What’s in a name? In February 1969, Johnny Cash recorded the song “A Boy Named Sue” (based on the Shel Silverstein poem of the same name) at California’s San Quentin State Prison. It was Cash’s biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his only top ten single. In the song, the storyteller recounts that he has an exceedingly tough life on account of his name being Sue, where he was embarrassed about the giggles from women and would have to beat the ridicule out of the men. He set out on a lifelong hunt for the one responsible for naming him that – his deadbeat father – finally meeting him at a bar. After a tussle, he asks the question, “Why did you name me Sue?” The father, knowing his failure as an actual father, explains that he named him Sue in an act of “tough love,” as it would force him to “get tough or die.” Although Sue ultimately concedes that his dad had a point, the song humorously ends with him saying that if he ever had a son, he’d name the boy Bill, or George, or anything *but* Sue because obviously he hates the name.
Names can be a big deal! I mean, after all, we’re stuck with them our whole lives. And while names for children are often to honor a family member or could hold particular significance to the parents, I don’t know if Americans in 2024 place the same kind of significance as those in the biblical Hebrew culture. The names we find in the Bible are sometimes indicative of the circumstances of their conception (e.g. Isaac, Samuel) or their birth (e.g. Jacob, all of Jacob’s children). In many cases, the name points to God: any name that has “El” in it (e.g. Daniel, Joel) specifically refers to God in the meaning, whereas names with “jah”, “iah” (e.g. Abijah, Hezekiah) specifically refer to Yahweh, another name for God. (Elijah is a neat one… The name means “My God is Yahweh”. Simple stuff, right?) Remember these roots when you’re reading through the Bible… It certainly opens your eyes when you see the roots in people and place names!
Of course I can’t end this without talking about the most important name. In Luke 1, Mary is met by the angel Gabriel (See the “el”?), and in this familiar story she’s told that she will be with child through the Holy Spirit. The child will be named Jesus. Jesus, or more accurately in Hebrew/Aramaic is closer to Yeshua, is a verbal derivative of the verb “to rescue” or “to deliver.” The name Yeshua has roots to the name Joshua, which serendipitously is another famous Hebrew deliverer, the protégé and successor to Moses known as Joshua the son of Nun. In this instance, the name Jesus also points to His role and mission here on earth. Unlike the physical deliverance recorded under Joshua (like the battle at Jericho), the deliverance by Jesus is spiritual. God took the body and appearance of a man, perfection in human form, and lived a perfect life that we could not. The deliverance came by willingly taking the punishment from sin that we deserve, leading to His death on the cross, and ultimately rising again to show His power over even our sin. In Romans 10, it says that “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…. For ‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Jesus, the name above all names, brings life and deliverance… Just goes to show that there’s a lot of power behind a Name!
Tim Leidy
My family and I would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest appreciation and thanks for the kindness each one of you has shown to us over the last several weeks. We are so thankful for your personal encouragement, hospitality, and support as we've stepped into the body of Christ at Leidy's. Your cards, notes, and messages are an incredible blessing, and we've felt cared for and valued!
I am deeply committed to serving the church faithfully and diligently, keeping us focused on Jesus, building us up in the faith, and leading us to be faithful witnesses locally and globally. Let's all be committed to praying that the Lord would use Leidy's for His glory and honor. Thank you so much for your support!
Serving Christ our Lord,
Pastor Darren
Ladies of Leidy’s
Ladies, please join us for our final meeting before we break for the summer, Tuesday June 4th @ 7 pm in Room 123. We will tie up lose-ends on outstanding projects and start planting seeds as we look to the Fall. Questions? Please contact Karen Mirabella. Look forward to seeing you! 😁
When Seasons Change
This is a fellowship ministry for widows to connect and be encouraged. We choose a more intimate setting by meeting in one another’s homes on (ordinarily) the third Tuesday evening of the month at 6:30 pm. We will continue to meet through the summer – we also offer a few trips throughout the year. If you would like to join us, please contact Donna (weissdonna42@gmail.com) or Verna (gvbowman@comcast.net).
Women’s Sunday School
A new class begins on June 9th. We will be meeting throughout the summer months for a video teaching by six Lifeway teachers -- Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Kelly Minter, Jackie Hill Perry, Jada Edwards and Kristi McLelland. The seven-session study, When You Pray will help us to study six prayers in the Bible that can inspire our own as we take a deeper look at praise, lament, thanksgiving and intercession. You are welcome every week or whenever you are available!
A new Sunday school class will be starting on June 2nd in the Fellowship Hall. Financial Peace University is a class that covers an approach to manage personal finances in ways to reduce debt and live, give and serve how God wants.
Over approximately 8 or 9 weeks, we will learn how to:
-Pay off debt once and for all
-Invest wisely in our futures
-Give with generosity
-Live out what the Bible says about money.
Please register in advance for this class, call the church office to sign up. (One registration per household). Those who register will receive a Financial peace workbook and a year of online access to Dave Ramsey's online materials, including all nine weeks of lesson videos, group financial coaching, a one-on-one financial coaching session, and three months access to a budgeting app.
Allison Hall, daughter of Ed & Cheryl Hall, is graduating from Souderton High School and heading to Montco, but has not decided her field of interest. Elijah Kulp, son of Tim & Larissa Kulp is graduating from Souderton Area High School and will be attending the Pennsylvania College of Technology in the fall. He will graduate with a certification in HVAC and be going for his AAS (Associates of Applied Science) in HVAC, which is a two-year program.
Elijah Smith, son of Ben & Evangeline Smith is graduating from Pennridge High School and will be entering the work force at Crystal Metal Works and will be working with his father Ben.
Clinton James Radcliff, last son of Brian & Wendy Radcliff to graduate from Souderton High School will be heading into the electrical trades, and also wants to learn sound production.
Please join us for a banquet following the service of worship on Sunday, June 9th. Martha Wolgemuth is planning a delicious South American menu featuring chicken & rice and her famous paella. We’re looking forward to food and fellowship, and we’ll be able to see the tangible results of your giving to the House of Jesús project with pictures and video of the work being done down in San Cristobol, Venezuela. We don’t always get to see the effects and results of our giving and prayer, so this is a great moment to celebrate our relationship with Pastor Jesús and his family, the work they’ve done in Venezuela, and to be able to see how much we’ve been a part of that from thousands of miles away. We’re excited!
If you’d like to help out with the banquet, we’d welcome it! Please speak with Martha Wolgemuth or Vangie Niederhaus about ways you’d like to plug in - we’re happy to make it happen!
Truly, the House of Jesús project is a significant endeavor- thank you so much for your dedication to it. Please join us in celebration of the work being done on Sunday, June 9th.
Summer Sunday School will begin on June 2nd.
Between 8:45-9:00am the 2 year olds through fourth grade (completed) will meet in the Choir Room, Rm. 119 for singing (as we’ve been doing, just 15 minutes later for the summer). 5th through 8th and beyond are VERY welcome and encouraged to come as well!!
From 9-9:45am: Nursery - 0-2 year olds with Mrs. Alice Kraus, and Mrs. Mary Beth Musselman; the 2-5 year olds, including completed Kindergarten will meet in Rm. 108 with Mrs. Connie Merritt teaching and Mrs. Bekah Kulp assisting.
1st-4th grade (completed) will meet in Rm 104 with Mrs. Ginna Foote teaching and Mrs. Laurel Plank assisting.
5th-8th grade (completed) will meet in Rm 101 with Mr. Richard Kapusta teaching and Mrs. Juliana Kapusta assisting.
9th-12th, including Confirmation students will be meeting in the youth room adjacent to the gym, following curriculum in the Book of Romans. June: Tim & Rachel Leidy teaching, July: Jeremy & Justine teaching, and August: Tony Kapusta teaching.
Adult elective Bible class, including Young Adults, will continue, being led by John Schilling, meeting in room 125, going through 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John.
Present: Brian Shoemaker, Jerry Kulp, Shaun Permar, Bob Ott, Tony Kapusta, Aaron Vogelzang, Ken Merritt, Brian Radcliff, Jim Foote, Kendall Musselman, Josh Heebner, and Francis Weiss
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM and Tony opened in prayer.
A representative from Horizon signs shared various sign options and explained the pros and cons of each. A discussion was had, the result being: Josh Heebner made a motion to allocate $37,000 from the Renovation Fund to replace the existing signage on Mifflin Street and Cherry Lane with new stone based backlit signs with spotlights to be made and installed by Horizon Signs. Francis Weiss seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried.
Referencing the movie Holes and reading 2 Kings 3: 16-18, Tony led devotions on the topic of “digging ditches and making space to receive God’s blessings.” He explained that Israel and their counterparts had to make space to receive God’s Blessings. Had they not, the water would have just gone by. We often let God’s blessings go past because we don’t have space to receive them because we are caught up in other things. He concluded by explaining that over the past year or so, we have not only dug trenches at Leidy’s, but God has been faithful to fill them. He shared that his encouragement through this is that we aren’t done digging trenches should we be blessed with a pastor soon as it isn’t only the pastors job to do what everyone is supposed to be doing.
Minutes from the Consistory Meeting of April 11th were reviewed. On motion of Jerry Kulp, seconded by Ken Merritt, the Minutes were approved.
Francis presented the monthly financial report for April 2024. General Fund giving totaled $54,375, while budgeted expenses totaled $54,590, resulting in a Total Fund Balance of $106,894. This was an average weekly giving of $13,594. It was also noted that over $25,000 was raised at the SLMT auction. Renovation Fund contributions for April were $1,154, with no disbursements, resulting in an ending balance of $217,165.
On motion of Bob Ott, seconded by Brian Radcliff, the financial report was approved.
The AV & Tech Management Team is on track with their second quarter goals. No work has been done on the BAS system or key Fobs yet, but they are the team’s next priority and will done soon. Regarding Christian Education, Kid's Quest was a success and VBS planning continues to progress. Children’s Summer Sunday school plans are being finalized and the newly established Christian Education Team meeting will be held on May 15th. Significant upgrades have been made to our website to make it easier for volunteers to acquire their clearances. The next Adult Sunday school class to be offered will be Financial Peace, beginning in early June. The team’s new goals for the second quarter are to spruce up and implement more structure in the Lion’s Room and to work with the communications team to get the sign in system working. The Communications & Administration Team’s second quarter goals are progressing. Some ways to better support the office staff were discussed. Community Outreach reported that they are on track with their second quarter goals. Baby Bottle Boomerang was a success and the food drive is set for July. The Food & Fellowship, Missions, Ministry Support, and Property Teams all reported that they are on track to complete their second quarter goals. The Welcoming Team continues to follow up with visitors who submit get connected card. The Praise & Worship Team had worship services planned out for the next several weeks and the Care and Outreach Team reported that they continue to be involved with initiating new small groups.
The details and logistics of the Congregational Meeting to be held on Sunday May 19th were discussed and finalized as were Pastor Darren DePaul’s compensation package should the congregation vote for him to become our next lead pastor.
Jerry Kulp made a motion to hire Pastor Darren DePaul as Sr. pastor of Immanuel Leidy’s Church pending congregation approval. Shaun Permar seconded the motion, which unanimously passed.
Youth Room Upgrades were discussed after a document that outlined the work to be done and estimated costs were distributed. Upgrades include included replacing the old carpet with a combination of carpet squares and tile ($8,200 - $9,100), new paint ($1,000 for materials) and new furniture and appliances ($3,000 or less). It was agreed that these are necessary upgrades to a room that is utilized frequently and the expenses were approved. The contractor who we previously approved to install new windows and siding at the parsonage is no longer able to do it. It was agreed to hire J.S. Nice Remodeling to perform the work for at a total cost of $30,000. A meeting was held with St. Peters Church as they wish to lease a portion of the HUB. The primary current occupant, Abundant Life, received official notice that they are to vacate by June 30th. Leidy’s Inc. hopes to be in the building by the fall and St. Peter’s could occupy the building as early as late summer. The Praise & Worship Leader job description is still being revised. A discussion was had about the possibility of forming a property subcommittee that would be responsible for all things regarding building usage agreements.
Tony led a time of intercessory prayer for spoken concerns. The meeting adjourned with a unison praying of the Lord’s Prayer at 9:49 PM.
Question 42: How is the Word of God to be read and heard?
With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.
2 Timothy 3:16–17: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Commentary - Thomas Cranmer
Wherefore I would advise you all that come to the reading or hearing of this book, which is the word of God, the most precious jewel and most holy relic that remaineth upon earth; that ye bring with you the fear of God, and that ye do it with all due reverence, and use your knowledge thereof, not to vain glory of frivolous disputation, but to the honor of God, increase of virtue, and edification both of yourselves and others.
Kevin DeYoung
The Bible is not just another book, and so we ought to approach it in a unique way. The Bible is God-breathed: “All Scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Tim. 3:16). It’s inspired. That doesn’t mean that the Bible is inspiring. Now, it is inspiring. But whether anyone in the world is inspired by the Bible, the Bible is still inspired itself. It’s God’s Word to us. It’s God exhaling, God opening his most hallowed lips and speaking to us. So, this Word is God’s Word, and this Word is exactly what God wanted to be written down in Holy Scriptures.
That means we ought to approach Scripture with a special reverence and with special care. We come to the Bible very carefully. We want to be diligent. We want to be prepared. We want to take it seriously. And we also come to this book with a special reverence, because God is speaking to us. One of the ways to think of submitting to the Word is that we stop telling God what to do. God now speaks to us. A theologian once said that to be a Christian means you put your hand over your mouth and are silent. This doesn’t mean that we can’t ever cry out to God. Certainly the Psalms are full of that. But it means that we approach Scripture with reverence, wanting to hear from God, submitting ourselves fully to the Word of God.
When we come to the Bible, our aim is not just information. It’s never less than information—we’re not against information. God uses that. But it’s more than just information we’re trying to get from the Bible. We want faith. That’s what God wants: for us to accept the Word with faith, with a real delight, with a desire for it, a dependence upon it.
When we embrace God’s Word with faith, we store it up in our hearts. Charles Spurgeon said of John Bunyan that if you would prick him, his blood would be bibline. He was so full of the Scriptures that it came out of him. That’s what we want; that’s why we store it up.
And then we practice it. Did Jesus say, “If you love me, you will have a tingling sensation in your heart”? No, he didn’t say that, though that’s wonderful. But he said, “If you love me, you will keep Question 42 185 my commandments” (John 14:15). So if we are serious about loving God, we must be very serious about obeying God and obeying his Word to us. That’s the aim: to be transformed by it, to embrace it in faith, and to worship at his feet.
Really, in its simplest form, we ought to come to the Word of God with the same sort of attitude with which we’d come to God himself. If God spoke to you, which he does in the Scriptures, if God opened his mouth to us, how would we approach him? Well, I think we would listen carefully. We would listen diligently. We would listen submissively. We would listen expectantly. And we’d listen with an aim to love and obey.
Birthdays
2 Cameron Gillis
3 Sarah Kulp, Evelyn Niederhaus, Jacqui Shafer
4 Elijah Smith
6 Jim Smedberg, John Vasey
8 Hazel Krier
9 Tony Kapusta, Daytona Lepping
10 Judy Leidy
11 Shirley Kulp
13 Angela Kinney, Sharon Kostishion, Pat Niederhaus
16 Bria Niederhaus, Elaine Teate
17 Caren Elliott
18 Ben Smith
19 Lillian King, Austin Merritt, Joe Sciacca
20 Jakob Niederhaus, Sandy Swartz
21 Katie Kulp
22 Courtney Lepping
23 Jack Edling
29 John Schilling
30 Will Shafer
Anniversaries
2 George & Donna Frueh
3 Jack & Karen Parry
4 Nathan & Bekah Kulp
5 Steve & Joy Myers
8 Stan & Judy Ott
14 Dave & Adine Doran
17 John & Pat Niederhaus, Bob & Jill Ott
19 Dana & Barb Gehman
21 John & Cynthia Schilling
22 Alex Ally Hager, Stewart & Patty Kendall
23 Matt & Tara McVaugh
24 Tom & Alice Kraus, Greg Sandy Nase
26 John & Janelle Rittenhouse, Bill & Elaine Teate
