I’m very jealous of people (like my wife) that have the ability to sleep in. Even on vacations, when 5am rolls around, my brain says to me, “You’ve slept enough. Oh and here’s the list of everything you need to do for the next week, and I can also pepper in some things for the next month and stuff you’ve forgotten or put off. Good luck falling back to sleep!” Don’t feel too badly for me, though. It allows me time to pray, to read from the Bible or get caught up on some news, or maybe research some obscure topics. And sometimes, it involves all three: like when I get to write these articles!
I’m apparently not the only one with a unique circadian rhythm. God created several animals to sleep with one eye open, as they say. Birds, some reptiles, and other animals have a unique ability to shut off one side of their brain to allow it to “sleep,” while still maintaining core functions for survival. Unlike the minimum for survival like us humans (we have heartbeat, digestion, and breathing… sleepwalking is uncommon!), animals like dolphins literally keep one eye open, not just to monitor for predators but so they can even swim in formation with their pod while still being asleep. Amazing!
Likewise, God expects us to be ready. In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches us the parable of the ten virgins. All ten were awaiting the bridegroom, as none of them knew when he’d arrive. Five of them were prepared with extra oil for their lamps, and the other five were not. When the bridegroom arrived and there was a shout, “Behold the bridegroom, come out to meet him!”… Five were ready, but five were left scrambling to get oil from the dealers in town. By the time they got back, the feast had started and the door was shut. When they begged to be let in, what was the response? “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.” The last warning of the story is to be on the alert, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
So what does preparation look like? At the most fundamental level, let’s look to Jesus’ words in Mark 1:15. The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand—but what comes next? Two things: repent and believe the gospel. So what is repentance? It’s not just simply knowing that I’m imperfect, that I mess up every day, that I know that I do things that are wrong or fail to do the things that are right according to God’s standard. Repentance is a process by which we know the Spirit of God is working within us. Let’s look to Romans 8:13. If we live according to our base desires and according to the flesh, we must die (Romans 6:23). We choose that separation for ourselves. But a sign of having the Spirit of God in us is “putting to death the deeds of the body.” Am I focusing on things I’ve done in the past? Am I focusing on how someone has hurt me in the past? Am I talking about someone behind their back? Am I losing my temper? We should be actively assessing ourselves— aiming to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit by pruning away the dead old self (Galatians 5:22-24). This is an active process until we die!
What’s the second part of what Jesus said? Believe the gospel. What’s it mean to believe? Well, we know it’s not just knowing in your head that Jesus is Lord, or even that the Bible is true. After all, even the demons know this and tremble (James 2:19). Instead, it’s a wholehearted trust that the Spirit creates in me. This trust is knowing God has granted me forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvation. This isn’t because of anything that I’ve done, but it was given to me out of sheer grace and only through Christ taking on the suffering and punishment that I deserve.
Ok, so we got the fundamentals, repent and believe. What more? The one that I’ve wrestled with for many years is in the Armor of God in Ephesians 6. In verse 15, one piece of the armor is to make sure our “feet are fitted with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” And for many years I’ve struggled with trying to understand what that means. But I think this is how I’d explain it. Your shoes protect your feet and allow you to move swiftly, and even in this illustration, allow you to move swiftly into battle. But even further, your shoes are what give you a foundation, and just like sports cleats, they can provide traction and stability. The gospel, which brings peace, is our foundation. But it is something we need to read about, think about, meditate on, review, and especially to talk about. For foundations to be strong, they need to be deeply rooted.
My challenge to you for this new year is this: make 2025 your year to be more deliberate in sharing the gospel. In 1 Peter 3:15, Peter exhorts his followers by saying “always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” Make an effort to read more from God’s word (Paul’s epistles are a rich trove of gospel sermons in themselves). Practice faith-based conversations with a friend (Proverbs 27:17). We have little cards to invite a friend to church; please consider making contacts with those! Further, we as a church are always looking for new avenues to reach into the community as well. Be deliberate, be prepared, be alert. The bridegroom is coming; we do not want to be caught unprepared!
Happy New Year!
Tim Leidy
The headline sets out the parameters of the Annual Congregational Lunch & Business Meeting of Leidy’s Church. It’s always a good time of fellowship, food, business matters, and voting to adopt a budget for the new year. In 2025, that meeting takes place on Sunday, January 12th immediately following the service of worship, with a snow date of, are you ready for this . . . the day before, Saturday, January 11th at 6:00pm!!
The Annual Report will be gone through line-by-line at this meeting under the thoughtful and expert guidance of Jim Kinney. It is always fascinating to see the many facets of our church budget: from costs for paper to support given to missionaries to how much we spend on utilities.
Childcare will be available for the business part of the meeting, though young person’s 12 and older are expected to stay in the meeting unless part of the childcare corps.
Mark the date and clear your calendar so you can be present for the feast followed by the figures. It’s 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 12, 2025.
This Newsletter article should be considered the official notification to all members of Leidy’s Church of the Annual Congregational Lunch & Business Meeting.
Come enjoy a hearty breakfast, fellowship with others, and hear an inspiring message from Jack Parry, on Saturday, January 11th beginning at 8am. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to connect and grow in faith!
Jack has been a member of Immanuel Leidy's Church for 30 years. He is a US Army veteran, Lafayette and Temple graduate, business owner, former political junkie, student of church history and theology, husband of 35 years to Karen, doting father of 4, and devoted servant to Jesus Christ and our heavenly Father.
You can sign-up via the church online newsletter, or on the sign-up sheet in the narthex.
Leidy’s Church has served as a host church for the Tim Tebow Foundation Night to Shine since February of 2020. This year’s event takes place on Friday, February 7th. We have over 160 registered guests who will enjoy being treated to a full prom experience featuring corsages and boutonnieres, a red carpet entrance, limo rides, karaoke, a photo booth, an excellent DJ, and a great meal to name a few of the activities planned for the evening. On the first floor we host their families for a bit of respite care which includes pampering, activities, dinner, and opportunities to relax and fellowship with one another. In order to make this a great event, we need over 300 volunteers to fill various roles. Many in our church family have served to help make this a memorable night for our guests. We need you, and if you’re not sure where you can fit in, here are a few suggestions:
Click on the volunteer link in our weekly email newsletter or at our website. Once you fill out the required information, you can scroll through the many areas where you can help out that evening. Some areas with the greatest need for help are: event set up and clean up, guest buddies, security, and parking attendants. There are many roles which need to be filled, so be sure to check the list to see where you can fit in.
If you are unable to volunteer that night, consider helping out at the Fairy Godmother event. This takes place on Friday and Saturday, January 17 and 18. We set up racks of formal dresses and suits on the gym level and invite our guests to make an appointment to shop and take home a new outfit to wear for Night to Shine, all free of charge. Each guest who comes to shop is assigned a helper who has volunteered to help them select an outfit. It’s really gratifying to see how happy they are to find the perfect dress or suit for NTS.
Like to bake? We need 15 pans of brownies and 1 pan of the gluten free/dairy free variety for desserts on the respite floor for February 7th. If you can help with this, please email Denise Kulp at denakulp@gmail.com, and she will be happy to get you on her list.
Eric and Candy Nixon, who head up coordinating the activities for the respite families that evening, have specifically asked for four to six people from the Leidy’s Church family to circulate that evening among the respite families being hosted on the 1st floor. They would like Leidy’s Church to be well represented with a few friendly faces to love on the families of our guests, lend a prayer if they have a request, or answer any questions they may have about Leidy’s Church. If you would be interested in helping with this, email Denise Kulp, and she can get you on that list.
Questions about Night to Shine? Feel free to speak with Evan Delaplane, Tony Kapusta, or Denise Kulp who represent Leidy’s Church on the NTS Planning Team along with Co-chairs Melissa Moyer and Sara Shoaf, and Elizabeth Tollis who is the newest team member. It’s a great event, and any of them could help you figure out where you can fit in.
Leidy’s Church will be sending a bus again this year. The date this year is Friday, January 24th. You can sign-up on the Leidy’s Church website or via the sign-up sheet that is posted in the narthex. Cost is $25 per person for the round-trip ride in a comfortable Perkiomen tour coach.
The theme of the 2025 March for Life is “Life: Why We March.” “Life: Why We March” will encourage pro-life advocates to draw renewed energy for this challenging moment in the movement by reflecting on the basic truth that inspires the pro-life cause: every human life – including the unborn and their mothers – is beautiful, has unique dignity, and worthy of protection. “Life: Why We March” invites all Americans of goodwill to recognize and unite around this truth. Sometimes folk who are Pro-Life are erroneously characterized as caring only for the baby and not for the mother. This year’s theme is meant to correct that mischaracterization. Being Pro-Life means all the possible support and help is given to each woman considering abortion, and also, we are ready to help each child be cared for with love and material provisions.
The tour coach will pull out from the Leidy’s Church parking lot at 6 am on that cold Friday morning. That means you should be there by 5:45. There will be a stop for breakfast on the way down at one of the rest areas on I-95. It is hoped we’ll arrive at Union Station in D.C. early enough to allow for visitation of museums or other sites of interest prior to the beginning of the March.
At 4 pm everyone is to be back at Union Station to board our coach and begin the trek home. We plan to stop at a mall food court for dinner. Our anticipated arrival time back in the Leidy’s Church parking lot is between 8 and 9 that evening.
Calling all ladies to join us for our monthly LOL meeting on Tuesday, January 7 at 7 PM, meeting in room 123. Be prepared to hear laughter bubbling throughout the halls, since in past years, traditionally the first meeting of the new year, the ladies bring along good jokes to be shared. We also plan on reviewing future events that will be occurring in 2025 such as our annual Ladies of Leidy’s potluck dinner meeting that will occur in March as well as the Ladies Tea (even though in May, it’s not too soon to start planning for this extra special time of tasty delights and fellowship). Please feel free to bring a friend along to this meeting! You may contact Alice Kraus if you have any questions. Hope to see lots of our ladies there!
The Red Cross Mobile Blood Unit will be at Leidy’s Church on January 8th 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.
Present: Brian Shoemaker, Kendall Musselman, Shaun Permar, Tony Kapusta, Pastor Darren DePaul, Brian Radcliff, Jerry Kulp, Josh Heebner, Ken Merritt, Bob Ott, Jim Kinney, Jim Foote, Dave Doran, and Francis Weiss Absent: NA
Devotions/Prayer: Shaun led devotions based on Philippians 1, emphasizing joyful service. He shared that even Paul’s imprisonment was in service to Christ. When he was held prisoner, Paul was full of love and joy. Shaun shared that sometimes in life we hit ruts and need to be reminded to serve joyfully. He recommended starting each day with prayer and gratitude, because otherwise, you may get in a rut and risk that your service becomes an act of duty rather than devotion. Additionally, he shared that Paul and Timothy were bond-servants of Christ. Just as they did, every member of Christ's Body has a role in their homes, churches, and communities. Each one is endowed with God given gifts and has a responsibility to serve the Lord. He shared that as each man reflects on their ministry teams, his hope is that they take the responsibilities that God has given them seriously and seek to be bond-servants of Christ, walking in the unity of the Spirit and God’s truth. He emphasized that our goal is not simply to “do” the ministry, but to energize it with sacrificial works and with great joy! He opened the meeting with prayer.
Minutes: Minutes from the Consistory Meeting of November 6th were reviewed. On motion of Bob Ott, seconded by Brian Shoemaker, the Minutes were approved.
Financial Report:The monthly financial report for November 2024 was presented. General Fund giving totaled $53,190, which is a slight decrease when compared to the past two months, but still very close to what we budgeted. Budgeted expenses totaled $83,217 resulting in a Total Fund Balance of $105,594. Renovation Fund contributions were $1,160 with disbursements of $24,114, resulting in an ending balance of $108,297. Praise the Lord, year-to-date income is 6% higher than we budgeted for and expenses are only 3% higher than we budgeted for. On motion of Jerry Kulp, seconded by Francis Weiss, the financial report was approved.
Teams Reports: The AV & Tech Management, Christian ED, CAST, Food & Fellowship, Property, and Welcoming Teams all reported that they have either completed, or are on track to complete, their fourth quarter goals. The Community Outreach Team commented that they are on track with planning and preparations for the Souderton Christmas Parade and the Missions & Ministry Support Team has created and submitted their proposed budget for 2025. The Praise & Worship Team has finished decorating the sanctuary for Advent and therefore have completed their 4th quarter goals. The Care & Outreach Team noted that the OASIS Potluck was a success and they are currently planning for their Christmas Lunch.
Business Items: Consistory officers for 2025 were elected. The results were: Josh Heebner; president, Francis Weiss; vice president, and Tony Kapusta; secretary (Shaun Permar stepped down from this role). The 2025 preliminary budget was reviewed. Changes that were made after the budget was reviewed in November were noted and discussed. Shaun Permar made a motion to accept the budget as presented. The motion was seconded by Jerry Kulp and carried. It was noted that the proposed budget will be posted at least two weeks before the congregational meeting and the final budget is pending congregational approval at the annual Congregational Meeting on January 12th. Bryan Rose from Auxano (our consultant) presented and reviewed a document titled: “Engagement Survey Executive Summary.” This document presented data that highlighted twenty measurable areas from the congregational engagement survey in which 185 people participated. The document “hits the high points of tons of data” and Bryan emphasized the objectiveness of the results, noting that they take away subjective anecdotes and assumptions. Each member of Consistory was also given an Engagement Report with the unabridged results of the survey consisting of both measurable areas, presented graphically, and actual responses from congregants. Each of the 20 measurable areas of the executive summary were reviewed and discussed. Consistory was asked to take some time to process the information over the next month and to take time to read the unabridged engagement survey in its entirety. The property team will form a subcommittee to assess storage in the building with the goal of teams, groups, and ministries that require storage to have clearly designated areas that are organized and efficient. It was decided that the Christmas Eve offering will be donated to North Care Women’s Clinic. Consistory team assignments were discussed. All Consistory assignments will remain the same, with the following exceptions. Jim Kinney will be assigned to the financial team, Francis Weiss will be assigned to Praise & Worship Team as Bob Ott’s Consistory term is ending, and Dave Doran will be assigned to the Communications Administration Support Team (fulfilling the role that was temporarily being fulfilled by Josh Heebner). The new flooring at the HUB is complete and St. Peters Anglican plans to hold their first worship service there this Sunday. Within a month, Horizon Signs is expected to begin installing our new church signs along Cherry Lane and Mifflin Street.
Shaun Permar led a time of intercessory prayer for spoken concerns and the meeting adjourned with a unison praying of the Lord’s Prayer.
Question 48: What is the church?
God chooses and preserves for himself a community elected for eternal life and united by faith, who love, follow, learn from, and worship God together. God sends out this community to proclaim the gospel and prefigure Christ’s kingdom by the quality of their life together and their love for one another.
2 Thessalonians 2:13: But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
Commentary - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
My brethren, let me say, be ye like Christ at all times. Imitate him in public. Most of us live in some sort of publicity; many of us are called to work before our fellow-men every day. We are watched; our words are caught; our lives are examined, taken to pieces. The eagle-eyed, argus-eyed world observes everything we do, and sharp critics are upon us. Let us live the life of Christ in public. Let us take care that we exhibit our Master, and not ourselves— so that we can say, “It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me.” Take heed that you carry this into the church too. . . . Be like Christ in the church. How many there are of you . . . seeking pre-eminence? How many are trying to have some dignity and power over their fellow Christians, instead of remembering that it is the fundamental rule of all our churches, that there all men are equal— alike brethren, alike to be received as such. Carry out the spirit of Christ, then, in your churches, wherever ye are; let your fellow members say of you, “He has been with Jesus.”
John Yates
The church is the family of God. In the New Testament it’s called the community of the new covenant. It’s the body of which Christ is the Head. It’s the bride of Christ. We’re called a holy people, a holy nation, a royal priesthood. The church is the people who have been made God’s children, adopted by God through Jesus Christ. And the church consists of all cultures, all ethnic groups, people across the ages, all those who have come to know Jesus Christ as Lord.
In my tradition, the Anglican tradition, we have a statement of faith called the Thirty-Nine Articles. They describe the church this way:
The local, visible church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men and women, in which the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacraments are duly ministered according to Christ’s ordinance.
The church has no authority except in submission to Christ, and it is not lawful for the church to ordain anything that is contrary to God’s Word written, and neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another.
The ancient creeds describe the church as “one holy catholic and apostolic.” It is one because the church is one body under one head. It is holy because the Holy Spirit indwells it and consecrates it, directing the members of the church in the work of God. It is catholic, meaning worldwide, proclaiming the whole apostolic faith to all people to the end of time. And it’s apostolic. That means we continue the teaching and fellowship of the apostles, and we’re sent out on Christ’s mission to all people.
We don’t choose who is going to be in the church, just as we have no say in who our brothers and sisters or cousins are. God chooses. Whatever particular denomination or group they may belong to, God’s people are part of the church and our brothers and sisters.
The church is summed up in this wonderful old hymn by Samuel J.Stone:
The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is his new creation by water and the word.
From heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.
Elect from every nation,
yet one o’er all the earth;
her charter of salvation,
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with every grace endued.
Alex Hager, Bob Hager, Frank Bivighouse, Mark Kostishion, Usher Coordinator
1 Rachel Leidy, Nicole Peck
4 Jack Heebner
5 Darlene Leidy
8 Dave Doran
9 Paul Kraus, Jill Ott
10 Randy Godshall, Lewis Stretch
13 Beth Kulp
15 Charlotte Kehs, Wendy Radcliff
18 Connie Merritt, Renee Shafer
19 Ben Divens, Dianne Nase
22 Julia Kulp, Dottie Rimmer
23 Jacqualyn Hillegass, Henry Niederhaus
24 Mark Kostishion, Janie Inyang, Ed Schmidt
29 Val Hager, John Rittenhouse
31 Amelia DePaul, Arlin Moyer
10 Rich & Juliana Kapusta
21 Ted & Wanda Brunner
23 Henry & Pearl Walter
24 Kendall & Mary Beth Musselman
27 Jim & Genie Smedberg
