How many of you have heard of end of the world predictions? There’s been countless apocalyptic movies that have come out, all attributing the fall of civilization at one point or another due to everything from a giant meteor, aliens, changes in weather, the core of the earth ceasing to spin, worldwide wars… The list goes on. And each year, there’s numerous stories of people making predictions about the end times… and each time, the anticipated deadlines come and go and fade into history just like the credibility of the ones who made the predictions in the first place.
Aside from the lighthearted poking fun at those who take those claims seriously, I really don’t put a lot of stock in them. Why? Because “… of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Matthew 24:36) So while I really don’t worry about that too much, that isn’t to say we should ignore it.
Turn with me to Thessalonians 5. Paul tells us not to worry about it, but instead we should be prepared. People at that time will be complacent, saying that everything is fine and nothing will happen, and just like when a woman goes into labor with child, it will be equally as sudden. As it says in verse 6, we are called to be “alert and sober”. Think about it for a second: when are people most caught unprepared? While they’re sleeping and under the influence (verse 7)!
So are we supposed to stop sleeping and consuming alcohol? Well, that’s not Paul’s point. Look back at verse 4 and 5: we who are believers are sons (and daughters) of light and of the day. When are you the most alert and awake? The middle of the day, of course! The point Paul is making is to not be complacent. Don’t be so satisfied with your current situation that you forget that our lives on this earth are not forever; our lives are like the morning mist that disappears with the heat of the mid day sun.
More than that, let’s look at verse 8… Paul pulls in an abbreviated Armor of God reference (Ephesians 6). We should put on the breastplate of love and faith, and the helmet of the hope of salvation. I think this is deliberate for two reasons. First, even in ancient times, people understood that the most vital parts were your head and your core (heart and lungs). The things Paul mentions here should be of utmost importance to us, and we can trust our faith in Christ, love in Christ, and hope of salvation in Christ to keep us secure. (Interesting also that faith, hope, and love are also the same three greatest gifts in 1 Corinthians 13:13…) But secondly, it’s a reference to our figurative heart and mind: that we can place full trust in not just the intellectual knowledge about Jesus Christ and what He’s done for us through His death and resurrection, but also that we can wholeheartedly trust that God raised Jesus from the dead, victorious over sin and death itself. God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through Jesus that we might live together with Him (verse 10).
So what can we do to prepare for the Day of the Lord? We are to armor ourselves with faith, hope, and love, but also keep encouraging each other and building each other up (verse 11). I strongly encourage you to not only become members and be a part of the community at Leidy’s… But join a Community Group, or be a part of the men’s and ladies groups at church. I can’t tell you just how vital it is to be a part of the body of Christ, and to be able to encourage and grow together in God as a family. So whether it’s when NASA says, that a billion years from now the earth will be uninhabitable due to extreme sun heat, or maybe Jesus comes back tomorrow… continue to encourage one another and build each other up in the hope of the good news of Jesus Christ.
Tim Leidy
From my family to yours, Merry Christmas
Join us on December 24 at 5PM for a Christmas eve Candlelight service. Experience the warmth and joy this Christmas Eve as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Join us for a special worship service where we’ll reflect on Scripture, sing beloved carols & songs, & end the evening with a candlelight singing of Silent Night.
We invite you to share with us in this celebration.
Souderton Borough’s Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, December 6th, starting at 11:00 AM. This annual event is full of excitement for the young and the young at heart. Members are encouraged to volunteer by handing out special goodies and church invitations to the crowds lining up and down the street route.
Everyone involved will let their light shine for Jesus as they meet and greet the people in our community as they share the love of God and the message of the Christ of Christmas.
If you would like to join in the fun for this special event, signup via Planning Center, contact Kendall Musselman or call the church office. Someone will get in touch with you and fill you in on all the details.
God bless us all as we reach out in the name of the Christ of Christmas!
Wednesday, December 10
11:30-2:00 in the Fellowship Hall
Join us for a lively lunch of carol singing, warm fellowship and happy familiar faces to wish each other a Merry Christmas!! Bring a Potluck Dessert to share.
Feel free to signup in the Narthex or contact the office if you'd prefer that over the online signup! 215-723-8707 or office@leidyschurch.org.
This event is for the 55+ Crowd!
Calling all ladies to join us for our Christmas meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall. Sandy Nase will be sharing a devotional. There will be light refreshments as we review the Craft & Gift event as well as the fun of the Avent Workshop. This will be a short business meeting so we can wrap gifts and enjoy each other in fellowship. Please contact BJ Kulp with any questions.
A fellowship ministry for widows to connect and be encouraged. We meet in one another’s homes on the third Tuesday evening of the month at 6:30 pm. If you would like to join us, please contact Donna at weissdonna42@gmail.com or Verna at gvbowman@comcast.net.
Save the Date!
Join us for our Annual Congregational Dinner & Business Meeting, on Saturday, January 17th beginning at 6:00, for a time to fellowship, enjoy a meal together, and engage in important church business.
Leadership will walk us through the Annual Report, offering insights into various aspects of the church budget, including expenses for everything from staffing to missionary support, utilities, and maintenance.
We invite all members and regular attenders to participate in this vital event!
Present- Josh Heebner, Jim Kinney, Darren DePaul, Brian Radcliff, Jerry Kulp, Shaun Permar, Tony Kapusta, Brandon Kehs, Mark Kostishion, Jim Kulp, Kendall Mussleman, Ken Merritt, Jim Foote, Dave Doran. Absent- Brian Shoemaker
President Josh Heebner called the meeting to order at 7pm. Kendall Musselman gave a devotion on Thanksgiving. He used the following scripture after talking how thankful/thanksgiving is used over 100x in the New Testament, Psalms 100:4-5, I Thessalonians 5:16-18, Colossians 3:17 and Ephesians 5:19-20. Ways we show thanks to the Lord are through prayer, worship and living according to His word. Kendall then prayed to open the meeting.
Motions for October Minutes Approval: First by Francis Weiss, Seconded by Jerry Kulp, Unanimously Carried
Financial Report: Over budget, but it is a 5 month Sunday in November which will be good. We did get paid from St Peters and from stock. We are at 96% of total income where we thought we would be. There were questions about rent with the hub and how it works from some of the new guys. No major expenses for the month There was an IT Landis bill for the youth room for fixing the ac/heating blower. Went over money that was “made” from investments.
Financial Report Approval First by Jerry Kulp; Seconded by Kendall Musselman Unanimously Carried.
Big Rocks
Budget Discussion: Designated giving was discussed and how it is tracked looks a little different than years gone by. Giving is much higher than what shows on the budget due to designated giving.
Discussion on how things are tracked and cleaned up will go a long way to know what we are actually giving the missionaries and such.
Discussion about encouraging people to give toward the end of the year. We budgeted for a 65k deficit and are currently at 113k deficit. This means we spent more than we thought, but not more than we have in the account.
Encouraged people to give to things that they are passionate about. Ladies of Leidy’s was asking about whether or not doubling your dollars program happening.
Discussion on benevolence was next. Budget to 35K for the benevolence for 2026. Pulling $4900 from there for the diaper bank that is looking to be started over the next 12-18 months. Missions budget was discussed next. $104,700 settled on for the budget for missions.
Old Church Update
There is a lot of work that needs to happen at the Hub which lead to various potential solutions.
A final plan is scheduled for the December meeting and then will be shared at the January 17th Congregational Dinner.
Discussion on Mission Policy that Pastor Darren drafted. It lays out how we should be vetting the missionaries/organizations that we support as a church.
Prayer requests were gathered and after intercessory prayer the meeting was closed with all reciting the Lord’s prayer at 10:38pm
God the Father
Question 26: What do you believe when you say: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?
Answer: That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth with all that is in them, who also upholds and governs them by His eternal counsel and providence, is for the sake of Christ His Son my God and my Father. I trust in Him so completely that I have no doubt that He will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul. Moreover, whatever evil He sends upon me in this troubled life He will turn to my good, for He is able to do it, being almighty God, and is determined to do it, being a faithful Father.
Question 27: What do you understand by the providence of God?
Answer: The almighty and ever-present power of God whereby He still upholds, as it were by His own hand, heaven and earth together with all creatures, and rules in such a way that leaves and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and unfruitful years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, and everything else, come to us not by chance but by His fatherly hand.
Question 28: What advantage comes from acknowledging God’s creation and providence?
Answer: We learn that we are to be patient in adversity, grateful in the midst of blessing, and to trust our faithful God and Father for the future, assured that no creature shall separate us from His love, since all creatures are so completely in His hand that without His will they cannot even move.
Congratulations to Alex & Ally Hager at the dedication of their children, Brett & Tirzah. May God be with them as they grow in Him.
Congratulations to Levi & Morgan Slack at the birth of a son, David Lorne, and to Bob & Georgia Kowalski at the birth of a son, Everett Francis. May God be with them as they grow in Him.
1 JoAnn Elliott
5 Phoenix Lepping
6 Brent Talbot, Sr.
7 Cheryl Hall, Mary Beth Musselman
8 Jonas Leidy, Nelda Metzler, Francis Weiss
9 Denise Kulp, Karen Mirabella
12 Brent Talbot, Jr.
13 Noah Kulp
14 Carol Kretschmer
16 Audrey Niederhaus
17 Rich Kapusta
18 Betty Weber
21 Genie Smedberg
22 Alison Grater, Lori Maxwell
24 Steve Bandura, Ally Hager
27 Debbie Bandura
28 Sue Lindner
29 Carol Godshall
30 Yvonne Shoemaker
31 Karen Parry
7 Mark & Sharon Kostishion
19 Ken & Wanda Ritter
28 Jeff & Lori Maxwell
31 Robert & Elaine Frank
