When you think of the word “comfortable,” what do you think of? Especially in the heat wave we’ve been having this summer, that could probably include a cold drink in your hand as you sunbathe poolside or beachside. Everyone wants to be comfortable, and no one wants to be “uncomfortable” or feel “discomfort.” The other week, my family and I had battled a stomach bug that lasted a couple days for each of us. My wife was the last to get it, and my brother (who does not live with us, but apparently spent enough time around us to get it) had quipped to her, “I’m sorry for what you’re about to go through.” I’ll spare you the details of the experience for each of us, but I was able to support and offer sympathy for my wife since I went through it first. As each symptom passed over those couple days, she would ask me, “Did you experience this as well?” “Yep! I know what you’re going through…” I would respond. The illness offered enormous discomfort, but fortunately the family made it through.
During this experience, my daughter had asked, “Why do people have to get sick?” While we’re not quite at the age to discuss theodicy (the problem of the existence of evil when all power and goodness are ascribed to God), we talked through the first few verses of the book of James. James 1:2-4 reads, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” I can’t recall if we’ve talked about this before, but there’s some practical takeaways:
1. We’re called to “consider it joy”. I don’t know about you, but I did not feel very joyful while hugging my toilet. And whether it’s physical illness or frailty, job loss, unexpected death in the family, or whatever, there’s a wave of emotions but joy might not be first. From a practical standpoint, approaching the situation with a degree of optimism may help to endure the poor circumstance. If you’re miserable in it, it makes the situation even more unbearable. But more than just simple optimism, as it says in Nehemiah 8:10, “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” We can find joy even in the worst of circumstances, and it can give us strength and endurance knowing that God is with us, even in the midst of unfortunate situations.
2. “When you encounter various trials”. That’s not an “if”, but a “when”. They’re going to come up. You can take that to the bank. Some trials may be quick, like a fender bender or a scraped knee. Others might be chronic, like back pain, arthritis, a family split and broken relationships. As Americans, there are many trials that we have never experienced, and quite possibly never will. But we shouldn’t be complacent about that but instead keep vigilant! While God recognizes that pain is something we feel when these are going on, He can sympathize as Jesus endured all human pains. John 16:33 – “In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
3. Testing of your faith produces endurance/Endurance has a perfect result/Perfect and Complete, lacking nothing. If I’ve learned anything, be careful what you ask of God. When my wife was pregnant with our third, she prayed for an easy delivery. Turns out, delivery of a 28wk, 3lb baby is physically much easier than full term. (Though if you ask her, it was a 0/10, do-not-recommend experience…) When you ask God for wisdom, strength, patience, gentleness, or any other spiritual character development, how does He deliver that to you? Do you think that it’s just a straight download to your brain or heart? He could, but probably not. Let me ask it a different way… If you’re learning to play the piano or take apart an engine, is that something you can pick up quickly? No, of course not! It takes practice. In the same way, God doesn’t just give us the traits, but instead He provides us opportunities to develop them. If you want greater patience and you ask God to help with that, buckle up! Expect God to give you traffic, stubborn children, and other chances to test your patience. Looking to be a more loving person? Be prepared to be surrounded by some unlovable people. (Maybe you already are!) James 1 tells us that the trials help develop that endurance or perseverance to endure those circumstances. And when you look back after these, you’ll be equipped (complete and lacking nothing!) to better handle similar circumstances in the future. Especially if you find someone who is going through a similar trial.
It's funny how words change over time. I was listening the other day to Albert Mohler, the head of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminar. In his podcast, he was talking about how words change. One example he used was the word “slop”. Many of us would probably think of a disgusting mixture of edible junk, which you would feed to swine. Today, it’s the gibberish that can sometimes be churned out by modern artificial intelligence (e.g. when you ask an AI how do you get cheese to stick to pizza, and it recommends using glue!). In the 90’s, this was the case with the word “spam”, changing the meaning from the beloved canned ham to junk emails. The word “comfort” is actually no different, as today we tend to think of comfort in two ways: either a freedom from pain and a state of physical ease, or caring, consoling words and maybe soft music to restore moods and well-being. It actually derives from the Latin “confortare”, meaning “to strengthen” or to fortify. It carried almost military connotations. Sure, modern comforting can include a degree of emotional strengthening, but definitely not to the same extent. To wrap this up, remember during the heat of this summer and in the heat of life that in order to achieve a state of comfort, God will comfort you in a multitude of ways… in the Latin sense (through development opportunities) and in the typical sense (to care and console)!
-Tim Leidy
NEW PRECEPT BIBLE STUDY CLASS begins Thursday, September 5th, 9-11:30 am.
Are you grieved about the sin everywhere you look? The prophecies of EZEKIEL give a different picture of revival that brings hope instead of losing heart.
This is primarily a large women’s class that meets in Room #118. We break in mid-December and continue Part Two in January until May 2025.
Please join us, even if you have not been part of a Precept class in the past. Ezekiel Part One Workbooks are $25.
Please contact Verna gvbowman@comcast.net
Yes, we need help. Where? What? Well, with the SLMT work weeks at Life Turning Point in Philly. Though our sign-up sheets have been on the narthex wall for weeks, still the only signees are Brian Radcliff and Sherman Focht! They are the coordinators of the project. There is plenty of work to do beyond what Brian and Sherman can do. Hence, help needed.
When is this help needed? There are two work weeks: July 22-27 and August 5-10. That adds up to twelve days. Plus, a lone day trip is available on July 13th. You may sign up online through Church Center or in the narthex, for one week, or for specific days when you can help. Though help is needed Monday through Saturday of each week, it could be that you can only help on each Tuesday. That’s fine! When you sign up simply indicate which days you can help during that week.
Each work day morning that day’s work crew will meet at the church at 6:40 for some munchies and devotional thoughts, then leave the church about 7 to arrive at Life Turning Point around 8. Transportation is provided as are any necessary tools. It would be good, though, to bring along work gloves. All work is knocked off by 4 pm to allow for a 4:45 to 5 pm arrival back at the church parking lot.
Lunch, snacks, and drinks are provided each day thanks to the vision, work, and foresight of Jacqui Shafer and her crew of food prep folk. They do excellent work and provide tasty and nourishing foodstuffs. (By the way, if you would like to be part of Jacqui’s team, contact her and she will welcome your help.)
Help needed. Will you, can you, help?
We're looking for a few more bell ringers. Maybe that's you!
Do I have to read music? It's helpful, but not required.
Is it a big commitment? Nope, it's two Wednesday practices and then we play.
Do I have to wear one of those old maroon vests? No, haven't worn those in years.
Is it fun? Yes! Ask any current bell choir member.
How do I get more info? Please call or text George Frueh: 215-530-9931
or Donna Frueh: 215-530-8450. Or email: gtfrueh@comcast.net
July 29 - August 2, 2024
Program 6:00 - 8:00pm
Family Dinner at 5:15
Kids who have completed grades K - 5 are welcome to join us for Breaker Rock Beach! In this VBS we will learn God's rock solid truth in a world of shifting sands.
We need volunteers to make the week go well. Please consider joining us by helping in one of the following ways:
Before the weeks of VBS:
- preparing craft materials
- decorating classrooms and hallways
- painting backdrops
- building sets
...and more!
During the week of VBS:
- greeting families
- kitchen prep and cleanup
- nursery
- photography
- safety
- handing out name tags
- cleanup
...and more!
Items to Lend:
(from July 26 - August 3)
- Kayaks
- Surfboards
- Adirondack chairs
- Blue tarps
- Tan (sand colored) tarps
(cloth and otherwise)
- Kites
- Driftwood
- Crab / lobster traps
- Tents
- Camping tents
Donations needed:
- Rope
- Fishing net
- Large cardboard boxes
- Kraft paper rolls
- Blue fabric
- Beach balls
Don’t forget!!
We’re putting together a cookbook over the summer with our favorite recipes for gatherings of family and friends. Whether that’s your family tradition of lasagna on Christmas or the best marinade for BBQ chicken for summer cookouts, we want to know what your best-loved & most reliable recipes you get asked (or, perhaps more realistically, are expected) to make. What made them traditions or who passed these gems on to you? We’d love to make that part of our cookbook!
There will be a section in the cookbook for large groups (20+) with recipes for the much-loved poppyseed chicken and Marilee’s Salisbury steaks. We’d love to include your favorite dishes for large gatherings. Recipes and reminisces can be given to Vangie Niederhaus or Gina Shoemaker or emailed to inthistimeofneed@gmail.com. We’ll be accepting contributions from Memorial Day up until Labor Day(9/2/2024), with cookbooks available to purchase by Thanksgiving.
All proceeds will benefit the House of Jesús project.
The Red Cross Mobile Blood Unit will be at Leidy’s Church on Tuesday, August 13th 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.
We want to thank everyone who sign up to donate blood at the summer blood drive.
June 5th, 2024. The meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM.
Citing Nehemiah 1-5; 13, Pastor Darren led devotions on the topic of leadership. Noting how Nehemiah responded when God called him to rebuild Jerusalem, he emphasized several leadership principles applicable to Leidy’s Church. He then opened in prayer.
Minutes from the Consistory Meeting of May 8th and the Congregational Meeting of May 12th were reviewed. On motion of Jim Foote, seconded by Aaron Vogelzang, both sets of Minutes were approved.
Francis presented the monthly financial report for May 2024. General Fund giving totaled $64,649, while budgeted expenses totaled $59,911 resulting in a Total Fund Balance of $120,524. This was an average weekly giving of $16,162. Renovation Fund contributions for May were $1,049, with disbursements totaling $7,681, resulting in an ending balance of $214,591. Year-to-date the Renovation Fund has an overall net reduction of $4,615, which is outstanding when you consider the great upgrades that have been made to our facilities this year. It was noted that the year is 41.67% complete and we have spent 38.3% of the budget, which indicates we are ahead of budget. Praise was offered to God as He has sustained the budget through our trials, which is allowing us to invest in His church. On motion of Shaun Permar, seconded by Brian Radcliff, the financial report was approved.
The AV & Tech Management team reported that all purchases have been determined, noting that Dante cards were purchased which allows us to connect devices directly to the Fellowship Hall podium and remove a lot of unnecessary wires. Regarding Christian Education, the team reported that the first Christian Education Meeting with leaders from each branch of Christian Ed, as well as the Worship Team, was a success. Vacation Bible School planning is going well and the sign-in system is making progress thanks to the work of the Communications Team. The Communications & Administration team has been planning for Aaron Vogelsang’s absence and has transitioned Jenny Ernst to be responsible for compiling the weekly newsletter. Community Outreach successfully implemented the SLMT auction and Baby Bottle Boomerang this quarter and are currently planning a food drive to support Keystone Opportunity Center. The Food & Fellowship team plans to clean the kitchen again this quarter and will be meeting to plan future events. The Missions & Ministry Support team has completed their quarterly goal of making Benevolence Committee decisions. The luncheon is set for this Sunday and the various Missions trips to Life Turning Point are in the planning stages. The Property Team reported that the new church signs are still in the design stage. Finishing the mulching around the church will likely continue into the 3rd quarter and the contract for the new windows at the parsonage was signed. The Welcoming Team is on track with their goals and the Care and Outreach team reported that the description of the team has been added to Planning Center and small groups continue to go well.
The potential of honoring Pastor John Niederhaus with the title of Pastor Emeritus was discussed and approved. A short job description will be created, and the position will be bestowed upon Pastor John during a Sunday Service TBD. The newly revised Worship Leader job description was presented and discussed. It will be advertised at various organizations, institutions, and job posting sites. A discussion was had regarding the vision and future of the Children & Youth Ministries. Pastor Darren shared that our church needs a clearer vision. He has some ideas but believes vision casting should be a team approach where we discern where we are and where the Lord is directing us to go. He suggested utilizing a consultant to help Spiritual Council and Consistory figure out who we are as a church and where we are going as we seek to know and grow in Christ. The consultants traditionally work with groups of 12-15 leaders/members of the church, both men and women. The idea was received well, and a small group was approved to work together to collect more information to be presented to Consistory in the near future. A revised facilities use application draft was distributed, reviewed, and discussed. It was noted that it is problematic that we don’t have a place on our website for interested people to know who runs/leads the church. After discussion, it was decided to add a page to the website for this purpose and that photos and titles for pastors, elders, paid staff, deacons, and lay leaders should be included. A proposal was presented that recommended that a childcare and children’s Sunday school check-in system be implemented over the next few months. The proposal included the necessary equipment and estimated costs. The topic was discussed, the result being: Tony Kapusta made a motion to approve $3,500 for the purchase of the equipment necessary to implement the new sign-in system. Francis Weiss seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
Due to his family relocating to Hawaii for a year, Aaron submitted his resignation letter and his last day serving on Consistory will be July 15th. In Aaron’s absence, Josh will temporarily fill in on the Communications team, primarily to help with Planning Center. It was decided that Aaron’s seat on Consistory will not be immediately filled. Instead, his seat will remain vacant until September when new deacons are elected. The timeline for 2025 Consistory nominations was discussed. Per the Constitution, nominations of new deacons and elders to serve on Consistory will occur in the spring after soliciting suggestions from the Congregation. Deacons are nominated by Consistory and Elders by Spiritual Council. Consistory will notify the congregation and solicit nominees for the two vacant Consistory seats for 2025.
It was decided that Judgement House will not be held this year and that Sunday in the Shade will be held on September 29th.
Regarding the HUB, Abundant Life Church continues to clean up and pack as they will be moving out on or before June 30th. Progress continues to be made on our new lease with Leidy’s Inc. and St. Peters Church.
Pastor Darren led a time of intercessory prayer for spoken concerns. The meeting adjourned with a unison praying of the Lord’s Prayer at 10:05 PM.
Our sincere Christian sympathy to Adine Doran, Cassy Olsyzk, Ally Hager, Renee Doran and family at the death of Helen Hahn, mother and grandmother. May God be with them at this time.
Congratulations to Elijah Kulp and Madeleine Kulp at the believers baptism. May God be with them as they grow in Him.
Dave Doran, Dave Guntz, Bob Hager, & Doug Elliot, Usher Coordinator
Come and join your church family and friends for a great time of food and fellowship on August 18th, immediately following the service of worship. Food will be served by Chef Tony Kapusta and his wonderful crew. A lovely time of visiting with old and new friends will be had by all. Chat about your vacations, your family, what God is doing in your life, or how the Phillies are heading for the playoffs! It will just be a great time to be together.
See you on August 18th!
Leidy’s Church has been in almost daily contact with Pastor Jesús since the beginning of April. Many times he has expressed his deep gratitude for the help Leidy’s Church has brought to his family and to the congregation of Christ the King of Kings church. Below is an example of his gratitude. Read it with thanksgiving to God
Thank you very, very much Leidy’s Church. You have no idea of the size of the blessing and the positive impact that you have given to this small church in Venezuela. You have helped solve the moisture problem, but at the same time this work will result in the use of new areas for the work of the gospel in the community and in the discipling of the believers. This does not even take into consideration the improvements to my wife and children’s health by being in totally appropriate facilities to live in.
Thank you very much for letting yourselves be used by the Lord to be an instrument of blessing for our small but beloved church.
God bless you greatly.
Every summer Leidy’s Church serves Holy Communion at a selected service of worship. This summer is no exception. The date for the summer Communion will be on, July 28th. This notice may help people planning family vacations and who do not want to miss the worship service when Holy Communion is to be served.
The House of Jesús project in San Cristobal, Venezuela, is ready to cross the finish line! Pastor Jesús tells us he expects to move back into the building that is his house on the first floor and is Christ the King of Kings Church on the second floor on the 4th of July! Wow! Praise be to God!
Pastor Jesús has sent pictures and videos of the project as the work has progressed. It’s all looking very, very good right now. Beginning the second week of April, there have been a minimum of six men working at the site each working day. That’s six men who are not crossing our southern border and heading for Chicago. Instead, they are receiving a fair wage for working in Venezuela. Our Dollar A Day project has provided them that opportunity. Sometimes we forget that in underwriting the mold remediation of Pastor Jesús’ house we also were underwriting the salaries of the men who would do the work! And all this was done for $30,000. That’s a bargain you can’t beat with a hammer!
Lest we forget, the House of Jesús project was able to begin so rapidly because funds for the project were advanced to us be a charitable entity. We did not have the $30,000 needed on the second week of April. But, the advance was made so the project would not be put off an entire year while we raised the necessary funds via the Dollar A Day project. We still need to reimburse the $30,000 we were advanced! We have the rest of the year to do so. That means we each need to continue giving our Dollar A Day funding through the end of 2024. Don’t stop now! Yes, the work has stopped because it is completed. Praise the Lord. But let’s not welch on the advance we were so graciously granted. Let’s cross the finish line on that as well!
For the month of July, the Community Outreach team is collecting items for the Keystone Opportunity Center which is located right here in our neighborhood of Souderton! They are a nonprofit social service agency that provides safe, affordable housing, combats food insecurity, and provides educational classes for adults that leads to self-sufficiency. They serve over 5,000 of our neighbors each year, and we here at Leidy’s church want to help by adding to their food pantry supplies.
Here is their suggested list:
Cereal & Oatmeal
Pancake Mix (complete)
Pancake Syrup
Baked Beans
Spaghetti Sauce
Canned Fruit in juice
Sugar (1 lb.box or 5 lb. bags)
Meals in a Can: SpaghettiOs w/meatballs, ravioli, beefaroni
Canned meats: tuna, chicken, ham, salmon
Condiments: ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, and oil
Laundry Soap
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper
(Please check all expiration dates!)
Bring all items in to the church by 7/28 so we can deliver them to Keystone. Thank you!!
We’re looking for help! We’ve got 2 Sundays open in July and slots to fill through the rest of the summer for the provision and set-up of coffee, tea, and munchies following the service of worship on Sundays. You can view the calendar and sign-up online (please check your weekly Leidy’s Church email for that link), you can contact the church office, or you can speak with Vangie Niederhaus for help signing up. If you don’t have someone to sign up with, please contact Vangie (evangeline.niederhaus@gmail.com) or leave your name and dates you can help where indicated on the online schedule. You can also sign up in advance for Sundays you’ll be around through the rest of the calendar year if you check the online schedule (or, again, check with Vangie).
This gesture of hospitality wouldn’t be possible without you- thank you for time and your consideration.
Question 43: What are the sacraments or ordinances?
The sacraments or ordinances given by God and instituted by Christ, namely baptism and the Lord’s Supper, are visible signs and seals that we are bound together as a community of faith by his death and resurrection. By our use of them the Holy Spirit more fully declares and seals the promises of the gospel to us.
Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Luke 22:19–20 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
Commentary - Charles Simeon
So say I of baptism and of the Lord’s Supper: “In their proper and appointed use they cannot be too highly valued: but, if abused to purposes for which they were not given, and looked to as containing in themselves, and conveying of themselves, salvation to man, they are desecrated.” . . . Let us learn, then, from hence, how to use God’s ordinances—We should be thankful for them: we should honour them: we should look to God in them, and expect from God through them the communications of his grace and peace. They are to be reverenced, but not idolized; to be used as means, but not rested in as an end. No one is to imagine himself the better, merely because he has attended on any ordinances.
Timothy Keller
There are two sacraments or ordinances. There’s baptism, which is once for all. And there’s the Lord’s Supper, which is ongoing and regular. We call both of them ordinances because Jesus Christ commands us to do them. But we call them sacraments because through them God’s blessing and grace come to us in unique ways. They are not just personal, individual experiences. We are members of a community, and baptism and the Lord’s Supper show that we belong to that community, the covenant community, the people who belong to Jesus. And that’s the reason why these are actually like boundary markers. The Westminster Confession says they “put a visible difference between those that belong to the church and the rest of the world.”
They are both signs and seals. We call them signs because they symbolize the blessings of salvation, forgiveness for sins, reception of the Holy Spirit, and the ability to commune with Jesus Christ in his presence. But they’re not only signs; they’re also seals. That means they actually bring these blessings to us. They assure us and stir up our faith, and it’s our faith that receives those blessings.
Some places in the Bible, such as 1 Corinthians 10 and 1 Peter 3, seem to say that it’s the sacraments that actually receive the blessings Question 43 189 of salvation. But the sacraments stir up our faith, and our faith is what actually receives the blessings and what saves us. So J. I. Packer puts it like this: “As the preaching of the Word makes the gospel audible, so the sacraments make it visible, and God stirs up faith by both means.” Sacraments, therefore, function as a means of grace on the principle that, literally, seeing leads to believing.
3 Genevieve McVaugh
7 Rose Jaunzemis
8 Ellen Pavie, Elein Yagilnicky
10 Margaret Bivighouse, Brooks Vogelzang
11 Sandy Nase, Karen Sciacca
12 Joan Thomas
14 Navi Hager
17 Frank Bivighouse
18 Judi Weiss
20 Adam Foote
22 Barbara DiLucia, Susan Leidy-Slack
23 Stan Friday
24 Noah Weber
25 Alice Kraus
26 Chase Mahoney
28 Paul Kulp, Fern Vasey
29 Michael Mirabella
31 Brett Hager, Melody Smith, Hollie Walbrandt
2 Jake & Hannah Niederhaus
7 Terry & Darlene Leidy, Skip & Donna Smith
10 Josh & Laura Heebner
24 Steve & Sue Landis
26 Ben & Adelaide Weber
1 Helen Roberson
3 Oliver Olsyzk
4 Elaine Frank, Dana Gehman,
5 Marilee Hughes, Donna Smith
5 Diane Weber
6 Karen Brown
7 Ginna Foote, Cindy Schilling, Steve Yagilnicky
10 Grace Bissey, Kathryn DiLenge
11 Darren & Jenny DePaul
12 Kathy Moyer, Susan Merritt
13 Tom Leidy, T. Dale Leidy
14 Stewart Kendall, Matt McVaugh
15 Frank Allebach, Wanda Brunner, Liberty McClaskey, Bonnie Smith
18 Lillian DiLenge
19 Gary Brown
22 Zigrida Gift, Tim Leidy
23 Bob Shafer
28 Naomi DiLenge
29 James VanDerbeek
30 Deb Hughes, Lula Kershner
3 John & Ellen Pavie
6 Karl & Jenny Ernst, Gerald & Sherry Moyer
9 Frank & Phyllis Allebach
10 John & Tara DiLenge
18 Shaun & Meghann Permar
29 Delton & Laurie Plank
30 Stan & LaRue Friday
