Immanuel Leidy’s Church

Have you ever stumbled across a Bible verse that is simple yet profound? Something that is able to teach a lot about God or how to follow Him, but in a neat or concise way? The Bible is full of them, if you look closely. For example, Acts 2:33 is a clear demonstration of the concept of the Trinity: one God with three persons, all mentioned in one near verse.

The other day, I was reading another verse from Acts, this time it was Acts 4:13. “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” There’s a number of neat takeaways from this.

1) We can be confident in the gospel, in spite of being “uneducated and untrained.” Are pastors the only ones who are to preach Christ crucified to the ends of the world? Does going to seminary and getting a Masters or Doctorate degree confer some sort of special holiness to these men? Of course not! Jesus’ first disciples, including Peter and John mentioned here, were ordinary blue-collar workers from their day. Some translations call them “common men”. These guys weren’t refined, and I’m sure they weren’t always the best speakers. But they had a message, they had faith, AND….

2) They had confidence. Have you ever been so blown away by something you’ve experienced, that you tell the story to everyone you meet? How about a new restaurant you tried, or maybe a movie you saw, or that vacation you went on. We should have even more confidence in how we tell others about the hope and faith we have. Now admittedly it’s also a little more “real” for the disciples, having actually seen Christ be crucified and then see him alive afterwards. But we can (and should) be confident in the gospel. Jesus says in John 20:29 “… Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” We have a special blessing because we know the gospel to be true, even without putting a finger into Jesus’ hand or side. We know Jesus lived, died, and lives forever. But we also should be bold in talking about what Christ has done for us. I admit, as an introvert, this is really tough for me to talk about sometimes. (And I guess as an introvert, it’s hard for me to talk at all sometimes!) But as it says in 2 Timothy 1:7, God doesn’t give us a spirit of timidity, but one of power, love, and discipline! We should boldly proclaim God’s incredible love for us demonstrated in the person and actions of Jesus.

3) People were amazed by them, by their message, and by their confidence. Confident people stand out. Have you ever listened to a dynamic preacher or speaker? What is it that captivates your attention? I recently attended a conference and at one of the talks, it was being delivered by someone who was substituted in at the last minute. How do you think the talk went? It was disastrous! Not only did the person come across as not only unprepared, but he had no confidence in the topic. Confidence is two parts: it is not just attitude, but also knowing the material. In the same way, we need to be firmly rooted in the Word. Bible reading and devotion is a must! This way, we can talk with that boldness and confidence of someone that knows their material.

4) People recognized that they had been with Jesus. It was abundantly clear who their teacher (and Savior) was. Can people say the same about us? Our outward lives and words should reflect that we’re with Jesus. And maybe someday I think that would be a great, if not the best, epitaph.

Tim Leidy

From the Desk of Consistory Vice President

“My fellow Americans”… Oops, wrong speech. Where was I? Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ! We want to express our gratitude to each and everyone. A big thank-you to the office staff for holding together all the administrative aspect of the church, to Bonnie Pross for her continued help in keeping the facility clean, to all the many volunteers that have stepped up and continue to keep all the functions of the church running including the cleaning and maintenance of the property, and lastly to each of the members who have supported the church in prayer. THANK YOU! Most of all, thank you Lord for being in control of all things. What an assurance and comfort to know that it is not by any means of our own, but through the power of the One God that all things are possible. Even if we make a mess of things, He is able to restore order. Amen!

Of the four seasons of the year spring is the one that I look forward to the most. After a harsh winter (not so much this year), we would be watching the snow melt, the matted grass come to life, the flowers bloom and the trees showing new life as it all brings a refreshing smell and look to the landscape.

That is where we are in the life of Leidy’s Church. We have just come through a terrible winter storm and now we are going to experience a spring like season of new life. We do not need to dwell on the past; however, we must learn from it. We in leadership have made some mistakes that were hurtful to some, and in other cases have caused some to leave the fellowship. We spoke when we should have been listening, and we were silent when we were called to speak. Because of that I am truly sorry. We are encouraged by the words of Paul in Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose”.

We are turning the pages in the book and starting a new chapter in the life of Immanuel Leidy’s Church. We are also encouraged by the new awakening and excitement that is being felt by those who enter the sanctuary these past few weeks. The Spirit is moving us in a way that many haven’t felt for some time: love for one another and love for Christ.

God Bless one and all

Ken Merritt

Pulpit Schedule for May

We will welcome Ted Brunner to Leidy’s Church on May 7th and again on the 21st, and Armand Weller on May 14th & on the 28th.

Relationships

by Joe Sciacca

Over the past year, our Small Group Bible Study has focused on the word, “Relationships”. It has been our “umbrella word” so to speak as we have explored the relationships in our lives. We discussed the different relationships within our lives. Our interaction and communication with our spouse, our children, immediate family, at church, workplace and those we interact with on a regular basis. It has provided interesting discussion and experiences in each of our lives.

As Christians, our most important relationship is with Jesus. Our time spent with Him is priority one. It is the most important aspect of the Christian life. Our devotional time of prayer, meditation and learning from His word is how we build our relationship with Him. As we grow in our relationship with Him, we become closer to Him and want to share it with those around us. This is what we are called to do.

If we look at Matthew 22:34-40, we will see how Jesus responds to the Pharisees when they were testing Him by asking “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” He tells them that “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind”. He then tells them, “you are to love your neighbor as yourself”. The final verse is the big one to me where Jesus states that “On these two commandments depend the WHOLE LAW AND THE PROPHETS”. Everything is built on those two commands. Love God and love your neighbor. Sounds simple, but easier said than done.

One statement that I have repeated often this past year has been, “What you say is important, but HOW you say it is just as important”. The world we live in has us texting and emailing people every day. We need to remember that texting and emailing are just words regardless of how many emoji you use. There is no eye contact, tone, body language or emotion. Many times folks can misinterpret what you are saying and take it out of context. Whereas when you converse, you use your senses during the conversation. You pick up a feeling or vibe from one another as you converse. Huge difference.

Jesus was the master of conversation. The women at the well, conversation with Nicodemus, His many discussions with Peter, story of Mary and Martha and even right up to His talk with the thief while in agony on the cross. He spoke with compassion from His heart and always the truth.

Another of my favorites if from Pastor John Maxwell. “People don’t care how much you know, they want to know how much you care”. He says that “People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude”. So as we interact with others, let us be as Jesus would be, loving, compassionate and caring. Let us build our church with Jesus focused relationships.

Dollar A Day Final Results

For many in the Leidy’s Church family, praying regularly for the Erukula people in India has become a daily practice. We don’t know how or if we’ll ever stop. This began as a Dollar-a-Day project from the Mission Committee. If we had 90 giving unity giving a dollar a day we would be able to fund a three year program to reach an unreached people group. We did it, and the unreached people group for whom we funded gospel outreach was the Erukula people.

Here’s part of what’s transpired as a result of that Dollar-a-Day project:

¨ There were a total of 611 folk who prayed to receive Christ.

¨ 146 of those folk have received baptism.

¨ 135 more of those folk are ready to receive baptism.

¨ 780 Erukula people who four years ago had not heard of Christ are now attending church.

¨ Of the 750 students who took the Bible based literacy course, 55% became Christians.

¨ There was a 97% completion rate for the 750 students who took the literacy class.

¨ The twelve Church Planters whom we funded in Year Two will continue as Pastors and work in Gospel outreach and ministry.

¨ Hundreds of Erukula people are now bathing regularly.

¨ Hundreds of Erukula people are now reading the Bible regularly.

¨ The average daily wages for the Erukula who participated in the program have increased by 50%.

¨ Scores of Erukula have begun their own businesses, everything from tea shops to vegetable and fruit stands to tailoring shops to laundries to . . . well, you name it.

¨ Scores of other Erukula have entered Agricultural cooperatives in areas such as dairy, bees, natural fertilizers/composting to mushroom farms to who knows what.

Praise be to God! Thank you to all the Dollar-a-Day participants. Your participation has had life-changing, eternally significant results among a formerly unreached people group living in darkness and degradation. Let’s pray to the light of the Gospel will continue to shine and spread among the Erukula people and all their neighbors.

Rummage Sale

The week of May 7th is when our Gym will be transformed with all the donated items we have received, and our community is invited to shop for their family wardrobes, linens, jewelry, books, toys, household items, and much more!

The Big “R” actually takes place on Wednesday and Thursday, the 10^th and 11^th, but much work is done before then as well. Here’s when workers are needed:

ü On Monday and Tuesday from 9am to 8pm items are unpacked and arranged.

ü On Wednesday (9am to 8pm) we need friendly workers to bag items, serve as cashiers, and straighten items as many shoppers come to make their purchases.

ü On Thursday (9am to 6pm) we need the same sorts of workers as Wednesday, plus more! It’s the sales day featuring bags of goods for only $2, quite an attractive deal.

ü On Thursday at 6pm we need willing hands and strong backs to transform our facilities back for ministry before Sunday.

Mary Beth Musselman has a schedule she needs to fill, so be sure to speak with her if you can be plugged in at any time to help.

The funds raised at the Big “R” are disbursed where needed at Leidy’s Church and in our community by Ladies of Leidy’s. It’s a big undertaking, and with your help we can make it another great event.

Helping the Homeless

by Ed Schmidt

Many thanks for your generous donations to the Philadelphia Street Missions. On Saturday, April 22^nd ten of us went to the middle of Kensington to minister to the homeless, and to drug addicts.

We took over 100 sandwiches, along with articles of clothing, socks, flip-flops, toothpaste and toothbrushes, also the Daily Bread Devotional, and most of all the love of Christ in our hearts.

I was not prepared for what I was going to see. It resembled a sci-fi movie set. People everywhere, sleeping on the street, shooting up. Most of the people were in very pool health, some barely able to walk. It got a hold of me in a way that I thought, “that could be me Lord.”

We shared the love we had in our hearts, and shared the gospel, (which is love). For a few hours, we got to give of ourselves and forget our own problems, and hopefully give someone a spark of hope through the gospel message that we spoke to them. I am thankful to be able to have gone, and minister to the people of Kensington.

Donations will still be accepted. Items needed are seasonal clothing, socks, underwear, sweatshirts, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. Thank you in advance.

Intentionally Intentional

When's the last time you were intentional? What was the reasoning behind it? Did you get anything out of it? Is it easy being intentional in your daily walk as a follower of Christ? Are Sunday sermons enough for the week? Why am I supposed to read the Bible? I pray before I eat, especially depending on who's cooking, so why do I need to do it other times? It's gotta be easier as an adult to do that stuff, right?

The youth group will be looking at what it means to be intentional in their spiritual growth as a believer of Jesus Christ. We will be diving into the scriptures over the next several weeks, and we'll be answering those questions and more that come up. Romans 12:2, Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 10:23-24, Philippians 4:6-7, Proverbs 13:4, Proverbs 12:5, and Philippians 2:4 are just a handful of the scriptures we will be working through.

Youth Group is 6:30-8:30pm each Sunday night held in the youth room at church, which is on the gym level. Tony Kapusta will be leading it with the support of Brian and Wendy Radcliff and Renee Shafer on a given night. A shout-out to Phil Shafer, (which we all know means Renee) for coordinating the snack, and for Laura Heebner for willing to do the legwork behind-the-scenes with schedules and emails. Special thanks to the four men and their wives who graciously accepted to be prayer warriors for the youth group.

Tony, Brian, Wendy, Renee, Phil, Laura

Romans 12:2

Property Work Day

It’s springtime in southeastern PA and that means plenty of work to be done on our property. Saturday, May 13th is the date when we’ll need help of all sorts to get things accomplished.

Starting time is 8:00 am. If you have a rake, shovel, or other appropriate tools please bring them and join us. We hope to be done by noon. See Kendall Musselman if you have any questions.

Women’s Ministry

Ladies of Leidy’s

Ladies please join us on Tuesday May 2nd at 7:00pm in Rm. 123. This month BJ Kulp will be sharing about how to make a container garden for your yard or patio. During our meeting we will be talking about the upcoming tea and the Rummage Sale. Hope to see you there.

Reminder to all ladies who signed up for the tea that it is fast approaching. It is Saturday, May 6th at 11:00am.Questions, please contact the church office or BJ Kulp.

Barbara Weller to Speak in Sunday School on Mother’s Day

Barbara Weller is not quite in her dotage yet, but she has lived a long and eventful life thus far. A pastor’s wife, the mother of three, a grandmother, founding board member of Biblical Witness Fellowship, and a practicing attorney, she also has done proof reading on the side!

On Mother’s Day – which is May 14^th this year – the Sunday School department is asking all adult classes to combine and meet in the Fellowship Hall. Barbara will be speaking. Her topic is How a Mom Got Radicalized in a Conservative Direction at a Radically Liberal Church Synod Meeting with Radical Consequences in Succeeding Decades Resulting in Many Other Individuals becoming Radicalized as well as Congregations becoming Radicalized. This has promise of becoming a radical Sunday School Hour!

Barbara, of course, is the wife of our former Pastor, Armand Weller. She was the instigator and founder of that wonderfully named organization United Church People for Biblical Witness more commonly known as the UCPBW. Just sort of flows off your lips and sticks in your mind, doesn’t it? For some reason, the name eventually was changed to Biblical Witness Fellowship.

Currently, Barbara is helping Methodist congregations leaving that denomination for the newly minted conservative Methodist denomination traverse the Byzantine legal pathway necessary to effect that transfer of identity. It’s challenging but satisfying work.

Even if you don’t ordinarily come to Sunday School, you might want to adjust your habit on the 14^th of May. Feel welcome to join the congregating masses in the Fellowship Hall to hear Barbara Weller tell her story.

The Night the Bids Just Kept Going Up!

The 22^nd of April was a night to remember! It was the occasion for the first SLMT Auction in several years. Apparently, folk were saving their monies from the years it didn’t happen to use this year. Over $28,000 was raised for SLMT mission use. Hallelujah!

Hundreds of items were auctioned off via the Silent Auction. Bids ranged from $2 to $92. Most were below $20. Everything from lizards created from a printer to delicate glassware to toney handbags to art prints to playing cards to golf clubs. Literally, something for everyone.

The live auction had over 75 items with competitive bidding on many of them. An autographed and framed photo of Jalen Hurts cost a grand. Haircuts that cost $20 went for $65. The framed calligraphy piece of Numbers 6:24-26 sold for $1,600. Quilts, Adirondack chairs, a circa 1900 photo of Leidy’s Church, selections of meats from quality brands like Leidy’s, Stoltzfus, Hatfield, and an enticing selection of chocolates from Asher Candies. If you wanted a seat on a Gettysburg Tour, it would cost you over $200. As usual, pies were a big hit and brought big bids. Perhaps the most surprising item of the evening was a protective Covid face mask that brought in $800.

Making the entire affair truly delicious were the roast beef sandwiches, potato salad, baked beans, hog dogs with sauerkraut, and a vast variety of cookies and cakes for dessert on sale from the kitchen crew. Oh, and just for the fun of it, there was a milk shake stand offering real milk shakes made while you wait.

It was a night to remember. The elixir in the air was joyful Christian fellowship with a delight in the Lord and His work among us. We praise God for all who made the night possible: bidders, buyers, cooks, tabulators, contributors, and, of course, the ladies in the office who had to make all signage for each individual item! It was a night to remember and cherish.

O.A.S.I.S Trip

Plans have been made for a trip out to Amish country to a family farm for a wonderful authentic Amish dinner. Levi and Lydia Stoltzfus open up their home for dinner at 12:00 p.m. We will be going September 7^th and the cost is $18. We have a number of people already signed up and if you are interested, please contact By or Dottie Rimmer at 215-257-3424 or Denise in the church office.

We will be car-pooling so we will need drivers and riders. Please tell By, Dottie or Denise which one you will be. The ride out there is less than 1 ½ hours.

Men’s Breakfast Rapidly Approaching

It’s been awhile since Leidy’s Church had her last Men’s Breakfast. Guess what? The “fast” is over! Saturday, May 13^th is the date to mark on your calendar. It will begin at 8am and features omelets, potatoes, sausage, bacon, scrapple, doughnuts, coffee, and orange juice. The omelets available will be ham and cheese, bacon and cheese, and plain. As one might expect from such a menu, Tony Kapusta heads up the chefs institute responsible for the breakfast.

After some protracted negotiations, Pastor Armand Weller has agreed to come and speak to the assembled mass of males. His topic: Revival at Leidy’s Church. This is a subject with which he has personal experience since he was the Pastor at Leidy’s Church in the 1970s when a remarkable move of the Spirit of God took place among her members. Still active in spiritual renewal affairs, Pastor Weller also will speak about revival at Leidy’s Church in the present day.

This breakfast is open to the wider community, so feel welcome to invite friends and co-workers and neighbors and uncles and nephews and on and on and on. There’s a sign-up sheet on the narthex wall so that Tony and crew have some idea of how many hogs to kill and chicken nests to rob. If you forget to sign someone up, don’t worry, bring them anyway! See you on the 13^th!

Julie Henning to Speak

The BMCE spring Business and Professional Breakfast takes place on Thursday, May 11^th. Taking place at the Franconia Heritage Banquet facility, it begins at 6:30 and will have folk on their way by 8. It will be a buffet breakfast with all you can eat both of traditional breakfast fare as well as more lifestyle conscious options of fruit, muffins, and ground up pinecones in tree bark. Well, maybe not that last item.

Julie Henning is well known in our area and at Leidy’s Church. She is the daughter of a Korean mom and an American GI whom she never knew. Her mother died when Julie was 13 and she was subsequently adopted by Nobel prize winning author Pearl S. Buck. She matured and grew to womanhood in Bucks County, PA. Now a retired teacher and author as well as being a pastor’s wife, she will tell the story of God’s work of grace in and through her life. You won’t want to miss it.

Tickets are $17 p/person and may be obtained from the church office, Jack Parry, or John Niederhaus.

May Ushers

Dave Freed, Roger Jones, Drew Weiss, Mark Kostishion, Tom Kraus

Consistory

Present: Jim Kinney, Aaron Vogelzang, Brian Shoemaker, Shaun Permar, Dana Gehman, Dave Reich, Ed Schmidt, Pastor Michael Nowling, Kendall Musselman, Pastor Tony Jones, Jeff Schatz, Tim Leidy

Absent: Pastor Jeff Pike, Pastor Zach Darrow, Pastor Sam Im, John DiLenge

Jeff Schatz called the meeting to order at 7:32 PM and Aaron Vogelzang opened in prayer. Jeff shared that this past Sunday, April 2nd, he was presented with a petition. He explained that the purpose of the petition was to call a congregation meeting in compliance with article XIV, para. 2 of our church’s constitution. He stated that the petition, having 108 signatures, has more signatures than the required 10% of church membership. He shared that the petition called for two specific motions and asked if everyone in the room read the petition. Everyone acknowledged they had.

A motion was made to hold the congregational meeting on Sunday, April 23rd, immediately after the regularly scheduled worship service. The motion was seconded and unanimously carried.

Jeff commented that he will announce the meeting to the congregation during Sunday’s worship service. The meeting time and petition will be posted on the church bulletin board. Members will be informed that, if they are not aware of the contents of the petition, they can access it there. Jeff agreed to prepare a notification to go out to all members.

The meeting closed at 7:38 PM.

Primary Election

Tuesday, May 16^th, is the date for Primary Elections in PA this year. Leidy’s Church serves as a polling place for two precincts. Both precincts vote in the Fellowship Hall, so it will not be available for our use on that day or from mid-afternoon the day before.

Primary elections often are not well attended. That may well be the case again this year.

If you would like information on the candidates, a good site to visit is www.pafamily.org. They will have info regarding where the candidates stand on particular issues and questions you might want to ask some local candidates as well.

If you want only information on who’s on the respective ballots, a good site to visit is www.ballotpedia.org. Just enter your address and follow the links as they come up. It will show both the Democratic and Republican ballots or only the party you’re registered in if you prefer that.

Get some exercise on May 16^th by exercising your right to vote.

New City

Question 30: What is faith in Jesus Christ?

Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Commentary – Jonathan Edwards

Upon the whole, the best, and clearest, and most perfect definition of justifying faith, and most according to the Scripture, that I can think of, is this, faith is the soul’s entirely embracing the revelation of Jesus Christ as our Saviour. The word embrace is a metaphorical expression; but I think it is much clearer than any proper expression whatsoever; it is called believing, because believing is the first act of the soul in embracing a narration or revelation: and embracing, when conversant about a revelation or thing declared, is more properly called believing, than loving or choosing. If it were conversant about a person only, it would be more properly called loving. If it were conversant about a gift, an inheritance, or reward, it would more properly be called receiving or accepting.

The definition might have been expressed in these words: faith is the soul’s entirely adhering and acquiescing in the revelation of Jesus Christ s our Saviour—Or thus: faith is the soul’s embracing that truth of God, that reveals Jesus Christ as our Saviour—Or thus: faith is the soul’s entirely acquiescing in, and depending upon, the truth of God, revealing Christ as our Saviour.

It is the whole soul according and assenting to the truth, and embracing of it. There is an entire yielding of the mind and heart to the revelation, and a closing with it, and adhering to it, with the belief, and with the inclination and affection.

John Yates

Sometimes I wonder if we realize what a really big word salvation is. What does it mean to be saved? What’s the meaning of salvation?

It means safe. But it also means healed. It means forgiven. It means adopted. It means having been made whole. It’s a big word. It means that we are restored in our relationship with God. We’ve been given life with God now, and we’ve also been given the gift of eternal life with God in heaven forever. So salvation is big. Salvation is a gift of God. It’s not something that we can earn, even though that’s the way many people feel about it. It is not something we can achieve, but something that has to be received. And we need to have that straight from the very beginning.

Salvation can come instantaneously, as it did for Zacchaeus when Jesus entered into his house. Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9). It can come in a moment of realization and faith. But it is something that is lived out over the course of a lifetime. There’s a story about an old English bishop who was walking down a London street when a sidewalk evangelist said to him, “Sir, have you been saved?” The old man’s answer is significant. According to the story, he stopped and thought and then in a very gracious way said, “Yes, I have been saved. I am being saved, and I shall be saved.” What did he mean? He meant he could look back on a moment in time when he put faith in Christ and turned to him in faith and hope, and he experienced salvation. But he also meant that salvation was something he was living and experiencing more of every day. And salvation was something he was going to enter into more fully when he went to be with the Lord in the next life.

Salvation begins when God opens our eyes to begin to grasp how much we need Christ. As long as we think we can save ourselves, the way is closed off. Being saved is like being in the midst of drowning and realizing you can’t save yourself and someone has to come along and rescue you, and you just have to relax and be rescued because you’re over your head and you can’t swim and you’re going to drown otherwise. The only thing I can contribute to my salvation is my own sinful nature. It’s about coming to God with an awareness of our humble need—coming in faith, repenting of my sins, and laying out before God my sense that I need him. That’s the beginning of salvation.

Paul says in Romans 10 that everyone who called upon the name of the Lord will be saved. We live in a time when many people reject the idea that faith in Christ is necessary in order to become a child of God and an inheritor of eternal life. And yet Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” He is our pathway to salvation.

This was the message of the apostles. As Peter preached in Acts 4: “There is no other name by which we may be saved.” Salvation comes through Jesus Christ.