Twelve years ago, former Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio published an opinion piece in the Columbus Dispatch. In this piece, Portman indicated that he has “come to believe that if two people are prepared to make a lifetime commitment to love and care for each other in good times and in bad, the government shouldn’t deny them the opportunity to get married.” This preceded several key court cases about gay marriage, ultimately culminating in the Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell decision, which granted the right to marry for same-sex couples. Now, when Portman wrote the piece, did he always hold this position? Nope. In fact, Portman’s view had been “rooted in [his] faith tradition that marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman.” But what changed? Two years before he published the piece, his son had come forward to Portman and his wife that he was gay. Portman now said that his views had changed, and it “came down to the Bible’s overarching themes of love and compassion.” Proponents of this change of view naturally praised the maneuver as a progressive change, but perhaps cynically I tend to side with the critics who view it as simply a political calculation.
Ok, so what was the point of the stories? Why did I bring this up? My point actually has nothing to do with former senators, gay marriage or politics. The point I’m trying to make is this: that your principles only really mean something when they’re put to the test.
Or in more modern parlance, “Everyone’s a gangster until it comes time to do gangster things.” Let me give some more examples. Let’s suppose you know an outspoken environmentalist… but what happens if a fracking company informs this person that their property sits on a huge natural gas deposit worth millions of dollars? Or let’s say that someone might be strongly against capital punishment… until multiple family members of theirs are brutally murdered by some monstrous person. We could think of dozens of these types of examples: you can say you hold a particular principle, but how do you answer when something big and unexpected changes the calculation? Will you be firm in your convictions, or will you fold to some exception?
In the first couple chapters of Revelation, John is writing letters on behalf of Jesus to the seven early churches in Asia (what is now modern day Turkey). The final church, Laodicea, received a criticism that I always find to be an interesting metaphor. In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus says to them, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” I’m a fan of hot coffee, and I’m even a fan of iced coffee on a summer day. But after a morning of meetings and I get back to my desk, there is no day ruiner like taking a big swig of… tepid, room temperature coffee. It’s the same thing here. You have a church of people that were claiming to be followers of Christ, claiming to follow Christ’s principles… and yet, they weren’t actually following. Or maybe they were, and just not following wholeheartedly. Or maybe they were just “going through the motions.” And what’s worse, when we read on in verses 17-18, these Christians were so accustomed to it that they were blind to it! What a terrible place to be in!
And if you give it some thought, let’s be honest with ourselves… we are all in that place. I know I am. People know that I’m a Christian from my own admission… but do I convey a life led by Christ’s principles? Do I reflect a life changed by the grace of God? Do I reflect a heartfelt passion for demonstrating the love of Christ here on earth to alleviate physical suffering? Do I feel the urgency of sharing the gospel, to call others to repentance and belief? Can I stand on the principles God calls me toward, to which I give verbal assent one day, but may find myself in a situation that makes it really, really difficult the next day?
Jesus’ words in the subsequent verses can give us some hope. Verse 19: Jesus corrects those He loves, so be zealous and repent. Welcome the Holy Spirit’s conviction in your life, to help guide and correct you. Show that joy, vibrancy and enthusiasm in your faith and in the principles He instills in us. And when we invariably mess up and flounder and are lukewarm in our attitudes, own up to it and ask God for the grace to do better. Verse 20: Jesus is at the door knocking. He wants badly to commune with us. Will you let Him in? And lastly verse 21: there’s an incredible reward to overcoming. Christ promises that we will sit with Him on His throne. How cool is that?
So my friends, take heart. Don’t be lukewarm. Think through and pray about how you’d act in one of these kinds of situations, the ones that might derail a less principled person. Pray that you’ll have the spiritual and emotional fortitude to overcome. Will you be the Christian when it comes time to do “Christian things”?
Tim Leidy
Join us as we pray from the cross to the empty tomb - Good Friday evening, April 18th to Early Easter Sunday Morning, April 20th, 36 hours of non-stop prayer. A sacred time set apart to seek the Lord. Beginning immediately following the Good Friday Service - from 7pm Friday to 7am Easter Sunday morning in the sanctuary. You can follow the link in the online newsletter to sign up and learn more information, or call the church office.
This is an opportunity to fix our eyes on Christ—His atoning death on the cross and His victorious resurrection. As we come together in awe of His sacrifice, we remember that by His wounds, we are healed, and in His resurrection, we have new life.
We encourage you to commit to at least one hour of prayer. We are hoping to have someone praying in each time slot.
Holy Week reflects the best of times and the worst of times. The Lord Jesus receives due adulation as He descends the Mount of Olives to enter Jerusalem, but the holy city is cast into deep darkness later that week as the Father turns His face away from His Son. Finally, a light that cannot be extinguished breaks forth from a tomb in a garden near Golgotha as Jesus is raised from the dead. We catch something of that rhythm through the flow of services that week. Here’s the schedule for 2025:
Palm Sunday Worship Service - April 13, 10am
Good Friday Service - April 18, 6pm
36 Hours of Prayer: April 18 - 20
Join us as we pray from the cross to the empty tomb - Good Friday Evening to early Easter Sunday morning, 36 hours of non-stop prayer. A sacred time set apart to seek the Lord. Follow the link in the online newsletter to sign up and learn more information, or call the church office.
When: 7pm Friday to 7am Sunday morning
Where: Leidy's Church Sanctuary
Easter Morning Youth Fundraiser Breakfast
Come out for a breakfast prepared by the youth of Three Six Teens at Leidy's Church.
When: April 20
Time: 8:26am - 9:27am
Cost: Donation
Where: Fellowship Hall
**Sunday School classes will not meet on Easter Sunday. It is hoped that families will gather with others for the Easter Breakfast.
Easter Worship Service - April 20, 10:00am
Join us to celebrate Christ's resurrection! Communion will be served during the worship service.
The Red Cross Mobile Blood Unit will be at Leidy’s Church on Thursday, April 17th to receive blood donations from 2 to 7 pm from people who have registered as donors. There are two ways you can register as a donor. First, you can sign up for an appointment by going directly to the Red Cross website, which is www.redcrossblood.org and click on “Find a Blood Drive” and then go to the box type listed as leidyschurch. (no spaces or apostrophe). When you click on that link, you will see the times available to schedule your appointment. The second way to sign up is by calling the church office or signing up in the narthex before or after the worship service on Sunday mornings. Also, there are options of blood donation one can choose, from the normal red plasma to donating blood platelets. The amount of time may vary depending on the procedure, but the average completion time is between one and one-half to two and one-half hours.
On Sunday, April 6, 11:30am–12pm meeting in the sanctuary there will be a introductory meeting for the Mexico Mission Trip planned for this summer from July 7 to the 14. Leidy’s Church is excited to invite students (6th grade and up) and adults to be part of a short-term mission trip to Ciudad Victoria, Mexico, in partnership with Mission to the World! This trip is a meaningful opportunity to serve, grow, and be part of what the Lord is doing beyond our local community. Whether this is your first mission trip or you’ve gone before, it’s a powerful way to deepen your faith in Christ and use your gifts to serve others through a cross-cultural experience.
Ciudad Victoria, the capital of the state of Tamaulipas, is home to a Christian school and several church plants. Our team will be involved in light construction, Vacation Bible School, and local outreach. All participants will need a current passport.
If you’re interested in joining us on this mission trip, please come to an introductory meeting after the worship service in the Sanctuary. We’d love to share more and answer your questions!
All ladies are welcome the first Tuesday of April (Sorry, no April fool’s joke here!), April 1st at our new time 6:30 pm, room 123. We’re in the midst of finishing up the plans for many exciting events coming up…Come play a part with the lovely Ladies of Leidy’s. We hope to see you there, no joking!’
Ladies of Leidy’s is sponsoring a Ladies Tea on Saturday, May 17th beginning at 11am, invite your family and friends! Register by April 26th as reservations must be made for this catered event.
Come join a special time of food and fellowship, followed by a fun presentation from Marian & Friends. You can register online by clicking on the graphic to sign up, or contact the church office.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Date & Time: Friday, April 11th - 6pm-8pm
Location:
Church Fields Next to the Ponds
What to Expect:
A night of worshipping our Lord together as the sun is setting.
Following the Worship Service, there will be a free BBQ dinner,
also an Egg Hunt for kids up to 5th grade.
Bring enough lawn chairs for you and your family and the friends that you are inviting.
Parking:
Please park in either the gym parking lot or the lower lots at the church and walk over.
There will be friendly parking people to help direct you.
Limited parking along the driveway for those who will need it will also be available.
Consistory President Josh Heebner called the meeting to order at 7:01pm. Present: Darren DePaul, Dave Doran, Francis Weiss, Jerry Kulp, Jim Foote, Jim Kinney, Josh Heebner, Ken Merritt, Kendall Musselman, Shaun Permar, Tony Kapusta, Brian Radcliff and Brian Shoemaker
Devotions: Brian Radcliff led devotions on Proverbs 3:5-6. Brian spoke about Pastor Darren’s current preaching as something that has been a good challenge for him. He spoke about his first marriage failing, and the fact that he wasn't trusting God's Word, and he leaned on his own understanding. She left, he surrounded himself with better counsel. The change was like night and day once that happened. Trust the Lord and give him all your heart and not cling to anything else. Trusting in the Lord with changes, acknowledge him, and he will direct our paths. As he got older, it repeated itself in his mind, and heart… Trust, Acknowledge and Direct.
February Minutes Motions for Approved
First: Brian Shoemaker Second: Francis Weiss Unanimously Carried
Financial Report
Fund Non-designated giving & other income Spend Ending Fund Balance
General $71,473.21 $81,812.69 $88,977.80
Renovation $7,130 $19,426.57 $217,499.79
February closed with a solid month of giving. Giving was above our "budgeted" income amount, spending is higher than income as well, and there are a few factors contributing to this. Things will likely level out Lord willing in March - it is a five Sunday month and the first week of giving was very generous. There was a discussion, followed by a decision to roll the two CDs over from Reno and the General Fund for another seven months that matured this month.
Financial Report Motions for Approval
First: Kendall Musselman Second: Brian Radcliff Unanimously Carried
Identify/Discuss/Solve:
a. Recap of home school groups - Tony met with both homeschool groups recently. Being officially financially charged was something new, so there were questions that needed to be answered. Tony drafted a “Letter of Understanding” for both groups and the Consistory moving forward. This should help both sides manage expectations.
b. Property Proposal - Discussion on the grass that invaded the islands, and needing to prune/trim the bushes. While it was recognized that a lot of people did a great job with their islands, pruning is a delicate art and someone with dainty hands like Francis would be best. After some discussion, it was decided to approve for a landscaper to come in and clean up the islands. Once they are all complete, the adopt an island campaign will come back and it will be more of maintaining it, than getting it under control.
c. Missions Committee Update - Darren talked about leading a mission trip to Mexico, through Mission to the World. Fifth graders on up would be welcome as long as a parent went along. It would be an intergenerational mission trip, in a pretty established mission site. Looking like the third week of July. Bible School, small projects, and teaching English were things discussed that would be happening. Fall trip to NC is a go for a mission trip, which would be a work trip.
d. Auxano Update - No nitty gritty yet was discussed. There will be a joint meeting with Consistory and SC very soon. Likely before Easter is when the meeting will be. Auxano Brian is really good at encouraging us to hold to who we are, but still move forward.
e. Outdoor Service Planning - The Friday of Palm Sunday weekend there is a plan to hold a Worship Service outside by the bonfire, followed by BBQ dinner, egg hunts and good ole fashion fellowship.
f. July 13th Congregational Meeting is scheduled. It was well received last year having an additional one. Lunch is needed, at Josh Heebner’s request. After soliciting prayer requests, Brian Radcliff closed in prayer and ended with the Lord's Prayer being said in unison.
Question 51: Of what advantage to us is Christ’s ascension?
Christ physically ascended on our behalf, just as he came down to earth physically on our account, and he is now advocating for us in the presence of his Father, preparing a place for us, and also sends
us his Spirit.
Romans 8:34: Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died— more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Commentary - Charles Wesley
Arise, my soul, arise! Shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding Sacrifice in my behalf appears.
Before the throne my Surety stands;
My name is written on his hands.
He ever lives above, for me to intercede,
His all-redeeming love, his precious blood to plead.
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
Five bleeding wounds he bears, received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers, they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, oh, forgive!” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die.”
My God is reconciled; his pardoning voice I hear.
He owns me for his child; I can no longer fear.
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba Father!” cry.
Bryan Chapell
The ascension is Christ’s enthronement as King over all. When he ascended, he showed that he ruled over death and that he continues to assume his place of authority over all the world. The very One who created the world is the One who continues to rule it by the word of his power.
Now when we say that Christ rules, we mean that in his ascension he assumed the office of King that he had before he came to earth. While on this earth, he continued to maintain all things and accomplish all his purposes, even to his death and resurrection. But as now the ascended Lord, he is Lord over all. He is the One who controls all things so that they are working for the good of those who love him.
But he’s not simply King. He, in his ascension, is interceding for us at the right hand of God. He continues to fulfill the office of a priest as well, providing what is needed as advocacy and intercession before the Father. As we repent of our sins, as we pray to God, our sins are taken by the Son of God, acting as a priest on our behalf, as the One who now intercedes for us, so that God will listen and act in our behalf.
Not only is Jesus acting as that King and as Priest in our behalf, he continues to send his Word into our hearts by the work of his Spirit. The Holy Spirit, remember, was to testify of Christ. The very reason that we can understand God’s Word— not just its logic but its significance— is that the Holy Spirit sent by Christ himself is opening our hearts to it. This means that as that Word comes from Christ and is given to us by his Spirit, Jesus continues to operate as a prophet on our behalf, giving us the Word of God so that we can walk with him, understand him, and understand his grace.
All this means that Christ in his ascension is operating for our present good. He’s ruling our present circumstances. He’s advocating for us in our present circumstances. He’s sending his Word into our hearts so that we can handle our present circumstances. But that’s not the end of his job.
As Prophet, Priest, and King, he’s also preparing for our future. All things are being worked toward a divine end, a culmination, a consummation of the glory of God by the One who rules over all for the purposes that he has designed. He, as King, is preparing a place for us of God’s great blessing. As Priest he is going to ensure that when we stand before the throne of judgment, we will be made right before God by the cleansing work of his blood. Jesus’s priestly nature will again come to the fore as we bow before the Lamb of God, who by his blood purchased men and women for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. That priestly role Christ will also fulfill as he prepares a future for us. And, ultimately by his Spirit, he will secure all who are his own. So that God by his Spirit is accomplishing his will not only in the present world but also in eternity. He is securing by the power of the Spirit all that God intends, sent by the purposes, power, and ultimate love of Jesus Christ.
That ascended Lord is the One who, by being Prophet, Priest, and King, is ruling over our present and preparing for our future.
Dave Walbrandt, Gary Brown, Bob Shafer, Usher Coordinator - Doug Elliott
Birthdays
1 Bonnie Pross
3 Michael Kehs, Quinn Mahoney
4 Allison Hall, Phil Shafer
5 Henry Shafer
6 Doug Elliott
7 Brody Kinney
9 Bob Hager, Ben Weber
10 Maikil Yagilnicky
11 Greg Nase
13 Brian Radcliff, Joan Radcliff
14 Justine Smith, Kaleb Smith
15 Stan Ott
16 Betty Curry, John Pavie
17 Aleks Yagilnicky
18 Ava Permar
19 Verna Bowman, Sue Landis
20 Jean Frederick
24 Jim Kinney
25 Mariah Foote
27 Aaron Vogelzang
28 Mallory Kinney, Tara McVaugh, Alisha Vogelzang
29 Sandy Derr
Anniversaries
4 Dean & Beth Kulp
5 Tom & Judy Leidy
14 Lew & Linda Stretch
27 Drew & Laurie Weiss
30 John & Lorraine Kroesser
