WITHIN THE FELLOWSHIP:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Phoenix Lepping 5th; Riley Peck, Brent Talbot, Sr. 6th; Karlee Fretz, Cheryl Hall, Mary Beth Musselman, Jeff Schatz 7th; Nelda Metzler, Francis Weiss 8th; Matt Connor, Denise Kulp, Karen Mirabella, Steve Myers, Dave Reich 9th.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Mark and Sharon Kostishion 7th.
THE SERMON TITLE this morning is Liberated to Live & Die for Christ! Obstacles and distractions often impede our progress in this life. For the Apostle Paul, his main obstacle and distraction could have been his imprisonment in Rome. But he would not permit his incarceration to hamper the mission God gave him to do. Instead, Paul viewed it as an opportunity to carry on his mission for the Lord. Today we have many obstacles and distractions often impeding our progress to live for the Lord. We will learn liberating truth to live and die for Christ despite the difficulties or troubles we may face.
THE SEASON OF ADVENT begins today. This is a four-week preparation to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus. We have an Advent Wreath in the chancel that will have another candle lighted each week. Each will feature one element of our anticipation of the birth of Jesus. This first week it is hope.
THE SACRAMENT of Holy Communion will be shared during the service of worship this morning. We invite all members of the church of Jesus Christ to share in this sacrament.
WE WELCOME JEFF & MARY KIRKPATRICK to our service this week. They soon will be full-time workers with Living Hope Native Ministries. Right now, they are still in the support-raising phase, though they look forward to relocating to Thunder Bay, Ontario, in 2021. Many of us will recognize the Kirkpatricks as they are former members of Leidy’s Church.
ISSUES & ANSWERS
- Today – Jeff & Mary Kirkpatrick
- Dec. 6 – 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.
TACOS PRAYER TIME (Thanksgiving, Adoration, Confession, Others, Self) is happening this Thursday, December 3rd, from 7 to 9 pm in the Fellowship Hall. There will be singing and times of prayer. We look forward to sharing this time with you!
CHRISTMAS CAROLING takes place on December 13th. 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 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!
ADVENT WORKSHOP is today at 4 p.m. Crafters please, be on time, crafts will start promptly! Don’t forget a dessert to share.
ATTENTION LADIES, you are invited to a Christmas Potluck Dinner on Tuesday, December 8th right here at church. 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.
TODAY IS THE DAY the Gospel Gleanings project reaches its climax. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent last year, individuals and families have been putting aside one dollar a day to fund three years of ministry to the Erukulu people. This is an unreached people group in India. Already there are 450 Erukulu individuals who are on the road from the darkness of illiteracy to the opened, lighted opportunities that accompany literacy. If you forgot to bring in your final Gospel Gleanings envelope☹, it will still “work” next week. ?
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 planting of God’s Word in the minds and hearts of the 325 women and 125 men who are learning to read. Ask the Holy Spirit to implant within each a recognition of and a desire to follow the moral standards God has established for all humanity.
- 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.
CHAD AND NIGER WILL BE IN FOCUS next Sunday. The Issues & Answers class will host representatives from Global Disciples who will get us up-to-speed on those two north-central African nations. Galen Burkholder and Tim Bentch will explain how our new Gospel Gleanings project will help plant churches among unreached people groups in those two nations. It will be eye-opening and heart-stimulating.
DO YOU HAVE A YEN FOR A YAK? If so, you’re in for some good news. The Mission Committee still has a few Yak ornaments left from the Craft Show. They are $5 per Yak. Making great stocking stuffers and exotic Christmas tree ornaments, they benefit the ministry of Beauty from Ashes. There is a table in the narthex for you to pick up a Yak or make further inquiries.
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!
DON AND DIANNE NASE wish to express their thanks to the Leidy’s Church family for the prayers, cards, and concerns shared with them over the last few weeks.
PATTERNS OF PRAYER take place the first and third Saturdays of each month. We pray in the morning from 10 to 12 in Room 117. Participants are welcome to come and go as schedules permit/necessitate. This Saturday is the first Saturday of December, so we’ll be praying and you’re welcome to join as well. If you have any questions or suggestions for prayer, please speak with Patricia Martindell.