessed! Love, Colleen. Be part of the blessing Colleen writes about. The SLMT-Pikangikum sign-up sheet is on the narthex wall. Consider putting your name on it.
MARCH IS MISSIONS MONTH. Everyone is invited to come to the Fellowship Hall during the Sunday School hour each Sunday and meet our missionaries. Some minister locally, some minister on the other side of the globe. Some minister to children, some to youth, some to millennials, and some to tribal peoples. Sunday mornings in March the place to be is the Fellowship Hall at 8:45 for Missions Month. [Oh, by the way, some Mission Munchies should be available for your enjoyment as well.]
TODAY OUR FIFTH & SIXTH GRADERS are in the narthex collecting pledges for Morning Star Ministries. While each class member must raise $75 individually in order to bowl, the funds collected at the table will contribute to the class as a whole. Feel free to sponsor either a young person whom you know or the class generally; every $5 helps! Other individuals may also bowl on April 4 for $20 (in lieu of collecting pledges), which includes two games and shoes. Families of four may bowl for $60 with $15 for each additional family members. While the class will bowl at noon, families or individuals can register to bowl anytime between noon and 4:00 by calling 215-723-8103. Flyers detailing this plan are available at the table.
THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION DEPT. is collecting pictures of children in our Nursery through 12th grade Sunday School classes for 2020 prayer cards which will be distributed on Palm Sunday. Parents, be sure a picture of your child(ren), with their name and birthdate on the back, is turned in to their Sunday School teachers, or the church office. If you do not have a picture, let their Sunday School teacher know, and we will take one for you. It is our desire that each child has an adult praying for them!
LIVING HOPE NATIVE MINISTRIES banquet takes place at Yoder’s Restaurant in New Holland on March 27th. That’s a Friday evening. It begins at 6:30 and will have family style serving of the scrumptious, mouthwatering food for which Yoder’s is justly renown. This is an ideal opportunity to catch the vision that animates LHNM.
PRAYER-POINTERS. Here are two prayer points for this week as we pray for the Gospel Gleanings outreach to the Erukulu people:
Thank God that He speaks clearly. Since the beginning of creation His invisible attributes have been clearly seen through what He has made. God also sends people to teach others how to read written words, including the Bible. This month literacy teachers will begin to recruit for literacy classes among the Erukulu people.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to put a desire to learn to read in many of the Erukulu people: young and old, male and female. And that many would commit to taking the literacy course offered through Glad Tidings India.
GOT YOUR THINKING HAT ON? “Hmmmm. What should I do for the SLMT Auction this year?” That’s the Thinking Hat we’re thinking of! Don’t let the Auction slip up on you. Now is the time to consider what your options might be. Is there a service I might offer? Is there something I’ve found very helpful that I could buy and make available to others through the Auction? What’s that one item that would stimulate a bidding war – I want to get it for the Auction! It is time to get our hats on and percolate some thoughts about the Auction. Donation forms were put in our mailboxes. Extra copies are available from the church office.