Immanuel Leidy’s Church

PULPIT Schedule

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Ushers

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Points to Ponder

Any fans of gardening? There’s a lot of challenges with it. Not only do you have to pick a suitable spot for it (after all, you don’t want flooding, standing water, too much shade, and too many rocks), but you need to work the ground to get it loose enough for seeds to germinate and grow. Another consideration is your soil. If you don’t consider the pH or needs of your plants, they might not grow well. Oh, and don’t forget fertilizer and irrigation, which help the plants remain healthy and thrive. Then comes the worst part: the weeds. If you don’t clear those out, they will crowd out any good plants that come up and you’ll have poor yields. And some of them like dandelions have deep taproots, which are very difficult to remove. And sometimes you have to do all this work out in the heat? It’s a wonder that people ever grow anything; I’m exhausted just thinking about it! But of course, we all know why farmers and hobbyists continue to do this: how rewarding is it to see that at the end of your hard work, you grow your own fruit and vegetables. Maybe it’s a form of placebo effect, but somehow it really does taste better.

Turn with me, if you will, to the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. If you’re unfamiliar, Jeremiah is sometimes referred to as “the weeping prophet,” because of his deep sorrow over the sins of his people in Judah, but also because of the destruction of the kingdom as well. He even lived to witness this destruction, and was ultimately carried away to Egypt, where extrabiblical tradition suggests that he was probably put to death. In Jeremiah 17:5-8, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord. For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant. [But] Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.”

I love the imagery of these descriptions. God is presenting two ways to live, and two objects of your trust and hope. On one hand, you can trust in humans, but this will not bode well. It’s like attempting to thrive in a barren desert wilderness. On the other, one who trusts in God is like a tree near a constant water source. And of course that tree is not only going to thrive, but will also consistently bear fruit. It is humorous, though, to think that a tree could have fear and anxiety, but I think we can appreciate the image God conveys.

As we continue through our summers, do a quick heart check. Are we trusting in ourselves? Am I putting too much pressure on myself to get everything done? Am I trying to find emotional and spiritual fulfillment through other people? Or should we be finding our trust and fulfillment in God, an ever-consistent and unchanging source of help, encouragement, and contentment? When the heat and drought of life’s pressures come, you won’t need to fear or be anxious. Trust God. After all, He is the Living Water.

Tim Leidy

Vacation Bible School

Howdy, partners! Welcome to Wonder Junction! There’s no greater joy than to praise the name of the Lord all day long. Join us to learn about Jesus and what's He’s done for you so we can marvel at Jesus and live for His glory. Join us for Vacation Bible School! For kids who have completed grades K - 5!

July 28 - August 1, Program 6:00 - 8:00pm Family Dinner at 5:15.

Sessions include:

~Lesson time to explore who Jesus is and what He's done for us

~Rambunctious rec time to play games outside & in the gym

~Science & Crafts - explorers get their hands dirty as they make crafts and explore God's world through science experiments!

We hope you can join us!

*We are offering 0-5 year old childcare for Volunteers Only! Visit the church’s website to register your child(ren) or to volunteer.

O.A.S.I.S (55+) Summer Picnic

July 10, 11:30am - 2:00pm

Itching for a picnic but don't like ants? You're invited to join OASIS (Older Adults Sharing In Service, 55+) members & friends, in the Fellowship Hall for an indoor picnic!

Join us for food, fellowship and community. Bring a picnic themed side dish to share. Hope to see you there! Signup is on the narthex wall or you can email the office.

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Mid-Year Congregational Meeting & Luncheon

Join us for a Mid-Year Congregational Dinner & Business Meeting on Sunday, July 13th at 11:30am. We will have a time to fellowship, enjoy a meal together, and engage in important church business. The meeting will take place immediately after the Worship Service.

We invite all members and regular attenders to participate in this event!

Family Loop to the Scoop

Saturday, July 12 | 5:00 PM

Get ready for a summer evening full of fun, food, and friends! We’re kicking things off with a pizza party at Leidy’s, then we’ll stroll together to Downtown Scoop for some sweet, cool treats. Cost is $5 per adult for pizza - kids eat pizza for free. After pizza we’ll swing by the Chestnut Street playground for some kid-approved playtime before looping back to Leidy’s.

It’s the perfect night out to connect with other young families and couples—casual, fun, and full of smiles!

Don’t miss it!

Sunday School in July

This July, Sunday School will look a little different! Everyone—including kids—will meet in the Fellowship Hall for optional table discussions, light snacks, and community. Everyone is welcome!!

This gives our wonderful teachers a chance to join in as there will be no formal Sunday School classes. We’re excited to grow and connect as a church family!

Women's Ministry

New Precept Class

If your desire is to know how to study Scripture in a deeper way and be part of a strong fellowship, please join us on Thursday mornings beginning on September 11th at 9am with longtime leader, Marci Stunkard. We will be studying 1st Timothy, a book about doctrine, discipline and discernment that provides a Holy Spirit given guide to living life in the community of Jesus.

Leidy’s Church is one of the first to offer Precept Bible Study in our area back in the late 80s. If you would like to know more about inductive study and what we’re about, we’d love for you to come out on Sunday evening , September 7th at 6:30 pm for a Back to Precept Intro-Info Nite, held in Fellowship Hall. Workbooks for 1 Timothy ($22) will be available. Contact Verna for information 215.237.1370

Summer Blood Drive

The Red Cross Mobile Blood Unit will be at Leidy’s Church on Tuesday, August 12th 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.

Mission Opportunities

SLMT North Carolina

October 12-17

*Dates to be Confirmed in July

10 Volunteer spots - Register NOW to express your interest in this trip!

Samaritan’s Purse is ministering to Buncombe County, NC in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Help repair and rebuild homes as a result of Hurricane Helene damage in September of 2024.

Join us as we partner with Samaritan's Purse to assist in rebuilding and repairing homes in the Buncombe County, NC area. No skills are necessary before serving. Staff will instruct and guide volunteers through the completion of rebuild tasks. Meals and sleeping quarters will be provided. Tools will be provided, but volunteers may bring their own tool belts and small hand tools.

Minimum Age: Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age or older. Youth, ages 14-15, must be accompanied by their parent/legal guardian and youth, ages 16-17, must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.

For more information follow the link to Samaritan's Purse Buncombe County, NC - Hurricane Helene Rebuild on the church’s website. Reminder: You are signing up to go with Leidy's Church and DO NOT have to sign up through the Samaritan's Purse website. Dates may change - to be confirmed by Samaritan's Purse this summer.

SLMT Turning Point

July 21-26 7am-5pm

August 11-16 7am - 5pm

As you make your summer plans, consider helping with two upcoming Work Weeks at Life Turning Point Philly. We'll be departing the Church at 7AM and returning to the Church by 5PM Daily.

We're looking for dedicated crews to help complete siding on the dormers (which involves being comfortable on scaffolding and ladders) and painting the Carriage House, and we need your help! There will be work for all skill levels, including painting or providing lunch for the crew!

Heidelberg Catechism

Man’s Sin & Guilt – The Law of God

Question 3: Where do you learn of your sin and its wretched consequences?

Answer: From the Law of God.

Question 4: What does the Law of God require of us?

Answer: Jesus Christ teaches this in a summary in Matthew 22:37–40: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the prophets.” (cf. Luke 10:27.)

Question 5: Can you keep all this perfectly?

Answer: No, for by nature I am inclined to hate God and my neighbor.

Question 6: Did God create man evil and perverse like this?

Answer: No. On the contrary, God created man good and in His image, that is, in true righteousness and holiness, so that he might rightly know God his Creator, love Him with his whole heart, and live with Him in eternal blessedness, praising and glorifying Him.

Question 7: Where, then, does this corruption of human nature come from?

Answer: From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden; whereby our human life is so poisoned that we are all conceived and born in the state of sin.

Question 8: But are we so corrupt that we are altogether unable to do good and prone to do evil?

Answer: Yes, unless we are born again through the Spirit of God.

Question 9: Is not God unjust in requiring of man in His Law what he cannot do?

Answer: No, for God so created man that he could do it. But man, upon the instigation of the devil, by deliberate disobedience, has cheated himself and all his descendants out of these gifts.

Consistory

Due to the Consistory meeting being pushed back a few times, the June minutes were not ready for the July/August Newsletter. The minutes will be in the September Newsletter, and since Consistory does not meet in July and August the June minutes will be the only one to be read.

Within the Fellowship

Congratulations to Melody Smith, Levi Smith, Lydia Shafer, Cheyenne Kehs, Will Shafer, Sam Shafer, Evan Divens, Madeleine Kulp and Jack Heebner at their confirmation. May God be with them as they grow in Him.

Our sincere Christian sympathy to Linda Stretch and family at the death of her husband, Lew. May God be with them at this difficult time.